THE AGED CHRISTIAN'S CABINET.

295

Continue then at the Hospital, but relinquish the Alms-House and Penitentiary. You have never acquainted me with the state of your pecuniary affairs; but I hope they are such, that the sacrifice of the small pittance which you have heretofore received from that quarter, will not occasion you inconvenience; and I trust our corporation will not forget the services you have so long rendered them.

"Amidst the cares and vexations of life, of which I have some, but happily not an over-proportion, it is a source of pride and consolation, that I am allowed to flatter myself that I enjoy the friendship and good opinion of my venerable friend, and early preceptor.

"My wife and children are well, and very thankful for your kind remembrance of them. I intend to call and see you very soon.

"Your affectionate friend,
"PHILIP HONE."

On entering his 77th year, Dr. S. remarks :— Looking into my diary, it seconds the record in my own conscience, of numberless imperfections, and the host of evils which lodge within my heart. Worn down by age and infirmities, I have sensibly realized a painful languor throughout my system. And yet, in this declining state, I have not only been assisted to perform my usual services in the public institutions, and to make a free use of my pen; but have been called to perform several extra public duties. Nevertheless, the conflicts of my mind and heart, during the past year, have been very great, so that I am under the greatest possible obligation to adore and praise the Lord for his forbearance, long-suffering, and mercy to me, the most unworthy of all his servants. I must add, that for several months, I have been also employed in superintending the printing of my Aged Christian's Cabinet,' the last half sheet of which, was

6

296

THE EVERLASTING SABBATISM.

delivered to me from the press, on the very day when I was taken ill. The will of the Lord be done.'

This is a handsome octavo, of 450 pages, containing a series of most useful, and well written essays, calculated to promote the moral benefit, and consolation of the class of persons to whom they are addressed. The work is written in a pleasing and familiar style. The chief design of the writer, to promote devotional feelings, and to sooth the asperities incident to advanced age, is well preserved throughout the volume; and it is truly gratifying to contemplate that glowing piety, blended with sound instruction, which pervades the whole. The work may be confidently recommended to the perusal of the aged disciple, as eminently conducive to elevate and to establish his Christian character, and powerfully to co-operate in preparing him for the solemnity of death, and the immortal bliss of the upper temple.

Lord's day, November 5th, Dr. S. remarks:-" I earnestly prayed that I might be permitted to spend this Sabbath in hope of one that never shall end. The Lord has heard and answered my petition."

CHAPTER XVII.

DR. STANFORD CONFINED TO HIS CHAMBER, BUT CONTINUES TO LABOUR FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS UNDER HIS CARE-ANOTHER NEW TRACT-LETTERS TO MRS. WETMORE-MEMORIAL-ANCTIILR TRACT, ON MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTION.

SATURDAY, February 5th, 1831. Dr. Stanford says: "In the afternoon felt happy in having been enabled to finish my account of the Public Institutions, and hope it may be useful."

His "Annual Reports" to the Honourable the Mayor and Common Council of the city of NewYork, were always regarded with interest, as documents of great public utility, and ordered to be printed.

In approaching the termination of this memoir, it has become necessary to omit many things, the record of which, would, under other circumstances, be a duty; but to preserve the limits originally prescribed, we shall be restricted almost entirely to the gleaning of a few brief excerpts from his diary, which portray his history at remote intervals, up to the period when he closed his useful life, and took wing for the regions of glory.

Tuesday, March 29th, he remarks:-" Finished a paper containing thirteen pages, on Hiding the Word of God within the Heart. May it prove a blessing to

all who read it."

During the present and two succeeding years, Dr. Stanford addressed several interesting letters to his excellent friends, Mr. and Mrs. Wetmore, from which

298

LETTER TO MRS. WETMORE.

selections will be given in the order of their respective dates. The following was written,

"MY DEAR FRIEND,

"June 21st, 1831.

"This morning I told Thomas that I would make an effort to write you a few lines in the course of the day, should my pains and debility permit. For, as it is to be expected, every week evinces that my flesh is sinking to the dust. But I constantly commit the progress, fast or slow, to the good will and pleasure of my heavenly Father.

"As I am almost incapable of performing any public service, and can seldom venture to walk out, perhaps you may wish to be informed how I employ my hours in seclusion. I am daily engaged, more or less, in looking over the book of my life, which contains many hundred pages, and is divided into seventy-eight chapters. It contains the record of many events which are calculated to humble me before the Lord; yet how great has been the patience, mercy, and goodness of my God, in permitting this volume to become so large! The book of my experience I also daily look over, but it is very small; some of its leaves are spotted, ragged, and torn, so that it frequently puzzles me to read it; yet I find written at the end of almost every chapter,Hitherto the Lord hath helped me.' But what may be the contents of the last chapter, I must leave for others to read. Only I hope the Lord will not forsake me. What engages me most, is the book of God-my Bible. This is my most valuable companion, and from it I derive knowledge, comfort, and strength; although I must confess that I am a poor scholar, and know comparatively little, and feel less of its rich and valuable contents than I wish to enjoy, and should have nothing unless the Spirit of my heavenly Saviour had taught me.

"However, wherein I have been deficient in the

PRAYER FOR THE LIGHT OF LIFE.

299

proper use of such books, may it please the Lord to cause you, and your's, more fully to abound.

"Your's truly,

"JOHN STANFORD."

"Lord's day, 22d. The Lord having graciously been pleased that I should behold the light of another Sabbath, I was encouraged to look to his throne for his blessing on my private exercises in prayer, reading, and meditation. But in the afternoon and evening my mind became depressed. My dark days will soon terminate. O Lord, grant me the light of life!"

On entering his 78th year, Dr. S. remarks:"Preserved by my good and gracious Lord, to see the close of another year, I shall note some of the events which demand my sincere gratitude and praise.

"My health has continued in a fluctuating state, and consequently my public services, as must be expected, are performed under painful circumstances. As to the use of my pen, this has made a part of my private exercise; when capable of occupying my chair, I have answered many of my distant correspondents; occasionally written on subjects in relation to the Corporation and the public interest, and a number of theological essays, &c. so that my private hours were not altogether unemployed. But my chief comfort has been in reading my Bible.

"Although I still continue under great infirmity, and so much pain as to prevent me from public duties, I hope I am submissive to the will of my Lord. The date of my age this day sufficiently admonishes me that the time of my departure from this world is at hand. But blessed be God, I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day,' when time with me shall be no longer. Still, I pray for more light from above. Alas! this body of sin