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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Untitled Article
NtfPVMi r * t ^ t&iig ^ e Whstftous « tm o ^ ^ h ^ -v " tp > ? : v ? l - 1 - : ¦ ¦ ¦¦ : ^ - •' tVhefr 1 At £ 'rftndirse HiBicts her fruitless v : " Wft * $ 5 . ¦¦ •' ¦ ' - ¦ ' ' Living you honour'd her , you mourn for , dead :
Her 6 od you worship , and her path you tread : Your sighs shall aid reflection ' s serious hour , And eherish'd virtues bless the kindly
shower : On the lov'd theme your lips unblamed shall dwell : Yowr lives , more eloquent / her worth shall tell . ** For me , as o er the frequent grave 1 bend , And pensive down the vale of vears
descend : Companions , parents , kindred called to mourn , Dropt from my side , or from my bosom torn , A boding voice , raethinks , in fancy ' s ear Speaks from the tomb , and cries , * Thy friends are here . '"
Since the year 1774 , ray father bad been frequently subject to very severe attacks c >{ the gout . Seldom a year passed withota a return of this disease , and more than once I remember his being confined for several months to his chamber . The patience with which he endured such
acute and protracted suffering was most Txemplary , but the time was approaching viheu to this disease was to be supertfdded one of a still more painful nature . While on a visit to his sou Richard , in 1802 , he was first attacked with
symptoms in some respects similar to those which preceded his father ' s last illness . He thus writes of them : — "These le-) rated , painful attacks naturally recall to mv memory the sufferings of my excellent father . If the same bitter cup be preraring for me , what better can I vvi . sh
than that I may quit the world with his composed spirit , his animating prospects for himself , and his reliance for his offf pi ing and his widow on the good providence of God ! " The attacks of the disorder continued to increase upon him for several years . In 1807 , lie gave a ffe-h proof of the serenity of his temper , and of his patient and cheerful acquiesct ore in the Divine WilL He had ihe
liappmess of reassembling under his roo / tbhty-five members of his family , and though at that time haviug in prospect , as he expected at no very remote period , tint termination of bis life by one of the tti 6 at painful diseases , he not only par-¥ cofc of the ple ^ me of th * - fcene , but ct'Ltr ' ibuted to it by hie accustomed cheer
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fWtheW , mid by * W * to ^ Mftttfttft Wlii * itfifte . This WtoTtiii' « hfe"l fetli < k * AtmH HI * feelings ttnr- tlrfe ¦ dbcfcSton < W « hiiis W massed-. — ' < Along WiiWthe ) ty Whiehthfe hkppy fatiHry ^ hMttftig ^ ttffor ^ ed ^ e 1 hope to £ Jl&Ve aWottotffcli ' fbat ^ Mls !
tude which lsjeyie to Mm ? Auth or of aji our blessings , who 'h&rThus yprruitted so large a portion of our fatiiily to meet frain distant Jiarts , artdutid ^ r such pl etoing circuit stances . God grant that this brotherly love mAy dotitlmte to the etid
of life ! Mine is probably so near its termination , that I mtist not flatter myself with a i-etiewal of this sort of pleasure . The attack * of two of the most painful diseases to which the body is subject , leave but little room to expect this : but
wheirerer it shall please God to call me hence , I leave all my family , and in particular my dear children , united and happy . " On the 24 th of the same mouth , he writes kgam , in reference to the same subject—*« The symptoms which have been for some time increasing upon me , leave no doubt in my mind that a stone has been formed
within me . The moment being now come which calls for a patient submission to God ' s will , may I endeavour to arm my mind with the acquiescence and fortitude of a Christian ; let my thoughts he often on rny excellent father , and , as it is probable that , in one * ense > * my death will be like his , may it also resemble it in what honours and exalts the Christian
character . But life , though painful , may still be protracted ; and though my active powers be greatly diminished , yet so much of capacity for the business of life may remain , as to make it a duty still to continue my exertions for usefulness
to my family and to society : what therefore i can < lo , though with paiu , let me continue to do , remembering that the best preparation for death is a life filled io ( he last with useful deeds , performed under a constant sense of God ' s 6
mmscience and inan s accountablecess . " Du-)' mg the greater part of the ensuing winter and the spring of 1808 , his appetite failed , and his strength conseqiientty
declined . In the month of May his anticipations seemed about to be lealized ; and so little hope remained of his beiu $ able to struggle against a successioa of attacks thus severe and alarming , thflt Ihd . sf of his children who were at a
distance were called to attend , as was supposed , his dying bed . Thronghout the whole of his protracted illness , and particularly at this time , he enjoyed the bentfit of his valued friend Mr . Martineau * advice , and the nnreniitted and affectionate attention of Dr . lleeve , who had no * become his son-in law . It pleased tlie Almighty to blefcs their labours with tm leMoration toa degree " of health and w * e
Untitled Article
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Aug. 2, 1826, page 488, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2551/page/44/
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