Page:Black Jacob, a monument of grace.djvu/98

90 me. His reply was, that it seemed almost the same as if he was preaching the gospel, when he was helping his minister.

"There is an anecdote of him, highly illustrative of his character, which, though a proper place has not seemed to occur for it in this hurried sketch, I am unwilling to omit, because it shows so strikingly his feelings on a subject, in relation to which every Christian ought continually to examine himself. Some two years ago he had a violent attack of the same disorder (inflammation of the lungs) of which he died; and it was supposed then that he could not recover. In one of the many delightful interviews which I had with him, I recollect to have asked him this question, 'Are you quite sure, Jacob, that you hate sin?' I never can forget the earnestness of his manner, and the peculiar expression of his eye, as he rose up quick in his bed and stretching out his arms, exclaimed, 'Master, I do hate my very flesh on account of sin.' 'His death, at the time it occurred, was