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 appeared to be quieter and more resigned. His approaching dissolution was always present to his mind. A few days before he died, Mr. Langton and myself only present, he said he had been a great sinner, but he hoped he had given no bad example to his friends ; that he had some consolation in reflecting that he had never denied Christ, and repeated the text ' Whoever denies me, &C. 1 ' We were both very ready to assure him that we were conscious that we were better and wiser from his life and con versation ; and that, so far from denying Christ, he had been, in this age, his great champion 2.

Sometimes a flash of wit escaped him as if involuntary. He was asked how he liked the new man that was hired to watch by him. 'Instead of watching,' says he, e he sleeps like a dormouse; and when he helps me to bed he is awkward as a turnspit dog the first time he is put into the wheel V

The Christian religion was with him such a certain and estab lished truth, that he considered it as a kind of profanation to hold any argument about its truth 4.

He was not easily imposed upon by professions to honesty and candour ; but he appeared to have little suspicion of hypocrisy in religion 5.

His passions were like those of other men, the difference only lay in his keeping a stricter watch over himself 6. In petty circumstances this wayward disposition appeared, but in greater things he thought it worth while to summon his recollection and be always on his guard. . . . [To them that loved him not] as

1 St. Matthew x. 33. acquaintance, led him to talk on the

2 Hawkins records on Nov. 29 evidences of Christianity. Ib. i. 398, (ante, ii. 127): 'Mr. Langton, who 404,428,444,454. See also v. 109, had spent the evening with him, re- n. 3.

ported that his hopes were increased, 5 * For neither man nor angel can

and that he was much cheered upon discern

being reminded of the general ten- Hypocrisy, the only evil that

dency of his writings and of his walks

example.' Invisible, except to God alone,

3 Life, iv. 411. By his permissive will, through

4 Nevertheless he wished to have Heav'n and Earth.'

more evidence of the spiritual Paradise Lost, iii. 682.

world.' Ib. ii. 150; iii. 298 ; iv. 298. 6 Life, iv. 396 ; ante, i. 453. Boswell, in the beginning of their

VOL. II. Q rough

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