Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/111

Rh Scripture. The Holy Spirit makes the word quick and powerful for the conviction and conversion of sinners.”

All his life through Mr. Carter was an acceptable visitor at the bedsides of the sick and dying. He was an invaluable pastor’s assistant, unwearied in his loving ministrations, ever tender and sympathetic. His counsels, and especially his prayers, were most appropriate, and many a time he was roused in the night to help some dying person in his passage through the valley of the shadow of death, sitting beside him, and whispering words of faith and hope until the ears were closed to every earthly sound, and then turning to the mourning friends with words of heavenly comfort. For weeks afterwards, his visits would be frequent and welcome. There are hundreds of people now living in whose minds he is associated with their hours of deepest distress, as the faithful and sympathizing and sustaining friend and counsellor. Many who had refused to listen to him in their hours of prosperity, when he besought them to make their peace with God, would remember him when days of sorrow came, and send for one who was so ready to come at their first call. Of him the Master will surely say, “I was sick, and ye visited me.” He visited rich and poor alike, was often in stately as well as squalid homes. In his house there were many tokens of gratitude and affection, sent by the sick whom he had comforted; but more often it was in the homes of poverty that he was found, and he ministered to the physical as well as to the spiritual wants of the needy.

For the last thirty years of his life he seldom went to his place of business in the afternoon, giving only the morning hours to work of that kind. His afternoons were largely spent in Christian work, many of