Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/118

102 incarnation, his sufferings, his death, his resurrection and ascension, was the theme of his daily study. The Lord our Shepherd, and Christ on the cross, proved truly refreshing to his yearning spirit.

“There were some peculiar views in which, though I did not agree with him, he yet showed the accuracy with which he examined truth. For example, he said to me, I do not like the phrase ‘the word of God, as applied to the Scriptures. Jesus Christ is the Word,—we should not apply the term to aught else.

“I shall not easily forget the last interview I had with him. He was blind and feeble, but cheerful and even joyous. I reached his pleasant little home in Burlington about six o’clock P.M. He gave me a most cordial welcome, told me what books his daughter had been reading aloud, and how refreshing they had been to him, ascended from these little rills to the pure, clear, ever-gushing fountain,—the Book of books; went back to the days of other years, and described the efforts of great and good men to put in circulation the Holy Scriptures; dilated upon the formation of the American Bible Society, at the first meeting of which he was present, and traced down the blessings that flowed from this noble institution throughout this broad land.

“I had often enjoyed sweet converse with him, but never had I communed so closely with the inner man. It seemed quite on the verge of heaven. I dare not say more. I tread on sacred ground.”

This last interview with his aged friend was one on which Mr. Carter always loved to dwell. He had stopped at Burlington unexpectedly on his way home from a meeting of the General Assembly. Mrs. Griscom ushered him into her husband's study, where he sat in blindness, with the words, “Thee canst not think who has