Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/262

 minister, "let us unite our prayers to those of the departing spirit. The deathbed of a good man is the porch of heaven. Angels and archangels are now joint witnesses with us of this solemn scene. To Him in whose hands are the issues of life and death, let us lift the voice of supplication, that living, we may live to Him, and dying, we may be received into His glory." The imposing solemnity of the scene, aided the views of the venerable pastor, in making a deep impression upon his audience. His prayer, though delivered in language the most simple, had all the effects of eloquence upon the heart; and in the breasts of the hardy veterans, touched some chords which had, but for this adventure, lain for ever dormant. Far from hurrying away their prisoner with brutal violence, they patiently waited until he had attained some degree of composure; and then respectfully addressing the minister, they begged that he would exhort the young man not to resist them