The Voice Of The Dying.

The writer of the following letter died in England, in his thirteenth year. His father, who resides in this Settlement, under the hope that it might be useful to some of our youthful readers, placed a copy of it at our disposal. It is addressed “To all my dear Brothers and Sisters, living I am afraid in the City of Destruction, from a dying brother who loves their souls.” It was found, among letters of a similar character, after his death:—

Dear Brothers and Sisters,—

I apprehend that I am soon to die; but what is death to the righteous? It is a sweet messenger of liberty. It looses the transported soul from a heavy load of corruption that it may fly, conducted by angels, to Heaven, to enjoy everlasting happiness, and an eternal weight of glory.

Well, my dears, I trust and hope that I shall soon get to Heaven; and would not you wish to follow me to that happy place when you die? If so, then flee to the feet of our dear Saviour, and cry for mercy; in treat him to pardon your sins, and forgive your transgressions; for though you are young in years you are old in sin. I am speaking to all of you; I say, your sins are innumerable, they cannot be counted; so page 115 Were mine; they were quite as many as yours, but now I trust they are all washed away in the blood of my Redeemer. O precious name! Jesus has pardoned me; he will you, if you pray that he would. You know that I have not been (to say) well this long while, but I could go about, work, and play a little. Now these things, as they generally do most children, took almost all my attention; so that I did not think of my future state so often as I should have done. But sometimes I could not help thinking what would become of me hereafter, for I had been a great sinner. I was certain I should dwell in everlasting misery if my sins were not pardoned. These thoughts brought me to the feet of Christ. I thought on those words which Jesus uttered when upon earth. “Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.” I entreated him to pardon my sins, and to wash me clean in his blood. But then my play, work, and other worldly things made me forget it at times; but since I have been so unwell as not to go about much, I thought more of these things, and prayed often, that my soul might be saved through Christ my Saviour; and now I think I can say, my sins are all washed away in the blood of my dear Redeemer, and that there awaits for me a Crown of glory in Heaven.

Then let a departing Brother persuade you to flee immediately to the Saviour. Pray to God to forgive all your past faults, for the sake of his Son, and pray that he may give you a new heart and a new spirit, that you may be enabled to serve him, and to pray to, and to praise him. Ask for all in the name of Christ. Read your Bibles for your ownselves; there you may learn how to pray. If you say you know not how, read in the Psalms; there you may find comfort and instruction. You are not too young to die, for even infants die; then you are not too young to seek the Lord. Youth is the time, the accepted time. Oh! think of this; there are only two places after death, to one of which all must go; consider this, if you die in your sins you will go, where? what shall I say? page 116 —the apostle John calls it a lake that burns with fire and brimstone, and a bottomless pit. But let me indulge the hope, that I shall meet you all in Heaven. Prepare to die, for you know not when your hour cometh. How many times have I prayed for you; but my prayers are of no avail, except you pray for yourselves; begin immediately and pray for yourselves, if you have not. Solomon says, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth;” do not delay; do not say I will another time, I am so busy I cannot just now; another time may never come; death may seize you before to-morrow; and then where will you be? your conscience will tell you.

My dears, I wish to impress your minds with serious thoughts that you may consider what will become of you hereafter, if you are not washed in the blood of Christ, and made new creatures. Oh then hear your dear dying Brother! if you love him, I entreat you to flee to Christ, he will surely pardon you; he has pardoned me. O my dear Saviour; I would not part with him for all the world. I long to be with him. But I await the Lord's time. I can now say with David, “it is good for me that I have been afflicted, since I have kept thy law,” when I am gone grieve not for me. I shall be in Heaven singing Hosannas to God and the Lamb that sits upon the Throne for ever.

Farewell.