The dying act of general Hamilton affords much conso lation and comfort to the humble christian believer. How clearly did it show, that the religion of Jesus is that alone which can impart courage and cheeriAg hope to a depart ing soul ! Hamilton had the intellect of a Solon, and the of a Plato ; but these were not his stay in the hour of death. Hamilton had influence and honour among men ; but they could not relieve one dying pang-. The cri tical moment at length arrived. On what did he cast the safety of his soul ? Hear himself ! I have a tender reli ance on the mercy of the Almighty, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ." Yes, the great Hamilton, who filled the world with his fame, when dying, bore his testimony to the insufficiency of every other hope, save that which ac companies the christian over the threshold of life.
The last solemn moment came. Hamilton laid down his great human labours, and all his honours, as worthless and unavailing. To the exclusion of every other concern, re ligion claimed all his thoughts. Jesus ! Jesus, is now his only hope. The friends of Jesus are his friends—not armed with the weapons of blood and death—but armed with the word of life and of truth. The ministers of God, with the words of pardon and reconciliation on their lips, are his companions. While these intercede, he listens in awful silence, or in profound submission whispers his assent.
Sensible, deeply sensible of his sins, he pleaded no merit of his own, Ile repaired to the mercy-seat, and there poured out his penitential sorrows : there he solicited par don.
Heaven, it should seem, heard and pitied the suppliant's cries. Disburdened of his sorrows, and looking up to God, he exclaimed, " Grace—rich grace !" "I have," said he, clasping his dying hands, and with a faltering tongue, have a tender reliance on the mercy of God in Christ." In token of this reliance, and as an expression of his faith, he received the holy sacrament ; and having done so, his mind became tranquil mid serene. Thus he remained, thought ful indeed, but unruffled to the last, and met death with an air, of dignified composure, and with an eye directed to the heavens.
This last act, more than any other, shed glory on his cha racter. Every thing else death effaced. Religion alone abode with him on his death-bed. He died a christian. This is all which can be enrolled of him among the archives of eternity. Phis is all that can make his name great in heaven.
Let not the sneering infidel persuade us, that this last act to the Saviour resulted from an enfeebled state di' mental faculties, or from perturbation occasioned by the near approach of death. No ; his opinions concerning the divine mission of Jesus Christ, and the validity of the holy scriptures, had long beeri settled, and settled after laborious investigation and extensive and deep research. These opi nions were not concealed ; and had his life been spared, it was his determination to have published them to the world, together with the facts and reasons on which they were founded.
When scepticism, shallow and superficial indeed, but depraved and malignant, breathes forth its pestilential va pour, and pollutes, by its unhallowed touch, every thing di vine and sacred ; it is consoling to a devout mind to reflect, that the great, and the wise, and the good of all ages ; those superior geniuses, whose splendid talents have elevated them almost above mortality, and placed them next in order to angelic natures—yes, it is consoling to a devout mind to reflect, that, while dwarfish infidelity lifts up its deformed head, and mocks, these illustrious personages, though living in different ages—inhabiting different countries—nurtured in different schools—destined to different pursuits—and differing on various subjects—should all, as if touched with an impulse from heaven, agree to vindicate the sacredness of Revelation, and present, with one accord, their learning, their talents, and their virtue, on the gospel altar, as an of fering to Emanuel.
This is not exaggeration. Who was it, that, overleaping the narrow bounds which nad hitherto been set to the hu man mind, ranged abroad through the immensity of space, discovered and illustrated those laws by which the Deity unites, binds, and governs all things ? Who was it, soaring into the sublime of astronomic science, numbered the stars of heaven, measured their spheres, and called them by their names ? It was Newton : but Newton was a christian. Newton, great as he was, received instruction. from the lips, and laid his honours at the feet of Jesus.
Who was it, that developed the hidden combination, the component parts of bodies ? Who was it that dissected the animal, examined the flower, penetrated the earth, and ranged the extent of organic nature ? It was Boyle : but Boyle was a christian.