Thomas Halyburton.

The conclusion of a pious and devoted life.

many, who profess Christianity, are unacquainted experimentally with this great work upon their souls!"

The reader of this narrative has observed the gradual development of the mind and the Christian character of William C. Walton. From a small and feeble beginning, he went on by a progressive movement both in knowledge and piety, until he attained to the sublime triumph of that death-bed which has already been described, and which is seldom surpassed. When such a scene closes a life of ardent and consistent piety, it is more worthy to be commemorated than those fitful transports, which sometimes break out on dying beds, that have been preceded by a life of sin. The one is like an evening of gorgeous splendor, closing a day of clear and steady sunshine. The other may be compared to the same evening suddenly illuminated with electric fires, after a day darkened by clouds and oppressed with winds.

The death-bed of Thomas Halyburton has been celebrated as one of the most illustrious recorded instances of victorious grace. But he was ever a giant in conflict with opposing principalities and powers. His soul burned within him for the welfare of Zion, when he said with his faltering lips, "Oh to have God returning to his church and his work going forward in the world! If all the drops of my blood, all the particles of my body, all the hairs of my head, were men, they should for this all go to the fire. I could not have believed that I should bear, and bear cheerfully this rod, which has lain on me so long. This is a miracle. Pain without pain! Oh! blessed be God that ever I was born! I have a father, a mother, and ten brethren and sisters in heaven, and I shall be the eleventh. It is the Spirit of God that supports me. What cannot grace do? What

a demonstration hath God given to you and myself of the immortality of the soul, by the vigor of my intellect, and the lively efforts of my spirit toward God and the things of God, now when my body is so low and pained! When I

Concluding remark.

shall be so weakened as not to be able to speak, I will give you, if I can, a sign of triumph when I am near to glory." That sign was given after he had ceased to speak, and he soon ceased to breathe! It is well when the leaders in the spiritual army close the mighty contest on their part in so glorious a manner.

So closed the life of our beloved friend. Though dead, he still lives; though silent he speaks; and may this memorial cheer some pious heart, when the hand that has prepared it is mouldering in the dust!

"W. C. Walton" is erroneously signed to the letter on page 186.

27

APPENDIX.

The letter which follows is referred to in page 179 of this volume.

"Dear Sir,

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 1828.

I lately enjoyed the pleasure of spending a couple of days at Alexandria, and take the liberty of giving you some account of them, that you may share in the satisfaction which such scenes must ever convey to a Christian mind. I went, in consequence of an affectionate invitation extended by the Rev. Mr. Walton, and the church under his care, to their brethren in Washington, to attend the approaching communion in that Church. There had existed at Alexandria a gentle religious excitement for some months past. It had been gradually increasing, until, under the expectation of adding between twenty and thirty persons to that church at the next celebration of the Lord's Supper, it was resolved to have, on that occasion, a continuance of public service for four successive days, commencing on Friday, and closing on the Monday following. This practice has been adopted elsewhere; and though ridiculed by some, as a sort of Presbyterian camp-meeting, it has been found productive of such happy effects, that those who have once made the experiment, will, I believe, be inclined to repeat it. I could not get there before Sabbath morning; but the sweet enjoyment I then experienced made me regret that I

had lost the preceding days. I had frequently read of the communion seasons in Scotland, where Christians assemble from several adjacent or neighboring congregations, and spend four days in the services preparatory and subsequent to what is there called "the action sermon;" but I had never, till now, witnessed any thing of the kind.

The morning was fine, and the appearance of all things around bore that aspect of serenity and peace which is so finely described in the poem of the Sabbath. My friend and I rose early that we might enjoy the luxury of a leisurely and solitary walk, while Nature breathes her sweetest incense, and offers in silent but impressive worship, her tribute of praise. Our hearts were in unison with the scene, and felt the perfect harmony which ever exists between the voice of nature and that of revelation. We entered Alexandria about breakfast time, and soon after repaired to Mr. Walton's church. It is a large building of considerable depth in proportion to its width; the pulpit is at the end, but the preacher may be heard without difficulty even at the opposite extremity. Though it was some time before the stated hour of worship, the pews were filling fast, and an aspect of general interest and solemnity appeared on the countenances of most of those who were present. This early attendance is a very common feature attending religious revivals. The place of worship is associated with so many sweet and solemn recollections, that the people seem reluctant to leave it. They approach with willing feet, and every step by which they leave it, seems a step downward toward the world. It is at such seasons that we can enter into the feelings of the disciples when they proposed to build tabernacles on the mount of transfiguration. While tasting the sweetness and sublime joy of true worship, the soul finds itself in possession of its satisfying good, and cannot entertain the thought of relinquishing it but with pain.

The Rev. Mr. P. — and the Rev. Mr. D- from Philadelphia, were present, having come on by request of Mr. Walton, for the express purpose of assisting on this solemn occasion, the one preaching in the morning, the other in the evening of each day. If you never heard Mr. P. you can form but an imperfect idea of the force and originality of his style and manner, and its effect in impres

sing an audience. Regardless of the niceties of rhetoric, his elocution is bold, ardent, solemn, full of the conviction that it handles a matter of life and death, and resolutely set on carrying that same conviction to the heart and conscience of every hearer. In this it effectually succeeds. Whatever men may think of the message, none can doubt that the preacher believes and feels it to be a message from God. His voice is full of depth and power; tears flow abundantly, without interrupting its effect; and though his gesture is without grace, it is full of the impassioned earnestness of the man. His illustrations are of the most familiar kind, but all striking and apposite, calculated for the level of the commonest capacity, and yet such as to be heard with pleasure by the strongest mind. I take him to be much such a preacher as Rowland Hill, judging from the des criptions I have received from the latter. His subject was the Marriage Supper; and by adapting the parable to the circumstances of our own country, he gave it double interest. He compared it to a marriage published by the President, to honor his son, and ran out all the circumstances in a manner calculated to rivet it forever on the memory.

The exercises at the Table were, as they should ever be, short and simple. It is a feast for the heart; and the language of the heart is always simple and direct. The number of communicants, resident and attending from elsewhere, was large, and filled nearly one-third of the building, though very closely seated. The time occupied in distributing the elements was therefore very considerable, but to me it was the most eloquent and impressive portion of the hour. Many a bosom heaved with emotion-many, very many, tears were shed, and now and then a deep-fetched sigh broke on the solemn stillness of the assembly; but all was order and chastened sobriety; nor could the most fastidious have discovered aught of the dreaded confusion of revivals. It was a scene for angels to contemplate, and I doubt not they were there. The services of the remaining parts of the day were of the same general character.

The only departure from what I have been accustomed to see, took place after the close of the evening sermon. The pastor then descended, and placing himself in the clerk's desk, briefly addressed the audience; moments of solemn exhortation, invited those of his hear

and after a few