Archive:The Whitney Family of Connecticut, page 260

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The Whitney Family of Connecticut

by S. Whitney Phoenix
(New York: 1878)

Transcribed by Robert L. Ward.

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260
Sixth Generation.
had arrived. 'Blessed Sabbath,' he said, 'type of the rest above! Here it is dark and stormy; how sweet the contrast there! Peace and joy are there, and no pain, and there I will soon be. Yesterday I had some clouds, but now all clouds are brushed away. All is light and peace.' As he gradually failed, under the influence of his disorder, he at length thought he was dying, and calling one of his attendants to him, requested that he might be raised up. Then throwing his arms around him, he said with great emphasis, 'And is the victory won? Glory, glory, glory! Hail, glorious immortality! Can it be that this is death? That I, a poor wretch, who all my life have been afraid of death, have come to this? Here all is peace, and light, and joy. The Saviour has me by the hand, leading me along. I shall soon be in heaven.' His attendant remarked, 'There is a blessed assembly of friends there.' 'Yes,' he said, 'and more than all that, Jesus is there. He has never forsaken me--He is near--He is with me now.' He then lay down, much exhausted, but soon engaged in audible prayer and praise, the great subject of which was thanks to the Saviour for his wonderful love. His attendant, alluding to what he had said about Bunyan's tall pilgrim, said, 'Brother, you are now crossing Jordan--tell me, do you feel the Rock?' 'Yes,' he promptly replied, 'I am on it. Jesus Christ is the Rock.' Then, looking one of his attendants in the face, with a countenance beaming with affection and triumph, grasping his hand with one of his, and with the other pointing to heaven, he said, 'Jesus Christ is the brightest star in heaven. Look at that star, follow that star, and it will guide you safely amid the storms without and the storms within, amid the storms of life and the storms of death, and conduct you to a haven of everlasting rest. Neglect it, and you are lost! Jesus Christ is my hope, my life, my all.'
"In about an hour, he called me to him and said, 'Brother Alexander, tell the brethren for me, when you go to general meeting, to preach Christ, Christ Jesus, and Him crucified. This is all that will do us or our people any good. Tell all the brethren and sisters and the children of the mission, to cling to Christ. Tell the children of Punahou, and Mr. Chamberlain's children, and all the children, that you saw me die, and that I expected to go to heaven, and that I want them to love and obey Christ, that they may come there too.'
"Towards morning, on receiving some little attention, he said, 'How kind you all are! I am under great obligation to you all.' To which was replied, 'We esteem it a great privilege to take care of you, on your way to your Father's house,' when he said with much energy, '"Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits."'
"When suffering intense pain toward morning, he said, 'Oh this pain, this pain! But it is nothing to what my Saviour suffered for me.'
"On Sabbath morning, when Mrs. Whitney asked him how he had been during the night, he said, 'Death is fast finishing his work. I shall probably not be with you twenty-four hours longer. But Jesus is precious.'
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