DEATH-BED UTTERANCES OF DR. GUTHRIE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 71, 19 July 1873, Page 3

DEATH-BED UTTERANCES OF DR. GUTHRIE.

Dr. Candlish in closing his sermon on Dr. Guthrie, in Free St. John’s Church, Edinburgh, quoted the following sentences which had been uttered by Dr. Guthrie in the course of his last illness : —“ Thank God, my tongue has been unloosed.” “ All reserve is gone—l can speak out now.” “ Oh, most mighty and most merciful, pity me, once a great sinner, and now a great sufferer.” “ Blessed Jesus, what would I now do but for Thee *?” “lam a father, and I know what a father’s heart is. My love to my children is no more to God’s infinite love as a Father than one drop of water to that boundless ocean out there.” “ Death is mining away here, slowly but surely, in the dark.” “ I often thought, and even hoped, in the past years, that God would have granted me a translation like Chalmers or Andrew Thompson. But it would appear now this is not to be the way of it.” “ Oh, the power yet in that arm ” —the right arm stretched out with force while in bed. “ I doubt it presents the prospects of a long fight. And if so, God, help me to turn my dying hours to better purpose than ever my preaching ones have been.” “The days have come in which I have no pleasure in them.” “Vanitus vanitatum.” “ I would at this moment gladly give all my money and all my fame for that poor body’s ” — (a smiling country woman tripping by)—“ vigour and cheerfulness.” “ A living”dog is better than a dead lion.” “ I have often seen death-beds.” I have often described them; but I had no conception till now of what hard work dying really is.” “ Had I known this years ago, as I know it now, I Would have felt far more for others in similar circumstances than I ever did.” “ Ah, my poor children, you see I am now just as helpless in your arms as you ever were in mine.” Of telegraphic messages about him he said: —“I bless God for the telegraph; because these will serve as calls to God’s people to mind me in their prayers.” Of the Queen’s inquiry—“ It is very kind.” Of a young attendant — “ Affection is very sweet; and it is all one from whatever quarter it comes —whether from this Highland lassie, or from a peeress —just as to a thirsty man cold water is equally grateful from a spring on the hillside as from a richly-orna-mented fountain.” Parting with a humble servant —“ God bless you, my friend.” “ I would be most willing that any man who ever wrote or spoke against me should come in at that dooK», and I would shake hands with him.”