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will send forth more laborers into his harvest;-andthat he will bestow more abundant grace on those who are already in the field. How gratifying soever it might be to see the number of laborers increase, it would be still more gratifying to discover in our own hearts, and in the hearts of our missionary brethren, an increase of piety. I have lately felt that we are in great danger of being satisfied, at least too much so, in seeing the Scriptures circulated, and some preparatory labors accomplished; while in reality nothing is effected in the conversion of sinners, which should be the main object in the missionary's view. Though the inhabitants of Asia and Africa should become as enlightened and as civilized, as the people of England, or of the United States; yet if their hearts remained in their unrenewed state, they would still be the servants of sin, and children of wrath.

"When we can see but one soul really converted to God, we shall be able to say, that our missionary work is begun. Lately we have conversed on this subject, and made it one of special prayer. I would hope there are some true Christians among the ignorant and superstitious members of the oriental churches; but it is very difficult to find them. The increase of light may bring forward some who will afford important aid in rekindling the light of true Christianity, where it has become almost extinct; but our dependence must be on the effusion of the Holy Spirit. To procure this, prayer and preaching are, I believe, the principal means. In respect to myself, I feel daily the need of divine influence on my own heart to keep me from sin, to make me humble, to prepare me for my work. Sometimes I almost despair of becoming holy. Is it so with you, my dear Brother, or do you find that sin is sensibly decreasing, and grace triumphing in your heart? I feel interested in your religious trials and comforts, and hope your soul is constantly supported and

cheered by sweet communion with the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"Yours in Christian love,

PLINY FISK."

CHAPTER XIV.

LAST SICKNESS AND DEATH, WITH CONCLUDING
REMARKS.

THE season after Mr. Fisk's last return to Beyroot was unusually sickly. In a communication to Mr. Temple written in September, he speaks of the season being unhealthy, and of many who had died of fever. He was called about that time to attend the funeral of a European merchant in that place, whose death was sudden. "A solemn admonition to us," he observes, "and to those about us to be also ready."

Speaking of the month of October, Mr. Goodell remarked, that the fever still prevailed and that two English travellers of his acquaintance had fallen victims to it. The oldest Franks did not recollect so sickly a season as that was. It was in this month that Mr. Fisk was attacked by the fever which ter minated his useful life.

A communication from Messrs. Bird and Goodell to the Corresponding Secretary of the Board, dated Beyroot, October 25, 1825, gives the following affecting account of his sickness and DEATH.

"On the 26th ult. the long expected and unwelcome hour arrived for the departure, to our native country, of our beloved brother and fellow laborer, Mr. King. It was with a heavy heart, that we gave him the parting hand. We felt ourselves bereft of one of our firmest earthly supports. We commended our case to God, and prayed him to build us up, and not to pluck us down. We acknowledged our weak and dependent state, and begged that God

would strengthen us by his grace, in proportion as he diminished our number.

"But we did not then feel our dependence, as the providence of God has brought us to feel it since. Our brother Fisk then remained to comfort and counsel us. We leaned upon him. We trusted in him as the chief agent, who was to effect the good we design to this people. Now, this second prop is removed. That dear brother, too, has taken leave of us for another country. Yes, dear sir, the hand of God has touched us, and our tears cannot soon be dried away. You too, will feel and weep, and so will thousands who knew and loved him, with ten thousand others who have never seen his face in the flesh. But God knoweth our sorrows, for he hath caused them; and into his compassionate bosom let us pour them all.

"It was on Tuesday, the 11th inst. that Mr. Fisk first spoke of being ill. He supposed he had taken cold, but pursued his studies as usual, and in the afternoon walked into the city, and made several calls. In the evening, after uniting as usual in reading the Scriptures in Arabic, he said he felt himself too ill to make any remarks, and requested Mr. Goodell, (in whose family he was) to make a few. He, however, prayed in Arabic with his usual fervency, though not with his usual length. Having bathed his feet in water, he retired to rest, with the hope of perspiring freely, and of being better in the morning. His hopes were, however, disappointed. He passed a restless night, and on Wednesday the 12th had, towards noon, a fit of agué. A nausea at the stomach indicated, as we thought, the propriety of an emetic. It was accordingly administered. It brought away a profusion of bile, threw him into a free perspiration, and persuaded us all to expect for him a comfortable night. But we were again disappointed. This night was more restless than the preceding.

Thursday 13. He appeared much better during most of the day, and was able to attend our weekly prayer-meeting, with which he afterwards expressed himself much gratified and refreshed. Towards night, he became exceedingly uneasy, and some incoherent expressions betrayed a disordered state of his mind.

"Several succeeding days and nights were passed much in the same manner. His nights were regularly restless and tedious, but by day he seemed tolerably comfortable, sitting up, enjoying conversation, and taking part in it, frequently desiring the Scriptures to be read, remarking on the greatness and importance of the subjects treated of, and enlarging, particularly on the preciousness of the promises. Hymns, which we often read, or sung, at his request, always seemed to revive his spirits, and awaken in him feelings of devotion.

"To different individuals of his acquaintance, he often made such remarks as shewed where his own mind was fixed, and such as tended to lead theirs, also, to useful reflections. To his Arabic master he said, 'You have been teaching me grammar, but here I am taught a higher branch of knowledge, humility, submission, and patience.' To another friend he remarked, that it was useful sometimes to be brought low on a bed of sickness. It was in itself a trial, but we had in the midst of it this glorious consolation, that we could apply to an all-sufficient Redeemer for support.

"His case as yet did not appear particularly alarming. Nothing, to human view, was wanting, but some skilful physician to prescribe for him a few simple remedies. No such physician was at hand. Dr. Dalton, from the Jews' Society, would have been the man we wished, but he was at two days' distance, and the circumstances of his family were such, as to preclude every hope that he could leave it. We looked with some confidence for the divine bless

ing on the feeble means, to which our own experience, and a few standard medical books, directed us. We lifted up our hearts with our voice unto God in the heavens for deliverance. Perhaps our prayers were hindered by the presumption, that the great Head of the Church would not remove from the mission one who was, to human view, so important, and even necessary, to its prosperity.

"Wednesday morning, 19. He rose as usual, and occupied the sofa in an easy reclining posture, and appeared to enjoy some quiet sleep, but we have since suspected, that what seemed to be sleep, was chiefly stupor. His countenance was, towards evening, perceptibly more sunk, and he manifestly began to think his recovery doubtful. He said with a desponding air, to one of us, who stood surveying him, 'I don't know what you think of me.'-Together with restlessness and head ache, his fever was accompanied this evening by an involuntary starting of the muscles. To ease his head, we applied, as we had done once before, a few leeches. He grew suddenly very wild, and increasingly restless. Happening to touch the leeches on his face, he exclaimed, 'Oh, what is here!' When told, 'O,' said he, 'I know not what I am, nor where I am.' We hastened to remove him to his bed; but, in taking off his gown, he fainted, and lay for some time as if dying. In removing him, and managing his bleeding, he repeatedly asked, what we were doing, and who we were. We replied, "This is such a brother, and this is such an one.' 'O yes,' said he, 'the best friends that ever I had in my life, I am sure. God bless you.' This was a terrible night of constant uneasiness and delirium.

"Thursday morning, 20. It being evident that he was much reduced since yesterday, and would perhaps be unable to sustain a single additional paroxysm of fever, we consulted whether it would not be best to disclose to him our opinion of his case,

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