Chapter 9
only the righteous have hope in death to him who erects an imperishable monument to his fidelity to christ by labors abundant and constant for the good of others death has no sting rev j e widmire of virginia conference died at the early age of twenty-seven perfect trust gave him inexpressible joy in his last few days the triumphs so bravely and gloriously achieved on life's battle-field seemed to merge into one grand victory when the final struggle came he could say all is right i have no fears for myself my only concern is for others to his aged parents who are not permitted to be present he sent this message tell them that the religion they taught me at the family altar and elsewhere has been a source of great comfort to me in my last days soldier of christ well done begin thy new employ sing while eternal ages run thy master and his joy rev cornelius s maile a m the very useful career of this man of god terminated december eighteenth eighteen eighty two being a hebrew scholar of rare excellence he took great comfort in repeating aloud certain portions of scripture especially the twenty-third psalm in the original while his wife was singing in the sight of jordan's billows let thy bosom be my pillow c
he turned with a pleasing look and said yes oh yes i'm sweeping through christ is leading home home with christ though little inclined ordinarily to laughter he would frequently in his closing days laugh heartily and say oh i feel so happy to his wife he spoke his last audible words on earth esther meet me i'll be looking for you mr maylie was ten years a member of east pennsylvania conference faithful servant fare thee well with the holy thou dost dwell thou art free from toil and pain fare thee well we'll meet again bishop john j glossbrenner d d say ye to the righteous that it shall be well with him so it was with the devout bishop glossbrenner when he had reached the end of his earthly pilgrimage january seventh eighteen eighty seven mr john dodds of dayton ohio a warm personal friend of the bishop spent a day or two with him shortly before his death and found him in a most blessed frame of mind
when the subject of preaching was referred to he said if i could preach again just once more i would preach jesus i would preach from his words to the disciples on the sea of galilee it is i be not afraid as mr dodds was leaving he looked back one a few paces from the house and to his surprise the bishop had gotten out of his bed unassisted and was standing by the door he was visibly affected and with hand uplifted and tears running down his cheeks said tell my brethren it is all right my home is over there to another he said my title is clear but not because i have preached the gospel but alone by the love and mercy and grace of our lord jesus christ rely on nothing but jesus christ with an experimental knowledge of acceptance with god through the merits of jesus in view of his rapidly approaching end he said to his pastor i shall not be here much longer when asked about the future his reply was everything is as bright as it can be what a blessing it is to have a saviour at a time like this his last whispered words were my saviour
with saints enthroned on high thou dost thy lord proclaim and still to god salvation cry salvation through the lamb end of section nine read by aletheia
