appeared to be quieter and more resigned. His approaching dissolution was always present to his mind. A few days before he died, Mr. Langton and myself only present, he said he had been a great sinner, but he hoped he had given no bad example to his friends ; that he had some consolation in reflecting that he had never denied Christ, and repeated the text ' Whoever denies me, &C. 1 ' We were both very ready to assure him that we were conscious that we were better and wiser from his life and con versation ; and that, so far from denying Christ, he had been, in this age, his great champion 2 .
Sometimes a flash of wit escaped him as if involuntary. He was asked how he liked the new man that was hired to watch by him. 'Instead of watching,' says he, e he sleeps like a dormouse; and when he helps me to bed he is awkward as a turnspit dog the first time he is put into the wheel V
The Christian religion was with him such a certain and estab lished truth, that he considered it as a kind of profanation to hold any argument about its truth 4 .
He was not easily imposed upon by professions to honesty and candour ; but he appeared to have little suspicion of hypocrisy in religion 5 .
His passions were like those of other men, the difference only lay in his keeping a stricter watch over himself 6 . In petty circumstances this wayward disposition appeared, but in greater things he thought it worth while to summon his recollection and be always on his guard. . . . [To them that loved him not] as
1 St. Matthew x. 33. acquaintance, led him to talk on the
2 Hawkins records on Nov. 29 evidences of Christianity. Ib. i. 398, (ante, ii. 127): 'Mr. Langton, who 404,428,444,454. See also v. 109, had spent the evening with him, re- n. 3.
ported that his hopes were increased, 5 * For neither man nor angel can
and that he was much cheered upon discern
being reminded of the general ten- Hypocrisy, the only evil that
dency of his writings and of his walks
example.' Invisible, except to God alone,
3 Life, iv. 411. By his permissive will, through
4 Nevertheless he wished to have Heav'n and Earth.'
more evidence of the spiritual Paradise Lost, iii. 682.
world.' Ib. ii. 150; iii. 298 ; iv. 298. 6 Life, iv. 396 ; ante, i. 453. Boswell, in the beginning of their
VOL. II. Q rough
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