Soon after he was taken ill, he remarked in allusion to his business, that he had thought it right in one instance, to decline the execution of an order, where more display of taste was required, than he could feel satisfied with; and this sacrifice, with some others of a similar kind, had afforded him peace: adding, "I do want to come clean out of Babylon." He said, the language had been much upon his mind: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow:" and also the words of our Saviour,--"If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me." Being in great pain, he said,--"You must pray for me, that my patience may hold out; I have indeed need of your prayers, for my sufferings are very great; but, bye and bye, perhaps I may be able to say, I have not had one pang too many." At another time, he supplicated thus: "Merciful Father, be pleased to grant me a little ease, O! Thou that makest the storm a calm, and sayest to the waves, Peace be still." Soon after which he lay quiet; and whilst tears of gratitude flowed down his cheeks, he said, "Do not disturb me; all is stillness,--what a mercy!" On one occasion, when feeling exceedingly depressed, he remarked, that the vessels he had visited, and the poor sailors were brought mentally to view, one after another, with much sweetness, and whilst he took no merit to himself, he desired to encourage others to do what they could for the good of the poor. At another time, after giving instructions to one of his sisters, to make some selection of tracts for the sailors on board a German vessel, then lying in the harbour, he observed: "Oh, what a field of labour there is! how I do wish that some one would take this up, for I feel as though I should be able to do very little more in it." His mind, during his illness, seemed filled with love and gratitude. He remarked, "I never felt so much love before, both to my family and friends; I do believe this illness will bind us more closely together than ever." And again: "Oh, how kind you are to wait upon me so; the Lord will reward you!" At another time, he said, "I had not thought to have been taken at this time of my life, but I am in such a critical state, that life hangs on a thread;--the pains of the body are what I seem most to dread."