The Soul of Abraham LincolnBarton, William E. (William Eleazar)
Religion
The Soul of Abraham Lincoln
Barton, William E. (William Eleazar)
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Religion; Presidents -- United States -- Biography
"With great gentleness Lincoln drew up the document disposing of the
property as the woman desired. Neighbors and relatives were present,
making it unnecessary to call on Greene to witness the instrument.
After the signing and witnessing of the will the woman turned to
Lincoln and said, with a smile:
"'Now I have my affairs for this world arranged satisfactorily. I am
thankful to say that long before this I have made preparation for the
other life I am so soon to enter. Many years ago I sought and found
Christ as my Saviour. He has been my stay and comfort through the
years, and is now near to carry me over the river of death. I do not
fear death, Mr. Lincoln. I am really glad that my time has come, for
loved ones have gone before me and I rejoice in the hope of meeting
them so soon.'
"Instinctively the friends drew nearer the bedside. As the dying woman
had addressed her words more directly to Lincoln than to the others,
Lincoln, evincing sympathy in every look and gesture, bent toward her
and said:
"'Your faith in Christ is wise and strong; your hope of a future life
is blessed. You are to be congratulated in passing through life so
usefully, and into the life beyond so hopefully.'
"'Mr. Lincoln,' said she, 'won't you read a few verses out of the
Bible for me?'
"A member of the family offered him the family Bible. Instead of
taking it, he began reciting from memory the twenty-third Psalm,
laying emphasis upon 'Though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy
staff they comfort me.' Still without referring to the Bible, Lincoln
began with the first part of the fourteenth chapter of John:
"'Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in
me.
"'In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
"'And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.'
"After he had given these and other quotations from the Scriptures, he
recited various familiar comforting hymns, closing with 'Rock of Ages,
cleft for me.' Then, with a tenderness and pathos that enthralled
everyone in the room, he spoke the last stanza--
"'_While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I rise to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee._'
"While Lincoln was reciting this stanza a look of peace and
resignation lit up the countenance of the dying woman. In a few
minutes more, while the lawyer and the printer were there, she passed
away.
"The journey back to Springfield was begun in silence. It was the
younger man who finally said:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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