ed; he had even made it sufficient to relieve the necessity of a friend, or the distress of the poor." to have them cleared up; and frequently people of the world asked his advice how to resist the temptations to which they were exposed." To persons of every station of life his writings were useful; and by all ranks his character was respected and beloved. As yet Gellert held no other situation in the university than that of professor extraordinary, no chair of professor in ordinary having become vacant in the faculty to which he belonged. Mr. Mitchell, English envoy to the court, solicited an increase of his emoluments, but in a letter to Count Bruhl, Gellert strongly op posed this endeavour "to procure me," as he expressed it, "a pension in such distressing times, in which our country suffers so much misery." The chair of professor in ordinary becoming vacant by the death of Dr. Muller in 1761, was offered to Gellert; but he positively declined it from the most laudable motive; he felt, that in his infirm state of health, he was unequal to the du ties of the situation. "His wants," observes the biographer, "were few, because he was very moderate in all his desires, and that he neither sought the conveniences nor amusements, which others consider as necessary. He confided in Divine Providence." In fact, scarcely a year passed in which he did not receive very considerable presents by the post: and on the death of M. de Mascow, his pension of four hundred and eighty-five crowns was transferred to the reluctant Gellert. This increased revenue supplied him with those comforts which his increasing infirmities demand. The narrative of his behaviour ed; though slender as his income in his last hours is minute and exwas till then, he had never want- tremely affecting: we should on Towards the close of Gellert's life an unhappy spirit of discord arose in the university: he alone, by exhortations and expostulations, succeeded in quelling it. Notwithstanding his mental depression, he enjoyed, by the force of religion, much inward tranquillity during the last five years of his life; and, as he perceived the slow approach of death, his diligence in benefitting others, and his zeal for their spiritual welfare, seem to have increased. "The lessons," to use the ele gant language of his biographer, "which came from his lips had the charm of a fine summer's evening, at the moment when the sun sheds his last beams, and his absence deprives nature of its lustre, without taking from its beauty." He prepared his moral lessons for the press, but did not live to superintend their publication, Still his malady gained ground. He twice again, by the advice of his physicians, visited Carlsbadt, Every means, which friendship and medical skill could suggest was tried in vain. The Elector' presented him with the gentlest and most safe of his horses; testifying an anxiety for his recovery worthy of the imitation of those, whose situation in life enables them to encourage talents and pi ety. But Gellert was not long able to use it; a painful constipation was added to his other disor ders, and he expired in 1769 with the triumphant composure of a christian. ly weaken its effect by attempting to compress it: we shall therefore give it entire. "During his last illness, a firm, but ever humble confidence in the mercy of God, through Jesus Christ, appeared to elevate him above himself; and melancholy, the constant companion of his life, did not dare follow him to the confines of eternity. He was delivered from his apprehensions, and, nevertheless, preserved a constant sense of his imperfections, and of his unworthiness in the sight of the Supreme Being. He fixed his thoughts on the beatitude to which he was approaching; and, to console his friends, distracted by the conviction that medical art tried in vain to prolong his days, he conversed with them on the glorious prospect before him. “When Gellert had completed his temporal arrangements, mastering his weakness and his pains, he sat up, and uncovering his head, the hairs of which already begun to whiten, he pronounced aloud such fervent prayers, animated with so deep a sentiment of humility, of gratitude, and of love for his God; his looks rais ed to heaven expressed such a profound peace, so celestial a joy, that it seemed to his friends as if they saw the image of a holy patriarch, a Jacob on his death-bed blessing his children. He endeavoured to recal to his remembrance all the particular blessings he had received from Divine Goodness; he specifically named all those of his friends who were still alive, many of his absent disciples, and recommended them in his prayers to the Divine favour and protection. But he did not wholly confine himself to the blessings he had received; he re called to his mind his faults, his weaknesses, and that with such a degree of humility, as produced an indelible impression on the minds of those present. This prayer was pronounced with a weak, but very intelligible voice; and the fire of devotion with which it was animated, filled their eyes with tears, and their hearts with a respect for his piety, beyond what they ever felt before. "After having conversed and prayed for some time, he fell back on his bed, continued his meditations in silence, and thus prepar ed himself for the conversation of a worthy ecclesiastic in whom he had much confidence, and from whose hands he wished to receive the holy sacrament for the last time. On the entrance of this friend, the manner in which Gellert spoke to him of his death, shewed that nothing disturbed the inward calm of his mind. He was very attentive to all the words uttered by the pious minister; but nothing affected him more, nor excited in his heart a more lively sentiment of joy, than the consideration of the infinite love of the Redeemer towards mankind; and this sentiment was accompanied with the most profound respect, and the sincerest humility. When amongst the passages of scripture suited to his situation, these words taken from the history of Lazarus were pronounced, Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick penetrated with the sense of this passage, Ah,' exclaimed he, might I be happy enough to be allowed to apply these words to myself!' His pastor and his friend making him sensible that the christian,who seeks salvation only in the merits of his Saviour, may be certain he is the peculiar object of his love, he immediately applied this consoling promise to himself: Yes, I hope it, O my Saviour, I hope that thou lovest me as one of thine own.' "The power of these sentiments so far exceeded that of his sufferings, that, in the midst of the most violent pains, no complaint fell from his lips, only he requested his friends to pray for One of these having asked him whether he suffered much? 'Most assuredly,' replied the pious sufferer, but these pains are supportable. You have already ¿ endured many evils with firmness and resignation,' added his friend, 'you will still continue to suffer with Christian fortitude, that religion which has strengthened you during your life, will support you in the hour of death.' Alas, my dear friend,' replied Gellert. I am a weak man, a poor sinner; pray for me that I may not yield to temptation. Sincere as was this confession, as sincerely did he think himself certain of obtaining pardon, through the merits of the Redeemer. "On hearing of his danger, Mr. Heyer came to Leipsick to see him; the moment Gellert perceived him, he said,' This is a truth, and worthy to be received of all men, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners; this, my dear friend, this is my confession of faith on my death bed. But,' continued he with visible joy, 'mercy has been extended to me; yes, God extends his mercy to me; this is what I moreover acknowledge; it is in this hope that I live, and am going to die.' He then set himself to exalting aloud, and in the most affecting man ner, the infinite mercy of God: "These pious dispositions manifested themselves particularly in his last communion; and though his illness had already reduced him to a deplorable state, he collected all his remaining strength, in order to acknowledge his faults, and make his confession of faith; and the ardent zeal with which he was animated, must have absorbed, at that moment, all his sense of suffering. He applied to himself all the promises of grace, which the deeply affected minister placed before him from the Gospel, with the utmost ardour, and with a tone of voice which announced the celestial joy with which his heart overflowed; he called on those who witnessed this act of religion to edify themselves, with him, and to celebrate the glory of the Divine mercy. He at the same time assured the minister, that he had never felt so entirely the comfort and efficacy of the evangelical promises; and that at this, more than at any other time, he felt how much those are to be pitied who refuse to seek their consolation in the Saviour's merits. Notwithstanding the violence of his disorder, nothing could disturb the courage and serenity of his soul; and he discovered none of those marks of weakness, which are too often seen in similar circumstances, even in true Christians. "The physicians, in the mean time, tried every thing their art could suggest, to save his life. The news of his desperate state reached the Elector: much affected by the situation of this most useful citizen, he ordered the able Demiani to go to Leipsick, and to join his endeavours with those of the university phy sicians, to save a life he so much valued, and desired to have an exact account of the success of their united efforts. Gellert submitted to all their experiments with admirable patience and courage; no complaint escaped him, though out of four and twenty hours he was constantly obliged to pass sixteen under the surgeon's hands. All, however, was in vain, neither the skill and assiduity of his physicians, the zeal and friendship by which they were animated, nor the kind attention of his sovereign, could arrest the departure of that life, which every one so ardently wished should be prolonged. In the midst of the violent pains attending on an inflamation of the bowels, the pious sufferer was occupied with the passion of his Saviour, who he said, had suffered infinitely more to obtain for him the pardon of his sins; and his soul was so entirely absorbed in the contemplation of this salutary death, that he appeared little alive to the sense of his own sufferings. So much strength and courage does religion communicate to the dying Christian ! "The fresh proof he received of the interest taken in him by the elector, on the arrival of the physician belonging to the court, excited his gratitude, and he loudly praised God for this consolation. But,' added he, as if fear ful of yielding too much to the pleasure it gave him; let us not place our trust in princes, they cannot help us, however good they may be, and whatever desire they may have to be useful to us; my help comes from God!' When M. Demiani expressed to him the esteem and affection the prince had for him, and the alarm his VOL. IV. New Series. B illness occasioned at court, Gellert shed tears of gratitude. He fervently prayed for the prosperity of so good a sovereign, and for that of all his family. The suf ferings of our Saviour being constantly in his thoughts, he com pared afresh his state with that of Jesus on the cross; observing that mere subject as he was, he died honoured with the compassion of his prince, whilst the Redeemer of mankind had not even obtained justice from men. At a moment when the disorder seemed to have attained its height, he exclaimed with a sigh, Ō what sufferings! But,' resumed he immediately, what are those sufferings in comparison of those of my Saviour! He was reviled by those about him; and I, unworthy creature, experience the good will of my prince!" Thus he intermixed acts of thanks for temporal benefits, with testimonies of gratitude for the great blessing of redemption; and thus in prayers, continually renewed, he implored without ceasing his pardon, and the completion of his salvation. His intimate friends resident at Dresden, and in particular his beloved Wagner, had hastened to see him; he consoled them with the most affecting tenderness, and required from them no other office than that they would pray for him, and help him to elevate his mind to God, when the violence of his disorder should make it impossible for him to pray himself with uninterrupted fervour. I find it difficult,' said he, to follow what is addressed to me, only repeat to me the name of Jesus; whenever I pronounce it or hear it pronounced by others, I feel myself animated with new strength, and fresh joy. Full of these sentiments, his deliverance drew nigh. His extenuated body decayed gradually; his soul maintained itself in that happy tranquillity arising from hope. The day preceding his death, some hours' rest gave him power to renew his prayers for his sovereign, his relations, and friends, and the disciples who had been entrusted to his care; he named them all and blessed them. His wishes in their behalf was his only return to the world he was leaving. At length he thought he felt the final approaches of death, and wished to know of his friends how much longer he might have to struggle with it. On being answered, perhaps an hour; God be praised,' said he, with looks of joy, and raising his hands, only one more hour l' Then with a still more serene countenance, he turned on his side, prayed to God in silence, and in the midst of this prayer, and those of all present, who surrounded his bed, he slept the sleep of death, on the 13th of December, 1769, at midnight." The death of Gellert was universally lamented throughout Germany and his brother, the superintendant of the post, survived the grief of his loss but a month. In literature he has by some been thought superficial; but though depth of reasoning was not the peculiar excellence of his compositions, he was not defective in conclusive argumentation. His distinguishing merit, however as a writer, consists in the vi vacity of his imagination, in his accurate knowledge of the human heart, in his discriminating delineation of character, in the exquisite pathos of his exhortations, and a bove all in the Christian piety which pervades almost every sentence. He is described as having a most scrupulous regard for "every arrangement established in society, in the state, and among those of his own condition" In this age of indiscriminate innovation, if Gellert erred, he erred on that side where error is least pernicious. If he was too fearful of reform, he thought more correctly than those who pursue whatever wears the semblance of it with intemperate zeal. Possessed of enlightened benevolence, he constantly endeavoured to promote both the temporal and everlasting happiness of his fellow creatures. With a slender revenue he was more liberal than many who live in affluence. "His moderation constituted his riches." On one occasion when a present was offered him, "I want for nothing," said Gellert, "and many more deserving people are in indigence; give them what you had the goodness to intend for me." In such a mind it is unnecessary to add, that friendship glowed with the purest flame. It But perhaps one of the most peculiar features in the character of Gellert was his humility. was not that false shame, that disguised vanity, which frequently prevents men of talents from benefiting society as much as they might; it was a just consciousness of human imperfection, which led him to court the advice of his friends, to submit his compositions to their examination, and to be thankful for their cen |