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PATRICK HENRY'S DEATH

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International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 20, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 19.

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PATRICK HENRY'S DEATH.

IN an age when it was fashionable to avow skeptical sentiments, Patrick Henry was always ready to defend the Christian faith. A member of the Episcopal Church, according to his latest biographer, Professor Tyler, he not infrequently received the communion. On such occasion his habit was to fast until he had been at the Lord's table, and then to spend the day in retirement.
One hour, at the close of the day, he spent in private prayer and meditation, and during it no one was suffered to intrude upon his privacy.
While he was Governor of Virginia, he was so alarmed at the spread of infidel sentiments among the young men of the State that he printed, at his own expense, an edition of Soame Jenyns' "View of the Internal Evidence of Christian Religion," and an edition of Butler's "Analogy." When he met a young man of skeptical tendencies he would give him one of these books. Doubtless the fact that the book was presented by the Governor of his State secured it an attention from the young Virginian which he might not have paid had it been distributed by a more humble colporter.
Patrick Henry wrote out an elaborate answer to Paine's "Age of Reason," but, being impressed by the replies to Paine then appearing in England, he directed his wife, shortly before his death, to destroy the manuscript, which she did.
In his last will, written by his own hand, he concluded thus: "This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed."
On June 6, 1799, his kindred being sent for, found him sitting in a large, old-fashioned arm-chair. He was dying from an incurable internal disease.
His physician, Dr. Cabell, was about to administer a preparation of mercury. Taking the vial in his hand, the dying man said, "I suppose, doctor, this is your last resort?"
"I am sorry to say, Governor, that it is," replied the doctor. "Acute inflammation of the intestine has already taken place; and unless it is removed, mortification will ensue, if it has not already commenced, which I fear."
"What will be the effect of this medicine, doctor?"
"It will give you immediate relief, or—" the doctor could not finish the sentence."You mean, doctor," said the sick man, "that it will give relief, or will prove fatal immediately."
"You can only live a short time without it, and it may relieve you."
"Excuse me, doctor, for a few moments," said Patrick Henry, drawing over his eyes the silk cap he wore. Holding the vial, he prayed aloud for his family, his country, and for his own soul. "Amen!" said he, and swallowed the medicine.
Dr. Cabell, who greatly loved the old patriot, had gone out upon the lawn, where, throwing himself under a tree, he wept bitterly. Mastering himself, he returned to the house and found his patient calmly watching the blood congealing under his finger-nails. The old orator fixed his eyes on Dr. Cabell, with whom he had held many discussions about the Christian religion.
"Doctor," said he, with great tenderness, "I wish you to observe how real and beneficial the religion of Christ is to a man about to die."
He then breathed so gently for a few minutes that those around him knew not when he breathed out his spirit.—Youth’s Companion.