Memoirs of Abner Kingman Nott, Late Pastor of the First Baptist Church in the City of New York; With Copious Extracts from His Correspondence

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1860. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIX. His Last Acts And Words--Death. The logic of events is often, to appearance, faulty. An expected, and, so far as visible data are concerned, a legitimate sequence fails to occur, and instead--an issue that blankly negatives, if that were possible, the plain facts that preceded! A sudden calamitous event frequently stuns with its illogicalness, before it overwhelms us with its woe. Thus, indeed, the heart is spared; more hearts would be broken but for this; a blow falls first on the reason, and amazes it with the, sense of contradiction; reason staggers to and fro--back to what she knew--forward to what seems--not believing both are real--doubtful which is the lie; reason must recover, and be able to comprehend the sorrow, before she can wholly reveal it to the heart. To what did all things point, in the condition of Kingman Nott--that happy spring of 1859--to what did all things point, but to long life, and growing transcendent usefulness? So many fortunate traits; so complete a character; so great and various abilities; such power of persuasion, attraction and command; a spirit, so purified; withal, such vitality, such far-anticipating vigor; for what had these gifts been com0 municated, for what had such a being been constituted and disciplined, why this care in the preparation of an instrument, unless for some long-continued, perhaps toilsome but noble service? Yet the youthful pastor, in the full vigor of his powers, usefulness, and hopes, was now hastening--not to higher achievements--but to the grave. Nothing foretokened it; his step was elastic, his path broad, smooth, and prosperous to the verge. Yet, had he no presentiment? Already what he wrote in college has been quoted: --I have often thought that my career might be brief. Often ...