OF ST PAUL'S EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS. BY THE LATE REV. WILLIAM MARSH, D.D., RECTOR OF BEDDINGTON, HONORARY CANON OF WORCESTER. WITH A PREFACE, BY HIS DAUGHTER, THE AUTHOR OF THE LONDON: JAMES NISBET AND CO., 21 BERNERS STREET. THIS brief exposition of St Paul's Epistle to the Romans was commenced by my beloved and revered father, during a lingering illness, towards the close of the year 1862. His mind had for a long time dwelt much on this Epistle; and as the attacks from which he suffered increased in severity and danger, his anxiety not to leave this little work unfinished increased also. Most touching was it to see him, during the intervals of comparative ease, exerting himself to dictate a few sentences at a time-for his last opportunity of spreading through the press the knowledge he loved so well, of the gospel of the grace of God. Several times he pursued his labour, which to him seemed only a mental recreation, until palpitation of the heart put an end to it for the time; and so earnest was his interest in this work, that his medical attendant suggested his life might be prolonged by the energy of his desire for its completion. It was ever one of the distinguishing features of his mind, alike intense in its tranquillity and tranquil in its intensity, to desire to accomplish, at all hazards to himself, any work which he undertook in order to promote the interests of the kingdom of Christ. It was this "spirit of a man sustaining his infirmity" which constrained him, during a temporary rally in the course of that illness, to attempt to resume his habit of preaching the afternoon sermon on Sunday. This he did with an energy and power which astonished his hearers, and caused a young officer in the army, who was acquainted with the risk of life which he thus incurred, to exclaim as he left the church, “Well, I never saw such pluck! That old veteran would march up to the cannon's mouth, at the order of his Commander-in-chief, without giving a thought to danger!" But the effort, in the midst of unconquered illness, was too great; and after one more repetition of it, a return of those attacks of the heart ensued, and he was again laid by, to enter his pulpit no more ; although to the last he continued to give Scriptural addresses from his sick-bed, or his wheel-chair in the Rectory or its grounds, where on different occasions from two hundred to five hundred persons assembled to hear him. Towards the close of the first week in January 1863, his illness alarmingly increased. From eight o'clock on Monday evening of the second week, until noon on the following day, his family, with his doctor, watched around his bed, believing that each hour would be his last. It was the week which had been set apart by many Christians, throughout the world, for special prayer. In London, amongst other places opened for a similar purpose, a daily prayermeeting was held at Freemasons' Hall. To the chairman of this assembly a note was forwarded from Dr Marsh's family, to ask the "Christians gathered together there to plead with God that, if it would best promote His glory, and the good of His Church, that lovely and beloved life might yet be spared for a season, with a measure of restoration to health." This petition was read, and one who was present at the time wrote, "Your request seemed to find a |