Robert Goodbody Journal

I can without glasses read the smallest print by candlelight. I don't think that I ever had at any time good talents, perhaps at times I think I had not one, but I am conscious of never having improved what I had as I ought. I must acknowledge that through life I have been guilty of many sins of commission, and was it not for the trust that I have in the goodness and mercy of God which followed me all my life, I should despair of my future happiness. I recollect when Samuel Emlin was attacked with illness a few hours before his death, he said * "that he thanked God for the hope that he had in his mercy". He was a person who spent a long life in the service of his maker, but on the contrary have been a weak erring mortal, and it is wonderful to me to think that I can hold the same feelings respecting myself. I have been most wonderfully blessed with good children who live in love with them selves and I hope maintain a character for uprightness in their dealings. They, some at least, have been wonderfully blessed with the good things of this life, and I sincerely wish that they may not forgot the giver, nor allow themselves to be elated with riches, or train up their families in improper indulgence, which in the end will tend to their great less. As to myself I have been wonderfully blessed with independence in my old age, which if it had been otherwise I believe it would have gone very hard with me, and perhaps shortened my days. But such has been my mannifold obligations to the Almighty that I often feel

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* I find now that it was at J.Gurney Bevens house in London that S.Emlin being ill in bed used these expressions.

** I find that I am mistaken in Samuel Emlin haven spoken these words. His saying was of a very different character. I presume that I read of some other friend having expressed it.

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