Sampson? Since his death, certain letters to his son have been given to the press, and in these we find an answer to the inquiry. It appears, that while at the court of St. Petersburg, in 1811, he commenced a series of letters to his absent child, on the study of the Bible "the Divine revelation," as he called it. In these he remarks, " I have myself, for many years, made it a prac- tice to read through the Bible once every year. I have always endeavored to read it with the same spirit and temper of mind which I now recommend to you ; that is, with the intention and desire that it may contribute to my advancement in wisdom and virtue. My custom is, to read four or five chapters every morning, immediately after rising from my bed. It employs about half an>hour of my time, and seems to me the most suitable manner of beginning the day." The followmg advice to his son seems both indicative of his own future course, and pro- phetic of its glorious termination :—" j^ever give way to the pushes of impudence, wrong-headiness, or intracta- bility, which would lead or draw you aside from the dic- tates of your own conscience and your own sense of right.
Till you die, let not your integrity depait from you.
Build your house upon the rock, and then let the rains descend, and the flood come, and the winds blow, and beat upon that house, it shall not fall. So promises your blessed Lord and Master." In a most wonderful manner was this promise fulfilled '.ii his own case, even in the present world. But there is a day approaching, when the secrets of all hearts shall be laid open, and when every man shall come to judgment. Then will those who have in this life pursued expediency in preference to duty, learn, when too late, that " the wisdom of this world is fooUshness with God."