The writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 6.
John Greenleaf Whittier, Ed.

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[142] self, a call to settle in a more advantageous position, he sat himself down once more in the midst of his reduced and impoverished parishioners, and, with no regular salary, dependent entirely on such free — will offerings as from time to time were made him, he remained with them until his death.

In 1776, Dr. Hopkins published his celebrated ‘Dialogue concerning the Slavery of the Africans; showing it to be the Duty and Interest of the American States to Emancipate all their Slaves.’ This he dedicated to the Continental Congress, the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. It was republished in 1785, by the New York Abolition Society, and was widely circulated. A few years after, on coming unexpectedly into possession of a few hundred dollars, he devoted immediately one hundred of it to the society for ameliorating the condition of the Africans.

He continued to preach until he had reached his eighty-third year. His last sermon was delivered on the 16th of the tenth month, 1803, and his death took place in the twelfth month following. He died calmly, in the steady faith of one who had long trusted all things in the hand of God. ‘The language of my heart is,’ said he, ‘let God be glorified by all things, and the best interest of His kingdom promoted, whatever becomes of me or my interest.’ To a young friend, who visited him three days before his death, he said, ‘I am feeble and cannot say much. I have said all I can say. With my last words, I tell you, religion is the one thing needful.’ ‘And now,’ he continued, affectionately pressing the hand of his friend, ‘I am ’