Magic Statistics

Two straight guys in Toronto want to get married—for the tax breaks. I think they're crazy but, now that Canada's marriage laws are changed so that any two people can get married, well, what did you expect? But wait—a gay activist is urging caution: "People who don't marry for love will find themselves in trouble." Maybe he's got a point. I mean, we're wandering into uncharted waters here. Who knows where we'll end up?

via Bourque.

UPDATE: They've called it off.

The latest in an occasional series of prayers by Christians of ages past. Previous entry here; complete list of entries here.

Dr Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) is probably, after Shakespeare, the most quoted writer in the English language. He was a man of many literary talents—critic, lexicographer, travel writer, novelist, moralist, and poet. In religious matters, he was well-known as a High-Church Anglican and, like many of that tendency, struggled with lack of assurance and attempted to earn God's approval through works. In his prime, he firmly rejected the idea that anyone can be assured of salvation. He was also prone to severe bouts of melancholy and depression, and he suffered all his life from the effects of a childhood illness. However, his biographer James Boswell tells us that, in the last months of his life, Samuel Johnson did indeed trust in Jesus; his fears were calmed and he spoke about the necessity of faith in Christ's sacrifice beyond all good works.

This is Samuel Johnson's last prayer, written and uttered as he was about to partake of Holy Communion for the last time:

Almighty and most merciful Father, I am now, as to human eyes it seems, about to commemorate, for the last time, the death of your Son Jesus Christ our Saviour and Redeemer. Grant, O Lord, that my whole hope and confidence may be in his merits and his mercy; enforce and accept my imperfect repentance; make this commemoration confirm my faith, establish my hope and enlarge my charity, and make the death of your Son Jesus Christ effectual to my redemption. Have mercy upon me and pardon the multitude of my offenses. Bless my friends, have mercy upon all. Support me, by the grace of your Holy Spirit, in the days of weakness and at the hour of death; and receive me, at my death, to everlasting happiness, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Samuel Johnson lived trusting in his own obedience, but he died trusting in Jesus Christ.

Shown here is a memorial statue of Samuel Johnson, which I saw behind St Clement Danes Church, Fleet Street, London.

A brief biography of Dr Johnson is here. The text of Boswell's Life of Johnson is now online.

UPDATE (29 Oct.): Post on St Clement Danes Church here.