Death of Halyburton

Thomas Halyburton was an important minister in the early 18th century in Scotland: he had a great impact on the direction of the Scottish church towards orthodoxy. He ministered only twelve years: ten as minister of the parish of Ceres in Fife, and two as professor of theology at St. Andrews. He died young and in a painful way. Yet, his weakness and pain could not stop the praises of Halyburton to the very end of his life. He said on his death-bed when death was near, "When I fall so low that I am not able to speak, I will show you a sign of triumph when I am near glory, if I be able."

And he did. In his last act, "He lifted up his hands and clapped them"!