When Dr. Carey was suffering from a serious illness, he was asked, "If this sickness would prove fatal, what passage would you select as the text for your funeral sermon?" He replied, "I feel that such a poor, sinful creature is unworthy to have anything said about him. But if a funeral sermon must be preached, let it be from the words, 'Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions'" (Psalm 51: 1). In the same spirit of humility, he directed in his will that the following inscription, and nothing more, should be cut on his gravestone:
WILLIAM CAREY, BORN AUGUST 17th, 1761;
DIED--.
"A wretched, poor, and helpless worm,
On Thy kind arms I fall."
The best of men are conscious, above all others, that they are men at the best. We need the Lord's mercy on our good works, our prayers, our preachings, our alms-givings, and our holiest things. The blood was not only sprinkled on the door-posts of Israel's houses, but on the sanctuary, the mercy seat, and the altar; as sin intrudes into our holiest things, the blood of Jesus is needed to purify them from defilement.