twelve o'clock before
The note stated , briefly , that the writer was so much indisposed , that he would not be able to preach on the next day , and conveyed the request that `` Brother Adkin '' would `` fill the pulpit for him in the morning . '' Brother Adkin almost groaned in spirit at this unwelcome and not-to-be-denied invitation to perform ministerial duties on the Sabbath . Of theological subjects , scarcely a thought had entered his mind since Monday morning ; and , certainly , the states through which he had passed were little calculated to elevate his affections , or make clear his spiritual intuitions . It was twelve o'clock before Mr. Adkin was able to retire on that night . As he rested his weary and now aching head on his pillow , he endeavoured to turn his mind from worldly things , and fix it upon things heavenly and eternal . But , the current of thought and affection had too long been flowing in another channel . The very effort to check its onward course , caused disturbance and obscurity .