When Dr. Carey was suffering from a dangerous illness,

He was asked,

“If Your sickness is fatal, what passage do you want as the text for your funeral sermon?”

He replied,

“Oh, 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 Your lovingkindness;

according to the multitude of Your tender mercies

blot out my transgressions.

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.”