After the death of Mr. B. she and many more were like sheep having no shepherd, as to the public ministry; but the good shepherd of his own flock, who always hears the cries of the poor and needy, sent them once and again his dear servant by whose affectionate visits, she with many more of the Lord's household were fed and much refreshed. After this, she was left to get into a very indolent, cold, backsliding state, till between six and seven years past; it was, I hope, the Lord's good will, to direct my unworthy steps into these parts, and my first message was from our dear Lord's words to the disciples of John, Matt. xi. 6. Here her captivity was turned, as the streams in the south; and the Lord kept her soul remarkably lively, till he took her to himself. She would often speak of this happy season with peculiar delight, as being a reconciliation of her soul to God; nor do I ever remember seeing her seat empty in the house of God, at public service, unless in cases of sickness, or urgent necessity. She delighted in wisdom's ways: the blessed name of Jesus was as ointment poured forth to her soul. She never seemed happy but in thinking, reading, speaking, or hearing, of his goodness and power: I knew none more dead to the world than was my dear sister. She was left a widow, and continued so till death, with four children about sixteen years since, with a very small property; which heavy trial, by the grace of God she struggled through, with christian patience and fortitude. It was frequently said by her, that Christ was her husband who loved at all times, and kindly provided for all her, and her children's wants. She attended on my poor, weak labours, till the last seven days of her life. She was most tender and affectionate to all that she knew feared God, and of great use to many weak babes of the Lord's dear family; by telling them of the love, mercy and goodness of the Almighty to her, both in his kind providence and rich grace; by endeavouring to shew the most blessed Spirit's work on her own heart, and encouraging such to trust in and seek the Lord in all the means of his appointment: pointing to them that in the Lord Jehovah is their everlasting strength, and the only refuge in time of trouble and death. This made her a useful, choice, and much esteemed member in our little church; we loved her dearly, and consequently now miss her much: but the Lord be praised, our loss is her eternal gain. I see in her a blessed proof of the soul-comforting doctrine, the final perseverance of the saints. In the course of the last few years she has several times been confined to a sick bed, when no one expected she could survive. When she sent for me, (the first time,) on entering her room she exclaimed, with joyful emotion of soul, "Ah! sir, I am exceedingly glad to see you, my under shepherd; but I am no more afraid of death, than the bed I lie on !" Asking on what her confidence was fixed, she told 66 me, on the everlastin love of God the Father in Christ Jesus!" I said, my dear sister, f this is witnessed in your heart by the good Spirit, then are y eternally safe. She replied, "it is—and I am happy." I read ad went to prayer; she seemed sweetly resigned to the will of Gd. This was about four years ago; and shortly after, she was perfectly restored. Two years after this, she was again laid on the bed of affliction, suffering much pain; I visited her and found her rejoicing in the Lord. Though in great bodily pain, she spoke sweetly of the dying love of Jesus, the everlasting love of God the Father, the comforts of God the Spirit, and the consolations of a good hope through grace; also, of the blessings of God's covenant, a preached gospel, and the sweet communion of the saints. From this sickness the good Lord restored her in a few weeks; but during the trial she experienced many changes. The latter years of her life, the sense of hearing failed her much; this was a sore grief to her. I have seen the dear saint many times, leaning on her staff, stand during the whole of public service, because of deafness and stupor which beset her much in her last days. - On Christmas-day last, she was in the house of a dear brother in the faith, (a deacon in the church) whose partner in life is also a daughter in Israel, and was particularly attached to this aged saint; in the course of the day she was seized with violent spasms, her constant complaint, insomuch that the pain was scarcely to be endured; but her consolation was then so high in the Lord, that her poor, weak body, could hardly contain the joy of her heart, to the great comfort of all who were with her. A friend then present said, "my dear aged sister, what a mercy it is to be in the covenant favour of God!" She with rapture replied, "yes-Oh! it is indeed!-the everlasting love of God the Father, the precious blood and spotless righteousness of my dearest Redeemer, being witnessed to my heart by God the Holy Ghost, is now the immutable basis of my soul's dependence and salvation. Ah! blessed for ever be my covenant God-I know in whom I have believed-therefore will I sing, "A debtor to mercy alone, Of covenant mercy I sing; "For I now know, to the praise of the glory of his soul's comfort, though my poor, weak body is full of pain, that,— "The terrors of law and of God, With me can have nothing to do: My Saviour's obedience and blood, Hide all my transgressions from view." Thus she joyfully repeated that sweet hymn, and conversed on the blessings of salvation and the glories of heaven, in such a delightful way, that all present (and there were many) felt it good to be there. This continued but a short time, for the enemy was permitted to assault her sorely. On Wednesday, Jan. 12. by the assistance of one of her children, she came for the last time to chapel, and heard me from those sweet words in Eccles. iv. 9, 10. The good Lord was pleased so sweetly to water her soul, that she went home exclaiming, "bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits! Oh! what a feast has my soul had this night! The Lord be praised-the Lord be praised! Oh! how good is the word of the Lord to me, a poor, old, sinful, dying woman. Oh! I would not have missed this blessed blessing, for thousands of worlds! How good now to have the Son of God my Saviour, friend, husband, portion and love, in my latter days!" 66 A day or two after, she sat with her children and grand-daughter for a considerable time, speaking of the way the Lord had led her, and exhorting them to seek his face, saying, "I know that the time of my departure is at hand, and that my end will be peace." And added, "When I am dying, I beg you will not come to weep over me, so as to disturb my spirit." Her daughter, who is also a widow, said, “ My dear mother! when you are gone, what shall I do?" She replied, with sweetness in the countenance, "I never saw the righteous forsaken, nor their seed begging bread;" at the same time exhorting them to trust in the Lord. Looking in love on her grand-daughter, she said, "Who can tell, but you may be a seed to serve the Lord;" then continued reading the word of God, and in prayer and praising. She read the whole of this hymn, clear and loud, and then sung it to them, to their astonishment, with great cheerfulness : "Let worldly minds the world pursue, It hath no charms for me; Once I admired its trifles too, But grace hath set me free," &c. On Lord's day, Jan. 16th, our dear sister was taken so ill, with inflammation on the lungs, &c. that her decease appeared to be at hand; not seeing her at chapel, on enquiry I was informed the cause, but being very unwell myself, and on that blessed day engaged in the work given me to do, I begged my dear friends would see her. They found her greatly rejoicing in the Lord her righteousness, and singing, "Jesus, my all, to heaven is gone," &c. She spake sweetly of the dying love of the dear Redeemer, to all the friends, insomuch, that each found it good to be with her. And often repeated that excellent hymn, by Mr. Hart, "Ye children of God, by faith in his Son, Redeem'd by his blood, and with him made one," &c. Monday, the 17th, the powers of darkness pushed hard at her confidence, and she was tempted to call all in question. The enemy suggested, "What if you should be deceived! What if you should be wrong after all!" With many such evil things was satan permitted to harrass her on this day; but the Lord did not leave her. She had therefore many changes; and those that have none, fear not God; but in the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. 66 On Tuesday, about 10, A.M. I went to see her, for she had expressed a strong desire to see me again before she departed. As I entered her chamber she was in a quiet doze; her daughter remarked, " My mother is very happy; Oh! that I may be as she now is, when I have to die!" I said, if you are enabled to live as she has, a life of faith on the Son of God, you shall die your mother's blessed death. Then, on hearing my voice, the dear old saint, for a few moments, revived; her first words to me were, "Ah! sir, I am glad to see thee once more in this vale of sorrow,--Oh! how I long to be with Jesus my Lord,-Oh! how precious is he to my soul;-the enemy tries hard to make me fear, but my Lord says, Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God.-Oh! he says, fear not! · Does he not, my dear sir?" I replied, yes, he does, and that to thee! Fear not little flock; it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. He hath been with you, my dear sister, in six troubles, and he will not leave you in the seventh; for he is with his children to the world's end. She said, "I will trust, and not be afraid." I said, blessed are all they that wait for, and trust in him; for he giveth grace to meeten for glory. Then I read part of 51st Isa. the 34th and 103d Psalm, went to prayer, and after this stayed some time; but finding she got weaker, and inclined to sleep, I left her. About four, P.M. perceiving the vital spark was lingering, I said, my beloved friend, I hope the blessed Jesus is still your comfort, joy, and support. In a sweet soft tone, she replied, " He is―he is!" Pausing awhile, I then asked, are you still favoured with the Lord's lovetokens? She said, 66 My soul is in health-My soul is in health." I said, then, he is precious to thee? She said, "He is-He is." I said again, you will soon be with him; he is your only beloved! She replied most sweetly, "I shall-bless him, I shall soon be with, my dear Jesus, he is the altogether lovely, and I long to praise him as I ought." Then I said, your mind is easy-resting in his love. She said, "My mind's at rest-my mind's at rest!" Then grasping my hand-she spake no more. Finding the power of speech gone, yet her mental powers lively, I said, my dear sister, if you are not able to speak again, and you remain any time with us, your joy being still in the Lord; do, if you can, hold up your hand; she immediately did so, and seemed inclined again to rest, and I left her quite composed, a little before five o'clock. After this she raised her hands twice, and fell asleep in Jesus, at half-past six, in the seventy-eighth year of her mortal life. "They that sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him." "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: yea, saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." THE DYING BELIEVER'S PROSPECT. My lingering conflict's near a close, I soon shall be 'bove all my foes; Ah! now I feel my heart-strings break, I feel his pow'r, grace, love, and light, In all their brilliancy unite; I feel that death hath now no sting, Weep not for me, surrounding friends, Behold him stand, with out-stretch'd arms; I feel his blood hath made me whole. But now, Death shadows OPENING DAY! (For the Spiritual Magazine.) GLEANINGS OF A SABBATH-DAY. "The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth from all sin.”—1 John i. 7. THE blood of Jesus Christ we shall consider in four particulars— 1st. As it is the blood of his person. 2nd. As the blood of his covenant. 3rd. As the blood of his cross. 4th. As the blood of his sprinkling. 1st. As the blood of his person. The apostle, you observe, says emphatically, "His Son," as distinguished from all others, and which had been typified so long by the continual repetitions of the bloodsheddings under the law; hence, he is called," the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," because of the continued typification of him, by the slaying of lambs ever since the world began: and we do not find that the daily offering of a lamb in the morning, and a lamb in the evening, was ever, on any occasion, omitted. Besides this, there was a general expiation day, when the transgressions of the Israelites were laid on the head of the scape-goat, and when the high priest went into the holiest of all, with the blood. Blood, we find, was ever to be presented till the great Messiah came; "for almost all things were, by the law, purged with blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission." But as it was impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats should "take away sin," so it was utterly impossible that the blood of a mere creature, (granting him to be innocent,) should atone for the sins of the whole election of grace: the atoner must be more than human. Our Lord and heavenly Lamb must be a complex agent. Divinity |