Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

ACCOUNT OF THE LATE MRS. M. V. WIFE OF
THOMAS V. Esq.

THE memory of the just is blessed, and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance. Hence the Psalmist addressing God as the God of salvation, unto whom belong the issues from death, adds, "But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice; let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them; let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous, with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." This passage may well lead our minds to the security of those glorified spirits, who while here were the devoted followers of God as dear children, and are now rejoicing in the possession of those pleasures which are at their Redeemer's right hand for evermore; and may induce us to meditate afresh on the consoling assurance of which the Apostle wished his brethren not to be ignorant, that as Jesus died and rose again, so them which sleep in Jesus shall God bring with him,

Such thoughts arise naturally in the mind, when contemplating the removal of true believers; and especially when we have long been favoured with their intimate acquaintance and friendship. Mrs. V. the subject of this brief account, was a woman of an excellent spirit, who through divine grace promoted the glory of her God, and was in her own circle a praise in the earth. She truly feared the Lord from her youth, and delighted to do his will. Being early called to the knowledge of herself as a sinner, and of Christ as a suitable Saviour, she began and continued in the daily exercise of prayer to her heavenly Father, both in secret and with her family. In those refreshing seasons of devotional retirement, enjoying spiritual communion with her covenant God, and with his Son Jesus Christ, DEC. 1826.

1

she could indeed say from the heart, "O Lord I have waited for thee; the desire of my soul is to thy name and to the remembrance of thee. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto me, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me, put not thy servant away in anger, thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation."

[ocr errors]

The Holy Scriptures were her daily companion and constant study. The gracious promises therein recorded became her comfort, support, and spiritual food. She could in truth say, the law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea sweeter than honey to my mouth. Through thy precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way." When the sacred

volume has been before her, I have frequently observed her whole faculties so much occupied in the wonders of redeeming mercy, that she has seemed like one whose soul was in the heavenly regions, while her body was on earth; and was evidently breathing after eternal life, and anxiously wishing to depart, and to be with Christ. In those happy hours, I have often found occasion to express my inward feelings as Peter did his, and say, Lord, it is good for us to be here!"

[ocr errors]

This amiable woman endea.. voured strictly to adhere to the Apostle's rule, which enjoins that "whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do, we should do all to the glory of God, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ." In her ordinary meals, when the bounties of Pro

3 N

vidence were spread for her reception, the presence, loving-kindness, and blessing of Him, " who giveth us richly all things to enjoy," were earnestly requested. Her heart

was evidently affected with the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, and her eyes were invariably directed to "things above," the seat of her future happiness.

Often would she confess, in the language of Jacob, "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast showed unto thy servant:" and she evinced the deep sense she entertained of her obligations by liberally contributing to the relief of others. Her private charities were immense.-For above thirty years she continued her bounty to many poor families, supplying them with money and wearing apparel. Her heart, hand, and purse were at all times open; though her numerous charities were known to few, except those who received them. She was very exact in remembering the sabbath day, to keep it holy it was to her a delight; "the holy of the Lord, honourable:" in which she was not doing her own way, nor finding her own pleasure, nor speaking her own words, but " delighted herself" in the service of her God. She was strongly attached to the Liturgy of our Establishment; and though she never confined herself to any one minister, yet her habit was to attend any church where Christ was held forth in the glories of his finished salvation. On this sacred day, when free from indisposition, she was very regular in attending the means of grace, within the courts of the sanctuary, and would always be in time to join the minister in offering up to the throne of mercy our admirable prayers ;which, in her estimation, were among the things that pertain unto life and godliness, and consequently ought to be read in the ost devotional manner. When

prevented from attending the temple of the Lord, by a complaint which followed her all her days, she constantly united with her affectionate husband in reading the Church Service at home: but when her incurable malady so grievously afflicted her as to compel her to absent herself for some time from the Church of Christ, she would "mourn" on account thereof, and lament the cause which kept her from joining with the assemblies of God's people, to "worship him in spirit and in truth, and in the beauty of holiness." She evidently looked through an earthly sabbath to an eternal one, and considered the church below as representing in miniature that above. On those trying occasions, the language of her inmost soul to "the God of her fathers' was, "how amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." Not only was she desirous that her own soul might be saved, but was particu larly anxious for that of others. In promoting this wish of her heart she was very attentive in seeing that her servants constantly attended the Church of God on every returning sabbath; and was generally in the habit of questioning them respecting the services of the Lord's house, in which they had been engaged, for the purpose of knowing the text, and the spiritual good they had derived from worshipping the Almighty, and hearing of his great salvation.

[ocr errors]

At length the time drew near when this eminent saint and citizen of the upper world was to be "taken away from the evil to come," and be united to the highly blessed society of "the" glorified

[ocr errors]

spirits of just men made perfect;" whose sole happiness is the effect of their being washed in the blood of Christ, "clothed with the garments of salvation, covered with

the robe of righteousness, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God."

[ocr errors]

But

Early in the summer, as she was one morning descending a flight of stairs, she unfortunately put her feet upon a kitten, which caused her to fall with so much violence as to break two of her ribs. Although medical aid was as soon as possible obtained, yet from this alarming accident she never recovered; but entered into the Psalmist's experience, and with him united in saying, Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion, according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.”Though her sufferings were exceedingly severe, and lasted a considerable period, she patiently "waited all the days of her appointed time, till her change came," without murmuring or repining. She well knew that her good and gracious God was doing "all things well," in preparing her for her future happiness, "and that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom." She was uncommonly resigned to the will of her heavenly Father, being well convinced that our light " affliction, which is for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Though inany "wearisome nights,' and restless moments, were appointed to her," yet, her mind was composed and established in peace.

When at intervals the pains of her body were in some measure abated, her dear husband used to pray with her, which greatly tended to increase her spiritual comfort. Knowing that death was making rapid advances towards her, and "that she was going to the house

appointed for all living," she made every necessary arrangement preparatory to her taking leave of this world. Being now near her 'long home,' and the last step of her existence on earth, the dying experience of David became to her soul exceedingly valuable, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil : for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff comfort me." For as goodness and mercy" have "followed me all the days of

[ocr errors]

my life, I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." .. For thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

66

The disease reduced her bodily frame to a very emaciated state, until at length at the age of seventyone years, she was gathered unto her fathers in peace,' " and came to her grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season.

May her good deeds excite others to imitate her example, in “remembering without ceasing her work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father," and become "followers of" her, "who through faith and patience inherits the promises" of everlasting life. She is now "blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus," and is " filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." Being " absent from the body," she is "present with the Lord." Having done with the sorrows of the cross, she is now possessing the eternal joys of the celestial crown. Out "of great tribulation" she is now happily brought. Her clothing is "the Robe of" the Redeemer's " righteousness," and "the garments of salvation." Her employment is "singing the song of Moses and the Lamb." She is now enjoying an eternal Sabbath,

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

shall " give up the dead," in which truly solemn period her soul and body shall again form one indissoluble union of redeemed perfection "for a habitation of God through the Spirit," to "be ever with the Lord." She is, therefore, possessing a heavenly day without night, and life without death. Through her dear Redeemer's mercy she has exchanged sorrow for joy; a fading cross for an eternal crown; disease for health; death for an endless life, and the accumulating miseries of this earth for the glorious blessings of that peaceful world, where "the inhabitants shall not say I am sick;" for "the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." Well may we then adopt the inspired lan"blessed are guage and exclaim,

the dead which die in the Lord, even so saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labour, and their works do follow them.

GULIELMUS.

ON MR. FAIRLY'S TRIALS FROM A COUNTRY HOUSE.

6

SIR, I read with much interest the paper in your number for September, entitled 'Trials,' perhaps I should rather have called them Evils, arising from a Country House.' If any of your readers should not have noticed the paper, I shall be glad to draw their attention to it for let them be assured that it describes evils by no means confined to the possessors of country houses, or even country lodgings, but extending to numbers who do not so much as visit a watering place in the summer season. Indeed I fear they are so widely diffused in the present day, that hardly any class is exempt from them.-I have no intention to go over the ground which your correspondent has so well trodden, nor to describe afresh the evils which he has so strikingly

depicted. All that I aim at is, to draw forth a little more distinctly, in some particulars, the admonitions which his story furnishes, and to keep attention fixed upon them till they may, by the blessing of God, produce a salutary impression.

His object evidently is to warn persons against being drawn away, perhaps imperceptibly, and in the first instance unintentionally, or even with regret, from a regular attendance on the ministrations of a sober faithful pastor, from which they have derived benefit. The consequences of this may soon prove more fatal than they at all apprehend. These are described by your correspondent in a manner, at once most natural and deeply affecting to the thoughtful serious mind, as they respect personal religion—do

mestic comfort-family religionthe character and conduct of children-and, in short, all that must form the object of hope and desire to the Christian mind.

And yet how easily, and without suspicion of harm, do persons of the best intentions slide into that which is so productive of fatal results. The case which your correspondent exhibits is one which we may most readily suppose to occur. In other instances the same effect may be produced from an apparently good cause—the desire only to add to the number of those means of grace,' which are found to be sources of enjoyment and of benefit. Then this may gradually decline into a curiosity to hear new and popular preachers; who seem to be regarded and treated with ⚫ the religious world,' just as actors and public singers are in another class of society. And thus the effect described may be produced in its full extent.

And here let me observe what your correspondent points out as becoming the attraction in the new place of worship, in contradistinction to the old one. "There was more originality and more animation'-more anecdotes,' more

[ocr errors]

philosophy'-in short, more to excite and more to amuse- -' than I had been used to.' Hence, when the family returned to their accustomed place in town, all was dull,' 'cold,' heavy, and the sermon, though praised by those who were yet in sound spiritual health, as eminently faithful, experimental, and useful,' was disrelished as having little in it but what had been heard before.'

Certainly, Mr. Editor, both the services and the preaching should be so managed as that they may tend to rouse the torpid, and to awaken Christian feeling, but to the appetite for excitement and for the gratification of curiosity, there is no end. It is ever craving something of yet higher zest, and higher

still. But that is no healthful appetite which can relish none but highly-seasoned viands. It is to be feared that it will nauseate and reject "the sincere milk of the word."

But this is not all, Sir, your correspondent judiciously notes. another circumstance which the discerning observer will commonly trace in those who thus supplant sober faithful ministers of God's word in the esteem of their people.

[ocr errors]

His sermons did not come so close home as those of our own pastor.' And again, The sermon of the latter 'stirred up some fears and anxieties in my mind, which I had not felt under the preaching of our country minister.' Ah, Sir, there I fear is the true cause, perhaps unperceived, or at least not very distinctly perceived, by those on whom it operates, which often commends some or other of the new preachers with whom wandering hearers meet, and creates a distaste for their old pastors. The "strait gate" is made a little wider; the

[ocr errors]

narrow way" a little broader, and a little smoother; unpleasant duties are not enforced in so uncompromising a manner; the fancy, perhaps, is amused, the conscience left undisturbed. I found,' says your correspondent, (what I fear great numbers might find, if they would honestly examine) that we had sought amusement in sermons, rather than edification: and I no longer wondered at the close and heart-searching sermons of our faithful pastor appearing harsh and severe, after we had so long been accustomed to smooth and entertaining preaching.'

I will only notice one more point, which seems generally either overlooked or disregarded-perhaps is wholly unconceived-by the parties concerned; I mean, the effect of cases like this on the minds of faithful ministers themselves. Our old pastor,' says your correspondent, (after he is himself restored to hi

6

« AnteriorContinuar »