Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

-

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

ye done for me! how have ye wounded my peace, and overwhelmed me in distress! And is there no hope for a soul thus fallen ? — must I yield to black Despair?"Call to remembrance, my soul, the former days," and encourage hope in "the God of all grace." Thou hast been brought low, but the Lord hath helped thee. "I will look again to his holy temple." Who can tell but he will again restore my soul? -His arm is not shortened; his ear is not heavy; his bowels of compassion are not exhausted; he is still full of compassion, plenteous in mercy; "he waiteth to be gracious;" his promise is sure; his covenant is immutable: -- why then, O my soul, shouldst thou despair? "I will arise, and go to my Father." He that pitied the prodigal will not reject thee, when, like him, thou castest thyself at his feet in sorrow, and supplicatest his mercy. Hark! he invites thee to return "Take with you words, and turn unto the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, receive us graciously, and love us freely." Behold, dear Lord, I come to thy footstool, O heal my backslidings, restore my soul! I have sinned, and done evil in thy sight; but "thou art a God, full of compassion and gracious, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy and truth. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me! Shew me a token for good!" ZAIR.

ANECDOTES.

IN the vast country of Louisiana, in America, a Catholic Missionary had been sent for the conversion of the Indians; but some of the most ferocious tribes surrounded hun, and were just about to put him to a cruel death. Hing as a 100Kingglass, which he had artfully concealed beneath his clothes, and placing it on his breast, be, in a plaintive tone, remonstrated with them on the rucity and ingratitude of their limga man who had them all in his heart. The astonished sa ages, each in their turn, behold. his own figure in the glass (a piece of art they never had seen before) converted their rage into admiration and esteem fo a man who thus had them ail in his heart! - Charlevoix's Travels.

A HINT TO PERSONS WHO COME LATE TO WORSHIP.

A MINISTER, Some of whose hearert constantly cane very late, even after a considerable part of the sermon was gone through, determined to give thein a public and severe reproof. Observing them, one day, enter at a very late period, he immediately concluded his sermon thus:- "But it is time for us 10 conclude, for here are our friends just come to fetch us home." Buck's Anecdotes, vol. ii. p. 121.

[ocr errors]

-

MISS CROSS,

Obituary.

LATE OF WARLEY, BRENTWOOD,

ESSEX.

But

stances, answered the prayers of fathers in the conversion of their descendants, for more than one or two generations. No doubt, the venerable refugee wrestled much with God in prayer, that his posterity might be a seed to serve him; and what raptures must he feel, when, even from those of the fourth generation, he can welcome one and another into the habitations of the just!

MISS CROSS was descended from a French fantily, who took refuge on the hospitable shores of Britain in times of Popish persecution. Her ancestors had welcomed that light which spread itself so rapidly on the Continent in the sixteenth century. They united themselves with those who dared to burst the bands Miss Cross had strong convictions of ignorance and priestly domina of sin in early childhood, especially tion, and to make a glorious stand after having, at any time, been in the cause of God and of truth. tempted to lie; but these, like the By way of reproach, such faithful morning cloud, soon passed away. worthies were then called Hugonots: It pleased God, soon after the age a name as obnoxious to the enemies of fourteen, to visit her with a seof real religion, at that period, as vere and lingering indisposition, the term Methodist is now; and, which brought her to the gates of like the latter, a name given to all Death. She continued labouring who zealously espoused the grand under this sickness for a consider. doctrines of Christianity as propa- able time; yet still, not only insen gated hy Luther, Calvin, and other sible to her danger as a fallen creaheroes of the Reformation. ture, but, as she afterwards acknowreproach was not all that the fol- ledged, increasingly hardened. lowers of Christ had then to suffer. When thus on the very borders of The Popish system of that day Destruction, Sovereign Grace insanctioned the most sanguinary acts terposed by a mean singularly unof persecution. Torture, banishcommon: A person, unacquaintment, and death were inflicted noted with religion, called upon her, in only without remorse, but with the boastful ardour of those who thought to merit Heaven by the extirpation of heretics. On the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, by Lewis XIV, 1685 thousands abandoned their estates and country, escaped with difficulty from their ferocious pursuers, and fled to foreign lands. The great grandfather of Miss Cross, among many others, was received in this country, always the asylum of the injured and oppressed, whether Protestant or Catholic. Remarkably has a righteous God "visited the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation." The Government and Hierarchy of France have suffered the cruelties they then inflicted on the saints! No less remarkably has a God of mercy, in this and many other in

[ocr errors]

her way to a neighbouring fair;
and was influenced, she knew not
how, to ask what views she had as
to the state of her immortal soul.
Though this enquiry was without
meaning or motive, on the part of
her who made it, it was attended
with the most powerful effects. A
few minutes before, she had been
regretting that she could not join in
the amusements of the day; now,
her whole soul was roused by other
concerns. Alarm and dismay seiz
ed on every power within. The
time was now come," says she (in
an account she afterwards gave of
her experience to the church she
joined) when it pleased the Lord
to melt my hard and stubborn heart
by the power of his Spirit. My
secret and open sins, with their se.
veral aggravations, crowded into
my mind, and racked my very sout;

I was smitten to the heart, and obliged to acknowledge myself guilty: I could not lift up my mind but with sighs and tears: I saw myself exposed to the wrath of a just God, whom I had grievously offended; and I was conscious that, if I died in that state, I must eternally perish. An inexpressible sense of guilt now pressed my awakened conscience I felt the truth and meaning of that text, "A wounded spirit, who can bear?" The night following was to me the hour and power of darkness: I suffered the greatest agonies, both in body and soul; and strove to pray, but could not. Satan seemed to set upon me with all his fury; and, for some days, I laboured under the most acute sensations of guilt, lamenting over myself as the most vile and wretched of all the human race; and earnestly imploring the divine torgiveness. When it pleased the Lord to restore my health, I became a constant attendant on the Established Church; but the doctrine I heard was not calculated to afford comfort to my distressed mind, nor to remove the load from a conscience laden with guilt. I began to see more and more of the evil of sin; and my inward depravity occasioned me much uneasi ness. Vain thoughts and wander. ings of affection, even in my most retired moments, filled me with the greatest distress: but the more my distress increased, the more I sought for lite by the works of the law; and being thus harrassed by inward corruptions, I endeavoured, by fasting and other bodily austerities, entirely to mortify them: but this experiment nearly cost me my life, and left me as destitute of the object of my wishes as before. My sins continued to lie heavy on my mind; my spirits were greatly depressed; I grew melancholy, having no minister or religious friend to whom I could communicate the burden of my soul, but, after very many discouragements and temptations, he who pities the weary and heavy laden pitied me; and led me into the acquaintance of a Dissenting family, through whose instrumentality I was first made ac

quainted with the truth as it is in Jesus, Through their persuasion, I was first brought under the sound of the gospel; and when I was enabled to behold Jesus, with extended arms, ready to receive sinners, my heart was filled with joy, my burden was removed, by a believ ing view of the efficacy of his blood. The Saviour now became increas ingly precious: his name was the theme on which I delighted to dwell. I was enabled to walk under a sweet sense of the love of God; and have frequently, while engaged in duty, been indulged with such a sight of my Redeemer's glory, and such a taste of his grace, that I have wished, if it were his will, I might never return to the world again."

Some time after this, Miss Cross joined the church under the care of Mr. Smith, of Brentwood, whose ministry had been singularly bless ed to her; and continued for some years to adorn the doctrines of God her Saviour in all things; ever careful to strengthen the hands of her minister, and to recommend, by every means in her power, the gos pel she professed.

In the spring of last year, she was attacked by that invidious and fatal foe to youth, a pulmonary consumption. From the first, she thought it a summons that would be decisive; and received it with that calm dignity of soul which habitual faith and resignation to the divine will produces. Though diligent in her attention to every means calculated to counteract or remove the disorder, she felt a prevailing desire to depart, and be with her Lord. She anticipated her dissolution as the most welcome and glorious event; and talked of it, not only with firmness, but delight i Often would she enlarge upon the joys of the blessed in Heaven, and her own extreme unworthiness to share them. Her habitual and fervent devotion, her exalted intercourse with the Father of her spirit, filled her soul with peace, and gave an elevation even to her counte nance: even after nights of unceasing restlessness and pain, a smile of gratitude and joy diffused

she came from her closet, her face shone; and it was evident to every serious observer, that, like Moses of old, she had been on the mount. No murmur escaped her lips. Her constant theme was the mercy of God; and her only source of regret, that she could do so little in her afflicted state to glorify him. Two hymns were her peculiar favourites, and seemed to express the very feelings of her soul. The one begins thus:

itself over every feature. When About a week before her death, however, considerable darkness for a few hours cloaded her soul, but this last attack of the enemy made no abiding impression. Soon did he, when resisted, ee from her; and her evening sun was serene and bright. As her bodily pain increased, she was favoured with growing confidence and support; and though her sufferings were great, she observed to a friend, that they would not be long. From that kind eclaration made to the church in Eypt, she had received peculiar comfort: " have seen, I have sec. the affliction of my people," &c. With such energy and satisfaction, she said, were those words applied to her that they seemed as it spoken to her by the cheering voice of the Saviour himself; but still she would express her wish that she might suffer as well as do the whole will of God.

"When languor and disease invade

This trembling house of clay, 'Tis sweet to look beyond the grave, And long to fly away!"

The other thus:

"Sweet the moments rich in blessing," &c.

When visited by any of her rear relations or friends, she received them with affection and composure; and when some of them have been bathed in tears before her, she united, with the finest sensibility, the fortitude of a martyr. Ardently and incessantly she longed for the conversion of her dear friends. When expressing her hopes and fears respecting a brother or a sister, she would say (and she spake in the sin cerity of her soul) that she would most gladly sacrifice a hundred lives for their conversiou. Her prayers of faith will be answered. When she drew near the close of life, her pain of body increased much beyond what is usual in such disorders; and she solicited the prayers of friends about her, that her patience might not fail; but at the same time observed, that she felt no wish to have a less degree of pain, or of less duration, than the Lord pleased. Her will indeed, on every occasion, seemed lost in. the divine will. The constant and lively exercise of faith kept up an ninterrupted harmony and submission within. When at any time asked, Whether she was troubled with fears or unbelief?-she would reply, that, with her view of the promises and faithfulness of God, she dared not, she could not, disbelieve or fear for a moment.

ind,

In the morning of that day on which she died, the friend, at whose house she had been for some time, went to her bed-side, and enquiring how she was, she answered to the following effect: "I have had a night of excruciating pain; but how can I call it Pain, while so abundantly strengthened! Never had I consolation so great from the precious word of God! All the promises of Scripture, in their rich fulness and variety, have crowded into my mind, and filled me with joy unspeakable !" After familyworship, she was assisted to rise, and take her seat, as before, at the fire-side. A respectable female friend, to whom she felt the warm. est attachment, and who was indeed a kindred spirit, visited her about noun. Though excessive languor prevented her from saying much, the remarks she made in conversa. tion were strongly expressive of her confidence. About three o'clock, being left with her nurse, she arranged some papers that were by her; and having desired that some of them should be given to a friend whom she mentioned, and the rest to her sister, she requested to lie down. As if conscious the time of

her departure was at hand, she placed herself in the most easy posture on the bed, and reclining her head on her arm, seemed free from all sorrow or pain. A little before six o'clock in the evening, without a struggle or a groan, she sweetly fell asleep in Jesus, her face still retaining the same glowing smiles of affection and hope; ;་ even the rude hand of Death was unable immediately to efface the strong impressions of joy and gladness her triumphs left on her countenance. The same elevated views seemed to animate and beam through every feature!

Thus died this eminent disciple of Christ! Few, in these times of lukewarmness, have experienced such uninterrupted peace of mind through life, or such strong sup. port in death. Her views of the doctrines of the gospel were clear and scriptural; and these doctrines had their genuine influence upon her temper and conduct to an unusual extent. For some years before her death, she had been almost entirely free from all legal hopes and fears, and rejoiced in the assurance of her interest in the free and full salvation of Christ; yet none more diligent in the use of means, none more watchful against sin, or more careful to flee from its very appearance. She was frequent and fervent in prayer, attended the ordinances of God's house with exemplary punctuality, and seized every occasion of faithfully but affectionately reproving sin. Much was she grieved when she heard of any who professed the gospel, and yet resolved all their faith into mere notions. She lived not like these scourges of the church, upon her views of the truth; but upon the truth itself: and as its energy was felt in her heart, it manifested itself in an humble,. a holy, and a circumspect walk.

Her love to the saints, and the ministers of Christ, shewed itself in her whole deportment. To promote peace in the church and her acquaintances, she would sacrifice any thing but truth. Her own minister she highly re

among

garded; and she endeavoured continually to encourage him, and strengthen his hands.

At her request, her funeral-sermon was preached at Brentwood, by her pastor, from a text of her own selecting (1 Pet. iv. 11)"That God in all things," &c.; and on the Sunday following, as she had also requested, her death was improved at Upminster, a neighbouring place, by the Rev. J. Atkinson, of London, at whose house she died, the 1st of Dec. 1804, in the twentysixth year of her age. J. A.

SAMUEL WHITE.

[ocr errors]

DEC. 3, 1804, died at Woodbridge, Suffolk, S. White, in the fifty seventh year of his age. He had for many years attended upo the preaching of the gospel; but for a long time laboured under doubts and fears concerning his eternal interest. About five year. back, the Lord, in great mercy, removed his doubts, and gave him to see clearly, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." He patiently endured much bodily afflic tions; and he experienced much of the divine presence. It might be truly said, that the word of Christ dwelt in him richly, in all spiritual wisdom, according to that wisdom which the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, which was the daily delight of his soul. few days before his death, he was confined to his bed by sickness, which he believed would end in his death; but he said that he had no will of his own, aud was perfectly resigned to the divine will. About three o'clock on Monday morning, the 3d of December, he said to a friend that was present, "The Lord is the same: he is unchangeable in all his purposes! Christ is truly precious to my soul !” About eight o'clock in the morning he departed this life, with a hope full of blessed immor. tality, leaving an afflicted widow to lament his loss.

--

R. C.

A

« FöregåendeFortsätt »