Fruit in Old Age

“As the sunbeams united in a burning glass to a point have greater force than when they are darted from a plain superfice, so the virtues and actions of one individual, drawn together into a single story, strike upon our minds a stronger and more lively impression than the scattered relations of many men and many actions.” It is upon this principle of concentration, for whose discovery we are indebted to the Bible, that God has condescended to reveal Himself to man. In the person of His Son He has so embodied the perfections of His nature, and has so concentrated the beams of His majesty, as to present in fx-al grandeur the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,” In picturing the sunset of a life so prolonged and honoured of God as that which these pages record, it will be our endeavour, as that life approaches its close, thus to collect and concentrate its retiring beams, intercepting them only so far as a gentle hand may be required to guide them to the focus. It is a rich autumnal sunset we are about to contemplate. The ‘sear and yellow leaf is falling thick and fast; but in the lingering freshness and fertility, the reader will be reminded of the character appertaining to the aged godly, so beautifully delineated by the sacred penman, — “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. Thev shall still ‘)riii£: forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; to shew that the Lord is upright,” It is the remark of an elegant writer, and the sentiment is not less true than beautiful, — “Cheerful piety in the decline of life, is like a tree which the storm has shattered, but which yet retains much of the verdure of summer, and is still the resort of the birds which sing among the branches.”

*

These pleasant characteristics of religion in old age will be recognised in the extracts we proceed to make from Mrs, Winslow’s diary and correspondence, indicating an extraordinary elevation of spiritual feeling, blended with a solemn yet radiant consciousness of her nearness to the glory within which she was soon to pass. Our first quotations are from the private journal which has supplied us with so much rich material, but which, alas! is soon to receive its final record of a pilgrimage from earth to heaven,

“Leamington. — I could never have believed that I should have such nearness to Jesus, as I now, at times, enjoy. Read this Qiorning the twenty-first of John, from the 4th, particularly pausing at the 12th verse, Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. His care. His forethought of His disciples, is now just what it was when this circumstance took place. He had watched the fruitless labour of His disciples through the night — they had caught nothing. Just at this juncture, when weary, discouraged, and hungry, He appeared. They needed refreshment — He was not unmindful of it. Coals were kindled — fish was laid thereon, bread was provided — nothing omitted suitable to their wants. And then they were invited to dine. Thev need not ask, Who art thou? The multitude of fishes they had caught at His word, the repast He had provided — the invitation He had given — all proclaimed who He was — their dearest friend. Is it not so with thee, 0 my soul? Has Jesus ever been unmindful of thy wants? Never, no never. Always ready to supply my need, He has gone before me in the wilderness, and prepared a table for me. Remembering the thorn and the briar, He has made a narrow road for my feet, saying, Follow thou me I Had I ever need to inquire. Who art thou, Lord f Did I not know Him? Yes! Even now I feel His presence. I know the person, and I hear the voice. How sweet, how cheering, how comforting! To be with Jesus, and to know it! Widi such a visit have I been favoured this day. Oh, what little things do worlds appear, when so blessed! Wondrous in all His dealings has Christ been to me. Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, in due time called, justified, sanctified, and shall be soon and eternally glorified,”

“The Lord does wonderfully seem to let heaven down into my soul. I have no power to’ describe it. Then does heaven itself seem so inviting, so attractive. I feel it hnt a step, and

I am in the midst of happiness, perfect and supreme. I have asked the Lord not to send the grim, pale messenger for me, unless he comes with him. I must see His own, well-known face, ere I can welcome the summons. Oh, to be in His bosom, there to rest without a fear or misgiving — to pass through that dark valley in His own loving, Almighty arms, reposing upon His very heart! May this be my case. He so condescendingly answers my poor prayers, and in a way so remarkable, that were I to tell some individuals, they would declare it a delusion. But I know otherwise. Every precious word He has spoken is true. My soul rejoices in God my Saviour, my Friend, my Father. I shall see Him — see Him as He is; be like Him; dwell with Him through eternity, in perfect knowledge, perfect purity, perfect happiness, perfect glory. Precious Jesus, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee. And though, like Peter, I have often wandered from Thee, yet Thou hast never left me, nor denied Thyself. Glory be to thy dear and holy name.”

“How gracious, how transcendently good has the Lord been to me this day! The 20th Psalm was made a rich blessing to my soul. How wonderfully does the Lord reveal Himself through His own word to the heart and conscience of His children! Truly is His loving ear open to the faintest cry of His feeble ones — such condescension in stooping to catch their faintest breath of prayer! Language seems to fail, when the heart is thus filled with the Spirit, to express its deep emotions — the feelings of a broken and a contrite spirit. Never, no never, does sin appear so hateful as when the Lord comes down to bless. Prostrate at His feet I fall, love and sorrow so strangely mingled that they cannot be separated. Oh, for a close walk throughout this day, my eyes and heart fixed upon Jesus — Jesus risen! He that was dead, is now alive, and reigns upon the throne above; all power on earth and in heaven is His. With Him I shall dwell throughout eternity — blessed thought! Precious Jesus! heaven would be no heaven, wert Thou not there. Not all I love on earth, were I to meet them, could compensate for the loss of Thyself. Lord, help me this day to pass through its cares without contamination, upheld by the Spirit. I am all weakness; with Thee is all power. Help Thy weak one, and leave me not to mvself Take ray whole heart and soul in Thy hands, and order all my goings, for Thine honour’s sake.”

“Tuesday. — The text this morning was from Sono- of Solomon ii. 10: My beloved sjmke, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.... The Lord is pleased to enable me to hear without excitement. Surely He has heard my prayer, and answered it. And not only so, but in blessing the word to my soul. Every word seems to tell; and to all my heart can echo its sincere Amen. Oh, what cause for thankfulness is this! His dear name shall have all the glory.”

“Wednesday Evening. — The text this evening was from Phil. iv. 19: My God shall supply all your need aajording to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ... A word to the rich and the poor of the flock. We have a spiritual and a temporal need; both supplied in and by Christ Jesus, in whom God has treasured up a fulness adequate to all the wants of His bride, His beloved. His fair one, whom He invites to rise up and come away. Glory is prepared for her — a mansion suitable to her dignity and station as the bride of the Lamb and the Heir of God. Who can tell what this will be? We grovel so much here, we can hardly raise our poor ideas to that inheritance that awaits us. Oh, for an eagle’s wings to mount higher toward heaven! How trifling would then everything appear here, but that which was connected with things above! Lord, help Thy creature to live more on high — more in communion with Jesus — more lookincj to a risen Christ.

“10th. — I have met with the followinsr excellent observations from the pen of the Rev. Dr. Stone, Rector of Christ’s Church, Brooklyn, which are in close accordance with my own views: ‘The object of God, in the revelation of His will, and in the incarnation of His Son, is to save men from sin, and to bring them to eternal life. Every one in whom the required faith is found has a direct and personal union with Christ; so that He draws his spiritual life, not by succession from another believer, but immediately from the Saviour Himself. Nothing, however thin, intervenes between the two. By faith the believer is in Christ, and by the same faith Christ dwells in the believer’s heart.* This mystic union between Christ and each individual Christian is as close and as perfect as though Christ and each individual were the only ones in all the world concerned in that union. As a foundation, Christ is as broad as

* “Would it not be more correct to aav, that Christ dwells in the believer’s heart hj the in-being of tht Iloiy Ghost J — EDITOR.

the realm of sin, and as long as the age of grace; so that every true believer touches, immediately and for himself, that on which he builds. Each single character holds this living connexion and communion with the Saviour as immediately and as closely, and draws life therefrom as largely and as perfectly, as though himself and the Saviour were the only beings concerned in the Divine affinity. There are, then, in the world, and there have been from the beginning, and will be to the end, a steadily growing, and at length a very great company of human beings, maintaining the character which I have just explained — the character of true believers in Christ, and the relations of a holy, individual union with Christ, These, as represented in the Bible, and as found in fact, are an exceedingly “peculiar people.” There are none like them in all the world. If what has been wrought in them could be laid open to the eye of sense, they would instantly be known from other men all over the earth.’ Thus writes’ Dr. Stone. Oh, how precious is this union! How closely it draws the heart to Jesus; and how the heart entwines around its better part, and exults in the thought, that nothing, not death itself, shall separate it from its dearest and best Friend. This is my hi^hest

joy-Following this extract from an American divine we find transcribed in her journal an appropriate poetic piece of touching beauty. The lines are suggested by the words of Jesus, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.”

“BirIh luivc their quiet nest,
Foxes their holes, and man his peaceful bed;

All creatures have their rest, — But Jesus had not where to lay His head.

‘• Winds have their hour of calm,
And waves, to slumber on the voiceless deep;

Eve hath its breath of balm,
To hush all senses and all sounds to sleep.

“The wild deer hath his lair,
The homeward flocks the shelter of their shed;

All have their rest from care. — But Jesus had not where to lay His head.

‘• And yet He came to prive
The weary and the heavy-laden rest.

To bid the sinner live,
And soothe our griefs to slumber on His breaflt.

“What, then, am I, my God,
Permitted thus the path of peace to tread?

Peace, purchased by the blood
Of Him who had not where to lay His head?

“I, who once made Him grieve;
I, who once bid His gentle spirit mourn;

Whose hand essay ‘d to weave
For His meek brow the cruel crown of thorn —

“Oh, why should I have peace?
Why? but for that unchanged, undying love,

Which would not. could not cease
Until it made me heir of joys above?

“Yes! but for pardoning grace
I feel I never should in glory see

The brightness of that face
That once was pale and agonized for me!

“Let the birds seek their nest,
Foxes their holes, and man his peaceful bed;

Come, Saviour, in my breast
Deign to repose Thine oft-rejected head!

“Come! give me rest, and take
The only rest on earth thou lovest — within

A heart, that for Thy sake
Lies bleeding, broken, penitent for sin.”

“Still going on my way, leaning on my Beloved. Jesus is very precious. No tongue can tell how precious. Language often fails, when on my knees, to tell Him how much I love Him. My soul is kept near Ilim. I often have Him full in view. If a cloud intervenes, I cannot rest until it be withdrawn. Oh, for more of the wrestling power of prayer! How sensibly is He then present, lifting up the light of His countenance, and bending low His ear. When thus He shines, 1 then see what sin really is, and I weep. The sin pardoned, the sinner beloved — this it is that breaks the heart, if anything can, What an honour put upon a poor vile sinner, to be permitted to love Jesus — to be invited to come to Him just as we are. No wonder there is joy in heaven, and there ought to be more jov on earth. Him trulv we now only see through a glass darkly. And yet there are times when the vail seems a little withdrawn. I believe this is often the case at a dying hour, just at the instant Vv’hen the soul departs, and leaves its clay behind. Lord Jesus, be a present hell) to me then. Let no misorivinfrs conip over mv mind. Keen Satan far from me.

Remember Thy weak, Thy aged one. Speak to my struggling soul. Speak holy words of comfort. Be near, and let me hear Thy well-known voice. Let not the conflict be long. Give me a speedy dismissal, and an abundant entrance into Thy kingdom above. Oh, to be for ever with Thee; that will be heaven enough for me! To gaze upon Thy inefifable face for ever — to love Thee as I long to do — oh, it is worth dying for!”

“The Lord has most preciously drawn sensibly near to my soul. This morning, held sweet communion with Him. My mouth was opened wide, to make great demands on His love. I felt I had not only His ear, but His blessed countenance shone upon me. How did I feel that to be with Jesus would be heaven! I longed to be with Him — wanted to get nearer, and still nearer. I wept in an agony of love. How little did the world, and all that was in it, appear to me! Seemed as if I could with ease have left the body, and mount up on high. Felt overwhelmed with shame that I could ever have harboured one unkind thouo:ht of such a Beins;. He is all love, nothmg but love. Not one cold, upbraiding look has He ever given me. Go as I will, and when I will, His ever-benignant face smiles a welcome. Blessed Saviour, may I never, no never, mistrust Thee, nor grieve Thy Spirit. Keep, oh, keep me near Thee. Keep thine own blood-bought child from departing from Thee now. Let me not lose sight of Thee, no, not for one moment. Be Thou in all my thoughts day and night, and let my thought, wish and desire centre in Thyself.”

“What communion can a formalist have with God? Communion is supposed to be an interchange of sentiment, feeling, and expression. What communion could one have with a statue? You may speak to it, question it; but there is no response, no intimation of feeling, no communion. So is it with the mere religious formalist. He regularly says his prayers, but it is to an unknown God. He repeats the same again and again, but he knows not the Being he addresses. There is no response, no interchange of feeling, above all, of love. There is no answer from the Lord, no bending down of His ear, no lifting up of His countenance, no cheering welcome; and the formalist is satisfied. He does what he thinks is his duty. He repeats his lifeless, heartless prayers, and thinks he has done well; and so he lives and dies with a He in his right hand, unless God, in his sovereign mercy, awakens him from his awful delusion, and shows him his lost and undone condition. But oh, how great are the behever’s privileo-es! He draws near to a reconciled God and Father. Unless he has communion, he cannot be happy. He pleads in the name of Jesus, opens all his heart to One who loves him, and whom he loves. He finds a response in the heart of God. He knows God hears him, and will withhold no good thing from him. He makes all his requests known with thanksgiving. He often goes heavy laden, and returns with a lightsome heart, overflowing with love. God has whispered peace to his troubled soul, and the Spirit within has borne the witness that God loves him. This is communion. Oh, what a mercy to know it!”

“Text, Men wondered at. May the Lord bless it, and give him who preached it strength of soul and strength of body to go onward and live upward; to gather all his supplies of grace and providence from Him who is God all-sufficient, ready to bestow all needful good for body, soul, and spirit. Text on Sabbath morning, Psalm xviii. 35: Thy gentleness hath made me great. In the evening, Luke xv. 2: This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.^^

“This is the Lord’s day. Confined to the house. Dear

is now standing up in the name of the Lord, proclaiming

the glorious gospel of a precious Saviour. I have been to prayer for a blessing upon it. Oh, that the Lord would pour out a mighty blessing on the church! Oh, that He would be pleased to bow the heavens, and come down in the power of the Holy Ghost, and encourage the heart of His tried servant! Lord, do be pleased to bless him throughout the day, and made him the honoured instrument of great good. Oh, that to-day sinners may be converted, and saints re-converted; for how manv such are but half-awake, alas! ‘resting: on theii lees.’”

“The Lord has a controversy with this sinful land, this ungodly nation. The famine and the pestilence is sweeping away its hundreds and its thousands in Ireland and in Scotland. The land may indeed be clothed with sackcloth. But do tho unodlv take knowledge of this? Are the churches of Christ humbling themselves? Is not the famine in Ireland sent as a messenger of woe to proud and haughty England? Are we not partakers of the sins of Ireland? Are we loss criminal than they? No; not one whit less. Equally guilty are we of trampling upon every precious precept, and of substituting our own views of truth, formed to please and honour the ilesh, instead of the pure and precious gospel! Oh, when will me» he wise, and consider their latter end? When will they obey God? The world, the world is in their hearts, and the god of this world reigns supreme, and there is no room for Jesus. Precious Saviour! still I pant for a closer walk with Thee. The more man sets Thee at nought, the dearer art Thou to my soul. I could weep to think how little Thou art thought of by the world at large, and how little even by the professing church. What a corrupted Christianity spreads, what cold, heartless formality prevails! How many are saying, ‘Lord, Lord! ’ who know Thee not I How many are standing up this very day in the name of the Lord, to preach a gospel — which yet is no gospel — of their own invention!”

“Spent the evening at. Had much to mourn over

afterwards. Lord, help me! keep me humble, meek, and lowly in heart! I am powerless! all power is Thine. With Thy strengthening arm I can do all things. Be with dear

in his study to-day. Prepare him to preach a full gospel

this evening, and accompany it with the power of the Holy Ghost to every one that heareth. Fill the place with true worshippers. Oh, that sinners may be converted, and saints sanctified! Glorify Thyself in the midst.”

“/ cried unto the Lord luith my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication. I pjoured out my complaint before Him; I showed before Ilirii my trouble. How often has this been my case! I, too, have cried unto the Lord in my trouble, and He has heard me. He has bent low His ear, and listened to my cry, and, oh, how graciously has He answered my request, and done more and better for me than I asked! The Lord always exceeds our requests, and is better than our fears.”

“The Lord laid His hand upon me a few nights ago, and brought me very low. My children did all that could be done to alleviate my suffering; but I lifted up my heart to God while fainting and sinking, and He heard me, and I am now slowly recovering. When my spirit was overwhelmed within mej then Thou knewest my ynth.’’^

“My God. whose gracious pity I may claim,
Calling thee ‘Father,’ sweet endeariug name,
The sufferings of this weak and weary frame
All. all nro known tn Thpe.

-’From human eyes ’tis better to conceal
Much that I suffer, much I hourly feel;
But oh! this thought does tranquillize and heal, — Ail, all is known to Thee.

*’ “When in the mornino unrefresh’d I wake
Or in the night but little rest I take,
This brief appeal submissively I make. — All, all is kno^•n to Thee.

*’ And this continued feebleness, this state
Which seems to unnerve and incapacitate,
Will work the cure my hopes and fears await;
That cure I leave to Thee.

“Nor will the bitter draught distasteful prove,
While I recall the Son of Thy dear love;
The cup Thou wouldst not, for our sakes, remove,
That cup He drank for me.

*’ He drank it to the dregs, no drop remained
Of wrath, vrhose cup of woe he drain’d,
Man ne’er can know what that sad cup contain’d, — All, all is known to Thee.

“And welcome, precious can His Spirit make
My little drop of suffering for His sake.
Father, the cup I drink, the path I take,
All, all is known to Thee.”

‘:

“Dr. Chalmers “was found dead in his bed a few davs aw. How ready we all should be for the summons! Blessed Jesus, keep Thine handmaid in perfect preparedness, looking and longing for Thj coming. ‘What,’ says Bishop Hall, ’ is death, but the takin”: down of these sticks whereof this earthly tent is composed. The separation of two great and old friends till they meet again. The great gaol-deliverer of a long prisoner. Our journey into the other world, for what we, and this thoroughfare, were made. Our payment of our first debt to nature. The sleep of the body, the awakening of the soul.’ Lord, come Thou with the last enemy, and let me see Thy smilins: face all throuo-h the dark vallev.

“How often, when a difficulty or trial has arisen, either from feelings within or from circumstances without, helpless as an infant, I have shut to my door, and come to the Lord, and laid it before Hira, pleading the promise — Cast the burden oji the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. In a short time I have risen from my knees, not only with my pressure entirely gone,

330 .mi:muir of mrs. mary winslow.

but with such a sense of His faithfulness and abounding love towards me, as has caused me to rejoice even to tears. At other times, when a similar necessity has arisen, and I have sat down to consider what I ought to do in the matter — thus trusting my own heart, and leaning to my own understanding — and afterwards have carried it to the Lord, I have been left still to bear my burden, attended with much discomfort the while, the Lord having left me to my own way. All events are in His hands to direct, and overrule, and bless to His own redeemed people. I say not that we are to fold our arms and do nothing; but I do say, that after carrying our care in simple faith and obedience to His commands, we are to wait and watch the leadings of His infinitely wise providence, which is always at work for us.”

“Yesterdav was much tried. The Lord seemed to withdraw His blessed countenance. I had not, as usual, a sense of His presence. My heart failed me, I missed Him, and was troubled. But it was not long. I cried unto Him with my voice, and He heard me. The cloud, the dark cloud that veiled His face, was removed, and He again appeared. I wept for joy. Oh, how inexpressibly kind and indulgent He is to all to whom He is the centre of all happiness, joy, and comfort I How sweet the fresh recognition, the inward whisper, ‘I am thine, and thou art mine. Why didst thou doubt?’ 0 Lord, I did not doubt Thy faithfulness, but feared I had displeased Thee, and that Thou hadst put Thy child away from Thy jtresence. Now I know that Thou art pacified towards me, and mv heart is srlad in Thee. Hide not Thv face from Thy aged one, and put not Thy servant from Thee; for Thou art my chief joy, my life, my all. Without Thee this world were wretchedness itself I would not live always here, though blessed with Thy presence. I want to see Thee as Thou art, in all Thy glory, surrounded by the pure spirits redeemed from the curse, and to join my song of praise with theirs. Keep, oh keep me near Thyself, nearer, nearer still; and suffer no earthly love to occupy Thy place in my heart.”

‘Jesus, first-born Priest and Brother,

Changing not as others change;
“Wherefore should we seek another?
Whither should our spirits range?

“While thy gracious arms enfold us,
Should we seek another rest?

TO MISS R, ON 11 Ell llETUUN FROM AMERICA. 831

Could another stay uphold us,

Like our Saviour’s faithful breast?

“Earthly love, how fitful, gleaming,
O’er life’s tossing-, troubled tide;
Thine the lamp for ever beaming,
With the golden oil supplied.

“Jesus, come, our strength renewing
Blessed, living Fountain Head;
Bid our souls to cease from hewing
Broken cisterns in Thy stead.”

The few incidents of her subsequent sojourn upon earth, and much of the spiritual exercises of her mind, will be gleaned from extracts from her correspondence.

to miss r, on her return from america.

“My dear Miss R,

“I have heard a report that you have arrived safely in England once more. But I should much like to receive the intelligence from yourself, and to hear all about our friends on the other side of the water, — some dear to me as well as yourself in that happy land. I love America, and always shall be interested in the welfare of that countrv. For thouoh mv deepest trials were there, so there also I experienced some of my richest consolations, and much Christian love and fellowship. It is good to feel that we are in the Lord’s hands, and that all our trials, small and great, are designed by Him for the furtherino; His work in our souls. Thev are oreat blessings in disguise to a child of God. Nothing takes place, within or without, but is designed for our especial benefit and the glory of His own dear name. We shall have to thank Him for all, when we see Him face to fiice. What a blessed time will that be! Oh, that we did but live more in holv anticipation of that event, to which all things else are subservient! How much do we need of weaning from this poor disappointing world, — a world lying in the wicked one; and yet so closely do we cling to it. He who loves us is compelled to give us many a wrench to tear us from it. Oh, to be on the wing for our blessed inheritance above, looking to those things that are eternal! Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. With what hearts of unbelief do we read the Bible; and how prone are we to forget its commands, precepts, and promises; and so we call down a Father’s gentle rod, to awaken us to a sense of our follj and our sin. But, oh, it is all in love to our souls that He thus acts towards us. He is now trying my faith in this dispensation. I have been some weeks confined to the house, and with but little prospect of being able to walk again soon, if ever. I needed it, I doubt not. Now write me a long letter; it will cheer me in my sick room. My love to your nieces.”

The bodily infirmity alluded to in the preceding letter threatened at one time the most serious consequences. It sprung from a weakness, which increased to such a degree, as not only to occasion at times intense suffering, but also entirely to prevent the use of the limb. For some months she was dependent upon others, and could only move from place to place in a wheel chair. After having the best surgical advice in town, she was carried to Leamington, relinquishing all hope of ever again being able to walk. The temper of her mind under this severe trial, and the details of its removal, we gather from one of her familiar letters to a friend.

“Leamington, March 24th,

“.... I have thought much of you lately in your painful position. There was an expression in my last to you that has worried me, because I feared it might wound you. I remarked, among other things, that the Christian should suppress that murmuring spirit that adheres so closely to us. Now, beloved, I feel in your case it is quite a different thing; and that in expressing your daily sufferings, there may be no murmuring against a good and gracious God who loves you, and is trying your faith to the utmost. May the Lord enable us more and more to look alone to Him, for he is a present help in every time of need. His heart overflows with tenderness, sympathy and love. But there are real believers who do, too often, repine at the providence of God. If all things do not go as they wish, they fret and are dissatisfied. This state of mind I believe is injurious to them and dishonouring to God. Oh, for a stronger confidence in Jesus! Whatever draws or drives us to Him is good. The oftener we go the better; and the Lord frequently places us in such peculiar circumstances, as compel us to apply to Him for the help we can get nowhere else. You will remember my trouble in the loss of the use of mv limb. I was oblisred to be carried about like an infant. Then often I went to the Lord, and earnestly besought Him to restore to me its use. I filled my mouth with arguments, and told Him He had but to speak the word and I should be whole. I felt he could as easily heal me as He did the lame man that lay at the pool of “Bethesda I remmcled Hmi again and again of this, and my faith was strong in His power to do now as He did then. But still my lame”^ ness continued, and I was totally helpless. And now Satan took advantage of this to upbraid me, — ‘Where is the answer to your prayers? You asked not to be left to be a burden to yourself or to others, — where is now the answer of which you so often boast? ‘But still I clung to the Lord, and believed bad as my case was, He would heal me. One day these words came powerfully to my mind — ‘Ask for submission: I immediately obeyed the heavenly admonition, and turned my prayer into an earnest petition for this grace. At that very moment it was given. I felt in an instant quieted down, and all my restlessness of spirit and anxiety to be healed was gone, and 1 was cheerful and composed. I was satisfied to be borne about like an infant, if it were the Lord’s will. A fortnight after this my medical man called, and seeing me in the drawing-room in my wheel chair, inquired the cause. I told him. He asked to examine the limb, which presented a highly inflamed appearance. He said nothing then, but called the” following day. Finding me down, he took my arm, and insisted, against my remonstrance, that I should walk round the room! This I did three times; and from that hour the healing process commenced, and I was perfectly restored. Was not this of the Lord? He first gave me submission to His will, and then answered my prayer by restoring my limb, and I was no longer a burden. Thus does He try the faith He gives. Oh, for faith in the power of God! Why haye I detailed this long story? Simply to encourage your confidence in the Lord, who has said, Is anything too hard for Me?... I am, throufh mercy, well, and go on my way rejoicing in the Lord. Live much in heaven, and earth will grow less attractiye. Realize what awaits you, and go fully into the good land. There are many borderers; they go not up to possess and enjoy their inheritance. They follow not on to know the Lord. “^ They do not know what close fellowship with Christ is. They do not come with the expectation of being absolutely heard and answered. They are satisfied to go away without a response. If we have the Spirit of Christ within, He indites our prayers; for i.vg know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the

83i MEMOIR OF MRS. MARY WINSLOW.

Spirit itself maJceth intercession for us according to the will of God; and that self-same Spirit will respond to our petitions... The present times are momentous. The Lord himself is showing us that He is about to deal with His one church, for He has’ but one, composed of all that are born of the Spirit, and are thus new creatures in Christ Jesus. This is His bride, His spouse. This one church He is about to sift. It needs it, for there is much chaff with the wheat. Let our eye and our hearts be up unto Him, and see what He designs in all the great movements around us. I sit quiet as a babe, and can say, ‘It is my Father, let Him do as it seemeth Him good.’ He’ will do us all possible good, and no harm. I hope I have not wearied you. May the Lord heal, comfort, and bless

you.”

Another domestic sorrow was darkling over her path. The alarming illness, and its fatal termination, of a much-loved daughte°-in-law, the wife of her son, the Rev. Isaac Deblois Winslow, Vicar of Napton,* bowed her aged frame with sorrow to the earth. Endeared, through many long years of tried affection, by a character of peculiar excellence, by an amiabihty of disposition as rare as it was charming, and by sincere and simple piety, her loss was a sore bereavement to her family. Mrs. Winslow’s diary and letters describe her thoughts and feelings in this keenly-felt affliction. We quote from her journal: —

“Feb. 11 th. — Dear F has been seriously ill, and at times

not expected to recover. G is with her, and so is E.

I am feeble and depressed. My threescore years and ten have expired, and I feel everything a burden and a sorrow. But the Lord is very gracious, and at times my heart is overwhelmed with a sense of His unmerited love towards one so utterly unworthy. I long to be with Him. The thought of heaven is very sweet. And when I can realize it, my soul feels as if upon the wing. I long to see Him in glory, who has so frequently and tenderly dealt with me. Even to old age has He carried me, and I believe will never leave nor forsake me. but land me safely in glory.”

u 14t|-i — Still the accounts of dear F are far from being

encouraging. I fear for her life. I pray the Lord will be graciously pleased to spare the mother to her children, and

*Now Vicar of Bucklington, Warwick.

sanctify the affliction to herself and to all her familv How needful to be ready! What a constant source of temptation the world IS, in some shape or other, to the believer all throuch his journey homeward! Its cares and its pursuits, its pleaurt- s and Its claims, lawful though they be, yet, through the weakness of the flesh, are constantly a snare to the heavenly pilgrim. Its principles and its pursuits are adverse to the prosperity of the soul, which struggles on through a host of foes from within and from without, and often exclaiming, ‘How shall I ever maintain ray standing to the end? Lord, hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe. Thou, who hast delivered my soul from death wilt Thou not deliver my feet from falling, ‘that I mav walk before Thee in the land of the living? ‘A patient waiting upon God and a constant application to the Fountain, is the° safest wav to glory. Precious Jesus, strengthen thv poor dust, and enable me to clmg closer and closer to Thee, “increase mv faith, and sanctify me for Thyself. Be with the dear sufferer to-nirht,

and give some refreshing sleep, and keep dear E horn

over-fatigue. Lord bless, heal, sanctify, and restore!

“15th. — Dear F has fallen asleep in Jesus.”

To her pastor she thus unfolds her sorrow: — “... The Lord has again laid upon me His afflictive hand. My heart has been sorely tried, and my soul cast down. God has taken another from me, very dear, and I cannot describe how greatly it has oppressed m”e. I am sad, very sad, and have not been able to rise above it, as on former occasions. Pray for me. The Lord is good, I know; in the midst of it all, there is a reason for all that He does, and He will make it plain in His own time. The sufferings of the dear departed one still press me down; but at times I get a glimpse of her pure spirit above, and I weep for joy, but much oftener for sorrow. See how much I need your sympatliv just now.

Dear E has been deeply tried. “She watched by this dear

departed one, untiringly and devotedly, day and night, for weeks, scarcely in all that time having one night’s rest;” and at last her sister, as she wished, expired in her arms. Beloved brother, do not forget us. My soul is cast down, but in the midst of all I can say, ‘Thy will, 0 my Father, and not mine, ‘’be done.’ Pray for us and the motherless ones.”

“Dear Miss D.

“... This has been a severe trial to us all. Dear Fanny was tenderly beloved by my whole family, who have known her from almost a girl. Her sufferings were severe, and from the first she resigned all expectation of recovery, and said, * I shall die.’ Her mind, in the early part of her illness, was much exercised and greatly tried in view of eternity; and she lamented she had not cultivated a closer walk with God.

Dear E reminded her that Jesus was ready to receive her

now, even noio just as she was. She replied, ‘Yes, I must come, as a poor wretched sinner, now.’ The Lord, however, appeared, and her mind became stayed upon Christ. A day or two before she died, she sang the whole night such hymns as these —

‘Rock of ages, cleft for me.’

•Jesus, lover of mv soul.’

And on one occasion said, ‘Oh, that I might recover to tell you what the Lord has done for my soul on this sick bed.’... Dear friend, how these things should remind us of the uncertainty of life, and the necessity of living prepared to meet the Lord in the clouds of heaven, at His second coming, or when he sees fit to summon us to Himself! To be with Jesus, let that be as it may, is heaven. How precious is the thought, to be for ever with the Lord! — to see Him in all His glory, to mingle with the pure spirits around the throne, and be a pure spirit too. Oh, I think the very purity of heaven is its sweetest attraction! Dear friend, ere long I hope to meet you there. Blessed hope, beaming with immortality, which I sometimes long to realize. Let it be our chief aim to glorify Him — to live upon Him, and live for Him. Oh, he is most precious, so tender, so full of love, so watchful over our interests, caring for us in all things, and entering into all our poor concerns! He is one with us in our tribulations, one with us in suffering, one in time and in eternity; for there is no separating Christ and Hi>^ saints.”

The following interesting extracts are from her diary while at Xapton Vicarage, the scene of her recent bereavement. The brief record of her visit to the grave of the dear departed one, evinces the triumph of real faith in the living, as in the dying Christian, over its gloom and sadness, ‘*0 grave, where is thy victory?” might well now have been her challenge. Let us, who repair to the graves of the holy dead who sleep in Jesus, to weep there, cherish the feeling and indulge the hope she thus so touchingly describes.

“Napton. — I had often wished, during my visit at Napton, to see the spot where the dear body lay, but for fear of excitinomy feelings and producing illness, I refrained. After the lapse of some weeks, still cherishing a strong desire to go there,

accompanied by H, I ascended the hill to the church. I

drew near and looked at it, and as I stood bending over it, these words sounded in my ears, as distinctly as if audibly spoken, ‘She is not here.’’ * Oh yes,’ I replied aloud, ‘she is not here she is there,’ looking up. It was the well-known voice of my Beloved. Oh, to know His voice! May I hear it again and again, speaking words of comfort when I am called to pass through the dark valley. The Lord is ever near; He is about our path. We have not far to go to seek Him. I think I know something of the still, small voice of the Spirit within, and desire so to walk as to be better acquainted with God, and to feel that He is always with me, and that I am not alone.”

“Called to see a young woman in the village, dying of a consumption. She does not know Christ. Read and prayed with her. She begged me to come again. Spoke to the woman who has the care of her; found her quite ignorant. This sick woman has three vouno- children, one a suffering: cripple, and another not expected to live, and her husband scarcely able, by hard labor, to maintain them all. What a suffering world is this, and how little anxious poor sinners are to secure a better! Went into another room, and talked to an old woman, poor but respectable, seventy-five years old. She does not know Jesus. Spoke faithfully to her, at which she seemed to feel and expressed herself thankful. Called at an adjoining cottage, and had a long conversation with another asred woman, who acknowledsred she was not converted. Exhorted her to lose no time in applying to One, who alone could save her soul. While speaking loud to her, as she was deaf, I found a young woman in the next room, with a family of children about her, heard me. She was rejoiced to see me, expressed herself as happy in the Lord, and while speaking of Christ her heart seemed to overflovr with love. She had known Jesus for some years. Returned to the Vicarage, comforted that I had seen one who knew Him whom my soul loveth.”

“How difficult it is, at least for me, to sustain anything like spiritual conversation when many are present, oven though they are relictions professors! The interest languishes. I find it more profitable to speak to one or two alone; and but .seldom feel refreshed when the conversation descends to generals. Oh, to keep close to Christ, to talk of Christ, to encourage one another to believe, to get more of heaven in our souls, more of the power of Jesus within, to believe with all the heart — that is what we want!”

‘Have been unwell, but am better, though still feeble.

H is with me, and is very careful and tender. After a

little walk upon the lawn, was tired, and glad to rest. What a mercy to be able to look beyond this dying world, to the prospect of meeting Him who has pardoned all my transgressions, and of being with Him for ever! — to meet again those we have loved here, mingling with their pure spirits, and uniting in their eternal anthems of praise to Him who brought us there. And shall I, the unworthiest of the unworthy, see Him face to face, against whom I have so often sinned, whose Spirit I have so often grieved? Shall I be near Him, and be permitted to love Him as my soul wishes now to do, but cannot? Oh, glorious prospect! My heart is humbled while I rejoice in the wondrous goodness of a sin-pardoning God, who could, and does, love such a one as I. How I lonsr to be holv even as He is holv! And will it not be so? When I drop this vile body, shall I not awake in His righteousness? When I see Him, shall I not be like Hiiu? Evervthinsr in

this house reminds me of dear F. She is with Christ.

Her little faith would take her within the a rate of heaven. She mourned over her short-comings, wept that she had not walked closer wiih God. But her end was peace, and that was enough. 0 returns from the Evangelical Alliance Conference to-morrow. I hear, the Lord has been graciously pleased to be with the dear brethren. Oh, for a greater outpouring r»f His Spirit before the close! Lord, set Thy seal of approval afresh to this great movement of Thy one church, for thine own name’s sake.”

For the works of the old divines she had imbibed an early taste. Their sound theology, depth of thought, and elevated spirituality, harmonized with the peculiar order of her own mind. She was wont to remark, that there was more of Christ, more of the marrow of the gospel, and more of Christian experience in a single page of such authors as Owen and Charnock, Leighton, Bates, and Newton, than in entire volumes of some modern theological writers. Interwoven with licr diary, we find the following extract from one of her favorite authors. Its perusal may be a word in season to some tried reader of this vokime, as it was to her when transcribed: —

“On the subject of faith, Bridge haf. these striking and excellent remarks: — ‘God doth so give blessings and mercies unto His own people, as that He may b3 most of all seen in them. Beloved, God doth not only give us these outward creature comforts to supply our wants, but to bear up the honor of His own greatness. When He gives to His people, He gives in such a way as He may most of all unfold Himself. If it were only to supply their wants, then, possibly, the sentence of death would never come upon the second cause; but it is also to bear up His own name, and the honor of His own greatness, and that is done this way. Hereby God is known to be the living God. So long as there is life in the means, God is not so well known to be the livimj God; but when all means are dead, and yet the mercy comes, ‘Oh,’ says the soul, ‘now I see that God is the living God.’ Hereby the power of God is made known. He must needs be great in power, that can say to things that are not, ‘Be,’ and give a resurrection to dead thinos. So lonsr as there is streno-th and ability in the means, the soul doth not so much consider the power and the all-sufficiency of God; but when all means are strengthless, and all means are dead, and yet the merjy comes, ‘Oh,’ says the soul, ‘now I see that God is Almighty, God all-sufficient.’ Secondly, God goes to work this way with His people, that they may learn to trust more in Him, and in Him alone. The apostle says, ‘She that is a widow and desolate trusteth in God.’ We seldom trust in God till a desolation comes upon the means; then we learn to trust in God. So long as one who is learning to swim, can touch earth with his feet, lie does not commit himself to the stream. So long as the soul can stand upon second causes, he does not commit himself to the stream of mercy. Again, God is pleased thus to order things that the comforts of His people may be more sure and steadfast. If our comforts hang at the girdle of the creature, they are most uncertain; but if they are all laid upon God, His promise and His power, they are certain. Again: A mere rational considering of the means — their straitness, narrowness, and scantiness — is”a great enemy to the act of believing. The Scriptures have laid a flat opposition between faith and sense. We live by faith, and not by sense. The reasons drawn from sense are sense. If you live by faith, you do not live by sense.

Thej are two buckets — the life of sense and the life of faith, when one goes up, the other goes down. The higher faith rises, the lower sense and reason sink. If you would believe, you must crucify that question, ‘Why? ‘God would not have us so full of wherefores. And if you would believe, you must ijo blindfold into God’s command. Abraham subscribed to a blank when the Lord called him out of his own country. It is the privilege of all the children of Abraham to believe when means fail. It is exceeding pleasing to God, and most acceptable. Oh, what encouragement is here to believe above hope and against hope, and when death sits upon the life of the second cause! Some there are that can believe for the bodies, but they cannot trust God for their souls when means fail. Some say they can trust God for their souls when means fail, but they cannot trust Him for their bodies. Some say they can trust God for themselves, but they cannot trust Him for their families. 0 my soul, trust thou upon God!”*

TO MRS. C. TRIALS, A HEAVENLY DISCIPLINE.

“Very dear Friend, ‘-Napton, August 22d.

^’The Lord has brought me here, I trust, for some service He has for me to do. If His servants, we ought to be doing His work; and it is so sweet to work when love turns the wheel. It is the love of God in the heart that sets us all in motion. I am persuaded it is irksome where this is not the case. To work for God as a hireling is one thing, and to work

for Him as a son is another. Dear E is one of the most

efficient curates a parish minister need have. She is up and doing the will of the Lord in everything to which he points.

I is from home, and she is doing his work, all but going

into the pulpit; and this she gets properly supplied, and has this morning gone ten miles to procure a clergyman who she knows loves and preaches the gospel. ... I was glad to hear

dear Mr. C was better in health. We must not expect

much here; all our richest blessings are to come, reserved for us who are kept for them. This time-state is but a preparatory state. We are disciplining and preparing for the glorious inheritance above; but how often, through wretched unbelief, we seem to wish to have our all here. And although, from bitter experience, we feel and acknowledge it is polluted, and

* Rev. William Bridpre died 1670.

IS not our rest, yet more or less we go on, often repining, because we cannot have things just as we wish. Oh, to leave ourselves in a loving, tender Father’s hands! He knows what we need, and what we ought to have, and will deny us no good thing. But He must judge for us, who are but as babes, who cannot judge for ourselves.... You are in His hands, and although He tries your faith, in due time, if you look alone to Him, He will appear for you, and show you the why and the wherefore He has tried you. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord: may this blessing rest upon you. It is so difficult to keep from looking to an arm of flesh, and yet say, we must make use of the means. I do not plead for indolence, nor would encourage inactivity; but I would not work out a way for myself, but leave it to Him, who sees the end from the beginning, to work for me. It is a happy position for a believer to be in, when he is brought to that point to see he can do nothing for himself, then to rest and wait patiently for the Lord, fully believing He will do all things in the best possible way. Whatever the Lord does in this way for us, is the best, the very best, better than with all our wisdom and management we could have done for ourselves. I am persuaded, the more we live by faith, the holier and the happier we are. Is it not written. Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for youf “What, then, need I care, when my Saviour is caring for me? Am I not one with Christ, and is He not one with me? Then, are not my concerns His concerns, and has He ever failed me? Then, 0 my soul, why not trust Him now? May He increase our faith; this will more glorify Him than all our fleshly burnt-offerings and sacrifices.

“How do you both feel towards the ‘Evangelical Alliance,’ now assembled in London? I consider it one of the grandest movements of the one church below since the apostles’ time. One of Christ’s last commands was, Love ye one another, as 1 have loved you. Now we are always anxious to fulfil the dying requests of one we love, and everything then said seems of the greatest moment to us. This was one of our dying Lord’s last requests to His church. These dear men are carrying it out on the broad foundation, simply of love to all who love Him, and who hold Him the Head; while all minor things are laid aside, and they agree on the fundamental truths of the gospel. I believe this movement is of God Himself, and that already He has put upon it His seal of approbation. Satan will endeavor to hinder it; but be assured the Lord will bless it, for it is a holy attempt to obey His command, which has been too much neglected. Many will say, who stand aloof from the Alliance, ‘But I do love all God’s people.’ We answer, * Show your love by uniting with these men of God as one in Christ.’ God is love. The atmosphere of heaven is love. When we arrive there, we shall swim in an ocean of love; then why not have ls much of heaven here as we can? Why not try to be as much like what we shall be, while journeying towards that ocean rf bhss and love? I think, were I upon my dying bed, and were called upon to address them, I should say, ‘Go on, my beloved brethren, to show your love to Jesus, by exhibiting your love to every member of His own body; for you are all members of that Body, and members one of another. Love ye one another as I have loved you.^ I believe that popery is working its silent way, and that the last effort of the ’ beast ’ will soon be manifest. No wonder that the Lord is calling his people to unite together in a holy confederacy to resist the common foe. It will require the united force of God’s church to withstand this arch enemy. I believe that this ‘Alliance’ is preparatory to the great onset; that the work is the Lord’s, and that He will bless it. I can and do pray for it, nor can I express to you in language the measure the Saviour permits me to enjoy jf His sensible presence while pleading on its behalf Oh, there is a truth in the religion of Jesus! There is an enjoyment in communion with the holy God, of which the worldlino- knows nothing. It is foolishness with the wisest of men; but the sincere, lowly follower of Christ Jesus, loved of God, regenerated by the Holy Ghost, is made to sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesrs. Oh, the infinite value of a throne of grace!”..

“Dear beloved Friend, ‘Leamington, 2Tth. 1851.

“It is long s’nce I heard tom you. We are both nearing our port, where we are to cast anchor for ever. Sweet thouorht! What a mercv for you and me that we have known Jesus; a still greater mercy that He has condescended to know and acknowledge us as His! Let us rejoice together in the goodness and loving-kindness of our God. My heart is often overwhelmed at the thouirht of His avowing such a worthless worm as myself as one of His sheep for whom He shed His precious blood. Dear friend, let us never for a moment forget what we were, and what we now are — candidates for a crown of glory, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. Is not this worth Uving for, and worth dying for? Let us now aim to walk humbly and confidingly with Him, and never suffer Him to be out of our sight. Oh, to travel on, leaning upon our Beloved! His arm will support us in our feebleness; His eye will guide us in our blindness; He will strengthen, uphold, and comfort us, and never leave nor forsake us, I cannot express to you on paper, hardly in language, how graciously the Lord does at times enable me to anticipate the heaven of glory that awaits the believer in Jesus. There sits Jesus, He who was once despised and rejected of men; who suflfered, the innocent for the guilty; who paid the full demand to stern justice for our sins; He who had no place to lay His weary head, though Maker of all things; there He now is, enthroned in the majesty of heaven, and encircled by that goodly company who have escaped from earth, and are now hymning His praises, and standing nearer His throne than the highest angel in heaven. I sometimes so realize the blessedness of the believer, that I could shout to the whole world that all is true, the Bible true, Christ true, heaven true. May the Lord bless you with much of His sensible presence; and when we get above, we will unite our praises to Him who loved us, and washed us in His own most precious blood.”

We continue extracts from her family correspondence, as exhibiting a yet greater variety of topic: — -

TO HER DAUGHTER.

“.... Oh, to look fully to Jesus, not with a half-heart, but to carry all our every varying care to Him, and plead the promise. Sure I am, if we walk in the precept, He will fulfil to us the promise. May He continually give us grace to do so! Oh, the luxury of living upon Him; to be constantly depending upon our covenant Father in Christ Jesus! But faith has, and must have, hard travail to bring forth, and to press through the crowd of difficulties and impossibilities that lie in the way to the kingdom of glory. Thus faith fights all the joiirnev through, and upholds the poor, trembling believer; and not only so, but brings him off victorious at last. The life of faith in the soul of man is wonderful, and is, I believe, a wonder to the angels in heaven; and I am sure we are often a wonder to ourselves, — at least I am. Oh, what a God wo have to do with! so full of love and compassion; and although He tries us, it is all in love to bring us to know Him more, that we might love Him better. Should we not give our undivided hearts to this gracious God and Father in Christ Jesus? The last chapter of the Gospel of John is so full, precious, and abounding in the love of the Triune-Jehovah, from the 14th to the 18th verse. Read it with prayer, and see how certain and secure is our salvation, what a firm foundation it rests upon. What is the world, or the glory of a thousand such perishing worlds as this, when compared with the glorv that shall be revealed in them that love His appearing?”” What a mercy to have a good and gracious God to look to, and ask what you will, and to know that He always hears and stands ready to answer! Think what an honour put upon a poor worm, to have the ear and the heart of the mighty God! to know that He loves you, and cannot cease to love, because He cannot change. He knows what we were, and what we should be to the end; and yet He loved us, and will love throughout eternity. And what does He require? Only our heart — -just as it is, with all its imperfections. He asks the gift, and that it may be His, and His only. He loves not a divided heart — He will not share it with the creature.... He can never do aught but good to you, because you are His — His child, ‘Sisown child by adoption — His child by regeneration — His child by an especial promise, I will he a leather to thy fatherless chil dren says God to you. So you see what a claim you have upon God. Remind Him of this. He loves to be reminded of His promises, though He never forgets them; but He loves to see that we remember them too. Oh, what a holy endearing intercourse there is between a child of God and his heavenly Father! No earthly parent could have loved you as He does. There is something so precious in coming to Him, your Father in Jesus. These two names are better and sweeter than all the names on earth and in heaven; a name which is above every name; and these are yours made over to you by an everlasting covenant of grace, which will finally end in glory to all eternity. Be not over careful about earthly things; get above them as much as you can. Look to Jesus for help when they press upon you, and He will not fail you, for He knows that without Him you can do nothing. All power is His in heaven and on earth. Go to Him for little things, in little, straits and difficulties, at home or abroad, in a crowd or when alone; raise

JOY IX THE PtESURRECTIOX. 345

your heart to your Father who heareth alway, and will never leave nor forsake His own child; for He will be with you even unto the end. Look at the scenes of a busy world, how they pass away; it is but as the buzzing of a summer fly, and all is gone. Therefore, set your affections on things above, where friends pass not away. Oh, for stronger faith, to give full credit to what the Lord says, to act upon it, and carry it out in every department of life I”

“... How have I thought of you all this day, travelling to a strange place, and the weather so cold! You have not been a moment, I think, out of my mind. I thought, and prayed, and could have wept. I trust the Lord heard my prayer and strengthened you, and shielded you from the severity of the weather, and caused you to see His own loving hand. If you do not find Clifton to suit you, try Torquay, or Ventnor. Oh, that the Lord may lend a gracious ear, and cause us to see all was directed in a special way by Himself!... But I must again advert to the great mercy of having such a Helper as our loving Lord to do all for us, and far better than we could think of or imagine for ourselves. I trust, when He places us in such peculiar situations, it is to make us see and feel there is a reality and power in faith in God. Write

as soon as you can, if it is only a few lines. O is in his

studv: H and P are readino; Miss Grant’s Memoir,

written by her mother. Good night. May you enjoy much of the presence of the Lord, and feel you are not alone, but that you have the best Friend that mortal can have to watch over you, and to whom you can open your whole heart, and talk to Him as a man talketh with his fellow.”

To her son, in acknowledsjinG; a small work on the Resurrection, she thus touches upon her favorite theme: —

“Blessed is the pen, blessed the hand that holds and the heart that indites, that gives one cheering view of the mighty blessing that awaits the sleeping, holy dead! The dust of the Christian reposes in quietude until the voice of Jesus shall bid the slumberer arise in perfect beauty, in His own likeness, and suited to the happy spirit, and both now joyfully mingling with the blessed of the Lord in the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. Happy Christian! Your journry here was thorny, and the last enemy may even now be looking upon you; but, take courage; the time will come when thia very body shall rise again to life immortal, and soid and body be ever with the Lord, increasing in beauty, growing in knowledge and glory through eternity. Happy saint! Oh, to meet, too, with those we love, the dear departed ones for whom we hare mourned! We shall meet again. Jesus on the throne will rejoici with us when He beholds our happiness complete, Himself its sole author and finisher. Oh, the glory of that moment! Pveach much on the resurrection of the believer. It will encourage, perhaps, many a timid, sorrowful spirit. I find it so when able to glance at it myself. How wearisome is now the poor body, creeping to the grave, and Satan ever ready to sussrest his ’ ifs’ and ’ buts! ‘It is a dvins: body, but it shall rise again. Jesus has said it. Lord, increase my faith.”

“I was so thankful to-day, so refreshed and comforted, in reading your welcome letter, that it led me with a heart full of love to a throne of grace. I closed my door, and kneeling before my chair, gavi vent to my grateful and deep emotions to Him who heareth His own redeemed, bought with His precious blood, always. Oh, the matchless love that is in our reconciled Father’s heart! Can we suppose for a moment that He sees not our trials, temptations, and conflicts; and that He is not caring for, and watching over us? Oh, no; God is with us and for us, working all things, even now, for our good and His glory.”

“Saturday morning. — I have just been praying for you, and I do feel I have the ear of the most blessed, the most precious, most loving God and Saviour that ever poor sinner had to deal with. I am often overwhelmed with such a sense of His wonderful condescendon, that language fails me, and I can do little else than weep. Oh, how strange that He should listen, and 50 listen, as if Ho said, Yes, yes, to every request I make! He overcomes me with His love. He breaks my heart, then heals it again. It is His love that does it. He gives godly sorrow; puts forth His hand and draws me near to Himself, and then says. What is thy petition, and what is thy request? Then I hasten to tell Him all, all, as if I feared He would withdraw before I coold do so. But He lingers and listens, and then sends me away rejoicing that I have such a Friend in heaven, and longing to drop this body of sin and death, that I might be with Him. Oh, God is such an ocean of love to me! The more His wondrous love is manifested, the more I hate and abhor myself. This is your God, too. And though

He tries the faith of His people, He will appear. Remember, Joseph was two long years in prison, after he had got the promise from the chief butler; and no doubt his faith was sharply tried, for God had partly given him the promise, by enabling him to interpret the dream. But, at last, the promise was fulfilled, and the blessing came in rich abundance. Take courage, He is the same now that He ever was.”

“This mornino; while the children were surrounding: mv breakfast table, I spoke to them of some of the providential dealings of God with me, passing through this wildernessworld, by land and by sea. Among others, was brought to my recollection the circumstance of my embarking on board ship on a long voyage to Bermuda, in ill-health, going to join the regiment to which %ve belonged. Our provisions were nearly exhausted; and there was little else on board but salt meat, fit only for the hardy sailors, and most unsuitable for me, an invalid just recovering from a severe illness. But the Lord sent a calm, and with the calm a shoal of dolphins alongside, which followed us from that time a great part of the passage, affording us a wholesome meal every day, of great delicacy. Oh, how wonderful is our God in all His deahngs with the children of men! My soul is refreshed, and I have been on my knees to thank Him for bringing these incidents to my remembrance. It is good to call to mind the many deliverance3 we have met with from the hand of cur God. Shall we not often think of them, and tell them to our children, and recount them by the way? Lord, pardon my heartless sin of unbelief, and let my whole heart sweetly, safely confide in Thee. I am afraid your health is not as good as it was. Try and cast this burden on the Lord, and He will help you. I know He is willing as He is able. Onlv believe, and let the precept be as precious as the promise, and the Lord will appear for you in His own good time. Wait on the Lord. The Lord exercises faith, and this is needful to conform us to His own lovely likeness. We want to be like Christ, but we do not like the way He takes to make us so. What a mercy it is that He takes His own way, and not ours! Fear not, is the dear Redeemer’s watchword to His saints. Why should we fear? Are not our worthless names written in the Lamb’s book of life? If He is ours, and we are His, will He withhold anything that is really good for us? No, not even the rod; for that is often for our°good. I wonder how it is that Christians do not fear the rod more than they do. They think that God is altogether such as themselves, and will not chasten His beloved child when He sees he needs it. But He will chasten, because he is His child; and that, too, should make us hate sin, and watch against its risings in our hearts; though love is a more influential grace than lear.”

“I had one of my alarming fainting fits, and often think I may go off in one of them. And if indeed ready, which I trust I am, M’hat a mercy would this be! Absent from the body, I should be present with the Lord.* I am better, but feeble. God be praised for all His love-tokens. These visitations are nothing more. They are designed to prepare us for our glorious inheritance above. The oftener the gold is put in the furnace, the more the dross is consumed, and the brio-hter it shmes. In the trial, we cling closer to Jesus; we see more of His loving heart, and imbibe more of His holy image. We cannot come in close contact with Christ, and not get good. Touch but the hem of His garment, and virtue flows. Last night I rode to the Episcopal Chapel, West-street, to hear one of a course of twelve sermons on the New Covenant. Some of these sermons have been excellent, but this last eveninowas rather prosy. I could not see with the good man, and think he overstrained the Scriptures. However, the subject is well worth close investigation. There is a volume just out, composed of twelve sermons, one of which is by Mr. James Haldane Stewart, on the present signs of the times, which are considered very ominous. They are looking for judgment on the Gentile church, and the restoration of God’s ancient people; and certainly there is a moving of the waters in that quarter just now. Oh, that God might give us a right judgment in all things! May he keep you steady to your principles, and enable you to hold fast that which you have received and been taught by the Holy Ghost! Trying times are coming upon the church of Christ; men’s souls will be tried as gold is tried in the furnace.”

“The way the Lord is teaching you is the right way. To be well acquainted with our own hearts, is to bring us nearer

* •’ Fetter a thousand times live under the government and tutory of Christ, than to your own, and live at will Live in Christ, and you are in the suburbs of heaven; there is but a thin wall between you and the land of praises, — ye are within an hour’s sailing of the shore of the new Canaan. — Rutherford.

to Jesus, and to make us more firmly cling to the Cross. Your poor heart is the same as it was years ago, but there was no light to show its evil. But as you grow in grace, you will sec more and more the goodness of God in the gift of His dear Son, to make an all-sufficient atonement for sinners so vile and utterly helpless as we are. It is a great mercy that, while the Holy Ghost opens up the deep fountain of iniquity within to our view, He also, at the same time, shoAN-^ us the Fountain open, always open, in which we may wash and be clean. This makes Jesus so precious to the deeply -taught Christian. To be well acquainted with your own heart is worth all the pain you may be called to suffer, I am often tempted to say to you, make the most of your time now to acquaint yourself with God. A time of affliction is like material thrown into the ground to enrich it, that it produce a good harvest in good time. This is rather a homely way of expressing what I mean; nevertheless, I refer you to the whole tenor of Scripture for the truth of this. Sweet affliction, that brings us near to God.”

“Oh, to have the heart right with God! It is so awfully deceitful, and wo are so continually more or less deceived by it, that we fancy all is right, when, in fact, all may be wrong. Then comes the trial. The rod our all-wise Father will nut withhold. And what a mercy it is to be able to bear the rod, and to see the cause! But how often do we close our ears, and go on in our crooked way until he speaks by some louder and yet heavier blow! and then it is our mercy to run at once into the tender, loving bosom of God, confess our sin, and beg for renewed grace, to enable us to forsake it. I do not think there was ever one of His own dear children who more required this discipline than myself. I seem to need the rod all the way to heaven. TV ell, if I can only see a Father’s loving hand in it all, and it does but endear Christ to me, it is lueliy

“Lord’s-day. — I am still poorly, and kept at home. You are now in the midst of your sermons. May the Lord’s sensible presence be with you. May you preach as if the Lord’s eye, not the eyes of the people, were full upon you. May the lioiy Ghost clothe His truth with power, that every soul may Lear and feel it, and that great good may be done in the name of Jesus, sinners converted, and saints re-converted; the one is as much needed as the other. Nature sometimes puts on a show of religion, and will go a great way while t’lc heart is not changed, and the fear of God and the love of the Spirit is not there, and is not known. Thousands, I fear, deceive themselves into this resemblance of religion; and it is a great mercj, if, when death looks them in the face, the Lord divests them of all false confidence, and brings them guilty to the Fountain open for sin and uncleanness. Then, and then only, do they know what real conversion is — sorrow for sin, and joy in God.”

“Yesterday I was enabled to go twice to the House of God, and the Lord did bless the truths I heard, and sweetlv drew out my heart’s best affections to Himself, particularly at the Supper, and during the reading and singing of the hymns. As dear Mrs. Graham says, My memory fails me as to the text, &c., and vet mv soul is fed and strenothened by the word.’”

The illness and death of one who had sustained to her for above twenty years the closest relation of a friend, and the yet more sacred and enduring relation of a pastor — during which period not a wavelet had ruffled the surface, nor a cloud had shaded the glow of a friendship which God had made the channel of so much mutual blessing — would naturally elicit some of the tenderest features of her Christianity. Hearing of the illness of the Rev. J. H. Evans, she thus seeks to comfort and cheer him: —

“Yes, beloved, even your present trial shall be to

the praise of His dear and holy name. Be of good cheer! God has commissioned it as a messao-e of love, nothins: but love, — eternal, never-ending love. The Lord sent you to preach glad tidings to poor, lost sinners, to gather in His own sheep, feeding them in rich pastures, and causing them to lie down by the side of still waters. But now He has closed your lips for a season. He who sent you to preach, now bids you cease until He says, ‘Go again, and preach the preaching that I bid thee.’ Well, beloved, is He not as full of love in all this as ever? Just the verv same. Onlv trust Him for all consequences. He is doing all things well. Leave yourself in His blessed hands, and seek more for cheerful submission than for the removal of the trial. Be earnest for submission, and He will give it, and resignation will follow, and then, what a calm! Oh, how soothing is the voice of the Beloved! How it hushes to rest all the agitated feelings! To be quiet in His hands, and feel that His will must be best, because He is God, and knows the end from the beginning, while we know nothing! All our wisdom is in our adorable Head. How earnest and restless I was to be healed (when lame), but no healing came, until prompted by the Spirit to ask for siibmusiov, and in a moment it was given! God the Holy Ghost indited the petition, and God the Father heard it, and all was peace within. And what then? After awhile the healing most unexpectedly came, and I was made whole. So may it be with you, my tried and beloved brother. Be assured this aflQiction is sent for some special good, and a great blessing to your own soul and to the church at large. I would not now have been without my trial for a thousand worlds. Oh, the goodness of God! His name is love, and wondrous is He in all His dealings with us; and He is dealing with us every moment of our brief existence, and we are dealing with Him. How little does the world know of the wonderful transaction that is going on every instant between earth and heaven — the constant intercourse between God and His chosen and adopted family! But why should I enlarge upon this subject to one so much better taught than I am? Only you are now in the trial, and I have just come out of it, and may be allowed to speak a word of comfort to your dear and tried soul. Be assured it will be well, it must be well, for it is the Lord who doth all things well. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: hut the Lord deUveretli him out of them all. I believe, though the Lord may try your faith to the utmost, yet that He will appear for you; only leave vourself in His loving hands. Some great good will come out of this trial. It is much more difficult to be quiet and passive than to labour. We want always to be doing; but the Lord savs, Be still, and know that I am God. Farewell! May the Lord comfort, heal, and guide you in every step you take, and enable you to repose passive in His dear hands, is the prayer of your affectionate sister in a precious Jesus.”

“Beloved brother and fellow-traveller in the kingdom of God, it is through much tribulation we are to enter into His kingdom of glory above. I have heard of the late trial your Father has sent in much love. When we arrive at home, and trace our steps through this wilderness, we shall see that every trial, cross, and disappointment was needful, and that the work would not have been complete without all, even the least. Our lovino; God and Father takes no pleasure in afflicting us; but it is by these things we are brought to be better acquamtcd with ourselves and with Him. He does it all. Even thi.s fall from the carriage is designed to produce some great good.... Can anything happen to you or to me but what God does in love to our souls? Oh, that He may remove every wish contrary to His present dispensation towards you, giving you cheerful submission! He will take care of His own church. John-street church is His, not yours. Be not any more careful about it. The Lord wants to have you to himself; and oh, you will find it sweet to be alone with Jesus! Is it not a great and might privilege to be shut out from labor, and to be shut in with God? You will yet see the goodness and loving-kindness of God in thus setting you aside from your work, pleasant as it was to you, and keeping you for Himself. I feel quite sure, dear and beloved brother, that you will have to bless and praise Him for all His present dealings with you. He will open his ever-loving heart to you, and you shall see more of the heart of God than ever you have done before.... Oh, that we could always believe all that He says of Himself! He is the same God that He was to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Does He not often speak to us now by the still, small voice of His Spirit, and does He not allow us often to speak to Him as a man would to his dearest friend? Will He not do us all the good we need? Are we not in His heart, and can anvthinaf happen to us but what He designs, and comes to us with a blessing? Are we not one with Christ, and is not Christ one with us? And now, dear, precious brother, if you have had patience to wade through this, accept my thanks, and be assured I often have you in my mind and on my heart. Cast all your care on Him, fur He careth for you. He will do all things for you and for John-street church too. He is better able to bear the burden than you are. Lie contented in His lovins: hands, and let Him take His own wav with you. You would be working for Him, but He says to you, ‘Be still, and know that I am the best Judge of what is good for you!’ Heaven will be no idle place. God has a work for you there. I love to think of heaven. What a chang:e! To see and be with Jesus — to be like Him — a pure spirit mingling with pure spirits — perfect holiness — perfect love. Let us take courage and look up. My love to your dear wife. Let us join to praise and bless our God that He has spared your life, and may you be able to trust Him fully to the end.”

About three months after the preceding letters were written, we find the followincr mournful record in her diary: —

REV. J. H. EVANs’ DEATH. 353

“December 4, 1849. — Heard to-day of dear Mr. Evan’s escape from a bodj- of suffering to a land of glory. It took place on the 1st, at about six o’clock in the morning. He died in Scotland, and the remains are to be brought to town for interment on the 6th. Praise God for the blessed and o-ood hope, through grace, of life eternal beyond the grave. A letter, addressed to the church, thus speaks of some of his closing moments: ‘I said to him, I felt sure that prayer was made for him that day, and that I had written to the church that he was worse.’ He said, ‘You should tell them the state of my mind.’ I then asked him if he had any message, and he answered, ‘Tell them I stand accepted in the Beloved, notwithstanding all my sins and infirmity.’ In a minute after, he proceeded, ‘I never felt more than now my sins, but in Jesus I stand, Jesus is a panacea.’ It being previously remarked how soon he would be with Jesus, in a few minutes he said, ‘And am I so near eternal glory, and not more rejoicing in it?’ It was replied, ‘But do you;’ to which he answered, ‘In a measure.’ When sympathy and tenderness were expressed to him, he said, ‘But soon to be wnth Jesus, whom I love — who loved me before I loved Him.’ And now he is with Jesus, partaking of His fulness of joy, happiness and glory. The days of his mourning are ended for ever.”

This deeply -felt bereavement elicited the following characteristic letter of sacred sympathy, addressed to the widow of her

lamented pastor: —

December 15, 1S49.

“My dear and precious Sister in the Lord, —

“I think I wrote you such an unfeeling letter y esterda v, that I have been quite distressed about it; but I did so fully and truly realize the joy, the glory, the full, overflowing cup of happiness of the dear departed one, that I did not, as I ought to have done, sufficiently consider your loneliness, deep sorrow, and long dreary nights of watching, while looking upon suffering you had no power to alle’iate; and now those sorrowful hours and scenes are passing before your imagination, and Satan will be busy in bringing them to your recollection, fjL- he seeks to harass those whom God loves. May faith hn given to you to enable you to look above, and in due time to rejoice with him in spirit, who now no longer is a sufferer here in this vale of tears, and who would say to you, ‘Weep no more for me, for the days of my mourning are ended, and 1 have entered Into the joy of my Lord. I have seen Jesus whom I loved, and lo! the half of His glory, His goodness, and His love, was not told me while below.’ Dear sister, ere long, and we shall both be away too, and we shall see him again, and all spend a glorious and an endless eternity together.”

“There is so much lurking infidelity in our fallen nature, that we little realize what God has said in His blessed word, and therefore we do so little go on our way rejoicing. It will be accordinor to our faith, here and there too. It is faith that enables us to realize what the Lord has promised, and brings us into close contact with Christ here; and in the same proportion as we have Christ in our souls here, we shall have Christ in our souls there. And althousrh there will be no lack to any — for every vessel will be full — yet the larger vessels will hold more in the very same proportion they did here below. So that we need, not only for our present comfort and usefulness, to live upon Christ as much as we can here, but with the blessed hope before us of enjoying Him to the utmost when we hereafter shall arrive in the reorions of the blessed. Such is now mv dear brother’s complete felicity. He is with Jesus, and Jesus is with him. His vessel is full, and it will be enlarging through eternity, capable of holding more and more of God, and that throughout the existence of God Himself. I am persuaded we are great losers by not fully realizing what God has promised us, and by not dwelling more on the glorious realities of the world to come, and also by losing sight of our nearness to Christ. Christ has been with you in all your late deep trial, and He is with you now. See what a Friend you have by your side — to talk to in your solitude — to tell Him all you feel and fear, all you wish and want! Oh, what a Friend is Jesus! He is better than ten thousand husbands and children. What a Friend has he been to worthless me! I could not live without Hun here, nor in heaven either. He is the chief of all my joys, and my comfort by day and by night. Dear, precious sister, such will He be to you. The Lord says to you, ‘Cleave to Me. I am thine, and thou art mine. Ask what you will, and I will do it. Ask, that your joy may be full. I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Keep thy steadfast eye upon thine inheritance; a few more days of trial, and thou shalt be with Me.’ I would fain comfort you with the comfort with wliicii God has comforted me. This life is a dark passage to a world of light and glory above. Many whom we love are

[.KTrERS FROM HER LATE PASTOR. 355

there, having outrun us in the race; but we shall meet them agam, and recount together all the way He has led us through the wilderness; and, if there could be weeping in heaven, we should weep there, that we so faintly believed all He told us while here.”

But two unpublished notes addressed to her by Mr. Evans, remain. They are so beautifully characteristic of the writer, that they may form a befitting close to the reference which this volume has so frequently and necessarily made to this eminent Christian, and beloved and lamented minister ot Christ.

“My beloved Friend, —

“Grace, mercy, and peace be with you and yours. All things are in the hands of that Jesus whom we love, and who, wonderful thought! loves us. He bears us and our low concerns upon His heart, and into those hands would I ever commit myself and mine. He who has borne mv sins, must bear my sorrows and cares, great and small.... However sweet the stream, the channel down which it flows and the source from whence it springs give it a double sweetness. On the Lord will I wait, and for Him too. My dear sister, we shall soon be in the eternal world — with Jepu5 — eternallv happy, and infinitely, in Him. This may well lift us above all anxiety. I last night preached Balch’s funeral sermon. The chapel was crowded, and the subject was deeply solemn, and I as usual, was alas! alas! verv much below the occasion. But the Lord will humble me in the pulpit. It is my dispensation — in tender love does He it — and I need it. With kind Christian regards, and affectionate remembrance to your daughther, ever believe me, dear sister,

“Your ever affectionate,

-J. H. Evans.”

“My dear and beloved Sister in a precious
Saviour, —

“How great is our mercv that we know Christ, or rather, are known of Him! and how cheerins: is the thouirht that we, through wondrous grace, shall soon see Him whom our soul loveth! Your letter refreshed our souls. It was sweet to us. It had the savour of His name in it; and by the power of the same Spirit who indited it, was it made as ointment to our souls. Dear and precious sister, we are but slow learners of the two great truths of the gospel; the one, that by grace ye are saved;’ the other, ‘Christ is all,’ And I believe that they are but half learned, even at the last. Oli, how deep is the powder of sin and Satan, ignorance and unbelief, in our poor hearts! all working together to hide this precious object from our sight. How often do even lawful things, and things which in themselves He approves of, still tend to this, except the blessed Spirit breaks through all and shows Him to us!

“And yet amidst all our neglects, and coldness, and ingratitude, still He bears with us, comes over the mountains of our base forgetfulness, and restoreth our souls. I am sometimes led to think, that even in heaven one shall weep to think of the returns which He has received from our treatment of Him; but all tears shall be wiped away, if any are shed there, by His owm blessed hands.

“It will rejoice you, I am well assured, to be told by me, that I am wonderfully better than I was; and, although the complaint has not quite left me, yet, through the tender mercy of our God and Father, it has nearly done so. For fourteen nights I was quite unable to lie down in my bed, and they were generally sleepless nights. But I was not alone, and I felt i’. I fully believe dear sister, that this attack has an especial message in it. May the Eternal Spirit cause me to learn it, yea, all of it; unimproved mercies — and such are trials, overlooked; the loving hand which sends them,- and the infinite necessity there was for them; the secret sins they are meant to detect; and the gracious discoveries they are intended to disclose of the unutterable fulness of Jesus and the Divine goodness, — are very serious things.

“I have lost much by this in past days. May He who is able, give me full possession of this especial dispensation. With my very kindest love to dear 0, and every affectionate remembrance to all his, and especial affection to E;

and with every prayer that your own soul may be filled with all the fulness of God,

“Ever yours, with truest affection,

“J. H. Evans.”

How unconsciously did she betray her own spiritual progress in her anxiety for the advance of Christ’s kingdom in the souls of others! Writing to a beloved family whose parent preceded her only a few weeks previous to her own departure to the “rest that remaineth for the people of God,” she earnestly inquires: —

“How is it, dear, dear friends, with your precious souls? Are you speeding on your way? I have not heard from you of late. Is there not one among you to tell me how matters stand between you and our best Friend? Are there no new communications from above? Have you nothing to say to a poor weaiy traveller, on the same road with yourself? Well. I must say a little about it to you, which may encourage us all, — me to write, and you to join me to praise and bless His holy name who is preparing us all for that happy, blessed place He has gone to prepare for us. How little, beloved, do we think of this as we ought! How faintly we realize it! How little do we believe what God has promised us. Oli, for a stronger faith to give full credit to what we read of God’s word! We are travelling home to God. This is not, and never was intended to be, our rest. It is a wilderness we are passing through, and shame, shame to us, that we so often want to sit down amidst its weeds and briers, and amuse ourselves with the trifles of a fallen world lying in the wicked one. All here is polluted and tainted by sin, therefore does Christ say, me, my love, my fair one, and come away. Dear friends, tell me how it fares with your souls. Do you find Christ mure precious day by day. Let us keep very near to Him, sensibly so. Oh, there is a joy unspeakable in walking near to Jesus — m having daily, sweet holy intercourse with Him — never satisfied to have our best Friend out of sight!”

“6th. — Beloved in the Lord, I do love you all most tenderlv, not only in Christ, but for your own sakes too, and cannot be reconciled to lose siht of you; so do let hear. I have this one evidence, if I have no other, of mv election of God — I love all the saints in the bowels of Jesus Christ. I feel a oneness to them that I feel to no other. But oh, what will that love be when we get above? It is there I am looking. There is my only, my best Friend, and there is my heart. Behold Him seated on His throne, and all the goodly company of the redeemed around Him. Oh, the blessedness of l)(.’holding all His unveiled beauties, and of basking in the sunshine of Vls countenance! Does not vour heart burn within you when you think of these things — these glorious realities? My heart is full to overflowing; for I have just been at His blessed foot-Btool, and had a few holy, precious moments of intercourse with Him, But I must tell you of two sermons yesterday. In the morning, from the words, He endured as seeing Him luho is invisible. — Heb. xi. 27. In this discourse Jehovah was exhibited as revealed in Jesus. Jesus, the visible manifestation of the invisible God. In the evening, from the words, Buwe see Jesus, Heb. ii. 9. I cannot express to you how my heart rejoiced in God my Saviour, while listening to such an exhibition of His glory, though robed in humanity for our redemption. I wept for joy; my heart was overflowing. “Well beloved, we shall all soon see Him eye to eye, face to face. Do not let us lose sight of Him altogether. There is much of heaven to be enjoyed while here, a foretaste of what we shall realize through eternity. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith, without wavering. ‘We are pretty well.

Dear little E, from her spinal affection, is still reclining

upon her back. This is a trial of faith, but we must all have them; they are good for us — are disguised blessings. Nothing but good from the hands of Him who loved us unto the death. He could do no more than die for us. Yes, He rose again. Blessed be His dear name. He did all that He could to save us from eternal woe, and bring us to eternal glory. Farewell, beloved sister in a beloved Lord, May you enjoy much of His presence.”

TO HER SON 0-

“.... I went, according to invitation, to the

T ’s yesterday. The admiral led me down to lunch, and

afterwards left, to meet an ens-asement. We retired to the drawing-room, and had a sweet conversation. I think Christ was there, for our communion was of Him. You will be

amused to hear that Lady C (Lady T ’s mother) and

myself met at a dinner-party in Bermuda, fifty-seven years ago, both of us then young, and but recently married! Now we meet as old ladies, but, best of all, as followers of the Lamb, saved and sanctified by sovereign grace. How strangely people are thrown together in this wide, wide, wilderness world! But, oh, the home of the blessed, where all the saints shall meet, and know as they are known! I am reading your book, every now and then; may the Lord bless it to the quickening of saints and sinners. I cannot but think it would be better to place quotations from God’s word in italics.* I had a sweet, refreshing, and heartbreaking view of the infinite goodness ol God on first risinsr this mornino;. It was a meltinsr of love to mv soul, so plainlv could I read my interest in Christ, and mv title to mv home in heaven. I have not lost its richness yet, nor the deep sense of my worthlessness. Truly, the goodness of God leadeth to repentance. I did not forget you. May the Lord’s choicest blessings rest upon you all!”

“Sabbath Morning. — I have just been praying for you. Oh, that He might answer the prayer, and put strength in body and soul, and the fulness of the Spirit in the word preached, that all may feel that the Lord of a truth has sent you with a message of mercy to all who hear it!... This is another cause of gratitude to Him who deals so lovingly and graciousb” towards us. Let us praise Him now, and praise not onlv with our lips, but may our lives show forth His praise, by walking before Him in all the holy precepts of the Gospel If ye love Me keep ray commandments. Not one nor two only, but nil. It is not given us to choose which we shall keep, and which we shall break. Oh, for a closer walk! To walk in corapanv with Jesus — side by side — my hand in His hand — mv eve on His eye — my heart ever toward Him; this is ftllowship with God’s dear Son. How have I been wrestling for you to dav! May He give you a holy, happy Sabbath! May the word’ be attended with the power of the Holy Ghost to every soul present! I have prayed for quietness of soul, and for heahng for the poor head.”

Her pen, always at home in the Lord’s work, was never

* A striking coincideuce of opinion on this point with that of Mrs. Isabella G-raham, whom she personally knew, and whom in so many features she resembled, may be worthy of note. “Mrs. Graham,” observes her biographer, “was very partial to the works of Dr. John Owt-n, the Rev. W. Romaine. and the Rev. John Newton, and read them with pleasure and profit. One day she remarked to Mr. Bt-thune. that she preferred the ancient writers on theology to the modern, because tlu-y dealt more in italics. ‘Dear mother.’ lie replied, “what religion can there be in italics?’ ‘You know,’ said she, ‘that old writers expected credit for the doctrines they taught by proving them, from the wiprd ot God, to be correct: they inserted the Scripture pas-^ages in italics and their works have been sometimes one-half in italics. Modern writers on theolotrv, on the contrary, give us a long train of reasoning to persuade us to their opinions, but very little in italics.’ This remark of hers ha.x great force in it, and deserves the attention of those who write, and those who read, on theological subjects.” — Z-i/V of Mrs. UtfjelUt (rrafuim.

/ more appropriately or usefully employed than in imparting spiritual instruction and encouragement to individuals anxiously and earnestly seeking the Saviour. To her own heart He was so truly precious, and to her mind to believe in Him was so exceedingly simple, that it was her peculiar delight to meet and aid a soul earnestly asking the way of salvation. To specimens of her letters addressed to the unconverted — to those of Christian sympathy — and to others appropriate to various circumstances and states of mind, we add a few selections from her correspondence, especially illustrating her peculiar gift in leading the anxious, tremulous mind to a full repose in Christ.

TO LADY A. DE CAPEL B-

‘’ Dear Lady B April 20.

“How kind of you to write to me that little note, when your suffering head must have rendered it an exertion! It is a mercy for you and me that there is a Head which is always right, and a heart, too, that is ever disposed to do us all possible good. Oh, to have such a Friend as Jesus is in the court of heaven, who feels all our sorrows, carries all our burdens, and has promised to bring us safely through this trying world, and place us at last at His own right hand, where neither sickness nor sorrow shall ever come! Dear friend, let me commend you to keep close to this precious Friend, who can only be spiritually known and seen by the eye of faith. To all others he is invisible. Faith can discern Him when sense utterly fails. But it is our mercy, that, though this world knows and sees Him not, yet He does and will make Himself known to those who seek Him with their whole heart. Oh, the kindness, the loving-kindness that fills the heart of Jesus towards one poor feeble soul who can but waft a sigh, a wish, a desire towards Him! To such, His heart in a moment responds. Oh, how attentively He listens to hear, and how eager to respond to the first pulsation that arises in the soul towards Himself! That desire to know and love Him is the blessed work of His own Holy Spirit. Dear friend, go to Him just as you are, nor rest short of a holy, familiar, abiding sense of His presence. To know Him is life, and life eternal. He says, I am the tvay, the truth and the life. How sweetly and lovingly He invites us, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. If you and I have come and cast ourselves at His blessed feet, we need fear nothing, for

He will do all things well for us, here and hereafter. I could fill a dozen sheets on this precious subject, but will not fatigue you to read more than is needful to assure you of my sincere desire and good wishes for returning health, and that body and

soul may prosper. My Christian love to dear Miss T.

She belongs to Jesus, and is one of His fold. My sheep hear my voice, and I knovj them, and they follow vie. I know my sheep, and am known of mine. Oh, it is a mercy of mercies to know Jesus as my Shepherd. May he draw you nearer and nearer to Himself.”

to h. and e. s.

“My beloved Friends, —

“I have been thinking of you, and thinking of Jesus too. “What a heart has Christ! Do you know what it is made of? It is an ocean of goodness. It is a sea, fathomless and shoreless, of matchless love — love to poor sinners who but look to Him or sigh for Him. It is the joy of His heart to save sinners. This was His express mission to our world. Then would I have you look, not to your evidences, or to your own goodness, or to your unworthiness, but to Jesus, with a believing heart, and you shall be saved in Christ and for Christ. By simply believing in the Lord Jesus, He becomes one with you, and you one with Him, the Holy Spirit taking possession of your souls for Himself. In a little while, and we pass away, and one thing only is needful. Come, then, to Jesus, and be saved; and give Him no rest until He manifests Himself to you, as He has promised. We will come and manifest ourselves unto you. This manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ to your souls, when you experience it, will be worth more than millions of worlds to you. I am convinced you will echo this when you receive the blessing. He waits to be gracious, lingers for your coming, just as you are, not waiting to make yourselves more acceptable. He undertakes to make you all you ought to be, and will work in you to will and to do, and all that is pleasing in His sight.’’

“If you will cultivate the habit of going and telling Jesus all you wish or fear, you will find in Him a hearkening ear; and thus you will become acquainted with God and His peace. Your desire is to know Jesus, to believe in Jesus, to be assured of your interest in Jesus. Can there he a better way of accompHshing this than by going to Him in all simplicity, and 16 “^”

opening freely and fully your whole heart to Him? Put from you all cold formality, and deal with Christ as if He were now what you read of Him when upon earth. He is the same that He was then. He was never known to reject any that came to Him for help; nor will He turn Himself away from you. Go to Him, and continue going until you can say, I have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets did. write. Oh, the joy and hope that will then spring up in your heart, when thus you have found Him! He is not far from you now. In one moment you may make acquaintance with Jesus, and a precious Saviour you will find Him. And what a mercy it will be to have such a Friend always near you, to guide, protect, and bless you, and make you, in return, a Messing to others! Remember wrestling Jacob, who said, / will not let Thee go until Thou bless me. This was that same Jesus with whom the patriarch wrestled, who afterwards was manifested in a body like ours, to pay to Divine justice our mighty debt, to suffer in our stead, and who rose again from the dead, appeared to Mary, and now waits to be gracious unto you.^’

“The Lord toJceth pleasure in them that fear Him, in them that hope in His mercy. On opening my Bible this morning, my eye rested upon these words, and I thought, beloved friends, of you. I felt they suited your state of mind. The Lord your God, manifest in the flesh, taketh pleasure in you. Go alone, and thank Him for this precious word, with a heart fullv open to His view. Have no concealments from vour best Friend. He loves an open, candid heart. He wants you to approach Him with your low frames, with your bad feelings, with your cold affections, with your wandering minds, with your unbelieving hearts. He will listen to your voice, and regard your wants, and do all that you can possibly think of, and more than your highest thought or imagination can conceive. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, unto all that call upon Him in truth. You shall never seek His face in vain. One lovino; look from Christ will dissolve vour heart into love and sweet contrition. His invitation is. Look unto Me, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved. And when the Holv Ghost shall take of the thinsjs of Christ and show them unto you, you will then say, ‘Not half has been told me; now we know Him, not because you have told us, but because He has made Himself known to us.’ I long to see you rejoicing in Christ, as if you were a part of myself. I hope to welcome you in heaven. Think of the meeting there! “Wlo would not strive for it? Tarry not, nor stop, until you are quite sure that you are saved.”

“It seems to me that the chief concern of life is to get to heaven. This, the grand object of our brief sojourn in this vale of tears, should engross our every thought, and enlist our utmost aim. Is not everything else that would allure us from this great concern a device of the enemy, plying his efforts and powers to divert us from our eternal interests? My beloved friends, keep your eyes open to the ten thousand temptations of the enemy of souls, and cultivate a readiness to obey the summons, which at any moment may come, Prepare to meet thy God. The subject upon which I write is of the first moment. How stands the matter between God and your souls? Have you the sealing of the Holy Ghost? Has Jesus manifested Himself to you? Press the question upon your consciences, and, oh, may the answer be an honest one! A heaven, with all its glory, or a hell, with all its horrors, is dependent upon your present decision. A soul saved, or a soul lost! A soul eternally happy, or a soul eternally wretched! But Jesus stands ready to receive to his loving bosom every poor sinner that comes to Him, in all his helplessness, for salvation. May this be your happy case!”

“I wish, my beloved friends, to quote a passage from God’s word, for your comfort, which arrested my attention in the course of my reading, and my thoughts wandered to you in a moment; and may the Lord Jesus make it a quickening, comforting, refreshing portion to your precious souls. / know the thoughts that I think towards you saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will HEARKEN unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye search for Me with all your heart. Jer. xxix. 11. Is not this worth wrestling for? Can you go a day or an huur without receiving it? Seek earnestly, then, until you lind the Lord, and He says to you, I am thy salvation. The blessing is vjithout money and without price. My soul travails in birth for you, until Christ is formed within you, the hope of gl<-»ry. There is nothing in this poor, passing world that is to you, at this present moment, of such vast consequence. Dear, very dear are you to me, and I do feel that you are dear to the heart of Jesus. You have my fervent, earnest prayers: and

S6i MEMOIR OF MRS. MARY WIXSLOW.

how will it gladden mj heart to see you rejoicing in Christ Jesus; and when you do, come and tell me, that we may rejoice together.”

“... ^lany thanks, dear, loved friends, for the flowers, and also for the lights. I had some, but yours eclipse them entirely, and burn beautifully at night, when mine are quenched in darkness. Oh, that your spiritual light, and mine too, may shine brighter and brighter unto the perfect day! How brightly will that light shine, when once introduced into the glories of the upper world. No night there, for Jesus will be the light and glory thereof Beloved friends, press onward to know more of this most precious Friend. I am very feeble; pray for me.”

In the following extracts we trace the application of divine truth to a more mature stage of Christian experience: —

TO MRS. H-

... Yesterday we had a day full of Christ — His death and glorious resurrection. The Fast-day was a day of feasting with our souls. The word was full of manna and fatness; from seven o’clock in the morning until half-past nine in the evening, we were more or less in the sanctuary, humbling ourselves at the feet of Jesus for the sins of the nation, and for

our own. The Lord was most blessedly with. The

word came with power, and accompanied with the unction of the Spirit. It was a day long to be remembered by us. Dear friend, what could we do without the Gospel? It is bread to the soul, the living soul, — for a dead soul does not value it; but we need it, that we may grow in grace and in the knowled o;e of Jesus Christ, who is its sum and substance. We must feed upon him.

‘None but Jesus can do helpless sinners good.’

“.... How important it is that we should be quite sure that we are on the right foundation. Is there, or can there be, anything of equal importance to this? And yet, how many are wasting their precious time on the things of this poor world they are so soon to leave, and are risking: the never dying soul, yet hastening on to the bar of God, unprepared for that great day for which all other days were made! Is not this madness? May the Lord make us faithful to them and to others, urging all we love to flee from the wrath to come, pointing them to the Lamb of God, whose oiood, while it cleanses us from all sin, sanctifies the heart. We often shrink from this duty, and Satan endeavours to hinder us; but Jesus requires it at our hands, and by coming to Him, and telling Him our weakness, He “will strengthen us, and help us to do His will. The text yesterday was. Who shall roll us aicay the stone from the door of the sejmlchref And ichen they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away, for it was very great. How often we have our stones of difficulty lying in our path; and as often, when we come to the difficulty, we find that the stone has been rolled away by a hand invisible to mortal eve. But the saint of God knows whose it is.”

TO MRS. W.

“I was just thinking of Jesus, our dearest, best, and never-failing: Friend, and I thousht I should like to talk to you about Him. It is so sweet to talk of one dear to us who is absent. Bless God with me, that we are both so near our home, each day’s travel bringing us nearer and nearer. Our eyes shall behold Him whom our souls love beyond all created good. What a prospect is before us! For ever with the Lord! Oh, for stronger faith, to give full credit to all we profess to believe! You will recollect I told you, I have more communion with the saints above than with the saints below. Many whom I meet seem to have so little to do with Him, and their acquaintance with Him is so shght. Precious Jesus! who would not know Thee? and in knowing Thee, who would not love Thee? I long to see Him, to tell Him how much I love Him. Is He not all in all to us? Are we not His, and is He not ours? Does He not sit enthroned upon our heart’s best affections. Do we not commune with Him as a Friend to whom we can open our entire heart, tell Him all, and listen to his gracious response? Oh, how precious this intercourse with One we love, and who loves us! My thoughts are, more or less, in heaven. There is Jesus; the same gentleness, sympathy, and goodness, portrayed on His blessed countenance, every feature beaming with love, as when on earth. Oh, beloved, let us join to praise Him! Help me to love Him better. We should bo helpers of each other’s joy. Our journey is drawing to an end. Look forward, look upward. Jesu’s eye is upon you; His heart is towards you. A few more severe trials, a few more staggering steps — and we are there /”

TO HER SON, REV. G r. W.

“.... I was grieved to hear was of a sceptical turn.

Oh, what a mercy to have godly parents! and how much have they to answer for, who have brought up their children to rest their happiness only on a world that is passing away, and is bearing them on to another. Godly parents cannot convert their children; God alone can do this. But they can lead them to Jesus, and bring them up in the fear of the Lord; and when they have done this, they have done all they can do; for the Holy Ghost alone can change the heart, and this is what we have to pray for, until we see them safe within the ark. Every moment they are without it, is replete with danger. They must be born again. Christ has said it. It is not a change of sentiment, nor an outward reformation of life; it is a new heart imparted by the Holy Ghost; and when they have it, they will know it. Mav we, who do know our sins are pardoned, be fully sanctified, body, soul, and spirit for the Lord. We want more devotedness of heart, more of the single eye to His glory, and to feel more the value of precious souls. Oh, think of lost souls — of the eternal woe, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched! Do we believe God? And has He not said this? Let us, then, put far from us all the false charity that leaves sinners to stand upon the precipice, because we will not disturb their carnal security.”

TO HER SOX 0.

“I have been feeble; but this I must expect,

accordino; to the course of thing-s in this chansrinor, fadino; world. And when I look back upon, and think of all that I have passed through, I have cause to bless and praise the Lord, that I am as well as I am. I was glad to hear of the arrival

of Captain B ’s vessel in Australia. I have felt anxious

for their safety, and have seldom forgotten them in my prayers. Would they all knew the value of praver! Oh, to live upon Jesus — to live for Him — and in a measure, even now, to live with Him! But I must not write you a long letter, for I know you have but little time to read it. I bless the Lord you were carried comfortably through your labours yesterday. It is a mercy to have the Lord’s blessing, even in a small way; to be quite assured that His presence is with us, though all the world should be against us. It is a narrow road the followers of Christ walk; but it is the foothpath He Himself travelled, and it is a great honour put upon a follower of Him, to tread in the same. In all mv helplessness, I lean upon Him. I must not detain you, though my heart is full.”

“E has Ijeen unwell. What frail bodies we carry

about -with us for a season! and bless God, it is but for a season, and a short one, when, if in Christ, all will be, must be,

well in the end I constantly repair to my stronghold

on your behalf There is none like Jesus, the once despised Nazarene, who trod this earth in loneliness and poverty, despised and rejected of men. Oh, to walk as He walked, waiting, as He patiently waited, for the crown of glory prepared for all who follow in His blegsed footsteps! The honours of this poor world are not worth a thought. May the Lord keep you more than merely satisfied; may you always rejoice that He has called you to take up a cross for Him who bore so heavy a one for you, that you may hereafter, in a little while wear a crown. I am increasingly feeble. Old age is infancy again. Who would live alway? Oh, for the eye of faith to look within the vail, and see Jesus there, in full possession of His kingdom, waiting to welcome every weary pilgrim home with, Come ye blessed of my Father! Humanly speaking, I think this will be my last summer on earth. Well, be it so; the Lord knows the best time, and He will take care of His own. Do not let ‘Octavius, jun.,’ forget grandmamma.”

Soon after the letters were penned from which the above extracts are made, and while still on a visit to her son in town, she was seized with an illness which filled her family with the greatest alarm. Her advanced age and enfeebled constitution, combined with the severity of the attack, left but faint hope of her rallying. It were needless to say, that the most skilhil medical aid that London could afford was obtained, the respousibilitv being too great for a near relative to sustain. It was an especial and signal kindness of God’s providence, that the physician thus summoned to her couch should be the late Dr. GoLDiXG Bird, of Russell-square. Never, perhaps, did two individuals meet in the relation of patient and physician, between whom, in some of the finest points of natural, a-s in many of the higher features of Christian character, there existed a closer resemblance, or a stronger sympathy. They

met,

6^’
“New as if come from other spheres,
Yet welcome as if loved for years.”

Until then they were entirely unknown to each other. In a short time, however, they discerned that a powerful and responsive sympathy existed between them; that, taught by the same Spirit, their hearts fashioned alike by the same Divine hand, they were “no more strangers, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” The tender interest with which Dr. Golding Bird became at once inspired in his venerable patient — the anxiety, skill, and gentleness, with which he watched her case — could not have been surpassed by the devotion of the oldest friend, or the tenderness of the fondest son. It was a touching spectacle, — and it would have formed a fine study for the pencil, — which met the eye of the writer, on his return from Switzerland (from whence he had been summoned by the illness of his parent,) when for the first time, he saw Dr. Golding Bird. On entering the room, Mrs. Winslow was seated on a sofa, then convalescent, her beloved physician at her side. His pale, intellectual countenance was bent over her with an expression of the profoundest interest and veneration, while she was expatiating with her wonted energy and earnestness on her favourite themes — the preciousness of the Saviour, and the glorious hope of the Christian beyond the tomb. The grateful and affectionate regard which the recovered patient cherished for the Christian physician — himself then battling with an insidious and rapidlyripening disease — by whose skill and care, under God, her invaluable life had been reclaimed as from the grave, found expression in the following letters addressed to Dr. Bird: —

‘•39, Upper Bedford-place, Sept. 24, 1853.

“To THE Beloved Physician.
“Dear Brother in Jesus, —

“How can I sufficiently thank you for all your Christian kindness, tenderness, and love to a stranger, to whom you came in an hour of suffering? I am convinced the Lord sent you; and may the life He has spared be increasingly devoted to Him, and may the sweetest, richest blessing rest upon 3’ou. InasmiLcli, says our Lord, as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto Me, It is one of the strongest evidences of our adoption, the love which the

Spirit creates, and which cements and binds togelher the one tamil J of God. By this we know our election of God, and that we have passed from death unto life. I am leaving town, but could not go without one word to you, as we may not meet again until we meet above. And oh, the meeting then! TV’hat will it be? We shall behold that same Jesus who trod this lower world, now enthroned in glory, as full of love, tenderness, and sympathy as ever, saying to us then — to you, beloved brother, and to unworthy me — Enter into the Joy of thy Lord! Oh, for that blessed recognition! May we have stronger faith to realize our high calling, and to live in more constant intercourse with Jesus here, even amidst all that would fain turn us aside. It must and it will be a fight of faith; but if, in childlike simplicity, we keep our eye intent upon Jesus, travelHng to BQm for all we need, we shall be able to go on our way rejoicing. My own dear brother, in the best sense, I must now bid you farewell. I am better than I ever expected to be in this vale of tears. Heaven is my home, my happy home. Where Jesus is, there you and I must be. Again let me thank you for all your kind attentions; and ever believe me your grateful sister in Jesus.”

“January 9th, 1854.

“... It is in my heart to enclose you a little work, which you may read when resting from your labours on the sofa. To me it has been a rich repast, a sweet morsel for a weary, aged traveller through a wilderness world, which, take it at its best, is nothing else, and God designed that it should be nothing else. But the prospect beyond, oh, how glorious! A Father’s house — a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens! Dear friend, the Lord sent you to me at a time of sufiferino:. He blessed what you did for me, and I was brought back when I expected soon to be with Him whom my soulloveth, and have done with sin and sorrow for ever. ‘Xot yet,’ said the Saviour; ‘a little longer trial and conflict in the wilderness.’ I have something more to learn of my helplessness and weakness. It is but a little, and we shall pass away; all our sicknesses, trials, and disappointments, are needful to fit us for it. I have, through a long-y protracted life, waded through much tribulation, and now feel that I have not had one sorrow amiss. The port is almost in view, and how pleasant it looks! Let me send my Christian love to your dear wife, and believe me most gratefully yours in Jesus.”

“April ISth, 1854.

“... And now we are both nearing day by day, hour by hour, our glorious inheritance. It is all ready for us, and Jesus, whom we both love, because He first loved us, stands prepared to bid us welcome. Fear not, dear brother; you have a right to the inheritance; it was purchased for you, and the full price paid down, before you had existence, save in the foreknowledge of God. I shall meet you there, and recognize you too. There will be a perfection of knowledge, as of everything else. We have been for years pressing on through a wilderness, and now, through the weakness of our faith, we are loth to leave it. But be of good cheer, for it is all true, all real. Our best Friend, He who loved us unto the death, is there, and at times so very near does it seem to me, I can hardly contain the joy that fills my whole soul. Truly, it has not entered into the heart of man to conceive the things that God has prepared for them that love Him. Sometimes He draws the curtain back a little, and gives me a glimpse, and then, overpowered with the sight, I can Imt weep for joy, — yes, and weep for sin too. Oh, the wondrous love of God in the gift of His beloved Son, to sufier, bleed, and die for such poor, wretched sinners! Only believe. I have had such a view this morning of the glory that awaits the believer, that I could not bear much more. I write now to encourage you in the conflict. I may be there to bid you welcome. Who can tell? The Lord sent you to my bedside, as His messenger, to brins: me back attain to earth, to see the conversion of several of my grandchildren, in answer to my many prayers, and also to witness, even in this poor world of sorrow, some glimpses of the glory that awaits the believer. When Stephen was dying, the curtain of heaven was drawn, and he saw Jesus standing ready to receive him. He is the very same now, — the same yesterday to-day and for ever. I will not, dear friend, trouble you longer, but will ask the Lord to bless you, to encourage your heart, to comfort your dear wife, and to prepare all you love to follow you into the land of glory. Oh, to spend eternity together with all we have loved on earth! That glory shall be increasing through the countless ages of an endless existence.”

The warm response which these utterances awoke, was worthy of him on whose Christian heart they fell like the soft breath of evening on the sweet ^Eolian. The finest chords of his gentle nature were touched, and trembled with holy ecstasy.* A brief note, penned from his couch of languor, survives to complete and close the record of a friendship too sacred and too brief for earth: —

‘’48, Russell-square, Feb. 3rd, 1854.

“I must, my dear Mrs. Winslow, write a few lines to you, to thank you gratefully for your last kind letter. I cherish all your letters, but the last was very genial and comforting to me. It came just as I began to feel again the pressure of the burden of mv work on my feeble frame; and although I have not been quite laid aside, I have been obliged to limit myself to my home practice, so as to rest for the other part of the day. It was comforting to be reminded by you, who had so long tasted that the Lord is gracious, that we should go to Him even with our small cares, as without Him we could do nothing. I fear I have too much reason often to say, with the trembling suppliant of old, ‘Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief T My dear wife, who deeply enjoyed your letter — for we regard it as common property — desires to unite with me in earnest prayers for vour preservation during the perils of the winter, and that you may yet long be spared as an example of one who in this world is enabled, by grace, to live in the land of Beulah.

“Do give my affectionate regards to Miss W, and your

dear son 0, and

“BeHeve me to remain, ever your friend,

“GoLDiNG Bird.”

“To Mrs. Winslow.”

“I shall never forget,” adds one who survives to mourn, as none others can, his irreparable loss — “I shall never forget his reading the last letter sent. Tears of joy fell from his eyes at the s%^et mention of that dear Saviour whom he so loved. His love for your dear parent amounted to a kind of reverence.” E-ehgion mourned the loss of one of her brightest ornaments,

* “His fine toned heart like the harp of the ^vinda,
Answers in sweetness each breeze that sings;
And the storms of grief, and the breath of joy,
Draw nothing but music from ita strings.”

and science one of her noblest sons, when Dr. Golding Bird was numbered with the dead. Seldom have more brilliant powers or brighter hopes become suddenly quenched in the darkness of the sepulchre, than when this accomplished scholar and eminent physician succumbed to the power of a disease accelerated, if not caused, by his extreme devotion to his profession, on the loftiest summit of which he stood when death’s dart laid him low. But distinguished as were his talents, and successful as was his career, the highest encomium of Dr. Golding Bird is, — that he was a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Nature made him great. Providence made him useful, religion made him good; and nature, Providence, and grace, unite to accomplish the purposes of Him “who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.” The grace of God was “exceeding: abundant” in him. He was not “ashamed of Christ and of His words,” but everywhere, and on all occasions, — whether lecturing from the chair of the professor, or administering in the sick room of the patient, — he invariably exhibited the character, maintained the dignity, and exerted the influence, of the — Christian Physician.*

It was soon after her recovery from the illness just referred

* ‘-On one point,’’ remarks the elegant pen of his biographer, “he entertained a strong opinion, regarding it an unpardonable fault, to delude the dying patient with false hopes, when all earthly means of relief had failed, and death remained inevitable. Whilst rational hope existed, lie encouraged it; but when it was shut out for ever, he always told the truth. He spoke emphatically on this subject some years ago, when called by a late eminent member of his profession to the bedside of a dying physician. He was assured that their suffering brother did not know his danger, and had not been told of it. ‘Then be it my task,’ was the reply, ’ to tell him. If we cannot preserve his life here, we must not let him hazard life hereafter.’.. He had alwaj-s pursued his profession under the conviction that the spiritual and practical physician was inseparable: that between them a kindred tie existed, a union often to be usefully employed, and which it was an important duty to preserve and strengthen. By him it was never broken. At the risk of being deemed sometimes intrusive, he never failed, when he felt that it wa.s necessary, to direct the attention of the dying to that reliance on the Divine sacrifice which, when his own voice was hushed in the silence of death, and his worn-out and suffering body was at rest, graced his thin features with a smile of tranquillity and pea.ce.^^- -Biographical Notice of the late Dr. Golding Bird, AM, J/ D.. F.R.S., F.L.S.

While thus touching upon the union of the medical profession with Christianity — the connexion of science with religion — as illustrated by the life of Dr. Goldixg Bird, it may not be inappropriate to quote some observations, yet further and more ably elucidating this important and to, that the following letters were penned, the elevated, heavenly tone of which would alone indicate that she had been so near to her eternal home as to have gazed within the

interesting question, by Dr. Forbes Wixslow. the youn’est son of the subject of this Memoir. The extract is taken from a volume, entitled ‘• Lettsomian Lectures on Insanity, by Forbes “Wixslow, ^LD., D.C.L., 1856.”

When speaking of the psychological vocation of the physician, Dr. Forbes Winslow observes: — “I claim for the cultivators of medical science higher and more exalted functions than those usually assigned to the physician. We form but a low and grovelling estimate of the high destination, and of the solemn duties of our dignitied vocation, if we conceive, that the operations of the physician are limited to the successful application of mere physical agents. The physician is daily called to witness the powerful efiect of mental influences and moral emotions upon the material organization, lie perceives that such causes engender disease, destroy life, retard recovery, and often interfere with the successful action* of the mo.?t potent remedial means exhibited for the alleviation and cure of bodily disease and suffering. Although such influences are admitted to play an important part, either for good or evil, I do not conceive that the practitioners of medicine have had a sufficient appreciation of their great importance. The physician is oten called upon, in the exercise of his responsible duties, to discharge medicotheological functions. It is occasionally his painful duty to sit by the couch of the dying, and witness the last sad conflict between mind and matter. It is on such occasions that he has, either in co-operation with the recognised minister, or in his temporary absence, an opportunity of whispering words of comfort, hope and consolation to the wounded spirit, and of directing the attention of the patient, and those immediately about him. to the only true and legitimate .source of the Christian’s hope. Let the physician not lightly esteem or neglect the solemn functions ilxn imposed upon him.

‘■ Our position as medical philosophers, occupied in the investigation of the phenomena of life, of mind, and of disease, entails upon us anxious, solemn, and responsible duties. In the hour of pain, when the spirit is humbled by suffering — in the day of distress -in the solenm moment of dis.solution — it is our high and noble privilege, like guardian angels, to hover about the couch of the sick and dying. We enter the chamber of the man writhing with agony, berefl;. perhaps, of that which aUmc made existence pleasurable, the right exercise of the mental powers, and loud and affectionate demands are made upon our sagacity and skill. Life -the silken thread, — the fragile chord of life — ihpends up<>n our rapid appreciation of the phenomena of disease, and ready administration of remedial agents for their relief and cure. Our profession is a noble one- a most dignified, exalted, and honourable calling While feeling that the best of our works are imperfect, and that we must rely for our future happiness upon the mercy of God, in Christ Jesus, and not upon our own merits. I cannot be forgetful how great is our responsibility, for the right use of our tiilents, and the faithful di:«charge of our solenm and anxious duties.”

374 MEMOIR OF MRS. MARY VriNSLOW.

vail, and to have felt and beard what it was not possible fullv to utter.

TO MRS. C-

“My DEAR Friend, — Nov. 25th, 1853.

“I have often thought of you, and have inquired of those who knew, how you were. But when we get above, we shall not have far to seek each other. Oh, that not this, is our home! Here all is tainted, defiled with sin; God has something better in store for us. Make your calling and election sure for that better land. I go to yrepare a place for you. I have lately been brought by severe illness almost in view of my glorious inheritance. My children were weeping around me, and all thought my time was come, I felt quite ready. In a few moments I expected to be in the presence of Him my soul loved. But it was not to be so; and here I am still in this vale of tears, kept for a season out of my eternal inheritance, and, for some wise and gracious purpose, have been’ wonderfully raised up again. The will of the Lord be done. And now, mv dear friend, I feel I must live more than ever upon Jesus. He is alone able to counsel, direct, and overrule all our concerns, and in the best possible way. Why, then, should you and I be over anxious about any one thing, when we can cast all our cares upon Him? Oh, it is sweet living when we thus live upon Jesus! Go often and talk with Christ, and tell Him all you feel and desire. The smaller the case you take to Him, the more you honour Him! for in this act you acknowledge your belief in what He says that, Without

me ye can do nothing. I am with, and greatly enjoy his

ministrv. When he was an infant I fed him, and now in mv old age he is permitted to feed me with the sincere milk of the word, which is very sweet and refreshing to my waiting soul. The Lord Jesus draw you nearer and yet nearer to Himself, and make Himself more sensibly known to you. Do not lose sight of Him; He is your Helper in this vale of tears, and has promised that He will never leave nor forsake you. And oh, to see Him in all his orlorv above, and be acknowledged there, in the midst of all the host of heaven, as His beloved, this is worth livins: and is worth dvins; for! In a little moment, and eternity will burst upon our view. Lean upon Jesus for everythinir, and you will find you cannot do without Him here or hereafter.”

TO MRS. C.

. Since I last heard from you, I have been brought almost in full view of my eternal home. My physician gave

me up, and my children, who were all about me but dearO,

who was abroad for his health, were expecting my departure. But the Lord said, ‘Not yet; ’ and so I was raised up, and brought back to suffer a little more of earth’s trials. I felt peaceful and satisfied that I was safe. There was not that rejoicing that I sometimes have had, but a calm, trusting, confiding state of mind; not the shadow of a doubt, nor a cloud between my soul and Him whom my soul loveth. Oh, dear friend, let us often meditate on heaven; it will assist us to bear more serenely the ills of life. Our Jesus is there, the self-same Jesus who dwelt in the flesh. Was it not sweet and lovely in Him to lead His disciples out to the spot from whence he ascended to Dflorv, in order that they miorht see that the identicallv same body He had borne about with Him on earth, He bore up with Him to heaven? I am quite sure that if we dwelt more in all godly simplicity in the full expectation of seeing and being with Jesus for ever, we should be found oftener rejoicing in the prospect before us. Have, my dear friend, constant transactions with this precious Saviour. A holy famiharitv with Him will tend much to conform us to His likeness. But few go to Jesus just as they are, and with no price in their hand. A poor, needy sinner, empty and helpless as a babe, is inconceivably welcome to Christ. From such He will never, no never, turn away. This simple, believing living upon Christ has a most sanctifying, purifying tendency upon the whole inner man; and thus sin grows more hateful, and the world less attractive, and the pleasures of sense increasingly distasteful, and we are better fitted to sustain the trials of life. I must now conclude, but my heart is so full of this glorious theme, that, were it possible, I could proclaim to the whole world the willingness there is in the heart of Jesus to receive and save sinners, as sinners and not as saints. Let me hear from you.”

How often in the Christian’s deepening experience are old and lone-familiar truths brou2;ht to the soul with all the power, and clothed v.’ith all the freshness and beauty, of a new revelation! What an evidence this of the divinity of the Bible, and what a louchini]; unfoldinor of the love of the Spirit!

It is thus she confirms, by her own personal experience, this thought: —

“Dearest 0, Sabbath Afternoon.

“I am. still confined to bed, quite unable to exert myself. I have prayed for you again and again, many times to-day. Oh, what a mighty privilege it is to have to do immediately with God, with God Himself, the mighty God in Christ! TIow could we have known anything of God, had He not stooped to reveal Himself in Jesus? I have been thinking much to-day of this wondrous stoop. It has opened in my mind a new spring of thought, has given me a fresh view of God, to an extent I have never had before. For, although I have often read and spoken of God revealing Himself in my nature, yet it has never appeared so vividly true, so blessedly real as to-day. Oh, as I travel on to my heavenly home, and near the time when the vail will be drawn altogether, how increasingly wonderful are the glorious realities of eternity! wonder upon wonder opening up to the astonished sight, almost overwhelming. Praise our God. What could I do without Jesus! Old age, with its untold infirmities, would be a serious drag if He were not by me, and had I not the privilege of leaning upon Him with all the weight of care, pain, sin, and sorrow. Ag*ain would I say, how inexpressibly precious the incarnation of the Son of God has been to my soul to-day, the Holv Ghost unfoldino; it in a new lio;ht, and OTvins: me to take a more simple, direct hold upon it as a matter-of-fact truth! I ask you now to help me to praise Him for the depth of love, matchless, wondrous love, it has unfolded to me, and to urge you to preach more and more of God, the mighty God, dwelling in Jesus, in a body like our own. I have been praying that the Holy Ghost may help you to-day, and carry the word home to the hearts of all, that many poor sinners may be brought to the feet of Jesus. It has not been a barren Sabbath to me, although I have been kept at home. Oh, the goodness of God, the wonders of His matchless love! Eternity will be only long enough to tell of it. Love to all.”

It was a pleasing interpretation of the design of God in thus turning her back again into the wilderness, after giving her so close and vivid a view of the good land, to the borders of which He seemed to bring her, that she was spared to behold several of her children’s children avow her God and Father to be theirs, — thus permitted to sickle, ere she departed, a “kind of first fruits” of the golden harvest of her long-sown prayers. TVe have space but for a few extracts onlv of the manv instructive and encouraging letters her pen addressed to them on this occasion, all breatliins: much holv iov in their conversion,

-1-1. */ J t, 7

and godly jealousy for their consistent walk.

to her grandson, t. e. w.

“Dearest T,

“Dearer to me now than ever, since you came into this world of trial and sorrow. The love of Jesus acts as a holj cement, uniting the one family of God to Himself and to each other. Bless the Lord for His great goodness and His tender love to you all, not forgetting the dear departed one, the father of you all. So eternal and deep, so sovereign and boundless is the love of God, angels cannot fathom it. And I believe that a sigh, sincere and deep, coming from the chief of sinners, even at a dying hour, the loving, sympathising heart of Jesus could not resist it. Oh, the wondrous love of God in giving us such a Saviour, able to save to the uttermost all who feel their need of Him! Now is the Lord answering my ten thousand poor prayers, and these, I think, when I was so near my happy home, almost in sight. He brought me back to see. Oh, He is a God who loves to answer prayer, and is faithful to His every word! You cannot ask too much of Him. The more you ask, the better is He pleased. Go with large demands. Ask anyOiing in My name, and I icill do it. Ask, that

your joy might he full. We heard from W, who gives as

a reason for not writing sooner, that they had set apart one

evening in the week, H S and himself, for reading

the Bible and for prayer. A young man whom they have met in the University, and who is a dear Christian, and advanced in the ways of God, has joined them, and is a great acquisition. My love to your wife. Oh, that we might be a whole family in heaven!”

TO IIER GRAND-DAUGHTER S.

“No one can tell how my soul rejoiceth over you, my beloved child. Now do I see why the Lord brought me back to earth; it was to cause me to see the answer, before I left, of my poor prayers. And now I shall hope to meet and dwell with you throughout a blessed eternity, and many more so dear to us both. How grateful I am to Him for all His abundant goodness and tender mercy to us as a family! God be praised. My heart has been melted in love to-day to Him, who is all over and all within, nothing but love unfeigned, constant, and unabating, to the weakest, the most unworthy of all His little flock. And now let me urge you to live upon Him as a young child, going to Him for all you want and with all you fear. You will find Him ready to respond to your request by the still small voice of His Spirit, Hear me, 0 Lord when I cry iviih my voice: have mercy also upon me, a7id answer me. Psalm xxvii. 7. Oh, that He may go on in His own loving way until all we love are horn again and set out on their heavenly race to the land of glory!”

“Oh, how my heart rejoices over you, my beloved child, doubly dear to me now! Oh, the mercv of mercies, to be beloved of Christ! The Lord has at last condescended to bow the heavens, and listen to my ten thousand prayers for you all. May the great and mighty work go on among the others still to be called into the kingdom! Oh, the wondrous power of prayer when we come in the name of Jesus, God’s dear and beloved Son! My heart is brimful of joy on your account and dear Octavia’s. I wish you would both come and see me. The Lord has raised me up from the borders of the grave, to see the fruit of my prayers. I wondered what I was spared for, but I see it now. Keep an open heart with Jesus. Remember He is bone of your bone, and flesh of your flesh. He can enter into all your fears and hopes, desires and difficulties. Having once been in the body. He knows how to pity and to succour you, and to be a present help in time of need. Thank dear E for her kind letter, giving me such precious news.’’

“I bless God, dear child, often on your behalf; but now remember, you have but just begun to run the race — a race for a crown of glory. So run that you may obtain. Many I have seen set out well in this race, but I have lived to see them fall short at last of the prize. They forsook their first love, and sought their enjoyment in the poor wretched trifles of time and sense. May it not be so with you, darling child. Keep close to Jesus. How do I pray for you and for dear Octavia too, and for all those who have truly set out on theirheavenly journey! You are in a world full of temptation. Satan, the foe of Christ and the enemy of souls, goeth about to draw away Christ’s lambs from closely following their Shepherd.

He has a thousand ways to allure and entrap them to do and say that which will grieve the Spirit, and dishonour the Saviour. He will say to you, ‘This is no sin, and that is no sin; other Christians do it, and why may not you?’ And what can you do, thus assailed by the arch enemy? You have no more self-power to resist him than an infant has over an elephant. But Jesus, who loves you, and has all power in heaven and on earth, invites you to come to Him, and be saved from all vour enemies, from the power of Satan, and from the evil that is in the world, and from the corrupt tendencies of your own sinful nature. And althouojh you are now saved, and vour name is written in the Lamb’s book of life, yet you are still in the body, and have daily and hourly to contend with the world, the flesh, and Satan. And Satan is sure to find a hidden foe in your heart, ready to betray you into his power. And what can a feeble child do in such a case, but run at once to Jesus? Be where you may, in company, in the street, or at home, lift up your heart to Jesus for aid, and He will prove a present help in your time of need. He listens to the feeblest breathings of the heart. He requires not the voice; a wish, a faint desire, will be all-sufficient. Wherever you are, there is Jesus. And may the Holy Ghost write upon your heart the precept. Grieve not the Holy Spirit ivherehy you are sealed unto the day of redemjjtion. One wrong step in the early part of your Christianity may lead to an eventual going back far to the world. Remember, you are commanded to come out of the world, and to touch not the unclean thing. I wish you to be much in the study of the Bible, before you unite yourself with any particular church. See what your Lord says as respects the ordinances of His house, for it is most important that we walk in the right ways of the Lord; this you can do, and still, if you prefer it, attend the ministry of ^Sfr. Jarman.”

“Go nowhere where you cannot take Christ with you. Put your hand, as it were, in His hand, and whatever you do, let your whole aim be to please Him, who suffered, bled, and died that you might live for Him, and with Him for ever. Let me hear often from you. It is but a little while that I

shall be here. Pray for”^dear H and P. Encourage

ear S and H in maintaining the worship of the Lord

in the family. Make it a point to take the younger children in to hear God’s word and to pray. May the Lord bless you, my own beloved child, make you useful, and keep you near to

Himself, Let darling Octavia read this; it is for you both. Pray, pray, pray without ceasing. God listens to your faintest breathing. Oh, the marvellous yotency of prayer, when we

plead the name of Jesus! Thank dear E for her precious

letter; but you must not any of you cross your letters, as I cannot make it all out, and then I am cross too!”

A name occurs in one of the preceding extracts which it may be proper, in this part of the Memoir, to introduce. It was her privilege, during her visits to town, and as the close of life drew on, to wait occasionally on the ministry of the late Rev. David Fentox Jarman, incumbent of Bedford Episcopal Chapel, Bloomsbury. It was just the character of ministration that her soul needed to nourish and strengthen it for its passage over Jordan. Often would she repair to his sanctuary when scarcely able to walk from the carriage to the pew, and when more than once compelled to retire, from faintness, before the service closed, and as frequently has she returned refreshed by, and rejoicing in, the glorious truths that had fallen with so much power from the lips of this honoured servant of Christ. Grateful for the soul-help thus derived, and sympathizing with the impaired health from which he was a constant sufferer, she would occasionally visit his apartment adjoining the chapel, and seek to cheer and strengthen his lone and depressed heart. But not to her only were the labours of Mr. Jarman blest. It pleased God to own his ministry, in the conversion of several members of her family; and this circumstance was well calculated to deepen her affectionate and prayerful interest in this tried minister, and draw yet closer the bond that linked in holy fellowship two kindred spirits destined so soon to meet together before the throne of God and of the Lamb. We venture upon a few extracts of the correspondence which resulted from this hallowed friendship. It is thus she seeks to convey the richest comfort that an earnest, faithful minister of Christ can possibly desire or receive: —

TO THE REV. D. F. JARMAN.

“My dear Brother in Jesus, — Leamington, Dec. 13th. “You will rejoice, I am sure, to hear that the Lord has made your ministry a blessing to several of my very dear grandchildren, and thus has answered my ten thousand prayers for them. They have sought and found Christ precious to their souls, and are going on their way rejoicing. Thus you see, beloved brother, you are not labouring in vain for the Lord; for, although these dear ones have heard and known the gospel as from infancy, yet the seed has laid dormant until now, and God has blessed your ministry to the enkindling of a flame of holy love to the precious Saviour of sinners in their hearts. I could not refrain from telimg you this. Since I saw you I have been verv near to the kinodom of fflorv, but the Lord has detained me here a little longer. Yes, it is but a little while, and we pass away to better things prepared for us, and then you will hear the words. Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord. God be praised that this is not our rest; better things are prepared for us. He vrill make amends for all vour sorest trials and discomforts. Oh, to be there!

“Many thanks, dear brother, for vour kind note of vesterday. How unspeakably sweet is that love which unites the members of the one body — Jesus Himself the Head! Ye are all one in Christ Jesus. This love is one of the strongest evidences of our adoption, and one of the most sweet unfoldings of our spiritual life. Christ has but one church, ])ut one spouse — all born of one Spirit, and by that self-same Spirit educating for the place Jesus has gone to prepare. Is not this a blessed thought? I seem to stand upon the margin, ready to pass over; and, standing where I do, can affirm that all is true, gloriously true. Oh, the thought of realizing the whole truth! Dear brother, this life of sickness and suffering is worth ten thousand worlds, for it brings us to live more as helpless children on God, and more readily to realize the world to come. Be of good cheer, and work on; the more you are made to feel your weakness, the more welcome are you to Christ.”

“Ever varying are the dealings of our God, but they are all in wisdom and in love. He knows the windings and the wants of our immortal souls, and so fits His dispensations as to accomplish the great work to be carried on there. Oh, it is a great work, for it is to glorify a great King! Had we our way, how should we mar this work; and yet how often are we tempted to dictate to Him who is so skilfully carrying it on! Deeply do I feel for you. You love your work; and yet the Lord, who loves you better than you love yourself, is laying you aside from it. Oh, could we but take a glimpse within the vail, we should see how intent the eye of Jesus was upon the progress of His own mighty work in our souls; and in the midst of the many infirmities of body from which you suffer, you would see that even in that state what great things He was accomphshing in and by you! You are now in the furnace, but Christ is with you. But I know something of the working of the heart, the sighs, the regrets, perhaps the repinings, and the ten thousand drawbacks springing out of the flesh; and Satan making the most of them to cause us to murmur, and vainly to suppose that we could manage better for ourselves. But, beloved, though you know all these things, you will not be offended with an old warrior, who has had a thousand battles with this arch foe, and should have fallen a prey to his devices, had not Jesus interposed His shield, and quenched the fiery darts. ‘Does God love me? Is He my reconciled Father? If so, why these afflictions, why these temptations?’ Thus is the believer often tempted to reason. Thus have I been tried, and thus too have argued. But now that I am hastening to my happy home, I can look back and testify to you and to others, that the trial of your faith is much more jrrecious than gold though it he tried with fire. Jesus was a tried stone, the apostles were tried men, — as soon as a sinner is born of the Spirit, he enters upon a school of trial, and this is the path to the kingdom.”

The following is the last letter she penned to this beloved and afflicted minister of the Lord Jesus, written at the commencement of her final illness, and dated as from the confines of glory.

“My dear brother in Jesus, I am ill, preparing to obey the summons, ‘Come up liither.’ And oh, how blessed is the prospect! Eternal love! eternal glory! To be ever with the Lord, basking in the sunshine of his blessed countenance! I shall be there to welcome you home. Take courage, dear brother, for it is all true and all glorious. The more I am enabled to realize the mission of Jesus to this lower world, the more my whole soul is filled with joy and hope. / know the thoughts that I think towards you saith the Lord! thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Reading this passage to-day filled my heart with a blessed conviction that, both in the Old and in the New Testaments, Jesus was the speaker, and that what He was then He is now. Be of good courage, dear brother; we shall surely see Him and dwell with Him for ever and ever. Amen and Amen.”

How soon was this blos.^ed hope realized I A few brief months of increased suffering intervened, and Mr. Jarinan finished his course, and went to join her glorified spirit lj(;fore the throne. She had preceded him, as she desired, and was there to ‘welcome him home.’ And now that he is gone, it may not be inappropriate to embody in this work a brief quotation from a letter, the publication of which, while he lived, might have grieved the lowliness of his affectionate sjpirit. In forwarding her Correspondence, Mr. Jarman thus remarks: —

“.... Not onlv arc they highly characteristic of dear Mrs. AVinslow’s elevation and spirituality of mind, but, being among her last letters, they exhibit her at her very highest stage of Christian attainment and proximity to heaven. They show, too, how she united practical godliness with the blessed visions of her home and her glorified Saviour, Rapture never made her forgetful of her own daily duties, or the human trials and cares of others. She was never exalted al)Ove measure by the abundance of the revelation given unto her; but you cannot help observing that she constantly employs, in her letters, these bright visions of Christ which she enjoyed to the enforcement of greater activity and patience in the believer’s warfare. To have known a spirit who could pen such words and such truths, is one of the greatest privileges of my life. I feel it has done me good. I trust it has drawn me much nearer to God. I believe it has elevated my faith, and introduced me to clearer views of my rest and of my glorified Saviour, I never shall forget her or her heavenly conversation. In my case, the influence of acquaintance was not the only one she produced on me. Most powerfully did I feel attracted towards her even in our first interview, and before any letters had passed between us. I think, and I believe I may say, that attraction ripened into the deepest regard on both sides; and I cannot read the expressions of love and sympathy in her precious letters, without deeply feeling that I have lost a very dear mother in Israel. Oh, that God’s Spirit may so sanctify the regard she felt towards me, that it may daily draw me upwards to her, and may give force and power to her kind and invaluable advice! Oh, that the remembrance of what she was may help to prepare me for beholding, with increased love and closer communion, what she is! I commit the enclosed to your careful keeping. Do not mislay them in the very perplexing work of selecting examples of her correspondence for the memoir, for very precious arc her words to me, and the truths they contain. May God bless your effort, and make it. very useful. I

“Yours, with every expression of regard and sympathy,

“David Fenton Jarman.”

But her work was not yet finished. Gently led back to ’ earth, as from the gates of the celestial city, she was not only to be the recipient of a new joy enkindled by a work of grace I in those so dear to her, but she was still to scatter around her the golden fruit of her rich and matured e:xperience as she passed to her eternal home. We glean a few of the riper ears.

“Dear-beloved Friend, — Leamington, July 28.

“How glad was I to see your well-known handwriting, for it was long since I had either heard of, or from you! Think you that all this time I could forget you? Oh no, dear, dear friend; the remembrance of you is as dear as ever; and we shall meet above in our Father’s house. And, oh, that meeting! to be always together, and to go no more out for ever. Cheer up, Jesus is there, your Jesus and mine. And, next to Him, I may be ready to bid you welcome. He is risen from the dead, and He will raise our dead bodies, and, vile and troublesome as they now are, yet shall they be renewed like unto His glorious body, and we shall be ever with the Lord. I have been a great sufferer for a long time, and, in my eighty-first year, it is hard to bear. And yet Jesus sweetens every care, and His kindness, oh, how great! He has favoured me at times with such glimpses of the glory that is round about the great white throne, on which He is seated, that it seems as if I could not have much more while in the

flesh. Help me to praise Him And now, my dear

friend, I feel my strength failing, and must lay down my pen.

Tender love to your dear sister, and to dear Mr. P. I

cannot tell you how dear you are to me. Can I ever foro-et yon, on earth or in heaven? No, never, never. May the liord bless you with much of His spirit. One word on the blessed manifestation of Jesus to our longing souls. Let us never be satisfied without this precious recognition. I meet with many professing Christians who appear to know nothing about it, and therefore know not what it is to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. But I seem as if I could not stop. I will meet you above. I do so love you.”

ox CLOSENESS OF SPIRITUAL WALK. 885

TO MISS A. ON CLOSENESS OF SPIRITUAL WALK.

“My dear young Friend, — Leamington, June 9.

“Many thanks for your kind letters, which I have been too ill to answer. Through much tender mercy, the Lord has again raised me from a bed of severe suffering; and may this painful dispensation be abundantly sanctified to the soul. There was a needs-be for it all. The Lord does not wilHngly afflict the children of men, but for their profit. This is designed to be the place where God’s children are disciplined for their bright and better home above. And, oh, dear friend, what must be that place which infinite love and power are preparing for us, unworthy though we are! Oh, the boundless love of Jesus, our own Jesus, who lived and suffered, died and rose triumphant from the grave, and is now seated on His throne, ready to receive every poor, needy sinner that comes to Him for salvation, or for grace to help in time of need! This is the precious Friend I would recommend. Remember, you are not coming to a stranger. When you come to Jesus, you come to one who is bone of your bone, and flesh of your flesh. Be not afraid of taking all your concerns to Him, however trifling they may be. He has an ear to listen to the feeblest request you have to make. You cannot go to God, the mighty God, but in Christ, the man Christ Jesus. Now, this is the Jesus whose ear listens to our smallest requests; and when we carry them to Him, we the more honour Him, seeing that we believe what He affirms to be true — Without me ye can do nothing. Dear friend, let us all agree to live more decidedlv for a glorious eternity. We are here but for a little while and then we pass away. Live more upon Him. Do not walk at a distance. The more you go to Him, the lietter you will become acquainted with Him, and feel you reallv cannot do without Him. Hold fast your oneness. You are a partaker of His nature, and He of yours, sin only excepted. Make sure your calling and election. Keep near to your best Friend, who has heaven and earth at His command. A crown of elory awaits the poor sinner that clinics to Jesus. Who would not live, and die too, for a crown of glory? Gli, let us entreat all we love to cast in their lot with us, and surely we will do them good! My tender love to your very dear mother and sisters. Ever think of m* as one who prays for your best interests, and hopes to meet you in that better world to which we are so rapidly approaching.”

TO MISS M. C, ox THE ILLNESS OF HER SOX 0.

“Beloved Friend, — Leamington, July 24

“Unite your prayers with ours for dear 0, who

is very ill in Paris. We only heard last evening: and the moment he can be moved, he will be with us, if God so wnlls it. We are greatly tried. Jesus is now my stronghold. He can heal, and He only.”

“Monday. — By the last accounts, was a shade better.

Oh, that it may be abundantly sanctified to us all! An especial prayer-meeting was held on Saturday evening. Major T, who was there, says he never heard more earnest, fervent petitions offered up as then. My soul is able to rest in Jesus, and my eye is continually up to Him. Oh, the mercy of havino; such a Friend in Heaven, who is able to do all we call upon Him for! They leave Paris for Dover on Tuesday, where we go to meet them.” May the Lord bless you for all the tender expressions of your love to me and mine.”

“Wednesday morning. — Oh, what a God we have to do with — so slow to anger, so ready to forgive! Help me to praise and adore His holy name. I have just had a blessed interview with Him whom my soul loveth, and He will do all things well for me and mine. I did not forget you, and I know he heard me, and listened to all I had to say and to ask at His blessed hands. Oh, there is a needs-be for every trial! He loves us too well to grieve us; but we need sharp discipline to cause us to know the wondrous love He bears towards us, and in order to bring us to cling closer to Him. No tongue can tell how much I have enjoyed of nearness and holy manifestation, and endearinsr intercourse of Jesus, in this late trial. Beloved, we shall have to thank Him through eternity for every sorrow we have had while training us, as it does, for that full enjoyment that awaits us above. This late trial has loosened another peg of my earthly tent, and unfolded to me more of the heart of Him who once on earth was the Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief And now you will be impatient to hear more of our invalid; but my heart was so brimful of love to Jesus — for that’s the name I most love — that I was obliged to lodge a little of its overflowing in your loving bosom before I could come down to the creature, however dear. Dear is better, and they are preparing to

leave Paris for Dover. How thankful I am dear E was

able to nurse him, and he could not have had a better!”

“Dover. — I know you will join your praises with mine to the

Giver of all good, for His great mercy in so far restoring.

Oh, these frail bodies! How all these thing should remind us that God has some better thing in store for His chosen, while He constantly says to us, Arise my love, my fair one, and come away. And yet how closely do we cling to earth and to earthly creatures. But who would not love Him, whose ear bends down to listen to our requests, saying to us, What is thy petition, and luhat is thy request f Open thy mouth uide, and I will fill it. Oh, let us draw largely upon this treasure-house of blessing! The oftener we come, the more welcome. Why does the Lord try us, but that we may try Him, and prove that he is able and willing to do all that He has promised? We often ask with so much unbelief in our hearts, the wonder is that He condescends to hear or answer us at all. We have met with some dear saints here, richly taught of God. The Lord bless you.”

TO THE REV. E. C. W.

“Dear Brother, — Leamington, Mav 12.

“For this I believe you to be. My reason for addressing you now is to acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter to my dear son, who is just hurrying to town, and has not a moment to write. Your letter was a sweet word of encouragement to him, and I promised to drop you a line of thanks on his behalf Your note was so like a loving disciple of a loving Saviour. How truly does the Eternal Spirit knit the children uf God to each other! This is one of the most incontestable evidences of their sonship. Although I have not seen you or your dear wife, as soon as I read your letter, my heart went out towards you. The Lord Jesus has but one church, and this is composed of all who are born of the Spirit. They may be scattered up and down through the wilderness, but He knows where to find them, and will make no mistakes. As it respects myself, my pilgrimage may soon terminate, but the prospect brightens as it draws near. It is ray wish to encourage all that are journeying to heaven, to get much of Christ in their souls while here, not only for their present comfort, but believing that, in the same proportion, they will enjoy the glory of heaven hereafter. There every vessel will be full; but the soul enlarged while here will contain the same proportion there. There will be no lack felt, for every vessel will be full. God be praised for the hope, the blessed hope of eternal life beyond a poor dying world. I perceive you are one of his tried ones. It is all right. I have waded through seas of sorrow, but now bless the Lord for all. I do believe He loves us so that He would not lay the weight of a finger upon us, but for some special good, and to bring us to know

Him better May the Lord heal you, dear Christian

brother and sister in the Lord, If we do not meet here, we shall above. Let us realize what awaits us. Oh, help me to praise and adore Him who has given us such a hope, such a blessed hope! How we will sing in heaven! Live, dear friends, in anticipation of the glory to come. ... I often think, if anything will make us ashamed in heaven, it will be the recollection of our unbelieving prayers. Oh, for the spirit of prayer, and for the faith of prayer! This brings heaven down into the soul, and lifts the soul towards heaven. We ought to have to do with Jesus all the day long, and the more we have to do with Him, the more we shall resemble Him.”

TO G. M, ESQ., ON THE LOSS OF HIS CHILD.

“... I have only within a few moments heard of your loss. May the Lord comfort your heart, and make this affliction a stepping-stone to lift you nearer to Himself, and a little higher towards your heavenly home. This is not our rest, and the Lord causes us to find it so. The Lord, who loves you better than you love yourself, knows how and when to pour the balm of consolation into your soul, saying to you as He once did to me, * I have done it.’ Oh, to live so with God as to listen to the still small voice of His Spirit, responding, ‘Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth! ‘This He often does in His providence, and still oftener when interceding with Him in earnest prayer. Sin, dear brother, threw us at an immense distance from God, but Christ came to bring us back again, and the Spirit is given to draw us sensibly near. May He speak to you in this trying dispensation, and comfort you as mortal cannot. It is inexpressibly delightful to know that in all our tribulations we have access to the ear of God, and His heart, too, is ready to answer. Let not the enemy suggest to your sorrowing heart that the Lord does not love you, or He would not chasten you in this way. The Lord does chasten those whom He loves, and for wise and gracious purposes too. Let us lie passive in His hands, leaving ourselves to be dealt with according to His infinite wisdom and love. Nestle in the bosom of Jesus, and wait until He speaks peace to you. Our dear pastor has arrived safe, and is now with Jesus, and ere long we shall join Him there. Let us, then, live more for eternity, and less for this poor dying world. I know you have your cares; but if you would carry them simply to Christ, He would make the rough places plain, and the crooked straight. In every difficulty, g-o at once to Jesus, before you decide in vour own mind, or listen to the dictates of your own heart. Seeing you are shut up to God, let this trying dispensation result in a closer fellowship with Him; for I am persuaded He so loves you, that He would not lay the weight of a feather upon you more than is needful. The love of Jesus passeth all knowledge, here and hereafter. TVe shall never be able to fathom or come to the end of it. You may know these things better than I; but when unexpected trial comes, Satan endeavours to fill the mind with misgivings and doubts about our interest in our best beloved, our dearest Friend in heaven; and it is for this I venture to send you these few lines.”

TO A CHRISTIAN FRIEND.

“.... Thus has the Lord tried us; but His goodness has been manifested all through. He has heard and answered praver again and again; and I have often thought it was worth a few trials to experience the blessedness of having constantly to do with One who is so ready to do all we call upon Him for, so able, so willing, so blessedly true to His own word. “We must try the Lord before we can know Him; but first He must try us, before we will ever try Him. In this way our trust and faith in God is increased, and our souls established in

the truth. I have written to dear Mrs. W, and I do hope,

and indeed I do believe, she will have to say this was one of the richest and most fruitful seasons of spiritual blessing of her whole life. The just shall live by faith. The Lord has now placed her in such a position as to compel her to know more of Himself and more of her own heart, and to put her trust in Hjs faithfulness to the test. I could say to her, if it did not appear unsympathizing, I wish you joy! I did not know, dear sister, of your own illness. I trust you are better and nearly restored by this time. I feel at times feeble, but still travel on, sometimes rejoicing, and sometimes sorrowing over the evil within. I would be holy as God is holy; but, oh, the conflict makes one long to depart and be with Christ, which will be far better; so we think! But the Lord is more glorified by the exercise of our faith while battling with, and overcoming the host of evil without, and with a host yet more formidable within. How easy were it for Him to remove all sin in a moment; but is it not more for His glory that the work of the Holy Spirit should be made more manifest in our souls in subduing, counteracting, and overruling; overruling that for good which would be otherwise dire destruction? And, oh, is it not that thing that lays us low and keeps us humble at his feet? I am longing and praying for a gracious revival. Often do I go to the Lord and say, ‘What hinders, what restrains the blessing? Why not here? What was done, and is still doing in America, and what has been done in Scotland, why have we not in England? Lord Jesus, send us, in much mercy, a gracious revival in our churches.’ Join your prayers to mine for this blessing. The signs of the times are, at present, most sifirnificant. Is the Lord on His wav? Is He cominsr whom we look for? It is a time for much prayer and looking up. Oh for lamps trimmed and brightly burning, that we may go out to meet the Bridegroom! Soon we shall be in glory. A little while and we pass away, and are for ever with the Lord. He that was dead is alive and because He lives we shall live also. He lives for us, and we shall live together with Him.”

TO HER DAUGHTER.

“... What a resource is prayer — prayer to that God who loves and hears us always! We do know when we have the ear of God, when prayer is prayer. Oh, that these things might be made plain by the inward teaching of the Holy Ghost to those we love! No wonder Paul could say, Pray without ceasing. It is my greatest comfort and richest employmeat. I often have so much to ask, I know not how to stop. The golden sceptre is held out, and my mouth is open to make large demands upon infinite power and love. Oh, this holy intercourse! Oh, that all we love knew more about it! I only intended to write a few lines, but now I feel as if I could fill a sheet. It is a mercv to have the heart riij-ht with God — to have an open heart, no hindrances, to confess and forsake. I think there is nothing on earth like it. No happiness that all the glory of this world could produce is equal to that of a broken heart at the feet of Jesus. It is sweet to creep into the very bosom of Christ, while we feel how utterly worthless and unworthv, yet how welcome we are.”

“The poor woman that you are anxious about, dearest

E, continues the same. No hope yet, but still anxious.

At evening time it mav be linrht to her soul. I read and prayed; she groaned, and seemed to feel; that was all the encouragement I could get. It is in the Lord’s hands. Oh, what a wretched thins: to leave the concerns of the soul to the last!... The Lord is good and gracious, slow to anger, and of great kindness. May He, dear child, make you useful where you are, and keep you near Himself. Remember, you are not your own, but belong to Christ, You are to do His work, and have no will but His; for be assured of this one thing;, His will is best at all times. For the world, I would not be left to have my own way in any one thing. God grant you may feel the same, and much more than your unworthy mother.”

“I received your letter, and am thankful you continue well. May the Lord keep you so, in his own tender mercy, and direct your every step, and mine, too. The providence of God is a sure direction to the believer now, as the pillar of cloud and of fire was to the Jews of old; although I must say it requires more caution and prayer, and much reliance on God, to discern His will. We must be honest when we ask to be kept from our own way; and if we are honest, the Lord will bo our guide; and a safe guide He is to all who trust in Hmi.

“We had rather a cold ride, but the country to me u”ver appeared more beautiful. When I looked around me, and thought of His goodness in leaving this world (which, for man’s sin, il under the curse) with so much of its present grandeur and loveliness, and recollected that the very creatures he was thus mindful of, really hated Him in their hearts, and returned Him nothing but evil for His good, I could have wept, and did not wonder at the Prophet’s speaking of rivers of tears flowing from his eye as he thought of man’s rebellion against

God.’’°. u.

“... What a poor creature I am, within and without!

What a mercy to have a blessed hope of a thorough renewing, both of soul and iDody; and what is still more glorious, both to exist in union through a vast, an interminable existence! Praise be to God for this thrice-blessed hope, worth a million

of worlds. Hold fast, dearest E, your confidence, and

grow in grace and in the knowledge of God your Saviour. May the Lord keep you from all evil, and your eye up to Him, that you may call upon Him in every time of need, making known your requests with thanksgiving. The best of blessings rest upon you.”

“It is wintry cold. Oh, what a mercy to have the love of Christ keeping the heart warm within! May it never, precious child, be dreary winter with your soul and mine; and the only way to prevent this is to keep close to Jesus, and bask in the sunshine of His blessed countenance. When the heart glows with the love of God, everything looks pleasant and happy. Happiness felt within, makes a pleasant prospect without. “When Christ smiles, all is light and lightsome. May the Lord give you health of body and prosperity of soul, and enable you to cast all care upon Him, who has cared, and who ever will care for us. It were heathenism to doubt, when God Himself declares it.”

“My beloved child, is it not an inexpressible mercy to be enabled to see God in everything, and in everything connected with us individually? We do not sufficiently realize this grand truth, that we are in Christ, and Christ in us. We acknowledge it with our lips, but do not fully from the heart believe it I and, in consequence, we lose a rich enjoyment, and fall far below our privilege.”

TO HER SON O.

“... I hope you received my note, informing you that I was better, and again in the drawino-room. So the Lord graciously deals with your poor mother — every now and then giving me a love-admonition to remind me that this is not my rest, but that another and a better is in reserve for me. And if the prospect sometimes appears to the imagination so inviting, ’ what must it be to be there! ‘How great is His goodness, that even here, in this vale of weeping, He should at times afford precious glimpses of the coming glory, and a calm assurance that it is all ready for us, waiting Init our full preparedness for its enjoyment. Last evening I joined the family circle, and enjoyed some sweet hymns. I am ‘”iiiitc certain that for some special purpose I have been sent back when so near my home, almost in sight of it. A little while, yea, a little while, and then! May I then be better prepared for the glory that shall be revealed to all those who love his appearing. Oh, for stronger, more abiding, increasing

faith! I am just expecting Mrs. General F. Lady L

and Miss M called yesterday, and I was able to see them.

I tell you this that your mind may be easy on my account, and that you may enjoy your visit.... Tell dear Mrs.

R she must learn the beautiful piece, ‘Jesus wept,’ and

play it for me when we again meet, if permitted, in this vale of tears. No weeping in heaven! Blessed be God for the hope He has given us beyond this scene of sin and sorrow. Let us arise, and travel on, and ‘Forward! ’ be our countersign. The Christian life is a warfare, a conflict of faith! and, as good soldiers of Christ, we are to fight our way to glory under the banner of the Captain of our Salvation, who, as the Mighty Conqueror, has overcome for Himself, and has paved the waV for us to follow. Is it not a fight, the flesh, the world, and Satan, all withstanding us at every step? But Jesus stands ready to be a present help in our every time of need. I am increasinorlv persuaded that it is alone by constant intercourse with Jesus we can attain to anything like progression in the divine life. Oh, preach Jesus more and more, and you will never labour in vain! In this warfare to which I have alluded, there must be no truce, no cessation. Think of a valiant soldier in an enemy’s country, and in the heat of the battle, resting on his arms before he has gained the victory! The battle never ceases until we enter heaven more than co7iquerors, through Him that hath loved us. But I am sorry to say, we often meet with what we call in the army, strafjrjhrs — men who grow weary of following the troops, who linger behind, and sit down by the wayside. These are hinderers to those who are engaged in the heavenly warfare, and are a dishonour to their glorious leader. Stir up such, wherever you meet with them. Onlv think of the crown of glory, and the ‘Well done, good and faithfid servant’ that awaits the overcoming saint, the faithful follower of Christ! This subject seems to grow upon me as I travel on; but I must stop. I meet with so few that seem to be in right-down earnest in this holy, heavenly warfare. And yet what is there on earth that can compare with this? A warfare it Is of vast importance. But

394 MEMOIR OF MliS. MARY WINSLOW.

I will close. Let me charge you to avoid everything that may injure your head, and thus unfit you for your holy engagements. A true soldier in this eventful battle may be enfeebled by long exhaustion, but his Captain is no hard taskmaster, and provides rest for His weary and wounded ones. But I must conclude, although this subject opens upon me.

My love to the dear heads of the R family, and to.

Overlook all vain repetitions in my letters; remember the aged cannot do what they have done. There is more in my heart than it can well contain. Oh, what will heaven be! There, and there only will there be a continuous emptying and filling: again of the renewed, sanctified vessel of mercv. Write to me soon.”

“P.S. I have written to Forbes to offer my proper congratulations upon the Oxford University honour,* which, through his indefatigable exertions, has been conferred upon him, not forgetting the goodness of God in it.”

The following extract should have appeared in an earlier part of the volume, but the sentiments it contains are too valuable and precious to be omitted: —

“Lord Lyndhurst is now able to see, the operation having proved entirely successful. Oh, to give the glory of all our blessings not to man, but to God! How needful is the long-suffering patience of a good and gracious God to us! How slow to anger, how ready to forgive! How ive ought to love Him, and by our love make up the deficiency of all that is lacking in those that love Him not! How sweet it is to go and tell Him how much we love Him, and then to feel that we love Him because He first loved us! What a stupendous privilege, this holy union and communion with Jesus — God-man Mediator — God-with-us! How blessed it is to open our heart just as it is, with all its coldness, deadness, and sinfulness, to Him, keeping nothing back, but telling Him all! What a relief, under any circumstances, is the mighty privilege! Though the whole world were to turn its back upon us, and clouds gathered thick and darkened around, yet here is a shelter, a pavilion, and a hiding-place, full of comfort and safety, in the very heart of Jesus, God’s dear and well-beloved Son.

* At the installation of the Earl of Derby, the honorary degree of D.C.L. was conferred upon her son, Dr. Forbes Winslow.

“Oh, the mercj of mercies to know Him, even were there not an endless hereafter, when we expect to see and enjoy Him througrh an endless eternity! Shall these eyes see Jesus? Yes, those very eyes shall behold Him whom my soul loveth. Let it be our aim to glorify Him here, and when we fall short, hasten to acknowledge at once. Keep nothing back from Christ. Have no concealments. Let us carry our failures and misdoings, our seen and unseen evil — evil within and fears without — all, all at once to Jesus. He has engaged to heal all our diseases, to help all our infirmities, and to give us every possible good for time and for eternity. Oh, do help me to praise Him — help me to love Him! I think if I had ten thousand hearts, I could give them all to Him. Good-bye. Do not go where there is fever, nor expose yourself to the heat of the day, nor overwork yourself Remember, the body is redeemed as well as the soul, and that both belong to Christ.”