Christianity a Spiritual Life

The real believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is truly and emphaticallv a ‘a livins: soul.’ Christianitv with him is more than a creed, a symbol, or a name; it is a vital and a vitalizing principle, an incorporate of his moral being: in a word, it is a spiritual life. In his experience the ’ glorious gospel of the blessed God is not a myth,’ but a Divine verity; and the truths it reveals are not fictions but attested facts, not dreams but solemn realities. He has passed from death unto life, is a new creature in Christ, has his ’ fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life.’ And while multitudes are thronging the mere vestibule of the temple, offering their dead sacrifices to a living God; he, approaching by the ’ new and living way,’ has penetrated within the inner shrine, and, enveloped with the incense-cloud of the great Atoning Sacrifice, is holding ’ fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Christ Jesus.’ The hiofhest element of his being is to glorify God here; and the consummation of his hope hereafter will be the enjoyment of God for ever. Thus experimentally taught of the Spirit, he is led to disbeheve as a fable, and to reject as an impertinence, every dogma and vanity that would supplant the true gospel of Christ, or that offers itself as a substitute for a real heartfelt experience of the truth. To sanctify and adorn this lower world with such ’ living temples’ of the Spirit, and to replenish the world to come with their wonder and praise, was the great purpose of God in the gracious mission of His Son to our race.” I am 12 ME.MUIR OF .Ii;S. MARY WINSLOW.

come that they might have life,” “The water that I shall give you shall be in you a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

In an age when religious formalism — the bane of the Christian church — is so prevalent; and when even in Christ’s quickened body the pulse of spiritual life in many throbs but languidly, it is refreshing to meet with an instance of real, earnest religion, exhibiting in its governing principles, and reflecting in its daily habit, the power and lustre of a heaven-descending and a heaven-alluring Christianity. Such an example now invites the study of the spiritual mind. And to a spiritual mind only will it possess any degree of interest or attraction. The sentimentalist, whose piety sublimates into dreamy mysticism, — the formalist, Vvdiose religion evaporates into ritual observance, — or the romantic, whose ideal of Christianity is the vastness and splendour of heroic achievement, will be conscious of a feeling of disappointment as the eye rolls over these pages. The history they detail, and the character they portray, derives nothing of its incident or its charm from sources equivocal as these. And yet it is no imaginary or inimitable Christian we are about to contemplate. There was nothing in her principles or example — nothing in the grace which made her what she was, and to which she owed all her hope for eternity — to which the most humble saint may not aspire, and to which the feeblest might not attain. “If none go to heaven but such a man as this, what will become of me?” was the desponding exclamation of one who witnessed with admiration, yet dismay, the pre-eminently godly conversation of the seraphic Leighton. We anticipate, however, no such feeling of despair as the result of the perusal of this volume. We trust that the life we are about to trace, heavenly and holy though it was, will so exhibit the fullness and preciousness of Christ, so illustrate the power and sufficiency of divine grace, and so unfold the loving, winning character of God, as to stimulate and encourage the lowliest heart that admires its beautv, and would fain transcribe its excellence. “Nevertheless, it is of incalculable advantage to have before us some bright examples of saints who have outstripped their competitors, and gained the summit of the hill up which the train of feeble pilgrims is still painfully toiling. Such extraordinary proficients in the life and power of godliness are the salt of the earth to keep it from corruption. They rebuke the slackness of those half-hearted, home-sick mariners who stand off and on, wistfullyeying the shore from which they have voluntarily parted, instead of launching into the deep, and making sail for a better country.”* Such a ’ proficient in the life and power of godliness’ we are about to present; and although a filial hand tremblingly attempts the portrait, it yet will be his single aim so truthfully to delineate each feature of her character as to present her as she really was; and yet so carefully to veil the glory of the creature as shall constrain all who look upon the picture to magnify the grace of God in her,

Mrs. Winslow was born in St. George’s, Bermuda, on the 28th of February, 1774. On the paternal side she was of Scotch descent. Her grandfather, Dr. George Forbes, f was a native of Scotland, but resided in Bermuda; and was united in marriage to the eldest daughter of Thomas Jones, Esq., President of the Council, and during two temporary vacancies in the administration, acting Governor of the colony. Robert Forbes, the youngest son of this marriage, adopting the profession of his father, pursued his studies in Edinburgh; and on taking- his deojree, returned to the island, and afterwards married Mary, the only daughter of Alexander Rush, Esq. Mary Forbes, the subject of this Memoir, was the single issue of this union.

An only child, and the sole representative of his family, her father’s affections and hopes concentrated upon her with no ordinarv intensity, and his anxietv to fit her for her future posi» tion in life was proportionabiy great. No means, therefore, which a cultivated mind could suggest, or ample resources command, were spared in placing within her reach the highest literarv advantages. After 2:ivin2r, with his own hands the first form and development to her mind and character, a competent tutor was procured from Scotland, to whose educational care the interestins: charsre was now confided.

But while her mental training, under her father’s supervision, was thus successfully advancing, another and not less potent influence was silently at work, aiding the formation of a character which, for its natural impressibihty and strength,

c- Pearson’s Life of Archbishop Leiglitou.

f Dr. Forbes belonged to a younger branch of the fifteenth Lord Forbes, of Pntechie Castle, Aberdeenshire.

rendered all the more necessary the skilful moulding of a mother’s plastic hand. Possessing a remarkably matured judgment, great force of character, and gentleness of disposition, few women were better fitted for the task than Mrs. Forbes. Faithfulness, however, compels us to notice an essential deficiency in her early education, which no intellectual advantages, however great, or parental anxiety, however intense, could supply — we refer to the absence of the Christian element. Religion, indeed, was not entirely excluded, but it was the religion of form rather than of power. It was not until she had reached the culminating point of life, that Mrs. Forbes became a subject of Divine grace. Up to that period of her history she had been basing her hope of heaven upon a mere ethical religion. Those winning traits of disposition and munificent acts of benevolence which invested her character with so great a charm, and which won for her such universal love, were made to take the place of the weightier matters of faith in Christ and love to God. The perusal of Hervey’s works, (aided by the letters of her daughter,) in which that deep-thinking writer exposes, by a process of reasoning the most scriptural and convincing, though in a style somewhat florid and diffuse, the fallacy of every hope of justification but by the imputed righteousness of Christ, was the first means, in the hands of the Holv Spirit, of brino:inD; home to her mind a conviction of her lost condition as a sinner, and of unveilins: to her eye the sufficiency and beauty of the Lord Jesus as a Saviour. From the moment that she exchanged her own righteousness for the righteousness of Christ, she devoted herself to the service and glory of her Redeemer with a self-sacrificing zeal and singleness of purpose which never swerved nor faltered to the moment that she finished her Christian career, and peacefully rested from her labours in the eighty-sixth year of her age.

As the chief interest of this Memoir is derived from the religious character of its subject, we cannot too soon introduce the reader to that period of her history which marks the first inspiration of spiritual life; prefacing it, however, with a Ijrief record of some of those remarkable providential circumstances in her early and unconverted years, which may be regarded as the foreshadowings of God’s purposes of love and grace towards her. We quote from a narrative penned by herself, and addressed to her familv: — “I have often promised to relate to you some of God’s most gracious dealings towards me in my early life, showing how manifestly His people are preserved in Christ Jesus, and called. With Paul I may say, I have been in deaths oft by land and sea, by fire and water. The first remarkable event of my life was a sudden recovery from illness when about five years of age, after I had been given over by my father to die. But a more striking providence followed. Soon after my almost miraculous restoration as from the grave, I accompanied my parents during the French war on a visit to England. Our vessel was a light barque, carrying a few guns, and but ill furnished for severe conflict with the enemy. On entering the Channel, and midway between the English and French coasts, a ship of war hove in sight. It was towards night, and as she appeared to bear down upon us, our captain prepared for action. My mother and I were hurried from the cabin to what was thought a place of greater safety below. My father remained on deck. All was confusion above us. while I was astonished at being thus suddenly removed from my comfortable berth to the dismal quarters beneath the decks. We had not been long there, when I observed a boy come occasionally to the place of our imprisonment, and with a large horn in his hand take somethino; from out of a barrel, havins; first fixed a lighted candle upon its edge and leaving it there. Observing, as I sat upon my mother’s lap — who was too absorbed in anxiety to notice the circumstance — that the piece of candle was nearly burnt to the edge, I got down, put out my hand and took it away, saying ‘Mamma, this will burn the barrel.’ It was a cask of gunpowder! Had I not removed it at that moment, or, in removing it, had a spark fallen from the lengthened wick, the vessel and all on board must instantly have been blown to atoms. What a wonderful preservation from instantaneous and eternal destruction; for it is not supposed that there was a single person on board who knew the Lord!”

As night grew on, concealed by its darkness, the man-of-war passed their little vessel unobserved, and thus, through the good hand of God upon them, they were preserved from captivity on the one hand, and from immediate death on the other, Thev arrived safelv in England, and after remaiuins until the health of Dr. Forbes was restored, they returned to Bermuda, by way of the West Indies. They touched at Antigua for a few days, and accepted an invitation to dine and spend the night at the house of a distinguished resident of the island, who asked a large party of the inhabitants to meet them. They retired late, but not many hours had passed when the door of their room was burst open, and a voice of alarm roused them from their sleep with the terrific cry that the house was on fire, urging their immediate escape. Not a moment was to be lost. Her mother, wrapping a portion of the bedclothes round herself and child, rushed from the room, while her father, seizing what valuable things he could, prepared to follow. In a few moments the flames bursting from every part, had comyletely enveloped the house; the roof fell in with a tremendous crash, and in a short time the beautiful mansion, which a few hours before had been the brilliant scene of festive hospitality, was now a mass of smouldering ruins. Had they not been aroused at the moment they were, so rapid was the conflagration, they must inevitably have perished. Thus was the life of God’s chosen one again redeemed from destruction — still preserved in Christ Jesus.

Yet another remarkable interposition of God’s providence, as occurring in early life, may be given. After a short passage from New York to Bermuda, accompanied by her aunt, they arrived on a beautiful morning in sight of the island. Everything looked promising, and all were rejoicing in the prospect of soon landing amidst the welcomings of relatives and friends. The prospect, as they neared the cluster of islands, was surprisingly lovely. The blue hills in the distance — the tall cedars — the coral shore stretching into a transparent ocean — the gentle breeze blowing from the land laden with a thousand perfumes — the blue sky above — and the whole panorama bathed in the warm beams of a southern sun, gave to the entire scene the enchantment of a fairy land. All were prepared for going on shore, waiting but the pilot to come off and conduct them in. But ere an hour had passed, the sky grew dark, storm-clouds gathered, a fearful hurricane, common in these latitudes, suddenly arose, and the vessel, driven out again to sea, threatened every moment to founder. All was now confusion and dismay. In a few moments the masts were cut away, and the deck, washed by the mountain waves, was swept of everything but the caboose. It was an appalling spectacle. Every face gathered paleness, and despair seized every heart. Vessels making for the same port were seen to

2:0 down into the Tawnino: billows with all sail standinor. As the sea made a complete breach over the vessel, the officers and crew were compelled to take refuge in the cabin, waiting their expected and almost certain doom. The helm was lashed, and the dismantled hulk, which a few hours before was gallantly steering for her port, was now tossed like a log upon the ocean. The first long dreary night was one of horror. In this helpless condition they drifted about for several days, when — the gale having somewhat subsided — coming up to a deserted wreck, -which like themselves had suffered in the storm, they took from her the masts and riororinor -which lav danoflino; at her side; and refittinsr, as best they could, their disabled vessel, once more made their way to the island, which they reached in safety, and were received by their friends as those whom the sea had given back from the dead. It was a singular providence, that on opening the caboose for the purpose of preparing some food, the goat, which had taken refuge there in the storm, sprang out; and thus, in the absence of the supply of water, which the sea had swept from the decks, afforded a little timely nourishment durino- the remainder of the passage. In narrating this remarkable deliverance, she adds, “But what of God? Was there one grateful heart there? I am sure mine was not. Oh, the wonders of His love! Oh, the marvellous goodness and long-suffering of our God! How much has He borne with my manners in the wilderness!”

On the 6th of September, 1791, Miss Forbes was married in St. George’s, Bermuda, to Thomas Winslow, Esq., who, with a detachment of his regiment, was at the time quartered in the island. A lineal descendant of Edward Winslow, one of the earliest of the Pilsrrim Fathers, and Governor of Plymouth colony, Captain Winslow was ennobled in his ancestry. The historv of the Pilfrrims will ever form one of the most entrancing and instructive chapters in the annals of the Christian church. Although many long years have passed since the “May-flower” sailed out of the waters of Delft Haven, and revolution has succeeded revolution, and school has followed school in church and state, the memorv of the Pilsrims still lives in undimmed, undying interest, more precious and fraerant now than ever. It would seem as if it were especiallv awarded to the intelligence and piety of the present age to exhibit the principles, to vindicate the character, and to embalm

18 MEMOIR OF MRS. MvUlY WINSLOW.

the memory of those distinguished confessors. Certainly no preceding age has presented a light more favourable to the calm, accurate study of their history than the present. Historians, differing from them in ecclesiastical views, yet unblinded by prejudice, have delighted to glorify the grace of God in those holy men and women — who, for conscience’ sake, for truth’s sake, and for Christ’s sake, expatriated themselves from the land of their birth, braved the storms of a winter’s voyage, and sought amidst the unbroken and inhospitable wilds of New England the religious liberty denied them at home. Linked by her marriage with this “noble army of martyrs,” was now the subject of our Memoir. Nor did she prove an unworthy graft of a stem so honoured. In the evangelical principles which she maintained, in the strong faith she exhibited, in the patience in suffering and the fortitude in adversity which she exemplified, the spirit of the Pilgrims would seem to have revived in her.

It would, perhaps, be unnecessary, under ordinary circumstances, to venture more than a passing allusion to the history of her marriage; but, as this event wears somewhat of a religious aspect, it being connected with the first real prayer she is supposed ever to have offered, a more circumstantial detail may be expected.

Entered upon at an age of extreme youth and warm impulse, wnth but a slight knowledge of the world, and deprived of a father’s gentle but firm control, we conceal not that the step as taken by her involved a degree of responsibility and hazard too serious for ordinary prudence to justify. That it was in every respect a suitable alliance, yielding to its latest hour unmingled happiness, must be traced to something beyond the sagacity and forethought of a warm-hearted and confiding girl, of but eighteen bright summers. Referring to it in after years, she remarks, “I acted wrong; but God most wonderfully and mercifully directed the whole, and overruled the evil for our good and for His own glory.” The ’ evil ’ to which she here so ingenuously refers was the impetuosity which led her to act, in so momentous a matter, independently of authority. Adverse to her marrying in the army, as necessarily involving a wide separation from her child, her mother had discouraged several military suitors for her daughter’s hand, and had as decidedly opposed the attentions of Lieut. Winslow. But her heart’s young affections were secretly and irrevocably surrendered, not only to the most admired and beloved officer in his regiment, but to one whose station in life and whose personal excellence were worthy of her confidence. That with a step involving so much excited natural feeling there should be blended a sentiment so thoughtful and sacred as that which we are about to record is, doubtless, the most remarkable and instructive feature in the narrative. Her own pen the most appropriately and beautifully pursues the story.

“Now nearly eighteen, gay, thoughtless, full of life and vivacity, I felt my freedom and enjoyed it. Three companies of the 47th Regiment arrived at Bermuda from New Providence. The new comers soon obtained introduction to the leading families of the island, and greatly increased its gaieties. It was more than a year before I became sensible of the attractions and attentions of one of the officers. These attentions grew more marked. My mother became alarmed. I was immediately sent from home, and placed under the care of an aunt residino; several miles from town. One dav a arentleman came out to dinner. In the course of the conversation he casually mentioned that orders had come from New Providence for Lieut. Winslow to join the regiment there. This intelligence went like a dagger to my heart. In vain I strove to disguise my feelings, — bursting into tears, I left the table. Then was I convinced that my heart was not my own. I retired to my room to reflect upon my course. I knew the Governor could not interpose, nor had the Colonel in command power to detain an officer under orders from head-quarters. My happiness was at stake. Great was my distress, intense my agony of mind. Who could prevent his going? The thought suddenly occurred to me, — God can! In a moment I arose, locked my door, and fell upon my knees before Him. It was my first frayer! In the simplest form of words imaginable, I earnestly pleaded with the Lord not only to prevent his going, but to give him to me as my husband. The prayer was offered — the request was made, — and I arose from my knees with a spirit as light as a feather. My sadness and anxiety all were gone. Was not this of God? Was not this faith in the power of God? What brought such instantaneous and perfect rehef to my distressed heart? Was it not that God gave me the power to believe that He would grant me my request? The next day, with the permission of my aunt, I mounted my horse, and attended by a servant, rode into town. To my astonishment my mother received me affectionately, and uttered not a word of rebuke at mj return. The Lord had turned her heart. That evening I met the object of my affections. The proposal of a private marriage was made, and, after some trembling hesitation, was acceded to. The next morning — a licence having been procured — we met at the house of my

friend, Judge L, and from thence, accompanied by two

of the officers and the wife of one of them, we went to the house of the clergyman of the parish,* where I was united in the bonds of holy wedlock to the man of my choice, the beloved of my heart. The first emotion of my mother, when the intelligence was broken to her, was distress; the second was love. I was received and forgiven. Never had she reason to regret my choice. She loved my husband as her own son, and an affectionate son he proved. Thus was my prayer answered three days only after I had offered it up to that God with whom all things are possible. From the moment I uttered that prayer, every obstacle which before seemed insurmountable was removed. Was there not faith in that prayer — faith in the power of God? Surely there was; and yet how many years did it lie beneath the rubbish of the fall! Still I was His, and my precious husband was His, and we were to be the honoured parents of many that should be His, some to preach His blessed Gospel, and all, I trust, to be united together in one band of love at His right hand through an endless eternity.”

In throwing back a glance upon the preceding narrative, fidelity as a Christian biographer, yet blended with the most sacred filial reverence, would seem to demand from the pen that records it, an observation in reference to the principle of action which she herself, in moments of calm reflection, and when true religion had become enthroned upon her heart, so honestly and emphatically deprecated. There were two point in her marriage which render the self-responsible course she adopted such as no reasoning could commend, and the imitations of which, no results, however overruled by God, could justify. The one was, — the too excited feelings which wert allowed to control the judgment, and the other, — the acting in opposition to a parent’s wishes. It is true, there does not appear to have been any express command or positive injunction; but surely it was enough to know that her mother disapproved

* It was then the custom to celebrate marriages in private houses.

of the step, to have dictated a more reflective course. •’ Honour thy father and thy mother,” is a divine precept of such importance in God’s sight, as to be annexed to the promise, “that thv davs mav be lono; in the land which the Lord thv God giveth thee.” In no step in life (and for the youthful reader of these pages we especially venture upon the remark) — for none involves consequences of such moment — is a child more imperiously and solemnly bound to recognize parental authority than that which Miss Forbes now took. We are not prepared to say that in all similar cases a parent’s judgment may be the best- — for it may be warped by prejudice, or be controlled by unworthy influence, — yet no circumstances whatever can justify an entire abnegation, on the part of the chfld, of that sacred relation which God has made a beautiful type of Bis owT”^ and which imparts to the domestic constitution its dimitv and streng-th.

And yet that first prayer I Ah! who can adequately describe i:s preciousness and importance? It is the first breath of God — the first pulse of spiritual life — the first dawn of endless gl’ ry in the soul. How many an earnest pastor, how many a pious parent, how many a fond friend anxiously waits the blfssed announcement — “Behold, he prayeth!” That faint scintillation of spiritual life may retire, as if quenched in utter d j-kness, and long and dreary may be the night that enshrouds it; but at some future day it will reappear — for it was in .perishable — and reahze, in its folness of blessing, the hope itF first pale gleam had inspired. Blessed truth! the little se ed of grace, once dropped into the soul, will germinate, ‘take rrot downward and bear fruit upward’ unto life eternal.

Pass.ng over several years subsequent to her marriage — years spent in mihtary life, and, although not devoid of much that w.ls interesting and eventfal, yet supplying in their history bu<^ little material in keeping with the grave character of this volume — we proceed to record that momentous event which p;ave to all her future life its reality, sanctity, and charm.