Her Character
To delineate the character of persons long smce dead is, indeed, a task: but happily, in the present instance, the difficulty is materially lessened by Mrs. Savage’s pious industry.
It is not my intention to eulogize, but, for public advantage, to represent this excellent woman with all possible fidelity. That she had faults none can doubt; though, to adopt the language of her funeral sermon, (an authentic copy of which, in manuscript, is in the author’s possession,)” This testimony is borne of her, that notwithstanding the many and
* Mrs. Brett informed me in conversation, that she distinctly remembers her pious ancestor. In stature she was rather short and corpulent, with features more like the painting of her father than that of her mother, The sprighthness of her disposition appeared even in old age, and she constantly promoted, by heavenly converse, the edification of all around her. Mrs. Brett was often catechized by her, and still preserves a prayer which she composed for her use. It is a pleasing specimen of simple language, comprehenaive brevity, and pious supplication.
great trials she met with in a large family of children and servants, above forty years, she was never seen so much in a passion as to say or do, what she might have cause to accuse and reproach herself for afterwards.”
She, however, deplored her native depravity, and keenly observed those effects which passed unnoticed by surrounding friends. She needed no arguments to prove that, as in the natural, so in the moral world, there are no gardens without weeds, no trees without superfluous branches. It was an habitual discernment of indwelling sin (a sight only beheld by a spiritual eye) which, as it manifested the necessity of daily mortification, excited fervent aspirations after heavenly felicities. Hence on one occasion, she writes; “Friday night. In my closet I was much cheered and revived by thinking of the second coming of Christ, especially with that scripture, Acts iii. 19, where it is called the” time of refreshing.” Such, indeed, it will be. Here I am often tired with duty, tired with sinning, tired with a corrupt heart; sometime tired and weary with just nothing. Oh, but there is a time of refreshing coming. Well may it be called so. Mr. Alleine, in one of his letters, speaks thus, to comfort Christians in their sufferings. ‘Wait awhile, and you shall have a blessed heaven.’ The Lord speaks to a Christian as one did to his creditor; * Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’ Oh, for faith and patience! How safely and sweetly would these carry us to our home and harbour, through all dilhculties.”
At another time thus; “I lately heard a good remark. Why should those go mourning to the grave who hope to go rejoicing to Heaven? Yet I find my spirit lean to the mourninc: side. What with our own and others’ sins, and our own and others’ sorrows, this world may well be called a vale of tears. Blessed be God for a comfortable hope that shortly they shall all be wiped away. The blessed saints above obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
Mrs. Savage in her natural temper was contented and cheerful, meek and affectionate.
Filial duties were eminently observed by her. She “honoured her father and mother.”
In the conjugal relation she happily discovered the influence of Christianity. Her attentions to her husband, though minute, were not confined to “things temporal;” she assiduously studied the advancement of his spiritual interests. Her diary shows that when secular business lawfully occupied his time, she was a Irequent intercessor at the throne of grace, that his heart might not be too much engaged.
She loved home, and, as the head of a family, aimed, by setting a pattern of cheerful, serious piety, to walk “as becometh the gospel.” For the spiritual welfare of her domestics she cherished a holy zeal, and discovered it by regular and patient instruction, as well as fervent prayer. “Oh,” she writes, soon after her marriage, “that the family might be the better for me. As far as I know my own heart, I earnestly desire the salvation of every soul under our roof. Oh, that they did but see what I see of the excellency of Christ, the sinfulness of sin, and the vanity of creatures!”
She was the mother of nine children, but only four of them survived her. The care and tenderness she discovered in their infancy did not exceed her concern for their souls. As they advanced in years her pious anxiety increased, and no pains were spared to teach them the things of God. A considerable part of the evening of the Sabbath was devoted to family instruction. She excelled in the happy art of recommending religion to the young. She gained their attention, and, by a careful representation of piety, as the reverse of every thing harsh and severe, they were encouraged to be inquisitive on divine subjects. To her instructions were added the most affectionate prayers; and her children, when not immediately under her inspection, were visited with such letters of piety and love, as, with the blessing of God, were calculated to produce the happiest effects.
Her diary abounds with expressions of concern for her children. “Oh,” she writes, on one occasion, “that I could be every day travailing to see Christ formed in them. This week I was much affected when reading, in course. Proverbs xxx. 8.” Remove far from me vanity and lies.” It is the only prayer in that book. Mcthinks it is a very proper prayer for children. I have earnestly begged of God to remove from mine, vanity and lies.”
At another time thus; “I read in course, in my closet, Isaiah liv. with ihc Exposition. I was much affected with the 13th verse, ‘And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord.’ Though it is spoken of the Church’s children, I would api)ly it to my own children in particular, and desire to act faith on it. I
MEMOIRS OF ftras. SAVAGE. 47
am caring and endeavouring that they may be taught and instructed in the good way. This is the inward desire of my soul. Now, saith God, they shall be taught of me, and all thy children shall. A sweet promise. It much satisfies me. Lord, set in with poor parents who desire nothing in the world so much as to see their children walk in ’ the narrow way ’ that leads to life.”
As a friend she shone with peculiar lustre. Her enjoyment of the society of her friends was ever improved to spiritual purposes. Mutual exhortation and prayer were special objects of attention; and some portion of scripture being selected as a parting farewell, happily lessened, by an elevated style of thought, the pangs of separation.
Tidings having suddenly reached her of the illness of one whom she regarded in that character, she remarks, “My heart was full, my remedy is to retire and spread the letter before a compassionate Father, and tell him how it is, which I find more easy than to submit freely to his all-wise disposal; yet, when I had done this, I was refreshed.”
The death of a friend was no trifling occurrence; every feeling was exercised, and the most sacred efforts resorted to, that the event might be followed by entire resignation, and personal benefit.
“Nor was the funeral denied the grace Of many tears, virtuous and thoughtful grief; Heart-sorrow, rendered sweet by gratitude.”
IVurdswurtli’t Excurtion,
Thus she records the loss of an acquaintance; “My dear friend, Mrs. Bradbiirn, having brought a living child into this world, went herself, about four hours after, to a better. She went, as I hear, triumphantly to glory, sweetly sleeping in Jesus. I heard not of it till Friday. I was then much affected. I could not quiet my spirit for some time. A dear praying friend left us, and gone to receive the reward of her work. Indeed she lived much in a little time, and was a pattern of piety. Great need of such. May I not cry to God as one did to the dying prophet, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.” Were it not that the Lord of Hosts hath left us a small remnant we had surely been like Sodom ere now.’ And wilt thou lessen the number of thy praying ones? Surely it bodes ill; especially, now there is so much need of such. But shall the clay contend with the potter? His will is his wisdom. Infinite wisdom sees good thus it shall be. With that I silence my murmurings.”
On the death of her brother-in-law, Mr. Radford, of Chester, in the year 1699, she thus wrote;” Lord, what work has sin made! It is the old kill-friend. What a great many of our dear relations have been snatched away from us in a short time. All in the midst of their days and usefulness. O that my heart were more duly affected, and that I could be learning the meaning of these providences, which have really a sad aspect. There is reason to fear when God houses his people so fast, that a storm is coming. I am told dear brother Radford finished admirably well, and gave great satisfaction as to the safety of his eternal state. Is it not matter of comfort, that our dear friends have safely escaped the corruptions, and entanglements of this evil world, landed at their everlasting rest? Brother Henry* preached his funeral sermon on Tuesday evening, August 22, from Psalm lxxxviii. 18. ‘Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.’ It is God who removes them. They are put far out of our sight, out of hearing, out of our reach. He gave the following directions: —
* Appendix III.
Bless God for the lovers and friends we have had, and for the comfort we have had in them. Learn by such providences to cease from man. Retain the remembrance of the love and friendship of those who are now removed. Imitate them in what is virtuous and praise-worthy. Let it make death and the grave more familiar to us. Diligently prepare to follow after. Bless God for the remnant that are left of our lovers and friends. Since they are thus removed from us, let us make sure of a friend and a lover that will never fail. -He said that under such providences it is comfortable to believe, that, though put far from us they are gone nearer to God; though they are removed from us, God is not. Wc are going to them, and shall be with them shortly.”
It would be easy to illustrate, with valuable matter, Mrs. Savage’s general character; but, it being my intention to notice, more particularly, those features of it which seem best calculated for edification, I shall, at once, attempt a delineation, hoping to illustrate, thereby, the essential principles of religion. An admirer of creation is not satisfied with casually surveying a rich landscape, but, for improvement as well as gratification, finds pleasure m visiting and individualizing its minuter beauties. So a spiritual mind delights to expatiate on regenerating mercy, and to trace, in the “heirs of salvation,” the moral image of their Saviour.
As there is a beautiful uniformity in Christian experience, the following extracts may serve to show that the people of God are engaged in a conflict, emphatically styled spiritual; that devotional exercises are their element; that their hopes of divine acceptance rest exclusively on the meritorious sacrifice of Christ; that “things above” engross their affections; that present attainments cannot satisfy them; that universal obedience, and entire resignation to the will of heaven, are their habitual aim. In short, that religious excellence is characterized by godly fear, holy love, and spiritual joy.