Her Diligence in Improving Time, and in Studious Exercises
When the toil and bustle connected with a farm-house, and a large family, are considered, it is truly astonishing how so much was accomplished. It should be borne in mind, that her preparation for eternity, which it will appear was most exemplary, never hindered her secular afiairs. Her eye was fixed upon the land of Canaan, but she perseveringly walked in the paths of appointed duty. She attended, diligently, to the routine of the kitchen and the dairy, the market and the fair. “Conscientious waiting upon God,” it is observed in her funeral sermon, “neither prevented her discharging her duty to those who were about her, nor hurried her to the neglect of her temporal concerns. So remarkable was her diligence in her family, that, excepting the portion of time which she consecrated to God, it is said of her, by one that observed and knew her well for forty years, that she was not idle or unemployed, no, not a moment. She very well understood and knew that her duty to God did, by no means, oblige her to neglect the duties of a wife, a mother, or a mistress. When out of the more immediate service of God, she was constantly discharging these. Religion is no friend to sloth, confusion, and indolence.”
Mrs. Savage habitually rose early, and so miserly was she of time, that when, through the disturbances of nursing, or other causes, she slept too long, her diary records especial dissatisfaction and regret.
It -was the order and -wisdom of her household regulations, which enabled her to redeem time for mental improvement. She thought much, and, considering her pressing engagements, she read much. Good books were her treasure;
“Their familiar voice
Even to old asc, with unabated charm.
Beguiled her leisure hours; refreshed her thoughts.”
IVoTdtworlh,
Her acquaintance with, and delight in, the Holy Scriptures was extensive and sincere, and laid a firm foundation for the accurate knowledge she discovered of the system of revealed truth. The Psalms of David, and St. Paul’s Epistles, were peculiarly admired. During the last years of her life she usually, while at work, kept the Bible within reach, that she might turn to such portions as were the subjects of meditation. With reading the Scriptures (in regular order) and her father’s Exposition, she commonly began the day; and the wakeful hours of night were usually improved by repeating, from memory, Psalms, and Hymns, and Catechisms.
The following are pleasing specimens of a devout perusal of the divine word, in which she particularly recognises the goodness of God. “Wednesday morning, I read in course Ezckiel xvi. A portion of scripture, where as in a glass, I may see my own face. His kindness to that poor forlorn infant was great. Surely such was his kindness to me in infancy, when I was wholly polluted and defiled with original con’uption. Then he had compassion on me, washed me with water, entered into covenant with me in baptism, so that I became his. He decked me with ornaments, viz: natural abilities, both of body and mind, in a competent manner. In a word, he did much for me. But I was unthankful, fought against him with his own weapons. Yet he was pleased to follow me with the calls of his grace, till, at last, he made them effectual, and brought me home to himself. To the king, eternal, immortal, invisible, be honour and glory forever. Amen.”
“Sabbath, July 15, 1694. I did not awake with thoughts suitable to the day. Is my Lord risen, and is my heart so low and cold? I was lately refreshed by reading, in the family, Daniel xii. 13, How comfortably does that book close! The good man had great revelation of things to come, and he seems, by the story, to have desii’ed earnestly to see the coming of Christ, and the accomplishment of the great things he had been told of, verses 6, 8. But observe, how God answers him. ‘Go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.’ Thy body shall rest in the grave; thy soul, in heaven. As if he had said. Let it suffice thee it shall be, though thou dost not live to see it. I believe God hath great things to do in the world; perhaps, shortly, in the destruciion of antichrist, root and branch, and the advancement of the gospel-kingdom of Jesus Christ. Though I may not live to see it, yet, I trust, I shall rest with that good man, and all the dear members of that great body, and stand in my lot at the end of the days, in the resurrection of the just.”
“1708, January 11. This week I am reading, in course, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, wherein, I see more excellency than ever heretofore. The eighth chapter is concerning the everlasting covenant. I will make a new covenant. The Exposition especially observes, that pardon of sin seems to be the foundation of the rest. I will do so and so, ‘For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.’ And, methinks, the manner of the expression is exceedingly sweet. In the Old Testament it used to be — ‘If they will walk in my statutes, and do them, and be obedient, &c., then I will be gracious.’ But, here are no ifs and ands; I will and you shall is the language. This is indeed, gospel, good news. Enough to make one’s heart leap for joy. He works all our works in us, and for us. Oh, this everlasting covenant has that in it which is “all our salvation, and all our desire.” It was that which my dear and honoured father had his heart much upon.
“In the ninth chapter, as all along, he is preferring the gospel before the law, the New Testament before the Old. But, that which most affects me is the last verse, where, speaking of Christ’s second coming, the true saints are described to be such as look for him. This the wicked do nut. They would be glad if he would never come. But the real Christian looks, nay longs, for his coming. As the mother of Sisera. ‘Why arc his chariot’s wheels so long in coming V I desire to be always found in a praying, waiting frame, and in the way of my duty, because he will come suddenly, and find many sleeping. Therelore, Oh my soul, watch. Watch.”
It is in the records of inspiration, that the Christian beholds wisdom clad in her loveliest attire, and finds truth “unmixed with error.” The Scriptures are the map by which he travels Zionward, the fountain, by whose streams he is refreshed, the armory from whence his spiritual weapons are supplied. As such they are inexpressibly precious. But is it not to be feared, that professions of exclusive attachment to revealed truth, are, by some persons, converted into an asylum for sloth, or prejudice, or pride? Despising the usual methods of instruction, and the productions of all uninspired writers, they arrogate to themselves the wisdom which must be derived from reading the Bible only. Mrs. Savage, however, thought otherwise, and without undervaluing the Bible, highly esteemed the pious labours of good men; especially such books as were best calculated to strengthen the understanding, to quicken devotion, and excite to holiness. A Heine’s Letters, Polhill’s Precious Faith, the works of Owen, Hopkins, and Howe, Flavel, Baxter, and Watts, with other writings of a similar description, were the subjects of patient and regular perusal. She delighted much in biography, and her diary manifests the interest with which she read Clarke’s Lives, Mather’s History of New England, and the Lives of Mrs. Bury, Mrs. Rowe, Mrs. Walker, and Mr. Reynolds. She likewise transcribed several manuscript memoirs for the use of herself and her family. On retiring to rest she commonly placed good books near the bedside, to prevent an unprofitable employment of her waking thoughts.
The application which has been noticed was not instituted to equip a pedant, or to furnish matter merely for discourse; but for personal benefit, and to subserve, by holy practice, the divine glory. “Saturday morning,” she Myites, “I was refreshed in reading the exposition on Ilosea v. 14. “Tear, and go away; Though God tear, yet if he stay — if he tear, and tarry — there is some hope; but if he tear, and go away, ’tis sad indeed. Oh the cheering, comforting influences of the divine presence 1 *Tis that to the soul, and much more, which the refreshing dews of heaven are now to the thirsty earth which is parched and dry. In the evening I read in Mr. Alleine’s Life (that pattern of piety) some of his letters. I met with many heart-warming expressions. Persuading to preparedness for trials, he remarks.” How sad is it with them that are called to part with all for Christ, and arc not sure of him neither;” “therefore,” he adds, “whatever you do, get, and keep, your evidences for heaven clear.” He would admire the mercy of God in every meal, and say to his wife, “I live a voluptuous life, but it is upon spiritual dainties, such as the world know not, nor taste of.” Another saying, “When I look back upon the gentle dealings of God with me, I often think he has brought me up as indulgently as David did Adonijah, of whom it is said, his father had not displeased him. I have received nothing but good at the hands of the Lord all my days.” The same may I say. What a good master have I served, or rather, a tender, indulgent Father. He hath followed me with mercies all my days.”
She made extensive and useful collections from the books she read, and by writing the sermons she heard preached, and copying others from manuscripts which appear to have been borrowed for the purpose, transmitted to posterity much treasure. She did not repent the toil. Her pleasure in perusing such papers has already been hinted at, and the advantage she found in having heard, to adopt her revered father’s expression, “for the time to come,” is visible in almost every part of her diary. Thus she wrote in the year 1727: — “Sabbath day, October 29. We read, at noon, a good old sermon of my dear father’s (as long since as January, 1687) concerning those things that pertain to godliness. He mentions ten, which, he said, no godly person is without — ‘Knowledge, repentance, faith, sincerity, a spirit of prayer, love to the people and word of God, public spiritedness, mean thoughts of the world, delight in Sabbath sanctification.’ Lord, let these things be in mc, and abound. Methinks, as I grow old, I have more delight and sweetness in my old sermon notes, and often think of those who had seen the old temple; — they wept, while others rejoiced. Yet, I heartily bless God for the gifts and abilities of our younger ministers. But I am comforted to think that I have not now my foundation to lay. I had then the best helps, so that my roots were watered with wine.”
In the year 1750, when aged 86, noticing a sermon, preached by her honoured father, on Psalm lxxi. 17, 18, “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth,” she writes: “he gave five excellent lessons for young ones Remember your Creator, Eccl. xii. 1; Come to Jesus Christ, John vi. 45; Bear the yoke, J^ament. iii. 27; Flee youthful lusts, 2 Tim. ii. 22; Cleanse your way, Ps. cxix. 9;” Blessed are they that dwell in thy house.” There are precious promises, sweet ordinances, rich graces and gifts, choice comforts and hopes, and everlasting joys yet behind.”
How forcibly does the preceding exhibition commend Christian diligence! When it is considered how high a station industry occupies among virtues, how honourably it is associated in Scripture, and how closely it is allied to personal comfort, as well as public advantage, we do not wonder that the exam- yles of the saints are proposed, by inspired wisdom, as a stimulus to exertion. “Be not slothful, but followers of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises.”
It not unfrequenfly happens that young Christians, either from the overpowering splendour of newly-discovered objects, or from a mistaken apprehension that God is only served by prayer and ])raise, neglect their temporal avocations, or undervalue the opportunities afforded by common duties for holy obedience. Too often, likewise, they overlook their best interests by omitting to store their minds with Christian knowledge, which, however painfully acquired, always affords its possessor a rich remuneration. Though, in truth, the divine glory has greater accessions by the unwearied industry, patient submission, and habitual self-denial of consistent believers, than by the highest flights of rapturous devotion. Be diligent in business is the heavenly oi’der “fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”