Chapter IV

Ne of the first fruits of Alice’s labour for the salvation of others was her young friend M.

M.J, who had been spending her summer

vacation at Ts wedelle. She had enj oyed very few outward religious privileges, but the Lord had prepared her heart, and during this visit she was enabled to receive with remarkable fulness the glorious salvation of Jesus, which it was Alice’s privilege to set before her. To her the following letter was addressed: —

“Millville, Sept. 18, 1859.

“My Dear M-

“Tuesday we spent all day, until three

o’clock, shopping. I then went up to G ’s, very

warm and very tired, and she petted me up, and made me lie down and take a good nap, from which I got up refreshed about tea-time. In the evening we

went to see R ’s musical friend. She sang for us,

but her voice (don’t let it make you vain, little pussy) was not half so sweet to my ears as a little robin’s I know, so I did not care much for it.

“The next morning I started for Millville, and had a long and tiresome ride, but as the people in the stage were very quiet, I had a nice time thinking over

all that R told us the day before. He dwelt on

such precious truths, none of which is more necessary to be kept in mind than that of Christ’s love. The more we realise this, the more will our poor hearts be filled with peace and joy, and an overwhelming love in return. If we find our hearts growing cold, or doubting, or desponding; if we see in ourselves a tendency to dislike the work He has given us to do; or if we feel sad and lonely, or uncharitable to those around us, we will find that it is because we are not looking at Christ’s love to us, that wondrous love, which, as we realise it, will fill every want in man’s nature. If we dwell on anything short of Christ and His unchanging love, which first awoke us, wThile we were yet dead in trespasses and sins, to a knowledge of Himself, and which will not surely now forsake us, we find ourselves in darkness....

“It seemed inexpressibly sad to come here and find no baby; but now it is like a dream that we ever had one at all, it seems so long ago.

“Carrie and I have had two delightful rides on horseback together, but all day yesterday and the day before it rained very hard, so that we did not go out, but I sewed and Carrie read to me in D’Aubigne.”...

It had been the custom of these sisters during Alice’s frequent visits to Millville, before her conversion, to spend much time in boating. Alice was very fond ot sketching, and the Maurice River, which ran directly along the foot of the hill upon which the residence of her brother-in-law was situated, the banks of which are very woody and picturesque, afforded her an opportunity of gratifying her taste. Early in the morning, Alice and her sister used to get into their little boat, and row themselves about three-quarters of a mile up the river, where they entered a region so wild and entirely uncultivated that it seemed as if there human beings had never before found their way. The water coming from the cedar swamps was of a dark amber colour, and so clear that the pebbly bottom was plainly visible. In some places the trees nearly met overhead, and here, before some grand old giant of the forest, would they moor their little boat, and while Alice, with sketch-book and pencil, transferred its gnarled and knotty branches to paper, her sister read to her from some favourite author.

In her subsequent visits to Millville, Alice preferred spending the time in visiting the labourers on the place, endeavouring in her weakness to sow precious seed, by bearing the “glad tidings” from house to house. They often, however, spent moonlight evenings on the river, and at such times, while their little bark floated noiselessly on the water, Alice’s sweet voice might be heard singing her favourite hymns. Among those most fresh in the recollection of her companions are: —

“Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee,”

and
also,

“We rest in Christ, the Son of God j”

“Guide me, oh, Thou great Jehovah.” One of her especial favourites was “The Lord will provide.” This she committed to memory, and would sometimes repeat for her own and others’ comfort. The metrical version of the 23d Psalm was also a great favourite, and was frequently sung by her on these occasions. Her sister, in writing about it after her death, says, “How those times come back to me as I write about them! Precious Alice! I can almost hear her sweet voice floating gently over the water, and feel myself now, as then, drawn nearer to God and our heavenly home.”

Alice also very much enjoyed horseback excursions. She was a fearless and daring rider, managing with perfect ease a horse which most ladies would fear to mount, always taking the poorest saddle, and acting as escort to her more timid companion.

‘Thus would these sisters scour the country for miles around, exploring all the narrow and unfrequented wood roads they came upon. Sometimes they would lose their way, and ride for miles before coming to a log cabin to inquire the direction homeward. These excursions were often turned into work for the Lord, whom they both now delighted to serve. At the lonely cabin of some woodcutter they would stop, and there tell of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which was to these poor ignorant ones good news indeed. Alice generally carried some tracts or leaflets, which she would hand, with a few pleasant words, to the teamsters whom they met, and often as they rode along, her little Testament would be drawn from her pocket, and she would dwell with delight on some comforting promise or sweet assurance of love and support in every time of need.

Her sister relates that on one occasion as they were returning from a visit to an old hermit, who for fifteen years had lived by himself in the woods, and though now dying of consumption, and scarcely able to gather a few sticks together for a fire, still preferred his solitary cabin, Alice remarked, “How precious a thing it is that we have a. free salvation to offer to the poor and the ignorant. If they had to do one thing to earn it, or to make themselves ready to receive it, I should not be half so happy as I go among them. Now I go full of joy, knowing that nothing but their unwillingness to receive the forgiveness of all their sins through Jesus Christ stands between them and eternal life. It seems to me it is such an honour to be allowed the privilege of proclaiming this glorious gospel of the free mercy and grace of God. I have been thinking all the morning of that text in Isaiah: ‘How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth salvation,’” adding, “I wonder if it is wrong to apply it to one’s self?”

To A. U. C.

“Millville, Sept. 21, 1859.
” My own Dear Friend, —

...” Carrie and I have been enjoying D’Aubigne ’s ‘History of the Reformation ’ so much. I do not see how any one can read it without becoming convinced that justification by faith in Jesus Christ is not simply a doctrine of particular sects, but is at the root of all Christianity. ‘The Church has fallen, says D’ Aubigne, ‘because the great doctrine of justification by faith in the Saviour had been taken away from her. It was necessary, therefore, before she could rise again, that this fundamental truth should be restored to her.’ It was this doctrine that was the stronghold of Luther, and gave him, a poor monk, with nothing but the truth of God to lean upon, the power to overthrow the mighty Church of Rome. ‘This article of justification, says Luther, ’ is what creates the Church, nourishes it, edifies it, preserves and defends it. No one can teach worthily in the Church, or oppose an adversary with success, if he does not adhere to this truth, Let me give thee one

more quotation, but first ‘;.

The other sheet of this letter has been lost; instead thereof some of her favourite passages are given as they were marked and underscored by her, in the volume of the Reformation which she was then readincr

“I see,” says Luther, “that the devil is continually attacking this fundamental article.” ...” Well, then, I, Dr Martin Luther, unworthy herald of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, confess this article, that faith alone without works justifies before God”... “There is no one,” continues he, “who has died for our sins, if not Jesus Christ the Son of God.... And if it is He alone that taketh away our sins, it cannot be ourselves and our works. But good works follow redemption, as the fruit grows on the tree.” And of himself he says, “Although I was a holy and blameless monk, my conscience was nevertheless full of trouble and anguish. I could not endure those words — ‘The righteousness of God.’... But when by the Spirit of God I understood these words, when I learned how the justification of the sinner proceeds from the free mercy of our God through faith, then I felt born again like a new man; I entered through the open doors into the very paradise of God. Henceforward, also, I saw the beloved and Holy Scriptures with other eyes.... And as previously I had detested with all my heart those words, the righteousness of God,’ I began from that hour to value them and to love them as the sweetest and most consoling words in the Bible.”

Although the subject is too sacred to be fully dwelt upon, a word must be said in reference to Alice’s devotion to her beloved parents. Realising that, as the only child remaining at home, she was the object of their tenderest love, it was the natural result of this feeling to manifest, by every word and action, the affectionate solicitude of her heart. When absent from them, she took refuge from undue anxiety on their account by casting her care upon the Lord, as will be seen in the following letter: — “MlLLVILLE, Sept. 19, 1859.

“My own Darling Mother, —

“Not a word from thee since third day! I try not to feel anxious, as I know that you are in the hands of our dear Master, who can and does take a great deal better care of you than I could were I at home. It is indeed an inexpressible comfort to leave you with implicit confidence in His hand, and to know that it is with a love far surpassing mine that He watches over my own darling parents, who seem to grow so much dearer to me every day....

“I often think when we are having a nice cosy time, one sewing and the other reading aloud in

D’Aubigne, how splendid it would be if we could only have our precious mother sitting with us; but nevertheless truth compels me to say that we have very nice times as it is, and I hope that it is not pleasure alone that we derive from each other’s constant companionship. Indeed we ought, with all the privileges that are so mercifully granted us, to grow daily in grace, and learn constantly how best to serve tli at Master who has done so much for us; and I think nothing will fill the soul so full of a steadfast, resolute endeavour to serve Him, as contemplating the wondrous love and perfect work of our Saviour. The fear of our Creator as a righteous and just Judge may force us into outward obedience, but nothing except looking unto Him, as David did, as ’ our strength and our Redeemer] can melt our hearts into love and submission to His will and His commandments.

“We rode on horseback out to old Mrs Loder’s the other day. Her husband, who, thou knowest, has been feeble for years, is much worse. I do not suppose he can live a great while; but he says he does not dread to go, for although he has never done anything good enough for his Heavenly Father to forgive him his many sins for, yet he feels sure that they will be forgiven and washed away in the blood of * the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’

“Is it not a noticeable fact that both the great Dr Johnson, who for so many years was diligent in his efforts to win heaven by his own works, and this poor old man, on their deathbeds found their only comfort in abandoning their own righteousness’ for the righteousness of Christ?”

The old man above referred to, when first visited by the sisters, and questioned as to his hopes of heaven, replied, “That he thought he had as good a right to go happy as anybody; he hadn’t been like other folks, he had always kept the Sabbath, and, when he was well, been to church regular, and he was sure he hadn’t never done no harm to nobody.” At first it seemed hopeless to find a lodgment for the truth that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” for “whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all,” and that though “the wages of sin” must be “death,” “the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Ghrist our Lord.” It was only after many months visiting that the Holy Spirit opened his understanding to see and his heart to believe that salvation is not of works, but a free gift of grace, through faith in Christ Jesus.

He lived some years after this, and it was really delightful to witness his simple childlike faith in his Saviour. Alice’s visits were among his chief pleasures; he particularly delighted in the sweet hymns she loved so much to sing to him. At such times the radiant expression of his face, and the clasping of his hands, while he sat in rapt attention, occasionally breaking in with such exclamations as “That ’s true!” or “Precious Jesus!” would have formed a study for a painter. Though sometimes questioned pretty closely as to the ground of his hope and confidence, the answer was always the same — “fesus,” “Jesus has forgiven,” or “Jesus is on my side.” His past inoffensive life was not now, as formerly, his hope and dependence, but he felt that his feet were firmly planted upon “the Rock of Ages,” which could never be moved.

“TSWEDELLE, Nov. 12, 1859.

“My own Carrie, —

“I went to the city on fifth day, and stayed all night

with H. In the evening we had a good talk all

by ourselves, but it can’t be retailed. One thing

H talked about that did me good.- It was the

necessity of making the work which we do especially for Christ the main object, not only of our life, but of every day, and hour, and minute of it. That we should make all our household and social duties subservient to it, instead of it to them, as she clearly showed me that we do. She says we ought every moment, no matter what we are doing, to be watching and waiting for an opportunity of doing or saying something in His cause. If we are not thus waiting, we are making something else the object of our lives, at least for that moment. If we were always thus holding other things subservient to our Master’s work, how much more we would find to do; and even if we did not find anything for a whole day, we should have glorified Him all the same.

“In the morning we spent an hour with Mrs

K. H asked her to explain more about i the

gift of holiness,’ which the Methodists talk so much about, and which she professes. I wish I could give thee even an idea of what she said. I believe it is simply an entire consecration of the will, and an acceptance of Christ as our strength. She said it presented itself to her thus: ‘Hitherto I have considered that I was free to choose my will or the Lord’s

62 oy THE ROCK:

JET. 20.

will, to follow Him. where He leads or not; but now I will give up that power and bind myself to choose the Lord’s will always.’ And it is from this that she has never fallen; that is, she has never voluntarily chosen her own way instead of the Lord’s. She says she would not say she has not sinned, for she has been overcome suddenly, and may sin unconsciously, but she trusts the Lord for that, and, indeed, for everything. Personally, she is charming in conversation; but, better than that, I hope I have learned from her. How I wished for thee! Darling, is thy will consecrated? I think mine is. It is a fearfully solemn thing to say, but it is a solemn thing to live.”

“Nov. 23d, 1859. I have been walking very quietly the past week, dear Carrie, doing little apparently for the Lord. I have been held by the iron fingers of surrounding circumstances; but I know that it is for some good purpose, or the Lord would not have allowed it.. I hope and pray that it may teach me the lesson intended.

“I have been made to think very seriously about those passages: ‘If any man will confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father’ (Matt. x. 32). ‘If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved ’ (Rom. x. 9)....

“I was very glad to hear about thy talks with J.

M and B; how strange it is that it takes us

so long to learn that these things are privileges! I wonder when we shall begin to think how much we can do, and not how little. The trouble is, that we think we do want to do much, but it must be just what suits our tastes. What hearts we have!”

To M. M. J.

“Tswedelle, Dec. 3, 1S59.

“My Dear M,

“I took tea with R- the other evening, and we

had a good talk about the things of the kingdom, and our dear Saviour’s love to us. Just think, dear

M, of our all singing praises together some day,

before the throne of the Lamb! How very trivial are all the cares and troubles that look to us now so very grievous, when compared with the great joy that will fill our hearts then; and to think that it will last for ever! The thought of its all being a free gift, just given to us out of mercy, makes me so happy. Sometimes I think Christians are very apt, in directing all their attention to living a Christian life, to forget about this great salvation which we have so freely received, and the love that gave it, which always remains the same, however we may change. They really forget the gift, in their anxiety to show their gratitude for it; in fact, they get to looking at themselves instead of at Christ. My heart’s desire and prayer for us both is, that we may be filled with the love of Christ, until all self’is lost in Him.

“In thinking, darling, about the prayers of other Christians being more likely to be answered than our own, I think we should take into consideration what it is that makes a prayer effectual. Let us use an illustration. Suppose a prisoner is entreating a judge for pardon; the first thing urged is the great need for the favour asked, and the next and all-important thing is a righteous plea, or ground on which it can be granted without offending stern justice. Now, if such a plea be wanting, however eloquently the case is urged, if the judge is righteous, the favour is not granted; but if the plea be good, no matter how feebly the thing is stated, it will be granted.

“And is it not the same with our petitions to our Heavenly Father? Have we not all great need? and oh, happy thought! have not all who believe in Jesus a righteous plea to bring? And if so, have they not all the same reason why their prayers should be answered? If it depended upon our own righteousness, or the eloquence of our appeals, whether our prayers would- be heard, then, indeed, would our humility force us to feel that others’ prayers were more acceptable than our own. But when we remember that our requests are not granted for our sakes but for Chrisfs sake, we must be convinced that it makes no difference by whom the prayer is offered, if it be but asked believing that it will be answered for Christ’s sake. Do not misunderstand me, dear, and think that I do not value the prayers of others. I think it a great comfort to be able to pray for our friends, and also to feel that they pray for us....

“It is very nice, dear M, to think of you as

taking the same comfort that I do in feeling that our Lord knows and permits every little occurrence in our lives, and that nothing could happen to us without His will; when we realise that He is constantly watching over and loving us, it is much easier to get along.

“You speak of your Sabbath-school. I am very glad you have a class. Do not be discouraged, even if your scholars seem unpromising; remember it is the Lord’s work, and He will take care of it and fit you for it. It is a great comfort to me whenever I think of speaking to any one about Christ, to realise that if the Lord has anything for me to say to them, He will show me what it is, and will give me both the opportunity and the strength to say it. I really am astonished more and more every day at the

great goodness of the Lord. O M! we need

never fear: He will take care of us. Sometimes when, as you say, a cloud seems to cover us, and we cannot see Him, or realise that He really does love and pity us, it is very hard to hold fast to our faith. But do not let us doubt Him. Surely it was out of pure mercy that ‘He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all; how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ‘...

“With an earnest prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ, that He will perfect His will both in you and through you to those around you, I am your affectionate friend.”

“Phila., Dec. 28, 1859.
” My own Precious Mamma, —

“Thy letter, written yesterday, came to hand at dinner-time, much to my satisfaction. If thee isn’t the sweetest little mother that ever lived to say so kindly that thee is not lonely, and that I had better stay a few days longer, if I wish to! But I would not encroach upon thy kindness, if there were not some reasons why it seems evidently best,. I hope by staying to get a chance of presenting the

,ET. 20.

gospel to L, and letting her see at least what the

Christian faith is. She is in such a net of Unitarianism that she has probably seldom heard much of anything else. I am also very glad of another chance of hearing Guinness, as I feel I am learning from him. The more I see of him, the more surprised I am to find how much he preaches many of the truths held by Friends, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, &c.

.. a “I expect you are enjoying D’Aubigne very much. I think I never read anything, the Bible, of course, excepted, that proves so clearly that ‘justification by faith in Christ is, as he says, at the root of all Christianity. How clearly he shows that when the Church lost this fundamental truth, it sank into heathenish darkness, until our kind Heavenly Father sent Luther to preach the glorious truth that salvation is the gift of God,’ and cannot be bought by ’ indulgences,’ fastings, or any other good works of our own.”

To a friend about to be married, she writes: —

“Tswedelle, Jan. 4, 1860.

...” Dear, I long to see thee wedded

to another, a heavenly Bridegroom, one from whom death could not separate thee, nor time estrange. I should then, indeed, be sure that thou would be happier than any earthly circumstances, however propitious, could possibly make thee. O dear friend! to know and be sure that death to thee will be but the Bridegroom taking the bride home to Himself, is inexpressibly sweet. But, dear, thou never can know this until thou hast cast thyself as a helpless, sinful child, upon the Lord Jesus Christ, to be and do everything for thee, to cleanse thee from thy sins, to save thee from the consequences of them, to sanctify thy soul, and to give thee of His strength that thou may glorify Him. Until thou trusts Him entirely and alone, and ceases to trust in thyself for salvation, and hast become, like Abraham, fully persuaded that ’ what He hath promised He is able also to perform, thou never can know this rest. I am confident that in the bottom of thy heart thou feels that trusting in a general way to the mercy of God is very unsatisfactory. I know that there is a fascination in dwelling upon what we conceive to be the nobleness, greatness, and goodness of humanity, until in our own wisdom we exclaim, ‘God has said He is a God of lave; surely if He is so, He cannot refuse to pardon man, at least while he has this germ of good in him so fit to be ripened in heaven.’ But, ah, God’s ways are not as our ways, neither are His thoughts as our thoughts; and is it not just possible that God, in the light of His own perfect righteousness, may pronounce as ’ filthy rags’ what our poor sin-defiled eyes can only behold as the most precious cloth of gold? I have become satisfied that it is poorly worth while for us, with our finite minds, to judge what the infinite Being has declared, by what seems right to our reason. If God had not spoken to man, then man would have been left to use his own imagination; but God has spoken, and requires that man should believe what He says, even if it does seem like foolishness to him, for ’ the foolishness of God is wiser than men.’ Is not this what earthly parents require of their children? and has not the

Creator a vastly superior right to act thus towards us?

‘’Excuse me, dear, for speaking thus freely; but I do so long that thou should be convinced that there are not many ways of salvation, but only one; that 1 there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved but that of Jesus Christ.’... All are under condemnation until they are washed and made clean in the blood of Jesus; and until a person is convinced of this, there is no use in speaking of that great Saviour who died that all who put their trust in Him might live; for behold, they make this wondrous sacrifice for sin of none effect, for if it is not needed by man, then, indeed, has Christ died in vain. And it amounts to the same thing to say that one can be accepted of God without a real vital union with Christ.

“I suppose you have heard of H. Grattan Guin. ness, the Irish preacher, who is doing such a wonderful work in Philadelphia. I did not expect to like him, as popular men so seldom preach only ‘Christ, and Him crucified,’ as St Paul said he did; but Guinness really does, and with wonderful power.”

“Tswedelle, Jan. 4, 1860.

“My Dear Carrie, —

...” It has been so very long since I have written thee, at least I have lived such a lifetime since then, that I hardly know what to say. I have so much, so very much, that I long to make thee understand; but even if I were with thee, I do not think I could put it all in words, much less on paper.

“In the first place, I have not written thee since I stood by E ’s bed, a short time before she breathed

her last. I cannot express all it made me realise. I am sure I never realised before the greatness of the gift of eternal life, and what a Saviour Christ is. Oh, what should we do without Him? How could we live, and how could we meet death? We are, indeed, but as an atom of dust, utterly helpless. If His hand should cease to hold us up, where should we be? I could have said all this before, but I never knew what it meant; but, oh! what inexpressible comfort to hear Christ say, ‘Whosoever believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.’

“I spent Christmas week with H in the city;

we heard Guinness almost every day, and I felt very thankful for the privilege, for he has taught me a great deal, particularly with regard to the love of God. I thought I knew it, but I find that I am only beginning to learn a part of it. I enjoyed my visit thoroughly, but have been tempted by Satan to sink under the weight of responsibility, yet hope I am learning that ’ faith is without anxiety.’”

January 6, 1S60.

“I want to tell thee, darling Carrie, how my heart

has been drawn out in prayer for, I have such

strong faith that it really surprises myself. I think it has come in answer to prayer that I might have the faith; and while outwardly there is no apparent hope, I believe the Lord will do it, although I have often to fight to keep this faith. And now I do so wish thou could let thy whole heart out in prayer that the Lord will glorify Himself in this instance. Do beseech Him to give thee faith, and pray daily and hourly; for the promise is clear, ‘If two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.’ n

“Tswedelle, Jan. 13, 1860.

“Dearest Carrie, —

“It is just a week to-day since I have been in the house with this cold, and I really can say that I am thankful for it — this w7eek of quiet I mean — for I have realised that the Lord knew all about it, and that He had not a thing for me to do out of the house, or He would not have shut me up so completely. Being, therefore, at ease concerning the whole world, I turned my attention to trying to fulfil His will in retirement, and I think He has been teaching me.

“In the first place, I have found that it is harder to keep one’s own spirit right one hour, lying on the bed doing nothing, than to do a great many outwardly hard things; and I have had such a realisation that Christ is as really and actually our strength for this as for other things. I don’t know exactly how to express what I mean, but without a single good feeling to look up and say —

‘Lord, I am Thine, be Thou my might,’

and know that He is keeping us that moment. This is the kind of faith that I believe we must exercise if we would be kept from sin; and it is this I have been learning practically. But as I know that wuth every accession of faith there must come, also, the trial of that faith, so I can hardly call this my own or fairly in my possession until it has passed through trials which I know are to come..

“I understand what thou means by speaking to, and praying for, people; I am convinced it is a great truth, so let us be encouraged; we can pray always when we have no opening for outward service. Do not be discouraged, dear; the Lord has thy life laid out as an outline map; He knows all about it, and is portioning out every day as it comes. All thy part is to look up and say, ‘Let Thy will be done this day;’ and so, giving thy hand to Him, let Him lead thee. This is very simple, but hard to practice.

“This quiet the Lord gives thee is not for naught; He is preparing thee for His own work in some way known only to Himself.

“One thing more, dear; do let us make it an especial subject of prayer that, during our expected visit to New York, we may both be enabled to live every moment to the glory of God, doing everything as unto the Lord, and never forgetting for an instant whose we are. I feel this particularly important, as I know that polite conversation on general topics is a great snare to me, as I am very apt not to take my religion into it; and I know that if the Lord does not keep me I shall dishonour Him. Thou knows our old way of looking at things is entirely opposed to the religion of Jesus, and I think our enemy will strive to entice us, at least in a degree, to return to things which are behind, instead of pressing forward to those which are before. Ah! to walk in the spirit of Christ, that is what we are to do; and He alone can keep me.n

In the early part of second month Alice went, in company with her sister Carrie, to New York, to attend the wedding of a friend, to whom she was to act as bridesmaid. As might be expected from the prayerful spirit in which this visit was undertaken, which is manifested in the foregoing letter, while she went through with all the duties of her position, she was very much preserved from a worldly spirit, as will be seen by the following letters to her sister, who returned to her home shortly after the wedding : —

“New York, February 9, 1S60.

“My own Darling Carrie, —

“Thou cannot tell how alone I felt yesterday morning after seeing you off; but I concluded it was a good chance riding up in the omnibus to have a quiet time, so shut my eyes to keep the world out, and though the enemy tried his best to put worldly thoughts under the eyelids, I appealed to One who is greater than he, and I realised Him as my strength.

“Thou knows we were engaged to for that

evening. In the afternoon there were many little things to do, and then came the weary dressing it was more tiresome even than the evening before, but finally the bride and three bridesmaids descended to the parlours at exactly nine o’clock, ready to go. It was almost as great a crowd as the night before, and such dressing! This is the outside; as for the inside, it was more satisfactory than some of the parties have been. I could say, ‘Jesus, lover of my soul,’ and feel that He was hiding me in His bosom. I had a chance to confess Christ to...

“1 have just had a little talk with. She has

cut me to the heart; she thinks that the Unitarians do not dishonour Christ at all, and that there is no harm in their doctrine; they say there is something divine in every heart which only needs developing, and she says this is Christ appearing in their hearts, and if they honour and obey it they honour Him, and are all right. Oh, do pray for us; my heart aches in its very depths!...

“I have said little of my inner life; but, oh! there is such a fight all the time going on there to keep the faith, and finish the work He has given me to do, that I am so tired.”...

“New York, Feb. iS, 1S60.

u I have much to tell thee, dear C, but I don’t

know where to begin. I do not know when I shall go home: I seem to have a concern on my mind not yet fulfilled; but I hope by the last of the week to feel at liberty to return to the quiet of my peaceful home. My visit here has been much more satisfactory since the parties were over.

“I had a very nice visit to. I spent two

hours, I should think, with them; it was intensely interesting, and very satisfactory. I had a great concern on my mind about ’s preaching that we have

the guidance of the Holy Spirit before we are Christians. I could not bear that with so much truth he should preach this error which undermines the whole, so I concluded he should be made to think about it any way, if the Lord should give me opportunity,

which He did that afternoon. seemed to agree

very nearly with me, and said she had been thinking much on the subject, and felt it to be a very important one..

“I wish I knew what the Lord’s will really is about my going home. I don’t feel as if my mission is accomplished, so I am afraid to set the time, and yet I cannot leave it unset. I have not yet found a private

opportunity to speak to, although I think he has

heard considerable truth; but he is not aware that he needs Jesus. I have left it with the Lord; I know He will take care of it....

“The other day I went with N. S. to see Bella Cooke, a woman who enjoys wThat the Methodists call ‘the gift of holiness.’ She has been confined to her bed for years, and yet seems to do nothing but praise the Lord all the time. It was perfectly refreshing to see her, and hear her talk. She gave us a little history of her life, which made me cry. How I wish thou could see her. My darling, I am in the same loving and protecting arms, Thy Sister.”

“Tswedelle, Feb. 28, 1860.
” My Dear Carrie, —

“I am by the Lord’s will safely home once more, and am determined to spend a part of this first evening talking to thee, while dear mother sits by me talking to me. Well it is all over, and I don’t know how to thank the dear Lord for His goodness to me during this season of so much temptation and such great responsibilities. I doubtless have erred in judgment many times, but I feel sure that He will overrule even this to His own glory. There is such a great work going on among our friends in New York, or, perhaps, I should say the beginning of a great work. came with me this morning as far as Elizabethtown. He evidently has and approves of the assurance of faith, as he said that no one could serve God until he had received pardon. He says he is free to confess that he has come to much clearer views on this subject lately, much to the comfort of his own soul; and he thinks the Bible is so very clear all through in setting forth that we must be justified before we can be sanctified, that he can scarcely see how we could have remained so long in darkness on this most important subject.

“I also had several very interesting talks with.

He declared he never had heard of this gospel before. He thought it beautiful, and meant to go to the Bible to see if it were true. May the Lord take the truth home to his heart! ,;

“Tswedelle, March 2, 1S60.
” Dear Carrie, —

“It is a glorious morning! The sun shines down upon the earth, and the earth seems to smile back upon the sun. I really seem to hear nature’s hymn of praise to the Lord, and my heart sings too. I am convinced that we don’t praise Him enough practically. We surely ought to look more at His mercy and power, and not so much at the temptation around us. For myself, I know that I often gaze and gaze at the snares and pitfalls around me, until I sigh, thinking, ‘How shall- 1 ever get by them? ‘when I ought to rejoice in that His powerful arm is my aid, and there is no fear while resting entirely on Him; but I do not realise enough the personality of Jesus, and His power and glory.”

To M. M. J.

“Tswedelle, March II.

“Does my dear little M think that her old

friend has forsaken her or forgotten her? Oh, no, no: she knows better than that; for even if my old affection should grow cold — which it never will — there is — oh happy thought! — a new bond of sympathy between us, which all eternity can never change; for have we not the same precious Saviour, and does He not watch over us both with the same unchanging love? and when we raise our hearts in love and adoration to Him, do we not meet there? It is very sweet to think of this; and it draws us very close together, does it not?... I will try to give you a glimpse of my doings since New Year’s, when we were together.

“I had a bad attack of neuralgia after I returned from the city, which, with a severe cold, kept me in the house and bed about two weeks; and, will you believe it, I really enjoyed it, I had such a splendid time to think over all Guinness had taught me of the wondrous love of God. It is enough to occupy our thoughts for all our lives, and even then we shall not know it all. Truly, as he said, there is no rest but in

the love of Christ. O M! I have had such a

treat in reading A. Newton on the Songs of Solomon. I feel now that I never read any poetry before I read these songs. They develop ’ the idea of Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church,’ which is one of great comfort and joy to me. I do nothing but dream Solomon’s Songs now; but I cannot stop to try even to tell you what deeper depths of Christ’s love 1 have been allowed to contemplate lately.

“You know I was to go to N. Y., to be bridesmaid

for a friend, in February. C and I spent a week

first in Brooklyn, and had a very nice time; then came the wedding and all the gaieties. I did not know that I should have to go to so many parties, or I would have hesitated about accepting the honour of bridesmaid; but as it was, they did me no harm, and on several occasions I had a chance to speak a word for Jesus at them, so I did not mind it much.

...” May you indeed grow in the knowledge of the love of God, for the more we know of His love, the more we shall love, and serve, and glorify Him. With this prayer, I am, as ever, your loving

“Alice.”