THE GRACE OF GOD MANIFESTED.

To the Editors of the Methodist Magazine.

To record the lives and deaths of the pious, was a practice amongst the primitive Christians, in the midst of their distresses and persecutions, for the purpose of exciting each other to diligence and perseverance, by such holy examples-And it is a practice that has been pursued in the church of God ever since those pure days-It is of very essential use still to the church and to individuals; and it is often made to serve the cause of religion, by convicting the ungodly, and leading them to repentance, when probably other means have proved ineffectual.These considerations induce me to send you this short memoir of Mrs. MARY ANN PEACO, to be inserted in your Magazine, if you think it worthy of a place there.

Annapolis, March 19, 1818.

L. R. FECHTIG.

MEMOIR OF MRS. MARY ANN PEACO.

The subject of this memoir was a native of this place; she was an early partaker of the saving grace of God; perhaps before she arrived to the age of sixteen years. Methodism had not been long introduced here at that time, and the few who had united to serve God, were exposed to persecution and contempt. Notwithstanding this, she (together with her mother) united with them to watch, and pray, and suffer together. This was soon after the American revolution. The instrument (in the divine hand) of her conversion, was Jonathan Forest, one among the first Methodist preachers in this division of God's vineyard.

The history of her life is not much known from the time of her conversion until the few last years of her mortal scene. But from the time of her first experiencing religion to the day of her death, she had to contend with innumerable difficulties, arising from disappointments in worldly prospects, and other distressing circumstances-But in the midst of all she maintained her integrity, walked with God, and never lost her first love.

Love is the religion of the Gospel-Except the religion of the

gerson whose character we portray, is a picture of the religion of the bible, it is not worthy of imitation-nor will it bear the severity of the day of trial. But her religion was evangelicalIt was like gold tried in the fire, and it bore the test without dimunition. She had taken the right method to obtain this grace: For, being humbled by the Spirit of truth, she confessed her sins, believed in Christ, found pardon, and received the witness of the Spirit in her heart, enabling her to cry "Abba Father."

This work, thus happily begun, was not superficial, but "Like a well of water springing up to everlasting life." It was a deep work. So soon as she was made a subject of pardoning mercy, she gave "diligence to make her calling and election sure." She "pressed towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God, in Christ Jesus," and her advancement in grace was evident to her Christian friends. However, she was sometimes subject to a spiritual instability, and did not enjoy that evenness of temper and disposition which adults in religion experience, until about seven or eight years before her departure; when she experienced the sanctifying grace of God.This happy change was very perceivable in her frame of mind, life, and conversation. It produced in her its natural effects, meekness, long-suffering, gentleness, and goodness; together with all those sacred enjoyments attendant on such a state of Christian experience. I do not know that ever she doubted her sanctification; but I am satisfied she enjoyed it on her sickbed; and for several years before her dissolution, she had constant communion with the heavenly Trinity.

From such an intercourse with God, it is natural to suppose she attained to a degree of stability not to be found among superficial professors of religion. Such professors may enjoy the comforts of religion in some lucid intervals; but we too frequently see them influenced by the passions, while reason and judgment seem to be dethroned; and a degree of self-confidence, like that of the sanguine disciple's, when he said, "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee," forms a prominent feature of their professions. Such characters, like Peter, are easily shaken in mind, and their comforts, like their devotions, are transient. What the subject of these memoirs enjoyed, was the result of serious investigation, honest self-examinatia, frequent and fervent prayer, and self-denial-a uniform atVOL. I.

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tention to these important duties, produced in her, an abiding conviction of her dependence on divine grace; together with a habitual sense of the divine favour.

The means of religion are appointed by divine authority, and when properly attended to, they will be blest to the soul; and when this is the case, there will be a delight in the use of them. This was the case with Mrs. Peaco-she did not perform the ceremonies of religion merely from a sense of duty, but from the delight she felt in them, and a personal knowledge of their happy effects on her heart and practice: hence she attended the preaching of the word of God, on all occasions when practicable-This was food to her soul. She often sat under the word bathed in tears, while expressions of joy beamed in her counte nance. She told me once, after hearing a discourse on the dispensations of providence towards believers, that the subject was peculiarly suited to her state, and that it was one of the most comforting seasons she had experienced for a long time. Prayer was also the delight of her soul.-In family devotion the divine presence often animated her-but in the closet in converse with God, she generally prayed as though He was present to bless.— Her frequency in this exercise proved how much she delighted in it, and how often divine consolations and strength were ministered there.

Give attendance to reading, is an apostolical injunction-There is much propriety in it--Without reading and meditation it is not probable that Christians will become deeply acquainted with their own hearts, with the wiles of Satan, or with divine and spiritual consolations. Neither is it very probable that those who are in the habit of neglecting this duty, will ever be stedfast and immovable Christians-nay, often from this neglect we may date the backslidings of professors of religion. Our friend felt the force of this sentiment, and therefore read and reflected. Although her reading was not general, nor her studies profound; yet they were by no means superficial.-In her reading she did not make choice of those pernicious works, novels and romances, which uniformly poison the mind, and adulterate all the finer feelings of the soul-she preferred the Book of God.This she read and studied; and it became a "Light to her feet and a lamp to her path," to illuminate her through this inhospitable valley of tears-Authors who treated on experimental

and practical piety were often consulted; and her mind was thereby informed on the leading doctrines of the gospel.

Thus, while too many others in these days of corruption, folly and vanity, neglect the improvement and proper cultivation of the mind, and attend almost entirely to that part which is the sister of corruption, and must soon become food for reptiles under ground; she cultivated the mind and improved the rational faculties.

The advantages of christian fellowship, and social intercourse with those "that feared the Lord, and spake often one to the other," were prized and much improved by her to her happiness. With her companions in tribulation, she would sympathise; and there they often mutually enjoyed with her, the richest communications of grace., From instituted and casual meetings of this kind, she often retired with renewed strength and holy triumph.

Trials and temptations are common to us in this state: for "the servant is not above his Lord:" it may be supposed she had her share-and hers was no common portion. "The waves

and billows" often ran high, and threatened to overwhelm her with instant ruin, and to annihilate her fairest prospects. But even in such circumstances, the winds and waves were made subservient to the spiritual advancement of her soul and He that once calmed the boisterous Tiberias, and brought the vessel to land, preserved her in the storm, and did not permit the unruly elements to harm her. These painful ordeals were a school to her, and hence she often found matter to comfort the distressed and desponding disciples of Jesus in similar circumstances. Some here now recollect her salutary instructions, and reflect with thankfulness, how she poured the balin of comfort into their tempted and sorrowful minds.

So far, her religious experience agrees with the word of God, and the experience of many others in the church militant. Indeed, we identify the Christian religion throughout the world by the same happy effects it produces on the mind and in the lifeby the same hopes and prospects it produces-by the same comforts and joys it inspires, and by the same supports it affords in trials—the same Spirit is the agent of all: and the same gospel is the foundation of all-That religion which is so consonant with the gospel, and which produces such happy effects, must necessarily render all its subjects more or less triumphant.

Thus we behold the apostle Paul, in the privations and toils of a laborious ministry, rejoicing in its supports in such language, "sorrowful yet always rejoicing: cast down but not forsaken," and "in every thing giving thanks"-This was his support in the approach of death; for when on the confines of the eternal world, exposed to the relentless fury of a sanguine persecutor, and under sentence of death, his fearless and heroic soul could say, "I have fought the good fight," "to me, to die is gain.”— Our sister had this religion, and experienced its supports in life and in death, and it often constrained her to triumph in the midst of sufferings. She had not the unfeeling philosophy of the stoic: nor the dry and insipid religion of the formalist, that only renders its subjects frigid and inanimate in devotion; but that which warms the heart with fire from the heavenly altar. In the means of religion, and in the trials and comforts of life she could triumph in a sense of the presence of the Most High.

But the bed of affliction and the chamber of death are proper places to look for the triumphs of true believers-Here is no dis guise; but all is real. During her last afflictions the divine consolations were largely manifested: her room was often like a paradise to her own soul, and to those present. Those who visited the chamber of affliction before her system was too much reduced, beheld with admiration, the joy that animated her mind, and heard with deep sensation the language of heaven drop from her dying lips. Praise, honour, and glory! glory! were the constant subjects of her song: she declared with delight and gratitude what God had done, was still doing, and the prospect of eternal pleasures that opened to her vision: several times I had the gratification to hear her praise her Saviour in the most lively and melting strains. One morning, several weeks before her death, she being very low, and not expected to continue long in this vale of tears, I entered her room, when I found her in converse with heaven.-Two female friends were present

-we conversed with her on her enjoyments and prospects-her happy soul was instantly fired, and with tears of holy joy she exclaimed in such a sweet, heavenly manner as affected us all, Eternity! Eternity! I shall soon be there.--There I shall see my precious Saviour who bled for me I shall see my tender babes, I was so reluctant to part with-I shall see the ministers I so often heard preach with delight-Glory! Glory! Glory!— How good the Lord is to me!-why is he so good to unworthy