ther. Yet, in this state of extreme weakness and pain, she often conversed with, and sometimes read a little to her poor sick father, who was out of her sight indeed, but who lay too on his dying bed, in a little room the door of which opened close to her's. She said to him one day, 'Father, 'we seem to be running a race together to 'heaven; but I think I shall get there first.' He died, however, about three weeks before his daughter. One of the principal things which she requested her religious friends to pray for in her behalf, and which she most earnestly intreated herself, was, that the Lord would grant her patience and resignation to his will: and this indeed seemed vouchsafed to her in a remarkable degree; for, under all her complicated sufferings, I never heard that a repining word escaped her lips. Her intellects were remarkably clear to the very last. How often does the contrary happen! How many instances are there, in which the person might as well have died when he was first seized, as linger on for days or weeks in a state of suffering and total insensibility! She expressed much thankfulness that it pleased God to deal so graciously with her in this particular; and often spoke with great feeling on the high privilege (as she esteemed it,) of being able to meditate, for whole nights together, on God and his word. She experienced a peculiarly happy season of this kind, the very night before she died. Her mother, who slept with her, being awakened by hearing her talking, was apprehensive that she had become insensible, and unconscious of what she was saying. But on expressing her surprise, 'Oh no, my dear mother,' she replied, there is 'nothing the matter; but I am so happy, that I cannot help speaking aloud.' She was truly in a delightful state of mind, enjoying communion with her God and Saviour, and the foretaste of that blessed world, on which she was about to enter. The very next day she fell asleep in Jesus, without a sigh or groan. And, could she now return from that world of light and felicity, and address you, my young friends, on this most important subject, do you think she would advise you to pass your childhood and youth as she had passed her's? Would she not say to you, Ten thousand live as I did, 'but not one in a thousand die as I have done!' Indeed, I believe that so decided an instance of conversion on a sick bed as her's was does not occur, where the gospel is preached, more than once or twice in a long course of ministerial labours and, if this be the case, what madness and presumption is it in any one to hope that he shall be the singular instance! If you now refuse the gracious offer, and beg to be excused, who can tell but God may swear in his wrath that 66 you shall never enter into his rest?" Can you suppose, then, that she would lead you to think it a light matter, whether you attend to the service of God now, or put it off to the time of sickness or old age? Oh no! Methinks I hear her urging you to decision on the Lord's side, in strains of affectionate importunity, far surpassing any which my feeble tongue can utter.-With those young persons especially who visited her during her long illness, and on whose minds she then so earnestly endeavoured to impress eternal realities, she would plead perhaps in such words as these: Say not, my friends, that this is nothing to you. Remember how I warned you. Call to mind the tears you shed when sitting beside my dying bed; and the many resolutions which arose in your breasts to leave the sinful course in which you then were walking, and to "remember your Creator in the days of your youth." Your own consciences bear witness, that, if you are still leading a worldly, careless life, it is not because I did not take every opportunity of calling your attention to those things which concern your present happiness and everlasting peace. I invited you then, and I would still invite you: refuse not to hearken; lest at last, instead of welcoming you to the presence of God, my exceeding joy," I should rise up as a swift witness against you to your everlasting condemnation.' May we all set out in that course which she has so happily finished; and, after running honourably, may we attain the prize of our high calling, to the eternal salvation of our own souls, and the glory and praise of God our Saviour! Amen. THE END. |