Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

3

going to that happy place where the inhabitants shall no more say, I am sick;' she rejoined, as that which yielded her more grateful reflection, 'the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquities.' She often expressed her astonishment at the goodness of her heavenly Father towards her, in affording such strong consolations to one who had been so unprofitable. • What a wonder,' she would say, that I should be thus blest, who have spent thirty years in sin; who have been so useless in the world; who have done so little for the honour of my Saviour! If he see fit thus to favour his faithful and tried servants, who have glorified him on the earth, it is unmerited mercy: but I have done nothing, and yet I am thus distinguished. Help me to praise my God and Saviour, for these great mercies.'

When endeavouring to realize the state of blessedness on which she was entering, and contrasting it with her present condition, she said, Here, I am nothing but sin and ignorance, and imperfection-there, I shall be all intellect, and joy and purity.' One day when she found herself somewhat revived, she said, with a degree of anxiety, Perhaps I am returning again to life. I cannot but dread the thought of recovery, lest I should not live to God as I ought, and lest these happy impressions should wear off.' At another time, when a

[ocr errors]

near relative was taking leave of her for the night, she said, Perhaps when you enter my room in the morning, my spirit will have ascended to the heavenly mansions, and may witness the tears you will be shedding over my lifeless clay. But if, on the other hand, I should still be in the body, I shall be secure; for my heavenly inheritance has been purchased by a Saviour's blood.' Not unfrequently, when asked in the morning how she had spent the night, she would answer, with a countenance expressive of a slight degree of disappointment, I hoped 1 should have slidden out of life: why, O! why! are his chariot wheels so long in coming!' The last time her pastor visited her, she fainted twice during a short prayer, which she had requested him to offer up for her; after recovering from these convulsive swoonings, she said with a smile,

[ocr errors]

Well, one struggle more is over-I thought it would have been my last. I am afraid of impatience,

'But I will stay my Father's will

And hope and wait for heaven awhile.'

Thus she remained, realizing all the triumphs of faith, and the sacred raptures of assured hope, till the morning of the 25th March, 1816, when, without a struggle or a sigh, she sweetly ' languished into life.'

[ocr errors]

MRS. CONGREVE.

MARCH 17th, 1823, died at her own residence, at Hermitage Place, Islington, at the early age of twenty-four, Mrs. Lucy Congreve, wife of Mr. Henry Congreve, Ribbon Manufacturer, of Wood street, London. Her marriage to Mr. C. was consummated in the month of August, 1820; and during their transient union they were blessed with one living pledge of their mutual affection, who, with his parent, lives to mourn the loss of one endeared to all who knew her; but more especially to her surviving and afflicted husband, who could best appreciate her worth. The loss of her society is deeply, and will be lastingly felt by a select circle of friends, by whom she was much beloved for her natural amiability of deportment, and unassuming manners; but to her intimate companion in life, who was wont to hold sweet converse with her on the theme of redeeming

grace, and dying love-it is a loss which can better be conceived of than expressed.

The disease which proved mortal to her frame, was a violent attack of inflammatory fever, which succeeded the birth of her second infant, whom she survived only a few days. Her affliction, though transcient in its duration, was exceedingly acute and painful to endure: the inflammation became every day, from its commencement, increasingly alarming; and it was deemed necessary, by her medical attendants, to bleed her so frequently, that she was extremely reduced in bodily strength; yet, she was never heard to murmur, but, on the contrary, it was frequently her cry, " Oh! how unworthy are my pains of body, the very name of afflictions, compared with the sufferings of Jesus, when suspended on a bloody cross." The anxiety of Mr. Congreve, and surrounding relatives, for the recovery of the deceased, was now extreme, and in this extremity he was frequently led to a throne of grace, to beg, in submission to his Heavenly Father's will, for the restoration of the object whom he fondly loved. Every means which human skill could devise, were applied to that end; but death, who has no favourites, at length baffled all hope, and she expired without a struggle or a groan. During her spiritual life and warfare, a period of nine years, she was a

timid, though a sincere Christian. Up to the last two days, previous to her dissolution, she had been much subjected to the fear of death, which held her soul in bondage. She was blessed with a conscience which was exceedingly tender, but when the fountain of the great deep was opened up to her view, and she was led to discover the hidden evils of her heart, she would weep bitterly. Being taught her need of Christ as a complete Saviour, and made fully and feelingly conscious of her fallen state by nature and by practice, she became ardently desirous to be saved by sovereign grace alone, that Jesus might wear the crown; and the very fear that she should at length be found a deceiver, would produce in her mind overwhelming sorrow. She would frequently (bathed in tears) exclaim to her husband, after he had been expressing his joyful anticipation of spending with her a blessed and never ending eternity, to sing of a dear Redeemer's dying love, whose presence constitutes our paradise, “O that I may wear that starry crown, and triumph in Almighty grace! O that I was as fully convinced of my interest in the redemption of Christ, as I am assured of yours; yet, blessed be the Lord, for the small hope I have in his mercy; I am a great sinner, but when I see him as he is, I will praise him as I ought." She was frequently

« AnteriorContinuar »