knew in whom she had believed, and was persuaded that he was able to keep that she had committed unto him, against that "solemn day"; therefore "bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name", for he has taken her to himself!" to a weight of glory!" "which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive !" Yet a little while, and we hope through the abuns dant mercy of God, in Jesus the Saviour and friend of sinners, to join her, who is now thro' faith and patience an inheritor of those glorious promises. Let us then, my dear friend, seek help of God, "to gird up the loins of our minds; be sober, and hope unto the end: for "his grace which bringeth salvation teacheth us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present evil world;" while we look for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of our great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Thus, my dear friend, I have at length fulfilled my promise; a promise, that I doubt I should hardly have made even to you, had I foreseen what the execution of it would cost me in the present tender and uncertain state of my health: but having never before attempted to arrange or place in any order, my scattered memorandums, I had no idea of their swelling to such a size. I have been more particular in writing for you than for another, being assured the love you bore to the dear deceased, would lead you to attach value to every word that fell from her dear lips, and every circumstance that attended the concluding scene. I have endeavoured to be faithful in the narration; and I believe I may safely affirm, that those passages which I quote as spoken by her, are for the most part exactly in her own words. I am aware that some of the sentences might have been benefited by slight verbal alterations, and others better thrown into the substance of the narrative; but neither of those expedients could I prevail upon myself to adopt; and I am inclined to think, that you will prefer it as it is. per I am conscious of many imperfections in the formance of my task: I have written this in much bodily weakness, and often with an unsteady hand, but I hope with a sincere desire and aim, that the glory of God, and the good of souls may be promoted thereby. I rejoice however, that it is accomplished, and hope that you will receive it, as a proof, (if any additional proof be needed) of the unabated esteem and attachment of Your sincere and affectionate friend Worcester, March 13, 1812. L. W. The following are the copies of the little Cards mentioned in page 35. ISAIAH, LVIII. 13. 14. Ir thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father : for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Sept. 1808. PSALM, XXXI. 23. 24. O LOVE the Lord, all ye his saints, for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plenteously rewardeth the proud doer...Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord. Sept. 5. PSALM, LXII, 5. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. PSALM, LXIII. 3. &c. BECAUSE thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. Sept. 6. & 7. PROVERBS, XXIII. 17, BE thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. PROVERBS, V. 21. FOR the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord and he pondereth all his goings. EPHESIANS, V. 16. REDEEMING the time, because the days are evil, where in your hearts you may breathe out the prayer of the Psalmist. Rejoice the soul of thy servant, for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. A PRAYER. OPEN thou mine eyes O Lord; so shall I behold wondrous things out of thy Law! things hidden indeed from the eye of carnal reason; but clear and obvious to the view of that faith, which thou givest to thy children. I wait upon thee for while I pray, read, I seek struction. this end, and and while I for thine in I am a fool without thee, for eternity. Speak then in but by thee I am made wise thy holy word, for thy servant heareth; and enable me to lay up what I hear, like Mary, within my heart, that I may be a true scribe indeed, instructed in the kingdom of heaven, bringing forth out of the treasure of my heart, things new and old. Amen Sept. 20. Serle's Christian |