A teftimonial to the excellent character of Mrs. MARY HUTSON by two minifters of her acquaintance. THE HE perfon that is the fubject of the following fheets, fo defervedly had the esteem of the large Sphere of her acquaintance, as to make fome little memoirs of her exemplary life and triumphant end very defirable, which would have appeared fooner, had there been opportunity, from the prefs. She was one of fuch fuperior excellency, and her memory is fo dear to many, that the publication of the following fheets needs no apology, nor her character any testimony to support or reccommend it, wherever he was. known. But as 'tis likely this little piece may reach beyond the limits of her particular acquaintance, the fubfcribers efteem it an honour and pleasure thus publickly to own the friendship which they enjoyed with this excellent woman, and thereby to witness that the following pages contain but a few small features of the amiable original. THE comfortable end of any chriftian's journey may prove an encouragement and spur to thofe that are ftill running the Jame race. As the life of our deceafed friend was a life of holiness, in which, during no inconfiderable, but, alass ! too short a space of time, fhe fuftain'd the character of a fincere chriftian, an affectionate wife, a tender mother, and condefcending mistress in a very uncommon degree, we hope our furviving friends will be animated in M 3 their their chriftian course by her shining example; and the more fo, as they cannot but still have in rememTrance her uncommon qualification, and turn for religious conversation, and her genuine unaffected nonconformity to this world, fince she had tasted something bigher. To give her character is neither our design, nor within our abilities, unless we are allowed to apply, Prov. xxxi. 29. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excelleft them all. J. J. ZUBLY, late minifter of the gospel in Charles-Town, J. EDMONDS, minifter of the Jan. 31 1759. Gospel in Charles-Town AN ANUARY 2d. 1756, being Friday before our facramental fabbath, I fet the day apart for prayer, meditation, and felf-examination; and hope that I met with God of a truth. His favour is life, Oh! that he would ever dwell with me here, or take me to himself above! Come, oh! come, Lord Jefus! come quickly. Earth is a tiresome place without thee; thou art my life, my peace, my joy, my all in all. Jan. 4th. This being the Lord's-day, after partaking of the Lord's fupper, at night, as I lay awake, I was enabled to lift up my heart to God; and think I could fay with David, my heart was fixed, and I truft I was truly in fome meafure in the spirit on this bleffed night never to be forgotten: Oh! what sweet communion with God had I for an hour I believe, and how freely could I pour pour out my complaints to him. Oh! amazing condefcention, that the great and eternal God fhould humble himself fo as to dwell with fuch poor creeping worms! nay more, he humbled himself for us to the duft, and into the duft. O may I never forget his dying, living love! Help me Lord, to watch and pray this day that I enter not into temptation! 21ft. Laft night I was enabled to pour out my foul sweetly in prayer to my dear Redeemer and again I this morning was enabled to caft my felf at his feet, with an humble and childlike confidence. I was enabled to wrestle hard for fresh supplies of grace. How did I long and pant after holiness, whilft fin appeared exceeding finful indeed to me. How were the defires of my foul enlarged, whilft my Lord filled me with peace and joy in believing; and I feemed to have fome kind of fellowship with the bleffed angels, and Jonged much to be with them, and my dear fellow fervants that are gone before me. And again this night I had sweet enlargement in fecret prayer. Why me, Lord, why me? And what fhall I render unto thee, for thefe amazing mercies! Jan. 2d. 1757. I hope I have begun the new year with my God. Yesterday heard a fermon on the importance of time, from Eph. v. 16. Heard another to day on the fame fubject. It being the Lord'sday, may I be enabled to catch the precious moments as they fly, and improve them all for my God. May I get, and ftrive to keep nearer to my God God than ever, redeeming the time, because the days are indeed evil both as to fins and sufferings. Europe all in a flame! America has bled, and is threatned with further defolation. Methinks I fee my Lord beckoning, as it were, to his dear children to come to the fecret chambers 'till the indignation be over-paft. Lord help me in! Bleffed be thy name I have been much strengthened and comforted in fecret prayer of late. 7th. The return of our monthly day of prayer and humiliation, appointed and obferved by feveral of our congregations, in which we have been call'd upon by our minifters, to humble ourselves. before God, for our own, family, provincial, and national fins. I pray God thefe monthly fafts may be blessed to many fouls, my own in particu lar. May we humble ourselves under his mighty hand, and who knows but he may repent, and return, and leave a bleffing behind? I am confident of this, that he will be an hiding-place to all his dear people, that put their trust in him. 3d. Being facrament-week, and reading Mr. Allen's letters, on the worth of holiness and rejoicing in Chrift, I was carried out much in earnest defires after the enjoyment of Chrift, and to have holiness wrought in my heart. And tho' but a poor weak wretch, I was enabled to plead fecretly and earnestly with the holy one of Ifrael, that, as my fanctification was agreeable to his will, for Chrift's fake he would stamp holiness on my foul |