she sometimes feared she should leave the world in despair. But towards the close of her life, she had fome momentary relief, from particular passages of scripture; but her comfort would foon vanish, and leave her again in a state of very painful anxiety and keen diftress of mind.

Here follow fome extracts from her letters, which were in the hands of her brothers and fisters, at her death.

To one of her fisters she writes thus: Ever dear, dear fifter, Your letter gave me inexpressible pleasure And especially to 'hear that you was making the great enquiry-concerned for your foul-mourning for fin.How great, how good is God! To remember mercies in the 'midst of affliction-call some to ' himself, while others go astray. 'You ask my advice, concerning ' some remaining doubts, in taking ' that solemn covenant upon your'self. I am not capable of in'structing you, for I have much to ' learn. But this I can advise you, to have recourse to the word of 'God; try yourself there. In 'this facred volume, there is a 'balfam for every wound. It was 'for the fick foul that Christ appeared. "He did not come to 'call the righteous, but sinners to 'repentance." If you fee yourself ' thus poor and helpless-your un' done state within yourself, and ' that there is help in no other but 'Christ; the promises are yours.

The morning that she departed, being August 19, 1801, was after several days and nights of great bodily distress; extorting from her breast, continual groans. At seven in the morning she defired to be fet up in her bed. She was raised accordingly, and fupported by her husband. As soon as the was in this position, she ceased to groan, converfed a few words rationally, and then fell into a very ardent, pathetic prayer, for herself -in which the prayed as one that must be heard. She repeated her petition for herself,-prayed for the family-for the world of mankind; then defired to be laid down. This being done, she earnestly prayed with a diftinct voice, Do thou, Lord Jesus, receive me to thyself!' When feeming to be about repeating the fame words, she died away without a groan or ftruggle. The breathless clay forth-We cannot merit any thing of

with refumed its tranquil appearance, and reminded the beholder of these lines:

'ourselves. If you feel that you ' would freely give up all for 'Christ; then the word of God 'speaks sweetly for you, Chrift ' died for you.

Does your husband go with 'you? How charming to see a whole family walking the heav'enly road! How it fweetens

* of giving up his child in baptifm. O my friends, with this child, 'you have a precious foul com'mitted to your care-see to it that 'you do your duty, and walk be'fore it with pious examples. 'May God grant the sweet influ'ences of his Holy Spirit upon 'you, scatter every doubt, and * give you free access to him, thro' the merits of his Son."

'er.

In another letter to a sister, dated Chester December 22, 1800, the writes thus, " I hope you are 'enjoying all the sweets of health: * If so, you have great opportunity ' for reading, meditation and prayIn the morning of life, improve those precious moments.Not with vain books, which will not profit-but the bible, that 'best of books. Let it be early 'treasured in you mind-It will 'guide and direct you in every • scene of life. Besides, there are * many and a great variety of very 'excellent books, in which we 'may improve the mind, if we have a heart disposed for it. If 'we fit ftill, we shall perish. But * there is every encouragement for 'us to prefs forward. God has 'promised to " be found of them 'that feek him."

you lead a heavenly life, and fo live, as you will wish you had ' done, when you come to die.

' Rife early; devote your morning hours to your God, and to ' his holy word-there are fweet ' counsels and directions, that will ' lead and guide you at all times, ' in every duty-liften to its fill 'Small voice. Do not let the bu'sy world draw your feet aside.

6

But O may you be kept from ' the many temptations that far'round you, and be found in the ' way of your duty-husbanding 'your time to the best advantageknowing that we are probationers for a short fpace. Happy 'they, that are found with their ' lamps trimmed and burning, waiting for the coming of their Lord. My dear brother, be found in ' that happy number."

In another letter to a sister, she writes "Many thanks for your kind ' favor, presented by the hand of fifter B. Your just senti'ments in religion rendered it truly agreeable. O my N, ' may you profess it in fincerity ' and truth. Find God a father ' to you at all times, the Holy Ghost your fanctifier and preferv'er. In enjoying God, you pof'His favor and love are of sess all things that are truly valu'more value than ten thousand ' able, for time and a never ending 'worlds. Should we not leave 'eternity. Now you have a talent 'all for him? This world is a dark 'put into your hand, improve it'world without Christ. O may ' you are not hurried in business 'he be our light and life. I wish ' a great opportunity to read your 'you every happiness for time and bible, the best of guides-attend

'eternity."

В. М. ' it while young, it will direct you

In a letter to a younger brother, June 1799, the writes, "O my 'brother! more than brother, my 'child! How are you? What are 'you doing? How do you spend 'your time? Perhaps you may think me impertinent ;- but I 'feel interested in every concern of your life; and long to have

in every scene of life."

God grant that the amiable temper, and pious examples which this perfon has exhibited, may be imitated by all her furviving friends and acquaintance, and by all into whose hands these memoirs may

come!

JOSEPHUS.

i

Admonitions from the Death-Bed. | do nothing to dishonor him orireli

:

(Continued from p. 153.)

A

NUMBER IV.

gion. Her defire was complied

with, and her request particularly urged at the throne of grace. Im

N aged Lady, who had paf. mediately after this duty, he left

fed her ninetieth year, appeared in the morning to be com. fortable, except the common infirmities of age; nor were there

any symptoms in her cafe, of speedy death. Sitting at a window, she observed her minister paffing in the street and defired he might be called in. On his entering, she told him that for feveral weeks the

had been much troubled with the apprehenfions of death, which must be near to a person of her age. Supposing she had loft the evidences of her Christian fincerity and interest in Christ, he began tỏ bring into view such marks of trial as would most sensibly excite the feelings of her heart, and thus af

fift her to regain that peaceful

hope which she had enjoyed for many years, and which he believed

to be fafely grounded in the gofpel. Perceiving his design, she told him she had no special doubt of her own fincerity; that though

in a chair, without any

apprehenfions of his own, or in her friends around her, that she was foon to die.

Being a little wearied with the

conversation, immediately on his departure, she retired to an adjoining bed. She was no fooner laid on the bed, than she expressed a feeling of strong pain from the

crown of her head to the fole of her feet, and was instantly dead.

The event was fingular. Whence came her anxiety on the subject, when there was no particular indication of approaching death, from the state of her health? Whence her concern to die as a Christian, and her spirit of prayer for divine support in that trying hour? All the circumstances, as they took place one after another, in the to be cafufight of men, appeared al; but viewed in their connection after the folemn event, appear to have been the special ordering of a

an unworthy finner, the could fay, good God, who heareth prayer, and

"Whom have I in heaven but thee;" and that she was not afraid to be dead: Also that she was not

much afraid of the pains of dying;

but that her fear was, lest through

pain or fome other cause she might
do something that would dishonor
Chrift and religion. A fear of
this appeared to have taken deep
hold of her mind. Various things
were faid to inspire her with. con-
fidence, that he who had given her
grace to live, would also give her
grace to die as a Christian. She

then defired him to pray with her,
and particularly to intreat that
God would fo order the circum-

stances of herdeath, that the might

in whose fight the death of his faints is precious. The Lord gave to this his child the spirit of prayer, that he might answer it to the praife of his grace. She feared

not to be dead, and he so ordered

the circumstances of her departure,

that no dishonor could come onher Christian profession, even from the frailties and weakness of atender female constitution. It is best that God should order the circumstances of death for his people. It is not uncommon for Chriftians, who have a confirmed hope in the grace of God, to be anxioufly concerned

about the circumstances of their death. Let them, from the many

instances of divine care which we

This is

fee, learn to trust this matter in | tends in society, fo far we are lead-
the hands of a wife and good Re- ing others to that which is good,
deemer. If they will make it their or to that which is evil. We are
chief concern and daily prayer, undoubtedly instrumental of form-
that God may be glorified in their ing each other's characters for eter-
death, he will be faithful to fee nity.
moft folemn
that their prayer is gracioufly an- thought! Confidering our rela-
fwered.
tion to our families to our neigh-
bours and to all our acquaintance,
the lofs of our own fouls may be
as nothing, compared with the evil

PRESBUTEROS.

on

Thoughts
the danger
of being
instrumental of hardening others
in fin, and of aiding them in the
destruction of their fouls.

I

N tracing the evil consequences of fin, the unrighteous ought not to stop at the destruction of their own fouls; for it is often the cafe, that they are instrumental of bringing ruin on many others, whose fouls are of as much worth as their own. Viewing their connection and influence in society, the loss of their own fouls may be but a very small part of the evil resulting from their ungodly lives. The unfaithful minster, in consequence of his concealing the truth, and prophefying smooth things to the people of his charge, may go to deftruction with the blood of hundreds of fouls found in his skirts. The wicked parent, in confequence of his irreligious life, may lie down in everlasting for

his children,

row, accompanied by
and his children's children.
Though every finner will be

taken away yet his ruin

in his own

or

iniquity,

we ne

a

which may come upon others, as
a fruit or consequence of our wick-
edness; and yet they be taken
away in their own iniquity.

Everyperson who indulges himself in thepractice of fin, whose conduct evidences that he has no fear of God before his eyes, may be confidered as being infinitely mischievous to the fouls of his acquaintance. It is true, God may interpofe, by his power, and prevent the mifchief. But what if he does ?What if God by his almighty grace, prevent others from being ruined by his wicked example? Surely no thanks will be due to this ungodly perfon, nor will his criminality be lessened. We are to look upon that as being the natural tendency of fin, which would appear to be its tendency, if God did not interpofe and prevent its mischief. Confidering the corrupt-. nefs of the human heart, it is no lefs dangerous to set bad examples before our families, and before our neighbours, than it is to drop fire where there is

wife to

do evil.

a quantity of

fruit
may be the natural combustibles. In both cafes, evil
of the example
tions of
the instruc- will follow without some special
fome other perfon. Form- interpofition. Depraved men are
ed, as we are, for fociety,
They may easily
ceffarily have influence on each be influenced to forget God, to
other. We are practically invit- trample upon Chrift, and to break
ing each other to purfue the broad his laws. All this is natural to
way which leadeth to deftruction, them. Only let divine reftraints

or to walk in the straight and nar-
row way which leadeth to life eter- too bad for them to be taught.
That head of a family, who lives

be taken off, and nothing will be

nal. As far as our influence exVOL. II. No. 6.

Ff

:

in the neglect of family-prayer, ❘ their neighbours may be found in

does the fame as to tell his children, that they may dispense with prayer. He gives the fame instruction to his neighbours and to all who are acquainted with his practice. His example, as far as it is known, influences others to forget God, and to live without God. He exhibits evidence of not being afraid of aiding his family and others in the destruction of ❘ their fouls. That person who neglects public worship, and who pays little or no respect to God's holy fabbath, spending it in carnal reft, or in performing unnecessary labor, does no better than to tell his family and his neighbours, that public worship is of no great consequence, and that a strict observance of the fabbath may be difpenfed with. His example is calculated to have a most pernicious influence on their fouls. Placed, as he is, at the head of a family, he is a blind leader of the blind. That he ought to have influence in his family, all will admit ; but while he is fo regardless of the word and inftitutions of God, his influence operates directly against God. He tramples the religion of Christ under his feet, and teaches others to do the fame.

They, who have been convinced of the worth of fouls, feel that their example, as others are respected, is of great confequence. When they have any proper feelings on this subject, they are conftrain | ed to look diligently left any one, through their means, should fail of the grace of God. God has given the benevolent some fight of their own loft state, and they know how to pity others. They are afraid of being instrumental of hardening them in fin. They are afraid that the blood of the fouls of their partners in life, their children and

their skirts. Convinced that God makes use of means to harden men, as well as to arouse and awaken them, they know that whenever they yield to fin, they countenance and support it in the view of others, and if God do not prevent, this will certainly be a mean of hardening them.

In the application of a subject of this nature, men cannot be too critical, because it concerns their daily practice, and in matters too, in which their future peace, and the future well-being of those who are capable of being influenced by them, are deeply interested.

H.

Religious Intelligence.

Extrad of a letter from a pious woman in NEW-CONNECTICUT, to her parents in this flate, dated AUSTINBURG, September, 1801.

66

"HONORED PARENTS,

I portunity to

IMPROVE a favorable opinform you how we get along in this wilderness.We arrived the 21st of July, and found the inhabitants of our fettlement in general well. They all appeared to welcome us here, and to rejoice that the Lord had made our way profperous. Bloomfield Church was the last that we paffed, and we hardly found a Chriftian or any appearance of religion till we came to this fettlement. The first fabbath after our arrival, we attended meeting; and to fee our little assembly, which confifted of about fifty perfons, meet with fo much folemnity, was matter of fo much joy, that I almost forgot the privileges I had left behind. Mr.