{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_11923/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_11923","id":"gutenberg_11923","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11923","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Biographies","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Lyth, Mary, 1782-1860"],"text":"RELIGION IN EARNEST.\n\nA MEMORIAL OF MRS. MARY LYTH, OF YORK.\n\nBY HER SON JOHN LYTH.\n\n1861.\n\n\n\n\nDEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MY BELOVED SISTER ELIZA HILL, WHOSE RARE\nAND UNOSTENTATIOUS VIRTUES SHED FRAGRANCE ON EARTH, BUT ARE ONLY\nRECORDED IN HEAVEN.\n\n\n\n\nPREFACE.\n\n\nIn compiling the following sheets, the Author has discharged what he\nfelt to be an act, not merely of filial affection, but of Christian\nduty. To his deceased and venerated Mother he owes more than words\ncan express;--a Mother whose consistent example, earnest piety and\nfrequent effectual prayers, perhaps even more than her oft-repeated\ncounsels, produced upon his mind, while yet a child, the settled\nconviction that religion is the one business of life. But be believes\nit also due to the cause of Christ, that an example of \"Religion in\nEarnest,\" so pre-eminent, should not pass unrecorded and unimproved.\n\nThose who think the charm of biography consists in startling incident;\nor who seek for material to gratify a literary taste, will discover\nhere little to meet their respective views. We have only to offer them\na simple record of one, whose history possessed no romantic interest,\nand who made no pretension to intellectual attainments. But such as\nlove to trace the development of Divine grace in the human heart,\nand to see its power uniformly exemplified in the several phases of\nevery-day life;--who are willing to learn how much may be accomplished\nby decision, simplicity of purpose, and undeviating consistency;--in a\nword, how every Christian even in private life, may become a centre of\nhappiness, life and power, are in this volume presented with no common\nillustration.\n\nThe method of arrangement which the writer has adopted has been\ndetermined, partly by his materials, and partly by the desire to\nrender his subject practical as well as interesting. How far he has\nsucceeded must be decided by the impression made upon the mind of the\nreader. He now commends his work to God, who alone can give success to\nevery good purpose, earnestly praying that Christ, who was magnified\nin the life of his now sainted mother, may be yet more abundantly\nmagnified in her death.\n\nJ.L.\n\nStetten, O.A. Cannstatt, W\u00fcrttemberg.\n\nDecember 27th, 1860.\n\n\n\n\nCONTENTS.\n\n\n    CHAP.\n\n      I.--ANTECEDENTS\n\n     II.--EARLY DAWN\n\n    III.--GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES\n\n     IV.--THE HOLY ESTATE\n\n      V.--SHOWER AND SUNSHINE\n\n     VI.--GROWTH IN GRACE\n\n    VII.--TEMPLE SERVICE\n\n   VIII.--PASSING CLOUDS\n\n     IX.--MID-DAY TOIL\n\n      X.--WORKS OF MERCY\n\n     XI.--A DYING SCENE\n\n    XII.--COUNTRY LIFE\n\n   XIII.--THE REDEMPTION OF THE PROMISE\n\n    XIV.--POWER WITH GOD\n\n     XV.--THE RETURN\n\n    XVI.--THE SACRIFICE\n\n   XVII.--THE MOTHER IN ISRAEL\n\n  XVIII.--LIGHT IN DARKNESS\n\n    XIX.--THE INWARD MONITOR\n\n     XX.--THE STORM\n\n    XXI.--THE WIDOW\n\n   XXII.--THE LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF EVENING\n\n  XXIII.--SLEEP IN JESUS\n\n   XXIV.--PLEASANT MEMORIES\n\n\n\n\nI.\n\nANTECEDENTS.\n\n  \"A GOOD MAN LEAVETH AN INHERITANCE TO HIS CHILDREN'S\n  CHILDREN.\" Prov. xiii. 22.\n\n\nWithin the grounds attached to the mansion of the Earl of Harewood,\nin the West Riding of Yorkshire, is a substantial and well-built farm\nhouse, furnished with suitable outbuildings, and surrounded by a fine\ncluster of fruit-trees. It stands on the side of a hill, which slopes\ngently down to the river Wharfe, and commands a prospect, which,\nthough not extensive, is singularly picturesque. In front, a little\nto the right, the ruined fortress of Harewood peeps out of a scattered\nwood, which crowns the summit of the hill, and shelters one of the\nneatest and trimmest villages in England. On the left flows the\nbeautiful Wharfe but soon loses itself among the adjacent heights.\nBehind, towers the logan of Arlmes cliff, an interesting relic of\ndruidical skill and superstition; while Riffa wood and Ottley Shevin\ncomplete the beauty of the landscape. A row of trees, protected by a\nlofty wall, effectually conceals the house we have mentioned, from\nthe highroad, which for some distance runs at the foot of the hill and\nalmost parallel to the river. Formerly there was only a sandy lane,\nwhich passed immediately in front of the house, and winding up the\nhill, entered the village between the castle and the church. From this\ncircumstance the adjoining farm was called Sandygate, but with\nthe changes that have taken place, the appellation is now almost\nforgotten, although the house still retains the name of its original\noccupant, and is known in the neighbourhood as 'Stables House.'\n\nJust a hundred years ago, this house was built for the accommodation\nof Wm. Stables, a wealthy yeoman, who resided at Heatherwick (now\nStanke), about a mile from Harewood; and who, successful in the\ncultivation of his paternal acres, sought to extend his interests by\nrenting the farm of Sandygate. His removal was however unpropitious to\nhis domestic happiness; for entering the new house before it was fully\nfit for occupation, his wife, already in a delicate state of health,\ntook cold and died; leaving him with four children, the eldest of whom\nwas six years old, and the youngest but an infant. Mr. S. is said to\nhave been a shrewd and sensible man, of strict morals and unbending\nintegrity; but withal stern and inflexible in disposition, pharisaic,\nand a bigoted churchman. His punctuality in the performance of outward\nreligious duties, and the regular payment of his dues, with now and\nthen a fat sheep given to the poor, secured him among his neighbours\nthe reputation of being a good Christian. As might be supposed,\nhis children were trained with great severity, and educated in the\nstraitest sect of their religion. Collect and catechism were duly\ncommitted to memory, prayers regularly read in the family, the Sabbath\nrigorously observed, a stiff and precise order reigned through\nthe whole household; but it wanted the charm and life of spiritual\nfeeling. As the children grew up to maturity, this state of things\nwas destined to be changed by the introduction of a new and unwelcome\nelement, which seriously disturbed the never too profound tranquillity\nof the old man. Mary, the youngest child, whose mind had gradually\nopened to the truth, although so defectively communicated, became\ndeeply convinced of sin under the ministry of Mr. Jackson, the parish\nclergyman; and so painful and vivid were her views of her miserable\ncondition, that she cried aloud for mercy in the church. Her father\nwas deeply concerned for her, but, as he was ignorant of spiritual\nreligion, he was utterly at a loss to understand her feelings. As a\nlast resource he sent for the minister, but with no better result,\nfor he too, frankly confessed that he did not understand the sorrow\nof which he had been the unwitting occasion. A specimen of this\ngentleman's ability to administer spiritual counsel and direction\nis recorded in the characteristic autobiography of Richard Burdsall.\n\"Visiting Mr. Stables in his last illness Mr. Jackson asked him how he\ndid. Mr. S. replied, 'Sir, I am a miserable sinner.' 'Do not say you\nare a miserable sinner,' replied the Reverend gentleman, 'for you\nare a good man.' Mr. S. answered, 'O, Mr. Jackson, I am a miserable\nsinner.' To this the parson replied, 'if you will be a miserable\nsinner you are like to be a miserable sinner,' and so came no more.\"\n\nMary was thus left to seek relief and comfort where she could; and\nhaving heard of the Methodists, who held a meeting every Sabbath in\na house about a mile distant from Harewood, she secretly resolved to\nattend, if possibly, she might find the hidden peace, which she had\nhitherto sought in vain. Here she met with a few humble but sincere\npersons, who could sympathise with her state of mind; and from whom\nshe received such instruction and encouragement, that, not long after\nwhile pleading with God in the secrecy of her chamber, she obtained\n'redemption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of\nsins.' Much to the chagrin of her father, she now became an avowed\nMethodist; and was subjected to the petty persecution, which usually\nawaits the first in a family that embraces vital godliness. On one\noccasion, her father locked her out of the house; and, on another,\nthreatened to shoot her, but she remained firm to her profession;\nuntil at length, her consistent and steady deportment was rewarded by\nthe conversion of her two brothers, John and William, and also of two\nof the servants. The increased displeasure of the old gentleman was\nsignally exhibited. Afraid lest Elizabeth his eldest daughter should\nalso become a Methodist, he resolved at once to free his house from\nall possibility of infection. The two servants were dismissed without\nceremony; and the three delinquents banished to a farm, which he had\npurchased, at Kirkby Overblow, a few miles distant. These precautions\nwere useless. The removal of her sister and brothers, together with\nthe occasion of their banishment, so much affected Elizabeth, that\nin fact it contributed to the result it was intended to prevent. So\nfoolish and vain are the thoughts of men when they attempt to arrest\nthe operations of the Spirit of God. Isolated and freed from control,\nthe young converts were now left to obey the dictates of conscience\nwithout further opposition. In their new home they were thrown\nmore directly in contact with the Methodists, and especially formed\nacquaintance with Richard Burdsall, with whose class they at once\nconnected themselves.\n\nRichard Burdsall was one of those bold and distinctive characters,\nwhose sterling piety and ardent zeal shining forth from under a rude\nexterior, gave such peculiar lustre to the age of early Methodism; and\nindicated an agency, specially raised by God, to break up the fallow\nground and clear away the thorns, that the incorruptible seed of\ntruth might find a soil congenial to its germination and growth. His\nconversion, which occurred at the age of twenty, was accompanied by\nindubitable proofs of its reality; and instantly followed up by entire\nconsecration to God. The path of usefulness soon opened out before\nhim; and in spite of 'fightings without and fears within,' he pursued\nit with undeviating integrity to the close of a protracted life. His\nshrewdness and originality of thought, quaint and pointed method of\nexpression, combined with such an intimate acquaintance with the word\nof God, that some said he had the scriptures at his fingers' ends, and\nothers nicknamed him 'old chapter and verse;' and above all, his\nknown integrity and uncompromising zeal for the glory of God, amply\ncompensated for the want of cultivation, and rendered him as a lay\npreacher so exceedingly popular and useful, that he was repeatedly\nsolicited to enter a higher sphere, and devote himself to the work\nof the ministry. He was twice appointed by Mr. Wesley to the York\ncircuit, in which he was resident; and in six different instances,\ninvited to take charge of independent congregations; but, although he\nso far yielded to the request of the former as to make the experiment\nfor nine months, he voluntarily retired, under the conviction that\nhe was called to occupy an humbler but not less useful sphere. His\nlabours, which were extended over a considerable part of Yorkshire and\nLincolnshire, were blessed by God to the salvation of thousands. By\nday toiling at the vice or the anvil, and by night preaching the glad\ntidings of the Gospel, his life was spent,\n\n  \"'Twixt the mount and multitude\n     Doing and receiving good\"\n\nuntil, within a fortnight of his death, at the advanced age of\neighty-eight, he delivered his last discourse, and died shouting\n\"Victory, Victory,\" through the blood of the Lamb.\n\nAt the period of oar narrative Mr. B. resided at Kearby, about a mile\nfrom the Kirkby farm, where he soon became a frequent and welcome\nvisitor; and by his counsels and example, contributed much to confirm\nthe faith and piety of its inmates. The two brothers became useful\nlocal preachers, and remained faithful unto death; and with Mary\ncommenced an intimacy, which, notwithstanding considerable difference\nof age and circumstances, was ultimately consummated in marriage. The\nstory of the courtship is amusing and characteristic. Mary was fair\nto look upon, and having moreover the prospect of a handsome fortune,\ncommanded many admirers. One day when several of these aspirants for\nher hand were present, Mr. B. stepped in, and, perceiving how matters\nwere going, quietly slipped behind her and whispered, 'I mean to have\nthee myself'. This abrupt avowal had the desired effect. The blooming\ndamsel preferred the widower with four children, though twice her own\nage, to younger but not more worthy suitors; a decision she never had\noccasion to regret.\n\nThe engagement thus strangely brought to a crisis, was not entered\ninto without much serious forethought and prayer. The path of\nProvidence was distinctly indicated, and there remained but one\nobstacle in the way of the proposed union, and that was to secure the\nconsent of Mr. Stables; which, to quote Mr. Burdsall's own words,\n\"'to me appeared like asking him for his life'. I was however\nprovidentially helped out of this difficulty; for as I was returning\nfrom preaching one morning, I met him in a narrow lane at some\ndistance from his own house. When he saw me, he turned round as though\nhe would not meet me. The lane being strait, he took hold of my mare\nand said, 'What are you a riding preacher now'? I answered, 'To be\nsure I am, for you see I am upon my mare'. He then said, 'Are my sons\nright, think you, when they can go to a public house and drink with\npeople and pay nothing'? I replied, 'You are not to give credit to\nwhat the world says of us Methodists, or of your sons. I believe your\nsons fear the Lord, and are wishful to do what is right'. He said,\n'Well, he that endureth to the end the same shall be saved'. I\nreplied, 'That is God's word, but it will not suit every one'. He then\nwished to know whom it would not suit. I answered, 'It will not suit\nthe unregenerate, for were I to tell sinners, that if they endured\nto the end in their sins they should be saved, I should lie; for they\ncannot be saved if they do: neither will it suit the self-righteous,\nfor the word of God says, 'Except your righteousness exceed the\nrighteousness of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall in no case enter\ninto the kingdom of heaven'. What I said, seemed to carry conviction\nto his mind. He said, 'They say you are a good preacher, I shall come\nand hear you'. 'I should be glad to see you', replied I, 'but I fear\nyour master will not let you come'. We then proceeded towards his\nhouse in friendly conversation, and when we were just going to part\nhe said, 'They say you are going to marry my daughter.' I answered,\n'I doubt they grieve you with, it.' He said, 'Nay, not at all, for\nmy daughter shall marry whom she likes.' 'You speak very honourably,'\nsaid I, 'if you only stand to your word.' To this he replied, 'I will,\nshe shall marry whom she likes.' I said to him, 'I will make you\nthis promise, that I will not marry your daughter for the sake of her\nfortune, for I do not believe you will give me any with her. If I can\nbe assured that it is of the Lord, I will marry her though you turn\nher into the street destitute; and, without this persuasion, I would\nnot marry her though you were to give her your whole estate to do\nso: therefore do not blame me.' He said, 'I cannot,' and we parted.\"\nNotwithstanding this plain conversation, Mr. Stables was highly\ndispleased with the match, and offered to give his daughter an\nadditional portion on condition that she would not prosecute it;\nadding, \"If you do, I'll give you sixpence a-week, and you may go\nabout singing Methodist songs.\"\n\nOn their marriage, which took place shortly after, Mr. and Mrs.\nBurdsall removed to York. The offended father, true to his word, sent\nhis daughter forth literally destitute; not even permitting her to\ntake her personal apparel. It was not until twelve months had elapsed,\nthat any further communication took place. The interview is thus\nrelated by Mr. Burdsall in his own quaint style. \"I happened to be\npassing near his house as he was going from it; on my calling to him,\nhe asked what I wanted with him. I said, 'I want to know what place\nyou mean me to have in heaven?' He smiled, and asked, 'Do you mean to\ngo there?' 'I hope so,' said I. He then asked me why I had married his\ndaughter. I told him, because I loved her and thought she would make\nme a good wife. I added, 'You know, sir, that I told you before I\nmarried her, that I would not marry her for the sake of her fortune;\nneither have I, I do not expect any, the Lord blesses us without any,\nand he will still continue to bless us.' He acknowledged the truth of\nwhat I said, and we parted.\" The fire of wrath was still smouldering\nin the heart of the old man, and awakened in the mind of Mrs. Burdsall\nfeelings of painful anxiety, especially, as it was apparent, that life\nwas ebbing fast to its close. Mr. B. therefore, a short time after,\naddressed a kind but faithful letter to him on the great subject of\nsalvation, and concluded with these remarkable and expressive words,\n\"I have no other reason for writing to you, that I know of, than this,\nthat the sun is going down.\" This produced no immediate effect, only,\nwhenever they met, Mr. Stables would say, \"You write parables to\nme.\" The allusion however so appositely and wisely put, like an\narrow directed to the mark, had fastened upon his conscience, and was\nsecretly undermining the strength of long and obstinately-cherished\nresentment. The marksman was skilful, but still better, a man of\n\"fervent effectual prayer.\" \"As a Prince he had power with God and\nwith men, and prevailed,\" for \"when a man's ways please the Lord He\nmaketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.\" So it turned out.\nMr. Burdsall says, \"One time, as I was returning home from preaching\nat a distant place in a very wet cold and hungry state, and as night\nwas coming on, having to pass his residence, I thought I would call\nand see if he would receive me. I knocked at the door, and he himself\nopened it. Seeing me he called his eldest daughter and said, 'Here is\nthy brother, come and take his horse.' I alighted and went in. He then\naccosted me as he had done once before, asking, 'What are you a riding\npreacher now?' I answered, 'To be sure I am; for I have ridden from\nYork to Seacroft, and from thence to your house.' 'Well,' said he, 'I\nknow you live well.' I replied, 'We do; but I have not lived so well\nto day as I might have done; for I feel rather hungry.' He smiled,\nand bid his daughter put on the tea kettle. We then entered into\nconversation, in which he said, 'You write parables to me, for you\ntold me the sun was going down.' I answered, 'I did so, and my reason\nfor it was, I knew I had stirred up your wrath in marrying your\ndaughter against your mind, and was fearful lest the sun should go\ndown upon it.' He burst into a flood of tears, and was so melted down,\nthat for three hours, I was prompted both by his feelings and my own\nto speak of the love of Christ to poor sinners. * * * This was a night\nto be remembered as my reconciliation with Mr. Stables was at this\ntime effected.\" The understanding thus happily brought about was never\nafter interrupted; and Mr. Stables practically evinced the sincerity\nof his feelings by securing to his daughter an annuity for life. In his\nlast illness, which occurred a few years later, Mr. Burdsall, by his\nown request, frequently visited him, and ministered to his spiritual\nwants. He died in peace on the 13th of June, 1787.\n\nThe first fruits of the union of Richard Burdsall and Mary Stables,\nwas Mary, the subject of the present memoir--the step-sister of the\nRev. John Burdsall, who still survives. She was born at York, without\nBootham bar, June 19th, 1782. The house which no longer exists, stood\njust under the shadow of the old gateway, nearly opposite the modern\ncrescent, known as St. Leonard's Place.\n\nThe foregoing facts, which to some may appear superfluous, are here\nintroduced not merely with the view of making the reader acquainted\nwith the antecedents of my honoured mother; but the much higher object\nof illustrating the sovereign mercy of God, and tracing the growth of\nthe religious element in the family. Many a page deeply interesting\nand instructive might be written which would unfold the grace of God\nin the history of particular families, flowing as a stream of light\nfrom generation to generation, or diffusing itself in the collateral\nbranches; here swelling as \"broad rivers and streams,\" and there\nnarrowed down to a single channel. The causes of such alternations\nmight be profitably investigated, and recorded. The inquiry into one's\nancestry would thus answer a nobler purpose than the gratification of\nhuman vanity, or the recovery of an alienated inheritance; it would\nexhibit the influence of the past upon the present, afford important\nlessons of encouragement or admonition, and discover our claim\nperhaps, to something better than gold or silver \"for the good man\"\neven though he is poor, \"leaveth an inheritance to his children's\nchildren.\" How far the moral character as well as the physical\nconstitution of a parent may affect the happiness and control the\ndestiny of his children, is a question, which may be incapable of an\nexact and satisfactory solution; but the general fact, notwithstanding\nsome strange exceptions, (which however may not be altogether\nincapable of explanation,) is sufficiently established, that examples\nof singular excellence, or notorious profligacy may usually he traced\nto seeds sown in a former generation. They are not therefore to be\naltogether regarded in the light of isolated phenomena, but as the\nresult of causes, which may be more or less accurately determined.\nAt all events, God reveals himself as \"a jealous God, visiting the\niniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth\ngeneration of them that hate him, and SHEWING MERCY UNTO THOUSANDS OF\nTHEM THAT LOVE HIM AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.\"\n\n\n\n\nII.\n\nEARLY DAWN.\n\n  \"THOU HAST HID THESE THINGS FROM THE WISE AND PRUDENT\n  AND HAST REVEALED THEM UNTO BABES.\" Matt. xi. 25.\n\n\nWhat solemn interest surrounds the dawn of immortal existence,--that\nprecious portion of human life, the first four or five years, which\nmay be termed the perceptive period, too often treated as a mere\nblank, in which nothing is to be attempted; when the soul is all\neye, all ear, continually storing up in an almost faultless memory,\nimpressions, which go far to mould the future character, and which\nreason, so soon as it is able, will certainly use as part of the\nmaterial out of which it must form its conclusions! How much of the\nfuture depends upon the kind of influence to which the infant mind is\nsubjected! Happily for Mary Burdsall these early years were carefully\nwatched and guarded. The bold and uncompromising character of\nher father, and the gentle piety of her mother, secured to her a\ncombination of influences particularly favourable to the development\nof moral and religious feeling. Lessons of truth and love, as yet\nbeyond the comprehension of the child, were effectively taught by\nmeans of bright and living examples; and hence grace began to operate\nwith the first unfoldings of reason.\n\nHer earliest recollections were associated with the farm at Sandygate.\nWhen about four years old, her grandfather Stables, now reconciled to\nhis daughter, proposed to undertake the charge of Mary's training and\neducation. This arrangement was overruled, providentially as it would\nseem; for Mr. S., although strictly moral and religious in his way,\nwas a stranger to experimental godliness, and only obtained the\nknowledge of the truth in his last moments. The occasion of her return\nto her parents was probably his increasing age and infirmity, as\nthe only impression she retained of him in after life was that of\na somewhat crusty and ill-tempered old man, with a huge bobwig,\nwho always laid in bed. His last words to her, which were vividly\nimpressed upon her mind, were, that it was a pity she should go home\nto be spoiled by Methodism. The few months she spent at Sandygate\nwere not however without some good and permanent result. Her aunt\nElizabeth, who was scripturally enlightened, and in a great measure\nfree from other engagements, solicitously occupied herself in\nendeavouring to impress her tender heart with divine truth. From\nher lips she learned to lisp the Lord's prayer, the Apostles' creed,\nseveral of Watts' divine songs, and in particular the hymn commencing\n\n  \"How vain are all things here below.\"\n\nWith reference to this period she says in her journal:--\"The spirit\nof God strove with me when but a little child. One time, I remember,\nwhile repeating my prayers to my aunt, the grace of God shone so\nsweetly upon me, I was melted down into tenderness before the Lord;\nand it seemed as if the glory of the Lord shone round about me, while\nI repeated the well-known hymn\n\n  'Glory to Thee, my God, this night.'\n\nAt another time, the Spirit of prayer was so poured upon me my sleep\nfor a season fled. Thus the Lord brooded upon my infant mind. Glory be\nto his adorable name!\"\n\nShortly after her return to York she heard the venerable founder of\nMethodism preach in Peaseholm Green Chapel; and though at that early\nage incompetent to retain any recollection of the sermon, his saintly\nappearance made on her imagination a vivid impression, which was\nperpetuated through life, and often mentioned in the family circle\nwith the liveliest feelings of pleasure. On this occasion, the last on\nwhich he preached in York, Mr. Wesley appears to have been in one of\nhis happiest moods, as he remarks in his journal, \"The word was as\nfire, and all that heard it seemed to feel the power thereof;\" a\ncircumstance which no doubt greatly contributed to fix the memory of\nhis features upon the mind of a child so young. And still more so, as\nthe venerable man, on descending from the pulpit, placed his hand upon\nher head, and gave her his blessing. The Rev. J. Burdsall, who\nwas also present, once communicated to the writer an amusing and\ninteresting incident, that happened in course of the service, which\nillustrates Mr. Wesley's love of harmony, even when, he had lost the\npower to create it. It is well known that he delighted to hear the men\nand women each take their proper part in congregational singing; but\nit seems in this instance, the men in the warmth of their feelings had\ntransgressed the limits assigned them. Mr. W., whose ear was offended\nby the slightest discord, somewhat sharply rebuked them. As this\nfailed to produce the desired amendment, he stopped again, and said,\n\"Listen to brother Masterman,\" who was at that time the leading\nsinger. Still dissatisfied, he stopped a third time, and said, \"Listen\nto me,\" at the same time taking up the strain, but as his voice was\ncracked, and broken with age, it afforded such a miserable example as\nto excite a general titter.\n\nAs a child Mary was distinguished by unusual vivacity of disposition,\nand her fondness for fun and frolic often betrayed her into trouble.\nAt times she was wilful and passionate,--a spirit wisely checked by\nher mother, whose discipline was equally strict and judicious. Such\nebullitions were transient, and invariably followed by feelings of\nregret and sorrow. Adverting to this subject in after life she said\nwith deep gratitude, \"I had a good mother and father to keep me in,\nand restraining grace.\" On several occasions her life was placed in\nimminent peril, and, but for that merciful providence, which specially\nwatches over the \"little ones,\" she must have fallen a victim to her\nthoughtlessness. One of these occurred when she was at school; where,\nby some means her dress caught fire; happily the smoke and smell\nof burning attracted the attention of her teacher who rushed to her\nrescue, and succeeded in extinguishing the flames, but not until\nher outer garments were completely consumed. Her education was\nvery slender, being confined to the simplest rudiments of human\nknowledge,--a circumstance she often regretted, although in after\nlife the disadvantage was in a great measure overcome by diligent and\nselect reading.\n\nWhen about eight years of age, the development of her early religious\nfeelings received a partial check through the pernicious influence\nof a servant girl, who perceiving her love for singing, taught her,\nwithout the knowledge of her parents, a number of foolish songs. Two\nyears later she gave decided indications of serious thought. She began\nto take pleasure in being alone, and acquired a remarkable love of\nsolitude, which characterized her through life,--a feeling which\nwas strengthened by reading an article in one of the early \"Arminian\nMagazines.\" Sometimes she would steal off to the cottage of a pious\nold churchwoman of the name of Halifax, who lived at a short distance\nfrom her father's house; and listened with delight, while the good old\nlady read to her out of the Psalms, and talked about heavenly things.\nOn one of these occasions she was so deeply affected by a sense of her\nsinfulness and accountability, that pointing to the cat which lay by\nthe fireside, she exclaimed, \"I wish I was that cat;\" and when asked\nwhy, replied, \"Because it has not a soul to save.\" The old lady\ngently rebuked the foolish thought, and, shewing her its wickedness,\nendeavoured to lead her to Him, who said, \"Suffer the little children\nto come unto me.\" Not long after she began to meet in her father's\nclass, and received her first ticket at the hands of the Rev. Francis\nWrigley, at that time Superintendent of the York circuit. By weekly\nintercourse with the people of God, her aspirations after divine\nsources of happiness gradually strengthened until she was twelve years\nold, when they assumed a more definite form; although, in consequence\nof her tender age, her views of evangelical truth were necessarily\ncrude and defective; for she still \"spake as a child, understood as a\nchild, _reasoned_ as a child,\" It was during a few days' visit to her\naunt Elizabeth, who now resided in the suburbs of York, having married\nMr. J. Hawkins of that city shortly after her father's death, that she\nbecame so unhappy on account of her sinful and miserable condition,\nthat she could not refrain from much weeping. The thought of entering\neternity without a change of heart filled her with alarm. Every\nlooming cloud had a voice which spoke of the judgment to come; every\nunpropitious event awakened painful forebodings. Her fears, which were\nthe genuine fruits of divine influence, were further aggravated by\nthe popular excitement of the times. France was threatening war\nwith England, and the prevailing apprehensions of the multitude\ncommunicated themselves with double force to the heart of the\nsorrowing child. \"What,\" thought she, \"if they should come now, and I\nshould be killed in my sins.\" Indeed her trouble increased to such\na degree that her aunt was grieved, imagining that her mother would\nthink she had been unkindly treated. She therefore resolved to take\nher home. On the way a number of circumstances occurred which\nto Mary's childish imagination were pregnant with evil, and\nprognosticated nothing less than the day of general doom. The city was\nin a state of unusual commotion, a report had gained ground that\nthe invader was at hand, some foolish person had caused the massive\nportcullis of the city gate to be let down, several recruiting parties\nwere parading the streets, two of these she met, and the shrill blasts\nof a few mounted trumpeters, together with a dense and portentous\ncloud, which just at the moment spread itself upon the horizon,\ncompleted her dismay. She reached home in tears. Her mother, whose\nsolicitude was awakened, inquired the cause. She replied, \"Mother,\nI can't tell you, but nothing in this world will make me happy.\"\nSuspecting the real state of her feelings, her mother conversed kindly\nwith her, and administered suitable consolation, but in vain. After\ncommitting herself to God in earnest prayer, she retired to rest with\nthe conviction, that she was the greatest sinner in the world; but the\nnext morning, which was the holy Sabbath, broke upon her with healing\nin its wings. She awoke with the words in her mind,\n\n  \"What a blessing to know that my Jesus is mine.\"\n\nHer soul was immediately filled with a calm sweet joy, which she was\nunable to describe. She arose from her bed, and went to the house of\nGod, her heart still glowing with these newly awakened emotions; and\nwhile on her way thought within herself, \"O that I had a voice that\nwould reach to all the world, I would tell them how happy I am.\"\nThis occurred on the 12th of February, 1795. But the transport of her\nfeelings, after enduring for a season, at length subsided; yet\nnot without leaving a permanent though perhaps not easily defined\nimpression. It may be asked was this conversion? was it genuine? and\nin a child so young? We answer it would be very difficult to prove\nthat it was not. One thing is certain, that from this time there was a\nsettled purpose to serve the Lord, which spite of fluctuating feeling\nand periods of wintry coldness was steadily kept in view; ever and\nanon gathering strength until it ripened into maturity. The sapling,\nbecause it bends to the breeze is not therefore destitute of life;\nunless it be torn up by the roots, or scorched and withered by the\nnoon-day sun, or absolutely frozen by the winter's cold, it will\ngradually wax and grow until its massive trunk is able to bid defiance\nto the storm. Conversing on this subject with one of her children at\na late period in life, when her judgment was matured, and her views\nof divine truth rendered more clear by her approximation to a better\nworld, she said, \"I lost my peace because I grieved the Lord by a\ntrifling disposition, but the Lord did not leave me;\" then, employing\nthe language of the lamented David Stoner, she added, \"I have been\nconverted a hundred times.\" To another of her children, after using\nsimilar language she said with peculiar, emphasis, \"I have been aiming\nto please God all my life, _I can say that_.\" Her conviction was that\nthe work was real, but that at the time, she did not understand the\nnature of it; and hence from causes clearly ascertainable, it was as\nin many similar cases, soon overshadowed by circumstances of doubt.\nThe truth is, children are just as capable of _experiencing_ the\ngrace of God as persons of riper years; but they are not capable of\n_defining_ their feelings, or of _understanding_ the great doctrines\nof salvation,--and for this very reason, they are more liable to be\nsubjected to fluctuations both of feeling and purpose. It would be\nwell if some older people, who do not take the pains to obtain a clear\nand intelligent view of the religion they profess, were not equally\nunstable and from the same cause; if there was no occasion for the\napostolic admonition, \"Be not _children_ in _understanding_; howbeit\nin malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.\" The feelings\nof children, when employed about the great subjects of religion and\neternity, are not lightly to be discouraged, even when mixed up with\nmuch that a maturer judgment must condemn; they should be fostered\nwith solicitous care. The tender plant requires gentle culture; touch\nit not too rudely lest you check its development; watch it carefully;\nsupport its weak and fragile stem; tenderly remove what is injurious;\nand give it plenty of scope, that it may put forth its young fresh\nleaves; and it will bloom by and by with all the richer fragrance and\nbeauty. \"Forbid them not,\" cries the Saviour. Let them come with their\nfirst fruits, and lay the offering of their childhood unsullied by\nunholy communion with the world at the Master's feet. Let them come\nwith their cherry lips, and sparkling eyes, and loving hearts. Let\nthem come before age has curdled their blood, and the pleasures of\nlife have blunted the keenness of their susceptibilities. Let\nthem come, let them come. The Saviour welcomes their approach. The\nfragrance of the sacrifice they bring is precious in his sight, and\nwhile he folds the little ones in his arms, he lifts his eyes to\nheaven, and \"rejoicing in spirit, says, I thank thee O Father, Lord\nof heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and\nprudent, and hast revealed them unto babes, even so Father, for so it\nseemed good in thy sight.\"\n\nProvidentially Mary Burdsall was under judicious direction, and\nretained her religious purpose although she lost the sweetness of her\nenjoyment. Her experience assumed that unsettled phase which often\ncharacterises the earlier stages of youthful piety. Now miserable\nfrom a consciousness of having grieved the Spirit of God, and again\nhopeful, confident, and happy. Sometimes she was driven even to\ndespair, and admitted the thought that the day of grace was past for\never. One day while in this state of feeling she overheard her father\nconversing with a friend on the awful case of Francis Spira,[Footnote:\n\"Francis Spira an advocate of Padua, Ann. 1545, that being desperate,\nby no counsell of learned men could be comforted; he felt, as he said,\nthe pains of hell in his soule, in all other things he discoursed\naright; but in this most mad. Frismelica, Bullovat, and some other\nexcellent physicians, could neither make him eat, drink or sleep; no\npersuasion could ease him. Never pleaded any man so well for himself,\nas this man did against himself; and so he desperately died. Springer,\na lawyer, hath written his life.\"--_Burton's Anatomy of Melancholie_.]\nher mind was filled with great horror, and she was constrained to\nseek refuge in prayer. While she was pleading with God the words were\napplied, \"Turn ye at my reproof,\" and the snare was broken. During\nthis period of mental conflict she steadfastly maintained her\nconnexion with the church; and thus escaped that total loss of\nspiritual feeling, into which many, in similar circumstances, plunge\nthemselves by withdrawing from the circle of religious influence.\nHer exceeding volatility of temper, which was the cause of her\ninstability, often occasioned her bitter reflections; and as it was a\nsource of trouble to herself, excited the anxiety of her mother, who\nfrequently said to her, \"There's a wide world will tame thee.\" Her\nown words in reference to this stage of her history were, \"They never\nturned me out of class, but from my thoughtlessness and giddiness,\nI am sure, I was not a proper Methodist.\" Still the struggle between\ngrace and nature was secretly going on; and every new proof of her own\nweakness but contributed to strengthen and establish her resolves.\n\nAbout this time she became acquainted with Miss Barrett, afterwards\nMrs. Zech. Taft, from whose counsels and example she derived much\nadvantage. Her first introduction to this excellent woman occurred\nwhile on a visit to her uncle Mr. Wm. Stables, who had succeeded\nto his father's farm at Sandygate. It seems her uncle and aunt were\ninvited to meet Miss B. at a social party at Harewood, but being\notherwise engaged, it was agreed that Mary should go in their stead,\naccompanied by her aunt's sister. As she left the house her uncle\nsaid, \"I hope they'll convert thee.\" On arriving at the place where\nthe party was assembled she found a room full of strangers, and\namong them Miss B., to whom she was specially introduced as Richard\nBurdsall's daughter.\n\nThis secured her a kind and hearty reception. After tea followed a\nPrayer-meeting in which petitions were particularly offered on her\nbehalf. Her pride was wounded and she thought within herself, \"If\nthey would but pray for themselves it would be all very well;\" but\nnotwithstanding this revulsion of feeling the impression made by this\ninterview was not only salutary, but indelible. She felt and wept\nmuch, and from this time gave herself more diligently to the study of\nthe word of God and prayer. Subsequently she had many opportunities\nof meeting with Miss B. in York, and the spiritual benefit which she\nderived from these interviews led to a permanent friendship.\n\n\n\n\nIII.\n\nGOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES.\n\n  \"IN THE MORNING SOW THY SEED.\" Eccles. xi. 6.\n\n\nHave you ever witnessed a glorious sunrise? Have you ever seen the orb\nof day go forth as a bridegroom to run his race, arrayed in robes of\ncrimson, and purple, and gold? Then nature has taught you the lesson\nthat early opportunities are the brightest and best. Golden are the\nearly hours of morning, when the mind is most vigorous, and the powers\nof nature, refreshed by sleep, are in full play. Golden too are the\ndays of early youth, before the heart is saddened by vanity, and the\nspirit pressed down by the accumulating cares and responsibilities of\nlife. Let them be diligently improved, and they cannot fail to bring a\nrich and profitable return. Therefore \"in the morning sow thy seed.\"\n\nMary Burdsall was not indifferent to these opportunities. In the\nbeginning of life she formed the habit of early rising. She rose with\nthe lark and sang as merrily. She cultivated a taste for reading and\nreflection; and although the natural vivacity of her disposition was\na constant snare in her path, she never lost sight of the purpose\nshe had formed of living for God. In secret she communed with her\nown heart, and, the better to secure her growth in grace, commenced\na diary, which, with two or three short intermissions, occasioned\nby sickness, was continued until within a week of her death.\nUnfortunately a considerable portion of these manuscripts, including\na period of several years just preceding and following her marriage,\nwere destroyed by her own hands. What remains, is however no small\nproof of her diligence and perseverance, as they extend to twenty\nquarto volumes containing about 5,000 pages. They contain, besides\nthe record of her inner and outer life, copious summaries of the\ndiscourses she heard; numerous extracts from books, especially of\npassages calculated to impress the heart or direct the life; and an\nextraordinary amount of original verse; for from the first she appears\nto have adopted the practice of putting her thoughts into rhyme,--a\npractice which when unaccompanied by true genius is generally a\nprofitless waste of time; but which in her case was made a valuable\nmeans of personal edification, as well as of administering counsel,\nconsolation or admonition to others. Few events of public or private\ninterest, in her own family or in the circle of her acquaintance,\ncould pass without provoking her ready pen. Subjects poetical and\nunpoetical were alike constrained into measured lines; which, if\nnot always remarkable for rhythm, were at least rich in evangelical\nsentiment, and pervaded by deep spirituality of thought. Some of these\nproductions are inserted in this volume, in the order in which they\noccur in her diary, not because they possess any literary merit, but\nas eminently characteristic of her habits of thought and feeling. In\nfact they are transcripts of her own heart, and she seems often to\nhave preferred this method of expressing her fervid emotions to the\nuse of cooler prose.\n\nA few examples of the entries made when she was fifteen will suffice\nto show what were the aspirations of her early youth:--\n\n\"This is the last day of 1797. O may I this day put off the works of\ndarkness, and put on the armour of light: and begin a new life with\na new year,--Lord, help me this day to live to Thee. Let Thy love be\nshed abroad in my heart. Inspire the spirit of prayer. Let my few days\nbe spent in praising Thee, the Giver of all good gifts. Loose my heart\nfrom every earthly object, and let my affections be set upon Thee\nand things above. Lord, pardon my coldness, and help me in future\nto double my diligence to make my calling and election sure.--During\nservice my mind was very much troubled; but glory be to God, He gave\nme, in a measure, a praying spirit; and I trust He will answer His\nown. Spirit's prayer. Lord, speak the answer to my heart _now_.--Went\nwith Miss Barrett to the Poor-house. She exhorted from, 'I believe in\nthe communion of saints, and in the forgiveness of sins.' After that\nI went with her to the select band; she then came home, and slept with\nme. The Lord blessed my soul in her company.--My mind is troubled;\nbut do Thou, who in every temptation makest a way for Thy people to\nescape, deliver my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thee.--I\nwent with Miss B. to see some sick people. One man was mourning for\nredemption in the blood of the Lamb; but, before we came away, he\nrejoiced in the God of his salvation.--Lord, keep me from the vanity\nof this alluring world. May I love Thee supremely. The Lord blesses\nmy soul greatly. Blessed be His name, He reproves me; may I take the\nreproof.--A gleam of love was let into my soul at the meeting; but\nafter, I felt very dull and stupid.--I think I am willing to be any\nthing, or nothing, only give me to feel Thy love in my heart. Do,\nJesus, increase my faith, but let it be now. Help me, I pray Thee, to\nlive as in Thy sight all the day long.--Called to see Ann F. We went\nup-stairs and prayed together.--I have had more of the presence of\nGod the last few days. The Lord be praised. I want to have my evidence\nmade very clear. O shine on my soul, and make the darkness light\nbefore me; that I may greatly triumph in the God of my salvation.--I\nheard Mr. Simeon at Belfrey Church; it was a gracious time of\nrefreshing from the presence of the Lord.--Miss Barrett spoke at\nClifton. The power of the Lord was evidently felt. As it was a very\nwet night we went into a barn, but it filled so fast, we returned into\nthe open air. Miss B. prayed that God would stop the bottles of heaven\nfor a few minutes; and, glory be to His name, He answered her request.\nThe Prayer-meeting continued some time, and several souls were brought\ninto liberty.--I gave way to a light spirit, which has done me much\nhurt.--Lord, pardon me for giving way to lightness of spirit; help me\nin future to redeem the time, and to take due care to prepare myself\nfor the great day.--O, Jesus, rouse me from my sins, and give me to\nwake up after Thy likeness. Do fill me with Thy love. Let it flow into\nmy poor disconsolate soul, that I may serve Thee with all my ransomed\npowers.--O let not my heart be set on the creature more than Thee; but\nlet me give myself to Thee without reserve. I go to school; Lord, help\nme to learn the lessons of Thy grace as well as arithmetic. Drive this\ndulness, both of body and soul away; that I may learn with speed\nand delight.--Thou knowest, Lord, that I have not lived adorning my\nprofession; let the time past suffice, and let me begin to glorify Thy\nname. Lord, save me from flattery, for Christ's sake. Amen.--January,\n1799. Began to meet in band with Sarah B. O Lord, give us one spirit\nwith Thyself. I want, O Lord, to love Thee supremely above all beside;\ngive me, I pray Thee, the victory over myself.\"\n\nThese extracts bear, no doubt, the impress of childish thought; yet\nthey indicate that she had already formed large views of the nature of\ninward religion. In her estimation it was a blessed reality of which\nshe might have a \"clear evidence,\" and which could only reach\nits perfection in the \"likeness of God.\" Its principle was love,\ncontrolling the most secret motions of the heart, and regulating the\nminutest details of daily practice. This religion she proposed to\nherself as the purpose of life. For this she earnestly prayed, and to\nhelp her resolutions, she sought and cultivated the society of such as\nwere excellent in the earth. The select character of the associations\nshe formed was, perhaps, one main cause which contributed to her after\nproficiency. She once mentioned to the writer, as a matter of profound\ngratitude to God, that she had always mingled among religious people,\nand only remembered one week in her whole life which had been spent\namong persons not professing godliness. She lived and breathed in the\npure atmosphere of prayer and love, where the Holy Spirit loves to\ndwell, until she became one spirit with Him.\n\nThe chosen companions of her youth were such as already enjoyed, or\nlike herself were seeking, the experience of divine truth. Among other\nearly acquaintance was Miss Nodes of Skelton Hall, afterwards the wife\nof the Rev. Dr. Newton. This lady had recently become a Methodist,\nand burning with all the fervour of first love frequently came to Mr.\nBurdsall for counsel and encouragement: Her first interview with\nMr. Newton occurred at Mr. Burdsall's house in the following manner.\nDuring the sittings of the District-meeting, Mr. B. had invited the\nRevds. Messrs. Needham and Newton, with some others, to dinner; and\nsent an invitation to Miss Nodes to come and join them: to this Mrs.\nNodes objected; but promised to call the next day and apologize. She\ndid so in company with her daughter, just as the party were about to\nkneel down to prayer, and they were consequently invited in. After\nprayer a hymn was proposed, which was sung by Mr. Newton and Miss\nBurdsall, who had a clear and melodious voice of considerable compass.\nMiss Nodes then remarked, that at Skelton they had to live by begging,\nas they only had preaching occasionally; and if one of them would\ngo over and give them a sermon, it would be a great charity. Mr. N.\nimmediately promised to accompany Mr. Burdsall the following day;\nand from that time commenced an acquaintance which resulted in their\nunion.\n\nIn many cases, and very commonly in the case of young persons, who\nhave been religiously trained, the process by which the mind reaches\nthe assurance of faith is very slow. \"The going forth\" of the Spirit\n\"is prepared as the morning.\" The first streaks of dawn bring a degree\nof comfort, for there is promise of day; but the clear and unclouded\nlight of the Divine favour is yet distant. The doubtful twilight,\nhowever, continues to expand and brighten, until at length the sun\npeeps above the distant hills, or bursts through the morning cloud,\nand all uncertainty is banished in a moment. It was thus with Mary\nBurdsall. Two years later we find her still seeking the indubitable\nwitness of the Spirit. The work of grace was slow and deep. She\nwrites:--\n\n\"Father met our class; when he spoke to me I could not forbear\nweeping. O that I could weep my sins away. J.T. and B.M. prayed and\nmentioned me by name. This touched my pride. Oh! for simplicity!--In\nthe forenoon I went to Pavement church to hear dear Mr. Emmington. His\ntext was, 'Sirs, what must I do to be saved?'--A searching discourse.\nO Lord, revive Thy work in my soul; probe me to the bottom.--I feel\na very hard heart; but, Lord, a touch, a look from Thee, can break\nmy heart of stone. O melt me into love.--Alas for me! I seem quite\nbarren, but is there not a cause? Yes. Lightness of spirit, love of\nthe creature, pride, and dislike, are sins that so easily beset me. I\nam overcome by them. But, O God, Thou hast all power, now resume Thy\nright. Let the powers of hell no more prevail.--In the class father\nasked me, if I ever went to pray; I answered in the affirmative; but,\nLord, Thou knowest I am not so much in earnest as I was some weeks\nago.--Father called upon me to pray; I did not refuse, but have since\nbeen tempted to believe I should be a greater hypocrite. Lord, make me\na Christian indeed in whom there is no guile.--Lord give me to enjoy\nthe reality of Christianity, I want to be thine. God help me to give\nup my own will. Bless him whom I have given up with a very great\ngrowth in grace.\"\n\n[This entry refers to an attachment which met with the disapproval of\nher parents and was relinquished in the spirit of filial obedience.]\n\n\"Just before tea, Mr. Spence asked me if my heart was right; I could\nnot forbear weeping. 'God be merciful to me a sinner.' What an\nenemy is a light and trifling spirit!--I was grieved because I had\ndisobliged my mother. O for a meek and quiet spirit.\"\n\nThe particulars of the next two or three years are only to be gathered\nfrom a few scanty notes attached to a small pocket Bible, in which she\nhad carefully noted the sermons she heard with the impressions made on\nher own mind. The greater part of these are written in short-hand, and\nconsequently useless. But such as are intelligible prove that she was\nin the habit of weighing the words of the preacher and applying them\nto her own heart. Some expressions seem to indicate that the clouds\nwhich had so long overshadowed her spirit were beginning to disperse\nand give place to a serene and sunny sky. We quote a few examples.\n\n\"Oh! how happy was I!--I did not hear to profit, I was troubled in\nmind. I felt it.--I long to find my all in God.--I felt the love of\nJesus precious.--I am answered.--Blessed, heart searching doctrine!--A\ntelling sermon but I was unmoved; how hard am I.--He like some of\nhis brethren harps at the gown and cassock.--I felt much\nsoftened.--Memorable!--Alas! I profit little by all I hear; surely it\nis because my faith is small. Ah. me! how long? how long?--A precious\ndiscourse to me. He preached my experience.--The solution of the text\nwas a gratification, while I heard profitably. He made a very droll\nremark when describing those 'who make their belly their God;' he said\n'they make their kitchen their temple, their cook and butcher their\npriests, and their belly their God.'--I felt my soul blessed and\nencouraged while hearing of sin being destroyed, with an earnest\nlonging for its accomplishment. I felt the burden of indwelling sin\nvery heavy; O when shall the happy period commence that God shall be\nall in all.--I staid the communion for the first time; how solemn!\nI was humbled and melted down exceedingly.--O how infinitely short I\nfall of walking with God! The love-feast was immediately after; the\nmaster of the feast was there: I felt his presence and spoke.--Mr.\nSutcliffe's farewell sermon; may the Lord bless and reward his labours\nin this place.\"\n\nThe most important memorandum is a collection of rules for the\nregulation of her own conduct, adopted about the year 1805; and these,\nwe do not hesitate to add, were written not merely with pen and ink,\nbut impressed by the Spirit of God upon her memory and heart, for\nthose who knew her will be able to recognize in them the key of her\nafter life. They are as follow:--\n\n\"1. Let me rise early.\n\n2. Never let me trifle with a book with which I have no present\nconcern; in applying myself to any book, let me endeavour to recollect\nwhat I may learn by it, and then beg suitable assistance from God.\n\n3. Never let me lose one minute of time, nor incur any unnecessary\nexpense, that I may have the more to spend for God. When I am abroad\nlet me be desirous of doing good; let me have in readiness some\nsubject of contemplation and endeavour to improve my time as I go\nalong.\n\n4. Let me endeavour to render myself agreeable and useful to all\naround me; by a tender compassionate friendly behaviour; avoiding all\ntrifling and impertinent stories; remembering that imprudence is sin.\n\n5. Never let me delay anything, unless I can prove that another time\nwill be more fit than the present; or that some more important duty\nrequires my immediate attention.\n\n6. O may I never enter into any long schemes about future events, but\nin general refer myself to God's care.\n\n  Direct me virtue's happy course to run,\n  And let me be instructed by thy Son,\n  In every station say \"thy will be done.\"\n\n7. O that I may be delivered from the least inclination to judge my\nneighbours; and that henceforth I may find fault with none so much as\nmyself.\"\n\nTo these are added several extracts from the general rules of the\nMethodist Societies; particularly those which refer to the use of\ntime, the government of the tongue, reading the Scriptures, private\nprayer, and abstinence.\n\nThe standard of Christian character at which she aimed was high;\nand perhaps this very circumstance contributed to delay the happy\nexperience she sought. She looked at herself instead of looking\ndirectly to Christ. She contrasted her own deficiencies with the exact\nobedience required by a perfect law, instead of simply casting herself\nupon the blood which justifieth not the righteous but the sinner,\nwhich believeth in Jesus. The simplicity of salvation by faith was\nlong overlooked, but at last the snare was broken; and about the\nclose of the year 1805 she obtained the deliverance she so earnestly\ndesired. We here quote her own words.\n\n\"While alone at Mrs. T.'s, the Lord was graciously pleased to visit\nme with a manifestation of his love; increasing my faith, and applying\nthese words with power to my mind; 'The word is nigh thee, even in\nthy mouth and in thy heart.' I had such a view of the willingness\nof Christ to save by faith as I never had before. Notwithstanding, I\nthink, if I had been better acquainted with the way of salvation,\nI should e'er now have been able to claim the blessing through the\nmerits of Christ. But it is so simple I overlooked it; and thought\nmyself wiser than I was. Now I begin to see with the Psalmist how\nignorant I am, even 'as a beast' before the Lord; but blessed be His\nglorious name, I feel my confidence is in His mercy: yet I feel myself\nthe most unprofitable of all His hands have made, and wonder why to me\nthis boundless love.\"\n\n\n\n\nIV.\n\nTHE HOLY ESTATE.\n\n  \"AND THEY TWAIN SHALL BE ONE FLESH.\" Matt. xix. 5.\n\n\nWedded life, perhaps more than any other, is a test of character; but\nwhen entered upon \"reverently, discreetly, soberly, advisedly, and in\nthe fear of God,\" contributes in a higher degree not merely to\nearthly enjoyment, but to that which is the great end of life, human\nsalvation. The constant action of two wills, thus intimately brought\ninto contact with each other, must either inflame or mould the spirit,\njust in the degree in which it is subjected or not to the influence\nof divine grace; and where both parties are _governed_ by Christian\nprinciple, the effect is mutual happiness and advantage. Nature is\nsubdued, and grace brought into full play. The sorrows, difficulties,\nand temptations of life are lightened by reciprocal help and\naffection; the inheritance in heaven is pursued with greater zest\nbecause of united effort and encouragement; while the constant\ndischarge of the respective duties of husband and wife serves for the\ndevelopment of the mind that was in Christ. Hence the Apostle Paul\nspeaks of the marriage state as a great mystery, representing the\nunion of Christ and his church. But marriage has reference to another\nand not less important object, the training of a \"holy seed.\" The\nunion of parents is intended to secure blessings upon, their children,\nand where the divine requirement is prayerfully attended to, there may\nbe expected to be a fulfilment of the gracious promise,--\"I will pour\nmy Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.\"\n\nIn the prospect of assuming the responsible relation of wife, Miss\nBurdsall thought and felt deeply. Her first anxiety was, that she\nmight find in her husband one who would help her in the way to heaven;\nand the next that she might be able to discharge the duties of her new\nstation with efficiency and fidelity. The predominating desire of her\nheart was to find her happiness in God, and to be conformed in all\nthings to his will. Two days before marriage she writes:--\n\n\"I feel this day my soul aspires heavenward, and my greatest bliss is\nderived from Emanuel's side. Glory be to God, I feel I love him, but\nlong for more conformity to his will.\"\n\nMr. Lyth, who had solicited and won her affections, was the son of a\nrespectable farmer residing in the neighbourhood of York. Originally\ndesigned for agricultural life, he had forsaken the plough to\nundertake a flourishing business, which had been commenced by an elder\nbrother lately deceased: and being early converted to God, under the\nministry of the venerable Sutcliffe, the proposed union was every way\npropitious.\n\nThe marriage was solemnized on the 18th of February, 1806, in the\nparish church of Holy Trinity, York; and so far as the principal\nparties were concerned with intensely religious feelings. Indeed Mr.\nBurdsall's loud and hearty responses to the prayers superseded the\nfunctions of the clerk, and somewhat astonished the officiating\nminister. The wedding dinner was spiced with the presence of the\nRev. Samuel Bardsley, whose portly person, and beautiful simplicity\ncontributed not a little to the amusement of the younger guests: and\nthe same evening, the good old man preached an appropriate sermon,\nselecting for his subject, the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee. Mrs.\nLyth's own feelings in relation, to this event, and during the first\nfew years of wedded life, are best expressed by herself.\n\n\"Memorable day! I gave my hand to John Lyth at Hymen's sacred altar.\nI endeavoured to do it _by faith_, as well as I could; but felt\nextremely stupified. We went to spend the day at Newton upon Derwent.\nWith me it passed more pleasantly towards the close, indeed, while we\nwere conversing about God on our way home, I found it truly good;\nbut when we came in sight of lay new habitation, the sensations that\nseized my mind are better felt than I can describe. It is now six\nweeks since I began to wear the matrimonial chain. I have clasped it\nwithout one thought of regret, and through grace I hope I ever shall;\nyet am conscious of my own incompetency to fill up the sphere I have\nentered. Oh! my God, help me, help me. I bless God my mind is drawn\nto seek my heaven in Jesus, although my earthly comforts are ready\nto ensnare me: yet having been taught to know the uncertainty of all\ntransitory things, and that\n\n  'The fairest things below the sky\n  Give but a flattering light,'\n\nI would, through grace strengthening me, give God my undivided heart.\nLord, here I am, take me, and possess me wholly.--Glory be to God my\nsoul lives. I feel 'drawn by the lure of strong desire' to choose\nGod for my portion. The last week has been one of trial, but I am\nconstrained to believe the Lord doeth all things well.--We arrived in\nScarbro' after being much favoured during a showery day; but praise\nbelongs to our heavenly Benefactor.--We took a walk to the church\nand castle; where my dear John unfortunately lost his watch. After\nsearching for it in vain for nearly an hour, and thinking of returning\nhome, providence led him to the place where he had dropped it. Surely\nit can be esteemed no other than the gift of heaven, since it had lain\nan hour exposed to the public crowds that resorted thither.--The day\nwas fine, and we spent it in sitting a little in the house, and in\nwalking upon the sands and among the rocks, seeking for shells, the\nbeauty of which, with the wide ocean, and surrounding prospect, made\nme wish for the pen of a scribe and the imagination of a poet; but I\nfound wishing to be a vain employment.\n\n\"About a quarter past eight in the morning my Eliza was born. Blessed\nbe God he graciously supported me in the trial. O that mother and\nchild may be devoted to Thee, thou God of infinite compassion. Give me\nmore grace that I may walk unblameable in thy sight, and before\nthose over whom thy providence has place me. Teach me to order my\nconversation aright, and to keep myself unspotted from the world. O my\nGod, I have nothing to offer for all the blessings asked; but help me\nto be thy devoted servant from this moment.\n\n\"1807. My dear husband has made a purchase, which is to me a source\nof anxiety; but Lord, Thou knowest,--Thou rulest over all, help and\ndirect. O let us in all our ways acknowledge Thee, that thou mayest\ndirect our steps. Keep, O keep us from being a discredit to Thy cause;\nand in this particular set us right.--I am left alone with my infant,\nwho begins to steal my affections more than I ever thought of. O\nGod, take my poor heart, lost a creaturely attachment be too strongly\nrooted within my breast. Lord, Thou knowest me altogether, and the\nsecret springs of my affection, cleanse me from all defilement; purify\nme from all my sins, and let me this moment yield myself entirely to\nThee; and as Thou deignest to visit dust, visit me.--Time glides away;\neternity approaches; and yet, alas! my mind fluctuates as the wind. O\nmy God, shall I never be firmly grounded upon Thyself. Come, 'Desire\nof nations,' save me from anxiety respecting worldly things; let all\nour temporal affairs be under Thy management, and our happiness centre\nin doing thy will.\n\n  How vainly have I sought in things beneath\n  To place a confidence, which faithless earth\n  Can never recompence! O firmly fix\n  My soul on joys above the smiling skies;\n  Let Jesus' love inspire, and fill my heart.\n\nGod bless my dear companion. Settle and fix his affections on\nThyself,--the supreme good. Let every faculty of his mind be at Thy\ncommand.\n\n\"1808. Twelve o'clock at night. Lord, my mind aspires heavenward. Let\nheaven, I beseech Thee, come into my soul. Let the radiance of Thy\nlove fill me with light and life divine. Give me sensibly to feel and\nknow, that Thou art reconciled to me, without Thy grace, effectually\nundone. I feel something within my heart, is it the effect of Thy\nlove? If it is, let it more powerfully affect my soul, that I may live\nin constant readiness to take my flight to yon bright realms above.\nBut is that bliss prepared for me? O let me feel it. This afternoon my\nbrother Richard died. Alas! how uncertain are all sublunary things!\nHe was just entering life, and lo! he is snatched away. Surely the\nall-wise 'I AM' saw evil gathering, and kindly removed him to a\nhappier clime, safe from impending danger. Well, my Richard is gone;\nwhile I, four years older, am yet alive. Mercy, that took him, spares\nme with the same gracious design; 'not willing that any should perish,\nbut that all might have everlasting life.' May that blessed end be\nanswered in my poor soul, which without Thy enlivening presence feels\nan 'aching void' which the whole world cannot fill.\n\n\"This day has been a day of affliction, but it drives me to the Lord.\nMy dear husband and children are entwined about my heart. Lord, help\nme to give them freely up, and do Thou take, and possess me whole.\"\n\nThe following lines were addressed to a valued friend:--\n\n  Whitehead, awake! and sweep the lyre again\n  With touch seraphic to a Saviour slain;\n  A Saviour, worthy of sublimest verse,\n  A Saviour's love too mighty to rehearse;\n  The purest theme that ever fired the tongue,\n  Gave life to genius,--harmony to song;\n  Fill thy enraptured soul with thought divine,\n  And pour its fulness on the glowing line.\n\n\"1809.--Have had a tooth drawn. O that the dire root of sin were as\neffectually taken away, never more to disturb my happiness; and that\npure perennial peace might succeed,--I have been visiting the sick:\nbut oh! how inadequate to the responsible task! O my God awake my\ndrowsy powers, and fit me for every sphere I have to fill in life.--I\nfeel more heartfelt joy in leaning upon Christ than anything else;\nyet it is hard work to keep the mind disentangled from worldly cares.\nThings needful to me, seem the most dangerous, and what I am most\nliable to be ensnared by. In visiting some infirm people my soul was\ndeeply affected, when I considered their age, and ignorance, and my\nown inability to instruct them. How great is the ignorance of mankind!\nO that God would apply some word spoken by his poor dust.\"\n\nDuring the time the Rev. A.E. Farrar was stationed in York, her\naspirations after purity of heart reached a crisis, and she was\nenabled by faith to claim the promise; \"Faithful is he that calleth\nyou, who also will do it.\" For some time her convictions were so clear\nand distinct, that to use her own words she \"durst not say she had\nnot received the blessing.\" But this happy experience--the Christian's\nhighest privilege on earth--was soon interrupted by doubtful\nreasonings; still her conscience was\n\n  \"Quick, as the apple of an eye,\n  The slightest touch of sin to feel.\"\n\nAs an instance of her conscientiousness we mention a circumstance\nwhich took place somewhere about this time. A farmer, who owed my\nfather a considerable sum of money, had been repeatedly importuned for\npayment, but without effect; and it was at length given up, as a\nbad debt. One Sabbath morning, while she was sitting alone, he\nunexpectedly called to settle his account. She said, \"We have nothing\nto do with receiving money on a Sunday; it is the Lord's day, and we\ndo not think it right.\" \"Well,\" replied the man, holding the money in\nhis hand, \"you might as well take it while you have the chance of it.\"\nBut neither argument, nor expostulation, could induce her to touch the\nforbidden notes. The man therefore pocketed the money, and went away;\nbut not without an admonition on keeping holy the Sabbath day. No one\neventually loses anything by the maintenance of principle, and the\ndebt was honestly discharged the following week.\n\nThe solitary record of the year 1810, is contained in the following\nlines, which may be regarded as expressive of her own feelings.\n\n  Jesus, Thy glorious name shall still\n    My musing thought and tongue employ;\n  Whose presence doth creation fill.\n    Be Thou my portion and my joy.\n\n  Jesus! blest source of all my hope,\n    In whom my spirit finds its rest;\n  Whose precious blood, inspiring thought!\n    Hath purchased heaven to make me blest.\n\n  Where can a mortal language find,\n    To tell such love when angels fail?\n  \"God did so love the world,\" and died,\n    That love by justice might prevail.\n\n  Drawn by this love, a witness I,\n    That God to all the Saviour gave;\n  Who willing are, may testify,\n    He can unto the utmost save.\n\n\"1811.--I thank God for the blessed privilege of hearing the ministers\nof righteousness, but lament their word makes so little impression\nupon my heart. I seem a forgetful hearer, or as one that hears the\nword with joy, but little fruit appears to perfection. Yesterday,\nirritated by some frivolous cause, I was thrown off my guard, and\ngrieved the spirit of God. This occasioned a sense of condemnation,\nand though now the Lord blesses me, I cannot forgive myself. O that\nI again enjoyed the sanctifying influences of His Holy Spirit! Until\nthis is the case, I shall be whirled about by my enemies within. Lord\nmake me more in earnest, that I may never rest till again the sweet\npower of sovereign love has possession of my heart.--I rose early to\nattend the prayer-meeting, and receiving grace from Him whose birth\nwe commemorated, I fancied my hill stood strong; and that I should\nbe able to rise above everything I might have to try me: but alas! I\nagain proved my own weakness. My little charge were some of them sick,\nothers cross, all wanted me; so that all my graces were put to the\ntest. O that I had more patience, that I might sit 'calm on tumult's\nwheel.' Lord, Thou knowest me altogether, I would not be a hypocrite,\nneither wound Thy cause by impatience; Thou hast promised strength for\nthe day, and I am determined to cast my whole soul on Thee;--to have\nThee for my Saviour. At the lovefeast much was said respecting family\nprayer. I bless God. This duty is my delight.\"\n\nTo a friend slighted in love, she writes--\n\n  Alas my friend! what can I say to cheer?\n  What sound is sweet to a distracted ear?\n  Turn from the creature, disappointed, turn:\n  Lament your folly,--deeply humbled mourn,\n  Your disregard of Him, who died to gain\n  Your worthless heart, and bid you love again.\n  O! turn to him, who gave himself for you,\n  Your love, your heart, your life, are all his due;\n  No fickleness or change in him is known,\n  _He_ loves and will for ever love his own;\n  Here place your treasure, and here find your rest,\n  Make God your all, and be for ever blest.\n\n\"1812.--Through grace I am resolved on the side of virtue. I have\npeace in God, and a growing desire to imitate him in my daily walk;\nbut no marvel if all my best actions need purging from their dross. I\nseem all pollution; yet my soul lays hold upon the Saviour, who alone\nis able to purify my nature. On February 3rd, my sister Anna died,\neleven years old. I was called to witness the pleasing, painful, awful\nscene. While kneeling by her bed, after a paroxysm of extreme agony,\nas she had a moment's respite, my mother said; 'Ask her if she is\nhappy to lift up her hand.' She did instantly and said, 'A kiss,' and\nso turned recollectedly to each, with a smiling countenance, while\nher dying lips were but just sensible of the impression; then after\nanother short struggle she sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. So I alone am\nleft to tell it.\"\n\n1813.--After adverting to a number of painful circumstances, she\nadds:--\"Praise God, the seizure of my own body, though by far the most\npainful of these occurrences, has been the greatest blessing. On the\nfirst attack I was stupified--but the Lord liberated me and supplied\ngrace in the hour of need. Thus have I experienced how suddenly\nthe Lord can take away the choicest of all blessings, health. Being\nthrough mercy again restored, my soul derives its happiness from God.\nI see before me broad rivers and streams springing from that\nfountain, whence all solid comfort flows; but great weakness, much\nunfaithfulness, many omissions and errors in myself. Lord increase my\nfaith, that I may enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus. For some\ntime I have met in band with Mrs. W. We have had many precious seasons\ntogether.--A circumstance occurring which was misconstrued, put me\nsuddenly out of temper, and caused me much pain of mind, besides\ndispleasing others together with my dear partner. O my God, but for\nThy blood, I should lose all hope of eternal happiness; yet blot not,\nI beseech Thee, my name out of the book of life; but if ever my heart\nwent with my words, I entreat Thee,--\n\n  \"Chase this self-will through all my heart,\n    Through all its latent mazes there.\"\n\n\"1814.--Reflecting on the past--my mercies and ingratitude, my\nwarnings and neglect, my privileges and non-improvements, my\naffliction and restoration to health, Thy love, O God, in ten thousand\ninstances, and my small affection, I wonder why I am still the object\nof Thy care, but I see the cause in Jesus' blood. There the reason\nlies. O might I here my nature lose, and gain the Infinite.\"\n\nMusing on the loss of her children, three of whom had died in infancy,\nshe writes:--\n\n  Blest mother! thus to yield to God\n    The gifts so lately given;\n  Blest babes I for you have cross'd the flood,\n    And safely 'scaped to heaven.\n\nI have been very much harassed with temptation of an awful kind,--to\nblaspheme the blessed Spirit. My God, preserve me. I shudder at the\nthought, and have necessarily been driven to God in prayer.--I have\nto praise God for temptation; for seeking refuge in Jesus, my only\ndefence against my enemy, I have a firmer confidence in Him as my\nSaviour.\n\n  Whither, O whither, should I go?\n    To Thy blest wounds I flee;\n  No refuge can I find below,\n    My help is all in Thee.\n\n\"The illumination! a crowded city! many devices! The face of the\npeople seems to speak peace, but Thou, Lord, seest the heart. Set my\nheart right.--As the clock struck three I was awoke with the words;\n'Put on the helmet of salvation and the weapon of all prayer.' For a\ntime fear crept over me, lest my husband and child, both from home,\nshould return ill; but as I meditated, the passage occurred; 'All\nthings work together for good to them that love God.' I was instantly\ndelivered; and all I could titter was, Glory be to God. As I lay\npraising and praying, these lines arose in my mind.\n\n  If time is so precious, and death on the wing,\n  Oh! shelter me, Jesus, secure from his sting;\n  Now open the fountain, and wash out my stain,\n  That to live may be Christ, and to die may be gain.\n  This, this is the honour to which I aspire,\n  The grace to attain it is all I desire;\n  Oh! fill me with heaven, through faith in Thy blood,\n  Then crown me with glory, and lift me to God.\n\nI have had a precious morning--arose a little before five, and spent\nan hour alone. God was with me. Glory! Glory!\"\n\n\"How time hurries on! Another year has almost stolen away. Where am I?\nWhat am I? Thus much of time is gone; how much fitter am I for heaven?\nI pause,--am alone,--but 'Thou God seest me.' On my knees, I ask Thy\nmercy, and implore Thee to be mine for ever. Precious Jesus! I feel\nThee willing to save me, and a sweet confidence Thou wilt save me.\nO! the sweetness of union with God!--My mind is troubled about the\nfuture. Sensible of my own weakness, my children's welfare awakens my\nconcern. O my God, take charge of my little ones. While attempting to\ninstruct them to-day, my two little girls seemed affected. O let this\nbe the beginning of Thy fear in their hearts, that shall never, never,\ndepart.\"\n\nHer anxiety on behalf of the salvation of her children was intense.\nHer efforts were commenced with the first dawn of intelligence,\nand continued with unremitting ardour until they were rewarded\nwith success. By timely instruction and caution, by counsel and\nexpostulation, by warning and reproof, by a godly discipline, by\nfrequent letters in which the \"one thing\" was never forgotten; by\nprayers and supplications mingled with tears, as they knelt alone at\nher side; by intercessions offered day and night in secret on their\nbehalf; by enforcing the punctual observance of religious duties, such\nas reading the word, family devotion, and public worship; and by her\nown pure example, she never ceased to train them in the way that\nthey should go. But her chief strength lay in ceaseless and effectual\nprayer, which was urged in the spirit of him who said, \"I will not let\nThee go, except Thou bless me.\" Is it wonderful, if her children and\ngrandchildren are found walking in the truth? For many successive\nyears, she was accustomed to address to each a few lines on the\nanniversary of their birth. These were always replete with godly\ncounsels, and wisely suited to the age and circumstances of the\nindividual. The periodical effusion was anxiously looked for, and\nhighly prized. To our young imaginations, the productions of her pen\nglowed with all the fire of Milton, and flowed with all the softness\nand melody of Spenser; and if a riper judgement has robbed us of\nthe pleasing fancy, it has been at least replaced by the grateful\nconviction that they were the overflowings of a mother's heart, and by\nthe blessing of God, contributed in a great measure to give an early\nbias in favour of religious truth. A specimen written at this time is\nhere inserted.\n\n  TO MY RICHARD.\n\n  Unuttered feelings glow within my heart,\n    Ah! in what language can I paint them best?\n  That you, my darling boy, may know a part,\n    Unconscious of what fills a mother's breast.\n\n  Childlike and innocent your actions are,\n    No thought of guile as yet within your breast;\n  Alas! the wily foe, not lurking far,\n    May soon corrupt and desecrate your rest.\n\n  Might I unveil the snares, that scattered round,\n    Beset your path from childhood to old age;\n  But Love allwise, in mystery profound,\n    Has hid in darkness all the varied page.\n\n  Be it sufficient, grace is ever nigh;\n    If in the path of rectitude you tread,\n  No ill shall harm you; you will soon descry\n    The tempter's snare, however deeply laid.\n\n  Choose virtue, Richard, shun the path of vice,\n    Let not ungodly youth your mind ensnare;\n  Take this wise caution, \"If they would entice,\n    Consent thou not;\" be sure that sin is there.\n\n  Walk with the wise, that you may wiser grow;\n    Let age teach wisdom, hear it with respect;\n  It can in time forwarn, and danger show,\n    Where you no secret mischief may suspect.\n\n  In useful learning all your youth engage;\n    From simple knowledge of your mother tongue,\n  Proceed to figures; then, from stage to stage\n    Pursue each science, though the way be long.\n\n  By knowledge learn your ignorance to know,\n    Nor dream you have the height of wisdom gained;\n  No greater proof of ignorance below,\n    Than loud to boast of what we have attained.\n\n  Read useful books--the Bible most prefer,\n    In it your Maker's will is clearly shown;\n  Then bend your humble knee in secret prayer,\n    That faith may make its precious truths your own.\n\n  If tales of fiction should themselves present,\n    Too oft injurious to the mind of youth,\n  Throw them aside; and sacredly intent\n    On your improvement, follow after truth.\n\n  When you require relief, be history true\n    Of your own land, and other lands perused;\n  This will instruct, give entertainment too,\n    While neither time nor talents are abused.\n\n  Thus, in your youth, redeem the fleeting hour,\n    That you in future life may useful be;\n  By word and deed as far as in your power,\n    To stem the torrent of impiety.\n\n  Remember, as your present life is spent,\n    Future reward or punishment is due;\n  Oh! then improve the precious moments lent,\n    And everlasting life shall wait on you.\n\n\"Praise God, I have a partner desirous of joining heartily in the\nChristian warfare; often are we blest while we pour out our souls\ntogether before the Lord, O for a closer walk with God.\"\n\n\n\n\nV.\n\nSHOWER AND SUNSHINE.\n\n  \"NOW MEN SEE NOT THE BRIGHT LIGHT WHICH IS IN THE CLOUDS;\n  BUT THE WIND PASSETH, AND CLEANSETH THEM.\" Job xxxvii. 21.\n\n\nThat stage of life which immediately precedes a ripe age, when man is\nin the full vigour of his strength, is not unfrequently like an April\nday mingled with sunshine and shower. The care of a rising family,\nand the accumulating interests of business and society, bring constant\nalternations of joy and sorrow; designed by God to soften and\nfructify the heart, which might otherwise become too callous under the\nscorching blaze of the world. Happy is it, when these kindly workings\nof a sublimer providence, cause the graces of his spirit to shoot\nforth like \"the tender grass springing up out of the earth by clear\nshining after rain;\" and when the experience acquired in seasons of\nvicissitude, is treasured up in the heart for future use. Mrs. Lyth\nhad her April weather preparatory to the summer of her usefulness, as\nwill appear by further extracts from her journal.\n\n\"1815--My father Lyth left us to join the disembodied throng. The last\nfortnight of his life was chiefly spent in prayer. I believe he died\npenitent. Thou best of Beings! prepare me for the approaching trial.\nIn the fire may I lose nothing but sin. Fortify my mind, and let\npatience have its perfect work, that by no pain I may fall from Thee.\nHere I call to mind, that Thou hast brought me through six troubles; O\nleave me not in the seventh. Let me again prove Thy faithfulness.\n\n\"I scarcely know how the last fortnight has escaped. O the rapidity of\ntime! well might one say, 'O time than gold more precious, more a load\nthan lead to fools.' I am thankful, all my solid happiness is derived\nfrom God; and though I have many earthly comforts I can say, 'All\nmy springs are in Thee.' I long to drink more freely of those living\nfountains, and to draw constant supplies from the inexhaustible\nfulness of the ever-blessed and adorable Jesus. Oh! it is sweet to\nmeditate on this loved theme. Rising into God we lose ourselves, and\nseemed wrapped up in Deity.--Having met with a little disappointment,\nmy mind is in some degree unhinged; I have been begging of God to\nundertake the matter, and overrule all for the best, which I hope has\nbeen the case; yet I find it hard to give up my own will. Lord, help\nme. I accompanied my father and mother to see cousin Hannah, who is\napparently declining. Her prospects in life were exceedingly bright,\nbut happiness is not in them, as there can be no enjoyment without\nhealth. What a mercy, afflictions spring not out of the dust: I am\nagain called to experience it. Our apprentice, servant maid, and\nEliza, are all in the scarlet fever. Better than I could expect\nconsidering the pressure upon me, I am constrained to say, judgment is\nmixed with love. May we lose nothing but dross, and shine brighter for\nbeing in the furnace.--I am informed by letter that cousin Hannah\nis no more,--it says nothing how she left this world. I long to\nknow--will to-morrow inform me? I purpose to be at her funeral, if\nGod give leave. O Thou, who wast to the Israelites both a pillar and\na cloud, if Thou go not up with us, suffer us not to journey; for Thou\nknowest my heart, I wish to please Thee.--We went to Kirkby to the\ninterment of my late Cousin, who, I am informed, died happily. Nearly\nher last intelligible words were, 'Blessed are the pure in heart, for\nthey shall see God.' So she closed this mortal scene, and left her\nblooming prospects, fair estates, and all the bright anticipations of\nyouth, for the lone silence of the tomb.--I feel more endeared than\never to the invisible world, being warned as I believe, by some\ndeparted friend, to give diligence. I am also reminded by the death of\nmy cousin how vain are all things here below. Perhaps it was her kind\nspirit--who can tell?\"\n\n  A QUESTION ASKED.\n\n  Does marriage, like the features of a fair and lovely face,\n  Lose all its sweet attractions, when age comes on apace?\n  Do soothing acts of kindness and words of comfort go,\n  When troubles are assailing, and pleasure's cup is low?\n  No, surely heav'n design'd it more to ameliorate\n  The _lonely_ state of humankind, when first He form'd a mate.\n\n\"1816.--I went to the School-room; and never did my eyes behold a\nscene so pleasing:--boys and girls in different parts of the room\ncrying for mercy; while others were rejoicing in God. 'Out of the\nmouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast ordained praise.' I longed for\nthe salvation of my three children who were all there, but I had no\npower to take any active part; my mind seemed paralized.--In the\nmidst of our afflictions God has not forgotten us. Our Waller [an\napprentice] has obtained mercy, and Eliza's heart is touched. O\nthat God would save all our family. I have had some 'seasons of\nrefreshing;' but not enjoying the sanctifying influences of God's\nSpirit, I have felt a disposition to be discontented with the\narrangements of Providence respecting the health of my children. I\ndaily mourn this inbred corruption but not sufficiently, or I should\nbe more in earnest to get rid of it. At present I feel a longing for\nthe blessed liberty which many express. O may I share in the baptism\nwhich is now so gloriously shed upon this city.--The fifth day I have\nspent in my new habitation; all is confusion, and must remain so for\nsome time to come. This would be a matter of little moment, if my mind\nwere not distressed by the affliction of my Eliza. So I find every joy\nhas its sorrow. Lord, as Thou knowest what is best for me and mine,\ngive me patience, and let every dispensation of Thy providence be\nsanctified.--We opened our new shop. The first customer demanded\ncredit, and the second took up her money with her goods, and went\naway with both. Providentially it was restored. We have now made\na fortnight's trial, and have great cause of thankfulness for the\nprospect of success. The last few months have been full of toil and\nanxiety, but thank God, I can say:\n\n  'While blest with a sense of His love\n    A palace a toy would appear;\n  And prisons would palaces prove,\n    If Jesus but dwelt with me there.'\n\nI have been aiming, though feebly, to give God my heart. It is good\nto come to the Lord in private; it is there I find my greatest\nenjoyment.--For several nights I have suffered much pain; as much\nI think, as my patience could endure. In one of the paroxysms, the\npassage was continually in my mind, 'The wise shall inherit glory.'\nThroughout yesterday found it very sweet. I am in part deprived of the\npublic ordinances, but find solid happiness in breathing my wishes to\nthe Throne, and derive sweet solace from Him, whose smile creates my\nday.--Find in private with my God, I gain the most substantial peace;\nat least I have not learned the noble art of being ''midst busy\nmultitudes alone.'--Our servant was taken dangerously ill. I think I\ndid not feel any disposition to murmur; but want firmer reliance on\nthe power of God, whose promise never fails. Have lately had some\nblessed meetings with my God, perhaps preparatory to this trial.\"\n\n\"1817. To-morrow, two criminals are to suffer death for the crime of\nmurder. How awful from an earthly judge to receive the last sentence\nof the law! but how much more so to hear from Thee that final\nsentence, 'Depart ye cursed!' O, my God, let the cry of the prisoners\ncome up before Thee.\n\n  In pity bow Thy gracious ear,\n  Incline the sinner's heart to prayer,\n    And draw him to Thy Son,\n  Through whom, though vile he is, Thou wilt\n  Remove the blackness of his guilt;\n    Oh! let it now be done.\n\n  Thou Friend of sinners, if I may\n  Approach, O give a heart to pray,\n    And let Thy Spirit plead.\n  But few the hours _he_ has to live,\n  O give repentance and forgive,\n    Forgive the bloody deed.\n\nAt intervals have found it good, yea very good, while upon my knees;\nindeed I must say my happiest moments have been there. Why am I ever\nremiss in this duty, which brings me more solid peace than anything\nbeside? There, I converse with God; there, behold His glory; there,\nforget self; there, get love to cover faults; there, assimilate to the\nimage of God. This week has been marked by the affliction of my two\nyoungest children. How painful to a mother to see them suffer! yet\nLord, Thou knowest, I would rather see them droop and even die, than\nthat they should live to rebel against Thee, and shut themselves out\nof Thy kingdom. O my God, on my knees, I present them all to Thee.\nBless them with grace and understanding, and save them for ever.--I\nhave had to grapple with rheumatism. It is painful, but what in\nduration, when compared with eternity? Nothing. May my soul, evermore\nfly upward. What need in health to prepare for sickness! There is then\nplenty to do to hold fast whereunto we have attained.--Cousin John\nStables has exchanged life for immortality. His last words were, 'I am\ngoing to heaven, I know I am.' Blest knowledge in the hour of death!\nbut more exalted, they who daily live with the assurance 'I am Thine',\ncentering in God their hope and wish,--My dear little Hannah died,\naged twenty weeks. A sweet smile rested upon her countenance. O\nDeath! how art thou robbed of thy terrors, when infancy smiles in thy\npresence! Have not been at my class for a long time in consequence of\nill-health: to-day I might have gone, but with shame confess, I forgot\nthe time. O Lord lay not this sin to my charge. My heart would not\ndisplease Thee; my soul delights in Thee, and derives its happiness\nand peace from God my Saviour: no merit in myself, but Christ is all\nin all.--I would this evening offer Thee my heart; give me sincerity\nO God, and let me know the sacrifice is accepted. I am under deep\nobligation to Thee for having so far removed the pain from which I\nsuffered May ease be gratefully acknowledged by me, and let my life\nshow forth Thy praise. I bless the Lord for all the good I possess,\nand am constrained to say, it is all divine. Have begun to read Locke\non the Understanding. Lord enlarge my capacity.--Enjoy better health\nthan for several months; for this may my soul be truly thankful. It\nis good for me that I have been afflicted; I have learned to value\nmy mercies as the gift of heaven. My anchor is in Jesus; from him my\npeace perpetually springs. I now feel he is my God. Yet the secret\nmotions of my heart concur with the enemy of my soul to bring me into\nbondage, I long for victory. When will the happy moment arrive? Have\nlately thought the Lord has something for me to do; I would not\nbury my talents in the earth; but do Thou Lord, who knowest my\ninsufficiency, direct my way. Glory be to God, I am blest while\ncalling to mind his innumerable mercies. It is like lifting up the lid\nof a casket to expose the jewels contained therein to the\nlight of the sun, whose radiance they reflect, and whose heat\nthey attract.--How sweet to be at the throne of grace! Have had great\nfreedom with the Lord while interceding for a fallen friend, over whom\nI lament. O that God would reclaim the wanderer. My soul is sweetly\ndrawn out after more of the image of God, for to the present I have\nbut little imitated my Lord. God help me in my life to display every\nfeature of his character. My dear cousin Ann is, I fear, sinking, so\ntrue is it, 'Man cometh up as a flower,' and is cut down; but she is\nhappy in God. This is cause of thanksgiving. Many of the excellent of\nthe earth are retreating behind the veil. May I work while it is day.\nWhat a poor slothful soul I have been, when heaven shines so bright\nabove me. Now I feel resolved to work. Jesus, Thou seest my heart, aid\nme that I loiter no more. A full salvation is what my soul aims at;\nbut ah! how grovelling and low are my desires! language is too poor\nto express my poverty, when seen in the light of the Sun of\nrighteousness.\n\n  O! when shall I from sin set free,\n  Bask in the light of Deity?\n\nExpand my heart and fill the wide expanse.--While Mr. Haswell was\npreaching, a woman cried out, 'Bless the Lord; bless the Lord O\nmy soul.' I trust she was under divine influence. Mr. H. gave out;\n'Praise God from whom,' &c. I began to suspect the power of God was\nmore eminently present than I imagined: this led me to seek after\nit in my own breast, and to long for a more powerful manifestation.\nPraise God, I could say,\n\n  'Lo! God is here, let us adore.'\n\nOn my return home, I met the judge with his retinue returning from\ncourt, lighted by torches. How solemn! But what, when the Judge of all\nthe earth shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the trump\nof God! At His bar must I appear, and conscience that staunch witness,\ngive its unimpeachable evidence for or against me, O that Jesus, the\nsinner's friend, may then sustain my cause. Praised be His name; faith\nsprings up in my heart, and encourages me to believe that I shall\nreceive the crown of life. Blessed hope!--Mrs. ---- breakfasted with\nme. We had a truly blessed morning--our conversation was in heaven.\nDuring the day I have been troubled with evil reasoning. When shall\nthis body of death be destroyed, and Christ be all in all? Visited\nMiss D. in the asylum. She seems in dark despair; I got her to her\nknees, and found it precious to my own soul.--Glory be to God I dare\nbelieve. Keep me till I am fully saved. Am watching my William in the\nmeasles; Richard has just recovered. What a mercy I am in health to\nattend them; yet am afraid my too anxious care for them has checked\nmy zeal. Through mercy my soul lives to-day; I feel a divine appetite,\nand am looking for the appearance of my Lord to the destruction of\nall the carnal mind.--At Stockton lovefeast, the Lord opened my mouth,\nboth in the Chapel, and at a neighbouring house; I was constrained to\nspeak. May the imperfect hints thrown out be as bread cast upon the\nwaters, and what I said amiss the Lord forgive. The peace of God ruled\nmy heart.--The mournful tidings of Cousin Mary's death has reached us.\nThe day before, she was up sewing. How sudden a transition from time\nto eternity! Although at the funeral, I cannot learn how she died. How\nmy heart is oppressed! She has left a fine smiling boy unconscious of\nhis loss, and her father, whose displeasure she had incurred by her\nmarriage, unreconciled. How my feelings are ploughed up! The training\nof my children occasions me great solicitude. How shall I safely\nsteer, where so many make shipwreck? Without Thy direction and\ninfluence, I too shall miss my way. Come then, thou heavenly Wisdom,\nteach me to imbue their tender minds with truth, that the impression\nmay remain in riper years.--Another parliamentary election. O my God\nelect me 'through sanctification of Thy Spirit.'--My mind suffers\nkeenly in consequence of a conversation with ----. Thou, Lord, knowest\nexactly where the error lies; let it be discovered. If I am in the\nwrong make me willing to retract. I want to be a Christian in deed\nand truth.--It was impressed upon my mind to call upon Miss M. H., and\nurge her to seek salvation, having long been a hearer of the Gospel.\nI scarcely knew how to break through, as I had no particular\nacquaintance with her. However, passing by the same day, providence so\nordered it, that she sat facing the door. I passed, but remembering my\nimpression, mustered courage and returned. After inquiring about her\nhealth I told her my errand. She was affected, and said she had a very\nhard heart. I replied, 'It is not too hard for God to soften.'\nWith much fear I undertook the charge of Miss Bentley's class, in\nconsequence of her indisposition, but trust the Lord will soon restore\nher to active usefulness. The more willingly I offer myself to the\nLord, the sweeter communion I find with Him.--Repeated my visit to\nMiss M. H., I believe in obedience to the influence of the Spirit\nwhich constrained me--not intending to call at that time. I found her\nsincerely seeking salvation, and endeavoured to point her to the Lamb\nof God. My own soul was blessed while thus engaged. How shall I praise\nGod for His love to a worm?--Called again, when she told me she\nhad received a visit from the Lord. She durst not say her sins were\nforgiven, but felt encouraged.--Having to pass through some things of\na trying nature, I felt fully resigned, and the throne of grace easy\nof access. Keep me at Thy feet, O God, that I may rise in Thy likeness\nand in all things do Thy will.--Mr. Moore remarked in his sermon,\n'Happy is the man of one book;' my heart replied, So he is, for in all\nI read, I find no book so sweet as the Bible; yet there are some which\nare precious, and which I value as a treasure.--Another distinguished\nmercy. After another attack of cramp the Lord has been pleased to\nrestore to me the use of my hands, which have been locked from three\no'clock in the morning until evening. May I never forget the Lord's\nmercy towards me, but studiously labour to be found of Him in peace,\nthat when the awful crisis arrives, I may be ready.\"\n\n\"1819. I am still in a weak state of body, unable to attend to my\nfamily. O Lord, support my mind. Feel resolved to cast my soul on\nJesus; and although I have to struggle to retain my hold, _will_ hang\non the Crucified.\"\n\nThis year was one of severe personal affliction, which continued\nfor several months. At one time little hope was entertained of her\nrecovery, and none that she would ever again be restored to active\nlife. Medical aid seemed utterly unavailing; but the Lord had chosen\nher in the furnace of affliction, and by these means, inscrutable at\nthe time, was refining and fitting her for remarkable usefulness. At\nlength when the process was complete, contrary to the predictions of\nphysicians, and beyond the expectations of her friends, she was\ngiven back again to her family, and the church. In reference to this\naffliction, she says, in a letter to one of her daughters:--\n\n\"Your brother Samuel is put out to nurse; he is a delicate little boy.\nI am at Mrs. F.'s out of Walmgate Bar, for the benefit of my health;\nif it please God to sanctify the means. In some respects, I am better,\nbut yet very feeble; however, I am in the Lord's hands, and have been\nfor a long time his prisoner. I wish to keep my cause in his hand.\nPoor Samuel! I every day expect to hear, that he has escaped to glory.\nMy weakness reconciles me to his loss, for the righteous Judge of\nall the earth cannot but do right. Dear Mary will discover from my\nwriting, there is an alteration in me. To tell you the truth, I can\nscarcely recollect how to spell; my memory is so much impaired by this\naffliction. But thank God, I have the full use of my reason, and my\nsoul longs to awake after the image of God. Friends are very kind in\nvisiting me which makes the days pass more pleasantly. I ride out when\nthe weather is fine, but am able to walk very little.\"\n\nOn her recovery she writes:--\n\n\"I would raise my song of gratitude to my God, who, I am confident has\nrestored me in answer to prayer, though I am still very weak. During\nmy affliction my mind has been variously exercised; sometimes I could\ncast myself with all my concerns upon God; at other times was much\ndepressed; once in the multitude of my thoughts within me, it was\nsuggested, as if a voice spoke to me, 'What things soever ye desire,\nwhen ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.'\"\n\n  I thank Thee for the comfort given,\n    When agonized with pain;\n  The love infused--the taste of heaven,\n    That cheered my heart again;\n  In answer to the faithful prayers\n    Of many a fervent soul,\n  Disease retired--for mercy spares,\n    And makes the sinner whole.\n\n\n\n\nVI.\n\nGROWTH IN GRACE.\n\n  \"AS THE TENDER GRASS, SPRINGING OUT OF THE EARTH, BY\n  CLEAR SHINING AFTER RAIN.\"--2 Sam. xxiii. 4.\n\n\nGod doeth nothing in vain. Cloud and sunshine, stormy winds, and\nsteeping rains, have each their appointed purpose; and in their season\ncontribute to bless, and refresh the earth; that it may bring forth\nits increase for the service of man and beast. You have often seen,\nhow after a shower in the cheerful spring-time, the green meadows\nhave suddenly put on a fresher and livelier hue; and the tender grass\nseemed to grow before your eyes. Just so, in the higher economy of\ngrace, seasons of trial and affliction have their definite design;\nonly here the effect is not determined by an irresistible law; but\nsuspended upon the conduct of man. The heart must be open to receive\nthe genial influences, which are thus mysteriously communicated;\nthe will must submissively bow under the dispensations of an allwise\nProvidence; and, especially, seasons of affliction should be seasons\nof earnest prayer. Then will they be followed by a marked increase of\nspiritual life and power. Mrs. Lyth benefitted by her afflictions; and\nalthough she more frequently mourns over her own unprofitableness, her\ngrowth in grace is clearly apparent in her journal, which we resume.\n\n\"1820.--Although I have the victory I cannot yet say the old man is\ndead; some seeds of peevishness yet remain to be destroyed. Praise\nGod, I hate the garment spotted by the flesh. 'All peace, all love,'\nis the desire of my heart, and the longing of my soul.--A day of\nfasting and prayer; but separation from every thing that defileth is\nwhat is pleasing to the Lord. May this be my continual abstinence.\nAmen.--Not able to procure a substitute to meet my husband's class, I\nventured myself, sensible of my own unfitness, and earnestly begging\nGod to speak by me. One person went out, but whatever was the cause,\nthank God, I felt that my work was with the Lord.--Went to see poor\nold Sarah; found her confined to her bed but happy in the Lord: nature\nwas fast sinking. I wished her to have a nurse, but she thought she\ncould do alone, as she had a candle, and the Lord was with her: left\nher, but found means to procure a nurse for the night.--A few days ago\nI was awoke with the words, 'What shall I do for thee?' My answer was,\n'Lord, that I may live more fully to Thee, and for Thee.' Unutterable\nsweetness filled my soul, and now, while I write, I feel it still.\nGlory be to God, His love is ever new. To walk with Him, transcends\nall earthly enjoyment.--During the last week I have learned my own\nweakness. Unaided by divine grace, I have no power to check trifling\nconversation among professors; especially such as are older than\nmyself. Teach me how to act, when to speak, and when to be silent.\nTo-day felt it my duty to visit a neighbour, and met with a more\nfavourable reception than I expected. He has long been ill, and is now\nin trouble. I told him that I had come to bring him good news,\nthat 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;' and while\nconversing with him on the necessity of an interest in the Redeemer's\nblood, in order to forgiveness, he seemed to listen with attention.\nMay the Lord make him a witness of the saving power of the Gospel,\nSome little matters, which require a patient and forgiving spirit,\nhave occurred to fill up my character as a Christian. Lord, help\nme and give me that spirit which in Thy sight is of great\nprice.--Thirty-eight years old! How short the time appears! yet how\nvaried the scenes through which I have passed! and how different the\nviews I have had. Praise the Lord. With respect to the soul, I have\nclearer views than ever. My feet are upon the rock. When I look over\nmy life, how blotted it appears! am lost in astonishment, that God,\nwho made all things, and upholds all things by the word of his power,\nshould stoop to such a wretch as I. O the depth of the riches of His\nmercy to me!--I have received a letter from Cousin Ann, in which she\nboldly confesses the cleansing blood. Hope it will prove a lasting\nblessing to me; feel ashamed that I have not more openly acknowledged\nwhat the Lord has done for my soul. By this omission, have clipped the\nwings of my faith, and encouraged a diffidence, which I long to have\nremoved; have hesitated upon the plea, that I would wait and see\nwhether the work was genuine or no. O my Saviour forgive, and\ncondescend to teach one of the dullest scholars in Thy school.--Have\nfound the five o'clock prayer-meetings very profitable, and cannot\nbe thankful enough that I have health to go. At the prayer-leaders'\nLovefeast, said I could give up all for God, but have since asked\nmyself, Is this true? Lord, Thou knowest it is the desire of my heart\nto give myself to Thee without reserve: accept the offering. I feel\nThee now pouring in Thy ineffable peace. My soul has but one object,\ninward and outward holiness. O make me quite clear.--The intercourse\nis open between my soul and God, but yet I have had to struggle for\nit. O save me fully. This is what I want. Last Tuesday I felt I could\nnot doubt. Stamp me, Saviour, with Thy seal, and keep me ever Thine. I\nagain met Mrs. G.'s class. I feel myself more fit to sit at their feet\nand be taught; but O Thou, who usedst clay to open the eyes of the\nblind, use me for Thy glory.--Some keen things uttered by a relative\nhave wounded me to the quick. I feel innocent, yet, Lord, how little\nI can hear! Give me the love that hopeth all things, endureth\nall things, which rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the\ntruth.--Kirkby. I am reading Fletcher's Life. How it excites holy\ndesire! My earnest aspiration is after perfect love. When shall it\nonce be? Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.--We went to Ribstone to\nsee Mrs. R. but did not pray at the close of the visit; my mind was\nwounded on this account. The Lord pardon all my offences.--Cousin and\nI found it good to pour out our souls before God, alone. At first my\nmind felt hard; but by and by, the veil was drawn aside, and I enjoyed\na sweet manifestation of the Lord;--a settled peace but no overflowing\njoy. My earnest wish is to be quite clear, for I am more than ever\nconvinced of the reality of the blessing. The cleansing power of God\nputs us in a capacity to 'grow in grace,' and live to the glory\nof God.--We walked to Barrowby, and took tea with Miss H. She is a\nfriendly girl, possessing the advantage of a polite education, but\nwants the main accomplishment--vital godliness: she wept while I\ntalked with her. O that it may not pass away as the morning cloud! On\nour return we had a blessed meeting with our God. I felt the power\nto cast myself by faith upon the Lord; but still do not perceive the\ndirect witness of the cleansing blood: am resolved not to give up the\npoint until I obtain my suit.--I left Kirkby,--a place so congenial\nto my inclinations, secluded from scenes of noise and excitement,--and\nhad a pleasant journey home, where I found all well. Praise\nGod.--Returning from the Lord's house, a beautiful rainbow attracted\nmy attention, and preached a second sermon to me; putting me in mind\nof the covenant which the Lord had made with His people.--I am aiming\nto keep the prize in view. I see lengths and breadths before me;\nand my heart, thank God, is bent to pursue that which to me is most\ndesirable, viz., holiness. But I need stronger faith to enter in by\nthe blood of Jesus. Union with Him is sweet. This makes one thirst\nfor more. Many temptations assault me, but the reading of Fletcher's\nPolemical Essay on Christian Perfection has been of advantage to me. I\nam learning the method of bringing to God those evils and besetments,\nwhich seem to be the main hindrances to my progress. I have much cause\nof humiliation before the Lord, and wish to attain that sweet spirit\nof abasement, which not only confesses its unworthiness, but _feels_\nwilling, that others should be preferred before me. I have need of\nvigilance; my enemy is ready to seize upon the least advantage. To\nThee, O God, my soul looks up.--A dream, I had this week, powerfully\nimpressed me with the necessity of being faithful with our relatives,\nand of living near to God ourselves. Private prayer has been\nprofitable, but do not know that I was ever so much beset with\npeculiar temptation. Since I have become acquainted with the devices\nof the enemy, have found another errand to the Lord.--Spent the\nforenoon with some of the friends of God, and the poor. On attending\none of the women's prayer-meetings, find my name, has been omitted,\nbut believe it is for the best.\n\n  'Make me little and unknown,\n  Prized and loved by God alone.'\n\nLast night I was troubled in my sleep, but it was sweetly suggested;\n'God is our refuge--a very present help in trouble.' Glory be to God\nfor His promises; may I hang upon them more firmly than ever. To-day\nmy soul has been drawn after God; but when shall I be able to say\nwith Mr. Wesley, 'Now I have lived a day.'--Find patience a grace.\nI especially need, both with respect to myself, my children, my\ndomestics, and the world. Had not the sacred Scriptures declared 'ye\nhave need of patience,' I should be more ready to reason with the\nenemy than I am. But the word of God is a strong tower against\nthe assaults of the devil; here the righteous find a refuge and a\nhiding-place.--What a poor unprofitable creature I am! Lord, I cast\nmyself upon Thee. Save a helpless soul, that feels no merit but in\nJesu's atoning blood.\"\n\n\"1821. Am ashamed to acknowledge I have felt a little impatience,\nbecause my hands through stiffness, occasioned by cramp, have refused\nto perform their ordinary duty. Forgive me, O my God; nor ever let me\nrepine at any of Thy dispensations to a worm, loaded with benefits as\nI am. I seem a poor piece of useless lumber, but Thou bearest with me.\nLet me ever live to Thee.--Although I usually sleep well, last night\nI lay awake for some time, but my meditations were sweet; they turned\nupon Peter's advice to those who had received like precious faith,\nviz.; 'Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to\nknowledge temperance, and to temperance PATIENCE,' &c. I have felt its\ninfluence to-day. Praise the Lord for so divine an admonition; my soul\nneeds it.--The debt of gratitude I owe to Thee, 'O Thou Preserver of\nmen,' I feel glad to acknowledge, though I am unable to pay. Glory be\nunto Thee for Thy renewed mercy to a worm. Help me to repeat my vows\nto Thee, who hast graciously protracted my life, and through another\nseeming death delivered me. Let the babe, thy love has given me, be\nunreservedly dedicated to Thyself. But oh! how shall I tell of Thy\nunbounded love to a worthless creature! My soul longs to be wholly\nThine. Help my feebleness; let me turn neither to the right hand\nnor the left, but teach me all Thy will.--I am blessed with health,\nsurrounded by friends, and encompassed by mercies. How infinitely poor\nis my gratitude to the Lord, when all these are considered! How is\nit, Lord, that my affection for Thee is so cold, and my faith in Thy\ninfallibility so weak? Quicken me, animate my drooping powers, and let\nme every moment live in Thee.--I have the witness within me, but daily\nfeel my own weakness. All my good comes from heaven, and requires\nconstant renewal. I have faith in God, but thirst for more. I want to\nbe deluged with the love of God.--A trivial circumstance has been a\nsource of mental exercise; but thank God, have had power to keep my\ntongue. Let the issues of my heart be kept by Thee.\"\n\n  ON THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE, MAY 5TH, 1821.\n\n  He falls! Napoleon Buonaparte is gone:\n  Who conquered thousands, conquered now by one:\n  His strength diminished, and his glory fled;\n  His kingdom taken, and his honour dead.\n  Though clad in warlike state,--without command;\n  A captive buried in a foreign land:\n  Oh! might we hope the captive now is free,\n  Escaped from bondage into liberty.\n\n\"In private I have been greatly blessed; but, oh! the sense of\nignorance I feel makes me ashamed: yet I know not that I ever felt a\ndeeper thirst for all that God can give. Come, Lord, and diffuse Thy\npresence through my soul. I have been reading Bramwell's Memoir; how\ndesirable his life! How enviable his death! Help me, Lord, to follow\nafter, and to walk in close communion with Thee; that I may apprehend\nthat, for which I am apprehended in Christ Jesus.--At. St Michael's\nChurch the Rev. John Graham improved the death of the Rev. William\nRichardson, who for half a century has laboured in York, and been much\nesteemed on account of his ministerial usefulness. He gave a concise\naccount of Mr. R.'s literary and spiritual attainments. His Christian\ncharacter was excellent. His chief joy was in Christ crucified; and\nhis constant prayer, that he might not live longer than he could be\nuseful. His labours continued up to his last illness, which lasted\nonly a week, and his last words were, 'My pleasures are to come.' Thus\ndied this eminent minister of Jesus Christ, aged 76. To me it was a\nseason of especial profit; angels seemed hovering around.\"\n\n  REFLECTIONS.\n\n  Returning seasons bid reflection wake,\n  And o'er the past a winding passage take:\n  Ah! what a scene of change arrests the mind,\n  Within the compass of five months behind!\n  In many a home is hushed the voice of mirth,\n  And sorrow, as a flood, o'erflows the earth.\n  Here one, by sad misfortune followed fast,\n  In hopeless indigence is plunged at last.\n  Another, by disaster thrown aside,\n  Has got a crippled limb to prop his side.\n  There, death has made a breach, and left forlorn\n  The widowed mother, and the babe unborn.\n  Here, weeps the father o'er his orphan child,\n  Who thinks it strange, for formerly he smiled:\n  Oh! who can tell the sorrows of his breast?\n  'Tis sad experience must reveal the rest.\n\n  A few days since, a mournful crowd appeared,\n  In sable garb, and to the church repaired;\n  Ask you the reason of their measured pace,\n  Why silent all, and tears on every face.\n  Alas! the Pastor's dead, who, fifty years,\n  The Gospel tidings sounded in their ears:--\n  A man of God, endued with purpose strong,\n  Who lived the truth he taught, and hated wrong,\n  Full thirty years, the schools enjoyed his care;\n  The sick, the poor, the Missions claimed a share.\n  But now, we hear his friendly voice no more;\n  His course is finished, and the fight is o'er.\n  Come, hear the accents of his flying lips,\n  \"My pleasures are to come;\"--the curtain slips,\n  And hides what follows from our curious eyes:\n  Enough! he joins the chorus of the skies.\n\n  Another scene, and melancholy too;\n  The bridegroom widowed, ere he pleasure knew;\n  His hopes of bliss had soared unduly high,\n  And little dreamt he there was danger nigh;\n  But see! the throes of death his bride arrest,\n  The barbed arrow strikes her beating breast:\n  His hands have touched the cup, but ere he sips,\n  The wine is hurried from his burning lips.\n\n  Such are the sorrows which around I find,\n  Diverse, and manifold as human kind.\n  Let these suffice my gratitude to fire,\n  And with unfeigned praise my tongue inspire.\n  That I, so undeserving, still possess\n  Unnumber'd mercies, through redeeming grace.\n  Let each vicissitude my soul prepare,\n  By patience here, for endless glory there;\n  Where sickness ceases, and where sorrows end,\n  Where no misfortune can the bliss suspend;\n  Where death is banished, for the curse is o'er,\n  And love unrivall'd reigns for evermore.\n\n\"I have greater pleasure in visiting the sick, and the poor, than\nin visiting those who, as far as this world is concerned, are better\ncircumstanced; in the former case, my object is simply to do or get\ngood, but in the latter, I find it is in danger of being mixed\nwith other motives. Christ is the end as well as the source of my\nhappiness. Oh! to be saved in every word and thought, this is what my\nsoul covets. I feel I am getting firmer hold of Christ.--I have been\ntempted to a spirit of fretfulness and ill-nature; praise the Lord for\nthe victory. I was enabled to come to him for help, and power; and by\nejaculatory prayer, found sweet access to the Throne. I can say it is\nmy chief study to live to please God, and to obtain a complete victory\nover myself, which I find is no small conquest.--The prospect of my\nchildren's return from school has supplied me with another subject of\nprayer. I have asked for patience, perseverance, and firmness to guide\nthem aright. By simply coming to the Lord, I obtain help; and am sure,\nthat while I continue to act faith in His power, I _shall_ be helped.\nThen help Thy servant evermore to trust in Thee.--Had purposed going\nto the Prayer-meeting, but was prevented; I believe Providence guided\nme, and appointed me another work. In talking to my family at home, I\nfelt great liberty; the Lord loosened my tongue. Oh! that the seed may\nspring up, and bear fruit. I endeavour to pour out all my grievances\nbefore the Lord. I know that He hears my prayer, and am resolved\nto tell Him the worst of myself, as far as His grace enables me to\ndiscover it. I am decidedly resolved to be the Lord's, for I can\nobtain solid happiness from no other source; but the name of Jesus is\na cordial to my soul. More faith, and more love, is all I want.--How\nfrail I am! Conversing with a friend as I returned from the house of\nGod, I uttered an unnecessary word, and immediately felt that I had\ngrieved the Spirit of God. As soon as an opportunity of retiring\npresented itself, I poured out my soul before the Lord, ashamed that\nI should so often offend Him, whom I desire to love and obey above\nall things.--In my class I professed the enjoyment of the sanctifying\ninfluences of the Holy Spirit; and, blessed be God, though I hold the\nblessing feebly, I do hold it; but the cry of my soul is, fill me with\nall the life of God.\"\n\n[The following lines, written after reading a piece in favour of snuff\nand tobacco, will be edifying to smokers.]\n\n  While some prefer the quid, and some the smell;\n  There are who think that smoke doth both excel,\n  I smile to see these votaries so misled,\n  And think their several tastes are idly bred.\n  Perchance one, here and there, may virtue find,\n  In 'bacco' fumes, when much perplexed with wind.\n  But sure, the human frame, frail as it is,\n  Is not so subject to the qualms as this;\n  Three times a day to need the burning herb,\n  To cure the evils which so much disturb.\n    'Tis since the fall, an idol demon tries,\n  By sophisms deep, to close the wise man's eyes.\n  While musing on the sacred word, they plead\n  The blessing of the mind composing weed;\n  Thus join their idol with Divinity,\n  Whose mandate is, \"No other God but Me.\"\n    But hear them plead their failing cause again;\n  \"It recreates the powers to work amain,\n  Dispels the phlegm, which on the stomach lay,\n  And fits us for the labours of the day.\"\n  But will not prayer, and reading recreate,\n  Much more than smoking thus in idle state?\n  And exercise effect more lasting good,\n  If they complain of undigested food I\n    O be resolved, ye smoking sinners, do\n  Forsake your idol, and your God pursue:\n  Deny yourselves, and nobly bear the cross,\n  Esteeming all for Christ but dung and dross.\n\n\"At the Prayer-meeting Mr. Spence gave a short address on the subject\nof entire sanctification: my faith was so much encouraged, I could\nscarcely refrain from speaking aloud; and while on my knees I\nexclaimed, many times, before the Lord, 'I will believe' On my way\nhome the words were applied, 'Now ye are clean through the word which\nI have spoken unto you'--At the Acomb lovefeast, I confessed that I\ncould now give God all my heart. I did not feel any doubt in so\ndoing, although the enemy suggested, 'you are deceived' Lord, if I am\ndeceived, speak for Thyself; for I am determined to be Thine. Here, in\nThy presence, I humbly beseech Thee to set the seal upon Thy own work.\nI dare believe. Let the transaction be ratified in heaven. I am set\napart for Thee.\n\n\"Newton. Having a little time to wait for the coach, I sauntered into\nthe churchyard. The solemnity of the place suggested the following\nlines, while I stood and pondered.\"\n\n  Still solitary place! Here silence reigns;\n  Here griefs are hushed; none ever here complains.\n  Here no ambition agitates mankind,\n  Within the limits of a vault confined,\n  Around the whisp'ring breeze, impressive, steals,\n  And on my listening soul instruction seals.\n  The solemn truth sinks deep within my breast;\n  I, mortal now, immortal soon, shall rest.\n  Ended my journey, with its hopes and fears,\n  My deep solicitudes, and silent tears.\n  Under some neighbouring sod, my bones will lie,\n  And wait the summons from the flaming sky:\n  When ocean, trembling in its briny bed,\n  And earth, upheaving, shall restore her dead.\n  Roused by the voice, that heaven and earth shall shake,\n  At that momentous period, I _must_ wake,\n  Among my fellow clay unknown before,--\n  Must wake with horror, or with joy adore.\n  Oh, wondrous scene! most awful! most august!\n  Th' event is certain, and the purpose just.\n  The Judge's eye will pierce the inmost soul,\n  Each hidden record of the past unroll;\n  No word, no motive, no minuter thought\n  Escape exposure, into judgment brought.\n  Oh! that these solemn truths, with equal force,\n  Might rule my soul, throughout its earthly course;\n  That every scene, and every hour, may give\n  True witness then, to God alone I live!\n  So with the saints in glory shall I rise,\n  To hear the welcome plaudit from the skies,\n  \"Well done.\" Unbounded love! no tongue can tell\n  What transports then my ravished heart shall swell.\n  A worm! an atom! less than nothing I!\n  By love redeemed from death, and raised on high.\n\n\"Wrote a few lines to Miss B. concerning her soul's welfare. She is\nvery obliging, but destitute of the 'one thing needful.'--Called upon\nMrs. Farrar--we prayed together. How much happier should we live if\nthe time, so often wasted in chit-chat, were occupied in prayer. Help\nme, O God, against this soul-robbing evil. I found it profitable.--The\nLord is teaching me the happy lesson of telling all my heart to Him.\nWith respect to domestic grievances, I do not feel them to be so\ngreat a burden as formerly. My conscience feels tender, and though not\nalways equally happy, I find prayer sweet, and the Bible my delightful\nstudy. This is Thy doing, to Thee be all the praise.--Passing a\nperson, who was standing at his own door, I felt prompted to speak to\nhim about his soul. I turned back, and did so, inviting him to go to\nthe Chapel: but, alas! I seemed as one that told an idle tale.--I took\ntea with Mr. T. While he was at prayer, my soul was so lifted up, I\ncould scarcely help expressing my feelings aloud. What a heaven, is\nthe enjoyment of God! Prayer is the life of my soul, and the delight\nof my heart; yet I have to mourn over my weakness in consenting to\nconversation, which some may think very proper; but which does not\ntend to edification. I want to do all for eternity.--We received a\nturkey and a basket of fruit from a friend. I note this, as it would\nappear, the Lord is resolved, we shall lose nothing by entertaining\nhis servants;--a preacher with his wife and three children, strangers\nto us, having come, as they had no other place of refuge, to stay with\nus till Monday. 'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for some\nhave entertained angels unawares.'--A very stormy day; but where\nThy presence is how delightfully calm. The Lord does not leave me\nnotwithstanding all my failings. I am nothing; I can do nothing; yet,\nthank God, He has turned the bent of my heart to his testimonies,\nand it is the delight of my soul to obey Him.--On my return from the\nLord's house, I dedicated myself afresh to God; fully surrendering\nmy soul and body, my time and talents, to His service. Praised be His\nname, He ratifies the surrender 'on the mean altar of my heart.' I\nfeel the inward witness, 'Ye are clean through the word which I have\nspoken unto you.' O God, I accept Thee as my Sanctifier, my Sovereign,\nto govern and direct.--I have many mercies to record, among which\nhealth is not the least; but of higher value than that, are the favour\nand the peace of God. Lately I have experienced solid happiness in\nChrist, sweet access to the throne, and delight in the ways of God.\nIn visiting the poor, and also in acting in the capacity of\nprayer-leader, I have had some doubts whether I was in the path of\nduty. I laid the matter before God, willing to work for Him, or to\nbe laid aside for Him. On opening my bible, just before I retired to\nrest, my attention was arrested by these words, 'They shall not labour\nin vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the\nblessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come\nto pass, that before they call, I will answer; and whiles they are\nyet speaking, I will hear.' Blessed promises! They appeared very\napplicable.--By the midnight mail, my husband was unexpectedly called\nfrom home, on very precarious business. May he be preserved from\neverything injurious to his soul, however unfavourable to his health.\nA day of much excitement, scarcely time for reflection; but in private\nit was sweet to pour out my soul before God. I am desirous to know how\nmy husband proceeds with the business he has in hand. To know that\nthe Lord keeps him, and gives him health, would be a cause of\nthanksgiving. He is in Thy hands, Thou Preserver of men, save him\nfully. For some weeks past, I have been reckoning myself 'dead indeed\nunto sin;' but the last few days my children have been very noisy;\nI have thus been under the necessity of speaking loud, and sometimes\nfelt a little hasty in reproving them. This has awakened doubts of the\nreality of my experience. Unfold to me, O Lord, Thy truth, for to the\ntest of Thy word, would I subject my life and practice.\"\n\n\n\n\nVII.\n\nTEMPLE SERVICE.\n\n  \"HOLINESS BECOMETH THINE HOUSE, O LORD, FOR EVER.\"--Ps, xciii. 5.\n\n\n\"Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.\" The command applied\nnot only to the priest, who served at the altar, but to the Levite,\nto whom the charge of the sacred vessels was especially committed. The\ninference is, that the humblest officer in the Church of Christ ought\nto possess, above every other, this essential qualification, holiness.\nPurity is the secret of the Church's power. Wealth, talent, learning,\nhonour, are but instruments, which she can use; but this is her life,\nbecause it is the breath of the Spirit of God, giving vitality to her\nmembers, and energy to her action. God can use the \"weak things,\" and\n\"the foolish,\" and \"things that are despised, yea, and things that are\nnot;\" but he cannot use the things that are unclean, unless it be\nfor purposes of shame and dishonour. When will the Church learn this\nlesson? And when will she adopt the divine standard of judgment, and\nestimate men according to their resemblance to Christ? So soon as she\nshakes herself from the dust, she shall go forth in the majesty of her\nstrength, and become the admiration of the earth. Mrs. Lyth aimed\nat purity. She had passed the region of shadows, and entered the\nunclouded light of the Divine presence; but that very light, by its\nintensity, only revealed more distinctly the sinfulness of her nature;\nand created an absorbing desire after perfect holiness: she was thus\nprepared by God for the service of His temple.\n\n\"1822.--In our private band-meeting, Mrs. W. mentioned a singular\ncircumstance. Being restless during the night, and troubled with\nwandering of thought, she entreated the Lord to impress upon her mind\nthat which might be profitable. She fell asleep, and in a little time\nawoke with the words, 'The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;\nblessed be the name of the Lord.' Sleeping a second time, she awoke,\nwith 'Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of his saints.'\nA third time she slept, and the words, suggested on awaking, were\n'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea,\nsaith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours, and their works\ndo follow them.' A fourth time she awoke, and the passage presented to\nher mind was, 'The end of all things is at hand; be ye therefore sober\nand watch unto prayer.'--My soul is especially excited to prayer. In\nmyself I see no good thing, but many imperfections, and much weakness;\nyet I hang upon the Lord Jesus, and thirst for a deeper baptism of the\nSpirit. A few lines from Cousin E. inform me, that dear Ann, given\nup by her medical attendants, is rejoicing in the prospect of eternal\nglory. Praise the Lord. Though separation is painful, we cannot but\nrejoice in the blessed anticipation of seeing each other again. It\nonly remains for me to be faithful.--My patience has been exercised\nby one of my children. I scarcely know how to act, so as neither to be\ntoo indulgent, nor too severe. O Thou, who hast promised, that crooked\nthings shall be made straight, and the rough, places plain, give ear\nto my supplication, and in this matter point out the path of duty,\nthat at the last, I may present my whole family and say, 'None that\nThou gavest me are lost.'--While engaged in prayer, my soul was\nblessed in such a manner, that for some time I could say nothing but\nGlory, Glory. Surely this was a foretaste of the bliss, which shall\nnever end.--A letter informed me that cousin Ann wished to see me; so\non the following morning, putting myself under the protection of God,\nwho kindly took care of me, I left home. While travelling the spirit\nof prayer on behalf of those, whom I had left behind, was sweetly\npoured upon me. I found my dear cousin suffering from great debility;\nbut living by faith on the Son of God. A sweet smile played upon her\nface, like the soft radiance of the setting sun. Grace shone in every\nfeature of her faded, but still lovely countenance. She tells me, it\nis twelve years next October, since the Lord spoke peace to her soul.\nWe were kneeling in company with her sister, and the servant, by her\nbedside. I was engaged in prayer at the time, and for this reason she\nwished particularly to see me. Surely this is the mark whereby\nthe world knoweth us, 'because we love one another.'--As I was\ndistributing tracts, my heart was pained within me to see _how_ many\nwere employed on the Sabbath morn; and on my return, I wept to think\nthat, in the face of day, they could break a well-known command of\nGod. Lord, open their eyes that they may see. The spirit of my Ann\nhas taken its flight to the paradise of God, leaving many sorrowing\nfriends. Our loss is her gain; but nature feels.--In company with\nMrs. R. I collected for the Missions. We were wearied; but when\nI recollect, how much more wearisome the work of the Missionary,\ncheerfully will I undertake this labour of love; with a view to\nalleviate their toil, and facilitate their success. I proposed to Mrs.\nW. and Mrs. R. to meet me at the throne of grace, every morning the\nfollowing week, to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit: we all\nagreed. The appointed hour has been blessed to me; I have dwelt under\nthe shadow of the Almighty, and felt such a resignation to the will of\nGod, as I never felt before.--I was providentially led to see Miss B.\nIn our younger days we were companions; but in the course of time we\nhave become estranged. She is now on the bed of affliction, and wept\nwhile mother and I prayed. She requested me to go again; if I can be\nuseful to her, O Lord, open the way, and speak by me.\n\n--I went to see a man walk upon the river, which occasioned the\nfollowing lines:--\n\n  I saw the man, with wondrous skill.\n  Walk on the yielding stream at will,\n    Sustained by human art:\n  Not so did Peter, when to Thee\n  He stepped upon the rolling sea;\n    Faith did the power impart.\n\n  So while on life's tempestuous wave,\n  With timid steps I walk; O! save,\n    Reach out Thy hand to me:\n  My courage swells, while Thou art near,\n  Nor foe nor accident I fear,\n    Though wild the billows be.\n\n  But safely on through peril glide,\n  Supported on the dangerous tide,\n    By looking unto Thee:\n  Impossibilities shall yield,\n  And faith a solid pathway build.\n    Across the stormy sea.\n\nI have had some family exercises;--scarce worth a thought, if I had\nmore of the mind of Christ; yet I have been able to tell my care to\nGod, and at his footstool, I have got rid of my burden. I enjoy the\nsoul's calm sunshine.--When I consider how time slips away, and how\nlittle I effect for my own improvement, and that of others, I am\nashamed. My life appears so blotted, I can only say, 'God be merciful\nto me a sinner;' but praise God, I can rely with greater confidence\nthan formerly upon his promises. I know I am his child, and my\nhappiness is in doing the will of my Father.--Mrs. Taft is with us. O\nthat the disappointment she has met with, (the refusal of the chapel,)\nmay turn out rather to the furtherance of the Gospel, and more\nespecially for the benefit of my family.--I understand she spoke in\nthe school-room with energy and power; and at the prayer-meeting which\nfollowed, my Eliza was restored to the favour of God. Thus the Lord\nout of seeming evil has brought good to my child.--The one thing is\ndaily the object of my desires and efforts. I want more clearly to\nexhibit the fruits of righteousness in my ordinary conversation. Being\nnaturally of a hasty temperament, I need constantly to be baptized\nwith the meek, and lowly spirit of Jesus. Grant me, O Lord, my heart's\ndesire. I do feel Thy sanctifying presence, but O how I long for\nmore.--The Lord is working amongst the children. My Richard, at the\nnew School vestry, felt the drawings of the Spirit; and William, I\nam told, cried out aloud. O that these early impressions may come to\nmaturity. My soul, praise the Lord for these beginnings. How shall I\nbest foster these tender plants: Lord, teach me to cherish the good,\nand to correct the errors of youthful feeling. My father and mother\nhave entered the house we have built for them adjoining our own. We\nhad a prayer-meeting on the occasion, which was a blessed season to my\nsoul.\"\n\n\"1823.--For the last time, I visited Jane S. She was scarcely\nrecollected; but after a little time she requested me to pray. She\nseemed very much in earnest. I endeavoured to point her to Jesus. For\na moment she revived; but in the night she died. So in one short week,\ntwo are gone out of my husband's class.--This morning I felt great\npower in prayer, and an ardent desire for full deliverance from every\nbesetment. In this spirit I entered into my family, resolving to\nwatch with all diligence; but alas! imperfection is stamped upon all\nI do,--so many wanderings, useless words, and deviations from the\nperfect law of God, that, were it not for the blood of Jesus, all hope\nof heaven would be excluded. Yet in private I had sweet communion with\nGod. I have derived profit from the perusal of Lady Maxwell's Journal.\nSome points of her experience correspond with my own: this encourages\nme. Nothing seems so desirable, nothing so amiable, as momentary\nliving to God.--Mr. McKitrick brought me Mrs. King's class-paper,\nrequesting me to take charge of the class until she recovered. I durst\nnot refuse it, although I felt my inability very great. My mental\nstruggles since have been many. It is suggested I am influenced by\npride; that I imagine I can do better than another; only by casting\nmyself upon God, and resolving to leave myself in His hands, I find\nhelp. O that I were satisfied, I am called to this work! By any means\ndiscover this to me, and fit me by Thy grace; then gladly will I be\nspent for Thee, who gavest Thyself an offering for me.--I went in much\nfear to meet Mrs. K's little flock, among whom I felt liberty; but\nafterward, my uneasy state of mind returned. O God, since all things\nare possible to Thee, subdue my heart; let all within and all without\nsubmit to Thy sovereign sway. One of the members requested me to read\nthe last chapter of the first Epistle of Peter, which I have done\nseveral times, and found it sweet.\"\n\nAs Mrs. K. never recovered, and indeed died shortly after, Mrs. Lyth's\nappointment to the office of leader was confirmed; an arrangement,\nwhich, notwithstanding her deep sense of her own insufficiency, met\nwith the cordial approbation of the class. One of the oldest members,\nwho was present on the occasion of her first meeting them, says, \"I\nwell recollect, with what profound humility, and with what fear and\ntrembling, she undertook the office of class-leader. While she was\nconfessing to us, that she felt utterly unworthy, and unfit for such\na responsibility, my heart rejoiced, that we were privileged with the\nappointment of one, possessed of so many excellencies. She said, if\nthe Lord had anything for her to do, she durst not refuse; that He had\noften employed very weak instruments to carry on His work; and added,\n\"Oh! that He may use me for His glory! Friends, you must pray that\nthe Lord may give me a double portion of His spirit, for I feel my own\nhelplessness.\" Then, on her knees, she poured out her soul to God with\ngreat earnestness, that He would fully qualify her for the work which\nhad been imposed upon her.\" Her own conviction of duty was however not\nso easily attained, and several entries occur like the following:--\n\n\"I again met Mrs. K's class, and found it very profitable to my own\nsoul: yet I am not quite satisfied I am right. O make it fully known,\nand, if this is the path of duty, crown my feeble efforts.--None but\nthe true Christian knows the sweets of communion with the Father,\nand the Son, through the blessed Spirit. 'Them that honour me I will\nhonour, came sweetly to my mind yesterday; by which I was led to see,\nif I faithfully walk in His commandments, He will honour me with His\npresence, and clothe me with His free Spirit. While pouring out my\nsoul in secret, the nearness I felt to Jesus is better felt than\nexpressed;--unusual power to give my all to Him without any\nreserve, as far as I can judge of myself. Is this the work of entire\nsanctification? Set to Thy seal, O my God, let the enemy no more rob\nme of this jewel; but bear directly to my heart, the witness of\nThy love.--I have had many visits from above, but not without\ninterruptions. The use of more words than necessary has, on\nreflection, occasioned feelings of pain. Oh! when will all my powers\nbe brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.--My wedding day!\nSeventeen years I have worn the silken-chain; during the last, I have\nenjoyed more of the life and power of God, and now the sacred flame\nburns brightly on my heart. With respect to my marriage, I believe\nit was solemnized in the fear of God; and an increasing union exists\nbetween me and my dear companion. We have many a blessed interview\nwith God, when shut in from all beside. Oh the goodness of God to me!\nHis mercies have far exceeded my trials, and even out of my several\nsorrows He has brought my greatest blessings.--At Mrs. K.'s class the\nLord graciously sustained me with His presence; my doubts respecting\nthis work seem now to disperse, and unless I am deceiving myself, I\nam in the way of providence. I inquired of one of the friends, if\nany time was fixed to pray for the revival of the work of God, and am\ntold, every Friday--fasting; hours of prayer; six, nine, and twelve in\nthe morning, and three and six in the afternoon. By the help of God, I\nam resolved to join them. The Lord is blessedly with, me this evening.\"\n\n  TO MY HONOURED FATHER\n\n  ENTERING ON HIS EIGHTY-EIGHTH YEAR.\n\n  Bending with the weight of years,\n    See the hoary headed saint,\n  Rise above tormenting fears;\n    Suffer, but without complaint,\n\n  Ready, as a shock of corn,\n    For the Paradise above;\n  Golden fruits his age adorn,--\n    Fruits of holiness, and love.\n\n  Though the outward man decay,\n    Inward strength is daily given;\n  Nothing can his soul dismay,\n    Succoured by the God of heaven.\n\n  He, the wise man's laurel, wears;\n    In the path of wisdom found,\n  Lo! his hoary head appears\n    With unearthly glory crowned.\n\n  Borne on time's untiring wing,\n    Homeward fast his spirit flies;\n  Now the city of the King,\n    Flames upon his longing eyes.\n\n  Brighter, as the clouds recede,\n    Blaze its walls of spotless white;\n  Deeper, from the throne proceed,\n    Dazzling floods of purer light.\n\n  Every birthday, nearer hies\n    That unknown but welcome hour;\n  When the saint in triumph cries,\n    \"I, through Christ, am conqueror.\"\n\n\n\"I went, by request, to visit a person who has long been confined\nto her bed. She knows something of God; but ah! how slight is\nthe knowledge of even, professing Christians! After reading, and\nconversing with her, I proposed prayer; but the master of the house\nsat still. When we arose from our knees, I spoke freely and plainly to\nhim of his sinful condition. O my God, if I was moved by Thee, fasten\nconviction upon his conscience.--I accompanied Mrs. K. to collect for\nthe Clothing Society, and while our benevolent friends bestowed upon\nus the mammon of unrighteousness, the Lord blessed me with the true\nriches.--Having taken a little cold, I was dull of hearing, and afraid\nthat I should not be able to hear the members of my class in the\nevening. I betook myself to prayer, and the Lord graciously heard,\nand so far restored me, that I had no difficulty. My soul was like wax\nbefore the sun, while Jesus shone upon it.--My mind has been reproved\nfor reproving. Lord, I thank Thee for Thy secret admonitions; forgive,\nand take all my powers under Thy control. I called to see Mr. Spence;\nhis natural powers decline, but heaven beams on his countenance. He\nsaid, while he was putting on his neckcloth, in the morning, he had\nbeen struck with the meagre and ghastly appearance he presented in the\nglass; but the sweet serenity of his soul compelled him to exclaim,\n'Welcome old man! welcome declining age! welcome death!'--I spoke\nat the Prayer Leaders' lovefeast, but the enemy troubled me much\nafterward: however, this much I will affirm--to the grace of God I owe\nmy all. I feel decided in my choice, hate sin, have the witness that\nI am a child of God, and enjoy the comforts of the Holy Ghost; but\nthe clear evidence of entire sanctification I do not hold, though I\nbelieve I have many times received it, and for a short time held it;\nbut, for want of boldly confessing the faith, have lost the blessed\npearl. O for the baptismal flame.\"\n\nIn the summer of this year she visited the Rev. John Nelson, then\nstationed in Sheffield, to whom she was much attached. As was her\nconstant practice, when released from the claims of domestic duty, she\navailed herself of every opportunity of doing, and getting good. Every\nday was a sabbath of religious privilege. The church, and the chapel,\nthe social party and the sick bed, were made subservient to purposes\nof spiritual improvement. With reference to a party of friends, who\nwere invited to meet her, she says, 'After tea the females being left\nalone, each of us prayed; this is a blessed way to cut off religious\nchit-chat.'\n\n\"Quarterly Fast. Mr. Haswell called upon me to pray, when the Lord\nwas pleased to humble me; for which I would be truly thankful. Make me\nwilling any way, only let my soul be brought into conformity with Thy\nwill;--willing to be little, that Thou alone mayest be exalted. My\nnature is not willing to be thought little. During the day I felt a\nhumble dependance upon Jesus.\"\n\n  ON OBSERVING A SIGN IN SHEFFIELD WORDED,\n  \"BRIDE CAKES AND FUNERAL BISCUITS.\"\n\n  Ah! is the bridal-day,\n    When festive pleasures meet,\n  The presage, but of swift decay,\n    Within the winding sheet?\n\n  What then is man at best?\n    A blooming,--fading flower;\n  Immortal, in a mortal vest,\n    The creature of an hour.\n\n  Well then may death be joined\n    Unto our festal days;\n  Well may our pleasures limit find\n    Within so short a space.\n\n  To seek eternal bliss\n    Within time's narrow span,\n  Is man's best int'rest;--only this\n    Can form the future man.\n\n  Let dying mortals then\n    Their foolish dreams forsake;\n  Unto their rest return again,\n    And Christ their refuge make.\n\n  Then, even timid youth\n    May smile upon the tomb;\n  And festive moments welcome truth,\n    Though clad in robes of gloom.\n\n  By Jesus' death, is broke\n    Death's dark and powerful spell;\n  And, while to Him by faith we look,\n    We know that all is well.\n\n\"While meeting the little company my soul was blest. O for spiritual\ndiscernment and grace, that I may be truly helpful to them, and deal\nfaithfully. Visited a dying person who says, she dare not rest on\nJesus;--yet HE is a tower.\"\n\n  ON THE DEATH OF POPE PIUS XIII.\n\n  His Holiness, the Pope,\n    Hath yielded up his breath;\n  He, who could sins forgive,\n    Hath no command o'er death;\n  How wonderful! such power to have,\n  And yet to sink into the grave!\n\n  If sin, the sting of Death,\n    His Holiness could draw;\n  Why render up His breath\n    Unto a conquered foe?\n  Either, he fallible must be,\n  Or sin hath gained the victory.\n\n\"I am thankful for the decision of character I feel. My daily want is\nmore of the love 'that conquers all, and every mountain moves.'--My\nprivate communings with God are my most precious seasons. There I\ncan tell all my wants, unbosom all my griefs, reveal all my secrets,\nexpose all my temptations, and there the Lord graciously condescends\nto visit me with fresh manifestations of His love and power. These\nvisits humble me, and give me to see, where my strength lies. Come,\nLord, and dwell in me, that every moment I may have the witness that\nall I do is right.--I called to see my dear afflicted friend W., whose\neldest daughter is slowly sinking into the tomb. As it was the hour\nwe usually meet in band, we retired to pour out our souls before the\nLord. My friend seemed willing to give up her daughter, if only she\ncould be assured, that a divine change had taken place. The Lord gave\nus the Spirit of prayer to plead on this account, and glory be to God,\nin that same hour, He imparted peace to the dying child.--The night\nwas awfully tempestuous. I rose twice to pour out my soul to Him, who\nrules the storm, and found sweet calm within.--After tea, Mr. Spence\nasked me, why I had invited my friends. I replied, it was my desire,\nthat we should help each other to heaven. A conversation on holiness\nof heart ensued, which to me, and I trust to all present, was\nprofitable. This conversation will leave no painful reflection. I\navowed that I held, though with a trembling hand, the power to love\nGod with all my heart, and felt the sweet assurance at the time; but\nthe next morning when I awoke, it was suggested, I knew not what I had\navowed. The satisfactory evidence was for a moment withdrawn; yet by\nfaith I still resolved to hang upon the Saviour. I did not long remain\nin doubt, my peace of mind returned; and in the evening, while\nengaged in prayer (Eliza being with me), the divine influence sweetly\noverwhelmed my soul, and not mine only, my Eliza felt its power. Glory\nbe to God.--I took tea with Mrs. E., the person with whom I lodged\nduring my affliction. A sense of gratitude for past mercies stirred my\nheart to praise; and the time, which might otherwise have been spent\nin conversation to no profit, was spent in prayer.--I daily need the\nsprinkled blood, and the clear assurance of the perfect love which\n'casteth out fear.' I dare not doubt that I possess, in a measure,\nits blessed fruits; but I long to rise higher, that no scruple may\nremain.\"\n\n\n\n\nVIII.\n\nPASSING CLOUDS.\n\n  \"CAN ANY UNDERSTAND THE SPREADINGS OF THE CLOUDS.\"--Job xxxvi. 29.\n\n\nWho can explain the involuntary emotions of human mind? How strange,\nthat often, on the eve of some great misfortune, a sensible cloud\nshould spread over the spirit; but whence it comes, or why, we\ncannot tell! To say it is a coincidence is only an acknowledgment of\nignorance. Ought we not rather to refer it to the secret agency of\nthe spirit-world by which we are surrounded; but of which we know so\nlittle? Perhaps God would thus timely warn us to seek refuge under the\nshadow of his wing, just as we seek shelter from the storm, which the\ncloud, that spreads itself upon the face of heaven, tells us is at\nhand. At least, it cannot be without advantage, when such monitions\noccur, to betake ourselves to more earnest prayer; then, come what\nmay, we shall find a safe asylum in Him, to whom belongeth everlasting\nstrength.--One of the first entries of the year 1824, is\n\n  THE CLOUD WILL SOON BLOW OVER.\n\n  Though far, and wide above my head,\n  The dull portentous cloud is spread;\n  With many a dark and massive fold,\n  Love decks it with a rim of gold.\n  The sun is shining still behind,\n  The promise of a purpose kind;\n  And, soon unveiled again, will dart\n  His cheering rays upon my heart.\n  Far brighter will His face appear,\n  Than if no cloud had gathered near.\n  Then, till the cloud is overpast,\n  My anchor, hope, on God I'll cast;\n  Assured while He is throned above,\n  The cloud is only sent in love.\n\nAbout a fortnight after penning these lines, her father, whose\ncontinued life she had, every spring, hailed with a new song of\ngratitude, was suddenly seized with a fit of paralysis, which in a few\ndays terminated his earthly career. A premonitory attack had occurred\nin the preceding autumn, which at the time affected his speech, but\non recovering a little, he expressed his confidence in God in these\nremarkable words: \"It is rolled up; it is rolled up. I am satisfied; I\nam quite satisfied. I am ready; when the Lord pleases, I am ready. The\nLord hath given me eternal life. I know the Lord; I shall not perish.\nI shall not perish, for I am the Lord's.\" During the winter he had\nrallied again, and resumed his labours in his Master's cause. Hopes\nbegan to be entertained, that he might yet be spared a little longer;\nbut these were suddenly cut off. About the beginning of February he\nwas seized again, and it was soon apparent that this attack would\nprove fatal. His last testimony to the truth was strong and clear, and\ncontinued to be borne until the power of language failed. To the Rev.\nW. McKitrick, who came to visit him shortly before his departure,\nhe said, in almost the same words the amiable Addison used to Lord\nWarwick, \"You are come to see a Christian, die;\" and then added,\n\"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. I used\nto sing that in the Church, when I knew not what it meant; but now I\ndo.\" Not a shadow of a cloud rested upon the valley; it was full of\nlight: and on the 24th of the month he died, in the full triumph of\nfaith, esteemed and lamented by persons of every shade of opinion.\n\n\"This day in former years, I have hailed my dear father's stay among\nus; but now, he has left our dark abode to join his friends above; and\nthis day, his death is to be improved by Mr. Hopkins New Street,\nand Mr. McKitrick, in Albion Street Chapel. For some weeks I have\nbeen under the chastening hand of God. My patience has been severely\ntested; but I am thankful, in the moments of severest trial, I have\nfelt confident that not a stroke would be laid upon me more than\nwould conduce to my real good. Though the waves roll around me, I\ncan venture myself on Jesus. Here I find firm footing; here is my\nresting-place; and in the precious atonement of the Redeemer, my soul\nenjoys sweet repose.--I have been suffering from sickness, but have\nhad many precious moments while musing upon my bed. Through mercy, I\nam again able to sit up, but am very deaf. This has occasioned a train\nof reasoning. I have been led to inquire, whether the Lord in His\nprovidence intends to depose me from meeting His people. But in\nthis, and in every thing else, I would resignedly say, 'Thy will be\ndone.'--The mercy of the Lord is again repeated. The deafness, from\nwhich I have suffered, is greatly removed. Bless the Lord, who can not\nonly make the deaf to hear, but the heart to praise.--My little Anna,\nafter being lent to me for seventeen days, and finding nothing on\nearth to court her stay, has closed her eyes on time, and opened them\nupon heaven. So uncertain is earthly happiness. Perhaps my heavenly\nFather, more securely to engage my heart, has kindly resumed the\ngift; and transplanted to a better soil the flower, whose charms were\ninsensibly stealing my affections. I anticipated the delightful task\nof rearing this tender plant to be a future comfort; but Thou, O Lord,\nart righteous in all Thy ways. My feelings have been peculiarly acute,\nbut to Thee, O Lord, my heart is known. Teach me due submission to\nThy will; and as, by this bereavement, I shall, if restored to health,\nhave more leisure, may I dedicate it to Thee.--While Miss O. was\npraying with me, I had such a blessed view of the inhabitants of the\nworld above, that for a moment I seemed to be there. At the Class I\nwas led to see the privilege of living by faith every moment. Since\nthen, I have been able to realize _present_ blessings. The perusal\nof one of Mr. Fletcher's letters has been of service to me; also the\nrecollection of what my father used to say; 'I ask in faith, and bring\nthe blessing away with me.' Surely this is our Christian birthright.\nFaith honours God, and 'without faith it is impossible to please\nGod.' Thanks be unto Thee, I can now live by faith; but I want to\nlose myself in Thee, Thou vast unfathomable sea of love! Covered with\nimperfections, I want to be plunged in the precious blood of Jesus.\nPrecious Name! Precious blood! the sweetest cordial of the soul.\nI have had such a view of the way of faith as I cannot express; so\nsimple, yet so divine! Such a sweet deliverance from doubt! While I\nfeel myself nothing, I have power to apprehend God as my sanctifying\nSaviour. What has the world to compare with this?--I rose before six\nto hold communion with my God. Art Thou _my_ God? Yes; by that exalted\nname, I feel Thou art mine. My soul longs for Thee. When shall I wake\nup after Thy likeness? I have this evening met the precious charge\ncommitted to my care. The responsibility seems greater than ever. O\nmay I watch as one having to give account.\n\n\"Sinnington. Nature now resumes its beauty, but the removal of my\nbeloved Ann, and the absence of my dear Elizabeth, make a mighty\nchasm. Well; soon these separations will cease, and my freed spirit\nsoar to mansions of unclouded bliss. I have been tempted by the enemy;\nbut hold fast my confidence: may the faith, which purifies the heart,\nsanctify my lips, that I may tell of all Thy wondrous love.--I visited\nMrs. B. a second time; she is encouraged to believe the Lord will save\nher, for Christ's sake-without any merit of her own. Her husband was\nmore cordial than I expected from the account I had heard of him;\nthe tears started in his eyes while I conversed with him. I feel I am\nemployed as I ought to be, when in this way I render the least service\nto a fellow-creature; but O how poor and feeble are my efforts! Since\nI came here my mind has been variously affected; sometimes clear,\nsometimes clouded; sometimes in prayer I have experienced unusual\nliberty, and again a degree of coldness; but always a sense of the\napprobation of God, with a desire to be entirely conformed to His\nwill.--Part of the day was spent in bidding the friends farewell, and\nin visiting some of the poor; and now I have finished my visit to this\nplace, I can say, I have been endeavouring to please God, and in some\nmeasure, benefit my fellow creatures; but my performances have been\nso mixed, that I am ashamed before the Lord. Nothing but the blood of\nsprinkling can wash away my defilement.--I went to the vestry after\nthe evening service, and selected a place, where I thought I should\nnot be observed; but the thought of the curse of Meroz, constrained me\nto leave my retired position. I resolved, if any opportunity presented\nitself, to engage in prayer; and truly God poured upon me the spirit\nof grace and supplication.--This week I have paid a social visit both\nto Mrs. R. and Mrs. W. Praise the Lord, I came away uncondemned on\naccount of anything I had said. This has not always been the case. I\nam thankful for the inward teaching of the Spirit; for the desire that\nevery power of my body, as well as every affection of my soul, may be\nwholly consecrated to God. This is now my prayer.--I have been much\naffected to hear that an old man, whom I had intended to visit, died\nyesterday. O God, forgive the omission and help me to be faithful. I\ntook an opportunity of seeing Mr. and Mrs. G., to converse with them\non the necessity of salvation: let Thy spirit work. The Lord has been\nshowing me what a poor empty creature I am; but gives me confidence\nin His promise. I can cast myself entirely upon Him, who is willing to\nsave me to the uttermost. Glory be to God, my soul dares lay hold on\nJesus, as my full, and all-sufficient Saviour.--This morning I gave\nWm. B. an invitation to chapel; called on M.T.S., who is in trouble,\nand advised him to read the 112th Psalm; saw Esther S., who is fast\ndeclining, but seems to desire nothing so much as union with God; also\nvisited J.C., who is sick, but happy in God.--The means of grace\nare refreshing, but these are not the only occasions on which I get\nblessed. No; while my hands are engaged with my ordinary duties, I\ncan look up and call God Father.--My husband presented me with a new\nvisiting book, the old ones having been called in after the death of\nMr. Spence; and the whole concern placed in the hands of a committee.\nHaving formerly felt my insufficiency, I have sought help at the\nthrone of grace, and entreated the Lord, as the committee have thought\nproper to send me a book, that He would give me a word in season, and\nHis blessing with my efforts.--The souls committed to me have been\nlaid very near my heart. Conscious of my own weakness, I asked the\nLord to put His word into my mouth, and bring it to my remembrance;\nand to His honour I here record it, that I have never experienced\ngreater liberty.--In the prayer-meeting I was silent, and felt\ncondemned in consequence; and on Saturday night the conviction of duty\nwas still deeper, but still resisted, How much I need forgiveness! As\nthe result, barrenness came over my soul, which continued part of the\nnext day. The recollection of having petitioned God to take my soul\nand body's powers, and then to refuse to employ my tongue in His\nservice, although He had promised to put words into my mouth, fills\nme with shame and humiliation.--For some days I have been hanging on\nChrist by naked faith, without much sensible comfort; yet have felt\nas fully resolved to live to the glory of God as when bathing in the\nbeams of His love. To-night the sacred fire burns brightly 'on the\nmean altar of my heart.'--I have many mercies to be thankful for,\nthough not recounted here. A moderate share of health is not the\nleast; my class increases, my family is well; I am surrounded with\nfriends; and above all, I enjoy peace of mind. 'What shall I render to\nthe Lord for all His benefits?'\"\n\n  The rapid moments fleet away;\n    And on their tireless wings,\n  Death rides, majestic in his sway,\n    Subjecting Popes and Kings.\n\n\"1825.--My daughter being out to tea, I called to take her to chapel;\nbut the solicitations of her friends had induced her to relinquish her\nintention: so I left her. But my mind was much pained; the case of Eli\nforcibly impressed my mind. I think I too easily yielded to what\nmy better judgment condemned. I need the forbearance of my heavenly\nFather, and wisdom to direct my children aright. I see great danger\nin mixing with the world, and the company of outward professors is\nequally perilous.--While Mr. Stoner was describing the character of\nthose, who have received Christ, my soul responded to the truth: I\nfelt the reality of the change in my own heart. The evidence of the\nsanctifying grace of God has of late been more distinct; yet never\nhave I been more deeply convinced of my own nothingness, nor of the\nexceeding riches of the divine grace.--This eventful month (February)\nis this year ushered in by answers to prayer. Having a cold, and being\ndull of hearing, I entreated the Lord, if he had called me to meet\nhis people, to give me power to hear. He graciously condescended to my\nrequest and blessed me among them. Four new converts stepped in. O for\nwisdom to instruct them.--I had a very pleasant visit at Miss C.'s.\nMr. Stoner, Sammy Hick, and two or three female friends were there. We\ngot to know one another's hearts upon our knees, and the Lord lent an\nattentive ear.--My body is feeble, but my soul pants after God. I\nwant totally to abandon self, that Christ may be all in all. He is the\nchief object of my affection, but I want to lay firmer hold upon His\nomnipotent strength. It is faith that brings the power to exhibit the\ngraces of the Spirit, and to act acceptably in the sight of God.\"\n\n  CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP.\n\n  Friendship hails the rising joy,\n    And shares the falling tear;\n  Breathes the sympathetic sigh,\n    And swells the common prayer.\n  How it soothes the troubled breast!\n    This charity divine\n  Breathes the balm of heavenly rest.\n    --May such a friend be mine.\n\n\"After my morning duties are discharged, I intend to devote the\nThursday of every week to the Lord, so long as health and opportunity\nare afforded me; especially in visiting the members of my class,\nministering to the sick, and attending the school. I went out feeling\nthat I was the engaged servant of the Lard, and he has graciously\nblessed my endeavours. One whom I visited is earnestly seeking the\nLord; and another, who has long been indebted to my husband, gave me a\nsovereign towards the amount-unsought, unasked, and unexpected!\"\n\n  Father of all, and God of grace,\n    Whose ever watchful eye\n  Surveys the depth and breadth of space;\n    Yet sees the sparrow fly:\n  Behold my heart--it pants for Thee;\n    The temple for Thyself prepare;\n  There let Thy throne established be,\n    Thy name engraven there.\n\n\"Much against my inclination, I paid a formal visit to ----;\nprovidentially I was seated near a friend, who was willing to converse\non things conducing to holiness.--Among the Lord's poor my soul is\noften blessed. This day, the day I have set apart for God, I wrote to\nMiss B. respecting the Sunday class; and, after arranging my domestic\naffairs, set forth to visit Mrs. D., then Mary H., who was sitting up\nreading her Bible. As soon as I entered, she began to tell me, that\na great change had taken place in her views and feelings; and that\nprayer and reading the word, were her greatest delight. I asked her\nhow long she had experienced this; she replied, 'About a month. You\nhad been praying with me; many things you said fastened upon my mind:'\nthen, laying her hand upon her heart, she added, 'I felt such a weight\nhere, I knelt down to pray; and after getting into bed again, it\nseemed as if a voice spoke to me, 'Mary, the door is open:' from\nthat time I have felt such peace of mind, and pleasure in reading the\nBible, as I never did before.' Lord, Thou art able to judge of this\nstatement, and bringest men to Thyself, by ways and means unknown to\nhuman sense. This occurred on the first Thursday I devoted to God.\nLord, make me faithful in the discharge of the trust reposed in me.--I\nam this morning left alone; yet not alone. I feel a blessed sense\nof the divine presence, which enables me to anticipate my heavenly\ninheritance; but not for any merit in me: oh no! on Jesus hangs my\nhope. To me belongeth shame and confusion of face; for my best doings\nare polluted, and all my good is from Himself. Praised be His name for\nthe change effected in my mind. The saints of God are my delight,\nthe word of God my treasure, and communion with God my greatest\njoy.--Through mercy, although feeble in body, I am better than during\nlast week. Yet even then I enjoyed peace, and when weakest, my faith\nhas been strongest; I could commit all into His hands; still I see\nmyself a poor empty creature. It is all of grace, through Jesus.\nPrecious name!\"\n\n  Afflictions, from Thy gracious hand,\n    Unmingled blessings prove;\n  The rod, prepared at Thy command,\n    Displays a Father's love.\n\n  Beneath its weight, submissive, Lord,\n    Upward to Thee I look;\n  \"Expect according to Thy word,\"\n    A blessing in the stroke.\n\n  May every pain be sanctified;\n    And every grace improve;\n  Till freed from dross, like silver tried,\n    My soul is only love.\n\n  No tear shall then bedew my eyes,\n    No grief my bosom swell;\n  The note of gratitude shall rise,\n    Thou hast done all things well.\n\n\"My dear mother has had a fall, and has been much indisposed in\nconsequence. I am thankful to have her so near me, as it is a pleasure\nto perform my duty as a child. In this, and every other relation, may\nI be found faithful.--I rose very early, as I felt concerned about\nmy dear mother; and went to her room-door, between three and four\no'clock; but as Mary had fastened it within, I could not obtain\nadmittance. However, I betook myself to prayer, and commended her to\nthe Lord. This passage was strongly impressed upon my mind: 'The Lord\nwill strengthen him upon the bed of languishing; Thou wilt make all\nhis bed in his sickness.'--I spent the day at H., in the company of\nsome friends not decidedly devoted to God. The Lord kept me, and I\nam thankful I came home without condemnation. I was favoured with an\nopportunity of speaking with each of them respecting their spiritual\nstate, and the things of eternity.--For some time I have been\nsurrounded by hurry and excitement, and longing for a little\nretirement. At length, in a way I did not expect, I am in part\nsecluded from my family. In this I am constrained to acknowledge the\nmercy of God to an undeserving worm. Brought apparently to the grave's\nedge, I have been refreshed with His presence, and had power to cast\nmyself upon His fatherly love. The enemy assaults me; but aware of my\nown weakness I venture, powerless as I am, upon the boundless merits\nof Jesus.\"\n\n  How sweet is still retirement! How it calms\n  The mind, and aids reflection! Here my soul,\n  Unfetter'd, soars to converse with its God.\n  I hear his Spirit whisp'ring round me now;\n  And love, and gratitude subdue my heart.\n  Yes, Solitude! I love thee, and enjoy\n  In thy sequester'd depths, the bliss, in crowds\n  I seek in vain. My God! my only joy!\n  Yet, O blest Saviour, when Thy voice is heard,\n  Amid the tumult springs a sudden calm,\n  And heaven-born peace pervades my happy soul.\n\n\"A situation has offered for Richard, which we have hesitated to\naccept or refuse, wishful to do right, and afraid of doing wrong. In\nthis dilemma, we cast ourselves at the footstool of mercy, my husband\nand mother uniting with me, and were fully enabled to roll our care\nupon God, who wonderfully undertook for us. I believe we have done\nright.\"\n\n\n\n\nIX.\n\nMID-DAY TOIL.\n\n  \"SEEK THAT YE MAY EXCEL TO THE EDIFYING OF THE CHURCH.\"\n  1 Cor. xiv. 12.\n\n\nTrue religion is reproductive. A converted man will try to convert\nhis neighbour; and the value of his own experience may in general be\ntested by the manner in which he uses his opportunities of doing good.\nSo true is this, that the Saviour said, \"He, that is not with me, is\nagainst me; and he, that gathereth not with me, scattereth abroad.\" An\ninactive Christian is a contradiction in terms; for he is no copy of\nhis divine Master, who, morning, noon, and night, \"went about doing\ngood.\" All the Scriptural symbols of the kingdom of God are expressive\nof energetic action. The little cloud attracts to itself the moist\nparticles of the atmosphere, until it covers the whole heavens. The\nseed germinates, and grows, till it brings forth thirty, sixty, or\na hundred fold. The leaven, which is but a minute form of vegetable\nlife, developes itself in every direction by means of little cells;\nwhich again form others, and thus by continual reproduction, leavens\nthe whole mass. What Is the lesson? Every heart in which the kingdom\nof God is set up, becomes a centre of life and action, exerting a\nhealing influence upon the corrupting masses of society around. And\noh! if every Christian professor were thus endued with power from on\nhigh, what could hinder the progress of the truth? How would it spread\nand prevail, until the whole world submitted to its sway!\n\nMrs. Lyth was imbued with the true spirit of Christian zeal. By\nletter, as well as by direct appeal; by secret intercessions with\nGod, as well as by personal effort; she sought to win souls to Christ.\nInstant in season and out of season, few came in contact with\nher without feeling the force of her religious character; and\nher diligence in visiting the sick, the needy, and the careless,\nsuperadded to the faithful discharge of home duties, often affected\nher own health. In the Autumn of 1825, she spent some weeks at\nHovingham, a small watering-place in the west of Yorkshire; but,\nthough only delicate through recent sickness, she sought her\nrelaxation in doing good. On the Sabbath she went round the village\nto invite the people to the Chapel, and on the week-day visited the\nafflicted and infirm. One case occurred here, which well illustrates\nher persevering charity, even under circumstances of discouragement.\nA young gentleman, educated for the legal profession, and the son of\none, who at an earlier period had met with her in the same class, had\ncome to seek relief in an advanced stage of consumption. She sought\nhim out at a neighbouring village; but when announced, he refused to\nsee her, and sent the not over polite message, that if it had been a\nclergyman, it would have been another thing. However the hostess, who\nwas a Methodist, said, if she would come at such an hour, she would be\nable to obtain an interview, as he went out riding every day, and\nwas obliged to pass through her sitting-room. She went at the time\nspecified, and for the purpose of introduction took with her a book,\nwhich she offered to lend him. He just turned over a few of the\nleaves, and not finding it to his taste, returned it, saying, she\nmight take it back. Nothing disheartened, she talked with him about\nhis mother, and her anxiety for his salvation; until at length she\nprevailed upon him, though not without a degree of reluctance, to\nallow her to pray with him. In a few days he was taken so much worse,\nthat he was obliged to return home; and with the view of obtaining\nanother interview, she wrote a letter, which she took to him, with\nthe request that he would kindly forward it, as soon as he arrived in\nYork. This he courteously engaged to do. On parting she said, \"Well,\nsir, as you are going to return, I must say farewell; perhaps we shall\nnever see each other again.\" \"What,\" he replied, \"do you think I am\ngoing to die?\" \"No sir,\" she returned, \"but neither you nor I seem\nlikely to live very long.\" The nail was fastened in a sure place.\nImmediately on her return to York he sent for her, saying to his\nmother, \"You know whom I want; she must come every day.\" The account\nof the visit is given in her own words. \"I called upon Mr. ----; and\nam thankful to find a blessed change in his spirit. I read to him the\neighth chapter of Romans. He cried aloud, and requested me to pray\nwith him, which I did; then his mother, then I, then a stranger.\nTruly it was a blessed time; such as they professed never to have\nexperienced before. My soul felt the divine influence.\" These visits\nwere continued, until, in a few weeks, he exchanged mortality for\nlife. The last notice of him is, \"I saw Mr.----, whom I found in a\nblessed state of mind. As his outward strength decays, his inward man\nis renewed day by day; his hope blooms with immortality. When I was\ncoming away, and bidding him farewell, in hope of meeting him again\nin heaven, he replied, 'I have not a doubt of it.' I entertained the\nhope of seeing him again on earth, but on Saturday night he died: so I\nmust now urge my way to meet him at the right-hand of God.\"\n\nWe continue our extracts:\n\n\"I find, that unnecessary conversation, even with religious persons,\nand on lawful subjects, has a tendency to destroy the fervour of my\nspirit.--Mrs. R, met the dear little company; the power of God was\ngenerally felt. I proposed that we should meet every day at the throne\nof grace, to pray especially for the salvation of some amongst us,\nas well as for our own prosperity; and desired as many as approved to\nsignify it by lifting the hand, which was done by all. I have had some\nblessed seasons while interceding on this account.--I was pressed in\nspirit to visit the speechless man. After pointing him to the sinner's\nonly refuge, I knelt down; when the Lord shed upon me such an unusual\ndegree of the spirit of grace and supplication, that I was fully\nconvinced the man was blessed. On rising, I asked him, if he believed\nthe Lord would save him, to lift up his hand, which he did. I asked\nhim to repeat the sign, if he felt happy. This he also did. I am the\nmore encouraged, as, on a former occasion, I had solicited the sign\nin vain. My soul praised the Lord on his account, and I came home\nrejoicing.\"\n\n  Farewell departed day! farewell for ever!\n  From earth alone, thy flight, my soul can sever.\n  My hope is anchored on the 'Rock of ages;'\n  The storm in vain with fury round me rages.\n  Farewell ye passing cares! though pain and sorrow\n  May be my lot to-day, joy beams to-morrow:\n  Within the veil, my soaring faith has entered;\n  And all my happiness in Christ is centered.\n\n\"A precious day to me. The Lord enabled me to witness to the truth\nbefore the great congregation.--I paid Mr. Stoner and his bride a\nvisit. He would have me pray a blessing on their union; but I did not\nfeel the same liberty I found in praying with the speechless man a\nlittle after. He again lifted up his hand when asked if he believed\nthe Lord would save him. I went to see an afflicted person in the\nhospital; a friend was reading to her; but when I entered, she ceased,\nseeming wishful to hear what I had to say. As the Lord enabled me I\nurged upon them the necessity of salvation. Before I came away the\nnumber of listeners was increased to seven. The Lord gave me liberty\nof utterance, and they earnestly pressed me to renew my visit. If this\nis from Thee, O Lord, open my way. The afflicted person, whom I have\nvisited several times before, professes to have found peace more than\na week ago. Another of them wept, because she found out she wanted\nsomething she did not possess. Upon the whole the Lord appears to have\ndirected my visit. May it be followed by a permanent blessing.\"\n\n\"1826. This afternoon was employed in seeking out the necessities of\nthe poor. On my return home I felt I had done my duty, but nothing\nmore. I can trust in nothing but Christ for salvation.--All I do and\nsay, seems poor and insignificant. I want greater power to live to\nGod; watching against the assaults of the enemy, guarding against\nself, repelling vain thoughts, living a moment at a time, praying\nalways. I know this is possible; for 'all things are possible to him\nthat believeth.' Oh for living faith.--Visited a poor afflicted widow.\nAfter reading and praying, she began to pray of her own accord; and\nshortly broke out into praise, in a manner that astonished me; but it\nwas the Lord's doing. She expressed her confidence in such terms that\nI could not doubt the truth of her confession.--Mr. Slack divided Miss\nBentley's class. What will be the result? [In consequence of Miss B.'s\nindisposition, the class had been met by Mrs. Lyth for some time; and\nhad so much increased that division became necessary.] If I live till\nnext Sunday I must take my share of it. But who is sufficient\nfor these things? Anoint me, O Lord, with fresh oil. Make fresh\ndiscoveries of Thy love. Breathe the Holy Ghost. Inspire the living\nfire. Furnish me out of Thy treasury with arguments to defeat the\ndevil, and plead the cause of truth. Armed with Thy power, I feel\nwilling to be the hand, or the foot, only souls are saved, and Thou\nart glorified. I was sent for by a member of Miss B.'s class, who was\nvery ill. The Lord was pleased to bless her while I was with her; so\nthat clasping her hands she shouted, several times, 'Glory be to God.'\nAs I returned home it was sweetly brought to my mind, 'Inasmuch as\nye did it to the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto Me.' The\ninfinite fulness of God surpasses all my thought;--a breadth without a\nlimit, a length without a termination, a height without a summit,\nand a depth without a bottom. How I grieve that anything else should\noccupy my thought! for sure I am, He is the only bliss on earth\ndesigned for man to know. Two days I have been begging for the new\nChapel, and still I am requested to canvass the opposite side of\nWalmgate. Lord, if this is the way Thou choosest to humble my pride,\nmake me willing to be the hand, or the foot, to help on Thy cause.--At\nthe close of the class, E. came to me, and by her silent, yet\nexpressive, countenance said, 'pray for me.' We continued a little\ntime longer, but she did not obtain her heart's desire. Lord, forgive\nour little faith.--My mother and I started for Sinnington. During\nthe journey my soul rested in Jesus; and since our arrival I have had\npower to look up through nature to nature's God; a gift not afforded\nto every one because of blindness of heart. While cousin Elizabeth and\nI were united in prayer, the Lord poured upon me such a blessing, with\nthe words, 'Ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you,' as I\ncannot express. I earnestly long for the salvation of the inhabitants\nof this village. Took tea with Mr. B. Many dainties, yet I have\ngreater satisfaction in visiting the sick than in gratifying the\npalate. How much need have we to watch in every thing! O keep me ever\non my guard, and watching unto prayer.--My birthday. Three years ago I\nwas in Sheffield, and there resolved to devote myself to God; and ever\nsince, I have been endeavouring to do it. Still I am but a dwarf in\ngrowth, yet will I not be unthankful for what I am. I feel the peace\nof God in my soul, with an increase of those fruits that spring from\ninward religion. To God be all the glory. The more I possess of this\ndivine power, the less I see in myself. O how great is the love of\nGod! To-day I would renew my covenant with Him. Here is my heart, O\ntake and seal it; and let it be Thine for ever.\n\n\"Scarbro'. I took up my cross, and spoke to some old women; but oh!\nthe darkness of the human mind! My medical adviser gives me permission\nto bathe. O Lord, give Thy blessing. I had a delightful view of the\nsea from the Spa. Nothing on earth is to my mind a more striking image\nof Almighty power than this uncontrollable mass of waters, to which He\nonly can say,' Peace be still,' and it obeys Him.--When I went to the\nChapel, I felt considerable drowsiness, and was afraid I should fall\nasleep; but I lifted up my heart, and entreated the Lord to remove\nit, which He graciously did, and I sat under His shadow with great\ndelight.--After first giving myself into the hands of the Lord, and\nasking His blessing, I bathed in company with Miss B----t. Afterward,\nduring prayer, while in the machine, the Lord graciously watered our\nsouls. To me it was a refreshing season. I was truly overwhelmed with\nthe precious love of Jesus; so that, when we parted, I went on my\nway rejoicing, and praising God for the rich baptism bestowed on\nHis worthless dust.--My Richard was articled to Wm. Matterson, Esq.,\nSurgeon. This has made me many errands to the Lord; and now, O God, I\nleave him in Thy hands: still offering up my earnest prayer that Thou\nwilt be his director and guide. I feel more anxiety for his soul than\nhis earthly interests. 'The ways of a good man are ordered of the\nLord.' I dare rest upon Thy word; therefore my earnest prayer is, that\nhe may be a man of God. O blessed Saviour, let my fervent petition\nbe heard. Save him, and fit him for Thy will.--This morning my waking\nthought was:\n\n  Rises the sun, his course to run,\n    In robes of golden light;\n  So may I put the Saviour on.\n    And walk with Him in white.\n\n  As flowers adorn the brow of morn,\n    And scent the fresh'ning air;\n  New graces, in my spirit born,\n    Diffuse their fragrance there.\n\n\"With feelings of gratitude, I resume my pen, which has been laid\naside for some weeks, in consequence of domestic and personal\naffliction. God has once more restored us; and I would therefore\nacknowledge his loving-kindness. The rod has been needful, and the\ndesire of my heart is, that it may be sanctified to me and mine. My\ndear mother continues ill, and much harassed by the enemy. O! for\nfaith to take hold upon the Saviour: through Him we tread down our\nfoes. I _can_ venture upon his atoning blood. How vast my obligations,\nand how unprofitable my services, language fails to tell.--Mr. Bourne,\nan old friend of my honoured father, came and conversed awhile with us\non the things pertaining to the Kingdom; then gave out a verse or two\nand prayed. On leaving, he said, 'Well, Mary, I shall remember you,\nand your family, and pray for you; and if I live to come to York\nagain, I will come and see you. I felt more pleased than if he had\ngiven me gold and silver.--A day like spring; so clear, and warm, and\nsunny. I entered upon it with strong desires after God, and a sweet\nsense of his favour. His presence cheers my path, and smooths my way.\nVisited a man apparently near death; awakened, but O how dangerous to\ndelay repentance until the last hour! After meeting my class, I called\nupon Mary D., to whom the Lord has graciously revealed himself; we\nrejoiced together while she spoke of the Lord's goodness.\"\n\n\"1827.--While interceding on behalf of my dear mother, I was\nencouraged by the application of several suitable promises,\nparticularly, _'At evening time it shall be light.'_ The morning\nfollowing she told me of the comfort she had experienced during the\nnight. This must sustain my faith in future.--My husband has this week\ndeclined business. Thou God of love, still guide our path. Let us not\n'miss our providential way;' but draw us nearer to Thyself.--Taking\ntea with a neighbour, whose salvation I have long desired, I felt\nit my duty to speak plainly with her on the subject; and was greatly\nencouraged by the inward voice of the Spirit, as also abundantly\nblessed while engaged in prayer. Whether I was of any use, I know not,\nbut my work is with the Lord.--I went forth to visit the poor, not\nknowing whither to direct my steps. I begged guidance from above, and\nbelieve the Lord heard me; for, quite accidentally I was led to the\nbedside of a woman, who had wandered from God; but in her affliction\nhad found out her error. She appeared much affected, and wished me\nto go again.--Called upon M.H., upwards of eighty. She quoted many\npromises, which were especially sweet to her. It is delightful to\nvisit such; another whom I saw, has been a persecutor, but is now\nseeking salvation.--I called to see Mrs. Fettes, who has long been\na mother in Israel. My spirit was refreshed, while she spoke of her\nexperience of the things of God. Afterwards I saw Mrs. R.; with whom\nI had a blessed interview, especially at the throne of grace. My\nsoul thirsts after God. I feel I am saved, but I want more.--Mr. Jos.\nMortimer conducted a meeting at St. George's Chapel, in which sixteen\nor seventeen persons obtained the forgiveness of sins. One man, who\nhad been struggling about two hours, witnessed a good confession\nbefore many witnesses. When asked how he felt, he said, 'I feel as\nif I were in heaven:' and indeed his countenance testified the happy\nchange that had been effected. My two sons, Richard and William,\nwere much upon my mind; but they remain in good desires. Lord, fasten\nconviction upon their hearts.--The power of God was eminently present\nin the band-meeting. My two daughters, went to the penitent form,\nseeking a full salvation; and there, glory be to God, they found it. O\nthat they may hold fast their confidence. My heart bounded at the\nglad news, while tears gushed from my eyes.--In Fossgate school-room a\ngreat number were made happy in God; I am told about fifty, and among\nthem three members of my class. Mrs. R----e and Mrs. R----n joined me,\nat the 'eve of evening,' to pray for them. Whether it is in answer\nto our prayers or no, thankful I am, prayer has been heard and\nanswered.--This evening twenty-three young persons, who have received\nspiritual benefit, came to my little class. I felt myself very\ninadequate to instruct them;--complete poverty. Lord, help me. Mr.\nMortimer accompanied me to visit a sick man, who, before we left,\nprofessed faith in Jesus. O the unbounded mercy of God! I want more of\nit. It is estimated that, during the week, not less than three hundred\nhave been brought to God: and among them my Richard. Keep him, O Lord,\nnear Thy side, and teach him all Thy will.--I feel cause of gratitude\nto God for His mercy to my family. William has this night been brought\nunder divine influence; glory be to God;--a child of many prayers and\nmany fears, but God has found him out. O keep him, blessed Jesus. Now\nall my family are brought to know God excepting little John; for whom\nI pray, and believe God hears.--Mr. Slack divided my little company\n(about seventy); allotting thirty of them to Miss G. O Lord, send us\nboth prosperity.--I have lately felt the constant power to pray; and,\nthough I have nothing in hand, I come to Jesus, and receive 'out of\nHis fulness, and grace for grace.' On Thursday I wrote to my dear\nuncle, endeavouring, though feebly, to urge him to the pursuit of\ninward holiness. O Lord, bless him, for Christ's sake. I think I never\nfelt a greater desire for the salvation of others. In this city the\nLord still continues to carry on His work.--I accompanied Mr. M.\nto Heslington; we had a blessed little meeting. Three obtained the\nforgiveness of sins. Surely these are the latter days, when times of\nrefreshing are promised. Every day souls are saved, and set apart for\nGod. In our parlour last Tuesday, Mrs. F. found liberty, as also her\ndaughter a few weeks ago.--Mr. Mortimer has been our guest the last\nmonth, and will remain another week. He is a man of God. Next week\nwe expect Mr. Is. Clayton. I esteem it an honour conferred upon us to\nentertain the ministers of the Lord; but a much greater honour, that\nthe Lord condescends to dwell in my heart. O may I ever walk, and\ndwell in Him.--After a week of indisposition, mingled with much\nexcitement, I feel solid rest in God. We had a blessed time in the\nband-meeting. I think I was never more fully delivered from the\ncreature. How sweet to live above the world! As I returned. Miss C.\njoined me, and informed me what the Lord has done for her soul. She\nbelieves He has taken full possession of her heart. I rejoiced while\nshe imparted the blessed news. She expresses herself clearly. O may\nshe ever hold it fast. I gave the following lines to Miss A. A. on her\nbirthday; may they be made a blessing to her.\n\n\"How important the season! Big with eternal results!--born for\neternity! Let it be a day of reflection, dedication, and prayer; and\nif the following lines prove any assistance to you, I shall be amply\nrepaid.\n\n  Again the happy morn appears;\n  And nature, clothed in beauty, wears\n  Her wonted colours;  and the rose\n  In all its pride of lustre glows;\n  Emblem of frail mortality!\n  It buds and blossoms but to die:\n  Too soon its glory fades away,\n  The passing pageant of a day.\n  In this fair flower,  your image trace;\n  While youth sits smiling on your face,\n  Secure those virtues,  which perfume\n  The life,  when beauty fails to bloom--\n  The rich adorning first designed,\n  The vesture of a humble mind.\n  Be yours, in rich abundance given,\n  The treasure of an inward heaven.'\n  Hence virtue takes its deepest root,\n  And scatters fragrance in the shoot;\n  Blossoms when youth hath passed away,\n  Maturing for eternal day.\n  Reflect;  the moment flies!  'tis gone!\n  The year its rapid course hath run!\n  What tidings have been winged to heaven,\n  Since first the precious boon was given?\n  Examine well;  nor fear to know,\n  What truth may in its mirror show.\n  Is this, your twentieth birthday,  blest\n  With more of wisdom in your breast?\n  Are your affections more divine?\n  Do you in Jesus' image shine?\n  More dead unto the world and sin,\n  Than when you did the year begin?\n  If fraught with truth our moments are,\n  And swift to heaven the tidings bear;\n  How should we weigh each act and word,\n  And wisely think,  for thoughts are heard!\n  At this important period pause,\n  And unto God commit your cause;\n  With firm resolve and earnest prayer,\n  To meet Him in the clouds,  prepare.\n  Him first,  Him last,  in all things own,\n  Whose wisdom guides in paths unknown;\n  Then, as the winged hours ascend,\n  Shall blessings fall upon my friend;\n  Till,  full of years,  matured you rise\n  To claim your birthright in the skies.\"\n\n\n\n\nX.\n\nWORKS OF MERCY.\n\n  \"I DESIRED MERCY, AND NOT SACRIFICE.\"--Hosea vi. 6.\n\n\nMercy is the brightness of the glory of God;--the rainbow round about\nthe throne; wherein the pure light of Deity, too effulgent for the eye\nof sinful man, is refracted, and presented under an aspect, which not\nonly reveals his manifold wisdom, and perfections, but blends them\nin one bright manifestation of beauty, which even sinners may dare\nto contemplate, with wonder, admiration and love. Jesus Christ is the\nembodiment of the picture, being the brightness of the Father's glory,\nfull of grace and truth. While He enters the lowly abodes of humanity,\nto contemplate its sorrows, and minister to its relief; the dazzling\neffulgence of divine majesty is veiled under a covering of flesh.\nNevertheless, it is GOD who weeps with Martha, and Mary; who wipes\naway the widow's tear, and speaks words of comfort to the outcast.\nIncomprehensible Mystery! It is GOD incarnate, who suffers and dies\nupon the cross to purchase life for His enemies. What a picture is\nthis! So far as it is capable of being reproduced, God loves to see it\nrevived in His children; and never does a man become more truly great,\nor more faithfully represent his Master, than when, \"putting on bowels\nof mercies,\" he seeks by every means to alleviate the sorrows and\nsufferings of his fellows. \"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall\nobtain mercy.\" At this period, Mrs. Lyth's journal abounds with\ninstances of her benevolent exertions, but a few of which we can\ntransfer to these pages; yet they are ever recorded with an humble\nconsciousness of her own unworthiness. She proceeds:--\n\n\"I want to improve all my moments for God, but, on reviewing the past,\nI find I need everywhere the blood of sprinkling. I am Thine, save me.\nI feel Christ is precious _now_. He has my whole heart, yet I want an\nincrease of every grace, especially of patience, and meekness.--I feel\nmy own poverty is great; be it so, let me only receive more largely\nout of Thy fulness. Humble, O humble me to the dust, but let Thy image\nshine in me. While I write I am awed by the presence of Deity. Oh let\nit continually surround me. Jonathan Saville met my dear little flock;\nI felt my own littleness, while he spoke to us.--I accompanied my\nhusband to Barnbow, to invite Mr. Dawson to come and preach Dr.\nMcAllum's funeral sermon; which he consented to do. To me it was a\nday of rich enjoyment, for my soul was happy in God. I recognized\nHis presence in the heavens above, and the earth beneath; indeed\neverything spoke of Him. I took tea with Mrs. R----n, who desired me\nto pay a little attention to the moral and religious character of her\nson, resident for a time in York. O what a responsibility! I write\nit here that I may remember.--Mrs. R----n has come to stay a few days\nwith us. On Tuesday, we breakfasted with a few praying friends at Mrs.\nF.'s. While pleading with God a blessed influence rested upon all.\nI felt as if let into God. What will it be when prayer is turned to\npraise? To-day we had another baptism at Miss C.'s. The same friends\nwere present. Surely Christian friendship is one soul in many bodies;\nwho can express the unity?--'Jesus is bringing lost sinners to God;'\nGlory be to God! I feel it my duty to pay more attention to my boys;\npraying for them is not enough. I must warn, and daily inculcate their\nduty and privilege. Lord help me.--I visited Mrs. F., and found it\nprofitable to converse with an aged saint; we were comforted together.\nShe said the Lord had sent me. It is true I prayed for direction,\nand the promise is, if we acknowledge Him, He will direct our steps.\nEvermore guide me.--Mr. Mortimer and his brother breakfasted with us.\nWhile at family-prayer the latter, who had backslidden, began to cry\naloud for mercy; the Lord speedily came to his deliverence, and prayer\nwas turned to praise.--I went to the Sabbath School tea-meeting; but\ndoubted whether I was in my proper place. However, I resolved to send\nWilliam and John to the School, simply with the hope that their minds\nmight be impressed with divine truth.--Thursday. A day devoted to\nworks of mercy, both to the bodies and souls of men; in which I\nprayed to be saved from self, and directed aright; but how feeble and\nimperfect my efforts! I feel myself a poor nothing.--While visiting\nMr. S., who is in a dying state, I was much encouraged. He has\nlong been a hearer, but neglected to embrace salvation. While I was\npleading for him, he exclaimed, 'I believe, I believe.' I saw him\nagain the next day, and on asking him if he felt Christ precious, he\nsaid, after a short pause, 'Precious, quite precious.'--I was much\naffected by a circumstance related by the Rev. Robert Wood, of an\neminently pious man in ----; who has not been seen to smile for four\nyears, and when asked the reason, uniformly replies, 'The word of God\nis true; the wages of sin is death; my son died in his sins, and is\nnow in hell. How can I be cheerful?' May this make me more than ever\nin earnest in pleading for my sons.--I am aiming to have a conscience\nvoid of offence in the sight of God and man; but, on examining my\ndoings, I am ashamed of them. I might have used greater diligence,\nevidenced more love, spoken with greater propriety, cultivated a\nmore affable spirit. I might have been more pointed in address,\nmore constant, more humble, and in many ways have acted with greater\nChristian consistency; but Jesus is my refuge. Praised be His name,\nI love Him!--At the lovefeast Mr. W. stated, that a man in L---- had\nfive sons, for whose salvation he had importunately prayed, from\nthe time of their birth until he died; but without success. They all\nfollowed his remains to the grave; and, as they were taking their last\nlook at the coffin after the usual service, one of them clasped his\nhands and exclaimed:--'I once had a praying father; but there he lies;\nand now I must pray for myself.' From that moment he commenced a new\nlife, and was soon brought to the knowledge of the truth. Within two\nyears the rest were all truly converted to God: encouragement for\nparents.--I prayed that the Lord would direct my steps in visiting the\npoor, and in this He answered me: for quite unexpectedly I was\nsent for to the bedside of a woman apparently dying, and who,\nbeing awakened to her lost condition, lamented the neglect of past\nopportunities. While a friend was praying she began to pray for\nherself, faith instantly sprang up in her heart, and she cried out, 'I\nwill believe, Lord help me, I never felt it so with me before.'--Glory\nbe to God, I am still a witness of His saving grace; though buffeted\nby the enemy within, and exposed to temptation from without. I see the\npath lies straight before me,--'looking unto Jesus,' who is yet alive.\nIf I proceed, I feel confident of conquest over all my enemies.--Mr.\nBarnabas Shaw met my Sunday class and said, that once when preaching\nin Africa, he exclaimed:--'What is it makes the Gospel so sweet?' One\nof the natives instantly arose and said, 'Jesus.' Truly it is so. My\nsoul tangs on Jesus; here I find rest. The last few days I have been\nendeavouring to live in the will of God, with some power to do it. To\nGod be all the glory for the work He has wrought. Yesterday I took\nthe sacrament with poor Mary F., who is praising God for the grace\nmanifested to her on a death-bed. How quickly time flies! Well, let it\ngo--\n\n  If Jesus my companion be,\n  My words and actions shall agree,\n    The index of my soul;\n  Meekness, benevolence, and love,\n  Shall every secret purpose move.\n    And sanctify the whole.\n\n[The following letter was sent, with the articles specified, to some\nunknown person in Nottingham; and the subject of it remained a secret\nin her own bosom, until the copy was found among her papers.]\n\n  \"Dear Sir,--Having a little matter to put into your hands\n  in aid of the Methodist Missions, I take the liberty of addressing\n  a few lines to you.\n\n  \"The approach of your Annual Meeting at Nottingham\n  reminds me of what I have seen and heard on such occasions;\n  viz., that small donations, and comparatively trivial incidents,\n  in the hands of your ingenious and able speakers, have often\n  been turned to good account, and produced a very happy impression.\n  This consideration induces me to mention a few\n  particulars relative to myself, which otherwise would be impertinent.\n\n  \"When very young, a kind friend of mine, for whom I had\n  a great affection, gave me a piece of silver newly coined, with\n  which I was so well pleased, that I was resolved to keep it for\n  the sake of the giver; or, as the common phrase is, to make a\n  keepsake of it: and this resolution I held so sacred, that\n  neither childish toy, or youthful pleasure, could wrest the treasure\n  from me.\n\n  \"When in my twentieth year, it pleased God to bring me\n  to the knowledge of His salvation; which so rejoiced my heart,\n  that the natural consequence was a readiness on all occasions to\n  contribute my mite to promote the cause of the Redeemer,\n  through whom I had experienced such unspeakable happiness.\n\n  \"On one occasion it happened, that I had no money\n  about me but this piece, which I had so long and sacredly kept\n  in remembrance of my friend. As the collectors were handing\n  the boxes round to the different pews, I began to argue in my\n  mind the propriety of giving away my piece, as the best way\n  of keeping it. The thought of laying it out upon myself I\n  could not entertain for a moment; and was aware there would\n  come a time when I could no longer retain it. At length, to\n  test the propriety of giving it, I supposed I had done so; and\n  afterwards met my much-loved friend in the world of spirits.\n  I imagined she was well acquainted with what I had done; but,\n  on consulting her countenance, I could not perceive the least\n  mark of displeasure: on the contrary, I thought she gave me\n  a smile of approbation. This determined me; accordingly,\n  when the box was presented to me, I dropped my piece into it;\n  and from that moment to the present, whenever the circumstance\n  has occurred to me, I have always felt perfectly satisfied\n  with my decision.\n\n  \"At the present I have a few choice things, bequeathed to\n  me by a dear friend, now, I trust, in heaven; and I wish, as in\n  the former instance, to keep them for the sake of the giver;\n  but I can think of no means so satisfactory as that to which I\n  have adverted. I therefore send them as specified in the margin;\n  [Footnote: The articles were--a silver coffee-pot and stand, a\n  silver plated tea-pot, a silver cream-jug, do. fish-knife, and\n  half-a-dozen do. dessert spoons.] and request they may be\n  appropriated to the furtherance of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus\n  Christ.\n\n \"Perhaps some may be disposed to question\n  the propriety of such a mode of preserving their treasure; but, I think,\n  I cannot do better than put the precious things to those which are\n  most precious.\n\n  \"With most fervent prayer for the prosperity of Zion,\n\n  \"I remain, Dear Sir,\n\n  \"Yours most respectfully.\n\n\"My mother continues very ill; how it will terminate I know not. Her\naffliction bows her down to the dust; and though she casts herself\nupon the Lord, she seems to have no joyous feeling. I have been with\nher night and day. Sometimes sorrow overcomes me; but the promise,\nwhich I received some months since, when I was praying for her,\nfollows me daily: _'At evening time it shall be light,'_--At the\nWatch-night service Mr. Wood desired us, on our return home, to take\npen and paper, and testify whom we would serve. To Thee, O Lord, I\nplight my vows; in the strength of Thy grace, I WILL SERVE THEE. Thou,\nwho seest me, ratify the decision in heaven. Help me to perform what\nThou requirest of me. My talents, my time, my body, my soul; be wholly\nThine. Amen, and amen.\n\nMARY LYTH.\n\n  Here with the closing year,\n    I would my vows renew;\n  Humbly before Thy throne appear;\n  In mercy do Thou deign to hear,\n    Descend, and bless me now.\"\n\n\"1828.--When I awoke, this blessed admonition was given me for a\nmorning repast; 'Abide ye in My love;' and sweet it was to my taste.\"\n\n  A BIRTHDAY THOUGHT.\n\n  No cold wish do I express,--\n  Many birthday's happiness;\n  But in heart sincerely pray,\n  God may dwell in you each day;\n  Every day, a birthday prove,\n  Born anew in Jesus' love.\n\n\"I was sent for to visit L.G., but she did not come to see me. Oh!\nwhat a deplorable case! without God! without hope! and without desire!\nHer friends, who had come for me, seemed concerned on her account.\nLord, lay to Thy mighty hand; the work is Thine. Praised be Thy name,\nfor opening my eyes, once equally blind, though at a much earlier\nperiod. I am a much greater debtor to grace, because of its long\ncontinuance, great forbearance, and incessant efforts to win my\nworthless heart.\"\n\n  MY WEDDING DAY. LINES ADDRESSED TO MY HUSBAND.\n\n  Full thrice seven years I've shared your home and name,\n  Nor yet extinguished is affection's flame:\n  By reason tempered, now with steady heat,\n  It brighter glows, fed by endearments sweet.\n  Hail then the day, that made us one on earth,\n  Yet not with pipe, and song, and foolish mirth;\n  Bather to God let us our vows repay\n  With hearts united;--at His footstool say\n  \"We will be Thine; call us Thy love, Thy bride,\n  And let us shelter in Thy bleeding side.\"\n  So when dissolved the matrimonial chain,\n  We die, to live; and live, to meet again.\n  Transporting thought! through our Redeemer's love,\n  We have the promise of a house above;\n  Death disappears, with all his sable train,\n  And light, and life, and love for ever reign.\n  Come then, my love, let us together rise,\n  Forget the things behind, and seek the prize;\n  By fervency of spirit daily show\n  We pilgrims are, and sojourners below:\n  And should some storm of fierce affliction come,\n  Portending shipwreck in the sight of home;\n  In Jesus anchored, strength shall be supplied,\n  Till we the fury of the storm outride;\n  And reach the haven of serene repose,\n  Where all our sorrows shall for ever close.\n  Amen, so be it, let our hearts reply,--\n  In Christ made one,--in Him to live and die;\n  In life, our happiness united be,\n  In death, divided not,--eternally.\n\n\"I have given my husband a copy of these lines this morning, proposing\nthat we devote one hour for the special purpose of dedicating\nourselves to the Lord. May we do it with unfeigned hearts. I\nfeel humbled on account of the past; resolved at the present; and\nencouraged for the future.--Having occasion to administer reproof, I\nspoke with greater severity than the circumstances required. O when\nshall I possess that self-government, which tempers every word and\naction. Though suffering from indisposition, my mind is kept in peace.\nUnworthy as I am, Christ is precious.\"\n\n  ADDRESSED TO MY LITTLE JOHN, THIS DAY SEVEN YEARS OLD.\n\n  Linked with the memories of the day,\n    Your name the first appears;\n  \"A little stranger,\" did they say,\n  \"A transient visit comes to pay,\"\n  And still we hail your longer stay\n    Though now 'tis full seven years.\n\n  My lovely boy, your sojourn here,\n    Awakens anxious care;\n  Your tender mind aright to rear;\n  Your steps to guard from danger near;\n  Oh! might the God of mercy hear,\n    And bless a mother's prayer.\n\n  Know then, my child, God speaks to-day,\n    \"My son, give me thy heart.\"\n  Oh! will you not without delay,\n  In secret go to God and pray,\n  That he would take your sins away,\n    And His pure love impart?\n\n  I'm sure He loves to hear you pray;\n    To-day then, do begin;\n  He'll hearken unto what you say,\n  And never turn His ear away,\n  But answer you from day to day,\n    If you will give up sin.\n\n  I love you, John, you know I do;\n    God loves you more than I;\n  As once on Samuel, now on you\n  He calls, O may you answer too;\n  \"Speak, Lord,\" Thy servant's heart renew,\n    For at Thy feet I lie.\n\n  Good children ever are inclined\n    Obediently to live;\n  Humble, and teachable, and kind,\n  They wish to know the Saviour's mind,\n  And often seek that they may find,\n    What God alone can give.\n\n\"As I went to meet my class it was suggested, as it was also the last\ntime, 'Who hath reaquired this at your hands?' Is it from an enemy?\nor am I in a wrong position? The people seem to prosper, and the Lord\ngives me liberty among them; but often has a cloud gathered over my\nspirit when I have been going to meet them. O Lord, remove my doubts,\nand guide me by Thy counsel. I wish to sink into Thy will; use me or\nlay me aside; only let Thy will be done.--The last week has been to\nmany a season of high enjoyment; but for myself, although I rejoice in\nthe success of missions, my soul has not yet learned to preserve its\ncentre in the midst of the excitement, which on such occasions often\nfalls to my lot. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac were with us from Monday till\nWednesday; and on Friday afternoon, the Yorkshire bard, James\nMontgomery, Esq., with several other friends, was with us at tea.\nMy mind was kept in peace, and during singing and prayer I found it\nprofitable. Mr. Montgomery presided at the Missionary Meeting, which\nby some is pronounced the best they ever attended. Surely it was the\npresence of the Great Head of the Church, which made it so.--We had\na blessed season at the class. Afterwards I went to Albion Street\nSchool. A class of girls retired with me into the little room, for\nthe purpose of conversation and prayer: while they listened the tears\nstarted in their eyes. I feel deeply concerned for their salvation.\nThe work is Thine; these souls are Thine; help me, Lord, to do Thy\nwork faithfully; that success may follow. This morning I was much\nexercised.\"\n\n  Afflictions sanctified\n    Are blessings kindly given;\n  They, who the fiery test abide,\n    Receive an inward heaven.\n\n  That Kingdom, Lord, be mine,\n    Just as Thy goodness wills;\n  A heart renewed, a will resigned,\n    A soul, that Jesus fills.\n\n  Then, every grace shall grow;\n    Its fruits in beauty shine;\n  From love shall every action flow,\n    And all the praise be Thine.\n\n\"I have been to see after two of my members, over whom I fear I have\ncause to mourn. One was gone out, yet could not come to class! The\nother was in bed! I fear there is a dearth of spiritual feeling. Lord,\ngive me wisdom and faithfulness.--After collecting for the Missions,\nI visited a member of mine in the hospital, and prayed with several\nof the afflicted in the ward. The person, whom I went to see some time\nago, is recovering, and wishes to join with us.\n\n\"Kirkby. I arrived here yesterday about ten o'clock, after a\ndelightful journey; and am resolved, that change of scene shall make\nno difference in my religious feelings; unless, by the opportunity of\nretirement, I get closer to the Lord. My hearing is a little dull,\nbut my prayer is, that this affliction may be sanctified; and removed,\nwhen the Lord pleases. Christ in me is the source of my happiness. I\nhunger after righteousness; more faith--humility--meekness--love.\nO how beautiful are the fruits of grace! The rich clusters of\nthe heavenly vine, invite my longing taste.--Spent two nights at\nFollifoot, with Miss B. I went with the resolution of conversing with\nher on the necessity of a change of heart; and on reflection have no\nground of condemnation; only, I might have used greater earnestness.\nMy time has passed more pleasantly than I anticipated. We took a walk\nthrough the park to the late residence of a gentleman, who has been\nobliged to leave the country, in consequence of his own extravagance,\nand imprudence. His beautiful mansion is sinking in ruins; and\nloathsome reptiles are its only occupants. Such is earthly grandeur;\nand such the man, that makes not God his refuge. The grounds are\ndelightful; but for want of proper cultivation, begin to show evident\nmarks of the curse:--thorns and thistles springing up in abundance.\nMolly accompanied me back with the grey pony; and, as she walked by my\nside, I warned her to flee from the wrath to come.--Walked to Pannal;\nhere I found need of watchfulness, and courage; all--in nature's\nnight; blessed with earthly good; but destitute of heavenly peace. I\nprayed with the family each evening; and spoke to each member, with\nthe exception of Mr. ----, on the need of preparation for another\nworld; but my efforts were feeble. My happiest hours have been\nspent in retirement, and solitary walks; one of which, was extremely\ndelightful. The picturesqueness of the scenery, combined with smiling\nheavens, conspired to raise my mind to Him, whose forming hand has\nadorned all nature, and has raised my soul from death to life. The\nscene vividly called to remembrance my beloved cousin Ann; with whom\non this very spot, I had passed some of the happiest moments of my\nlife. I felt what I cannot put into words. On my return to York, I\nfound Eliza, bathing her face after the application of leeches; and\nMary, putting John to bed, in the measles. Such is life! It is the\nLord, and to His will, I would patiently submit.\"\n\n\n\n\nXI.\n\nA DYING SCENE.\n\n  \"PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS\n  SAINTS.\"--Psalm cxvi. 15.\n\n\nHow solemn, and instructive, is the scene of death! What a satire upon\nthe pride, pomp, and vanity of the world! and yet, when relieved by\nthe cheering experience of divine truth, what a blessed confirmation\nof all that the Bible tells us! The utterances of the dying Saint,\ncome home to our hearts with peculiar force. It is as if the spirit of\nthe departing, having reached the boundary of time, and looking forth\non the unclouded scene beyond, shouted back to its companions yet\nenveloped with the mists and gloom of earth: \"It is all true, you have\nonly to follow on a little further, and the glorious prospect will\nburst upon you.\" Mrs. Lyth seems to have carefully treasured the last\nwords of those, who, within the circle of her acquaintance, died\nin the Lord; and in the case of particular friends, these notices\nsometimes extend to several pages: as if she delighted to linger on\nthe borders of another world, and to catch a momentary glimpse of its\nhappiness, and the distant sound of the harpers, harping with their\nharps. An example occurs in the course of the following extracts.\n\n\"At the two o'clock class, many were in tears; while others testified\nof the Lord's goodness. We were, as one of the little hills of Zion,\nrefreshed by the dew from above. In the evening I remained at home,\nintending, if the way opened, to go and see my cousin Elizabeth, who\nis very ill. John is recovering; Eliza is still unwell, but I will\nleave them in the Lord's hands.--A little before six, I left my cousin\nElizabeth much better, and happy in God. She told me that in the night\nshe could scarcely refrain from singing:--\n\n  'Here we raise our voices higher,\n  Shout in the refiner's fire,\n  Clap our hands amid the flame,\n  Glory give to Jesus' name.'\n\n\"On analysing the feelings of my heart, I find a disposition to\nbrood over trifling grievances; this robs my peace, and encourages an\nunfavourable opinion of those who occasion them. This is surely some\nof the filthiness of the spirit from which I must be cleansed: I feel\nashamed of it; Lord, deliver me.--Have been to see Fanny McD. She is\nvery ill in body, but when asked respecting her soul, she said, 'I\nhave had a feast to-day while alone with Jesus, my Redeemer.' She is\none of the Lord's jewels, like Lazarus, enclosed in a casket of\nrags. After hearing Mr. Vevers preach from 'we must all appear at\nthe judgment-seat of Christ,' I dreamt I saw the heavens melting with\nfervent heat. I felt no condemnation, but began to pray earnestly.\nThe impression, which this has made on my mind, has awakened increased\nearnestness--A stranger came into the class, who was much affected;\ngladly would I have travelled in birth for her, until Christ was\nformed in her heart; but our time was limited, and she went mourning\naway. From thence I went to Albion Street School, to converse with\nsome of the children; several of them wept. In the evening I attended\nSt. John's Church. I can enjoy a Gospel ministry in the church, as\nwell as the chapel: true religion destroys every wall of partition.--I\nreceived a very affecting letter from cousin Penelope. Elizabeth is\nin a very afflicted, but happy state. During the night I have been\nwakeful, and much drawn out in prayer; but felt reproved for having\npurchased something which I could have done without. I acknowledge my\nweakness. May the Lord give me a deeper sense of my responsibility,\nas the steward of His manifold gifts.--Retired from the bustle of the\ncity to Eastfield House. I took a walk to the village, and called\nto see Miss H. on my way to the class-meeting. We joined in social\nprayer, when my friend exclaimed, 'I will believe, I do believe.' It\nwas a blessed season;--a time of the breaking of bonds.--Cousin Samuel\ncame with a gig, to convey me to Sinnington. I found my dear cousin\nready to take her flight to a better world; or as she herself says:\n\n  'Gladly would I flee away,\n  Loosed from earth, no longer stay.'\n\nShe has given up all, and is now patiently waiting her dismissal. It\nis a privilege to sit by the bedside of one thus fully prepared,\nand sanctified through the merits of Christ. 'Glory be to God,' she\nexclaimed, 'though it has cost me many tears for my unfaithfulness,\nthe Lord has forgiven me: yet I believe it will lesson that eternal\nweight of glory I might have had.' Being asked if she had no wish for\nearth, she replied, 'O no, not one: I have but one wish, and that is,\nto be fully ripe for glory:' and added, 'I should like to talk to you\nof the preciousness of Jesus, but I cannot.' While we were alone, she\nstretched out her withered arms, and drew me to her side; then holding\nme fast, she said, 'Let me request of you, my dear cousin, that you\nwill stay a little with my sisters when I am gone: it is my dying\nrequest.' I promised I would, if possible. Could I do less? She added,\n'they have no one to comfort them, and, when they are low, they are\nvery low indeed: it will relieve my mind if you will.' O Thou, whose I\nam, and whom I serve, direct my way. I have said, place me where\nThou wilt, only let Thy providence guide my steps.--I left my\nWilliam poorly, and am hoping soon to hear from home: meanwhile, I am\nencouraged while bringing them to the throne of grace. Thank God, for\nthe privilege of casting my care upon Him! I feel He cares for me.\nPrayer by the side of my afflicted cousin has been a blessing to my\nsoul. Surely I am privileged:--\n\n  'The chamber, where the good man meets his fate,\n  Is privileged beyond the common walk\n  Of virtuous life, quite on the verge of heaven.'\n\nThis morning, when asked how she was, she replied, 'This has been a\nprecious night; the Lord has promised me, He will be with me to\nthe end.' Her cough was very troublesome, but she said, 'I feel no\ndisposition to murmur, but I cannot help moaning. The Lord is very\nprecious.' Part of the day she lay greatly composed, with her hands\nclasped. On entering the room she accosted me with: 'I am hard toiling\nto make the blest shore. I have been much harassed by the enemy,\nwho tells me I shall be cast away; but I rest on the blood and\nrighteousness of Christ: I have nothing else to trust in.' After\na severe fit of coughing she said, 'The toil of life will there be\no'er:' and again, 'Thankful I take the cup from Thee,' &c. In the\nafternoon I visited old Martha H., whom I found in a happy, and\nthankful frame of mind; all her cry is, 'Bless the Lord! bless the\nLord!' So, at both ends of the village, God is fitting up His jewels.\nI walked on to the churchyard, and there found as many of my old\nacquaintances, as are now living in the village. I felt the solemn\ninfluence of association with the dead.--Hearing of a poor afflicted\nsinner, I went to see him; he appeared to welcome my visit, but\ninsensible to his condition. During the night I could not sleep, but\ngot upon my knees, and earnestly besought the Lord to give me a clear\nwitness of His sanctifying power. He blessed me with a humble, settled\nconfidence, and sweet peace.--Cousin had a restless night; the enemy\nwas again permitted to try her sorely; but during the day, she was\nenabled to tread him down under her feet. 'I'll trust Him with\nmy all,' she said, 'I'll trust Him with my all.'--The poor man\nabove-mentioned, sent for me, apparently in an agony for the salvation\nof his soul; but whether it is the fear of death and its consequences,\nor sorrow for his sin, how difficult to determine! I endeavoured to\nshow him that he was a helpless, undone sinner; and that all his hope\nwas in the merits of Christ: staid with him nearly two hours, during\nwhich he seemed earnestly seeking mercy. I saw him again in the\nafternoon, but he was not in such agony. He thinks the Lord will not\ncast him off. The thought of the dying thief, alone, gives me room to\nhope.\n\n  Oh! would'st Thou, Lord, the veil remove,\n  And manifest Thy pardoning love.\n\nBut how? Only through Christ, wilt Thou exalt the riches of Thy mercy\nby preparing this poor sinner's heart, and snatching him as a brand\nfrom the burning.--Visited the poor man again, and came home thankful,\nthat I had the opportunity to do it. He now resolves on the side of\nvirtue. Oh! that his decision may be sustained by the strength of the\nLord!--Cousin was oppressed with sickness during the night, but her\ncry was; 'Help me to suffer as a Christian.'--When I asked how she\nwas, she said, 'I have had a sweet night-so many precious promises\nbrought to my mind. Praise the Lord; 'to them that believe, He is\nprecious.'--Much worse, able to say little. In the evening she desired\nme to pray; it was truly a blessed season. When I rose, she exclaimed:\n\n  'We'll shout by turns the bursting joy,\n  And all eternity employ\n    In songs around the throne!'\n\n'Glory be to God, cousin, we shall; yes, we shall.'--This morning I\nawoke a little before three, and got upon my knees. He, who slumbers\nnot, was present to bless me. At ten I accompanied my friends to\nchapel: a blessed sermon! I was so much affected while Mr. C. was\nspeaking of the Lord's ability to deliver us from our spiritual\nfoes, that I could do nothing but weep for joy. My enemies seemed all\nvanquished, by the revelation which my faith realized of the power of\nGod.\n\n  'Faith, mighty faith, the promise' _saw_.\n\nO may I never doubt again. I feel all peace, and tranquility, but no\nparticular joy: I perceive myself nothing; but through the blood of\nJesus, I claim salvation. Elizabeth is increasingly weak, but enjoys\ngreat peace. She was unable to turn herself; but after an ineffectual\nattempt, upheld by the power of God, she exclaimed, 'Praise the Lord!\nI _cannot_ praise Him enough: though He slay me, yet will I trust\nin Him.' This evening I overheard, 'Precious God,' 'Salvation,' 'My\nJesus.' Then turning her head, she said, 'Since I have been afflicted,\nthe enemy has tried many ways to take away my shield; but the Lord\nhas stood by me, and I believe I shall come off more than\nconqueror.'--About two o'clock we thought she was dying; she stretched\nout her hand to each of us, and drew us near, to kiss her; then\nshouted as loud as she could, 'Glory be to God! I am going to glory;\nglory be to God!' About five she revived again. One said, 'Jesus is\nnear,' she responded, 'Glory, He is, He is'--I was with her from two\nin the morning; she was restless, and in much pain, until about nine\no'clock; when she changed for death. Conscious that she was dying, she\ndesired to be placed in a chair, and shouted with all the strength she\nhad, indeed louder than we could have supposed her capable of, 'Glory\nbe to God!' 'Glory be to God!' many times, until her strength was\nexhausted. She breathed till eleven, and then, without moving hand or\nfoot; without a sigh or a groan; her happy spirit took its flight to\nthe paradise of God. Thus died Elizabeth Stables, in the thirty-fifth\nyear of her age. It had been for some time my prayer, that the Lord,\nif it pleased Him, would grant her an easy passage, and permit her to\ndepart in the day-time. In this He has mercifully heard me. Before\nthe crisis arrived, I felt a degree of timidity; and therefore, when I\nrose from my bed, I bowed myself before the Lord, before entering\nthe room. He graciously dispersed my fears, and filled my heart with\npeace. To me the scene of dissolution was exceedingly solemn. May my\nlast end be like hers!--I followed the remains of dear Elizabeth to\nthe grave, to which we consigned them 'in sure and certain hope of a\njoyful resurrection.' Surely this hope has preserved me from yielding\nto useless tears, as on former occasions;--for I loved her. Henceforth\nmay it be my constant study to be found ready, that, like her, I\nmay triumph in the prospect of dissolution.--Visited two or three\nafflicted persons in the village, perhaps for the last time: may I\nfind them all again in the day of eternity. Took tea with Mrs. B. and\nher daughter, whom I would gladly have persuaded to accept the offers\nof mercy; but the grace of God alone can affect the heart.--After an\nabsence of six weeks I returned home: the day was fine. Truly mercy\nfollows me. Through courtesy to a friend, I wounded my own soul by\nyielding to converse on subjects, which no way tended to promote\nfervency of spirit. I felt humbled in consequence, and as if I could\nnot lift my heart to God; but before the close of the service, which\nI afterwards attended, the Lord graciously softened my hardness\ndown--melting me into tears.--I close the year fully bent upon giving\nmyself to God. While I write, I enjoy peace. O Thou that seest me,\nThyself unseen, direct my pen, and guide me to Thyself. Here on my\nknees I surrender myself to Thee; if Thou discoverest any guile in\nme, reveal it to me, and make me wholly thine. Surrounded with Thy\npresence, O fill me with Thy love! From henceforth, may I dwell in\nthe secret place of the most High, and abide under the shadow of the\nAlmighty.\n\n  If fleeting moments silently report\n  Each action, motive, and unuttered thought;\n  May this fair page no added witness bring\n  Of time mis-used, as musing thought may spring.\n  No, rather let my muse abstracted turn;\n  Forget to muse, and of my Saviour learn\n  That rare humility, so highly prized\n  By Him, who sees the heart all undisguised.\n  From Him my subject come, my thought proceed;\n  To Him my motive tend, my action lead:\n  In all, I henceforth think, or speak, or do,\n  The glory of my God be kept in view.\n\n\"1829.--I am permitted to enter another year, but who can tell the\nevent? Suffice it; I can now say, I am Thine, and am resolved to form\nmy life, whether long or short, by Thy precepts. This morning an alarm\nis spread through the city--'The Minster on fire.' 'Shall there be\nevil in the city, and the Lord hath not done it?' O Thou, who canst\nalone educe good out of seeming evil send, forth Thy light and\ntruth.--Visited Mrs. F----s, we had a blessed interview: Heaven shed\nits rays around us. Here I proved that in Jesus difference of age is\nlost: all ages and sects can in Him unite.--The greater part of this\nday has been spent in reading, praying, visiting the sick, and the\npublic means of grace: all of which have been sources of profit to\nmy soul. How great are my privileges! I think I am stripped of all\ndependance upon them; but fear I do not make that improvement of them\nwhich I ought. Thankful I am for the decision I feel; but stand in\ndoubt of myself, should a storm of persecution arise, whether I should\nbe able to endure the fiery test. Clouds gather round about; the signs\nof the times portend a season of trial; my heart, while I write,\nsays, 'I will be Thine:' but Thou knowest how unstable I am,--Three\nstrangers came to the class; two of them were much affected. I want to\nfeel more deeply for souls, and to do every thing with a single eye. I\nhave several times been to visit an afflicted neighbour, who has often\nbeen warned to put away his sins; but is yet unsaved. Never did I see\nfriends more solicitous for the conversion of a relative; his poor\nafflicted wife prays, and entreats most earnestly, with tears: it has\nto me been an affecting scene. O may her prayers be answered!--Another\nweek gone; a week of mercy, warning, blessing, inward exercise,\nand peace. On Tuesday night, I witnessed the deathbed scene of a\nneighbour: dying is hard work. At the funeral on Friday these lines\nwere much impressed upon my mind:--\n\n  'So live, that, when thou tak'st thy last long sleep.\n  Dying, may'st smile, when all around thee weep:'\n\nI quoted them amongst the friends of the deceased, and added such\nwords as were given me at the time. There was a deep silence: what was\nthe impression I leave; I only discharged a duty, and could only reach\nthe ear, but do Thou, whose instrument I am, effectually touch each\nheart, and save them all. Penelope informs me, that the poor man I\nvisited when in Sinnington, has begun to attend the house of God. May\nhis good desires end in sound conversion.--I visited poor Fanny; with\ntears of joy starting in her eyes, she said, 'Glory be to God, I feel\nmy soul so happy, that I would fly if it were possible.' Truly in this\nhome of poverty, the power of divine grace is exemplified. I have also\nseen neighbour G. for the fourth time; it is delightful to visit her:\nshe appears fully sensible of her state, and has received a little\ncomfort; but not the clear witness of her acceptance.--In consequence\nof sickness, I laid a little longer than usual; but my meditations\nwere sweet. For a time my mind was borne as on eagles' wings, far\nabove the things of earth; I seemed to breathe the atmosphere of\nheaven, and to commune with Jesus in heavenly places: this\nbaptism delightfully sustained my mind through the trials of the\nday.--Probably this is the last Sabbath of my residence in York. Some\nthink we are missing the path of providence: I do not know; but this I\ncan say, I am willing to stay, or willing to go, and earnestly desire,\nthat the will of God may be done in me and by me, whether in public or\nretirement.\n\n  In silence, lo! I sit\n    To hear Thy gentle voice;\n  And lowly at Thy feet,\n    Share Mary's nappy choice:\n  Speak as Thou wilt, but speak within,\n    And make my nature wholly clean.\n  This day of hallowed joy,\n    The day the Lord arose,\n  Thy glorious power employ,\n    And vanquish all my foes;\n  To me the power of faith impart,\n    And reign triumphant in my heart.\n\nAnother week has elapsed, and we are still in York. O Lord, direct our\npath, and guide us by Thy counsel. I would leave all in Thy hands: I\nthink I do.\n\n\n\n\nXII.\n\nCOUNTRY LIFE.\n\n  \"COME, MY BELOVED, LET US GO OUT INTO THE FIELD; LET US\n  LODGE IN THE VILLAGES.\"--Cant. vii. 11.\n\n\nIn the spring of 1829, Mr. Lyth retired to a country residence, which\nhe had built upon a small estate, between three and four miles from\nthe city. The propriety of this step, as it seemed to involve the\nsacrifice of many religious advantages, was by some intimate friends\nregarded with grave suspicion; and it may fairly be doubted, how far\na Christian man, with the view of enjoying the fruits of his industry,\nhas a right to withdraw himself and his family from a sphere of\nusefulness, and privilege, to one of comparative retirement. Can he be\nequally useful? Will his family enjoy equal privileges? If not let him\npause, for he is under a higher law than that of self-gratification,\nor worldly policy: besides, his very object may be frustrated; it may\nturn out, that the change from an active to an idle life, may\nbring disquiet instead of repose. But in the present instance, the\ndisadvantage was overcome by the force of christian principle. Mrs.\nLyth did not relinquish her exertions in the city, while a new sphere\nof usefulness opened itself in the village, near which they came to\nreside. Twice a week, as often as health permitted, she visited the\ncity to meet her classes; sometimes walking the whole distance there\nand back. The day was generally spent in seeing her absent members,\nvisiting the sick, or availing herself of public, or social means\nof edification. The effect of these exertions upon her own delicate\nframe, was painful; and, combined with other causes, occasioned,\nduring her four years' residence at Eastfield House, frequent and\nsevere attacks of sickness. But we resume her own notes.\n\n\"I came to Eastfield House, which is now to be my home during my\npilgrimage on earth. Thank God, I feel I am but a stranger and a\nsojourner. A variety of circumstances have engaged my attention,\nand interrupted my quiet; but when shut in from the world, to hold\nconverse with God, I have tasted superior pleasure.--I went early to\nYork, and spent the day in seeing the sick, and other members of my\nclasses; visiting the school, attending my band, and meeting my class.\nMost of these engagements were profitable to me, and I hope to others.\nI went out with the conviction that I was the Lord's labourer.--My\nniece, Hannah, is apparently near eternity. She tells me she is happy,\nand I cannot doubt it; for last evening while praying with her,\nmy faith acquired such strength, and I was so filled with love and\nconfidence, that when I rose from my knees, I could not help saying,\n'The Lord has blessed you.' She answered, 'Yes:' but whether at\nthat moment, or earlier in the day, I cannot tell. The work is the\nLord's.--After an affliction, of some months, and a fortnight's\nconfinement to bed, Hannah has left us. For two days she was\ninsensible, but the last she was remarkably tranquil, with a very\npleasing expression of countenance.--My greatest joy is in communion\nwith the Lord and His saints: this has been a high, day; I have been\nunusually assisted in speaking to the Lord's people; and many appeared\nto feel the power of God. At the close of the meeting, Mrs. B. called\nupon me, and we went to Mrs. Vevers', where we united in prayer; and\nfrom thence to Miss H.'s, where we held our little band-meeting, Mrs.\nE. was much affected, but not able to lay hold of the great blessing:\nO for more faith.--The quarterly fast was observed in Haxby for the\nfirst time: I found it good to unite with them.--During the last week\nwe have been favoured with the company of Mr. Mortimer, returned from\nthe Shetland Islands. He retains the same Christian simplicity, and\nI feel it a privilege to entertain such a man under our roof. I was\nbenefitted among the dear people; but my body was much wearied when I\nreturned home, and the folio wing day I was very unwell: yet my mind\nwas peaceful. At the entreaty of my husband, I remain at home to-day;\nbeing only very feeble. O shut me not out from Thy presence; but feed\nme with heavenly manna.--I hail the returning Sabbath, Glory, glory\nbe to God, the sacred fire is kindled in my heart. Well might the\nPsalmist say, 'I would rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God,\nthan dwell in the tents of wickedness' The Lord does carry on His work\nin my soul. Love destroys fear. God is my portion, and in Him will\nI trust. The week has been mixed with trial and blessing. Monday:\nPenelope left us, after a visit of ten days. Tuesday: Felt it good\nwhile Mr. Crowther admonished us to look to Jesus. Wednesday: Our\nservant left us: I had power to pray for her after she was gone.\nThursday: The Lord was with us at our little meeting. Friday: I\nspoke unadvisedly with my tongue, which occasioned pain of mind; but\napplying to Jesus, I found access. O the condescension of the Saviour!\nThe prayer-meeting was a blessed season. Saturday: A day of toil, but\nthe Lord was with me: yet I want a constant mind, that I may every\nmoment hold converse with my God. 'Keep thyself pure' was the\nadmonition of the Spirit one morning this week. May I ever remember\nit.\"\n\n[The following was the dying complaint of the \"Miscellany,\" a little\nfamily periodical, which had a brief, but happy existence.]\n\n  Confident, on airy wing,\n    My vanity soared high;\n  Like the nightingale I'd sing,\n    And with the eagle fly.\n  Soon my sad mistake I found;\n    I warbling notes had none,\n  And scarcely rose above the ground,\n    Before my plumes were gone.\n  Flatt'ry whispered soft and low,\n    Of wisdom, fame, and lore;\n  Woe is me! neglected now,\n    The pleasant dream is o'er.\n  Pity, then, my humble state,\n    And if you can bestow\n  Tears upon my hapless fate;\n    Pray let them freely flow.\n\n\"I have around me some who exercise my patience, and therefore need\nthe wisdom of the serpent, and the meekness of the dove, that I may\nbe preserved from offending. Last Sabbath, I was tempted to mistrust\nProvidence, as I had not seen a rainbow since the rains commenced; but\nthe following evening--accompanying my husband to York in a very heavy\nshower--on our left, we saw the broadest and most beautiful bow I ever\nbeheld. I could not help thinking it infinite condescension in the\ngreat I AM thus to remove my scruples.--I walked to York alone: but\nsurrounded by proofs of divine wisdom and power, my solitude was\nsweet; my thoughts meandered like the river, that swept at my side.\nReverting to past scenes and circumstances, I wrote with my pencil:\n\n  If, through scenes of tribulation,\n    Lies the pathway to the skies;\n  Let me yield with resignation,\n    Sure, Thy ways are always wise.\n\n\"A friend has made application for my Sunday-class. In this matter, I\ndo not see my way clear; however, as I was requested to seek another\nplace for it--the old one being required for another purpose--I began\nto think it was an intimation that I ought to resign, and therefore\nmentioned the subject to my members, and left it. But calling on a\nfriend, as I returned home, she said, 'she was requested to tell me,\nthat Mr. H. would be glad if I would meet the class at his house' So\nthis difficulty is removed, and there the matter rests. O Lord,\ndirect me by Thy counsel.--Providence seems to thwart my purposes: yet\neverything appears either to point, urge, allure, or draw me to the\nskies. I find the beneficial effect of these painful dispensations;\nbut nature struggles still, and the cry of my heart is, make me wholly\nThine. Two persons, whom I have visited this week, are no more. One,\nI doubt not, is gone to Abraham's bosom; the other I must leave,\nand profit by the admonition to prepare to meet my God. I have been\naccused of doing as I would not be done by; but my conscience bears\nwe witness to the contrary. Help me, O God, ever to act as in Thy\nsight.--After the toils of Saturday, I was privileged with being at\nthe band-meeting; but when I reached Miss B's, I fainted, through\nweakness and fatigue. Praise the Lord, O my soul! Is not every\nstroke of Thy rod a proof of love, admonishing me that I am but a\ntenant-at-will, and may be removed at a moment's notice? Lord, make\nme fully ready.--I found it good in our little village prayer-meeting,\nand remained with my husband at the Sabbath-school committee. He\nengaged to assist; and I was constrained to offer my services once\na month to converse with the female scholars, which were readily\naccepted.--In York, I had the opportunity of visiting several\nafflicted persons: one poor man was much afflicted: it was a blessed\nday. I have been to Wigginton to visit the afflicted Miss B., to\nwhom I tried to show the necessity of a change of heart, and the\nsufficiency of the remedy, with the danger of delay.\"\n\n  Come, heavenly Spirit, fill my breast,\n  With holy, ardent love inflame;\n  Breathe in my soul the perfect rest\n  Revealed in Jesus' lovely name.\n  Blest centre! where I find repose;\n  My succour, when in deep distress;\n  The only refuge from my foes;\n  Jesus, Thy feeblest follower bless.\n  Thy constant presence, Thine alone\n  Can satisfy my longing soul;\n  Supply the good for which I groan;\n  Thy presence, Lord, shall make me whole.\n\n\"Just as the year closes, I take my pen. How solemn! unseen by all but\nGod! How shall I proceed? I am a sinner; but thou art a Saviour--_my_\nSaviour! O praise God! unworthy as I am, unprofitable as I have been,\nThy peace fills my heart: I am surrounded with God. Glory! glory!\nglory! a worthless worm! dust and ashes! a potsherd of the earth! yet\nJesus died for me. O, live in me; fit me for Thy service, that I may\nbe willing to do or to suffer Thy will. Let me be a whole sacrifice.\nJesus is near; He is precious; He has my heart: let the union\nsubsist for ever. Never let me leave Thee more; but through all the\nvicissitudes of life, keep me; and if I am entering upon my last year,\nlet it be the best of all. Let the odours of the celestial world waft\nupon me, and invigorate my soul.\n\n\"1830.--Midnight. The past year has been one of mingled trial,\naffliction, and mercy; wisely blended to bring me nearer to God. I\nthink the end has been answered: I feel looser from the world, and my\nwill is more fully subdued. This is the Lord's doing: blessed be His\nname! I rose early, and shut myself up in my closet, and there the\nLord gloriously revealed himself: it was a blessed day, especially,\nin walking to the city; and among the dear people.--Another piece\nof encouragement: our servant, who has been brought under serious\nimpressions since she came to us, was last Tuesday enabled to believe\nunto salvation. O may I walk as God's vicegerent here; that my\nhusband, mother, children, and servants, may all be led to give\nthemselves more fully to Thee.--Our servant man cried aloud for mercy\nin the chapel. How and where, shall I begin to praise Thee for Thy\ngoodness to my family? I am constrained to acknowledge, that many\nthings, which appeared to be against me, are now working for good.\nEvery bitter has its sweet, and every affliction its blessing;\nwisely compounded, to bring me more fully to God. Last night we had\na prayer-meeting in our kitchen: the spirit of prayer was poured out\nupon us. One soul obtained peace: and another remained upon his knees\nupwards of three hours, but did not break through; yet is determined\nnot to rest without the pardoning mercy of God: a third was seeking\npurity of heart.--Visited S.H., fast sinking in decline. When asked\nthe state of her mind, she said, 'Christ is mine, and I am His.'\nBlessed assurance! I spoke freely with her mother, whom I found\nunacquainted with true religion. Two persons came to seek the Lord at\nthe prayer-meeting held in our kitchen--one obtained salvation: truly\nthe Lord is among us: a larger number attended than usual.--We had a\nnumerously attended prayer-meeting, in which three bore testimony to\nthe saving power of Christ; they praised God with a glad heart, and\na loud voice: may they become pillars in God's temple.--Many sweet\nmoments have I enjoyed, while engaged in domestic affairs. This\nmorning, I rose to the early prayer-meeting; all nature seemed to\ncongratulate me, and the feathered choristers were singing their matin\nsong of praise. My walk to York afterwards, seemed too short, while\nmusing on the love of Jesus.--In the still hour of night I have had\nsome blessed seasons; but my walk is not equal: I want to live a\nmoment at a time, and all for God. Another of my members has passed\ninto eternity, to join the church above. Just before she expired, she\nexclaimed, 'What do I see? Glory.'--I am not going to meet my class\nto-day, my mother is so unwell; yet I feel a struggle as to the path\nof duty: but surely in this case duty and affection are one. Lord, I\naim to please Thee; O help me for Thy name's sake.\"\n\n  SITTING BY MY MOTHER.\n\n  O would'st Thou, Lord, descend,\n    My mother's heart to cheer;\n  This unbelief to rend,\n  And dissipate her fear:\n    Thou glorious Sun, unveil the skies;\n  With healing in Thy wings arise.\n  Thy promise, Lord, I hold,\n    _'The evening shall be light,'_--\n  The cloud its pinions fold,\n    And vanish out of sight:\n  O Jesus, come, Thy face display.\n  And eventide is turned to day.\n\n\"Proclamation of William the 4th. In company with some friends,\nI climbed to the top of Clifford's Tower, in hope of seeing the\nprocession; but after waiting more than an hour, I went away\ndisappointed, and grieved at the loss of my time. Let me learn from\nthis, always to do what I believe to be most needful; for my mind was\ndissipated, and I failed to recover in the class what I had enjoyed\nin the early hours of the day. O how needful to keep the path of duty,\nand retire from the multitude.--The Rev. Joseph Agar has dies happily,\nat Portsmouth: of brain fever. An unusual feeling oppressed my mind\non the afternoon of his departure; why, I know not.--The Rev. E. Batty\ntook tea with us, and suggested a method of usefulness, which has for\nsome time been the subject of my thoughts; but to choose, or refuse\nare Thine: 'Thy will be done.'--I walked to Acomb to visit a friend,\nand on the way asked myself, why I should go; and not being able to\nanswer for myself, put the case into the hands of God, beseeching him\nto make my way plain before me; to bless me, and make me a blessing.\nI met with a kind reception--slept well--and rose about six with a\ndesire to give myself to the Lord. In the afternoon I accompanied Mrs.\nR. to her class: it was the second time of their meeting. Mrs. R. read\nthe rules; and afterwards, I endeavoured to speak a little to\nthem. When addressing the third, she burst into tears through the\ndisquietude of her soul. We knelt down to pray; and while Mrs. R. was\npleading, the woman began to praise God for what He had done for her\nsoul, and said she had been unhappy for years--but that now the Lord\nhad given her peace. We continued on our knees, and in a little while\nanother person, who through unwatchfulness had gone astray, professed\nthat the Lord had restored her soul. The third (for there were\nbut three) went away, resolved not to rest until she had found the\nLord.--We went to invite the people to the prayer-meeting in the\nevening, and then visited the churchyard. There, the solemn silence,\ndwelling among sepulchral stones and the falling leaves, moved my soul\nto the consideration of my own mortality. May I so live, that I may\nhear the welcome words, 'Well done.' I feel deeply on account of my\nown nothingness. The prayer-meeting to-night is proposed because I\nam here. I am humbled at the thought. What am I? a poor worm. Oh!\nwouldest Thou use a thing of nought? prepare the people, prepare me,\nand pour out Thy holy spirit. I was surprised at the number of people\ngathered together on so short a notice. The presence of the Lord\novershadowed us, and the woman, who was seeking mercy at the class,\nwas filled with peace and joy through believing. I felt humbled under\nthe sense of my own unprofitableness.--I have found retirement very\nblessed: the Lord poured into my soul a heavenly tranquility. I hope\nthat my visit here will be beneficial to me; and that I shall learn\nsome lessons from the kind family, under whose roof I stay: there is\nsuch a sweet submission to each other's will, and such a disposition\nto prefer others to themselves, as is amiable, and worthy of\nimitation.--My inward aspiration is, make me all glorious within, that\nfrom this pure well-spring, all my thoughts and actions may flow. I\nenjoy the peace of God, and for some time past, (to the glory of God\nI speak it,) I have had constant intercourse with heaven. My will is\nmore fully subdued, and I have increasing power to take up my cross;\nbut the duties of life press upon me, and I am in danger of being\noverwhelmed with care. I thank Thee, O my heavenly Father, for this\ndiscovery; and humbly but confidently, ask Thy protection from my\nfoe.--A day of unusual nearness to God:--in the Lord's house; in\nvisiting the poor; reading the rules of society; and social prayer:\nalthough dissatisfied with my performances, I feel I have done what\nI ought.--My spiritual strength has been increased by more frequently\nengaging in secret prayer. By appointment, I have daily met two\nfriends at the throne of grace, to intercede on behalf of our\nneighbours: this has been made a blessing to my own soul.--For the\nfirst time, my whole family was assembled at Eastfield; but who can\ntell the emotions of my mind, as I gazed on one and another? I thought\nunutterable things; but wisely is the future hidden from our view.\nO _my_ God, be Thou _their_ God. I feel the solemnity of the closing\nyear: its toils and cares are fled for ever; only its comforts will be\nrepeated, if I hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life.\"\n\n  NEAR MIDNIGHT.\n\n      The year ebbs apace,\n        Its sorrows are gone!\n      Like one in a race,\n        Its course it hath, run:\n  Its events, once important, now all disappear,\n  And time wafts us on to another new year.\n\n      Then let us begin,\n        To aim at the prize;\n      Leave earth, self, and sin,\n        For our home in the skies:\n  Expecting the Bridegroom will shortly appear,\n  Let as watch his arrival--the coming new year.\n\n\n\n\nXIII.\n\nTHE REDEMPTION OF THE PROMISE.\n\n  \"BE NOT AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE.\"--Mark v. 36.\n\n\n\"All the promises of God are in Him, yea; and in Him, amen; unto\nthe glory of God;\" then, why doubt them? since God's own honour, and\nfaithfulness, which are dearer to Him than aught beside, are concerned\nin their fulfilment. The christian believer has nothing to do with the\ndifficulties, or seeming delay of the accomplishment; but only with\nthe unfailing word of God. If you find the promise, take it, hold it\nfast; and, according to thy faith, it shall be done unto thee. Mrs.\nLyth believed the word of God; and when a promise was applied to her\nmind, she did not lose sight of it; but patiently waited until it was\nredeemed. More than one instance occurs in her journal, in which she\nrefers back to some promise, which she had previously received; and\nthe fulfilment of which, she was expecting. This was particularly\nthe case with reference to her mother's experience, who, though not\nforsaken, passed her latter days in mourning, being pressed down by\nconstant affliction, and the weight of years. Mrs. Lyth felt acutely\non this account; but, the promise given in answer to prayer, _\"At\nevening time it shall be light,\"_ was held fast, through a period of\nfive years. The period of its redemption was at hand.\n\n\"1831.--'Let Thy statutes be my delight in the house of my\npilgrimage.' As my journey shortens, may the assurance of a happy\nreception at the end, increase: I think it does. I have a blessed\nconviction that, through the merits of my Redeemer, I shall see\nHim without a veil between. This hope makes my spirit rejoice, when\nnothing external excites me. Musing on my way to the city, upon the\n'charity' that 'never faileth,' and its many excellent attributes; I\nfound myself deficient in that, which 'thinketh no evil.' Under some\ncircumstances, I am apt to draw hasty conclusions. O forgive, and help\nThy dust to be more guarded.--A friend calling in, I took up my cross,\n(for it was one,) to go to the prayer-meeting; the night being dark,\nthe roads dirty, and the place distant: but I was well repaid. A\ngoodly number were present, and the Lord was there.--My husband was at\nYork with the gig. Mr. H. called to inform us, that in consequence of\nthe wind, and drifted snow, he thought it would be impossible for him\nto return home. Concerned for his safety, I sent a man and horse to\nmeet him, and betook myself to prayer; which the Lord condescended to\nhear, and answer: for after my husband had forced his way through many\nsnow-drifts, the harness broke, just as the man met him; and he could\nnot have proceeded further without assistance: so in the time of need\nthere was help. I could not but regard it as providential, that Mr. H.\ncalled; and also that the man arrived at the moment he was required.\nMy obligations to the Lord increase daily.--The twenty-fifth\nanniversary of my wedding day. THEN, my husband tells me, the bloom of\nthe rose sat on my cheek; NOW, I am shrinking into an old woman, hair\ngrey, teeth gone, bloom faded, and my eyes dim: but, through the mercy\nof God, though my outward tabernacle is thus sinking in decay, my\nspiritual strength is daily renewed; the vigour of my mind is not\nabated; my understanding is clearer, and my faith stronger than ever.\nAnd though, by the light that shines upon my soul, I discover more of\nmy natural depravity; the Lord, by his Spirit, graciously draws me to\nhimself, the true remedy; and blesses me with a sense of his presence.\nGlory be to His name for an interest in the blood of sprinkling. Here\nis the source of my happiness, and all I want is here. THEN--I had a\nfather and mother who loved and cared for me: NOW--my father is gone\nto his reward, and my mother is sunk in decrepitude, daily waiting\nher release; and I, myself a mother, have resting upon me the care and\nanxiety of a family; but I have inherited the promise, which descends\nfrom generation to generation. THEN--I looked forward to what might be\nmy future portion: NOW--I look back through five and twenty years,\nin which goodness and mercy have followed me until now; although\nmy passage through the wilderness has all along been marked with\nunfaithfulness. Here my heart fills with gratitude. What shall I\nrender to the Lord for all his goodness towards me? THEN--I had\nmany friends, who are NOW passed away; but Jesus is my never-failing\nFriend, and through His grace, I hope soon to meet again those, who\n'through faith and patience have inherited the promises.' THEN--I had\nmuch to endure and suffer; but NOW--five and twenty years of trial\nand suffering are over, with only one regret, that I have not suffered\nmore patiently, and expected more largely from Him, who orders all\nthings for the best. What still awaits me is only known to Thee; but\nprepare me for the event, and let Thy will be done. This is my heart's\ndesire, uttered I believe, in the spirit of resignation; but it is\nThy doing, and to Thee be all the glory. And now, I present to Thee\nmy dear husband, and my five children: let us all be Thine--Thine to\nguide, Thine to save, Thine to govern, and Thine to crown.\"\n\n\"Seven years ago my dear father entered into rest.\"\n\n  This day, replete with memories dear,\n    The well-known image brings to view\n  Of him, whose name I still revere;\n    Whose worth till lost, I never knew.\n  My father, (still the name is sweet!)\n    Now in a fairer region dwells:\n  Him gladly will I go to meet,\n    Though wild between us Jordan swells.\n\n\"My dear mother continues very feeble, and much of my time, night and\nday, is devoted to her. She suffers from manifold temptations; yet I\nam encouraged to believe she will be delivered. Make no long tarrying,\nO my God,--Yesterday and to-day I have been severely and painfully\nexercised on account of my mother: still I hang upon the word of the\npromise, _'In the eventide it shall be light._ Yesterday she said,\n'The will of the Lord be done.'--She tells me this morning she enjoys\n_peace_. Her memory is much impaired. My mind is much distressed, but\nfinds its rest in God. It seems, as if by diversity of trial, the Lord\nwills to purge my affections. O let Thy will be done. Help me, however\nnature rebels, fully to give up my own will. Blessed be God, my soul\nenjoys peace. 'I trust in Him, who stands between the Father's wrath\nand me.' My dear mother's weakness increases; but she says this\nmorning, she _dare not doubt_ of going to heaven.--I sat up with my\ndear mother. About half-past twelve she was convulsed, and felt\nsick; then, she dosed a little; then sick again,--called for\nRichard,--wandered,--evidently changed for death, and had a severe\nstruggle, often saying, 'Do help me, do.' Her sufferings were acute.\nOnce she said, 'Lord, help me;' and again, 'Hope thou in God, for I\nshall yet pr----;' but the words were interrupted by her sufferings,\nMy anguish of mind is known to Thee. As I stood by the fire the words\nwere suggested,\n\n  '_Thy_ warfare's past, _thy_ mourning's o'er;\n  Look up, for _thou_ shalt weep no more.'\n\nI was comforted. My dear husband, cousin, and Mary, found great\nconsolation in prayer just before her departure. Her last words were,\n'Pray, pray;' 'Lord, Lord.' Thus, about half-past one on the 23rd of\nMarch, my dear mother 'fell asleep,' aged seventy-two years and three\nweeks.\"\n\n  And though in ruin now her body lies,\n    A peaceful smile upon her face is spread:\n  The struggle o'er--her spirit upward flies,\n    To join the spirits of the blessed dead.\n\n\"My dear departed mother was interred in St. Lawrence churchyard,\nby the side of my beloved father; leaving the impressive\nadmonition--'prepare to follow.' I feel it--my heart determines--my\nwill submits--I have set about it. Lord help me to persevere.\"\n\n  LOOK UPWARD.\n\n  Oh! how uncertain all below!\n    Our comforts cause us pain;\n  Smiling, they sting us as they go,\n    Ne'er to return again.\n  Then upward turn thy weeping eye;\n    Nor, like yon drooping tree,\n  Bend downward to the earth; on high\n    See Jesus looks on thee.\n  Jesus! what balm is in that sound!\n    It bids our tears away;\n  Spreads life and happiness around;\n    Converts the night to day.\n  To feel Thy dying love, be mine;\n    To hear Thy charming voice;\n  The ceaseless whisper, 'I am Thine,'\n    Shall bid my heart rejoice.\n  Dearer than sons or daughters; Thou;\n    Dearer than mother's love;\n  Gladly for Thee I all forego,\n    And seek my bliss above.\n\n\"I went to Wigginton to visit a young woman, whom I found praising\nGod for having afflicted her, and brought her to the knowledge of\nthe truth. To some others, I was powerfully constrained to speak\nrespecting their souls.--Miss Bentley came for a few days. We\nvisited many of the villagers, to put them in mind to prepare for\neternity.--Mr. Hope announced from the pulpit, that it was his wish I\nshould commence a class in Haxby on Monday evening, at seven o'clock.\nThe words occurred to me, 'By whom shall Jacob arise, for he is\nsmall?' O my God, to Thee my obligations are great, and my weaknesses\nare all known; but if this is from Thee, bring it to pass; let\nthere be some token for good, some rending of heart among the\npeople.--According to appointment I went to Haxby, to meet any who\nwere desirous of fleeing from the wrath to come. Three persons came;\ntwo of them backsliders, and one who has never met before.--Visited\nseveral of the villagers. At one place I felt much while bowed at the\nthrone of grace. A little boy, to whom I afterwards addressed a few\nwords, burst into tears. O that the Lord would poor out His Spirit,\nand bow their hearts to His sway! O Lord, let not my unfaithfulness\nhinder Thy work.--After meeting my class in the city, I went on\nto Heslington to see Mr. K., who is apparently on his death-bed. I\nendeavoured to speak faithfully; but unless the Spirit of God apply\nthe truth, vain is the help of man. I feel much out of love with\nmyself.--Walked again to see Mr. K., who appears as teachable as a\nlittle child. I feel encouraged to hope that he will lay hold upon\nJesus. But O how dangerous to delay until death stares us in the\nface!--Went to Haxby, and found only one to meet me there: but the\nLord met _her_, which was better than numbers without Him. O God, keep\nthis precious soul--this _asked-for_ token of Thy love. While sitting\nunder the word, the Lord made it as a broad river to my soul. 'Blessed\nare the pure in heart,' was the subject. Tears of love and gratitude\nrolled down my cheeks, and love filled my heart; for I felt myself a\npartaker of this great salvation.\"\n\n  Thus may I ever live,\n    And feel the power divine;\n  Taught by Thy Spirit to believe\n    This full salvation mine.\n\n\"With a painful headache I walked to York; but the satisfaction of\nmind I felt in keeping the path of duty, amply repaid me. I think\na general blessing was experienced.--While pleading with God, these\nwords were applied, 'I am Thy salvation.' I felt confidence, but not\nall I want. I seem only on the edge of living; I want to be 'plunged\nin the Godhead's deepest sea.'--Six months since my dear mother\ndeparted! She is daily the subject of my thoughts, and her memory\nbecomes increasingly dear to me. Well, it is but a short separation--a\nthin partition; my earthly tabernacle feels the force of time--it\ncrumbles and decays; but by faith I look for a more durable\nhabitation, where I shall meet those who are gone before.\"\n\n  Time rolls away--yet fresh the scene appears\n  When my dear mother left this vale of tears;\n  Then, sorrow stamped its seal upon my heart;\n  Nature recoiled--but grace relieved the smart.\n\n\"Mr. R., discoursing on the necessity of exercising a forgiving\nspirit, illustrated his subject by the following anecdote:--An officer\nin the army lying on his deathbed, sent for one of the preachers to\nvisit him. On his entering the room, the sick man asked him, if he\nremembered that he was once insulted by a company of officers while he\nwas preaching in Dublin. The preacher remembered it well. He then told\nhim, that he had been one of the worst of them; and had sent to ask\nhim to pray for him, and to teach him what he must do to be saved,--as\nhe believed he was a dying man, and was unprepared for another world.\nThe minister pointed him to the Saviour; and after praying with him\nseveral times, was about to depart, when the officer offered him\na handsome present for his services. This he refused, and took his\nleave. On passing through the hall, one of the servants accosted him,\n\"What a pity my master won't see his son, and has cut him off with\na shilling, although he would gladly see his father.\" The minister\nimmediately returned to the sick man, and repeated to him the Lord's\nprayer until he came to the words, 'as we forgive them that trespass\nagainst us;' he then stopped, and asked him if he forgave every one.\nThe officer paused a moment and replied, 'There is one whom I do not\nforgive, and cannot.' 'Then,' said the minister, 'neither will your\nheavenly Father forgive you your trespasses.' After some deliberation,\nit was agreed that the son should be sent for. He came, fell on his\nknees at the bedside, and with tears in his eyes, pressed his father's\nhand to his lips, and begged his forgiveness. The father's relentings\nwere kindled: upon which the minister sung--\n\n  'The op'ning heavens around me shine,\n    With beams of sacred bliss;\n  When--\n\n'When!' cried the officer, 'nay\n\n  _Now_, Jesus shows His mercy mine.\n    And whispers I am His.'\n\n\"Called upon Mr. and Miss K. They had company: I was preserved from\nunprofitable conversation, and dared to speak for God. On my return,\nI passed through the churchyard, where the remains of my dear parents\nare deposited. It was a beautiful moonlight night; and I stopped to\nshed a silent tear over the much-loved dust, in hope of joining them\nagain in the realms above. Lord, help me on my way.--I went to see a\nbackslider, whom the Lord had made willing to return. After conversing\na little, we knelt down to prayer. Her husband prayed; then she began,\nand while confessing her sins and pleading for mercy, the Lord\nlooked upon her in compassion, and healed her backslidings. The same\nafternoon, she came and joined herself with the people of God.\"\n\n\"Alone in the room where my venerated mother breathed her last.\"\n\n  Though no famed eulogy proclaims her worth,\n  Nor with her fellow-pilgrims ranked on earth,\n  A higher record doth her history trace;\n  In heaven's high register she claims a place.\n  Retiring, and unknown or but to few,\n  Her latter days were hid from public view;\n  But I have often witness'd, when alone--\n  The prayer uplifted, and the sigh unknown.\n  When no eye saw her, but with God shut in,\n  She pour'd her plaint to Him, who saw, unseen;\n  Then from the sacred word she succour drew,\n  'To hoary hairs I bear, I carry you.'\n  This promise still her drooping spirit cheered,\n  And shed its starlight when the night appeared.\n  Bold, in her weakness, close the foe pursued,\n  And oft the bitter conflict was renewed;\n  Conqu'ror at last, she calmly soared away,\n  And left a smile upon the passive clay.\n\nI heard Mr. Dawson, from 'Peter followed afar off'--a season, I hope,\nnever to be forgotten; for then Richard made up his mind to accept\nthe invitation, and 'come near,' as Mr. D. expressed it. This to me\nis matter of joy and thanksgiving; for since I knew that Mr. D. was\ncoming, it has been my prayer, that his visit might be made a\nblessing to some, not particularly thinking of my son. Thus, beyond my\nexpectation, has the Lord condescended to my prayer.\n\n  AFTER A FIT OF SICKNESS.\n\n  While thousands in Thy courts are found,\n    Waiting on bended knee;\n  Behold, in solitude, a worm,\n    That dares approach to Thee,\n  To me the heavenly gift impart,\n    Thy Holy Spirit send;\n  To fill and sanctify my heart,\n    And bid its wand'rings end.\n  Then health or sickness let me share,\n    As wills eternal love;\n  For all is well, if Thou art near,\n    Thy creature to approve.\n  My grateful thanks for ease I bring,\n    And every comfort given;\n  Nor less for sorrows, sent to wing\n    My grov'lling soul to heaven.\n  Great God! to Thee my wishes flow,\n    Who dost my life prolong;\n  Thy witness let me live below,\n    Thy statutes be my song.\n\n\"Ere the day broke, the Lord broke in upon my soul with the words,\n'Thy sun shall no more go down, nor Thy moon withdraw itself, for\nthe Lord shall be thy everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning\nshall be ended.' Such light shone upon the whole chapter, as filled\nmy soul with gratitude for the rich promises given to the people of\nGod.--Called to see a man and his wife, both sick, to whom the Lord\nhas blessed affliction. The man was rejoicing in the Lord, and the\nwoman is resolved not to rest short of salvation. While we united in\nprayer she received some encouragement.\"\n\n\n\n\nXIV.\n\nPOWER WITH GOD.\n\n  \"FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN AM I STRONG.\"--2 Cor. xii. 10.\n\n\nDo you ever receive answers to your prayers? We do not speak to those,\nwho look upon prayer simply as an act of homage done to a superior\nbeing; _they_ do not expect any: but to those, who believe that prayer\nhas power with God. Why are so many prayers ineffectual, even of those\nwho really expect an answer? Some lack _earnestness_; they are too\ndiffusive, like the letter of the young maiden, in which she asks a\nhundred questions, which are forgotten as soon as she has attached the\nseal. Others want warmth; they are too formal, like a petition to a\nsovereign; which may, or may not, receive a gracious and condescending\nreply. Others are importunate, and earnest enough, like the beggar's\nappeal for relief, but without much hope of success. But how few,\nlike the cry of a child, who runs to his father with his one, for\nthe moment, all-absorbing request, never dreaming of a refusal, and\nimportunately urged till he succeeds. Yet such is the spirit of filial\naffection and confidence we are privileged to use before God. For\n\"This is the confidence we have in Him; that if we ask any thing\naccording to His will, He heareth us; and if we know that He hear us,\nwhatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions, that we desired\nof Him.\" Mrs. Lyth's distinguishing feature, was her love of prayer.\nIt was, to use her own words, \"the life of her soul, her delight, her\ngreatest joy;\" and her practice bore out the truth and sincerity of\nher words. Besides her own stated hours of private devotion, which\nwere frequent, it was her practice for many years to conduct family\nworship three times a-day. But beyond this, innumerable occasions\npresented themselves, which stimulated her thirsting soul. The call of\na friend, or the arrival of a letter; the prospect of a journey, or\na safe return: the recollection of a promise, or the reception of\na blessing; a wakeful night, or a sunny day; in a word, whatever\nstrongly impressed her spirit as a subject of thanksgiving, or\nan object of desire, was to her the signal for prayer. And not\nunfrequently, engagements were entered into with her intimate friends,\nto offer at given times, special intercessions for particular objects;\nengagements, which were faithfully fulfilled. This ceaseless spirit\nof prayer was the source of strength; for, though naturally of a timid\nand retiring disposition, \"As a prince she had power with God and\nman, and prevailed.\" These remarks, a careful reader will find fully\nsustained by her own journal.\n\n\"1832.--Sent a letter to M.W.O may it be blest to her! M.W. was at the\nclass, and seemed thankful for the admonition.--I went to the village\non the Lord's errand, _praying_ He would make my going prosperous; He\ngraciously inclined one friend to accompany me to Mr. B.'s class--I am\nencouraged to hope there is a work of grace upon her heart: O that it\nmay prove lasting! In visiting one of my members, I found there was\nno family-prayer. We prayed together, and on her knees she appeared\ndeeply to mourn her neglect, and promised the Lord to do better.\nIn two or three other little visits, I found the Lord among His\npeople.--Had a precious interview with Mrs. Benjamin A.: our souls\nwere melted before the Lord. O how the world was eclipsed, while our\nfull hearts were aspiring after God! I feel the effect still.--How\nlike a dream is life! we view the scene, and ere we are aware, it\nis gone for ever; but to every moment is attached the importance of\neternity. After a sharp fit of sickness, how sweet is ease! yet these\nseasons are blessed to me, inasmuch as they lead me to look more\nclosely into scripture declarations, respecting the blessings\nassociated with patient endurance. My soul seeks shelter in the secret\nplace of the Most High.--Heard a faithful sermon from Mr. R.: I always\nprofit under heart-searching sermons, as they discover the secret\nlurkings of nature. I feel the importance of endeavouring to enlarge\nthe powers of my mind, since I am accountable to God for their\nimprovement. I regret, that I have spent so much time to such little\npurpose. Whither shall I go? To whom shall I flee? My heart says,\n'Mould as thou wilt thy passive clay;' prepare my work, and by Thy\ngrace helping me, I will put my neck under Thy yoke. Give me Thy\nabiding Spirit, that in my age I may bring forth fruit to Thy glory;\nenlarge and fertilize the powers of my mind; and teach me to cultivate\nthe talents Thou hast given me. To aid my recollection, I here write\nthem down: time, health, powers of mind--as memory, understanding,\n&c.; powers of body--as tongue, hands, and feet; money.--I went to see\na dying man, but was denied. However, I knelt down with his wife, and\nseveral others who were present, feeling deeply concerned for their\nsouls.--My body is very feeble, yet I wish to be fully resigned to the\nwill of God, even should I be entirely laid aside; for,--thank God,--I\nfeel no disposition to repine at the dealings of providence. I only\nregret that I have so little improved my health and opportunities,\nfor my own benefit and the good of my fellow-creatures.--Increasing\nsymptoms of weakness; but the joy of the Lord is my strength: my soul\nlongs after Him.--To-day I sent a note to the chapel, to announce\nthat our house would he open for prayer at two o'clock; earnestly\nrequesting the praying friends to come, and bring with them any of\ntheir neighbours, who were desirous of fleeing from the wrath to come.\nAt the appointed time nine persons came; and while we were united in\nprayer, I enjoyed the softening power.\"\n\n  The cheerful breeze, and sunny ray,\n  Pour on the earth the sweets of day;\n  The blushing rose, and lily vie\n  With the carnation's deeper dye;\n  The dappled cloud, and welkin blue,\n  With lights and shadows ever new,\n  In language loud to me declare,\n  Lo! God is here! and God is there!\n  Here--in His handy work, I see\n  His wisdom, skill, and majesty;\n  There--His sublimer glories shine--\n  God over all, in all, divine!\n\n\"Mr. and Mrs. Isaac came. The ravages of disease were painfully\nevident in him; and on the following morning while breakfasting\nwith us, he had another attack of paralysis. So uncertain is all\non earth.--On my return from Sinnington, as I was sauntering in the\nstreets of Malton, expecting to meet my husband, a person tapped me on\nthe shoulder, and asked me if I was not Richard Burdsall's daughter,\nand being answered in the affirmative, pressed me to dine with him. So\n'the memory of the just is blessed.' I have enjoyed a sweet calm, and\nprayerful spirit.\n\n\"Acomb.--Visited some of the dear people, among whom I was much\nencouraged. At the prayer-meeting Mr. R. requested me to speak to a\nperson, whom he believed to be seeking the Lord. With some reluctance\nI did so. When I addressed him, he said, 'O I am miserable, there is\nno mercy for me.' I bid him pray; immediately he began to cry aloud,\nand obtained some comfort, but not confidence.--Had a very profitable\ninterview with Mrs. C., and from thence went to the chapel. There\nthe glorious Lord was as 'broad rivers and streams' to us. I felt the\noverwhelming power of saving grace. About _half-past ten_ I retired to\nrest; and while engaged in prayer, was drawn out on behalf of\nseveral friends, and especially for the young man, who was so deeply\ndistressed on Friday evening. Thus the Lord puts us in mind of our\nfellow-pilgrims, and teaches us to care for each other.--This morning\nthe young man sent for Mr. R., wishing to see him, and to inform him\nof the happy change wrought in his heart by the Spirit of God. Mr. R.\nbeing out, an interview was fixed for the afternoon. He came, and the\nrapture he was in exceeded anything I ever witnessed. He stated, that\non the preceding night he retired to his own room about _ten o'clock_;\ntook his Bible, and on his knees at his bedside, was praying till\nabout _eleven_. When he came to the last verse, 'He that believeth\non the Son of God hath life,' &c., he resolved within himself, I will\nbelieve: and immediately the power was given him. He rose from his\nknees 'rejoicing with a joy unspeakable, and full of glory;' and went\ndown stairs to tell his fellow-servants, that he had found the pearl\nof great price, and how easy it was to believe: wishing them to share\nin the blessedness he felt. He added, 'O praise the Lord, O my soul!'\n'My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit rejoiceth In God my\nSaviour!'--After meeting my class in the city, I started home, not\nintending to visit the absent members: but being deeply pressed in\nspirit I returned, and calling upon one and another, found one in deep\nsorrow. I feel thankful I obeyed the inward impulse.--Saw old Fanny,\nlaid on the bed of affliction, and surrounded with poverty; but\npraising the Lord. She said, 'Praise the Lord, I feel Him precious!\nGlory be to God, my prospect is as clear as noonday! I can meditate\nupon His goodness, when I am by myself, in the night season: yet the\nenemy tempts me sometimes.'--During the last week family duties\nhave been privileges. While hearing the word read, and addressing my\nheavenly Father in prayer, the streams flowing from the Rock Christ,\nhave refreshed my spirit.--Prevented from meeting with the dear\npeople, I betook myself to prayer. Here I felt humbled, and melted\ndown while pleading for them, myself, and mine. Thus to be shut in\nwith God is sweet; but what must it be to enjoy the unclouded glories\nof His presence?--being 'changed from glory to glory.'--O my God,\ngive me a fuller discovery of Thyself; and though outwardly dull of\nhearing, let me hear Thy inward voice continually whisper in my heart,\n'I am Thy God, Thy shield, and Thy exceeding great reward.' I have\ntwice to-day joined with His worshipping people, but in neither case\nexperienced what I have felt to-night, while pouring out my soul\nbefore the Lord. Stripped of every plea, I hang upon Jesus. Through\nHim alone my succour comes.--Though weak in body, the morning damp,\nand the roads dirty, I got to chapel, where I was amply repaid by a\ndiscovery of my obligations to the Lord, for having been taken to the\nhouse of God from the earliest period of my life; the privilege being\ncontinued, with, a few intervals of necessary correction, until now.\nI felt myself more indebted to God, and more culpable than any present\nfor the little improvement I have made of my privileges; but my heart\nwas melted down in gratitude and love.--On the verge of the old, and\nthe threshold of the new year. Solemn thought! perhaps I now stand on\nthe verge of eternity! How stands my case in the sight of God? On what\ndo I build my hope, and what is my confidence? After close examination\nI can say, I rest on nothing but the atoning merits of Jesus. I feel\nHis mercy now.\"\n\n  \"1833. Again from sickness raised, to Thee\n    Afresh my vows I plight;\n  While God in everything I see,\n    Sickness or health is right.\n\n  Thou canst not err; 'Thy will be done,'\n    Be full submission mine;\n  Subjected to Thy will alone,\n    My will be lost in Thine.\n\n  These kind corrections from Thy hand,\n    Shall blessed ordeals prove;\n  To bow me to Thy mild command,\n    And melt me into love.\n\n  My soul shall bless Thee for the past,\n    And rest upon Thee now;\n  The future--on Thy promise cast,\n    And wait Thy will to know.\"\n\n\"I have been kept at home to-day through indisposition; but have\nendeavoured to improve my time to the Lord by prayer, the exercise\nof my memory, writing,--reading the Word, and also 'Bickersteth's\nStudent's Guide:' but imperfection is stamped upon all I do.--The last\nnight was very tempestuous, and awoke me from sleep. I got upon\nmy knees and found my security in Him, who holds the, winds in His\nfists.--I have received letters from my three sons. How pleasant are\nsuch communications! How my heart would embrace them all! and would\nnot God embrace _us_ all? Yea, how much more? O my slowness of heart\nto believe! A friend from the village called; and conversing on the\nlow state of spiritual feeling among us, we agreed to make the case\nknown to God every forenoon at half-past ten.--At the appointed hour I\nfelt the throne accessible, and my soul was revived and stirred up:\nas to the village, I know not what to say.--Praise God, my soul is\nhappy--happy still. My appointment was brought to my recollection very\nnear the moment: my own soul was refreshed, but I experienced little\nfeeling for my neighbours.--Half-past ten: a blessed softening season;\nfelt the village laid as a burden upon me, for which I had power to\nplead. [These memoranda are continued, and the voice of intercession\nwas not in vain; for within a short time, thirty new members were\nadded to the little village society].\"\n\n  TO MY MARY.\n\n  Why does my Mary look so sad,\n    And wear a pensive air?\n  Where can the antidote be had\n    To banish gloomy care?\n\n  Say, why your spirits sink and droop;\n    Will Jesus not return?\n  Arise, He calleth you, look up;\n    O'er you His bowels yearn.\n\n  No sorrow can the bosom feel,\n    But Jesus' love can cure;\n  The wounded spirit He can heal,\n    The fainting heart assure.\n\n  The humble, contrite sinner shares\n    His kind, observing eye;\n  He sees your tears, He hears your prayers,\n    And will regard your cry.\n\n  Arise, and shake you from the dust,\n    Arise, 'He calleth _you_;'\n  With filial boldness dare to trust,\n    And find His promise true.\n\n  So gloom and sadness shall retreat,\n    And peace and joy return;\n  For while you sit at Jesus' feet,\n    Your heart with love will burn.\n\n\"Saw a letter from dear little John, informing his sister that he,\nwith others of his school-fellows, has entered the Methodist Society.\nHe is just about the same age I was, when I received my first ticket;\nand from connexion with this people my name has never been erased,\nthough hundreds of times I have not deserved the privilege of\nmembership; but the people have borne with me, and more than this,\nGod has borne with me, even till now. Glory be to God for ever!--Some\nstruggle through life, and through successive years, are tossed on\nstormy seas; others more calmly pass their appointed time; but such as\ndie in infancy, fly as a bird to its rest, and are privileged with an\nearly entrance into glory. So happy was James R., who careless of all\nbelow, smiled, and bid the world adieu.--Had an interview with Mrs.\nB.A. We found it good to be at the feet of Jesus. I told her that I\nthought of resigning my Sabbath class, that I might turn my attention\nmore fully to the village. We agreed to bring it before the Lord for\na fortnight, to ask his direction.--I have written eight copies of\nMr. Stoner's 'Rules for Prayer-Meetings.' and given them to our\nprayer-leaders. At the time of distribution, a circumstance occurred,\nwhich, though distinct from them, yet happening at the same time,\nwill possibly be connected with them in my future recollections, and\noccasion mingled feelings.--Delivered my Sabbath class-book to Mrs.\nA., who, in connexion with Mrs. C., has kindly relieved me, for the\npresent, of a responsibility, which, under existing circumstances, I\nfeel it right to decline.\n\n\"Acomb.--Accompanied Mrs. E----n to see several of the friends, who\nwere sick. Called upon Mr. M., whose housekeeper died suddenly the\nnight I came; he seemed pleased with, our visit, and promised to join\nthe people of God. Lord, help him to perform his promise, by taking\npossession of his heart.--I got to the morning prayer-meeting, and was\nunusually drawn out in prayer as I went, that the Lord would he with\nus and bless us; and not in vain. It was a blessed season, and I\nbelieve others felt it also. O that the Spirit from on high may\nbe poured out, that Satan's kingdom may have a mighty shake this\nWhitsuntide!--I felt it my duty to call upon a neighbour or two,\nwho, as I am informed, think themselves insulted by some, who wished\nfaithfully to discharge their duty, in a matter of church discipline.\nI went in the character of a peacemaker, and after conversing with\nthem on the necessity of seeking a higher state of feeling, we prayed\ntogether, and felt liberty. O that in good earnest, they may begin\nto seek the Lord! I told them that, in my poor way, I should remember\nthem. Lord, lay them upon my heart, that I may not forget. To-night\nmy soul is truly happy in God. I feel much drawn out in prayer that\nSatan's kingdom may fall, and the religion of Jesus prevail in this\nvillage.--I felt it unusually sweet to bow before the Lord in secret,\nand bear up my neighbours at His throne, I felt\n\n  'The speechless awe that dares not move,\n  And all the silent heaven of love.'\n\n\"My best seasons have been in retirement. Called upon some of my sick\nneighbours, and aimed to please God in all my visits. O Lord, follow\nwith Thy blessing my weak efforts! Quicken the lukewarm, and\npardon the guilty. I was glad to see some new faces at the evening\npreaching.--Met with my friends in band, and proposed meeting every\nday at two clock, to entreat the Lord to deepen His work in our souls;\nand especially, to hear us on behalf of our friends.--My soul was\nblessed, while bowed before the Lord with my little John. Surely the\nSpirit of prayer was poured upon us.--Went to J.S. to tell him of his\nfaults, which, I am sorry to find by his own confession, supply just\nground for censure, though exaggerated by report. Yet I did not feel\nthat sweet Christian pity, which I have felt to others in similar\ncircumstances. O for that yearning charity, that endeavours to draw\nout of Satan's snare the souls entangled by him!--Called to see my\nmuch esteemed friend, Miss C., who is sinking through decay of nature.\nShe says, 'I look for the accomplishment of the promise _now_;'\nand speaking of the Lord's Supper, she said, 'I do not think any\nparticular preparation is necessary; because, if we do not always live\nready to communicate, we are not living as we ought.' When prayer was\nproposed, she said, 'Pray that I may have increase of faith, patience,\nand resignation.'--I addressed a note to Richard on the subject of\nsalvation, and placed it where he might find it accidentally. Asked\nMrs. R. to let me have a prayer-meeting in her house on Sabbath\nafternoon; she readily consented. O that God would meet us\nthere!--With a feeble body, I set forward to the prayer-meeting;\ninviting as I went some, who seldom attend. Met with one whom I had\nnever seen before, who seems desirous of salvation, and was glad to\naccompany me. There the Lord met with us. One soul was made truly\nhappy, and another rejoiced in the Lord, having received good the week\nbefore. It was indeed a blessed season; but my poor body was pressed\ndown with pain, which rendered it necessary for me to lie in bed till\nMonday evening.--The two who have lately found peace, came to our\nhouse; we conversed, prayed with them, read the rules, and gave them\neach a copy. O bless my feeble efforts!--In answer to prayer, I awoke\nat five o'clock and arose, and though my body is weak, my spirit is\nalive.--I am this day going to attempt the formation of a new class,\nhaving secured a place in the village to meet in. I leave the result\nwith the Lord, who knows my heart, and the hearts of the people. Empty\nme of self, and if Thou canst, use me for Thy glory, and give me a\nproof that I am not going a warfare at my own charge. Visiting some\nof the villagers, I felt that I was on the Lord's errand, and think\nI lost sight of self. O might it never more steal in! At half-past\nthree, I went to friends R., who have kindly offered a room to meet\nin, and have also given in their names to meet with us. The two young\nwomen, who have lately witnessed a good confession, also joined with\nus, making four in all. O write each name in heaven!--This evening\nthirty new members were admitted on trial. What a privilege to be\nnumbered with God's people! But when I remember that the Lord is\na wall of fire round about them, I wonder that I am not more in\nearnest.--I found the throne easy of access. I believe the influence\nin our little meeting was general. What enjoyment has the world to\nequal communion with God?--Increased communion with God. I was at\nthe prayer-meeting in the morning, and afterwards called upon several\npersons, to whom I endeavoured to speak faithfully; but who regards\nit? Lord, I leave my feeble efforts with Thee. I write, and why?\nbecause the review of God's mercies proves a stimulus; and often,\nwhile committing to paper the Lord's dealings with me, His love flames\nbrighter on my heart.\"\n\n  ALL SHALL BE WELL.\n\n  If Jesus be with me, when sorrows assail,\n  And floods of affliction against me prevail;\n  His countenance lifted, my passions shall still,\n  And all shall be well, while I suffer His will.\n\n  If crosses perplex me, and perils surround,\n  Repose in my Saviour, my foes shall confound;\n  No weapon shall prosper, or cause me to fear,\n  But all shall be well, while His presence is here.\n\nI repaired to Mrs. R.'s to meet the dear people; every part of my way\nseemed doubtful, but the Lord was graciously with me. We were eight\nassembled, and a blessed influence rested on us. Some were earnestly\nseeking pardon.--Had a deeply interesting interview with Mrs. B., who\nis depressed on account of worldly circumstances, and wants confidence\nin Him, who has commanded us to cast 'all our care upon Him.' I felt a\nspirit of sympathy, and the Lord poured upon us the spirit of prayer;\nour hearts melted, and our months were filled with arguments.--Prayer\nhas been very sweet to me; I have increased power to rest upon the\npromises, and through Christ to claim them. Yet in myself, I discover\nsuch a depth of vileness, that, when I think of the amazing love of\nGod to me, my soul is humbled and adores. Tears of gratitude overflow\nmy eyes, that God--the God of Gods, should condescend to such a worm\nas I.--By a letter from my Richard to his father, I am encouraged to\nbelieve the Lord is again working upon his mind. It caused tears of\njoy to run down my cheeks, and on our knees we united together to\nthank the Lord. May the good be permanent.--At my own bedside the\nspirit of prayer was so abundantly given, that I could scarcely cease\npleading for my children, _especially Richard_,--I welcome the return\nof the Sabbath. Nature, even at this advanced season of the year,\nexhibits an unusual degree of verdure; and invites me to adore the\nRuler of times and seasons, who confers such rich and ceaseless\nblessings on rebellious man,--even upon me, the most undeserving;\nfor by divine light I see that everything I do is defective; yet, by\nsimply venturing upon Christ in prayer and faith, I receive peace and\npower. I have received a very pleasing communication from _Richard_,\ndescribing the anguish of mind through which he has passed on account\nof sin; and informing me, that he has come to the cross and obtained\ndeliverance through believing. He says, 'Whereas I was once blind, now\nI see.' On this account my soul rejoices. 'O for a heart to praise my\nGod.' Our removal to York is now fixed to take place in three months\n(God willing). So uncertain is everything upon earth. Fix Thou the\nbounds of our habitation, and encamp round about our abode, and all\nshall be well.\n\n\n\n\nXV.\n\nTHE RETURN.\n\n  \"TO SEE THY POWER AND THY GLORY, SO AS I HAVE SEEN\n  THEE IN THE SANCTUARY.\"--Psalm lxiii. 2.\n\n\nOf all deprivations, none is so great, or as painfully felt by a\ntruly devout soul, as the loss of religious ordinances. With what\ndeep pathos does the Psalmist lament his long exile from the scene of\nsolemn rites and holy sacrifice!\n\n  'How amiable are Thy tabernacles,\n    O Lord of Hosts!\n  My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth\n    For the courts of the Lord;\n  My heart and my flesh crieth out\n    For the living God.'\n\nHe envies the birds of the air, that free and unfettered, build their\nnests hard by the temple of his God, while he, a banished man, must\nseek a refuge in the wilderness.\n\n  'Yea the sparrow hath found an house,\n    And the swallow a nest for herself,\n  Where she may lay her young;\n    Even thine altars, O Lord of Hosts,\n  My King and my God.'\n\nMrs. Lyth loved the habitation of the Lord's house, and deprecated\nthe prospect of separation from its privileges, which was rendered\nextremely probable by her increasing weakness. Eastfield House was\nabout a mile from the village, and between three and four from York.\nIn case of decided failure of health, she would not only have been\ncut off from active usefulness in which she delighted, but entirely\nexcluded from christian ordinances. With the view of a little relief,\nshe had already relinquished one of her classes in the city, and\nturned her attention more exclusively to the village; but now there\nwas every likelihood that she must soon give up the other. These\ncircumstances, with some others of less moment, determined the\npropriety of a removal back to York. Shortly before this took place,\nin one of her walks thither, for the purpose of meeting her class, a\ncircumstance transpired which is worth relating. She met on the road\nan odd old man, whose extraordinary appearance made him, at that time,\nwell known in York and its vicinity. At one time above the average\nstature, he was now bent nearly double with age, and hobbled along\nwith two sticks. A huge bunch of the old fashioned matches, attached\nby a string to his neck, hung down before him, and was sufficient sign\nof his occupation; while a long white beard, reaching well nigh to\nthe ground, completed the singularity of his appearance. This latter\nappendage was, however, conveniently made to take off and on at\npleasure. He was fabulously reported to be a hundred and twenty\nyears old; and there was little doubt that he, and also his wife\nwho sometimes accompanied him, were on the eve of celebrating their\ncentenary, if they had not already done so. When Mrs. Lyth met him,\nshe was strongly impelled to speak to him on the subject of religion;\nbut being alone, and a little timid, she passed on. When she had\nproceeded about a hundred yards, she felt so much pained with\nthe omission of her duty, that she hastened back, and faithfully\ndischarged her conscience. We need only add, that the old man and his\nwife began to attend the chapel, and ultimately became members of Mr.\nLyth's class. The old man got rid of his beard and his sins together,\nand, about two or three years later, both died in the hope of eternal\nlife.\n\n\"1834.--Able to go to the village. Called to see Mrs. B., who seems to\nhave a desire to be saved, but has to contend with great affliction.\nAnother proof of the importance of seeking the Lord in health. Poor\nold Mrs. L. is much altered, and did not recollect me. So mutable and\nperishing is man. On reviewing the day, I think I have been aiming\nto please God; but my performances are so poor, that I have need to\nhumble myself before God.--I got to see Mrs. R., most probably for\nthe last time. She is apparently near the close of life, and patiently\nwaiting the will of God. From thence I went to visit M.H. in the\ncounty hospital, but as dinner came in, I left her to see Mrs. W., who\nis in a precarious state, and much encumbered with worldly care. Here\nthe Lord gave me power of utterance, and the spirit of prayer.--After\nsix days spent at Acomb, I returned home much out of love with myself.\nMy visit on the whole has been pleasant. With and without my friends,\nI have visited many of the inhabitants. In some cases I have derived\nprofit; but in others, I have had to take up my cross: yet I have had\nbut one aim--to do, and get good.--I went to meet the dear people,\nbut I was so overwhelmed by a dull pain in my head--accompanied with\ndrowsiness, that I thought, how shall I speak to them? but the Lord\ngraciously removed the indisposition, and blest my soul.--The Rev.\nDaniel Isaac departed this life, after a lingering illness. He\npreached his last sermon in Haxby, and paid his last visit to our\nhouse; but the place that knew him shall know him no more for ever. So\nwill it soon be said of me.--Jesus hath broke the bars of death,\nand opened paradise. In visiting, I was much refreshed. Tears of\ncontrition rolled down the face of Mrs. L. and Mrs. E. One was added\nto the little class. All were present, and I felt loath to take leave\nof them; but so it must be. Thos. Y. will now take charge of them.\nThus ends my career in Haxby. And after the toil and trouble of\nremoving, I am now comfortably seated at Grove Terrace. To Thee, the\nblessed Donor of all I enjoy, would I render thanks. I have written\nan address to my Haxby members.--The division of my little class seems\nnow to be working well. O Lord behold and come, visit this vine; let\nits young and tender branches twine round about Thee; yea, let the\nwhole be baptized with the Holy Ghost!--The last moments of this\nbeautiful month (May) will soon have past for ever; but the record\nwill remain, when the angel shall stand, 'one foot on the sea and the\nother on the land, and swear that time shall be no longer.' Solemn\nthought! I feel the importance of it, and the necessity of being\nclothed upon, with the righteousness of Christ. Well, I have got into\nthe stripping-room. O for a full abandonment of self, a full giving\nup! Praise God, my heart yields, and distrusting itself, lays hold\nof Jesus by faith. I feel solicitous for the spiritual and temporal\nwelfare of my family, especially my two eldest sons. My resolve is to\ncast my care upon God. I feel power to leave them in His hands, and\nbelieve He will work on their behalf.--I opened my Bible, and my eye\nwas caught by the words, 'Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?\nBehold He smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams\noverflowed. Can He give bread? Can He provide flesh for His people?'\nIt appeared a broad answer to a conversation we had the night\npreceding. I was encouraged to lay hold on it.--Only indisposed, but\nmade myself worse by going to the leaders' meeting, as it came on\nrain. In this, O Lord, forgive my rashness, for such it was, another\nhaving kindly offered to go for me.--Quite laid aside with sickness\nand pain, yet saved from murmuring, and just patience enough. The Lord\nis wise, and long-suffering in all His dealings with me. I have to-day\nreached my fifty-second year, and though in the school of affliction,\nam patiently watched over by the kindest of instructors. Oh! the\nunbounded love of my unwearied, though oft offended God!\n\n\"Sinnington. It is a week since my husband brought me from Scarbro'\nto this place, where my health is improving, and my opportunities\nof retirement are less interrupted. My mind has been more stayed and\nrecollected, and I enjoy greater peace. I am learning to come direct\nto Jesus, who is ready to hear the cry of those, who need His help.\nBeing secluded from the world, I want to secure some advantage, that\nwill appear in after time. I am reading Mr. Watson's Life, some parts\nof which I find profitable.--In consequence of pain in my head, it has\nbeen thought advisable to call in a physician; but I would not trust\nin man, nor make flesh my arm; nevertheless it is right to use\nthe means, and God can give His blessing. Since my return from the\ncountry, many cares and exercises have been my portion; but, knowing\nthey are the appointments of my heavenly Father, it is in my heart to\npray, 'Thy will be done.'--My two friends, B. and R., who enjoy great\nnearness to God, came to join with me in interceding for my dear\nfamily, three of whom are about to leave home, and go into the world.\nThey were in a blessed frame of mind.--My Mary gave her hand to Mr.\nJackson. The night previous, pressed with the solicitude of a mother,\nmy sleep departed from me. I was deeply prayerful; my spiritual\nfeeling increased, and I was truly blessed, while I frequently\nrepeated with my heart the following lines:--\n\n  Jesus, Saviour, condescend\n  At this marriage to attend;\n  For Thyself each heart prepare,\n  Grant that all Thy love may share.\n  Come, thou great expected guest,\n  Come, and enter every breast;\n  Lest the subtle foe steal in,\n  Screen us with Thy guardian wing.\n\n(Early in the morning her daughter entered the room, and begged her to\npray for her. She readily consented, and embracing her, said, 'I have\nbeen praying for you from retiring until daybreak.') The morning was\npropitious; and while Mr. C. read the twelfth of Romans and prayed,\nthe presence of the Lord was among us.--William started for Sheffield\nto seek a new situation, I trust under the care of God, having the\nnight before commended him, by united prayer, to the kind Providence\nof our heavenly Father. For many days I have enjoyed the soul's calm\nsunshine; yet, I feel it is of mercy, not of works. Jesus' blood\nis all my plea. Praise God, who, through the vicissitudes of this\neventful month, gives me tranquillity of mind. Now, I am anticipating\nthe return of Richard to London, to secure his diploma; so that\nthree out of four leave the paternal roof this month. With respect to\nRichard, my mind is impressed with far more cheering hopes, than\nwhen he went last year. Then, fallen from his steadfastness, he was\nwandering upon the dark mountains; but now, returned to the Lord, he\nis sensible of his obligations, and wishes to make some return. Lord\nmake me grateful for this proof of Thy love, and make my Richard a\nburning and shining luminary, wise to win souls.--Went to the Haxby\nMissionary Meeting; but to me all was disappointment. Some who\nprofessed much friendship when I left them, looked very cool; some I\nwished to see, I saw not; the chapel not full; no missionary-boxes,\nalthough I know of four in the place; the collection not half the\namount of last year; the speeches did not profit me; perhaps I did not\nkeep the path of duty, for I left my class to be met by another, and\nneglected seeing one who expected me. I was grieved with myself; and,\nwith a burdened mind, bowed my knees and poured out my complaints\nbefore God, who listened to my cry and sent me help, melting me\ndown before Him, and making me willing to be more obedient in\nfuture.--Visited Mrs. C. again; she said, 'I feel happy. Last\nThursday, after you were here, I pleaded with God, until the words\nwere applied--\n\n  'Believe, and all your sins forgiven,\n  Only believe, and your's is heaven.'\n\nI thought surely this is for me, and felt I could believe it was;'\nand then came the words, 'when thou passest through the valley of the\nshadow of death, I will be with thee;' and I believe it.' My heart\nrejoiced with her.--Being indisposed, I commenced a letter to my\nfriends in Acomb, when, just as I completed one side, Mrs. R. and\nlittle Charles came in, and glad I was to see them. She told me, that\na friend of her youth who moves in high life, having been awakened\nto a sense of her sinful condition, had sent to her repeatedly for\nadvice. Feeling interested for her, she requested me to unite with her\nin pleading at the throne of grace; to which I acceded, knowing that\nit is not a vain thing to call upon God. The appointed times are every\nTuesday, at half-past nine in the morning, and half-past nine in the\nevening. This is recorded to aid my memory. Aid us by Thy Spirit, or\nour efforts will be vain.--The engagement, though not at the exact\ntime, was remembered, and I entered a little into the business. Miss\nC. came to request me to meet a lady at their house, who is convinced\nof her lost condition. With some diffidence, from a sense of my own\nunfitness, I accompanied her, and conversed with the lady on the dawn\nand progress of a work of grace in the heart; lent her 'Fletcher's\nAddress,' and after Mrs. C. and I had prayed, we parted. But knowing\nthe good that is done on the earth, the Lord doeth it, I have made it\nmatter of earnest prayer, for she is much laid upon my mind. This,\nI believe, is pleasing to God, and the rather, as this morning on\nopening the word of God, I saw how Ezekiel was humbled before the Lord\nfor the people of Israel and Judah.--Being in health, I went forth,\npraying for direction and the blessing of God. Some kind friends\ngave me twenty-two shillings to help a poor member. This I took; she\nreceived it thankfully. Visited Mrs. C., she is able to rest in God.\nCalled on Mr. S., and left 'Fletcher's Address;' also upon Mrs. D.,\nand left a copy of the same. O that the Spirit may do his office!\nWhy do I speak thus? He waits to enter: may they be willing to\nyield.--Went to Pocklington to see Mrs. P. There I met with E.\nBrookes, Esq. His private walk bespeaks him a devoted man. I esteemed\nit a privilege to lodge under the same roof. My journey has been blest\nto both body and soul; having acknowledged God, my way was made plain,\nand His presence has comforted me. I returned home in Mr. B.'s gig.\nI had not arrived many minutes, before Miss H. came to converse on\nspiritual things; I thought it providential that I came at the\ntime: but who is sufficient for these things? O bless the dear young\ndisciple! Mrs. D. has received good, indeed her countenance indicated\nthe change. She told me she purposed commencing family-prayer in the\nevening: one mark of genuine conversion.--I had a very profitable\ninterview with a lady, who came to converse on divine things. How many\nopportunities have I missed, which might have thus been employed to\nadvantage. 'My mouth as in the dust I hide.'\n\n\"1835. Able to meet my class: seventeen present. A fresh member turned\nin, and appeared sensible of her lost condition. My soul felt that\npainful struggling with the powers of darkness, which I have often\nexperienced when knelt by the side of a seeking sinner. As the people\nwithdrew, a little girl was waiting for me to go and see her mother,\nwho is much worse. I found her supported in bed by a neighbour, the\nperspiration streaming down her face. She held out her hand to me, and\ntold me Christ was precious. By-and-bye a whisper was heard,\n\n  'I'll praise my Maker while I've breath.'\n\nHer voice failed. While I prayed, angels seemed hovering around. I\nsaid, you do not feel any doubt; she replied, 'No; I rest upon the\npromise.' She died the next day.--My mind was deeply impressed with\nthe thought of eternity, occasioned by the sound of the passing bell.\n\n  How leaden falls the deep-toned sound!\n    The heart is with its weight oppress'd;\n  A soul has cross'd life's narrow bound,\n    A soul--for ever lost or blest.\n\n  For ever! what a word is this!\n    Ye careless mortals, be it known;\n  In everlasting woe or bliss,\n    This word, for ever! is your own.\n\n  Momentous thought! I feel it now;\n    This long eternity is mine:\n  My soul shall this duration know,--\n    A quenchless spark of life divine!\n\nWhen I retired, I besought the Lord to awake me, and give me health\nto go to the six o'clock prayer-meeting. In this, He condescended to\nanswer me; but my body inclined to rest. For a moment, I listened;\nbut my prayer and promise occurred to me, and durst I thus offend\nthe Lord? I rose, conferring no longer with flesh and blood, and was\nabundantly repaid. The peace of God overflowed me as a river, and\nwhile I write the effect remains. My soul was much drawn out on behalf\nof some of my unconverted relatives. A little after we had risen\nfrom our knees, one of them came in, and I seized the opportunity of\npressing upon him the necessity of a change of heart.--The spirit of\nprayer was given to me in an unusual degree, especially on behalf of\nmy dear son, who believes himself called to the work of the ministry,\nand has this day engaged to supply the place of one who has gone to\nhis reward. How important! May the Lord go with him.--For some time I\nhave thought of inviting Miss M.B. to class; but, not knowing whether\nshe had any concern for salvation, I demurred. Still the impression\nfollowed me, and to-day I told her of it. The tears started in her\neyes, and she confessed with great frankness, that she was convinced\nshe must have the peace of God to be happy; but she had never\nmentioned the subject to any but her mother. Surely this impression\nwas from the Lord, and in answer to prayer: for some time since,\nher mother and I agreed to plead for our children every Wednesday\nafternoon. My affections, divided to every member of my family, meet\nin one point at the throne of grace; where many a time my expectations\nare raised, and my soul blessed. To-day my husband takes a class; may\nit be made an abundant blessing to his own soul.--The quarter-day:\nmuch excitement, lest a rent should be made among us; my dear\nchristian friends, A. and B., came to my house to lay the matter\nbefore the Lord, while the meeting was being held. There, indeed, we\ndid pour out our cause; buffeted, but much encouraged by the promise,\nespecially as it was given to two of us, 'I, the Lord, do keep it;\nlest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.' We believed the Lord\nwould interpose, and so it was. We were told the case was wonderfully\noverruled. O the condescension of our merciful High Priest!--Mrs. A.\nbrought me a sick visiting-book, which I did not refuse: for although\nI feel my disqualification, yet am willing to do what I can, only let\nme have heavenly aid. At twelve at noon, six of us opened a weekly\nmeeting for intercession: to me it was a blessed season. I have at\ntimes great enlargement, but abasing views of my own depravity, with\nexpanded perceptions of the love and power of God--great in wisdom,\ngreat in love, great in holiness, and yet He deigns to visit me.\n'Faith, lends its realising light, the clouds disperse,' and let a ray\nof the Infinite into my soul. Thus, in the midst of many things\nthat are painful, I am comforted.--Have been out to tea against my\ninclination, and yet it was among my friends. Endeavoured to give a\nreligious tone to the conversation, but some, who ought to have come\nforward, were silent; and to others without the least intention I\nfear I have given offence. From this cause my mind is troubled; but\non reflection, think, I ought not to yield to such a feeling, being\nconscious that my aim was to do right. To Thee, Oh Saviour, will I\nlook to overrule 'my every weak, though good, design.' While I write\nmy soul is happy. Glory be to God.--I am now enter the last hour\nof 1835, much abased on the review of my own unfaithfulness, yes\nearnestly desiring to commence anew, if permitted a little longer to\nsojourn on earth.\n\n  Oh! take possession of my heart,\n    And let it hence Thy temple be;\n  Willing, Thou seest me, now to part\n    With all, that is unlike to Thee;\n  O let the Spirit's seal be given\n  The earnest of my future heaven!\n\n  To Thee, O Lord, I would present\n    My life, and health, and talent, now;\n  Let nothing mar the pure intent\n    And purpose of my solemn vow;\n  But now the covenant blood apply,\n  My feeble act to ratify.\n\n  Come, sway the sceptre in my soul,\n    Its secret springs adjust and move;\n  Model each word, each thought control,\n    And fill me with the light of love;\n  So shall I do Thy perfect will,\n  As angels, who Thy word fulfil.\n\nTen minutes past midnight.--To put me in remembrance,--my two friends\nat a quarter before two every day. My one friend at three every\nWednesday.\"\n\n\"1836. Awoke with, 'Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but\nalive unto God;' and 'Be ye not of a doubtful mind.' I feel resolved\nhenceforth, thus 'to reckon.' I have been too long dying--not dead,\nand dishonouring God by 'a doubtful mind.' I now enjoy peace, with a\nfirm determination to keep His commandments, which are not grievous;\nbut I feel my weakness such, that I cannot trust myself. O my God,\nhelp me to keep my covenant vows!\"\n\n  Look high, look low, look far and near,\n  Changes in every scene appear;\n  The blossom fades, the day is gone,\n  And night succeeds the morning sun.\n  The clear blue firmament is seen.\n  But gath'ring clouds soon intervene;\n  The sun, resplendent, hastes away,\n  To give to other lands the day.\n  The vig'rous youth to manhood grown,\n  Becomes a hoary sire anon;\n  The blooming maid becomes a bride,\n  A loving consort by her side,\n  The zenith point of earthly bliss,--\n  But ah! a changing scene is this:\n  The fairest prospects earth can boast,\n  Are poor, and transient at the most;\n  And closest ties of friendship fail\n  To stay the bliss, we smile to hail.\n\n\"After a fortnight's suffering, my dear little grandson, Edward, left\nour dark abode for everlasting day. Separation is painful, but the\nprospect of eternal happiness brings sweet consolation. A little\nbefore death he said, 'kneel down.' He was three years and ten months\nold--a child of much promise--but is now safely transplanted to\nnourish in a healthier clime.--Death strikes again--the infant, and\nonly surviving child of my Eliza, has escaped to glory. Several other\nafflictive occurrences have been permitted, I am confident for my\ngood: yet I have better health than usual, and the consolations of my\nGod are not withheld. The Lord can make hard things easy, and\nmingle the bitter cup with sweetness. O that I could make better\nreturns!--Thirty years ago, I gave myself to my husband with mingled\nfeelings of hope and fear. The words, 'thy Maker is thy husband,' have\nbeen impressed upon my mind.\"\n\n  Endearing title! wilt Thou be\n  A husband, O my God, to me?\n  Then, let me never grieve Thy love,\n  Nor ever disobedient prove;\n  Watchful Thy pleasure to obey,\n  Thy precepts study night and day;\n  Thy will at all times gladly do:\n  _I will_. Lord help me to be true.\n\n\"Had all the preachers to breakfast with a friend or two\nbeside,--hoping the hour might be spiritually improved. Singing and\nprayer were sweet, but I was disappointed in the conversation, which\nwas turned by two individuals upon a point that profited little; one\nthing I learned, to expect profit in the creature is not right,--Tried\nto bring about, and by means of another, effected a reconciliation\nbetween two opposing parties.--'Who will this day consecrate his\nservices to the Lord?' was a question put to me this morning before\nI awoke, and has been urged upon me since. Thank God, my heart\nresponds--_I will_. As I was walking, musing, and praying, it was\nwhispered to my soul, 'My God shall supply all your need.' It is\nenough.--Again privileged to hear the Rev. Robert Newton. I sat in\nmy Father's banqueting-house with delight, and His banner over me was\nlove.--Fifty-four years this day, I have proved the sustaining power\nof God; and forty-two or nearly so, have enjoyed His redeeming love. O\nwhat a debter am I! Here will I give myself away--'tis all I can do.\"\n\n  This day of consecrated rest,\n  Proclaim within my longing breast\n    'I am the Lord thy God;'\n  Here dwell and reign without control,\n  Sole monarch of my willing soul,\n    According to Thy word.\n\n\n\n\nXVI.\n\nTHE SACRIFICE.\n\n  \"I HAVE LENT HIM TO THE LORD; AS LONG AS HE LIVETH, SHALL\n  HE BE LENT UNTO THE LORD.\"--1 Sam. i. 28.\n\n\n\"Neither will I offer burnt-offerings to the Lord of that which cost\nme nothing,\" said David, when he purchased the threshing-floor, and\nthe oxen of Araunah the Jebusite, that he might rear and altar, and\noffer sacrifices, and peace-offerings: and yet it was a nobler act\nof sacrifice, when he poured out before the Lord the crystal draught\nwhich three of his mighty men had procured from the well that was by\nthe gate of Bethlehem, at the peril of their lives, and for which he\nhad so earnestly longed. In the one case he gave what he could well\nafford; in the other, he consecrated what his soul desired. The\npreciousness of the gift is to be estimated, not by its intrinsic\nvalue, but by the amount of sacrifice which it requires; hence, some\nwho bring much, offer little, and some who give but little, offer\nmuch. Genuine love to God brings of its choicest and dearest, and the\nsacrifice is accepted accordingly. To give money as far as she had\nability, was to Mrs. Lyth no sacrifice. Through life she practised\na rigid economy, that she might have the more to employ for God; and\nduring the last few years, when she had an ample income at her own\ndisposal, after her few and extremely moderate wants were met, the\nwhole was sacredly consecrated to public and private charities.\nShe saved nothing. Her estimate of the riches of this world may be\ncollected from the following, communicated by a friend:--\"She was much\nsaved from the love of money. I called upon her one day for advice and\nsympathy, when I was in great trouble in consequence of a loss which I\nhad sustained. She very affectionately encouraged me to bear up under\nthe trial, and said, the Lord had some better thing in store for\nme;--that I must set my affections on things above, and then, to show\nthat I was not alone, told me that a thousand pounds had been left to\nher mother by a deceased relative, which she had fully expected would\nrevert to her, as it was the intention of the testatrix; but it proved\nto be a lapsed legacy. She added, 'The Lord so graciously sustained\nme, that the loss never deprived me of a single hour's sleep. He knows\nwhat is good for us, and If it had been His will, I should have had\nit.' Mr. Lyth, who was in company with us at the time, said, 'So you\nsee my wife turns all to gold,' which it is well known she did. Oh! I\nwish I was like her.\" But if she estimated worldly wealth only so far\nas it afforded her the pure gratification of doing good, and it was\ntherefore no sacrifice to her to give of her earthly substance; she\nalso gave that which cost her something. Her eldest son, Richard,\nwhom she prized above gold, and all the more, because of the tears and\nsolicitude which she had expended upon him as a sickly and delicate\ninfant, was at the Conference of 1836 appointed to a distant and\nperilous sphere of missionary labour. This was a demand upon her\nfeelings, which severely tested her love to Christ and His church; but\nthe spirit in which she made the sacrifice, is best displayed by her\nown private record.\n\n\"1836. A letter from brother John Burdsall, who is at the Conference,\ninforms me, that he had some conversation with Dr. Bunting respecting\nmy Richard and the Friendly Islands. I feel as a mother, yet assured\nthat God is alike in every place, my prayer is for resignation.--Oh!\nthe rapidity of time, conference has commenced and will, I suppose,\nappoint my Richard somewhere; only be it the place assigned by\nProvidence--my will submits, though nature would rebel.--My desires\ntend upward, but oh! my wayward heart still clings to the creature--my\nchildren lie near my heart. But, do I wish to withhold my son from\nThee? no; my heart says no;--only let holiness be stamped upon\nhis heart and character: send him where holiness will be the most\nearnestly sought, and will make the most powerful impression. My will\ndoes yield, but nature feels. The solicitude I feel for my children\ndepresses my spirit: yet am comforted by the promises of God, and\nincreasingly resolved to roll my every care at the foot of the Cross;\nwhere, like pilgrim, I often find the strings of my burden unloosed,\nand by faith beholding my unfailing Friend, am encouraged to believe\nthe God who cares for _me_, will care for _mine_. In the face of\nmy fears, O Lord, I trust in Thee. My Richard is appointed to the\nFriendly Islands.--The cases of my three sons press upon my spirit;\nbut Thy aid, O Lord, I seek and ask and _have_.--It is the Sabbath\nmorn. I am fully bent to give myself and my family to God. But now\nit is come to the point, how weak I feel! Well, but I will\nresign--Richard is Thine; I will through grace, give him up to Thee.\nThe time of his departure is at hand; tidings have reached us that he\nis expected to sail in the 'Royal George,' on the first of October.\nO may He who sitteth above the water floods, and reigneth a King for\never, take charge of him; and so succeed his errand, that thousands\nmay add lustre to his crown!--At half-past six Miss B. and Mrs. A. met\nme, and Hannah S. who was seeking pardon. After we had pleaded for\na time, the Lord came down in power, and she cried aloud, 'I can\nbelieve, I do believe.' We all shared the baptism. My dear family\nall took tea together, perhaps for the last time. Thank God, we are\na united family, though we may separate wide from each other in our\npilgrimage through the world.--While pouring out my soul for my dear\nRichard, I felt the hallowing power; I believe the Lord will be with\nhim and the people also. Things very painful to nature are now my\nfrequent lot; but through these, the Lord seeks to purge, and knit me\ncloser to himself. Lord give me grace to bear the sacrificing knife,\nand let 'Thy will be done,'--Had a few friends to breakfast to commend\nmy dear Richard to God: it was a profitable hour, but I should have\nliked more prayer.--My soul was much refreshed, especially in class.\nWhat a fulness is treasured up in Jesus: and yet I only sip. In\nvisiting the sick, and seeking out the wanderers, feel I am right, but\nseem to have little time for this work.\n\n\"Apperly Bridge. My Richard's wedding-day. While the bridal couple\nwent to church, I retired to plead a blessing on their union. On their\nreturn, I met them with lines which were on my mind--\n\n  'Blest in Christ your union be,\n    Blest to all eternity.'\n\nAnd so it will be, while they cleave to Jesus. After breakfast we\nproceeded to Leeds, where we dined, and took an affectionate leave\nof each other. I then retired with the female part of the company to\ncommend them to God.\" [Her parting counsels, which were inscribed in my\nbrother's album, were as follows:--]\n\n\"My dear son,--'Be strong through the grace, which is by Jesus Christ,\nand the things, which thou hast heard before many witnesses, commit\nto faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Endure\naffliction as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and the Lord give thee\nunderstanding in all things. God is my witness, how I long for\nyou, that your love may abound more and more, in all knowledge\nand spiritual understanding; that you may try the things that are\nexcellent; that you may be sincere, and without offence, unto the day\nof Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are\nthrough Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God. And when the\nChief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive the crown of glory\nwhich fadeth not away.' This is the earnest prayer of your truly\naffectionate mother.\"\n\n\"Mr. Burrows came, and talked sweetly to me of my privilege as a\nchristian in giving all to God, and prayed with us; else, during\nthis week sorrow and joy have mingled in my breast, but now I feel to\nrise.--Mrs. R. having agreed to meet with me to intercede for my\ndear Richard and Mary Ann, I went up accompanied by Mrs. W.--the Lord\nblessed us together.--I feel encouraged.--A very stormy morning. This\nled me to my knees, to pour out my soul for my son and daughter: O\nkeep them in the hollow of Thy hands! William has not yet returned\nfrom seeing Richard off; I want to hear and know--yet am encouraged\nto hope all will be well.--Days of suspense--but the thought, 'all is\nwell,' encouraged me; this was realised, when William returned in the\nafternoon. 'Bless the Lord, O my soul,' and praise His adorable\nname. My dear Richard sent me a letter, written when sailing down the\nThames, in which he says, 'The Lord is with us, we will not fear.'\n\n\"Sinnington. After the morning prayer-meeting, I called upon several\nof the villagers, who kindly welcomed our visit. Prayed with every\nfamily but one, and in each case felt the softening power. Spoke\nplainly with Mr. B. respecting the alienation existing between him and\n----. O that they would seriously resolve!--A very stormy day, but\nbraving the blast, I visited two or three friends, to have a last\ninterview with them; in one case to invite a person to join the people\nof God; in another, to urge the necessity of family-prayer; a third\nwas a young person apparently in dying circumstances, and a fourth\nwas a quaker friend, whose disinterested friendship endears her to\nme.--Visited the Lady Mayoress at the Mansion House, and felt quite\nat ease. Had an opportunity of dropping a word in her ear, which she\nseemed to receive kindly.\"\n\n  The noontide hour is wont to be\n  A blessed means of grace to me;\n  When met, the hallowing power to share,\n  In the sweet intercourse of prayer.\n\n\"Was drawn out in prayer for myself and others until a late hour, and\nwas much blest. After I had retired and had been asleep, I awoke with\nthese lines:\n\n  'Soft and easy is Thy pillow,\n    Coarse and hard the Saviour lay;\n  Since His birthplace was a stable,\n    And His softest bed was hay.'\n\nMy pillow seemed softer than usual, and my soul was happy.--Very\nstormy.\" [Such notes of the weather repeatedly occur at this period,\nbut nothing more: her thoughts were after Richard, but her feelings\nwere too intense for expression. To a friend she remarked, that\nfor six months after her son's departure, she dared not touch, the\nsubject. 'I cannot write upon it,' she said, 'I am obliged to leave\nit.']\n\n\"1837. Took tea with Mrs. D., with several christian friends; our\nvisit was blessed, all shared in the heavenly influence: if all\nvisits were equally profitable, I should regret to refuse an\ninvitation.--Paid a visit not so beneficial, though many good people\nwere there, and honourable too.--Rose too early by mistake, but\ndetermined to profit by it, so I bowed myself at the feet of Him to\nwhom I can most freely unbosom myself and told Him all my cares, which\nseemed to multiply as I spread them out before Him; found a little\naccess, but want the mighty faith that 'can the mountain move.'--Wm.\nB.'s two daughters and daughter-in-law took tea with me, which\nafforded me an opportunity of conversing with them on the necessity\nof salvation. Presented each of them with a pocket companion.\nProvidentially Mrs. R. stepped in, and prayed with us. In the evening\nI met the dear people, deeply feeling my own unfitness, and greatly\ndiscouraged by their state. To increase my difficulty, a young\nstranger came in to hear in silence; could get none to pray. What\nshall I do? Resolved as soon as alone to roll my burden upon the Lord,\nwhich I did, and felt encouraged.--Five months to-day since my last\nletter from Richard. [Two days after she writes.] The evening post\nbrought me a letter, and 'all is well.' When we had read it, we bowed\nbefore the Lord to acknowledge our gratitude. My dear friends, B. and\nA., came to meet Mrs. B. to plead with the Lord on her behalf: she\nobtained power to say, 'I love Him because He first loved me;' but\ndurst not affirm that her sins were forgiven.--Since the Missionary\nMeeting, the recollection that I, with the rest of the assembly,\nlifted my hand and pledged myself to increased exertion, has pressed\nupon my mind. I am willing; Lord, direct my efforts! [This resolution\nwas not ineffective, for shortly after, she initiated the York Ladies'\nMissionary Sewing Meeting, which for many years proved an important\nsource of income, and still exists, under the name of the 'Ladies'\nRepository.']\n\n\"Hull. Called upon Mrs. H., and met there a lady, who acknowledges my\nfather as the instrument of her conversion. She was on one occasion\nintroduced into his class, and being a member of the Established\nChurch, he asked her if, when repeating the Creed, she believed 'in\nthe communion of saints, and the forgiveness of sins.' The arrow hit\nthe mark, and she never rested till she obtained the favour of God.\nCalled also upon Mr. E., whom we found indisposed, but awakened to a\nsense of his lost condition. Was glad to hear him speak of his hard,\nunfeeling heart, as I felt convinced the Spirit of God was working\nupon him, and was encouraged to pray with and for him.--After an\nagreeable journey, we returned to York--so swiftly time passes, how I\nlong to improve it! In the cabin of the packet, I took up a book which\nlay on the table--written by Baxter--on 'Living for Eternity,' and\nwhile reading, deeply felt the necessity of so doing. Two young\ngentlemen sat at my left hand playing at a game of some sort, and I\nwas prompted to speak to them upon the importance of improving their\nyouthful opportunities. They received the admonition in a good spirit\nand said, they wished they oftener met with kind reproofs.--Miss\nB. and I collected for the infant school: some of our visits were\nprofitable--prayer sweetened our employment.\"\n\n\"Sinnington. My dear uncle is evidently failing. He has suffered much,\nbut the state of his mind is improving, and he is more accessible.\nHe goes to bed very early, and every night I have sat and prayed with\nhim. My own mind is in a composed frame. All around me exhibits the\nfinger of God. The stillness of nature impresses me with His presence;\nI hear his voice, and all within me acknowledges Him Lord of all. I\nhave visited several of the villagers; some wept, but to others I seem\nto tell an idle tale.--Four o'clock in the morning:--\n\n  Midnight stillness! O! how solemn!\n    Now surrounded by my God;\n  How I long to breathe His fulness!\n    How I long to walk with God!\n\n  Thou whose eyes, unseen, behold me,--\n    Mark my inmost rising thought;\n  In this musing moment prompt me,\n    Let my works in Thee be wrought.\n\n  Aid, O aid my contemplation!\n    To Thy cross my spirit lead;\n  Humble, while I view Thy passion,\n    _Me_,--that caused Thy heart to bleed.\n\n  Let it melt me, O my Saviour,\n    Melt me into love again;\n  By Thy death to life restore me,\n    In my soul for ever reign.\n\n  Bring me into full salvation,\n    Every secret thought control;\n  Help my nature's imperfection,\n    Sway Thy sceptre in my soul.\n\n  Let all nature point to Jesus,\n    Every scene reveal Him there,\n  Earthly good, through Him, be precious,\n    Voices chaunt Him everywhere.\n\n  All I know, or taste, or handle,\n    Be subservient to His will;\n  Sun that shineth--stars that glitter--\n    Flash His glory round me still.\n\n\"As I came out of the chapel, a person came to me with tears in her\neyes and requested me to pray for her, that the Lord would cleanse her\nheart: I was humbled but encouraged.--My birthday: rose before five,\nand consecrated my body and soul to the Lord. At an early hour was\nsent for by the young person I saw a few days ago, who is still very\nmuch afflicted. Inquiring what I should pray for, she said, 'That God\nmay pardon my sins.' I thought this a good sign, as she was in much\npain; and left her, believing God would save her. This word has been\nmy motto for some days, 'If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide\nin my love;' and my heart is bent on it.--Awoke early; my meditations\nwere sweet. Visited S.P., while praying with her she wept much. O may\nthese meltings of a broken heart end in conversion! In the evening\nwent to J.B.'s to break the ice for them in commencing family-prayer,\nbut he was out, so after some close conversation with his wife on the\nsubject, we prayed together. Lord, help her to take up her cross.\nOn my return I went and prayed with uncle; I want to say to him\neverything I ought--Lord help me.--I started early that I might invite\nsome of the villagers to the chapel: while thus engaged my heart was\nlifted up to God for a blessing on my endeavours.--Miss C. came to\ninform me, that last evening after returning from chapel, feeling her\nneed of justifying grace, she retired to her closet--her sisters,\nand the young ladies having remained at the prayer-meeting. On their\nreturn, several of them being deeply convinced of sin, united in\nprayer; and so powerfully did the Spirit work, that six were crying\nfor mercy at once: thus they continued to pray and wrestle until two\nin the morning, when five of them were made happy. On my way to Acomb,\nI called in to rejoice with them, and was introduced to a young lady\nwho has been for some time under religious impression; whilst Mrs. R.\nand I engaged in prayer, she found comfort; glory be to God.--A year\nsince my dear Richard left the land of his birth, to preach the gospel\nin the islands of the seas. To commemorate the event, we had about\ntwenty friends to tea; after which we had a prayer-meeting on behalf\nof my dear son, and the cause of missions.--The words of a Minister\nshould be as a stream from the living fountain, and themselves as\nconduits, through which the stream runs. How needful then, that we\nshould bear them up before the throne, that there may be written upon\nthem, 'Holiness unto the Lord.'--Have been to see some of my members.\nTwo were out, one ill, a fourth indisposed, and a fifth in a very\nunhappy frame of mind, whom I purposely left without prayer, not\nknowing how to pray for her--never left her before without bowing the\nknee. On arriving at home, I presented her case to God.--Have been put\ninto the office of Treasurer for the Clothing Society; Lord help me\nfaithfully to discharge this labour of love for the poor of Christ's\nflock.--Saw J.P. on his dying bed. The enemy was making his last\nassault upon him. I repeated several promises to which he listened\nwith attention, and then prayed with him. In about half an hour the\nLord broke in upon his soul so gloriously, that he desired his wife to\ncome and tell me what the Lord had done for him. My soul rejoiced with\nhim.--This solemn moment I give myself to Thee. O let me henceforth be\nThy devoted servant, willing at all times to yield my will to Thine!\nDost Thou say to me, 'I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;\nyea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness?' Then\nit is enough. I am the Lord's, and He is mine. Blessed union! God is\nlove; I feel it now.\n\n\"1838. In converse with my friends, I have endeavoured to keep a\nconscience void of offence, and to walk in simplicity before the Lord;\nbut Oh! when viewed in the glass of God's law, how deficient! Yet will\nI aim at the perfect model.--This morning, a young man named Calvert,\nwho is going as a missionary to the South Seas, called upon us. With\nhim I sent a letter to my Richard, having sat up the previous night\nwriting, and little thinking I should have such an opportunity of\nsending it. Old feelings revived in my breast; but after he was gone,\nwhile musing about my son and the perils of missionary life, these\nwords were sweetly applied: 'It is not the will of your Father in\nheaven, that one of these little ones should perish.'--The box sent to\nRichard, which has been lost for three months, is just found in proper\ntime to go with a missionary bound for the same islands. There is\na providence unseen by us, whose watchful eye protects the minutest\ninterests of His own; 'Even the very hairs of your heads are all\nnumbered.'--Informed that poor Mrs. W. was fast sinking, I hastened\nto see her; she was struggling with her last enemy, but smiling in His\ngrasp. When told that she would soon join in singing 'Hallelujah,'\nshe smiled and said. 'Yes;' and shortly after exchanged mortality for\nlife.\"\n\n  MY FRIEND'S DEPARTURE.\n\n  How solemn was the room!\n    How still that scene of death!\n  My friend 'mid twilight gloom,\n    Lay gasping hard for breath;\n  The death dews on her temples stood;\n  She smiled adieu, and crossed the flood.\n\n  Angels were hov'ring round,\n    And breathing incense there;\n  Almost I heard the sound\n    Of wings upon the air;\n  Light as the breeze, and clear as light,\n  Her happy spirit took its flight.\n\n  Back on that solemn hour\n    My thoughts are often cast;\n  Be mine such faith and power\n    To triumph at the last;\n  With smiles to meet my latest foe,\n  And die eternal life to know.\n\nI am like Noah's dove. The world is a dreary waste of waters without\nanything upon which I can set my foot. My friends are dying, and\ndisappointments common.--Wrote to Mr. B. on the importance of\npreparing to meet God; and enclosed three sermons on eternity.--Four\npersons, whom I have visited this week, have passed into eternity.\nThese I have warned, urged, and pointed to Jesus. Of three of them I\nentertain hope; but Oh! the danger of delay, and the responsibility\nof visiting sick beds!--I have been much troubled with the inattention\nand neglect of a servant. This is permitted for the trial of my faith\nand patience, and my earnest prayer is, that I may secure the good\nintended. With respect to my inward experience, I have access to God,\nand can more implicitly pour my wants into the ears of Him, who waits\nto answer. I now enjoy, through Christ, solid peace. Many precious\nseasons for want of opportunity to record them pass unnoticed, and\nsome painful exercises, in which I have to sing my deliverer's praise.\n\n\"Sinnington. I have enjoyed sweet communion with my best friend, and\nin pouring out my soul among my dear relations. Mr. B. has read the\nlittle book I sent him, and carries it about with him in his pocket.\nWith me he appears more social; but it is the work of God to change\nthe heart. Still, he is laid upon my mind to remember him before\nthe Lord. My dear uncle, although in apparent health for his\nyears (eighty-one), is increasingly deaf, and almost cut off\nfrom intercourse with society, so that he seeks to be alone. In a\nconversation I had with him, he told me how the Lord blessed him, and\nhow he meditated in the night season. In this place I am secluded from\nmy usual care. Lord help me to improve the opportunity. I can truly\nsay, I long to sink, to rise, and grow in all the image of God.--I\nfelt much in parting with my friends, especially my dear uncle, who\nsaid he should perhaps see me no more. I reminded him of our meeting\nabove, and endeavoured to urge upon him a preparation for it.--On\nreviewing the week, I have endeavoured to walk circumspectly,\nredeeming the time, and enjoyed union with God, both in private, and\nat the family altar; but yet I want more uniformity in my walk with\nGod. Mrs. H. accompanied me to see two poor widows; and, inviting some\nof the neighbours in, we read and conversed, and prayed with them. I\nfelt inclined to go again.--A good class-meeting--after which I went\nto visit the widows; four more persons came in. My heart was enlarged\nwhile I endeavoured to exhort them to flee from the wrath to come, and\nprayed with them.--I have returned to spend the last hour of the year\nat home. I feel a prayerful frame, and a determination to give myself\nand all my powers to God. Though buffeted by the enemy, my heart is\nfully resolved. I will be Thine,--save me.\n\n  Oh! Thou, who dost in secret see\n  My lifted heart, and bended knee;\n  While now my soul pours out the prayer,\n  O let it find acceptance there:\n  Come now, and claim me for Thy own,\n  And make my heart Thy glorious throne.\n\nTwelve o'clock. Another year is gone.\"\n\n\n\n\nXVII.\n\nTHE MOTHER IN ISRAEL.\n\n  \"THE HOARY HEAD IS A CROWN OF GLORY, IF IT BE FOUND\n  IN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.\"--Prov. xvi. 31.\n\n\nThere are some countenances which even in advanced life are singularly\nbeautiful; lit up with a heavenly lustre which rivals the freshness\nand bloom of youth. Such was the countenance of my venerated mother,\non the eve of threescore years. Her expressive features discovered\nthe rich adornment of her soul. It was the outbeaming of hidden\nglory within;--the reflection of beauty caught by constant and secret\ncommunion with God;--the bright halo of love, joy and peace in\nthe Holy Ghost. Though in the middle period of life the subject of\nfrequent and severe attacks of pain in the head, which, for the time,\ngreatly enfeebled her, she had, by the blessing of God upon the use of\nsuitable means in connection with her abstemious habits, overcome the\nforce of disease, and recovered a degree of strength and vigour which\nwas remarkable. Her step was light and active; her gait erect; and as,\nin consequence of the removal of her children into active life, she\nwas now, to a great extent, freed from domestic duties, she might\noften be seen in the streets of the city hasting upon her errands of\nmercy. The care of three classes, two of which were large, together\nwith her numerous engagements in every department of usefulness, which\nthe church opened out to her, furnished her with continual employment,\nand hence, at this period, her diary is a detail rather of Christian\nactivity than of inward experience.\n\n\"1839.--The Covenant-service was a solemn season; yet I did not feel\nso much sensible comfort as firmness of purpose to consecrate\nmyself to God; seeing how greatly it concerned my interest, and what\ncondescension it implied, on the part of God, to accept of one so\nunworthy.--Entered upon subscriptions for the new chapel.--Poor Fanny\nMcD. has a second time been severely burnt. I saw her this morning;\nshe was just able to say 'yes,' when asked, if she was happy. About\ntwelve she expired. I am thankful I had the opportunity of commending\nher soul to God. It was good to go to the house of mourning. For ten\nyears I have collected, or given her, the amount of her rent; and for\none year provided a woman to wait upon her.--As I was going to Fanny's\nfuneral, I was accosted by a young woman, who seemed to know me: but\nof whom I had no recollection, until she told me that she had formerly\nmet with me, but had wandered from God, and was now made willing to\nreturn. The next day being my class, I invited her to come. She\ndid so; and said, that as she was going out the day before, she was\nstrongly impressed to pray for a blessing, and thought within herself,\n'Why should I? I am not going to chapel.' She concluded that our\nmeeting was providential. God grant she may again get into the\nright way.--A blessed Sabbath to me; it was good at the morning\nprayer-meeting;--good in the forenoon;--good to visit the house of\nmourning;--and good to point to Jesus some old women who desired to\nbehold Him.--I have this day surrendered my Sabbath class into the\nhands of Mrs. H., during her stay in York, having latterly had so\nlittle time for reading, and she desires employment.--The perusal of\nsome of my old MS.S. has been the means of rousing my spirit. Save me,\nO God, from spiritual sloth; I see the danger; may I fear it more\nthan ever, never looking at others, but always looking unto Thee.--The\nmonth of my nativity. My obligations to God are twelve months deeper,\nand myself a bankrupt--dependant upon the bounty of providence, and\nabased under a sense of my ingratitude, nevertheless my purpose is to\nlive for God alone: my faith strengthens, and I have a little love--\n\n  'Tis but a drop, O might it grow.\n  And all my happy soul o'erflow!\"\n\n\"I accompanied my husband to Harrogate, where I now write, having\nsecured a quiet retired spot which just suits me. Help me, Lord, to\nimprove the opportunity which this quietude affords. I can truly\nsay my soul longs for God; yea, for the living God.--Much liberty\nin family prayer. I was drawn out on behalf of the visitors who were\nabout to leave in the forenoon. The old gentleman seemed affected.\nTears came into his eyes when I bade him farewell. He thanked us for\nall our favours, which could only refer to our presenting him at\nthe throne of grace--a duty we owe to all men. O Lord, help me more\nfaithfully to discharge it!--Went to Goldsbro'; and accompanied Mrs.\nD. to see a neighbour, who was deeply affected under the sermon\nthe previous Sabbath. Our visit was welcomed, and after a little\nconversation we got upon our knees, when the Lord was very present.\nMrs. W., the person upon whom we called, pressed us much to go again,\nwhich we did after tea, before we left the place. She then expressed\nher confidence in God, and determined to cast in her lot among the\npeople of God.\n\n\"Sinnington. I was much pressed in spirit to visit a certain family in\nthe village, and got cousin P. to accompany me. My errand was to urge\nthe parents to seek the Lord. It was a softening time. The Lord opened\nmy mouth, and enlarged my heart. Both the master and mistress wept. Oh!\nthat it may not be as the morning cloud and early dew. I feel hope.\n\n  The message of mercy came wrapp'd in disease,\n  Destroying my comfort, and spoiling my ease;\n  Enclosed in the foldings a jewel I found,\n  And a circlet of diamonds encompass'd it round;\n  I eagerly seiz'd it, and read on the seal\n  A name newly graven, I cannot reveal;\n  But, where it is present, no sorrow can dwell,\n  Affliction is welcome, and all must be well.\n\n\"Returning from chapel, I met with a person who was a stranger to\nsaving grace, and invited her into a house, where I was going to see a\nsick person. There I prayed with them. The woman seemed much affected,\nand to me it was a season of refreshing. In the afternoon I saw\nseveral afflicted people, among whom I was encouraged and humbled,\nthankful, and almost overwhelmed with the troubles I was made\nacquainted with. After the evening service, in company with Mrs. R. I\nvisited another woman. There is no hope of her recovery. She is quite\nignorant of salvation, but exceedingly desirous of instruction. We\nhad much power in prayer, and reluctantly left her. I determined to go\nagain in the morning, but, before I set off, she sent for me, I found\nher perfectly sensible, but the hand of death was upon, her. I pointed\nher to Christ, and, while engaged in prayer, the power of faith was\nsweetly given. When. asked by her husband if she was happy, she said\nwith emphasis, 'Yes'.--Another half hour, and the year 1839 is gone\nfor ever! How precious these moments seem! But to the last, my\nhand, moved by the feelings of my soul, shall write Thy precious\nname--JESUS!--my Saviour! my God! my all! I now stand on the brink of\nanother important division of time. What it will develope. God\nonly knows; but my firm determination is to live for God. On my\nknees--surrounded by the unseen Deity--I give myself to Thee,--to\nreign in, and rule over me for ever. The moment is fled.\"\n\n\"1840. Saw Mrs. H., whom I found in dying circumstances. She was\nat class on New Year's Eve, when I urged her to lay hold upon\nChrist,--cautioning her not to remain unsaved, and expressing my fears\nlest she should do so. She appeared much affected, and remained at the\nbottom of the stairs to kiss me, ere we parted. Little did I think it\nwould be the last time: but such is the frailty of our nature.--At the\nrequest of a lady, whom Mrs. R. and I were providentially called to\nvisit, we went to form a class in her house. It was a blessed season,\nalthough we had only herself to begin with. [This lady she continued\nto visit weekly for a considerable time, until death rendered her\nvisits unnecessary.] It is long since I heard from Richard, but the\npromise has been repeated: 'Though it tarry, wait for it, because it\nwill surely come, it will not tarry.' So for some days I have been\nhoping. [Two days after she writes.] Just as we were about to commence\nfamily-worship, the postman brought two letters,--one from Richard,\nand one from Mary Ann. The tidings are affecting, and strongly exhibit\nthe guardian care of Providence.--Without a servant, but in no wise\ndiscontent.--I visited Miss Rosetta W., who is declining fast, and has\nfor some time been under considerable depression. The Lord was pleased\nto remove the cloud. The change was perceptible in her countenance.--A\nmemorable day in consequence of the fire at the west-end of the\nCathedral--occasioned, it is supposed, by the carelessness of a\nworkman, who was employed to repair the clock; at least, nothing\nfurther has been elicited. The spectacle was awfully grand, and\nsupplied me with an errand to the throne. The burning particles flew\nover several streets, and descended like flakes of snow. Surely the\nProvidence of God preserved us. Visited a lady, by her own request,\nwho is desirous of salvation. She has attended Mrs. C.'s class since\nit has been committed to my care.--Called on Mr. W., and looked upon\nthe remains of dear Rosetta, who left this suffering world in triumph,\nwaving her hand, and endeavouring to shout victory, the morning after\nI saw her last.--While meditating on the 15th chapter of John, the\nword was conveyed with power to my heart; but I want a constant\nspirit, never to be weary in the search, of truth. I was led to see\nhow the Saviour's words, 'Without me ye can do nothing,' are often\nimproperly applied, and made an excuse for spiritual sloth; since it\nis our own fault, if we have not strength, because He has commanded us\nto abide in Him.--Mrs. C.'s class was met by Mr. E. From this time\nI suppose I am to be recognized as the leader. In accepting this\nadditional responsibility, I am affected by a sense of my own\nunfitness for the work, and the honour which the Lord puts upon me;\nfor I look not at second causes, in thus placing me to watch over His\npeople. It is, and may it ever be, a stimulus to seek a closer walk\nwith God, that I may know His will, and act in conformity with it.\nWalking down High Ousegate about half-past eight in the evening, in\ncompany with my daughter, I had my pocket picked of a small silver\nbox, given me by a cousin. I can, and have prayed for the miscreant\nwho did it; but wish to have my box again: I fear this is wrong; it\nis not like Paul, who suffered the loss of all things without\nregret.--Several ladies commenced cutting out clothing for the poor.\nMay we be clothed with humility. Our interview was pleasant.--On\nreturning from my band, I found a note from our landlord, giving\nus notice to quit in six months, in consequence of some proposed\nbuildings in connexion with the railway station. For a moment I was\nstartled, as we hoped our residence was fixed for the term of life;\nbut my mind soon fell into a profitable train of reflection. I\nthought, ere this term has expired, a higher mandate may be sent to\nquit my clay tenement, when I must give up my account. My heart feels\nit is well, and will be well.--This morning I traversed the haunts\nof the 'navvies' to give tracts to as many as I could. It has been my\npurpose this day to surrender the powers of my body and soul to God;\nand I have steadily kept it in view. Still, I need the 'blood of\nsprinkling' through which alone I can be accepted.--Finished my\nmonth's visitation to the school. I might have better improved the\nopportunity; but imperfection characterises all I do.--Had the honour\nof breakfasting with a few of the Lord's servants, and was much\ngratified with the firmness of one, who stood almost alone in an\nopinion clearly right, respecting a book called _'The Centenary\nTakings.'\"_\n\n\"1841.--I had the junior members of my classes to tea, to sew for\nthe poor. Mrs. A. and Mrs. R. came to assist in making our meeting\na profitable one.--My mind has been deeply impressed with the solemn\noccurrences of this day. For some time I have been wont to visit Mrs.\nB. every Saturday, to converse and pray with her. I found her very\nill; and after rubbing her back for some time, to relieve the pain\nfrom which she was suffering, I knelt down and prayed with her, being\nparticularly drawn out for a present blessing. When I rose, I pressed\nupon her the necessity of taking hold of Christ; she replied, 'I have\nnothing else.' Thus I left her, little thinking that I should see\nher no more; but so it is, for a short time after I had left, she\nexpired.--My dear daughter Mary commenced a class with two members.\nMrs. A., Miss B., Mrs. M., and myself, assisted at the commencement.\nHow simple are the unadulterated truths of the Gospel! 'He was made an\noffering for sin' Amazing love! 'It pleased the Lord to bruise him.'\nBow down, my soul, in humble astonishment and adoration; and see in\nthe cross the malignity of sin, and the majesty of love,\n\n  O blessed cross! that points us to the sky,\n  Loosens from earth, that we may soar on high.\n  Thus suffering is our pathway up to bliss,\n  To dwell for ever where our Patron is.\n  O blessed cross! where Jesus bowed His head,\n  Baptized with precious blood, for sinners shed:\n  Happy are they who keep the words he brought,\n  And bear the cross by their great Pattern taught.\"\n\n\"Went to Bishopthorpe and saw the Archbishop's Palace. The grounds are\nbeautiful; and nature, at this season of the year in its splendour,\nshewed them to advantage. But what a responsible office does he fill!\nHow does his flock thrive? O that he may be able to render his account\nwith joy!--Not without thought and prayer, I set off for Sinnington.\nAll nature smiled around me, and Jesus whispered peace within. My dear\nuncle bows under the weight of years; cousin looks paler, and more\nfeeble; but I was welcomed as usual.\"\n\n  EASTER DAY.\n\n  The Sun of righteousness appears,\n    To set in blood no more:\n  Hail Him! who wipes away your tears,\n    Your rising God adore!\n\n  The saints, when He resigned His breath,\n    Unclosed their sleeping eyes;\n  Behold! he breaks the bands of death,\n    And bids the dead arise.\n\n  Alone, the dreadful course He ran,\n    Alone, the winepress trod;\n  He died, and suffered as a man;\n    He rises as a God!\n\n  In vain the watch, the stone, the seal\n    Forbid the Conqu'ror rise;\n  Rising, He breaks the gates of hell,\n    And opens paradise.\n\n\"Mrs. R., in band, faithfully told me of my faults, which, by God's\nhelp, I will try to amend. A meeting of Missionary Collectors was held\nto distribute the books, and to constitute a Ladies' Association.\nI left to meet my class. Mrs. C. was elected Treasurer, Mrs. R.W.\nSecretary, and myself, with all my unfitness, President. However,\nbeing on my knees before I went to the meeting, my covenant\nengagements were brought to my remembrance: 'Place me where Thou wilt;\nmake me the hand or the foot; a hewer of wood, or a drawer of water.'\nTherefore, by God's help, I am determined to do my best, admonished\nby another sentiment of Holy writ, 'Let not him that putteth on the\nharness boast as he that putteth it off.'--Christmas morn. Rose about\nfour o'clock; a beautiful starlight morning. It seemed to me as if\n'the morning stars sang together for joy' at the Saviour's birth.\nGlory! Glory be to God!\n\n\"1842.--Nearly forty present at the sewing meeting. I endeavoured to\ndraw out the sympathies of the ladies present in behalf of those whose\nwelfare we had met to promote.--Under the word the Lord made such\na discovery of myself to myself, as completely stripped me of\nself-confidence, and all hope,--except in the Saviour's merits, upon\nwhich I had power to lay hold. Oh the mercy of God to me, a poor\nworthless worm! After the prayer-meeting, two of the friends begged me\nin future to engage occasionally in public prayer. I have not done so\nlatterly, because it is a mighty effort to me. But God forbid that\nmy silence should be a stumbling-block to any. At the morning\nprayer-meeting, unasked, but not unmoved, I feebly opened my mouth,\nbelieving it to be my duty; and was blest in so doing.--This morning\nI awoke with 'Give unto the Lord of Thy substance.' Being about to\npurchase wearing apparel, I resolved to moderate my expenditure. In\nthis, as in everything else, my heart's desire is to act in the sight\nof God. My son, far distant, is daily present with me. I rejoice that\nhe is gone on the Lord's errand to the dark places of the earth; and\nfind here an additional motive to bring him daily before the Lord,\nwhose he is, and whom he serves. I have been much drawn out in prayer\nfor the Fijian chiefs.--Called upon Mrs. K. at her own request. I\nhad previously met her at a friend's house; and, in course of\nconversation, had inquired after her mother, whom I had frequently\nvisited, but of whose state of mind I entertained considerable doubt,\nbelieving that she was resting short of sound conversion; and whom\nindeed, at our last interview, I had warned not to deceive herself.\nThese fears I expressed to Mrs. K. The same evening she saw her\nmother, and repeated what I had said, with some degree of concern. The\nnext time she called, her mother said, 'Mary, you must get somebody to\npray with me, or I am lost for ever.' However, being unwell, she went\nhome to bed; but could not sleep, in consequence of what her mother\nhad said: so she rose at five the following morning, and went to see\nher mother again. She found that she had been in such distress of\nmind, that at midnight she had aroused a neighbour to pray with her,\nand not in vain; for the Lord graciously sent 'deliverance out of\nZion,' and spoke peace to her troubled spirit. She lived about three\nweeks after my last visit, and died rejoicing in the Lord. These\ncircumstances have so deeply affected Mrs. K. as to lead her to seek\nthe Lord, and she is now pursuing her way to heaven. Glory be to God\non high!--In consequence of my uncle's declining health, I returned\nagain to Sinnington; and am now sat by his side. He is restless, but\nsays nothing. It is the midnight hour; yet 'He that keepeth Israel\nneither slumbers nor sleeps.' No sound salutes my ear but the pendulum\nof the clock, which, with every stroke, admonishes me that time\nflies.--Alone with uncle. He sleeps. All is tranquillity and peace; my\nsoul is fixed on Christ, and enjoys undisturbed repose. Surrounded by\nHim, in whom I live, move, and have my being, all nature,--the balmy\nair,--the rich verdure,--the growing beauties of spring enlivened by\nthe great luminary of heaven, conspires to raise this often wandering\nheart to Him, whom I desire above all things to love and obey.--I\nasked uncle if his prospect was bright; he replied, 'Aye, I've no\ndoubt.'--I wonder at myself I make so little progress in knowledge, or\nincrease in holiness. I purpose, aim, attempt, yet daily have cause\nto mourn my unprofitableness; but with one whose memoir I have lately\nlooked into, 'I must come the short way to God, through the atoning\nblood of Jesus.' His name is precious now. I feel its balmy power. O\nfor ability to praise Him in language adequate to the glorious\ntask! God is love. Creation with its thousand tongues proclaims Him\n'Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God;' and millions of intelligent\ncreatures extol Him, 'the Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace'\nI have written a letter to be read in the Tuesday class. Visited Mr.\nM.--My soul goes out after God, and my faith claims Him mine. O\nwhat an exalting, and yet humbling thought! Faith unites but love\nadores.--How quickly time wastes away! I have been here a month\nto-day; not supposing uncle could live many days. Nothing solid has\npassed his lips for more than that period; and yet, though certainly\nweaker, his strength is wonderful. I begin to feel anxious about home,\nand the dear folks among whom I meet. May the Lord bless them.--My\nuncle evidently changed for the worse, and so continued for two days,\nuntil--on the 21st of June, about five minutes past five, he expired.\nIt is a week to-day since he spoke, and six since he took his bed.\nI have often been sweetly drawn out in prayer by his bedside, and\nenjoyed peculiar liberty the day he died. I went again to see Mrs. M.,\nwho is also dying, her friends weeping around her.--Returned to York.\nThe sewing meeting was but thinly attended;--chiefly young persons,\nto whom I felt prompted to speak on their souls' welfare. The result I\nleave.\"\n\n  WHERE IS THE LORD GOD OF ELIJAH?\n\n  In the storm, that sweeps along;\n  Blazing fire, and earthquake strong;\n  In the lightning's trackless flight;\n  Gathering cloud, and curtain'd night!\n  In the fragrant passing breeze;\n  Thunders loud, or raging seas.\n  Stormy worlds, or gentle flower,\n  God proclaims His sovereign power.\n  But the still small voice of love\n  Softly breathing from above,\n  Speaks in spirit tones within--\n  'Jesus suffered for my sin;'\n  Till my soul--His hallowed shrine--\n  Melts in melody divine.\n  Let me hear its whisper still;\n  Melt, and mould me to Thy will.\n\n\"'I will greatly rejoice in the Lord' is my motto this day. I enjoy\nsettled peace, and am striving after the fulness offered in the word\nof God: 'Filled with God;' 'Sealed with the spirit of Promise;'\n'Dead to sin.;' 'Holy.'--Disturbed in the night by a person who had\na quarrel with her other self.--My John occupied the pulpit. At the\nprayer-meeting after, a person cried aloud for mercy. The Lord spoke\npeace to her soul on her return home. She could not sleep during\nthe night for praising God. She came to the Thursday class. We were\nrejoiced to hear her statement.\"\n\n\n\n\nXVIII.\n\nLIGHT IN DARKNESS.\n\n  \"FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.\"--2 Cor. v. 7.\n\n\nIn the wisdom of God, and in harmony with the highest purposes of\ngrace, life is so constructed, as to make man feel his own weakness,\nand his dependance upon Divine power. The recurrence of seasons of\ntrouble and sorrow, makes a perpetual demand upon our faith.\nReason tries in vain to disentangle the intricate dispensations of\nProvidence, and nature sinks under the force of innumerable trials,\nwhich, like successive waves beat incessantly upon it. The only\nresource is faith in God; and when once we grasp the sure promise,\n'all things work together for good to them that love God;' light\nsprings up in the darkness: and all that comfort, which might arise\nfrom a clear discovery of the processes of Providence, is realized in\nthe assurance that all shall be well,--an assurance given by Him who\ncannot lie, confirmed by an oath, sealed with the blood of Christ, and\nverified by the experience of God's people in all ages. It is thus\nthe christian's privilege to rejoice always, if not in His afflictions\nwhich are grievous, yet in the Lord, who ruleth all things well. Mrs.\nLyth knew this to be possible, she aimed at it, and though not always\nwith equal success, she walked by 'faith and not by sight.'\n\n\"1843.--I have been privileged to attend the house of God, after an\nabsence of some weeks through affliction; but with grief I confess,\nthat when I first got out to see my daughter, who has also been ill,\nI neglected the opportunity of social prayer and thanksgiving, that\nwe were again permitted to see each other. My ingratitude stares me in\nthe face. Against Thee, O Lord, against Thee only, have I sinned.--My\nJohn is preaching his trial sermon. My husband and servant are hearing\nhim; and I have been alone, praying for him, that he may neither go\nbefore, nor stay behind the call of God. I feel the Lord is present,\nand my heart goes out after Him.--I was called up a little after five\nto attend upon my daughter-in-law. A beautiful morning. I reproached\nmyself for so often losing the sweet perfume of the morning air. When\nI arrived the babe was born. So another immortal spirit is added to my\nfamily. Praise God, the promise reaches to them all.--Collecting\nfor the missions in one of the poorest districts, we peeped into a\ncomfortless spot, where lived a poor widow with five children. We did\nnot wish to ask for anything, but were obliged to give a reason for\nour stepping in. The woman said however, that it was a good cause, and\nshe would give us something. This was truly the widow's mite, and will\nnot pass unrewarded.--As soon as I rose from my bed, these lines were\nupon my tongue before I was aware--\n\n  'Mercy's full power, I then shall prove,\n  Lov'd with an everlasting love.'\n\nWhile repeating them it occurred, this is an answer to prayer last\nnight.--I find it difficult to retain the truths I hear; but, having\nthe law written in my heart, I desire in all things to obey.--The\ncases of several members of my family press heavily upon my spirit.\nEliza continues very weak, and John is in suspense; my only refuge is\nin taking them to the throne of grace: for it is written, 'Cast thy\nburden upon the Lord, and He will sustain thee.'--The cloud begins to\nbreak, and I feel abased before the Lord, that I should have had\nso little confidence. My daughter is better, and John has received\nsatisfactory information; so I am confident, that in both cases\nthe Lord is mindful of us. Yesterday, while bowed by my daughter's\nbedside, the light broke in upon my soul, and I believe upon her's\ntoo. I felt power to rest upon the Lord, and leave her in His hands:\nvery different from what I have felt before, although I have many\ntimes approached the throne, and sometimes caught a glimpse of hope;\nbut this was the broad light of faith.\"\n\n\"Harrogate. What shall I render unto the Lord for all His mercies\ntowards me? I am living in the enjoyment of peace of mind; desiring\nmore of God; distrustful of myself; grieved that I love God no more,\nand aiming to do better. O Lord, the power impart.--We returned home\ngreater debtors to the Lord than ever, for the mercies both of the\nupper and nether springs. My husband welcomed me with the class-book\nin his hand, which at first, I felt reluctant to take, but found a\nblessing in taking up the Cross.--When I retired to rest, I thought,\nif the Lord will condescend to give me some passage from Himself,\nwhich is not familiar to me, it will strengthen my faith. My request\nwas granted, and the words 'As one, whom his mother comforteth,'\noccupied my thoughts much of the night, and were first upon my tongue\nin the morning. I saw my John off by train to Colchester. I feel\ndeeply concerned for his health, and for his spiritual welfare, and\nfor his prosperity in the work in which he is engaged: but if a mother\nmay be heard for her child, (and I believe it,) my poor petitions\nshall be continually urged at the throne of grace, that he may be all\nGod requires.--A week of toil is past. My husband is under medical\nadvice. I am tried with my servant; my words and actions are\nmisconstrued, but I have been aiming to speak and act as in the sight\nof God, however imperfectly.--Alone. In two hours the year closes,--a\nyear of unnumbered mercies.\"\n\n  Backward I turn, and view the stream\n    Of mercy rolling rich and free;\n  Here, flashing with a silver gleam;\n    There, tinged with hues of mystery.\n\n  Through health and sickness, hope and fear;\n    In griefs imagined, never known,\n  Its current flowed, my heart to cheer;\n    And light upon my pathway shone,\n\n  But ah! what poor returns are mine!\n    How weak my faith! my love, how cold!\n  Yet will I praise Thee, 'I am Thine,'\n    Thy faithful promise still I hold:\n\n  Distrusting self, I come to Thee,\n    My vileness in Thy wounds to hide;\n  When foes assail, to Thee I flee,\n    And in Thy changeless love confide.\n\n  Then speed, ye fleeting years, your flight;\n    I will not mourn the period gone;\n  But hasten to my home in light:\n    Eventful, rapid years, roll on!\n\n\"Eleven o'clock. I desire most unreservedly to surrender myself to the\nLord; to be wholly His. Amen.\"\n\n\"1844. In my walks through the city, I met with the Rev. Thomas\nRichardson, who, kindly accosting me, inquired after my husband's\nhealth and requested me to tell him, 'to be careful for nothing, but\nin everything by prayer, and supplication, with thanksgiving, to make\nknown his wants and requests unto God.' He added, 'I remember what you\nonce said to me, 'What thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;\nbut the children of this world are wiser than the children of light;\nand I fear this is sadly neglected;'--with additional kind advice.\nTo my mind it was a word in season, and my heart warmed with the kind\nadmonition.--I went to see Mrs. L., and was much surprised to find\nher daughter, who is in attendance upon her, lying ill on a bed by the\nside of her mother's. After a little conversation with her I prayed,\nand then turned and spoke a few words to the mother, and again we\nunited in prayer. I asked the young woman if she found it good,\nand, though scarcely able to speak, she clasped her hands and said,\n'Very--very.' A little after seven the same evening, she expired,\nin the bloom of youth.--The President, the Rev. John Scott, and Dr.\nNewton came to York to advocate the cause of education. A tea was\nprovided. I was one of the Committee, and hoped to have had the\nopportunity of hearing those honoured servants of the Lord; but ah! we\nare dust. My dear husband, after rising from dinner, was preparing to\ngo, when he was seized with an attack of paralysis. (This being the\nsecond). I immediately sent for medical aid, and the Lord graciously\nblessed the means, and now, I hope, the stroke is turned aside. So\nthe purpose of meeting our friends was frustrated; but this is for\nour good. My mind was kept in peace.--Visited Mary R., who is fast\nsinking,--she said with rapture, 'Jesus is here, Jesus is here.' I am\nsince informed, that she has triumphed over her last enemy, waving her\nhand, and shouting, 'Glory!'--A very blustering night. Waking a little\nafter three, I rose to pray, and found the watchful Keeper of Israel\nready to listen to my early cry. I begged Him, if it pleased Him, to\ngive me sleep, and wake me at five. I laid down, slept, and when I\nawoke, looked at my watch, which was just five minutes to five. I\nfelt, and still feel my obligations to the Lord, and am resolved to\ncommit myself to His guidance.--My birthday. I awoke a little after\nthree, and arose at half-past four, with these words upon my mind,\n'Who will consecrate his services this day unto the Lord?' My heart\nresponds, 'I will.' Yes, Lord, Thou, who seest the breathing desires\nof my heart, and only knowest its wanderings, discover to me if there\nis any secret iniquity lurking there. As far as I know, I am sincere,\nand would be wholly Thine. My soul is happy. I am Thine. Saw Mrs.\nN. again. When I entered the room she seemed quite exhausted, but\nrecovering a little said, 'O, I have had such a deliverance since\nI saw you! After a severe struggle with the enemy, I could not help\nsaying aloud, Bless the Lord, I can believe without a doubt or fear;\nI throw myself upon Christ.' But you will think me better than I am.\nI have been a poor loiterer. I have not let my light shine as I ought.\nWhat did I say?' 'I repeated all I could recollect.' 'Yes,' she\nsaid, 'it is all true; give my love to my dear sisters (meaning her\nclassmates), and tell them to make much of their religion. I love them\nall.'--My mind is solemnly impressed. Death is taking away my friends\non all hands. Well, a little while, and we shall see the end. May we\nbe blessed as they are, and as free. Happy am I to learn that Mrs. N.,\nwhen conversing with her husband, an hour or two before her departure,\nsaid, 'I shall soon be with Christ; go to bed, and I will try to go\nto sleep.' She did so, and woke no more, literally falling asleep in\nJesus.--I have this morning felt depressed with the thought of being\nclosed up in the earth; surely this is from an enemy, for when death\nhas done its work, what matters where the body is? There is nothing\nI desire so much as to live and die a Christian. I hold fast the hope\nthrough Christ; yet I cannot perceive improvement, although I have at\ntimes been much led out in prayer. Last night, while meditating on my\nstate, with earnest prayer for the direct witness of the renewal of my\nnature, the assurance was given, 'I have graven thee on the palms of\nmy hands.' I want not to spend, but to _redeem_ the time with Mrs. D.\nCalled to see Mrs. T., who is very weak in body, but trusting in the\nLord. I knelt down to pray, and had not uttered many words before she\nbroke out in prayer and praise, expressive of her firm confidence in\nthe Lord Jesus. It was a melting season. It is encouraging to see the\npower of grace thus manifested in the midst of pain and weakness, and\nbearing up the subjects of it.--We met to make fresh arrangements\nfor the Clothing Society, when, much against my own will, I was\nreappointed Treasurer: but, as it is a cross, I will try to take it\nup.--Took tea with my daughter. All the preachers and their wives\nwere present. I was both pained and profited,--profited in singing\nand prayer, and pained whilst endeavouring to defend an absent\nbrother.--Resigned my office in connexion with the sewing-meeting with\npeace of mind. Yet, on reviewing the three years during which I have\nheld it, I can only say, unprofitable servant; for, although I have\nendeavoured to please God in the faithful discharge of my duty, my\ndoings have been mixed with much imperfection. Called to see a young\nwoman in the small-pox, who is crying for mercy. I have visited her\nseveral times. Her cry continues, mingled with the hope that God will\nsave her. I am sure gratitude ought continually to burn upon the altar\nof my heart. Even when passing through darkness, light has sprang up\nto illumine the path; but when I consider my returns, I am filled with\nhumiliation. What shall I do? I will try to do better; Lord, help me,\nI am Thine.\"\n\n  I am Thine by purchase great,\n    Made, redeemed, sustained by Thee;\n  By surrender, now I wait\n    All Thy pleasure upon me.\n\n\"1845. Took tea with Mrs. W., and had the opportunity of urging her\nhusband to seek the salvation of his soul.--My dear Eliza was this\nmorning again made a mother. Another little boy to put in the covenant\ngrant. Just as I write the promise is given, 'Thy children shall be\nall taught of God, and great shall be the peace of thy children.' So\nmay it be; I desire nothing more. This afternoon I have had a\nfall, and was miraculously preserved from injury. I record it as an\nacknowledgment of the kind care which providence has exercised over\nme. What will be the end of these struggles respecting Maynooth\nCollege? Will Romanism or Protestantism prevail?--I saw Mrs. R. three\ntimes today; the second she expressed hope in God; the third the power\nof speech was gone. Awful crisis! Standing on the edge of two worlds!\nIt was a solemn moment. While engaged in prayer I felt access.\nHow needful to be ready!--Near midnight. I have this week been\nendeavouring 'to reckon myself dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto\nGod.' My faith is sometimes strong, at others feeble; but my purpose\nto hold fast the blessing was never more fixed. Thou, who at this\nmoment beholdest the inmost recesses of my heart, and who, by Thy\nSpirit, givest me inward peace, keep me from this hour; and help me\nconfidently, through the merits of Christ, to confess with my mouth\nwhat my heart believes--that 'the blood of Jesus Christ Thy Son\ncleanseth me from all sin.'--Again visited Mrs. B. The last time I\nsaw her she wept, and appeared to feel much; but I was afraid she\nwas imagining she had attained what she had not, and resolved to call\nagain at the first opportunity. I found the Lord had been powerfully\nworking on her mind. She felt it such a mercy that the Lord had not\ncut her off in her sins, that she had wrestled with the Lord until He\nremoved her load of misery, and communicated peace: this is the Lord's\ndoing.--All is still; only the moan of my afflicted cousin, in her\nslumbers, falls upon my ear. The clouds of evening are richly tinted\nas the shadows of night draw on. My soul enjoys sweet tranquillity.\nJesus' merits being the only refuge of my soul. When I asked cousin\nthe state of her mind, she said, 'Sometimes I have no doubt, at others\nI am perplexed;' and then added, with tears, 'Though He slay me, yet\nwill I trust in Him.'\"\n\n  Oh! what is life? a passing cloud,\n    Tinged with a rainbow light;\n  But let the sun his glory shroud,\n    Where is the vision bright?\n\n  'Tis past and gone, and in its place,\n    Nought but the cloud appears:\n  It is the Sun of righteousness\n    Must gild this vale of tears.\n\n\"Fulfilled some errands on the Lord's account. Passing a spot where\na person once a member resided, I called to see how her mind was\naffected now. She was much pleased, and said the Lord had sent me, as\nshe was wishing to see me, having had her desires after eternal life\nrevived. Some others, to whom I was directed, were equally disposed\nto unite themselves with the people of God.--Two days ago cousin\nevidently altered for the worse; she has spoken little, but been\nremarkably patient, through her protracted affliction. This morning\nshe expressed her confidence in God; and a few minutes after\neleven her happy spirit returned to God. We sorrow, but not without\nhope,--Her remains were conveyed to Sinnington for interment. Past\nrecollections seemed to drink up my spirit; only one survivor--upon\nthe spot--of all those whom long association has endeared\nto me. We called upon Mr. B.; but ah! how changed! completely\nparalyzed,--apparently incapable of much impression, and yet, I fear,\nunsaved! I spoke to him, and also his son, on the necessity of making\ntheir peace with God, and then prayed with them; but my mind was\nafterward pained because I had done the work so inefficiently.--The\nlast fortnight I have several times visited a little boy, sinking\nin decline. When first I saw him, he appeared quite ignorant of his\nsinful condition; but divine light has gradually beamed upon his soul.\nThe last time, he expressed a confidence I had not observed before.\nHis mother tells me, she has often heard him engaged in earnest\nprayer; and once, perceiving him much worse, she said, 'Bill, thou's\nvery ill.' 'Yes,' he replied, 'but I shall soon be _better_.' When\nnear death, he asked, 'Do you see who's come for me?' she said,\n'No, who is it?' He answered, 'Jesus;' and clasping his hands, said\nrepeatedly, 'Lord, help me!' then placing them together, under his\nhead, gently passed away.--While endeavouring to do my Master's will,\nI carry my heaven about with me. My soul enjoys peace, with a deep\nsense of my own nothingness. 'Christ is all; other refuge have I\nnone.'\"\n\n  All praise to God, whose sleepless eye,\n    Observed my tender years;\n  And blessed me with parental love,\n    Parental prayers and tears.\n\n  Through every lane of life I trace\n    His providential care;\n  In many a time of need, His grace\n    And guardian hand were there.\n\n  His still small voice of love I heard,\n    When in the blush of youth;\n  I paused, and listened to the word\n    Of everlasting truth.\n\n  Resolved I was, and re-resolved,\n    But many a conflict knew;\n  Till God, in Christ, my sins absolved,\n    And unbelief o'erthrew.\n\n  What shall I render to the Lord?\n    What can a sinner do?\n  I'll rest upon His precious word,\n    And take His grace anew.\n\n\n\n\nXIX.\n\nTHE INWARD MONITOR.\n\n  \"THE LORD SHALL GUIDE THEE CONTINUALLY.\"--Isaiah lviii. 11.\n\n\nWho, that is conscious of the solemn responsibility of life, and of\nthe perils by which it is beset, but feels the necessity of continual\ndirection? How many emergencies daily arise, in which there is need of\nwisdom superior to our own? Oh for a Mentor, whose constant presence\nand unerring counsels might always guide us aright! The aspiration\nis not in vain. God himself, offers to be the guide of His people.\nHe will put His Spirit in them, who shall abide with them always, and\nguide them in the way of all truth. But how? Not by some irresistible\nimpulse, which overpowers the action of human will, or by some new\nrevelation, which would render unnecessary the ordinary means of\nreligious instruction; but by the lessons of His holy word, which is\nbrought to the mind in the moment of requirement; for the Holy Spirit\nbrings to our _remembrance_ whatsoever is there revealed for our\ncomfort and instruction. This shows the importance, not only of the\nconstant and diligent study of the Word of God, but of storing the\nmemory, while it is yet fresh and vigorous, with Scripture truth: for\nit is obvious, _that_ cannot be brought to our remembrance, which was\nnever known. Further, we must ask for direction, committing all our\nways to Him; and when He graciously indicates the path of duty, at\nonce obey. He who acts upon these principles will never\n\n      'Full direction need.\n  Or miss his providential way.'\n\nGod will guide him continually, and often, in a manner most wonderful,\nsupply light and counsel, in times of perplexity, or need. Mrs. Lyth\nhad in early life committed to memory large portions of the Word of\nGod; the Bible was the book of her choice--her daily study; and her\nlove for it became more impassioned as life rolled on to its close.\nHence, as she was in the habit of prayerfully seeking direction in\nall her movements, its precious truths were constantly brought to\nremembrance. Indeed, in some parts of her diary, scarcely a day passes\nwithout the record of some scripture thus applied, most commonly as\nher first morning thought, which furnished profitable reflection for\nthe day.\n\n\"1846.--Called to see one I saw on Saturday, but she is no more.\nWhither is she gone? Pursued my way to visit another sick friend. When\nI approached her bedside, she said she was very ill in body, and\nvery miserable in mind. After a few words we knelt down. The Lord was\ngraciously pleased to give the spirit of prayer; and faith realized\nthe blessing. She cried out, 'I am Thine, glory be to God!' How\ngood it is when God comes down, and melts our frozen nature!--I have\ncommenced reading Matthew Henry's Commentary; how far I shall live to\nread, I know not; but I have commenced it with prayer, and by God's\nhelp intend so to continue.--Invited the Clothing Committee to tea.\nFor some days before, I prayed that we might be directed into the love\nof God. Being, as I believe, the oldest, I ventured to take the lead,\nand we had a little band-meeting. All spoke and prayed. Afterward I\nwas painfully exercised; but I cast myself, with all my imperfections,\nupon God.--In visiting the School I felt prompted to speak a few words\nto the children, and made the attempt. The words impressed upon my\nmind were 'Even a child is known by his doings.'--Sought out Mrs.\n----, to whom I spoke plainly; also called upon another christian\nfriend, one, who is placed in slippery places in public life;--prayed\nwith them: and now my work is before Thee, wilt Thou be pleased to\nacknowledge my feeble endeavours to help Thy people on?--I have today\nbeen engaged in obtaining Ladies' signatures to memorialize the\nQueen for the suppression of houses of ill fame.--A pleasant drive to\nHarrogate. Came, resolved to give myself to prayer, and have felt\nit good to draw nigh to God.--While sitting at my work about three\no'clock, the thought occurred, 'Look into the little book lying on the\ntable.' I did so, and on opening it, read, 'Rise and pray.' I was\nthus reminded of my engagement with a friend, and was thankful for the\nadmonition.--I felt reproved for uttering a matter which, though true,\nwould have been better unsaid. When will my tongue be brought into due\nsubjection?\n\n\"Cleethorpes. Much of the day passed upon the terrace. Had a\nconversation with a Church lady, to whom the Lord enabled me to speak\nof the things of God; and have since been praying that conviction may\nfasten upon her conscience.--Was sent for to visit a lady upon a sick\nbed, with whom I had a free conversation. I have now seen her three or\nfour times, and she seems really in earnest to save her soul. She has\nknown something of the truth for fifteen years; but is much depressed\nby a nervous affection. I have been led to admire the harmonies and\nadaptations of nature. Can it be that God should thus provide for man\nin his fallen condition, and will He forget to provide for His own?\nNever! Infinite Power, is infinite love.--Called to see a person who\nis sick, but was disappointed. However, I conversed and prayed with\nher mother, and afterward went to read to a poor blind woman who is in\nthe way to heaven.--Called to see a person with whom I conversed a few\ndays ago;--heard her groaning in great pain, but did not see her. The\ndaughter, who is also ill and much harassed with attending upon her\nmother, said, they had now no time for religion, as affliction\nput every thing else out of their thoughts; yet she admitted its\nimportance. I gave her a few words of counsel, and when I left, told\nher I should pray for them. She looked at me with surprise, and we\nparted, probably to meet no more till we meet at the bar of God.\nBoth of them knew something of religion years ago. Lord, save me from\ntrifling.--Left Cleethorpes at six. The Grimsby packet was crowded,\nand there were many wicked people on board. I was glad when we reached\nHull.--Two of my members lie at the point of death; one, above eighty,\nis perhaps already gone. She has not been able to attend her class\nfor some years, but I have regularly visited her; and often been\nencouraged while praying with her. A wicked son has been a great\ntrouble to her, and, I am informed, often used her ill. To the last\nshe expressed confidence in God. I have seen her several times since\nthe commencement of this last affliction, which has only been of a\nweek's duration. Last night she was just entering the valley, and the\npower of recollection was nearly gone. The other, whom I also saw last\nnight, is aged, and with a happy expression of countenance declared\nher trust in God, and hope of heaven. Two others that I saw, both\nabove eighty, were joyfully waiting their release.\"\n\n  Exiled from my Father's home,\n    A pilgrim here below;\n  Looking,--longing, lo! I come\n    More of Thy love to know.\n  Let me here, like Mary, sit;\n    Claim Thee every moment mine;\n  Willing always to submit,\n    And lose my will in Thine.\n\n\"I retain the earnest desire after full dedication to God, Spared to\nsee the last moments of another year; I am resolved that God shall\nhave my heart. Worthless enough! But the atonement! Here is my hope\nand consolation. Yes, my all centres here.\"\n\n\"1847.--A friend came to request me to write to a sister, who is in\ntrouble through bereavement. Never did I so clearly apprehend\nthe responsibility of acting for the Lord. May the attempt be\nblessed.--Visited the School, and was glad to find that some of the\nchildren remembered what I said to them a year ago. This shows\nthe importance of storing the youthful mind with what is worth\nremembering. I requested them to commit to memory the 23rd Psalm. Six\nor eight have done so, and repeated it correctly. Addressed and prayed\nwith them. This finishes my month of visitation.--I have to record\nthe merciful interposition of Providence, beyond my expectation, in a\nmatter which has occasioned me much pain. On this account I wish to be\nthankful. Surely the Lord has heard my prayer. Let this induce me\nto exercise a firmer reliance upon His promise, being 'careful\nfor nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with\nthanksgiving, making my requests known unto God.'--In visiting some of\nthe Lord's people, I think I was directed aright.\"\n\n  I would, in every footstep, move\n  To meet the Saviour whom I love.\n\n\"Called upon Mrs. W., in dying circumstances. I have seen her\ntwice, and feel encouraged. The world becomes more empty. Christ is\nall.--Believing it to be my duty, I visited the surviving sons of\nMrs. W., to urge them to follow their deceased parent. They seemed to\nwelcome my visit, and invited me to call again.\n\n\"Sinnington.--Visited several of the villagers, with an anxious desire\nthat I might be useful to them. Visited my departed friends in the\nchurchyard; I hope to join them soon. On one of the gravestones I read\n\n  'The grave has eloquence, its lectures teach\n  In language louder, than divines can preach.'\"\n\n\"I was again solicited to take the presidency of the sewing\nmeeting;--a position, which to me appears increasingly important. Want\nof punctuality, and other evils, are creeping in. Lord, I am Thine,\nI would do that which is right in Thy sight, teach me; and, by the\ncontrol of Thy providence, let this organization be placed on the best\nfooting, that it may contribute to Thy glory.--Mrs. Wilson from Fiji,\ncame to spend the day with us before she returned home. How sweet is\nthe cement of prayer! How it knits us to one another! My heart filled\nwhen I saw her. I could have wept. She brings pleasing tidings from\nmy son.--After much deliberation we determined to go to Harrogate. I\nbelieve it is the right time. While on my knees before the Lord, it\nwas suggested, 'He shall bless thy going out and thy coming in from\nthis time forth, and for evermore.' I felt it was from the Lord, and\nbelieved it. We had an agreeable journey, and on our arrival a person\naccosted us, and asked if we required lodgings. We went with her to\nlook at them, and found them congenial to our wishes. The parties\nare members of our society: another proof of our heavenly Father's\ncare.--This evening I had the opportunity of speaking to one of the\ncavalry gentlemen. He thanked me, and said he would think about it.--A\nday of severe exercise. I was constrained to go to the throne\nof grace, where I found help, and was enabled to rise above what\notherwise would have grieved me much. The grand secret, I believe,\nwas the giving up my own will. May I ever have power to do it.--In my\nsleep, the words were continually running in my mind, 'Beloved, think\nit not strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you,\nas though some strange thing happened unto you.' Only enable me to\nendure; let Thy righteous will be done.\"\n\n  Glorious Lord, appear, appear\n  To Thy feeble follower here;\n  By Thy grace my heart prepare,\n  All Thy righteous will to bear.\n\n\"The words, 'I will be with him in trouble,' have greatly comforted\nme. Faith makes them mine; glory be to God!--At the sewing meeting\nI read the first section of Bramwell's Memoir. During tea I took the\nopportunity of speaking of the propriety of improving our time while\ntogether, admonished as we were by the sudden removal of so many\naround us; also of the necessity of punctuality in our attendance,\nthat we might not offer a blemished sacrifice. The sequel will show\nwith what effect.--As far as opportunity and strength permitted, I\nhave occupied these two days in visiting my members, and my afflicted\nfriend, Miss Bentley. She knew me, and desired me to pray; but soon\nfell into a slumber. This was the last time she spoke to me.--Saw her\nagain; about half-past four she died--to live for ever.--It is now\nthe last hour of 1847. I enjoy peace of mind and hunger after\nrighteousness. I long to fill up my time according to the will of God,\nand if I live, to be more useful than I have ever been.\"\n\n  Oh! let Thy still small voice\n    Say to my inmost soul,\n  'I am thy God; believe, rejoice,\n    I make the contrite sinner whole.'\n  So be it. I am only Thine,\n    And feel, through Christ, that Thou art mine.\n\n\"1848.--A whole week I have been a prisoner, in consequence of a\nswollen foot; but I am sure it is permitted in love. I see it to be my\nprivilege patiently to submit, and think I feel willing to do so; but\nthere are many intricacies in the human heart, and I see no further\nthan divine light permits.\"\n\n  Advancing time is slow;\n    But ah! how swiftly gone!\n  To mark its flight, and show\n    How 'vantage may be won,\n  Is wisdom only few attain,\n    But wisdom yielding greatest gain.\n\n\"Called to see the Rev. Thomas Walker, and found it good while praying\nwith him. He requested me, whenever I bowed the knee, to remember him.\nHe is daily brought to my recollection.--Memorable day! My Richard's\nbirthday. How little do we anticipate the events of life! now among\ncannibals, preaching the everlasting Gospel. Glorious work! Thus highly\nhonoured of the Lord, may he prove faithful. Than this, I can have\nno greater joy.--Called a third time to see Miss W., who seems to be\nseeking the Lord in real earnest. I found her reading the Bible,\nand weeping. Saw her again. She told me how happy she had been all\nThursday night; and said she felt as if I had cured both body and\nsoul. Since then she has been very ill, but is still following on to\nknow the Lord. Her Bible seems her greatest treasure. Afterward I had\na happy interview with Mrs. Isaac;--declining in body but alive to\nGod. She prayed sweetly.--Helmsley Missionary Meeting. We were hurried\nfrom the dinner table to the chapel, which precluded the preparation I\nlike. Friends are so kind in making ample provision for the body, that\nour souls are in danger of suffering loss in consequence.--Called to\nsee Miss W. Death was painted in her countenance; but she roused up,\nwhile I pointed her to the Saviour, and urged her to accept His mercy\n_now_. After prayer she said, with tears, 'I do believe in Jesus.'\nI read a psalm, to which she listened with deep attention, and then\nprayed again. When I rose to depart she said, 'You'll come again;'\nwhich I purposed to do, but she died the following morning. While at\nthe committee for the distribution of clothing, the Lord blessed me\nwith such a calm serenity of mind, that it was observed by one of my\nfriends. Was it in answer to prayer? It is true, before I left home,\nmy prayer was for a meek and quiet spirit; also the preceding evening,\nmy friend B. and I had unitedly agreed to pray that we might\nmore evidently, in our different spheres, approve ourselves God's\nwitnesses. Since then I have been endeavouring, but not always with\nequal success.--Still confined to the house. Rose between six and\nseven, and found the advantage of prayer. I feel my unprofitableness,\nbut was never more resolved to cleave to my best Friend than now.\nDuring the week I have been much drawn out in prayer for the dear\npeople committed to my care. But ah! I have not prayed half enough;\nfor this I feel humbled. O Lord, impress their spiritual welfare more\ndeeply upon my heart.\"\n\n  \"1849.--Here, I dedicate anew\n            My ransom'd powers to Thee;\n          A worthless offering, it is true;\n           Yet deign to look on me.\n\n\"The Rev. A. Bell called to say he wished Mrs. D. to take my Thursday\nclass, as he wanted female leaders on that side the bridge. Is it my\nunfaithfulness that will cause these dear people to be taken from\nme? My dear husband says it is providential, on account of my health.\nWell, I wait the issue.--Not long ago, a man, who was crushed on the\nrailway, cried out, as his companions were carrying him away upon a\nhurdle, 'Stop!' when asked if they hurt him, he replied, 'No;' and\npulling his hymn-book out of his bosom, added, 'I want to sing'--\n\n  'Happy if with my latest breath,\n    I may but gasp His name;\n  Preach Him to all, and cry in death,\n    Behold, behold the Lamb.'\"\n\n\"He was conveyed to a neighbouring inn, and medical aid immediately\nobtained. The doctor felt his pulse, and shook his head, on which the\nsufferer inquired how long he should live. 'Perhaps till twelve,' was\nthe answer. He then repeated the verse commencing\n\n  'No room for mirth or trifling here,' &c.\n\nadding, 'I shall be in heaven before twelve.' Near that time, he\nlifted up his hands, and shouting victory, victory, expired.--The\npractice, which I have for some time adopted, of retiring immediately\nafter breakfast to pray for myself, and those who are associated with\nme in church fellowship, I find truly profitable.--We set off early in\nthe morning for Gloucester, to visit our son and daughter; and had a\npleasant and peaceful journey, far beyond my expectation. A lady,\nwho sat beside me, gave me an account of her conversion to God. The\nconversation was originated by some tracts, which she carried for\ndistribution. About seven we arrived, and found our children looking\nout for us. Thus past the last day of my sixty-sixth year--an epitome\nof my life--continual change.--Returned to York. Mrs. J. accompanied\nme in search of Rosamond J. We found her in very poor circumstances,\nwith four children, and her husband gone off to seek work. She\ninstantly recognised me, and burst into tears. We prayed with her.\nAfter tea I met Mrs. J.'s class. The Lord was with us; several were in\ntears, conscious of their distance from God. The Lord assisted me\nin speaking to them, and blessed my own soul.--Death is common. The\ncholera prevails. May this awful visitation be sanctified to us! I was\nsent for to see Mrs. P.; she expressed her confidence in God, and\nthis morning died of cholera.--I felt impressed to visit the adjoining\nneighbours, and having bowed before the Lord, to ask his blessing and\nhelp, I went; and, as the Lord enabled me, conversed and prayed with\ntwo families. In one of them, the wife, who is much afflicted,\npressed me to go again, and her husband seconded the request.--Several\ncircumstances which have occurred in our Society, painful in\nthemselves, have turned out to my benefit, destroying my dependance\non man, and pointing me to the Rock which is higher than I. In an\nunexpected trial I was divinely supported. I went to see ----, and\nthere I met with his friend, to whom I spoke plainly; my heart\nwas pained.--Instead of going to the house of God, I was painfully\nexercised at home.\"\n\n  Opprest, I lift my heart to Thee,\n    Thou soother of my care;\n  Oh! let Thy ear attentive be,\n    To this my heartfelt prayer.\n\n  Thou seest my heart's desire, to live\n   Obedient to Thy will;\n  Help me, to Thee, my all to give,\n    With love my bosom fill.\n\n  \"Whate'er in me is wrong remove,\n    Whate'er is dark illume;\n  Search, try, and purge me, but in love,\n    Lest Thou Thy dust consume.\n\n  To Thee is all my sorrow known,\n    No secret would I hide;\n  The enemy his tares hath sown,\n    Oh! let him not divide.\n\n  Thou only canst my burden move,\n    The woful breach repair;\n  Oh! send us succour from above,\n    And hear my instant prayer.\n\n\"I am resolved, through grace, to seek a closer walk with God, and\nsweeter communion by the Holy Ghost. I want constancy, and more faith.\nI am convinced of my cowardice in not confessing the sanctifying grace\nof God which I enjoy; and thus insensibly lose sight of it. I desire\ncontinually to be led by the Spirit. I went to converse with a\nneighbour about having family-prayer. The mother is an old\nMethodist. Saw another person, who is a widow, and in trouble; both\nheart-touching visits.--In visiting, I met with the son of one of my\nmembers, whom I requested to read six verses of scripture every\nday; got the whole family together, and prayed with them. There was\nconsiderable feeling among them.--I am now entered upon the last hour\nof this eventful year, in which thousands have been swept away by\ncholera, and many by sudden death; but it has not come nigh me. I\nbegan it with the fixed purpose of living to God; but Thou, Lord,\nknowest how often and wherein I have failed. I feel I can plead\nnothing but the blood of atonement, to which I come; I want stronger\nfaith, and more love. The unhappy divisions in our Connexion have\nrather done me good; for I feel a hungering after Bible Christianity,\nand more of that love which 'never faileth,' and which 'thinketh no\nevil.'\"\n\n\n\n\nXX.\n\nTHE STORM.\n\n  \"THE LORD HATH HIS WAY IN THE WHIRLWIND AND THE STORM,\n  AND THE CLOUDS ARE THE DUST OF HIS FEET.\" Nahum i. 3.\n\n\nThe storm, that spreads ruin and devastation in its path, is no less\na proof of a wise and overruling Providence than the gentler phenomena\nof nature, which, with such constant and unvarying regularity, refresh\nand bless the earth. It cleanses the atmosphere, and sweeps away the\npoisonous miasmata, which have been engendered during a period of\nquiescence, and which must, if not removed, prove prejudicial to human\nlife. A similar effect is exerted by those painful dissensions which\ntoo often arise in religious communities. God permits them for the\npurification of His church. What is useless or injurious is swept\naway; what is good is confirmed; and if unhappily many, that are weak,\nare injured, it is because they do not seek shelter in Him, who is a\nhiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest. During\nthe fierce agitation, which swept as a whirlwind over the Methodist\nsocieties in 1849 and 1850, Mrs. Lyth never lost sight of the great\npurpose of life. She stood faithful and unmoved at her post; and\nmeddled no further with matters of strife than positive duty required.\nThe questions which many loved to discuss, and thought themselves\nquite competent to settle, were never willingly the topic of her\nconversation. They were the subjects of her prayers. She retired to\nher closet; she wept in secret over the breaches of Zion; she sought\nher refuge from the surrounding excitement in the secret place of the\nMost High, and hence that, which in itself was a serious evil, became\nto her a source of personal benefit. Happy would it have been for\nmany, who needlessly exposed themselves to the fury of the storm, if\nthey had been like minded.\n\n\"1850.--Several perplexing circumstances have conspired to disturb the\nquiet of my mind, however, they could only ruffle the surface. Through\nChrist, I enjoy settled peace.--In the course of discussion in the\nLeaders' Meeting I was given to see the amiableness of the meekness of\nwisdom, which was exhibited by one of our leaders. I came home praying\nfor more of it, feeling greater love for the Lord's people, and\nthankful that I am united with them. O what a privilege!--Twenty-seven\nyears since my dear father entered into rest; and I am yet alive, to\nsee and hear of more discord among the professed followers of Jesus\nthan ever I saw. Nevertheless, the 'Word of God is sure, the Lord\nknoweth them that are His.' I praise God my heart is fixed, let others\ndo as they may; yet it is painful to me to see them leaving the people\nof God. 'I know in whom I have believed,' and in Jesus I have peace.\n\n\"Copy of a letter written to a member, late of my class:--\n\n\"MY DEAR MRS. ----, My heart yearns over you; and, having been your\nLeader, I feel a responsibility resting upon me, of which I cannot\nacquit myself, without warning you of the danger, to which you are\nexposing your own soul, by giving place to a spirit not of love.\n\n\"You have been offended; go to the offender, that the breach may be\nhealed; do not make the rent wider. Read carefully and with prayer,\nour Saviour's directions in Matt. 18th; and submit yourself at the\nfeet of Jesus, who has said, 'Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in\nheart.'\n\n  \"O my dear friend, an enemy has gained an advantage\n  over you; and on cool reflection you will have cause to mourn.\n  Suffer not this evil to rankle in your breast; but go directly to\n  Jesus for power to forgive, that you may be forgiven.\n\n  \"My love for your eternal welfare, prompts me thus to\n  write to you, and I remain,\n\n  \"Your sincere friend, &c.\"\n\n\"My husband is gone to New Street Chapel, the Trustees having been\nsummoned on the 'Delegate' affair. The Lord reigneth.--The past has\nbeen a week of painful disunion and insubordination in oar Society.\nAlas! Yet, through mercy, my peace of mind continues. My resolve to\nlive for Him, who gave himself for me, is more firmly fixed than ever.\nWhile sitting under the word, my mind was impressed to go and speak\nwith M.R.; I scarcely indulged the thought, but when I returned home,\nit still pursued me. I took it to the Lord, and asked for wisdom,\ncourage, and a plain path; and then set forth. My path was made plain,\ncourage was given, and the spirit of meekness and love rested upon\nme. The word of admonition was kindly received; may it be as a nail\nfastened by the Master of assemblies.--The adjourned Missionary\nMeeting was held in the Centenary Chapel, and concluded the annual\nservices. The collection was nearly \u00a310 in excess of last year.\nMessrs. E. and G. were present. Three cheers, accompanied by the\nwaving of hats, &c., were given by certain persons for the 'expelled.'\nThe like I never saw before, nor ever wish to see again.--My son\npreached in New Street. In his first prayer he was much drawn out. The\ndivine power reached my heart. I felt it truly precious, glory be to\nGod, who in mercy has called my children to spread the savour of his\ngrace. O that the prayer I have often presented for this son, may be\nanswered, that he may be blessed to thousands who may sit under his\nministry.--Collected for the Missions. Several refused to give; but a\nwidow increased her subscription from two to ten shillings.\n\n\"Harrogate.--A pleasant walk alone; my meditations were sweet.\nEndeavoured to induce a few to go to the Prayer-meeting, but only\nprevailed upon four. Called on Mrs. B. Our conversation turned upon\nthe present unhappy divisions. How much are we in danger of getting\nwrong! O Lord, let me be guided by Thy Spirit, and if I err put\nme right. In family prayer I was drawn out for each by name. After\nretiring to rest my little grandson David got up, and came to my\nbedside to ask me to pray for him. May the Lord make him a man after\nhis own heart; and, if he live, a preacher of righteousness. I dreamt\nI was taking a long journey, and felt the rolling of rough waters\nunder me, but was fearless. When I awoke, this stanza was on my lips,\n\n  'Where all is assurance and peace,\n    And sorrow and sin are no more.'\"\n\n\"My soul is happy.--On leaving for home, I was inwardly moved to\npray with the family with which we had lodged. The Spirit of the Lord\nassisted me.--During the week I have been led out in prayer for my son\nJohn, and for the Conference. If the enemy rages, the men of God have\naccess by faith to omnipotent Power, and unerring Wisdom. May each be\nclothed with humility, and claim the grace they need, that they may be\nwisely directed.\n\n\"Sinnington. When we reached Pickering, we had a very awful storm,\naccompanied with thunder and lightning. My soul was kept in peace.\nSome women, who were detained as well as ourselves, seemed much\nafraid. I was prompted to speak to them on the necessity of preparing\nto meet God.--Cousin Samuel took me to Whitby. We climbed one hundred\nand ninety steps to the church, and found many gravestones of little\nnote; but one attracted my attention, as it bore my own and my\nhusband's names. How soon it will be said over us, 'Dust to dust,' I\nknow not; may we be found ready.--Called upon a sick neighbour, but as\nit was not convenient to see her, I retired into the drawing-room with\na friend who was present, to pour out our souls on her behalf.--I\nhave got a new servant, who makes no profession of religion, and feel\ndesirous for her salvation. Yesterday morning on awaking, the words\nwere impressed upon my mind, 'Let him know, that he which converteth\na sinner from the error of his ways, shall save a soul from death, and\nhide a multitude of sins.' From this I derive encouragement.--Amid\nthe conflicting elements afloat, our business is to make Christ our\npattern and our guide. I am trying to take up my daily cross, and\nto watch the motions of my mind; but ah! how fitful. I am\nnothing;--helpless and undone without Christ, my only hope is in his\natonement. Precious refuge! Come Lord, come now; I thirst, I long for\nThy coming. Now baptize, and overpower me with Thy love. If there is\nlurking in my soul, any secret and undiscovered evil, tear it away.\n'Show me Thy glory!'\"\n\n\"185l.--My soul is drawn heavenward. The sewing meeting is much laid\nupon my mind, that it may improve in spirituality, and that I may fill\nthe post assigned me according to the will of God. I long to spread\nthe savour of Christ among the dear people, and make religion appear\nmore lovely.--Finished my visitation at the 'School of Industry;' the\nchildren repeated the 104th and 119th Psalms, also the 12th of Romans,\nand the 22nd of Revelation. I spoke a few words, and prayed with them;\ngiving them a few small books, and one for the library.--A friend\nbrought me her album, requesting me to write in it. I thought\nprayerfully on the subject, and begged direction of the Lord, not\nknowing who might look upon it. During my sleeping hours and the\nfollowing morning, the subject of the last Sabbath's Sermon (Psalm 1.)\nwas impressed upon my mind with such force and sweetness, and I felt\nit to be so suitable to my friend, that I determined to insert it. My\nheart's desire is, that it may be blessed to all who read it.--As I\npassed the Centenary Chapel this evening, a gentleman thus accosted\nme: 'You don't know me.' I answered, 'No sir.' He rejoined, 'I sat in\nyour pew about nine years ago. Mr. Curnock preached about Noah's Ark;\nand a word you spoke to me afterward, forcibly impressed my mind. You\nsaid, 'Get into the Ark,' and now I have got into the Ark.' I had no\nremembrance of the circumstance, but am thankful he has got in. To\nGod be all the glory!--Sitting by the fire this evening, I fainted. So\ngraciously does my heavenly Father deal with me, that he blesses and\nchastens me in _love_; for this, my heart's desire is to praise Him: I\nthirst for a deeper baptism, and more intimate communion with Him.\"\n\n  MY SIXTY-NINTH BIRTHDAY.\n\n  Now the evening shadows lengthen,\n    Nature's feebleness appears;\n  Every grace within me strengthen,\n    To sustain increasing years.\n\n  Perfect in me all Thy pleasure,\n    While I sojourn here below;\n  Every fruit, in richer measure,\n    Through my dying Lord bestow.\n\n\"By the evening train a family party, consisting of thirteen of us,\nsafely arrived in Searbro'. Five went to the band-meeting, which was\nvery thinly attended. One of the five spoke, having been upwards of\nfifty years a member. I went to Mr. F.'s class, and though I could\nnot hear what the members said, I heard the leader, who made some very\nappropriate remarks. When addressing me, he related an anecdote of\nRowland Hill, who, going to preach at a village, was requested to\nvisit a good, but poor half-witted man. He went accordingly, and\naccosted poor Richard with the question, 'Do you intend to go to\nheaven?' 'Yes,' he replied, 'don't you?' 'But heaven is a long way\noff,' said Mr. Hill. 'I don't think so,' was the reply. 'Then what do\nyou think?' 'I think,' said the man, 'it is only three steps.' 'Well,\nRichard, what are they?' 'The first step is out of self; the second\ninto Christ; and the third into Glory.' So Mr. Hill went back, and\ntold his friends that he had been to preach to Richard, but Richard\nhad preached to him.--I ventured to speak to a friend, who sat beside\nme in the Chapel, about coming to class. To my surprise, she said she\nhad for some time thought of speaking to me on the subject. Surely\nthis was the suggestion of the Spirit. The Crystal Palace has great\nattractions just now! I hope to see the palace of angels and of\nGod.--Quarterly fast. It was good to be at the prayer-meeting in the\nmorning; better at noon; best of all at night.--After a very restless\nnight, my husband rose very poorly and feeble. I prayed with him\nbefore he got up, and now I feel it good to pray _for_ him. About noon\nhe had another attack of paralysis, which lasted about two hours,\nand at tea time he was seized again. Through mercy, he is better. By\nlooking to the Rock that is higher than I, my mind has been sustained.\nWhile kneeling by the bedside of my afflicted husband, I have been\nblessed, and found that as my day so has been my strength.--My\nhusband and daughter are both better; thanks be to God! I cannot but\nacknowledge that He afflicts in love.--'Because I live ye shall live\nalso,' was a portion in one of my dreams this week. I think of it\nwith pleasure, and believe it will be so; my heart aspires after this\ninheritance, but not with so much fervour as it ought.--I purpose, God\nwilling, to commence another afternoon class next Tuesday, at three\no'clock, for the benefit of some who may find it more convenient: I\ntrust it is with the approval of God, whose blessing I implore.--The\ndying year has been marked by many blessings to me and mine;--much\nnearness to my heavenly Father; but it has also seen many wanderings.\nI have just now been endeavouring to surrender myself freely and fully\nunto the Lord, whose I am, and whom I desire faithfully to serve. I\nseem surrounded by His presence. It is now eleven o'clock; but how\nmany will depart before twelve! Happy event to those who are prepared,\nhaving built upon Christ! Here rests my hope: 'Other refuge have I\nnone.' Glory be to God on high!\"\n\n\"1852.--Although I have been suffering from cold, the Lord deals very\ngently with me. Others of my dear family are now under the rod. These\nthings are painful; but looking at them in the light of eternity, I\nfind love is mingled with them all. Oh! that from these dispensations\nwe may derive all the good our heavenly Father designs. We cannot\nbelieve He willingly afflicts the children of men, especially His own\nchildren, but for our own profit, that we may be made 'partakers of\nHis holiness.' I am reading 'Angel James on Christian Charity.' with\nprofit.--I am again disappointed of meeting the Lord's people. Though\nI am better than I have been, it is not deemed prudent for me to go\nout. This is taking up my cross, but whether in the right way, Thou\nknowest. I want in every thing to do right.--When I rose I found it\nwas only five o'clock, but resolved to give myself to prayer. After\nbreakfast I went to see my daughter Mary, whose husband is very\nill. My soul was blessed in prayer with him. He requested me to pray\nearnestly. Lord, help me to pray in faith. While endeavouring to do\nso I am blest in my own soul.--This is a day of trouble and rebuke.\nMy daughter Eliza is very ill; Mr. Jackson is also worse;--the medical\nman giving little or no hope respecting him. In such cases, how vain\nis the help of man! The feelings of my mind are indescribable. O Lord,\nundertake Thou for us. I feel Thee near to me, be near to my dear\nfamily; and, while thus Thou art chastening us, O sanctify the\nrod.--Mr. Jackson has had a very restless night, and is much weaker,\nbut quite recollected. While I prayed, he responded. I left him a\nlittle after eleven; and after calling upon Eliza, went to the School\nof Industry. Between one and two a messenger came for me to go to Mr.\nJackson's immediately; but before I could arrive, the lamp of life\nwas extinguished. He had 'found the rest we toil to find.'--A week of\npainful exercise is past away; but I see not the end. Through mercy I\ncan look to God, and find refuge there. Yesterday when I awoke, it was\nsweetly suggested, 'Because I live ye shall live also.' This raised\nmy drooping spirit; and now I take my pen to acknowledge the\nloving-kindness of God, manifested to us as a family; even under the\nmost painful events, mercy is mixed in the cup.--The last week--before\nI reach my seventieth year. Life has passed away as a dream! The\npleasing and the painful are both gone! But from the earliest dawn of\nrecollection, the Spirit of God has moved upon my mind. Much love, and\nmuch patience, have been shown to me by my heavenly Father; and now,\nwhile the sun shines without, I feel the cheering beams of the Sun of\nrighteousness upon my soul.\"\n\n      Time hastens me on;\n      It soon will be gone,\n      And the term of my stay\n  Grows shorter and shorter, as life wears away.\n\n      One thing I desire,\n      To this I aspire,\n      To live in His will,\n  Whose mercy has spared me, and blesses me still.\n\n      No merit I boast;\n      In Him is my trust.\n      Who gives me a place,\n  And a lot, with His own, through His infinite grace.\n\n\"To-day I attained the term of life allotted to man. Rose a little\nbefore six, and resolved to dedicate myself afresh to God. Wrote a few\nlines, read a little, and performed my customary duties. Worked till\ndinner, after which I visited three poor widows,--relieved, and prayed\nwith them; then collected subscriptions to assist G.B. Called on Mrs.\nW., who kindly welcomed me; also Mrs. Isaac, with whom I found it good\nto engage in prayer. Went to the prayer-meeting, where I endeavoured\nto give myself unreservedly to God. Remained to the band-meeting, in\nwhich the power of God was manifestly revealed. Throughout the day\nI have enjoyed a calm repose, and a fixed resolve to consecrate my\nservices, so long as I am spared, to the Lord.\n\n\"Harrogate.--Returning from Chapel, I observed a number of gentlemen\nsitting under a tree reading newspapers. On the spur of the moment, I\nstepped up to them, and said, 'Gentlemen, perhaps you had better lay\naside the papers, and read your bibles to-day.' One answered very\nroughly, 'You go home and say your prayers.' I turned away, and he\ncontinued talking as long as I was within hearing. When I got home\nmy soul was drawn out in prayer that God would have mercy upon\nthem.--Through a continued rain I went to meet the Lord's people; but\nsingular to relate, though I waited ten minutes, no one came. Just as\nI was about to return, a stranger came in--desirous of fleeing from\nthe wrath to come. We spent the hour in prayer. My friend found\nencouragement, but not the power of faith. It was a time to be\nremembered. My heart yearned over her while, in a low tone--mingled\nwith tears--she poured out her soul before the Lord.\"\n\n  OLD AGE.\n\n  Does no bright star arise to cheer\n    The Pilgrim's downward way?\n  When age and feebleness appear,\n  And wrapt in cloud, the night draws near,\n  Can nought enfeebled nature cheer,\n    And save it from dismay?\n\n  Jesus, Thy promis'd aid is sure\n    To all who trust in Thee;\n  Thy strength in weakness shall assure\n  Frail trembling nature, and secure\n  The grace in patience to endure,\n    Till death shall set me free.\n\n\"During the last fortnight, two persons--whom I have often visited\nin former afflictions--have passed away. Now--their knowledge far\nsurpasses mine. I am not at the Lord's house, as my husband desired\nme to remain at home with him. Yet 'I have loved the habitation of Thy\nhouse.' Age brings infirmity; but I see a danger of yielding too much\nto increasing weakness. Lord, save me from spiritual sloth. While I\nwrite, let inward religion be communicated.\"\n\n\n\n\nXXI.\n\nTHE WIDOW.\n\n  \"SHE THAT IS A WIDOW INDEED TRUSTETH IN GOD; AND CONTINUETH\n  IN SUPPLICATIONS, AND PRAYERS, NIGHT AND DAY.\"--1 Tim. v. 5.\n\n\nHow often does it happen, that when death first enters a family\ncircle, and creates a breach; it is the signal of its speedy\ndissolution! one falls, then another, and another, until the central\npoint of attraction is removed; and the individuals who are left, are\nby the force of circumstances, each made to feel themselves the centre\nof a new circle of interests, which in time will melt away as\nformer ones have done. The occurrence of such an event is to those\nimmediately concerned a season of solemn admonition. The question\ninstinctively arises, who next will fall? and each may put it to his\nown heart, \"Lord, is it I?\" The death of Mr. Jackson was the first\nbreach in a family, which by God's blessing had for many years enjoyed\na happy, and undisturbed unity. Twelve months had just elapsed,\nwhen Mrs. Lyth was called to mourn the loss of a husband; and _we_\na _father_, whose retiring and unostentatious worth, was best known\nwithin the sacred precincts of home. Their union, at first entered\ninto in the fear of God, had been maintained through the chequered\nscenes of life in uninterrupted peace; years had only more strongly\ncemented the bonds, by which they were united, and for nearly half a\ncentury the vow, \"Until death us do part\" had been annually renewed.\nA year or two before death dissolved the contract, it was found\nnecessary to purchase a new wedding ring; and the aged couple, with an\naffecting simplicity, solemnly repeated the marriage ceremony in\ntoken of their unchanged, and unabated attachment: but the hour of\nseparation was at hand.\n\n\"1853.--During the last six weeks, many circumstances have occurred\nfor the trial of our faith and patience; which, through grace, I\nrecognize as the appointments of mercy for my benefit. They have led\nme to rest more simply on Christ by faith, which 'is the evidence of\nthings not seen, and the substance of things hoped for.' My soul pants\nafter God. He is my centre, my joy, my crown. Nevertheless, my own\nunprofitableness would discourage me; therefore, stripped of all, I\nhang upon Jesus, my Saviour and my all.--Our highly esteemed friend\nMr. Whitehead has passed from earth to heaven. Twelve days ago he\ncalled upon us, and conversed and prayed sweetly with my husband.\nLittle did I think it would be his farewell visit.--My husband and\nmyself are both invalids. He has had several attacks upon his\nchest, and much difficulty of breathing. At these times however, his\nexpressions of confidence in God are unwavering. For myself, I want\nno other refuge, I only want more faith. I would be all the Gospel\nrequires;--willing to live, ready to die, but oh! I see much\nimperfection.--These words are often running in my mind,--\n\n  'Until he doth the cloud remove\n  He only chastens whom he loves.'\"\n\n\"My dear husband is increasingly ill. He told the Rev. Gervase Smith,\nwho called in to see him, that fifty years ago, these words were\nblessed to him, 'By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not\nof yourselves, it is the gift of God.' Mr. Bourne visited us in our\naffliction. My soul truly rejoiced in the Lord, while His servant\nspake of the things of God, and prayed with us. I am much comforted by\nmy husband's state of mind. Although this is a painful ordeal, through\nwhich I am passing, God is with me, and His grace supports me.--My\nhusband is no better. When Mr. Eastwood inquired the state of his\nmind, he answered,\n\n  'For ever here my rest shall be.\n    Close to Thy bleeding side;\n  This all my hope, and all my plea,\n    For me the Saviour died.'\"\n\n\"He cast upon me an expressive look--I thought he wanted something,\nand inquired. He replied, 'Bless you, bless you.'--Suffered much from\noppression on the chest. His medical adviser promised to send him\nsomething, which would give him relief. He seemed very desirous of\nits arrival. In the meantime, we bowed our knees to present our case\nbefore God, and to ask His blessing upon the expected remedy; when in\na few minutes the oppression, in a great measure, ceased. This was the\nLord's doing, and to Him we heartily ascribe the praise.--The medicine\ncontinued the relief.--The Lord wonderfully supports my feeble frame,\nand I have increasing power to claim the promises made to His people,\nand by faith discover in them a greater fulness than ever. My friend\nR. informs me she has seen J.H., who had sent to request me to visit\nher. She wished to tell me the Lord had blessed her soul. May she be\nmade fully meet for glory.--My husband still continues very ill. Had a\ndistressing night. The enemy assaulted him. My faith seems to have\nno wings.--Enabled to rise.--I asked him if Christ was precious? He\nreplied, 'Yes.' He is apparently near death. Hitherto my mind has been\ngraciously supported though sometimes painfully exercised. He rallied\nagain, and slept calmly for awhile. After tea, the difficulty of\nbreathing returned. The Rev. David Hay came in, and prayed with him;\nalso Mr. Thompson, a little after. It was evident the hand of death\nwas upon him. He could scarcely bear us to speak. Once he said\n'Mary'--perfectly recollected. Mr. Hill asked him, 'Is Christ\nprecious?' to which he replied in the affirmative, and shortly after\ninquired, 'What o'clock is it?' The answer was given 'About ten;'\nand at eleven the 'weary wheels of life stood still,' and my beloved\nhusband left me to mourn his absence. I sorrow, but not without hope;\nand hear a whisper in my heart, 'Thy Maker is thy husband, the Lord\nof Hosts is His name.' My mind is comforted; my resolutions are\nquickened; but my sense of abasement is great, at the little\nimprovement I have made of such lengthened privileges. 'Enter not into\njudgment with Thy servant, O Lord.'\"\n\n[Her feelings under this painful bereavement were deep,--too deep for\nexpression; but she maintained under it a calm spirit of resignation,\nwhich some might have mistaken for indifference. The writer sees her\nyet, as she stood for some minutes, pale and motionless, leaning on\nthe side of the coffin, just before it was closed; and gazing in the\nface of the dead. There was no tear; she did not even imprint a kiss\non the inanimate clay, for it was but the image of him whom she had\nloved. Her thoughts were in heaven. At length stroking the face, now\ninsensible to her touch, she said, \"Poor John, I shall soon meet you\nagain.\"]\n\n\"My dear John was consigned to his bed of dust, to wait until the\nresurrection morn. Mr. Bourne came home with us. His conversation\nhelped to cheer the gloom of parting for a little season. My mind was\nconsoled with the joyful hope of being guided through the wilderness\nby Him, who so condescends to a worm of earth as to say, 'Thy Maker is\nthy Husband.' Amazing love! I was again permitted to tread the courts\nof the Lord's house. Visited J.H. in the afternoon, and spoke plainly\nto her husband.--Met the dear people, but was far from being satisfied\nwith myself. I want a stronger faith, and more ardent love to the\nsouls of those who are committed to my care. My precious husband has\nnow been fourteen days in the eternal world.\"\n\n  And can I wish him back,\n    Again to suffer here?\n  No! following on the track,\n    I haste to meet him there.\n\n\"My soul goes out after Thee, O God. Thou art my treasure in this vale\nof tears--my friend, my husband, my God, and my all.--Able to meet\nboth my classes, and felt energy of spirit while urging on the members\nthe necessity of keeping up communion with God; I requested them to\ngive a quarter of an hour every day, to pray for the prosperity of\ntheir class, and of their own souls.\"\n\n  In the midnight of my grief,\n    Up to Thee, I lift my eye;\n  Grant, O grant me sweet relief,\n    Let me feel Thy presence nigh;\n  Nothing else can succour bring,\n    Here alone I rest my hope;\n  To Thy bleeding cross I cling,\n    Lift the drooping sinner up.\n\n\"I changed my residence for one in St. Saviourgate, near the house of\nGod; for this I desire to be thankful, and to dedicate myself to\nthe Lord; having sincerely sought His counsel and direction, I feel\nsatisfied.\n\n\"Easingwold. We were much led out in prayer, that the Lord would this\nday bring some one to seek Him. In the evening three persons came in,\none evidently desirous of salvation; may this encourage the efforts of\nthy handmaid to seek the benefit of the people in this place.--I feel\nmuch the absence of my dear departed husband. His memory is dear. O\nLord, help me to quicken my steps to meet him in heaven. My body is\ntrembling and feeble; but my soul is vigorous. I have to-day resigned\nmy office of Treasurer to the Clothing Society, which I have held\nnearly sixteen years.--Six months since my husband entered into rest.\nHe is daily in my thoughts; but I see him not. I do not wish him back\nagain; a little time will bring me to him, and I shall be as _learned_\nas he. Time hastens on!--At ten o'clock Mr. C. changed worlds. Solemn\nhour! All the morning, I know not why, he was strongly impressed upon\nmy mind.--I am alone, all is still, my soul feels after God. This\nday feed me with the riches of Thy grace, that I may abide in Thee,\nbreathe Thy Spirit, live in Thy smile, and, like Apollos, be 'approved\nin Christ.'\n\n\"1854.--I would here gratefully record the mercy of God to me. I\nhave been brought low--very low, but the Lord helped me. I felt no\ncondemnation, yet but little sensible comfort. Many promises were\nconstantly passing through my mind. Thus the Lord has been leading me\nby a path I had not known.--I have not been to the Sanctuary yet, nor\nwould I rest in the means; but I want a clearer manifestation. I see\nthe scriptures hold forth more than I possess; I want to be closer\nknit to Jesus, that I may bring forth fruit. Have declined the\npresidency of the sewing meeting.\"\n\n[On this resignation a letter, numerously signed by the ladies\ncomposing the meeting, was sent to her, acknowledging her services,\nand regretting that increasing age and infirmities had rendered it\nnecessary. This document is not forthcoming, but the following is her\nown reply.]\n\n  \"MY DEAR MRS. HOLGATE,--I sit down to acknowledge\n  with gratitude the kind note you presented me with, signed by\n  so many kind friends, in acknowledgment of my poor services\n  in a cause which lies near my heart. Thankful I am, that from\n  a small beginning in our parlour, about seventeen years ago, this\n  effort for the glorious cause of missions has flourished to this\n  day; and that now so many hearts and hands are engaged in\n  its operations and success. I still feel interested in its prosperity,\n  and if I have one desire above the rest, it is that every one who\n  assists in this good work may not only have her hands employed\n  in it, but her heart enriched by the blessed gospel she wishes to\n  send to heathen lands, and that every effort may have God's\n  approving smile. I am, &c.\"\n\n\"I think I never felt more free to leave the world than now; and yet\nquite willing to wait the Lord's time, that I may be fully prepared.\n\n\"Acomb. Mrs. R. took me to see some sick persons, also some wayside\nhearers; 'but who is sufficient for these things?' Speak Lord, and\nlet them hear Thy voice!--At the prayer-meeting after the service, a\nbackslider was restored to the favour of God; I was knelt by her side,\nand a holy calm pervaded my heart, when suddenly my soul, as by an\nelectric shock, was filled with confidence in the willingness and\npower of God to save.--Went to see some of my absent members; and\npassing by Mrs. O.'s, whose husband died about a fortnight since, I\ncalled to inquire after her, and to my surprise and grief, found her\nin dying circumstances. She died the same evening. I fear for her; yet\nshe used to weep, and for a time seemed in earnest. Have visited her\nmany times in her afflictions.--Calling in at a neighbour's shop for a\ntrifling article, I learned that the daughter was depressed in mind;\nI felt a desire to see her, and asked permission, which was granted.\nAfter saying what was given me, I prayed with her, feeling sweetly\nassisted: when we arose from our knees she unburthened her mind,\nand told me she had 'grieved the Spirit' and now, not feeling His\nstrivings, she had ceased to pray, and had given, up all. O that the\nLord may bring her out of this snare of the devil!\"\n\n  Hark, how they strike their harps of gold\n    In yonder world above!\n  I wonder what its scenes unfold,--\n  For not a thousandth part is told,\n    Of those bright lands of love,\n\n  Not long-ere wonder shall expire,\n    In sweet fruition lost;\n  My spirit, borne on wings of fire,\n  Shall mount, and revel, and admire,\n    With all the heavenly host.\n\n\"1855.--A letter reached us from my beloved Richard, bringing tidings\nof health, both of body and soul, and of his intended removal to\nAuckland; but holding out little prospect of his return to England,\nby the words _'if ever.'_ Thus is long cherished hope cut off, when I\nthought it about to be realized.\"\n\n[About the beginning of this year she had a severe attack of\nbronchitis, and all hope of her recovery seemed cut off. Although able\nto say little, she maintained a calm and settled confidence in God,\nand was evidently longing after home. The morning after the crisis was\npast, the doctor said to her, 'Well, Mrs. Lyth, I have some hope of\nyou.' She replied, 'So have I, but it is the other way.']\n\n\"After a sudden and severe attack of affliction, I would most\ngratefully acknowledge the merciful care of my heavenly Father, who\nhas not left me, but comforted me by His word and Spirit. My friends\nalso have not forgotten me; I have every comfort during this inclement\nseason. The earth is covered with snow, the cold piercing, and the day\ngloomy; but mercy folds me in on every side, and my spirit rests on\nJesus, my atoning Saviour. While I write, my heart warms and kindles\nat His love.--I am left alone this eighteenth of February, which,\nforty-five years ago, was so important. Well, it is written, 'Thy\nMaker is thy husband, the Lord of hosts is His name.' and to Him will\nI plight my vows. Alone, on my knees, I again surrender to Thee my\npoor heart, and again take the pledge of Thy love. From this time\nforth may I swerve from Thee no more, but walk my few remaining days\nwith Thee; having the testimony that Enoch had, that I please God. And\nnow I am Thine by solemn ties, in the solemn silence of Thy presence,\nall praise be unto Thee, who dost thus condescend to Thy dust.--Have\njust returned from a drive. The air is very sweet, and nature puts\nforth her loveliness. My soul was led out to Him who has prepared\ngreater things than these for those that love Him. My spirit is\nrevived. 'Bless the Lord, O my soul.'--Riding out yesterday, I called\nto see my dear friend Isaac, who, like myself, is waiting until her\nchange come;--a touching little interview. She told me while she was\npraying for me in my affliction, it was impressed upon her mind, 'My\npower is unlimited.' O may it be exerted in my full preparation for\neternal glory, to meet my dear friend there. I sometimes get transient\nglimpses of it. I feel myself a helpless worm, but the name of Jesus\nis sweet. There is none I desire in comparison of Him. Though I\ncannot get out I am able to read, and the word of truth is my constant\ncompanion.--A beautiful day: the sun shines in splendour, but sin\nspoils all the beauty. While my eyes are cheered with what I see, my\nheart is saddened with what I hear. One has fallen into sin,--one\nI have highly esteemed in time past. What need to put on 'the whole\narmour of God,' and watch!--I felt more vigorous in my classes to-day,\nand spoke very plainly, for I feel a great love for these souls.\n\n  \"Thou art, O God, the life and light\n    Of all this wondrous world we see;\n  Its glow by day, its smile by night,\n    Are but reflections caught from Thee;\n  Where'er we turn Thy glories shine,\n  And all things fair and bright are Thine.\"\n\n\"I feel decaying nature; but my soul does not lose its appetite for\ndivine things. In the midst of forgetfulness, and other infirmities,\nmy only centre is in Christ.--As the day was fine, I walked to Heworth\nin search of an absent member, and after many inquiries, found out her\nabode; but she was not at home. I got some important information about\nher. My walk was a most impressive one,--on a lovely road, on either\nside overhung with foliage--but, being autumn, the way was strewed\nwith withered leaves, while every breeze, though soft, wafted others\nto the ground in showers;--fit emblem of my own decay! I was\nmuch wearied.--The Rev. Robert Young, who has recently been on a\ndeputation to the South Sea Missions, selected Fiji as the topic of\nhis speech at the Missionary Meeting, and gave a very cheering account\nof my Richard, in the midst of cannibalism. I went into the vestry to\nspeak with him; but was overwhelmed with my feelings. Have been laid\naside by affliction; but the Lord has been intimately near. My faith\nhas been strengthened, and I cling more closely to my best Friend.\nMany blessed promises have been brought to remembrance, which have\ncheered me, and created sweet peace.--My faith wants to borrow the\npinions of the eagle. Lord help me, I am Thine; I dare trust in Thee;\nunprofitable as I am, Thou art my God.--My thought before I rose this\nmorning was:--\n\n  Down life's declivity,\n    Borne by the surge,\n  On to eternity,\n    Swiftly I urge;\n  Not without cheering hope,\n    When I am gone,\n  Jesus will bear me up,\n    Straight to His throne.\"\n\n1856.--[A few lines written at the commencement of this year, contain\nthe following reference to a circumstance, which, trivial as it was in\nitself, had nearly occasioned the loss of her sight.]\n\n  Time rushes on! Another scene appears!\n  In springtide thought, I stood upon the hearth;\n  \"When in a moment, from the crackling flame\n  A piece of burning ore flew in my eye,\n  And suddenly eclipsed the light of day.\n  But He who opened blind men's eyes of old,\n  Restored my sight. * * * *\n\n\"I am sensible of the want of gratitude for the sight I have; though\nit is but imperfect, I can, by close attention, read my Bible, which\nat first was all I desired.--Visited two of my members, each of whom\nhas had a fit, one being deprived of the left hand, and the other of\nthe right;--humbling cause of gratitude that I can use mine.\n\n  Youth with all its hopes is past,\n    And middle life-with care;\n  Now, in feeble age, I cast\n    My all on God by prayer.\n  Exiled yet a little while,\n    But guided by His eye;\n  Happy I live beneath His smile,\n    And happier still--shall die.\"\n\n\"My meditations this morning have been sweet, on the words, 'Thou\nshalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal\ndiadem in the hand of thy God.' I cannot increase God's glory; but\nI--a worm--in the hand of my God, become crowned with glory.--My niece\nCaroline has departed this life. In a lucid moment, one asked, if\nChrist was precious; she answered, 'Yes' It was added, 'Just such a\nSaviour as you need?' 'Exactly,' was the reply.--I have given up my\nown house, and removed to my daughter Eliza's hoping the blessing of\nthe Lord will attend the change. My mind has, beyond my expectation,\nbeen preserved in peace.--Came with my daughter to Haxby, for the\nbenefit of a change. O that Thou wouldst bless my coming to _one_\nsoul!--Called upon Mrs. S., and was glad to find her desirous of\nknowing the truth, as also her daughter. I feel peculiarly drawn out\nin prayer, on behalf of the inhabitants of this village. Oh! that a\nglorious revival may break out here.--The means of grace are not\nso plentiful in Haxby as in the city; but here I enjoy the quiet of\nretirement, and breathe a purer atmosphere. Often the Spirit wafts me\non to the better land, and I contemplate with pleasure my everlasting\nhome.\"\n\n[Who can tell what shall be on the morrow? But a few weeks elapsed\nafter this visit to Haxby, when her daughter Eliza, whose loving and\ngentle spirit endeared her to all who knew her, was taken away at\na stroke. On the day on which the following entry is dated, she had\nexhibited an unusual degree of vivacity; and with great confidence\nborne testimony in the class to the power of the grace of God.]\n\n\"A goodly number at the class. In the evening Eliza read to Mrs. C.\nand myself the interesting adieu of the French Protestant Minister,\nAdolphe Monod, introduced into the November number of the Methodist\nMagazine for 1856. We sat down to supper, and mournful to relate! she\nwas seized with a fit of apoplexy, which lasted until nearly three in\nthe morning, when her spirit calmly took its flight. How needful to\nbe ready!--My dear daughter was carried to the cemetery, there to\nrest until the resurrection morn. While passing through this painful\ndispensation, I have enjoyed the sweet consolations of the Spirit of\nGod, and been able to recognize mercy mingled with judgment. The same\nevening my Eliza passed into the skies, my son William was appointed\nto meet a few of the Lord's people.--The year heaves its last sigh,\nas I review the way in which God has led me. Very painful events have\noccurred. Scenes pleasant, and sad, have passed before me; but around,\nand over all, mercy has spread a cloud of light; and here will I raise\nmy heart, and say, 'Hitherto the Lord hath helped me.'\"\n\n\n\n\nXXII.\n\nTHE LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF EVENING.\n\n  \"THE DAY GOETH AWAY, FOR THE SHADOWS OF EVENING ARE\n  STRETCHED FORTH.\"--Jer. vi. 4.\n\n\nHave you ever observed the effect produced upon the eye by the rapid\ndecrease of light, which takes place as night draws on, during that\nseason of the year in which the twilight is shortest? For some minutes\nthere appears a rapid succession of light and shade, each succeeding\nshadow deepening in gloom, until the night sets in. This phenomenon\narises from the necessity which the pupil of the eye finds of adapting\nitself to the diminution of light; and it has hardly done so, before\nthe increasing darkness requires a still further expansion of the\nvisual aperture. Just so in human life, when its brightness has\ndeparted, and the night is at hand; there is often a rapid succession\nof painful occurrences, which fall like shadows upon the soul, and it\nhas continually to adapt itself to its altered circumstances. The eye\nof faith can scarce keep pace with the demands made upon it, and the\neffect is a sense of occasional depression, which even the Christian\ncannot altogether resist. In the last two or three years of her life,\nMrs. Lyth experienced what it was to be \"in heaviness through manifold\ntemptations;\" and although she wore the same happy smile, exhibited\nthe same unwavering, and even triumphant confidence in God, and to\nall around her, it was evident she was fast ripening for her glorious\nreward; her diary shows that she was, in some of her solitary hours,\nsubject to momentary depression; which, as she made no allowance for\naltered circumstances, and increasing infirmities, she was in danger\nof attributing to a wrong cause. It was not until after the death of\nher husband that there was any perceptible decline of her physical\nenergies; the \"snow of age\" fell lightly, so that she still continued\nfor some time to discharge her accustomed duties in the church, until\nincreasing weakness compelled her to relinquish, one by one, her\nvisiting district for the Benevolent Society; her collecting books for\nvarious Institutions; the Visitation of the school; the Treasurership\nof the Poor Clothing Society; the Presidency of the Sewing meeting;\nand last, and to her the most painful of all--her Class; for like her\nLord, having loved her own, which were in the world, she loved them to\nthe end. This unavoidable cessation from her \"more abundant\" labours,\nand the life of passive suffering she was now called to endure,\nperhaps more than anything else, was sometimes a source of painful\nreflection, and became an occasion of powerful temptation. She could\nnot, however, be inactive; much of her time passed in reading and\nprayer. Her pen and her knitting-needle were in constant requisition,\nand a fine day, or a little renewal of strength, often induced her, at\nthe peril of her own health, to visit an unconverted neighbour, or an\nafflicted friend. The sudden removal of her daughter was acutely felt,\nand elicited several efforts of her muse, two of which are here given.\n\n  \"1857.--Gone! gone! gone! The empty chair I see,\n          But ah! no smile, as once, alights on me.\n          In what bright region doth thy spirit rest?\n          Since all are living, thou art surely blest.\n          I ask no more, the veil will soon remove,\n          And I shall come to dwell with thee above.\n\n\"Just before I awoke, I dreamed I was reading; and it was written, 'He\nwill receive thee to Himself, and give unto thee a kingdom.' It was\nrepeated thrice.\"\n\n  LONE MUSING.\n\n  Doth her spirit hover near!\n    Doth she ever watch o'er me?\n  Am I still to her as dear\n    As when in flesh she cared for me?\n  If she now, with wistful eyes,\n    Strives, unseen, to draw me higher;\n  Let me wisdom doubly prize,\n    More and more to heaven aspire.\n  Lo! the Spirit and the Bride\n    Lovingly invite me on,--\n  Seek my wandering heart to guide\n    To the Father, through the Son.\n  I will answer to the call;\n    Thou my portion, I Thy child;\n  Here in self-abasement fall,\n    Trusting in Thy mercy mild.\n\n\"I am glad to hear that in Haxby the Lord has been giving 'showers of\nblessing.' Mr. McOwan has given twenty-nine notes on trial. I am the\nLord's prisoner; looking up, yet I feel my lonely position.--It was\nsuggested, 'I am thy salvation.' I paused and asked, from what? From\nthe world, sin, self, and thy deadly foes. 'I am thy salvation,' from\nall thy inward evils; pride, unbelief, love of the creature, from\nevery thing contrary to love. This salvation is all mine, through\nChrist, by faith.--Rose a little after six; very feeble; nearly read\nthrough the book of Ezra, and saw how God helps the good in times of\ndifficulty. I feel depressed: Lord, help me!--I rode to the Cemetery\nto see the spot where my Eliza lies. Well, a little while, and I hope\nto join her among the spirits of the just made perfect. I proceeded\nfrom thence to my brother's in Dove Street.--Have been a week in Dove\nStreet. Through mercy I have been able to rise every morning at six;\nand while reading Dr. Clarke's Theology, my spiritual strength has\nbeen, renewed. I have enjoyed many blessings from the Lord, and my\ntime has passed pleasantly, but my poor brother is very, very\ninfirm. I have called on several friends in the street, and had the\nopportunity of praying in two families.--Latterly, during the night\nseason, the enemy has afflicted my mind with painful temptations; but\nI am not left to myself, the Lord is my helper.--To-day I was much\ndrawn out in prayer for one of my grandsons. Surely the Spirit moved\nme. After tea, four of my grandsons, and my daughter, bowed with me\nbefore the Lord. It was a time to be remembered. The Lord drew near,\nand I was melted down before Him.--Weak yet pursuing. My daughter Mary\nunexpectedly read to me the words, 'Lo! I am with you alway even to\nthe end of the world.' The truth thrilled through my heart, as a flash\nof lightning.--Sweet peace. This evening a stranger, brought by E.F.,\ncame to converse on spiritual subjects. We prayed together, and the\nLord drew near.--Alone; but graciously moved by my heavenly Father to\npour out my soul in prayer; I enjoyed sweet access by the Holy Spirit,\non behalf of many dear ones. Glory be to God, that to a worm He\nmanifests His presence, and reveals His love. Mary had a note from\nRichard, informing us of a change of purpose respecting his return to\nEngland. Well; if they commit their way unto the Lord, they will\nnot err far. This shall be my prayer for them, while strength is\ncontinued.--Awoke by a fit of coughing, I heard as if a voice spoke\nto me, 'Union with Jesus gives the power of patience.' I feel it.--Met\nthe Lord's people in great weakness, but with great longing for their\nspiritual health. Miss R. read me a letter from Miss K., informing\nher of the happy change, which had taken place in her mind. My soul\nrejoiced to hear the news, particularly as she had been for some time\nlaid upon my mind whenever I approached the throne of grace.\"\n\n\"1858.--My John spent a few days with us. I have enjoyed his company\nmore than ever before; perhaps I prayed more, that it might be so. I\nthink I feel more deeply the hallowing influence of prayer. My soul\nfeeds on Jesus. Glory be to God for a Saviour.\"\n\n  While midnight shadows blended,\n    And nature seem'd to sleep,\n  Me, angel watchers tended,\n    Who always vigil keep;\n  I felt them hov'ring o'er me,\n    Though hidden from my view;\n  A veil was spread before me,\n    But is the thought less true?\n  Watch'd by these heavenly strangers,\n    'Who all my paths attend,'\n  And oft from foes and dangers,\n    My progress would defend;\n  O give me circumspection\n    To guard against the foe,\n  Then, sure of their protection,\n    I on to conquest go.\n\n\"Only nine present at the class. I spoke to them, but felt the effect\nupon my feeble body for two days afterward; yet it was good to talk to\nthem of the love of Jesus.--I have been exercised by the common foe;\ndepressed in feeling, but never left without the power to draw near\nto God in prayer. Thank God, for some days past my spirit has been\nrevived; and this morning my heart is trusting in the Lord, Glorious\nnews from America! The Lord is saving by thousands. O that the breath\nof heaven may reach our own shores!\"\n\n  O time how precious I what a load misused!\n  To catch its flight is wise; to waste or loiter, folly.\n  Reader, and writer, mark! Thy time escapes:\n  To give it now a name is golden, gain.\n  Oh! with true wisdom print thy passing hours,\n  So shall eternity proclaim thy fame.\n\n\"My two sons, William and John, set forth to welcome their brother\nRichard, just returned by the ship 'Duncan Dunbar'--after an absence\nof more than twenty-one years--with a family of six children--a\ngracious providence having watched over him; and now the happy\nbrotherhood will, I trust, be perpetuated, until consummated in\nheaven.--My son Richard, with his lovely wife and family, have\narrived.--I am now seventy-six years old. How much cause of\nhumiliation! How much cause of gratitude! Here upon my knees I give\nmyself to Thee; I am Thine. Let Thy presence be communicated with\nfresh power to my soul. I do thank Thee for peace, and a full bent\nto please Thee.--My son Richard conducted me to my new residence on\nHeworth Road. Often have I changed my abode, supposing each would be\nthe last remove: yet I tarry. All I want is to move under the smile of\nmy heavenly Father, and to feel myself under his guiding eye.--Poorly.\nInward conflicts. Went to see a person, who was once a member of my\nclass; she is still in the way to heaven. We prayed together. Here, at\nthe throne of grace, I find myself at home. I was at my class, perhaps\nfor the last time. God bless the dear members.\"\n\n  Graven on the hand divine,\n    Bid me on Thy strength lay hold,\n  Look, believe, for Thou art mine;\n    Jesus makes me humbly bold.\n  Though Thy courts I may not tread,\n    Thou art in my mouth, and heart;\n  In Thy holy book I read,\n    God in every place Thou art.\n  With more love inflame my soul,\n    With more fervent zeal inspire;--\n  Faith, that can all power control,\n    Fill the grasp of my desire.\n  Let Thy word of mercy spread\n    Freely, all the village round:\n  Speak to-day, and wake the dead,\n    Let the lost in Thee be found.\n\n\"My friends are gone to the Sanctuary. Looking at myself in the light\nof the divine presence, I see imperfection stamped upon all my doings;\nand yet, through mercy, I have an interest in the precious blood of\natonement, and long that all around me may enjoy the same salvation.\nWhile now my pen moves upon the paper, move Thou upon the hearts of\nthe people, who have long been favoured with hearing the voice of Thy\nministers. Arouse the careless; stir up Thy people; and this day pour\nout Thy Spirit upon us all; and now, while alone; help my infirmities;\nvisit me, and give me increase of faith.--Inward conflicts and\nwandering of mind have brought me to my knees.\"\n\n  To God I tell my utmost care,\n  And find my place of refuge there.\n\n\"By the help of the servant's arm I got to Heworth Chapel, and heard\na little, but imperfectly. My son Richard came, and conducted me\nhome. Very faint and sick after I returned; but I know not that I ever\nenjoyed a more refreshing sense of God's presence. Glory be to\nthe Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.--Clouds\ndark--rainy--trees fading--leaves falling--all things changing here;\nbut, 'Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.' O, while I\nhold my pen in my hand, let me feel Thy presence in my heart! I have\nin Thee a changeless friend. Glory be to Thy name, Thou ever-blessed\nGod! Give me more love, and knit me more closely to Thyself.--The\nday fine. I got to Chapel, and through mercy was no worse. A stranger\nkindly accompanied me home, who seems to be an inquirer after truth.\nMy soul yearned over her, while I spoke a few words to her. O may they\nsink deep! In the course of reading, the words, 'Let the peace of\nGod _rule_ in your hearts' especially struck me. To rule implies\ngovernment; I may dwell where I have no power to rule; and the peace\nof God must not only be felt, but bring into subjection everything in\nmy heart, that would oppose itself to the will of God. Praise God, my\nspirit longs for this complete subjection.\"\n\n  A star in its splendour attracted my eye,\n    As softly from slumber I woke;\n  I thought--as I saw the bright spot in the sky--\n    'Twas an angel of mercy which spoke--\n  Of the hope, that brings peace to the labouring breast,\n    And raises the sorrowful mind.\n  The sweet'ner of life, and the solace of rest,\n    In Jesus, the Saviour, we find.\n  When troubles oppress us, and nature decays,\n    His light in the darkness is given:\n  Bright star of the morning, O lend me thy rays!\n    And guide me safe homeward to heaven!\n\n\n  SITTING BY MYSELF, AND THOUGHTFUL.\n\n  Alone? no never! that broad eye,\n    Which fills all space, is here;\n  My secret thoughts and actions he,\n    Reveal'd as daylight clear.\n  I would not from Thy presence fly,\n    Thee only, would I love;\n  With greater circumspection try\n    In Thy commands to move.\n  If in my heart I aught disguise,\n    The lurking evil slay;\n  If aught than Thee more highly prize,\n    O take it, Lord, away!\n\n\"1859.--I concluded the year by reading the Epistle to the\nPhilippians, and prayer. My soul longs for a richer baptism of love,\nI am as well as usual, and my soul pants after God. I feel the word\nprecious while I read, and thirst for a fuller manifestation of God.\nWhile thus employed, I enjoy sweet peace through Jesus. Here hangs my\nhope of heaven; and though I have many a conflict with unbelief, my\nheart is fixed.\"\n\n  THOUGHTS ON EZEKIEL'S VISION, CHAPTERS 43 AND 48.\n  EZEKIEL XLVIII. 35.\n\n  'The Lord is there!' O happy place!\n  Where God in Christ unveils His face;\n  The city and the people bear\n  His glorious name--'The Lord is there.'\n\n  The house all symmetry within,\n  The worshippers all white and clean;\n  How lustrous is the scene, and rare!\n  It must be so--'The Lord is there.'\n\n  There, from beneath the threshold, teems\n  The tide of truth in living streams;\n  And those who drink the waters, share\n  Eternal life--'The Lord is there.'\n\n  The crystal waves spread deep and wide;\n  Salvation rolls upon the tide;\n  So copious is the flood, we dare\n  No longer doubt--'The Lord is there.'\n\n  The healing virtue never fails;\n  For all 'who will,' it still avails;\n  Within the city brought, they wear\n  A kingly crown--'The Lord is there.'\n\n  The glory of the Lord is seen,\n  His voice is heard by all within;\n  The tribes of Israel are _His_ care,\n  Who reigns, the Lord for ever there.\n\n\"While reading and meditating on Ezekiel's vision, my spirit was\nrefreshed; and in the evening, while praying with my servant, my soul\nrejoiced in God my Saviour. Tears of joy ran down my eyes, and my soul\noverflowed.--Six years my dear John has been in paradise, and I am\nstill endeavouring to urge on my way; feeble, yet pursuing. Praise God\nfor the encouragement I feel. Jesus is all the world to me; there is\nnothing in my estimation equal to Him;--nothing I desire in comparison\nof Him.--In the world there appears to be a glorious movement towards\nGod. The latter-day glory hastens on. India is quiet, and China opens\nher arms to the truth. In America, Scotland, and Wales, the Spirit is\ndescending plenteously. O praise the Lord, for He shall reign; 'the\ngovernment shall be upon His shoulder.'--Walked as far as Heworth\nChapel, and called upon Miss C.; she asked me to pray with her, being\nherself an invalid. Cause of gratitude, being my longest walk this\nyear. The present circumstances of my children call for earnest\npersevering prayer. Let Thy Spirit help me.--The beauties of inanimate\nnature have this week exhibited the finger of God in the rising bud,\nand opening flower. May I, to whom is given, an intelligent mind,\nwhile beholding these works of Thine, be drawn into closer union with\nThyself. Yea, while my hand directs the pen, let my soul assimilate to\nThy likeness: make me one with Thee. Glory be to God, I feel there\nis union, for God is love: but enlarge and fill my soul with all Thy\nfulness.--This afternoon the young clergyman visited me, and made\ninquiries after my spiritual welfare. My heart clave unto him; and\nafter he had prayed, I heartily wished him success in his ministry.\nTidings have reached me, that my son John is going as a Missionary to\nGermany: may it be of the Lord. My soul is exceedingly drawn out in\nprayer that it may be so; and that it may be a blessing both to\nhim and the people among whom he is about to labour.--I am this day\nseventy-seven years old. How quickly time departs! I lack words to\nexpress the manifold mercies of my heavenly Father during the past\nyear. One above all, is the return of my Missionary son, after\ntwenty-one years' absence; and his, and his family's kindness. Bless\nthe Lord, O my soul.--Felt impressed to go and visit Mrs. M--, whom I\nvisited once last year; went, and had a happy interview.\n\n  Hallow'd is the hour of prayer,\n  When the Spirit helps me there;\n  When the soul is drawn above,\n  Borne on wings of faith and love;\n  Then, released from earth, I rise\n  Far beyond the starry skies;\n  See, in Christ's atonement free,\n  Life for all mankind, and me.\n\n\"Mrs. C. called, and kindly took me to Class. I gave out the hymn my\nEliza sang the day before she died, and prayed with them.--I have been\nled by the Spirit of God to my knees, and find it no vain thing to\nwait upon the Lord. I am urged to look after my petitions, and feel it\ngood to be thus reminded.--Mrs. Hartley called to bid me good-bye. I\nfelt it very good while we prayed together. On her return to the city\nshe was taken very ill, and sent a request by my daughter, that I\nwould pray for her. I will. Felt blest in doing so.--My two sons are\ngoing to widely distant localities, but in their Master's field. Oh!\nhow my heart longs that they may be richly endued with power from on\nhigh, and made abundantly useful among those with whom they mingle,\nand that many may be the saved of the Lord. John Arthur and David are\nalso, this day, going on the Lord's errand. O bless the lads!\nMake them wise to win souls to Jesus. My soul longs for their\nprosperity.--Nine of my dear grandchildren took tea with us. For these\nand all the rest my soul earnestly longs, that we may be an undivided\nfamily above. I was blest while praying with them.--My dear son John\nand his wife, with five children, left us on their way to Germany,\nhoping to reach London this evening. O Lord, prosper Thou his journey\nto yonder land! I feel deeply for him. O bless him, Lord!\"\n\n  Oh! what a world of care,\n    Anxiety and grief!\n  How multiplied our sorrows are!\n    Where shall we find relief?\n\n  Our lov'd ones come, and glad we are\n    To see their smiling face;\n  But brief these transient visits are,\n    And _then_, the last embrace.\n\n\"Mrs. Nightingale came to meet two women in distress for their souls.\nThey wept sore, and found encouragement. I felt it good to mingle my\npetitions with their's. [This was the commencement of a class at her\nown residence, conducted by Mrs. N., and formed especially for my\nmother's accommodation. Up to this time she was nominally a leader,\nbut since her removal to Heworth, she had but very occasionally been\nable to ride down to the city, and mingle in the communion of saints,\na privilege, the loss of which she had deeply felt. The provision thus\nmade was therefore a source of unspeakable comfort. Mrs. Nightingale\nsays, \"We found her at the appointed time, but oftener before, sitting\nin prayerful silence, waiting upon God. At such times her countenance\nwas most heavenly; lit up with a light and glory, which bespoke\nher relation to, and hidden life with, her divine Lord. It was our\nprivilege, when she was able, to listen to the words of wisdom and\ninstruction which fell from her lips. Her deep acquaintance with the\nword of God, and the holy unction with which she spoke, caused those\npresent to say, 'This is none other but the house of God, and this is\nthe gate of heaven.' Love to God and the souls of men burned brightly\non the altar of her heart. This was seen in the deep interest she\ntook in each member of the class, and in her prayerful concern for\nthe members of her own family. 'God is giving me answers to my prayers\nboth on behalf of my children and grandchildren,' she would say. But\nthere were aspirations of soul after higher forms of spiritual life,\nwhich could only be realized in the fruition of the divine presence.\nFor increase of years she made but little allowance, so that, whilst\nher love to God and heavenly meekness became increasingly apparent to\nothers, her diminished energy was sometimes to herself the occasion\nof painful conflict and introspection.\"] Before I awoke I thought a\nletter was put into my hands, the contents of which were 'Through much\ntribulation ye shall enter the kingdom.\" The Lord giving me power, I\nwill fight my passage through.--Through the intensity of the weather,\nand my own increasing indisposition, I have been compelled to keep my\nbed; but prayer has been the life of my soul;--the only sure refuge in\ntrouble. Much drawn out for my dear John, who, we expect, is this\nday holding an important meeting.--The year is quickly passing into\neternity. It tarries not, nor waiteth the hurried one to free. Defer\nnot, for the moment will soon pass away. Now touch the golden sceptre\nwhile it is called to-day. Believe, believe in Jesus, who gave His\nlife for _you_. Accept the rich gratuity, for He hath purchased you.\"\n\n\"1860.--Although not able to sit up to welcome the new year, it broke\nupon me with these words--\n\n  Jesus shall all my powers possess,\n  My hopes, my fears, my joys:\n\nand thus my heart resolves. Yes, Lord, the dying embers of my life are\nThine. I thank Thee, Thou dost not cast me off in my old age. 'My soul\nshall magnify the Lord, and my spirit rejoice in God my Saviour.'--A\nfew days ago, my mind was filled with uncertainty respecting two\nmembers of my family; however, I laid the case before the Lord, and,\nto my surprise and grateful acknowledgment, in a day or two there\nwas an opening in each case. Reader or writer, think not highly of\nthyself, others were praying as well as thee.--My first thought this\nmorning, 'I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with\n\"loving kindness have I drawn thee.' A very cheering letter from my\nson Richard. Praise the Lord for such information, both from\nheaven and earth.--A beautiful sunny morning. Grant that the Sun of\nrighteousness may rise upon me with healing in His wings. Let Him\nheal, and form my soul anew. This is my chief desire. I do thank Thee\nfor peace, but O enlarge my heart, and fully fit me to behold Thy\nglory!--A quiet Sabbath morning. I am sitting alone. The sun shines\nbrightly upon me, and all nature seems to join in hallowed harmony.\nMay my soul, capable of far greater powers, be expanded to receive far\nricher influences from the great source of my being--the inexhaustible\nfountain of all blessedness. My soul drinks of the living stream.\nPraise God for these small draughts. Enlarge and fill, and enlarge for\never!\"\n\n  MAN'S FRAILTY.\n\n  See a flower of lovely hue,\n    Dipp'd in beauty bright, at Spring,\n  Blasted by a wind that blew,\n    Ere it passed its blossoming.\n\n  Such is man, in best estate;\n    Like a flower he buddeth forth,\n  Till some unexpected fate\n    Brings him to his mother earth,\n\n  Such a shadow of a shade,\n    Human life, a moment, is:\n  Now we live, but soon conveyed\n    Past all life's uncertainties.\n\n  Blooming youth and wither'd age,\n    Infant charms and ripened years,\n  Death assaults with equal rage,\n    Unappeas'd by prayers or tears:\n\n  Then, the closely wedded pair,\n    Soul and body sadly part;\n  Yet to meet again--but _where?\n    Seek the answer in thy heart_.\n\n\"'Looking unto Jesus!' This is the posture of my soul. Yea, I long\nafter God. I have been peculiarly drawn out In prayer for several\nmembers of my family, with great sweetness In my own soul. Glory be to\nGod!\"\n\n\n\n\nXXIII.\n\nSLEEP IN JESUS.\n\n  \"WEEP NOT; SHE IS NOT DEAD BUT SLEEPETH.\"--Luke viii. 62.\n\n\nWhen the shadows of evening begin to fall, it is not difficult to\nprognosticate that the night is at hand; and, admonished by the\nincreasing gloom, man, wearied by the tolls of the day, gladly looks\nforward to the hour of repose. Universal nature shares in the feeling\nof presentiment. The cattle seek the shed; the birds fly back to their\nnests; and the gentle flower folds its delicate petals, as if for\nsleep. Is It wonderful that as life closes in, especially when\nprotracted to a good old age, the human spirit should feel an\ninstinctive consciousness of approaching dissolution? or that the aged\nChristian, after long and patient endurance in his Master's service,\nshould joyfully anticipate the hour of _rest?_ Yes, REST, not death;\n\"For whosoever liveth, and believeth in me,\" saith the Saviour, \"shall\nnever die.\" Christ has tasted death for him, and the bitterness, which\nis the reality of death, is passed away. His stedfast faith prevents\nthe dawn of a brighter day, and what matters it, whether his sleep\ncontinue but a few hours, or be protracted through a period of\ncenturies? The body can be sensible of no difference, and the spirit,\ntransported far beyond the regions of dream-land, enjoys a happy and\nconscious existence in the presence of Him, who died, \"That whether we\nwake or _sleep_, we might live together with Him.\" Mrs. Lyth looked,\nnay longed for the time of her departure; and as the hour drew on,\nseems to have had some pleasant premonitions of its approach. About a\nmonth before it occurred, she writes, \"My first thought this morning\nwas,\n\n  'We soon shall be landed, for death is in view,\n  Almighty protection shall comfort us through;\n  Released from our prisons, to heaven we fly,\n  Exchanging all sorrows for mansions on high.'\"\n\n\"A few days of beautiful spring weather permitted her to enjoy an\noccasional walk, which was generally made subservient to some higher\npurpose than that of mere refreshment. Thrice her steps were directed\nto the Sanctuary, opportunities which she richly enjoyed. Of one of\nthese she says, \"I enjoyed the privilege of meeting my friends at the\nlovefeast, and hearing them speak of the power of grace to save; but\nmy poor body is very feeble.\"\n\nThis short respite, however, excited in her mind no fallacious\nexpectation of a much longer reprieve; and more than once she\nexpressed her conviction, that, as the summer advanced she would be no\nbetter. The weather suddenly changed; and the prevalence of north and\neasterly winds, accompanied with rain, confined her to the house. To\nuse her own expressive language, \"June enters weeping, and yet (10th)\nremains in tears.\" This circumstance elicited almost the last effort\nof her poetic pen.\n\n  \"Fairest month of summer's Trine,\n    Why dost thou remain in tears?\n  Ask not. 'Tis the will divine;\n    This shall dissipate my fears.\n  He, who ruleth in the sky,\n    Knoweth what His creatures need;\n  He can every want supply,\n    Trust Him, and His promise plead.\n  Clouds may wear a frowning brow,\n    Blasting winds may sweep around,\n  He, who reigns above, knows how\n    Best to make his love abound.\n  Then, I'll cast my every care\n    On my promise-keeping God;\n  Honour Him by faith and prayer;\n    Rest upon His faithful word.\n  Should the cloud continue still,\n    Thou for ever art the same,\n  All the workings of Thy will\n    But proclaim Thy glorious name.\"\n\nThe last entries of her diary, which with a solemn significance just\nfill up the volume, we give in full.\n\n\"June 11th.--I expected to have received my ticket, but no one came, I\nclearly see no dependance can be placed upon the creature. On Thee,\nO Lord, let all my confidence rest! Glory be to God, though I am an\nisolated one, I am not left alone. I do feel drawn, after God, I have\ngiven myself to Him, and He is chief in my affection.\n\n19th.--My seventy-eighth birth-day. I had intended writing, but the\nLord saw otherwise. I was in bed three parts, of the day, and on the\n20th very ill, having taken cold.\n\n21st.--Thursday the longest day. I am very feeble, but have taken my\npen to acknowledge the goodness of God to me for so long a period. At\nnoon we had an awful thunderstorm, during which my soul was calm and\npeaceful. This is the Lord's doing. I felt sweet trust and confidence\nin my Almighty Saviour. Afterwards I received my ticket at the hands\nof the Rev. Thos. Nightingale. On the ticket there is written, 'I\nhave loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with everlasting\nkindness have I drawn thee.'\"\n\n24th. THE SABBATH.\n\n  Peaceful is the Sabbath morn,\n    Glad I welcome its return;\n  Now Thy presence I implore,\n    Come, and never leave me more.\n\nIt was hoped by her friends that, with the return of milder weather,\nher strength would rally; but from this time it gradually declined.\nHer occupations were pursued as usual, but her weakness became daily\nmore apparent; and, every now and then, intimations fell from her\nlips, that her \"time was short,\" and her \"work nearly done.\" To those\naround her it was evident that she was standing ready, and waiting\nfor the coming of her Lord. This was particularly observable in the\npromptitude and fidelity with which she addressed all who came to the\nhouse, in terms of exhortation or warning, as if she was afraid of\nlosing a single opportunity of speaking for her Master. Earth with its\ncomparative trifles was fast receding from her view, and her spiritual\nvision occupied with the solemn and momentous scenes into which\nshe was so soon to enter. Her daughter, who, for the purpose of\nministering to her requirements, occupied the same bed-room, was often\nawoke, in the stillness of night, by the voice of thanksgiving and\nprayer; for, not content with making melody to the Lord in her heart,\nshe gave vent to her overflowing feelings in singing and praise.\n\nOn Thursday, the 28th, the decrease of her strength was such that,\nalthough no danger was apprehended, it was deemed advisable to call\nin medical aid, which afforded her a momentary relief. But disease was\ninsidiously working to an unfavourable issue, and that day she plied\nher needle for the last time. On Saturday the doctor instituted a\nminute examination of her lungs, and pronounced the case one of the\nworst forms of bronchitis; yet still held out the hope of recovery,--a\nhope in which she evinced no sympathy, for, though from the nature of\nthe complaint able to talk but little, she spoke of her affliction,\nnot only without apprehension, but with joyful anticipation. To\nthe doctor, when he informed her of her danger, she expressed her\nconfidence that \"to die would be gain,\" and urged upon him the\nimportance of living always in a state of preparation for death. He\nhad no sooner left the room than, turning to her daughter, with a look\nof ecstacy, she said, \"I am going home, Mary.\" In consequence of her\nextreme debility, the difficulty of her breathing and expectoration\noccasioned her much suffering, which she bore with exemplary patience;\nand when it was referred to, replied, \"It is all right.\" At another\ntime when an allusion was made to her sufferings, her reply was,\n\"Patient the appointed race to run.\" Her daughter read to her the\nbeautiful hymn, commencing, \"The God of Abraham praise,\" to which she\nlistened with great attention, and on coming to the lines,\n\n  \"He calls a worm His friend,\n    He calls Himself my God,\n  And He shall save me to the end,\n    Through Jesus' blood;\"\n\nshe exclaimed, with her eyes raised to heaven, and her hands uplifted,\n\"Glory! glory!\"\n\nDuring the night her daughter, who watched by her side, overheard her\nsay, \"My heart and my flesh faileth, but God is the strength of my\nheart, and _my portion for ever_,\" emphasizing the last words. It was\nwhispered--\n\n  \"And above the rest this note shall swell,\"\n\nwhen she instantly took up the words, and with a heavenly smile\ncompleted the stanza,\n\n  \"My Jesus hath done all things well.\"\n\nThe same tender solicitude for others, especially those of her own\nfamily, which had ever characterized her, was still manifest in her\nutmost weakness. \"Twice,\" says her daughter, \"during those few anxious\ndays, while I was standing by her bed-side, she looked at me tenderly,\nand said, 'The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make His face\nto shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; the Lord lift up His\ncountenance upon thee, and give thee peace.' On telling her I was\ngoing to write to my brother John, she replied, 'Give my kindest love\nto him and Susie, and tell them to keep the _one point_ in view. To\none who was ministering to her wants she said, with great earnestness,\n'Oh! when one comes to the verge of another world, of what avail are\nall things else, if we are not on the sure foundation? My whole care\nis to be ready--quite ready.'\"\n\nThe rapid decay of her strength seemed to produce no corresponding\nimpression upon her mind, which, up to within a few hours of her\ndeparture, retained its wonted vigour and clearness of perception. Her\nutterances were carefully weighed, and she grasped the full force of\nthe words which were spoken to her; hence, when her daughter asked if\nshe could say\n\n      \"Not a cloud doth arise\n      To darken the skies,\n  And hide for _one moment_ the Lord from my eyes;\"\n\nshe replied, \"I can't say _that_.\" \"But,\" mother, \"you can trust Him\nin the dark?\" Her ready answer was, \"I _can_ do that.\"\n\nOn Tuesday morning, July 3rd, the day preceding her removal, for some\nhours she appeared rather better, and on being lifted up in bed, she\nasked for her spectacles, the Bible, and also the hymn-book, from\nwhich she read the hymn beginning\n\n  \"How do Thy mercies close me round,\"\n\nwhich was one of her favourites. As the day advanced her disease\ngained ground, but, beyond the difficulty she experienced in\nbreathing, there was no evidence of suffering. She expressed a fear\nshe was impatient, but it was far otherwise. Not a murmur, nor\na breath of complaint passed her lips; she possessed her soul in\npatience, and her language was praise and prayer. Once, while gasping\nfor breath, she repeated at intervals, the verse\n\n  \"O may I thus be found,\n    Obedient to His word;\n  Attentive to the trumpet's sound,\n    And looking for my Lord.\"\n\nIn the afternoon her son Richard arrived from Torquay, providentially\nin time to witness the last solemn and mournful scene, and to\nadminister words of comfort and encouragement. The valley was fall of\nlight, and a momentary cloud which skirted the horizon, occasioned by\nthe deep sense she felt of her own unprofitableness, melted away at\nthe presence of Him whom, having not seen, she loved, and whose name\nwas last upon her lips. My brother says, \"I found her very ill, but\nmost delighted and thankful for my arrival. 'Praise the Lord, I am\nglad to see you,' was her characteristic salutation. \"Well, Mother, I\nfind you resting on Jesus?\" \"Yes,\" was the reply, \"but I have been so\nunfaithful.\" \"You have nothing to do with that now; you must look only\nto Jesus. You believe His atonement is sufficient to cover all your\nunfaithfulness?\" \"Oh! yes, I do.\" \"You know that Paul, and Mr. Wesley\nhad nothing else to plead but this,--\n\n  'I the chief of sinners am,\n  But Jesus died for me.'\"\n\nFrom that moment, looking off from herself, she trusted in Christ\nalone, and was fully saved and sustained by divine grace. Leaning\non her Beloved, she was now ready to pass over Jordan;--not its\n\"swellings,\" the stream was narrow, and neither deep nor troubled. A\nlittle time and she was on the opposite plains; but before she landed,\nshe uttered words of triumph, the sounds of which fell faintly on our\nears.\n\nIn the devotions of the evening, which we conducted in her room, she\nparticipated with holy delight, and listened to the former part of the\n14th chapter of St. John's Gospel, with an evident appreciation of\nits overflowing fulness of consolation. In Jesus she contemplated\nthe revealed glory of the Father, and her believing \"Amen\" made the\nblessedness of the revelation all her own. After giving me some\nfinal directions, especially with respect to her manuscripts and\nletters;--directions which were short and clear; and given with her\nwonted happy expression of countenance, and cheerfulness of manner;\nshe gradually yielded to the force of disease. For three hours and a\nhalf she lay quiet, occasionally slumbering, but breathing heavily.\nIt was thus I found her in the morning at half-past two. She was quite\nconscious and recollected, and gave pleasing signs of recognition, but\nthe power of speech was almost gone. She had reached the middle of the\nstream, but her head was lifted up above the flowing waters, for her\nfeet were upon the Rock. Mary quoted \"The Lord is good; a stronghold\nin the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him,\" and\nshortly after,\n\n  \"Bright angels are from glory come,\n  They're round my bed, and in my room,\n  They come to waft my spirit home:\n      All is well.\"\n\nShe caught the idea; whispered \"Bright Angels,\" and tried to say more.\nI added the precious words, \"Having loved His own, He loved them to\nthe end,\" also the lines of our own sweet singer;--\n\n  \"And God Himself our Father is,\n    And Jesus is our Friend.\"\n\nAnother effort was made to speak, and at intervals we caught the\nwords, \"Praise,\" \"Glory,\" \"My Father,\" \"My Redeemer.\" These were the\nlast sounds we could hear; the full expression of triumph was lost in\nthe gentle murmurs of the river. There was yet another signal of happy\nand exulting confidence. For sometime, she gazed intently upward, and\nthen around, with a look of delighted surprise; as if she \"saw\nscenes we could not see, or heard sounds we could not hear;\" and\nthen gradually sunk into a state of unconsciousness. A few more hours\nterminated her _mortal_ panting after immortality; and at twenty\nminutes past eight, just as we commended her to God, without an effort\nor a struggle, she breathed her ransomed spirit into the bosom of her\nLord. What was mortal remained with the mourners,--the spirit was with\nGod.\n\nThus, on the 4th of July, 1860, after the toils and struggles of life,\nprotracted to a period of seventy-eight years, and a few weeks; my\nbeloved, and venerated mother \"fell asleep.\" She rests in the cemetery\nabout a mile from the city, by the side of her loved Eliza. Rich\nand poor united to pay the last tribute of affection and esteem; and\nmingled their tears at the place of her repose. A few weeks later,\non a Monday evening, in the New-Street Chapel, the Rev. Thomas\nNightingale, to a crowded audience, improved the event, not of her\ndeath, but of her entrance into heaven, from the words, \"And it\ncame to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there\nappeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both\nasunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.\"\n\n  \"HER CHILDREN ARISE UP AND CALL HER BLESSED.\"--Prov. xxxi. 28.\n\n  Shall we weep or repine at the thought she is gone?\n    Shall we mourn for the spirit at rest?\n  No! her children, though many, united as one\n    Now arise to acknowledge her blest.\n\n  Not the tongue of the world, or the praises that dwelt\n    On the lips of report are the test;\n  In the home, where the warmth of her presence was felt,\n    Must you ask if a mother was blest.\n\n  We arise! we arise in the name of the Lord,\n    Who gave us the good we possess'd;\n  With one heart, and one voice, we unite to record\n    Our thanks for the mother He bless'd.\n\n  Not a joy but was sweeter when she was in sight,\n    Not a grief but we hid in her breast;\n  And she seemed unto us as an Angel of Light:\n    So happy the circle she blest.\n\n  We remember her counsels, oft mingled with tears;\n    The truths by example express'd;\n  An inheritance rich, is the wealth of her prayers:\n    Is the child or the mother more blest?\n\n  By the light in her eye, and the smile on her face;\n    By her \"song in the night,\" when opprest!\n  By a thousand impressions we love to retrace:\n    We know that our mother was blest.\n\n  But the soul of her joy, and its fulness she drew\n    From the source of all others the best;\n  For she trusted in Him, who is faithful and true,\n    She delighted in God, and was blest.\n\n  Then, why should we weep at the thought she is gone,\n    Since we know she hath enter'd her rest?\n  No! her children will follow, united as one,\n    In her steps to the home of the blest,\n\n  J.L.\n\n\n\n\nXXIV.\n\nPLEASANT MEMORIES.\n\n  \"THE MEMORY OF THE JUST IS BLESSED,\" Prov. x. 7.\n\n\nAlthough the preceding pages will enable the reader to form a general\nestimate of Mrs. Lyth's religious character, the writer deems it\nnecessary to add a concluding sketch, partly for the purpose of\nrecording some particulars which could not so well be introduced\nelsewhere, and partly to supplement his own remarks, which might\notherwise be liable to the charge of partiality, with a selection from\nthe numerous testimonies with which he has been favoured by Ministers\nand other friends.\n\nIn person Mrs. Lyth was of middle stature, slender, and, before\nyears had subdued her physical strength, straight as an arrow. Her\ncomplexion was fair, and her features, rather pointed than full, were\nregular and well formed. The eyes, of light blue, generally wore a\ncalm and gentle expression, but kindled with an unearthly light when\nconversing on divine subjects. Then her whole soul flashed in her\ncountenance, and her features, lit as with sunshine, indicated how\ndeeply her spirit had drank of that \"stream which maketh glad the city\nof God.\" Her hair, which in youth was of a rich auburn, turned grey at\nthe early age of thirty, and at length its silvery hue was superseded\nby a snowy white, which gave additional impressiveness to a\ncountenance upon which happiness, purity and peace sat continually\nenthroned. Her dress, the perfection of neatness, was modelled\nafter the most approved style of the Society of Friends, not as now,\nmodified and robbed of its interest by all-powerful fashion, but as it\nexisted in its original simplicity fifty years ago. Though not gifted\nwith any remarkable powers of mind, she possessed a sound and vigorous\nunderstanding, which however, was rather quick than penetrating. This\nshe improved by a considerable amount of good reading. Her choice\nof books was in harmony with the set purpose of her life, and seldom\nsurpassed the bounds of religious literature: for while she had no\nsympathy with those little minds that, on the pretence of greater\nreligiousness despise human knowledge, she steadily kept in view the\nrule she adopted in early life, \"never to trifle with any book with\nwhich she had no immediate concern,\" and consequently preferred those\nwhich, while they informed the judgment, were also calculated to\nimpress the heart. Within this limit her reading was widely varied. To\nthe better class of biography, she added poetry, history, philosophy,\nand divinity. Her favourite poet was Young, from whom she often quoted\nat length; her favourite divine, Wesley; and her favourite book the\nBible. This last she not uncommonly read upon her knees, seeking the\nassistance and blessing of the Holy Spirit, who is the best expositor\nof His own word. Her knowledge of scripture was remarkable, and her\napprehension of its great doctrines distinct and clear as noonday.\n\"With increasing ardour she continued to dig in this inexhaustible\nmine of truth, until the close of life, and within the last three or\nfour years waded through the greater part of Henry's Commentary.\nHer study of divine truth was mainly prosecuted with a view to its\nexperience and practice; and hence her piety assumed that rare and\nexalted character which develops itself evenly in all the various\nrelations of life. In her, the image of Christ was not, as in too\nmany instances, caricatured; but presented in its just and fair\nproportions; and, as a necessary consequence, Impressed all who came\nin contact with her with the certain conviction of its genuineness.\nZealous in the church, she was equally active and faithful at home.\n_Little_ duties were not neglected on the pretext of performing others\nof a higher character. By a strict economy of time, which she prized\nmore than, gold; by early rising, method and punctuality, she found\ntime for everything; so that her house was a pattern of neatness and\norder, and her family was as well provided for as though she had no\npublic duties to perform. \"She looked well to her own household, and\nate not the bread of idleness.\" Naturally of an active temper of mind,\nshe was always employed; and, from an habitual consciousness of her\nresponsibility, well employed. Her hand was ready at every turn,\nand knew nothing of that silly squeamishness which leads a woman to\nsuppose that she demeans herself by meddling with household affairs.\nFond of singing, and possessed of a good voice, she lightened her\ndaily toil with the voice of song, and discharged the humblest duties\nas a sacrifice well-pleasing to God. Her conscientiousness in little\nthings was remarkable. She was a determined enemy of all trifling and\ntittle-tattle, as not only unbecoming the Christian character, but\ndestructive of religious feeling; and the consciousness of having\nuttered a useless word, or engaged in unprofitable conversation,\nalways occasioned her pain. Among other peculiarities she displayed\na singular aversion to debt, and if by any means such an obligation,\nhowever small, was incurred, she never rested until it was discharged.\nThe writer remembers on one occasion walking a couple of miles to pay\nthe trifling sum of sixpence to a party, who was at the time indebted\nto his father as many pounds. Notwithstanding the severity with\nwhich she judged her own actions, her piety was entirely free from\nasceticism;--it was always cheerful, recollected, and heroic; and\nin her intercourse with others, characterised by great humility and\nchristian courtesy. In prayer she was simple and earnest, zealous\nwithout passion, and often particularized in the devotions of the\nfamily the special cases of its individual members. Her's was the cry\nof a child to its father, the appeal for help, that felt confident of\nsuccess. Her prayers, which were offered continually, day and night,\nmight truly be said to be mighty; and her children, even when distant\nfrom her, have often felt conscious that her intercessions were going\nup on their behalf. But they were urged for many,--for all; and in\nparticular for the prosperity of Zion, and the ministers of divine\ntruth. The Rev. John Hartley writes, \"I feel that in your mother's\nremoval I suffer loss. I have seldom been more affected than when she\ntold me, on the last occasion of my seeing her, that not a day passed\nwithout her pleading with God for me. Who am I, I thought, that this\nsaint of God should thus remember me in her prayers?\" Her zeal in\nthe cause of God was constant, patient and persevering; not as we\nsometimes see, now bursting into a furious blaze, and then dying away;\nit burnt with a bright and steady flame,--being fed by the secret\nsupplies she obtained through constant communion with God. Although\nready for every good work, and glad to take her share in the mere\nmachinery of the Christian church, her chief aim was the salvation of\nsouls. This she never lost sight of, and generally, when collecting\nfor Missions or other benevolent objects, availed herself of the\nopportunity of warning, exhortation, or prayer. One who frequently\naccompanied her on such excursions says, \"We called at every house in\nthe district. Some of the people were exceedingly poor. At one door\nI said, 'Mrs. Lyth, you will not beg here.' Her reply was, 'It is my\nduty to ask them, if they give us but a penny, it will not lose its\nreward.' In another case the people were Roman Catholics; she at once\nexhorted them to come direct to Christ, and not allow the priest to\ncome betwixt them and the Savior. In a third, where a member of the\nfamily was sick, we went in, and Mrs. Lyth prayed.\" Another writes, \"I\nfirst became acquainted with her about 1823, and have always found her\nthe same consistent character. She assisted me in the formation of my\nclass in Acomb. Her visits to us were always welcome and profitable.\nHer eye was single. She had light in her own soul, and it shone in\nevery society in which she was cast. Many a round we have had together\namong the villagers, to beseech them to be reconciled to God. In this\nwork she went, perhaps, even beyond her strength, that sinners\nmight be brought into the fold of Christ. She rejoiced to lend a\nhelping-hand to the seeking soul; warning the unruly, comforting the\nfeeble-minded, and encouraging believers to seek after a full devotion\nof heart and life to the service of Christ. Her faithfulness in the\nadministration of reproof was exemplary; and though naturally of a\nretiring disposition, in the defence of truth and the cause of her\nMaster she became bold and fearless.\" Her ready pen, for to the\nlast she wrote a clear and steady hand, was often in requisition to\nadminister counsel, encouragement, or consolation. Whatever might be\nsaid of her \"bodily presence,\" her \"letters were powerful,\" and, as\nthey were accompanied with believing effectual prayer, seldom failed\nto produce a happy effect. The writer much regrets that the prescribed\nlimits of this volume precludes the introduction of extracts from the\nvoluminous correspondence placed in his hands. It is sufficient to say\nhere that her letters strikingly exhibit her oneness of purpose.\nIn all without exception, the one thing is prominent, and although\nordinary topics are not overlooked, they are invariably turned to good\naccount, and made the basis of apposite and profitable reflection. One\nof her correspondents observes: \"Her letters were always refreshing to\nme, and brought my mind in immediate contact with one who lived in the\nspirit of prayer and general devotedness. I never knew one, so far as\nmy observation went, who more constantly exhibited a oneness of aim\nto glorify God, and promote the welfare of those with whom she came\nin contact. Some might object, some might smile, but there was a holy\nforce of spiritual life in her, which could not be concealed, and\nwhich made itself felt everywhere My dear friend was as attentive to\nfamily duties as though the church had no claim upon her; and I have\noften dwelt upon her character when far, far away. I have heard her\nregret that she did not more fully manifest tender affection, when\nher heart was fall of love. I need not say how rousing I found her\nremarks, uttered in an humble gentle tone and manner; and how often\nI have been taken into her closet to pray for many, particularly her\ndistant son.\" Another says: \"I have been perusing some of her letters,\nwhich I value above gold. Through them all, breathes the same spirit\nof ardent love to Jesus, with a deep sense of her own helplessness.\nHer character was that of an humble soul constantly living tinder\nthe rays of the Sun of righteousness. I have often heard her express\nfears concerning herself, but never doubting the faithfulness of\nJesus, in whom she trusted. Since I had the happiness of knowing\nher--which is more than thirty years--I have seen nothing but what I\ncould love and admire. I have often been thankful that my lot was cast\nso near her in years gone by. Some of my most hallowed moments\nhave been when bowed with her at the throne of grace. Under all\ncircumstances she proved herself my friend; by her strong faith in God\nshe encouraged me to trust, where I could not trace, the dispensations\nof Providence; often comforted my mind by an appropriate passage of\nGod's word, and by her simple and earnest pleadings at the throne of\ngrace, led me nearer to the mercy-seat. I owe much to the memory of my\nprecious friend; and her example has often stimulated me to increased\ndiligence. How forcibly did she remind others of the treasures of\nreligion! Plain in reproof, she was yet so transparent, that none\ncould be offended with her faithful dealings.\"\n\nThe department of usefulness in which she chiefly delighted, and\nfor which she was pre-eminently qualified, was, perhaps, the\nclass-meeting; upon this service she entered at first with\nconsiderable hesitation, but eventually conducted three large classes,\nbesides forming several others.\n\n\"During my somewhat lengthened ministerial life,\" says the Rev. John\nRattenbury, \"I have met with no female class-leader, that surpassed,\nand with but few that equalled, your sainted mother. Her religious\ncharacter was beautifully moulded by the Divine Spirit. Tranquil,\nfervent, spiritual, devoted; she was a pattern to her people: she was\nsuccessful in attracting people to the Society, and what is of\nmore importance, and perhaps more difficult, she was successful in\nretaining them. Her classes, though large, were well preserved, and\nseldom did the column for backsliders gain addition from them. She\nwas of the earlier school of Methodists, and combined the simplicity,\nplainness, and fervour of the past age, with the generous and more\naggressive spirit of the present.\" One of her members says: \"It was my\nprivilege to be a member of her class about eight years. She was both\ndeep and clear in her own experience, and never failed to impress upon\nher members the necessity of daily growth in grace; and was especially\nfaithful, in warning them against worldliness and trifling. In her\nwe had a pattern worthy of imitation.\" As respects the improvement of\ntime and talent, she was always well employed, and ever had for her\nobject, the good of others. Another writes: \"As a class-leader, Mrs.\nLyth appeared to stand almost alone--talented, punctual, humble,\nand faithful. Once she reproved a young person in my presence for\nfrequently neglecting the class. When she had finished speaking and\nthe party was gone, she turned to me and said, 'I think I was faithful\nwith Elizabeth,' 'Yes, 'I replied, 'and rather sharp;' she answered,\n'I don't want to have the blood of any of you on my skirt,'\"\n\nAs to her general Christian character and usefulness, the following\ntestimonies by the pens of well-known and esteemed Ministers, will be\nread with interest. The first is from the venerable Wm. Naylor, and\nrefers to a period of more than forty years ago. \"Though many years\nhave passed over since I was stationed in York, the remembrance of\nyour esteemed mother is very refreshing to my mind. I place her among\nthe most excellent of the pious females of our Society, that it has\nbeen my privilege and happiness to number amongst my intimate friends.\nHer piety was genuine, and her experience rich in the enjoyment\nof close and constant communion with God. I admired her oneness of\ncharacter and disposition--ever the same; in sickness and trial, calm\nand submissive, confiding in the love of the Saviour; and in health,\ndelighting to do good to the needy and sick; her religion was not the\nexcitement of momentary feeling, it was the habitual principle and\npower of grace. In disposition she was kind and cheerful; but it\nnever degenerated into levity, and few have more fully exemplified the\nChristian rule of rejoicing with those that do rejoice, and weeping\nwith those that weep.\"\n\nThe Rev. Luke Wiseman writes: \"My acquaintance with your mother was\nduring the last three years of her life. On arriving in the York\nCircuit, she was among the first who were mentioned to me as pillars\nin the Church, and 'Mothers in Israel.' I heard her name mentioned\nwith respect by many, who are themselves entitled to the highest\nregard, sad was thus prepared, before being introduced to her, to meet\nwith a venerable, and lively disciple of our common Lord. Nor was I\ndisappointed. What she was in her years of maturity others can\nrelate. In her days of bodily decline, and feebleness, I saw in her a\nbeautiful specimen of a child of grace nearing the heavenly home. Her\nappearance, worn, and somewhat shrivelled, yet retained marked traces\nof uncommon energy. Her features sharpened by age, equally indicated\npenetration, and benevolence. Her voice was still good, her utterance\nremarkably distinct, and when she spoke of the things of Christ, it\nwas with no subdued or half-abashed tone, but with the same full,\nclear, cheerful voice. It was impossible to doubt that her heart was\nfull of heavenly treasure from her very manner of speaking of divine\nthings,--easy, energetic, unforced, graceful. I am afraid, that being\nso far below her in divine knowledge, my visits may have been of but\nlittle benefit to her: but however this may be, they were of great\nbenefit to myself. She shewed an ardent love for the cause of Christ,\nfor His ministers, and for all His people. She appeared to feel being\nlaid aside from active work, and amongst her many inquiries about the\nSociety, she would now and then utter an expression of regret, that\nshe was now no more amongst them as formerly. She had a very clear\nconception of christian doctrine, and I believe an equally clear, and\nsatisfying joy and peace through being consciously accepted in Christ.\nI never passed by her house, so far as I can recollect, without some\nsuch thought as this while going by, 'Within these doors dwells one\nwhom Jesus loves.'\"\n\nFor the following we are indebted to the courtesy of the Rev. P.\nMcOwan.\n\n\"Mrs. Lyth was in the decline of life before it was my happiness\nto form her acquaintance; and consequently I am but ill able to do\njustice to her christian character, or to point out the various modes\nof faithful pitying love, by which she endeavoured in her years of\nprime to glorify God, and serve her generation. It was impossible,\nhowever, to visit her, even in her invalid state, without being\nimpressed with her mental power, eminent piety, and scriptural\nintelligence; without discerning that she was a 'mother in Israel.'\nIn my own case, these impressions were so deep, that, though in my\nintercourse with her I had to sustain the Pastor's part, I often,\nfrom choice, occupied the seat of the learner. Her favourite themes of\ndiscourse, were the love of God in Christ Jesus, the grace and wisdom\nof Divine Providence, the great and precious promises, christian\nexperience, missions to the heathen, and the revival and extension\nof the work of God in the earth. I frequently proposed questions to\nelicit her views on these and kindred topics; and when, drawn out in\nconversation, she often gave utterance to weighty and discriminating\nthoughts, judicious counsels, animating recollections of the past, and\nbright anticipations of the future. Intercourse with her was truly\na means of grace; and I generally left her glorifying God on her\naccount, and longing for a double portion of her spirit.\n\n\"Mrs. Lyth, like all who excel in piety, was a diligent and devout\nstudent of the book of God. She not only read the scriptures, but she\nsearched them; she pondered their import, and meditated in them day\nand night. The result was, the word of God dwelt in her richly, in\nall wisdom, so that she was able to teach and admonish others with\nsingular propriety and power. Her accurate and extensive acquaintance\nwith the scriptures gave a richness and impressiveness to her\nconversation, which awed the trifler, edified the thoughtful, and shed\nlight and comfort upon the minds of anxious inquirers. Many of her own\nsex resorted to her for counsel as to an oracle; and as she generally\njoined in prayer with her inquiring friends, her advices and cautions\nbecame in numerous instances, as a \"nail fastened in a sure place.\"\nHer love for the Sanctuary amounted almost to a passion. In her\ninner life it stood identified with vivid views of saving truth;\nrich manifestations of Divine love, and transforming effusions of\nsanctifying grace. When in health, neither weather, nor company, nor\nany surmountable obstacle, could keep her at home, when it was open\nfor worship; and when enfeebled by age, she sought to improve each\ngleam of sunshine, and each interval of returning strength, by paying\nanother visit to the sacred shrine, as if she thought each one might\nbe the last.\n\n\"Having yielded up her son at the call of the Church to the perils of\na Missionary life, in a land of cannibals, she never revoked the\ngift, neither grudged the sacrifice. Her maternal yearnings were often\nexcited by the narration of his sufferings and privations; but they\nwere never suffered to rise in mutinous rebellion against the Divine\nwill. For nearly twenty-two years she not only submitted to his\nabsence with uncomplaining meekness, but she abounded in thanksgivings\non his account, and gloried in the sacrificial services he was enabled\nto render to the cause of the Redeemer, in the high places of the\nfield.\n\n\"Mrs. Lyth's religion made her habitually happy. Fully assured of\nher acceptance in the Beloved, walking daily in the liberty of the\nchildren of God, and exercising herself to have always a conscience\nvoid of offence, the smile of contentment rested on her countenance;\nbenignity beamed in her eye; the law of love regulated her speech,\nwhile kindness, courtesy, and a cheerful urbanity, marked the whole of\nher deportment. In her dress she was simple, neat and economical.\nIn her habits, she was a pattern of order, early rising, diligence,\npromptitude, and punctuality. Possessing inward peace, she was calm,\nself-possessed, firm, and full of trust in the providence of God.\nDoing one thing at a time, and always intent upon doing that thing\nwell, she accomplished a great amount of holy service; was seldom in\na hurry, and always in time at the Sanctuary and Class-meeting. With\nsuch traits of character, and modes of action, it will not excite\nsurprise that she became a centre of religions influence in the\ncommunity to which she belonged. The sick sought her prayers, persons\nin spiritual distress, and temporal perplexity, applied to her for\nadvice; the poor appealed to her for relief, the young listened to her\ncounsels, and those who were intent upon obtaining a full salvation,\ncoveted her friendship, strove to imbibe her spirit, and to imitate\nher example.\n\n\"In age and feebleness extreme, she was divinely supported by\nher Saviour's might; and was cheered by His love, and the hope of\nbeholding His glory. No murmuring word escaped her lips, no sign of\nimpatience was visible in her appearance and manner; but expressions\nof gratitude, praise, and thanksgiving, flowed from her tongue, and\nindicated the peacefulness and purity of her mind. On her death-bed\nI found her calmly resting on the merits of her Redeemer. Her\ncountenance was full of interest, a placid smile rested upon it, and\nbut for her laborious breathing, and interrupted utterances, hopes\nmight have been entertained that she would yet be spared, she was\nherself hopefully waiting the hour of her dismissal; yet there was\none earthly wish, which she breathed out in meek submission to her\nheavenly Father, not yet gratified; that was, that she might once more\nsee her Missionary son, before she quitted the clay tabernacle. Prayer\nwas offered, and among other petitions it was urged, that her maternal\ndesire might be granted. She lingered on the border land, till he\narrived, and soon after having kissed _him_, and blessed all present,\nshe fell asleep in Jesus; the last accents of her lips being those of\npraise, adoration, and filial confidence.\"\n\nWe conclude these notices by the following kind words of condolence\nfrom the Rev. M.C. Taylor.\n\n\"I cannot resist saying how much I was affected by the tidings of the\npassing away of your sainted mother; not that I could mourn for\n_her_, but I felt deprived and bereaved of one of the most lovely and\ntouching pictures of grace I have ever seen; and I mourned for myself.\nHer name and memory are an inheritance indeed. To have known her will\nbe an honour and joy for ever,--to have belonged to her is more than\ngreat riches. Hundreds are this week glorifying God in her.\"\n\n\n\n\n\nLONDON:\n\nPRINTED BY GEORGE PALMER, BROWNLOW STREET, HIGH HOLBORN.\n\n\n\n\n\n_By the same Author_,\n\nTHE LIVING SACRIFICE;\n\nOR, A\n\nBIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE\n\nOF\n\nSARAH BENTLEY,\n\nOF YORK.\n\nPublished by JOHN MASON, 66, PATERNOSTER ROW, and may be had of all\nBooksellers.","title":"Religion in Earnest: A Memorial of Mrs. Mary Lyth, of York","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":88617}