,transcribed from the ,alexander ,hislop ,company edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,,the ,,dairyman',s ,,daughter4 ,,by ,,legh ,,richmond4 ,,author ,,of ,,the ,,annals ,,of ,,the ,,poor1 ,,etc4 ,,edinburgh3 ,,alexander ,,hislop ,,company4 ,,edinburgh3 ,,printed ,,by ,,schenck ,,and ,m',,farlane1 ,,st ,,james ,,square4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,it is a delightful employment to discover and trace the operations of ,divine grace1 as they are manifested in the dispositions and lives of ,god's real children4 ,it is peculiarly gratifying to observe how frequently1 among the poorer classes of mankind1 the sunshine of mercy beams upon the heart1 and bears witness to the image of ,christ which the ,spirit of ,god has impressed thereupon4 ,among such1 the sincerity and simplicity of the ,christian character appear unencumbered by those obstacles to spirituality of mind and conversation1 which too often prove a great hindrance to those who live in the higher ranks4 ,many are the difficulties which riches1 worldly consequence1 high connexions1 and the luxuriant refinements of polished society1 throw in the way of religious profession4 ,happy indeed it is 7and some such happy instances ,i know71 where grace has so strikingly supported its conflict with natural pride1 self-importance1 the allurements of luxury1 ease1 and worldly opinion1 that the noble and mighty appear adorned with genuine poverty of spirit1 self-denial1 humble-mindedness1 and deep spirituality of heart4 ,but in general1 if we want to see religion in its most simple and pure character1 we must look for it among the poor of this world1 who are rich in faith4 ,how often is the poor man's cottage the palace of ,god6 ,many can truly declare1 that they have there learned the most valuable lessons of faith and hope1 and there witnessed the most striking demonstrations of the wisdom1 power1 and goodness of ,god4 ,the character which the present narrative is designed to introduce to the notice of my readers1 is given from real life and circumstance4 ,i first became acquainted with her by receiving the following letter1 which ,i transcribe from the original now before me3-- ,rev4 ,sir1 ,i take the liberty to write to you4 ,pray excuse me1 for ,i have never spoken to you4 ,but ,i once heard you when you preached at --- ,church4 ,i believe you are a faithful preacher1 to warn sinners to flee from the wrath that will be revealed against all those that live in sin1 and die impenitent4 ,pray go on in the strength of the ,lord4 ,and may ,he bless you1 and crown your labour of love with success1 and give you souls for your hire4 ,the ,lord has promised to be with those whom ,he calls and sends forth to preach his ,word to the end of time3 for without ,him we can do nothing4 ,i was much rejoiced to hear of those marks of love and affection to that poor soldier of the ,s4 ,d4 ,militia4 ,surely the love of ,christ sent you to that poor man6 ,may that love ever dwell richly in you by faith6 ,may it constrain you to seek the wandering souls of men with the fervent desire to spend and be spent for his glory6 ,may the unction of the ,holy ,spirit attend the word spoken by you with power1 and convey deep conviction to the hearts of your hearers6 ,may many of them experience the ,divine change of being made new creatures in ,christ6 ,sir1 be fervent in prayer with ,god for the conviction and conversion of sinners4 ,his power is great1 and who can withstand it8 ,he has promised to answer the prayer of faith1 that is put up in his ,son's name3 ',ask what ye will1 it shall be granted you4' ,how this should strengthen our faith1 when we are taught by the ,word and the ,spirit how to pray6 ,o that sweet inspiring hope6 how it lifts up the fainting spirits1 when we look over the precious promises of ,god6 ,what a mercy if we know ,christ1 and the power of his resurrection in our own hearts6 ,through faith in ,christ we rejoice in hope1 and look in expectation of that time drawing near1 when all shall know and fear the ,lord1 and when a nation shall be born in a day4 ,what a happy time when ,christ's kingdom shall come6 then shall 'his will be done in earth1 as it is in heaven4' ,men shall be daily fed with the manna of his love1 and delight themselves in the ,lord all the day long4 ,then1 what a paradise below they will enjoy6 ,how it animates and enlivens my soul with vigour to pursue the ways of ,god1 that ,i may even now bear some humble part in giving glory to ,god and the ,lamb6 ,sir1 ,i began to write this on ,sunday1 being detained from attending on public worship4 ,my dear and only sister1 living as a servant with ,mrs ---1 was so ill that ,i came here to attend in her place and on her4 ,but now she is no more4 ,i was going to intreat you to write to her in answer to this1 she being convinced of the evil of her past life1 and that she had not walked in the ways of ,god1 nor sought to please ,him4 ,but she earnestly desired to do so4 ,this makes me have a comfortable hope that she is gone to glory1 and that she is now joining in sweet concert with the angelic host in heaven to sing the wonders of redeeming love4 ,i hope ,i may now write1 ',blessed are the dead which die in the ,lord4' ,she expressed a desire to receive the ,lord's ,supper1 and commemorate his precious death and sufferings4 ,i told her1 as well as ,i was able1 what it was to receive ,christ into her heart2 but as her weakness of body increased1 she did not mention it again4 ,she seemed quite resigned before she died4 ,i do hope she is gone from a world of death and sin1 to be with ,god for ever4 ,sir1 ,i hope you will not be offended with me1 a poor ignorant person1 to take such a liberty as to write to you4 ,but ,i trust1 as you are called to instruct sinners in the ways of ,god1 you will bear with me1 and be so kind to answer this wrote letter1 and give me some instructions4 ,it is my heart's desire to have the mind that was in ,christ1 that when ,i awake up in his likeness1 then ,i may be satisfied4 ,my sister expressed a wish that you might bury her4 ,the minister of our parish1 whither she will be carried1 cannot come4 ,she will lie at ---4 ,she died on ,tuesday morning1 and will be buried on ,friday1 or ,saturday 7whichever is most convenient to you71 at three o'clock in the afternoon4 ,please to send an answer by the bearer1 to let me know whether you can comply with this request1 ,from your unworthy servant1 ,,elizabeth ,w---4 ,i was much struck with the simple and earnest strain of devotion which this letter breathed4 ,it was but indifferently written and spelt2 but this rather tended to endear the hitherto unknown writer1 as it seemed characteristic of the union of humbleness of station with eminence of piety4 ,i felt quite thankful that ,i was favoured with a correspondent of this description2 the more so1 as such characters were at this time very rare in the neighbourhood4 ,i have often wished that epistolary intercourse of this kind was more encouraged and practised among us4 ,i have the greatest reason to speak well of its effect1 both on myself and others4 ,communication by letter as well as by conversation with the pious poor1 has often been the instrument of animating and reviving my own heart in the midst of duty1 and of giving me the most profitable information for the general conduct of the ministerial office4 ,as soon as the letter was read1 ,i inquired who was the bearer of it4 ,he is waiting at the outside of the gate1 sir1 was the reply4 ,i went out to speak to him1 and saw a venerable old man1 whose long hoary hair and deeply-wrinkled countenance commanded more than common respect4 ,he was resting his arm upon the gate1 and tears were streaming down his cheeks4 ,on my approach he made a low bow1 and said3 ,sir1 ,i have brought you a letter from my daughter2 but ,i fear you will think us very bold in asking you to take so much trouble4 ,by no means1 ,i replied2 ,i shall be truly glad to oblige you and any of your family in this matter1 provided it be quite agreeable to the minister of your parish4 ,sir1 he told me yesterday that he should be very glad if ,i could procure some gentleman to come and bury my poor child for him1 as he lives five miles off1 and has particular business on that day4 ,so1 when ,i told my daughter1 she asked me to come to you1 sir1 and bring that letter1 which would explain the matter4 ,i desired him to come into the house1 and then said3 ,what is your occupation8 ,sir1 ,i have lived most of my days in a little cottage at ---1 six miles from here4 ,i have rented a few acres of ground1 and kept some cows1 which1 in addition to my day-labour1 has been the means of supporting and bringing up my family4 ,what family have you8 ,a wife1 now getting very aged and helpless1 two sons and one daughter2 for my other poor dear child is just departed out of this wicked world4 ,i hope for a better4 ,i hope so1 too1 poor thing4 ,she did not use to take to such good ways as her sister2 but ,i do believe that her sister's manner of talking with her before she died1 was the means of saving her soul4 ,what a mercy it is to have such a child as mine is6 ,i never thought about my own soul seriously till she1 poor girl1 begged and prayed me to flee from the wrath to come4 ,how old are you8 ,near seventy1 and my wife is older2 we are getting old1 and almost past our labour1 but our daughter has left a good place1 where she lived in service1 on purpose to come home and take care of us and our little dairy4 ,and a dear1 dutiful1 affectionate girl she is4 ,was she always so8 ,no1 sir3 when she was very young1 she was all for the world1 and pleasure1 and dress1 and company4 ,indeed1 we were all very ignorant1 and thought if we took care for this life1 and wronged nobody1 we should be sure to go to heaven at last4 ,my daughters were both wilful1 and1 like ourselves1 strangers to the ways of ,god and the ,word of his grace4 ,but the eldest of them went out to service1 and some years ago she heard a sermon at --- ,church1 by a gentleman that was going to ---1 as chaplain to the colony2 and from that time she seemed quite another creature4 ,she began to read the ,bible1 and became sober and steady4 ,the first time she returned home afterwards to see us1 she brought us a guinea which she had saved from her wages1 and said1 as we were getting old1 she was sure we should want help2 adding1 that she did not wish to spend it in fine clothes1 as she used to do1 only to feed pride and vanity4 ,she said she would rather show gratitude to her dear father and mother1 because ,christ had shown such mercy to her4 ,we wondered to hear her talk1 and took great delight in her company2 for her temper and behaviour were so humble and kind1 she seemed so desirous to do us good both in soul and body1 and was so different from what we had ever seen before1 that1 careless and ignorant as we had been1 we began to think there must be something real in religion1 or it never could alter a person so much in a little time4 ,her youngest sister1 poor soul6 used to laugh and ridicule her at that time1 and said her head was turned with her new ways4 ',no1 sister1' she would say2 'not my head1 but ,i hope my heart is turned from the love of sin to the love of ,god4 ,i wish you may one day see1 as ,i do1 the danger and vanity of your present condition4' ,her poor sister would reply1 ',i do not want to hear any of your preaching2 ,i am no worse than other people1 and that is enough for me4' ',well1 sister1' ,elizabeth would say1 'if you will not hear me1 you cannot hinder me from praying for you1 which ,i do with all my heart4' ,and now1 sir1 ,i believe those prayers are answered4 ,for when her sister was taken ill1 ,elizabeth went to ,mrs ---'s to wait in her place1 and take care of her4 ,she said a great deal to her about her soul1 and the poor girl began to be so deeply affected1 and sensible of her past sin1 and so thankful for her sister's kind behaviour1 that it gave her great hopes indeed for her sake4 ,when my wife and ,i went to see her1 as she lay sick1 she told us how grieved and ashamed she was of her past life1 but said she had a hope through grace that her sister's ,saviour would be her ,saviour too2 for she saw her own sinfulness1 felt her own helplessness1 and only wished to cast herself upon ,christ as her hope and salvation4 ,and now1 sir1 she is gone2 and ,i hope and think her sister's prayers for her conversion to ,god have been answered4 ,the ,lord grant the same for her poor father and mother's sake likewise6 ,this conversation was a very pleasing commentary upon the letter which ,i had received1 and made me anxious both to comply with the request1 and to become acquainted with the writer4 ,i promised the good ,dairyman to attend on the ,friday at the appointed hour2 and after some more conversation respecting his own state of mind under the present trial1 he went away4 ,he was a reverend old man2 his furrowed cheeks1 white locks1 weeping eyes1 bent shoulders1 and feeble gait1 were characteristic of the aged pilgrim4 ,as he slowly walked onwards1 supported by a stick which seemed to have been the companion of many a long year1 a train of reflections occurred1 which ,i retrace with pleasure and emotion4 ,at the appointed hour ,i arrived at the church1 and after a little while was summoned to the churchyard gate to meet the funeral procession4 ,the aged parents1 the elder brother1 and the sister1 with other relatives1 formed an affecting group4 ,i was struck with the humble1 pious1 and pleasing countenance of the young woman from whom ,i had received the letter4 ,it bore the marks of great seriousness without affectation1 and of much serenity mingled with a glow of devotion4 ,a circumstance occurred during the reading of the burial service1 which ,i think it right to mention1 as one among many testimonies of the solemn and impressive tendency of our truly evangelical ,liturgy4 ,a man of the village1 who had hitherto been of a very careless and even profligate character1 went into the church through mere curiosity1 and with no better purpose than that of vacantly gazing at the ceremony4 ,he came likewise to the grave1 and1 during the reading of those prayers which are appointed for that part of the service1 his mind received a deep1 serious conviction of his sin and spiritual danger4 ,it was an impression that never wore off1 but gradually ripened into the most satisfactory evidence of an entire change1 of which ,i had many and long- continued proofs4 ,he always referred to the burial service1 and to some particular sentences of it1 as the clearly ascertained instrument of bringing him1 through grace1 to the knowledge of the truth4 ,the day was therefore one to be remembered4 ,remembered let it be by those who love to hear ,the short and simple annals of the poor4 ,was there not a manifest and happy connection between the circumstances that providentially brought the serious and the careless to the same grave on that day together8 ,how much do they lose who neglect to trace the leadings of ,god in providence1 as links in the chain of his eternal purpose of redemption and grace6 ,while infidels may scoff1 let us adore4 ,after the service was concluded1 ,i had a short conversation with the good old couple and their daughter4 ,she had told me that she intended to remain a week or two at the gentleman's house where her sister died1 till another servant should arrive and take her sister's place4 ,i shall be truly obliged1 said she1 by an opportunity of conversing with you1 either there or at my father's1 when ,i return home1 which will be in the course of a fortnight at the farthest4 ,i shall be glad to talk to you about my sister1 whom you have just buried4 ,her aspect and address were highly interesting4 ,i promised to see her very soon2 and then returned home1 quietly reflecting on the circumstances of the funeral at which ,i had been engaged4 ,i blessed the ,god of the poor2 and prayed that the poor might become rich in faith1 and the rich be made poor in spirit4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,a sweet solemnity often possesses the mind1 whilst retracing past intercourse with departed friends4 ,how much is this increased1 when they were such as lived and died in the ,lord6 ,the remembrance of former scenes and conversations with those who1 we believe1 are now enjoying the uninterrupted happiness of a better world1 fills the heart with pleasing sadness1 and animates the soul with the hopeful anticipation of a day when the glory of the ,lord shall be revealed in the assembling of all his children together1 never more to be separated4 ,whether they were rich or poor while on earth1 is a matter of trifling consequence2 the valuable part of their character is1 that they are kings and priests unto ,god1 and this is their true nobility4 ,in the number of now departed believers1 with whom ,i once loved to converse on the grace and glory of the kingdom of ,god1 was the ,dairyman's daughter4 ,about a week after the funeral ,i went to visit the family at ---1 in whose service the youngest sister had lived and died1 and where ,elizabeth was requested to remain for a short time in her stead4 ,the house was a large and venerable mansion4 ,it stood in a beautiful valley at the foot of a high hill4 ,it was embowered in fine woods1 which were interspersed in every direction with rising1 falling1 and swelling grounds4 ,the manor-house had evidently descended through a long line of ancestry1 from a distant period of time4 ,the ,gothic character of its original architecture was still preserved in the latticed windows1 adorned with carved divisions and pillars of stone-work4 ,several pointed terminations also1 in the construction of the roof1 according to the custom of our forefathers1 fully corresponded with the general features of the building4 ,one end of the house was entirely clothed with the thick foliage of an immense ivy1 which climbed beyond customary limits1 and embraced a lofty chimney up to its very summit4 ,such a tree seemed congenial to the walls that supported it1 and conspired with the antique fashion of the place to carry imagination back to the days of our ancestors4 ,as ,i approached1 ,i was led to reflect on the lapse of ages1 and the successive generations of men1 each in their turn occupying lands1 houses1 and domains2 each in their turn also disappearing1 and leaving their inheritance to be enjoyed by others4 ,david once observed the same1 and cried out1 ,behold1 thou hast made my days as an hand-breadth1 and mine age is as nothing before thee3 verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity4 ,surely every man walketh in a vain show2 surely they are disquieted in vain3 he heapeth up riches1 and knoweth not who shall gather them 7,psal4 xxxix4 #e1 #f74 ,happy would it be for the rich1 if they more frequently meditated on the uncertainty of all their possessions1 and the frail nature of every earthly tenure4 ,their inward thought is1 that their houses shall continue for ever1 and their dwelling-places to all generations3 they call their lands after their own names4 ,nevertheless1 man being in honour abideth not3 he is like the beasts that perish4 ,this their way is their folly2 yet their posterity approve their sayings4 ,like sheep they are laid in the grave2 death shall feed on them2 and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling 7,psal4 xlix4 #aa-ad74 ,as ,i advanced to the mansion1 a pleasing kind of gloom overspread the front3 it was occasioned by the shade of trees1 and gave a characteristic effect to the ancient fabric4 ,i instantly recollected that death had very recently visited the house1 and that one of its present inhabitants was an affectionate mourner for a departed sister4 ,there is a solemnity in the thought of a recent death which will associate itself with the very walls1 from whence we are conscious that a soul has just taken its flight to eternity4 ,after passing some time in conversation with the superiors of the family1 in the course of which ,i was much gratified by hearing of the unremitted attention which the elder sister had paid to the younger during the illness of the latter4 ,i received likewise other testimonies of the excellency of her general character and conduct in the house4 ,i then took leave1 requesting permission to see her1 agreeably to the promise ,i had made at the funeral1 not many days before4 ,i was shown into a parlour1 where ,i found her alone4 ,she was in deep mourning4 ,she had a calmness and serenity in her countenance1 which exceedingly struck me1 and impressed some idea of those attainments which a further acquaintance with her afterwards so much increased4 ,she spoke of her sister4 ,i had the satisfaction of finding that she had given very hopeful proofs of a change of heart before she died4 ,the prayers and earnest exhortations of ,elizabeth had been blessed to a happy effect4 ,she described what had passed with such a mixture of sisterly affection and pious dependence on the mercy of ,god to sinners1 as convinced me that her own heart was under the influence of pure and undefiled religion4 ,she requested leave occasionally to correspond with me on serious subjects1 stating that she needed much instruction4 ,she hoped ,i would pardon the liberty which she had taken by introducing herself to my notice4 ,she expressed a trust that the ,lord would overrule both the death of her sister and the personal acquaintance with me that resulted from it1 to a present and future good1 as it respected herself and also her parents1 with whom she statedly lived1 and to whom she expected to return in a few days4 ,finding that she was wanted in some household duty1 ,i did not remain long with her1 but left her with an assurance that ,i proposed to visit her parents very shortly4 ,sir1 said she1 ,i take it very kind that you have condescended to leave the company of the rich and converse with the poor4 ,i wish ,i could have said more to you respecting my own state of mind4 ,perhaps ,i shall be better able another time4 ,when you next visit me1 instead of finding me in these noble walls1 you will see me in a poor cottage4 ,but ,i am happiest when there4 ,once more1 sir1 ,i thank you for your past kindness to me and mine1 and may ,god in many ways bless you for it4 ,i quitted the house with no small degree of satisfaction1 in consequence of the new acquaintance which ,i had formed4 ,i discovered traces of a cultivated as well as a spiritual mind4 ,i felt that religious intercourse with those of low estate may be rendered eminently useful to others1 whose outward station and advantages are far above their own4 ,how often does it appear that ,god hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty2 and base things of the world1 and things which are despised1 hath ,god chosen1 yea1 and things which are not1 to bring to nought things that are3 that no flesh should glory in his presence 7#a ,cor4 i4 #bg-bi74 ,it was not unfrequently my custom1 when my mind was filled with any interesting subject for meditation1 to seek some spot where the beauties of natural prospect might help to form pleasing and useful associations4 ,i therefore ascended gradually to the very summit of the hill adjoining the mansion where my visit had just been made4 ,here was placed an elevated sea mark3 it was in the form of a triangular pyramid1 and built of stone4 ,i sat down on the ground near it1 and looked at the surrounding prospect1 which was distinguished for beauty and magnificence4 ,it was a lofty station1 which commanded a complete circle of interesting objects to engage the spectator's attention4 ,southward the view was terminated by a long range of hills1 at about six miles distance4 ,they met1 to the westward1 another chain of hills1 of which the one whereon ,i sat formed a link2 and the whole together nearly encompassed a rich and fruitful valley1 filled with cornfields and pastures4 ,through this vale winded a small river for many miles3 much cattle were feeding on its banks4 ,here and there lesser eminences arose in the valley1 some covered with wood1 others with corn or grass1 and a few with heath or fern4 ,one of these little hills was distinguished by a parish church at the top1 presenting a striking feature in the landscape4 ,another of these elevations1 situated in the centre of the valley1 was adorned with a venerable holly tree1 which had grown there for ages4 ,its singular height and wide-spreading dimensions not only render it an object of curiosity to the traveller1 but of daily usefulness to the pilot1 as a mark visible from the sea1 whereby to direct his vessel safe into harbour4 ,villages1 churches1 country-seats1 farm-houses1 and cottages were scattered over every part of the southern valley4 ,in this direction1 also1 at the foot of the hill where ,i was stationed1 appeared the ancient mansion1 which ,i had just quitted1 embellished with its woods1 groves1 and gardens4 ,south-eastward1 ,i saw the open ocean1 bounded only by the horizon4 ,the sun shone1 and gilded the waves with a glittering light that sparkled in the most brilliant manner4 ,more to the east1 in continuation of that line of hills where ,i was placed1 rose two downs1 one beyond the other1 both covered with sheep1 and the sea just visible over the farthest of them1 as a terminating boundary4 ,in this point ships were seen1 some sailing1 others at anchor4 ,here the little river1 which watered the southern valley1 finished its course1 and ran through meadows into the sea1 in an eastward direction4 ,on the north the sea appeared like a noble river1 varying from three to seven miles in breadth1 between the banks of the opposite coast and those of the island which ,i inhabited4 ,immediately underneath me was a fine woody district of country1 diversified by many pleasing objects4 ,distant towns were visible on the opposite shore4 ,numbers of ships occupied the sheltered station which this northern channel afforded them4 ,the eye roamed with delight over an expanse of near and remote beauties1 which alternately caught the observation1 and which harmonised together1 and produced a scene of peculiar interest4 ,westward1 the hills followed each other1 forming several intermediate and partial valleys1 in a kind of undulations1 like the waves of the sea1 and1 bending to the south1 completed the boundary of the larger valley before described1 to the southward of the hill on which ,i sat4 ,in many instances the hills were cultivated with corn to their very summits1 and seemed to defy the inclemency of weather1 which1 at these heights1 usually renders the ground incapable of bringing forth and ripening the crops of grain4 ,one hill alone1 the highest in elevation1 and about ten miles to the south-westward1 was enveloped in a cloud1 which just permitted a dim and hazy sight of a signal-post1 a lighthouse1 and an ancient chantry1 built on its summit4 ,amidst these numerous specimens of delightful scenery ,i found a mount for contemplation1 and here ,i indulged it4 ,how much of the natural beauties of ,paradise still remain in the world1 although its spiritual character has been so awfully defaced by sin6 ,but when ,divine grace renews the heart of the fallen sinner1 ,paradise is regained1 and much of its beauty restored to the soul4 ,as this prospect is compounded of hill and dale1 land and sea1 woods and plains1 all sweetly blended together and relieving each other in the landscape2 so do the gracious dispositions wrought in the soul produce a beauty and harmony of scene to which it was before a stranger4 ,i looked towards the village in the plain below1 where the ,dairyman's younger daughter was buried4 ,i retraced the simple solemnities of the funeral4 ,i connected the principles and conduct of her sister with the present probably happy state of her soul in the world of spirits1 and was greatly impressed with a sense of the importance of family influence as a means of grace4 ,that young woman1 ,i thought1 has been the conductor of not only a sister1 but1 perhaps1 a father and mother also1 to the true knowledge of ,god1 and may1 by ,divine blessing1 become so to others4 ,it is a glorious occupation to win souls to ,christ1 and guide them out of ,egyptian bondage through the wilderness into the promised ,canaan4 ,happy are the families who are walking hand in hand together1 as pilgrims1 towards the heavenly country4 ,may the number of such be daily increasing6 ,casting my eye over the numerous dwellings in the vales on the right and left1 ,i could not help thinking1 ,how many of their inhabitants are ignorant of the ways of ,god1 and strangers to his grace6 ,may this thought stimulate to activity and diligence in the cause of immortal souls6 ,they are precious in ,god's sight--they ought to be so in ours4 ,some pointed and affecting observations to that effect recurred to my mind1 as having been made by the young person with whom ,i had been just conversing4 ,her mind appeared to be much impressed with the duty of speaking and acting for ,god while it is day1 conscious that the night cometh1 when no man can work4 ,her laudable anxiety on this head was often testified to me afterwards1 both by letter and conversation4 ,what she felt herself1 in respect to endeavours to do good1 she happily communicated to others with whom she corresponded or conversed4 ,time would not permit my continuing so long in the enjoyment of these meditations1 on this lovely mount of observation1 as my heart desired4 ,on my return home ,i wrote a few lines to the ,dairyman's daughter1 chiefly dictated by the train of thought which had occupied my mind while ,i sat on the hill4 ,on the next ,sunday evening ,i received her reply1 of which the following is a transcript3-- ,sunday4 ,rev4 ,sir1 ,i am this day deprived of an opportunity of attending the house of ,god to worship ,him4 ,but1 glory be to his name6 ,he is not confined to time nor place4 ,i feel ,him present with me where ,i am1 and his presence makes my paradise2 for where ,he is1 is heaven4 ,i pray ,god that a double portion of his grace and ,holy ,spirit may rest upon you this day2 that his blessing may attend all your faithful labours2 and that you may find the truth of his ,word1 assuring us1 that wherever we assemble together in his name1 there ,he is in the midst to bless every waiting soul4 ,how precious are all his promises6 ,we ought never to doubt the truth of his ,word2 for ,he will never deceive us if we go on in faith1 always expecting to receive what his goodness waits to give4 ,dear sir1 ,i have felt it very consoling to read your kind letter to-day4 ,i feel thankful to ,god for ministers in our ,church who love and fear his name2 there it is where the people in general look for salvation2 and there may they ever find it1 for ,jesus' sake6 ,may his ,word1 spoken by you1 his chosen vessel of grace1 be made spirit and life to their dead souls4 ,may it come from you as an instrument in the hands of ,god1 as sharp arrows from a strong archer1 and strike a death-blow to all their sins4 ,how ,i long to see the arrows of conviction fasten on the minds of those that are hearers of the word and not doers6 ,o1 sir6 be ambitious for the glory of ,god and the salvation of souls3 it will add to the lustre of your crown in glory1 as well as to your present joy and peace4 ,we should be willing to spend and be spent in his service1 saying1 ',lord1 may thy will be done by me on earth1 even as it is by thy angels in heaven4' ,so you may expect to see his face with joy1 and say1 ',here am ,i1 ,lord1 and all the souls thou hast given me4' ,it seems wonderful that we should neglect any opportunity of doing good1 when there is1 if it be done from love to ,god and his creatures1 a present reward of grace1 in reflecting that we are using the talents committed to our care1 according to the power and ability which we receive from ,him4 ,god requires not what ,he has not promised to give4 ,but when we look back and reflect that there have been opportunities in which we have neglected to take up our cross1 and speak and act for ,god1 what a dejection of mind we feel6 ,we are then justly filled with shame4 ,conscious of being ashamed of ,christ1 we cannot come with that holy boldness to a throne of grace1 nor feel that free access when we make our supplications4 ,we are commanded to provoke one another to love and good works2 and where two are agreed together in the things of ,god1 they may say3 ',and if our fellowship below ,in ,jesus be so sweet1 ,what heights of rapture shall we know ,when round the throne we meet6' ,sir1 ,i hope ,mrs --- and you are both of one heart and one mind4 ,then you will sweetly agree in all things that make for your present and eternal happiness4 ,christ sent his disciples out1 not singly1 but two and two1 that they might comfort and help each other in those ways and works which their ,lord commanded them to pursue4 ,it has been my lot to have been alone the greatest part of the time that ,i have known the ways of ,god4 ,i therefore find it such a treat to my soul when ,i can meet with any who loves to talk of the goodness and love of ,god1 and all his gracious dealings4 ,what a comfortable reflection1 to think of spending a whole eternity in that delightful employment--to tell to listening angels his love1 'immense1 unsearchable6' ,dear sir1 ,i thank you for your kindness and condescension in leaving those that are of high rank and birth in the world1 to converse with me who am but a servant here below4 ,but when ,i consider what a high calling1 what honour and dignity ,god has conferred upon me1 to be called his child1 to be born of his ,spirit1 made an heir of glory1 and joint heir with ,christ1 how humble and circumspect should ,i be in all my ways1 as a dutiful and loving child to an affectionate and loving ,father6 ,when ,i seriously consider these things1 it fills me with love and gratitude to ,god1 and ,i do not wish for any higher station1 nor envy the rich4 ,i rather pity them if they are not good as well as great4 ,my blessed ,lord was pleased to appear in the form of a servant1 and ,i long to be like ,him4 ,i did not feel in so happy a frame for conversation that day1 nor yet that liberty to explain my thoughts1 which ,i sometimes do4 ,the fault must have been all in myself2 for there was nothing in you but what seemed to evidence a ,christian spirit1 temper1 and disposition4 ,i very much wished for an opportunity to converse with you4 ,i feel very thankful to ,god that you do take up the cross1 and despise the shame3 if you are found faithful1 you will soon sit down with ,him in glory4 ,i have written to the ,rev4 ,mr ---1 to thank him for permitting you to perform the burial service at ---1 over my dear departed sister1 and to tell him of the kind way in which you consented to do it4 ,i should mention that your manner of reading the service on that day had a considerable effect on the hearers4 ,pray excuse all faults1 and correct my errors4 ,i expect in a few days to return home to my parent's house4 ,we shall rejoice to see you there4 ,from your humble servant in ,christ1 ,e--- ,w---4 ,it was impossible to view such a correspondent with indifference4 ,i had just returned from a little cottage assembly1 where1 on ,sunday evenings1 ,i sometimes went to instruct a few poor families in one of the hamlets belonging to my parish4 ,i read the letter1 and closed the day with thanksgiving to ,god for thus enabling those who fear his name to build up each other in faith and love4 ,of old time1 they that feared the ,lord spake often one to another3 and the ,lord hearkened and heard it2 and a book of remembrance was written before ,him for them that feared the ,lord1 and that thought upon his name4 ,that book of remembrance is not yet closed4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,the mind of man is like a moving picture1 supplied with objects not only from contemplation on things present1 but from the fruitful sources of recollection and anticipation4 ,memory retraces past events1 and restores an ideal reality to scenes which are gone by for ever4 ,they live again in revived imagery1 and we seem to hear and see with renewed emotions what we heard and saw at a former period4 ,successions of such recollected circumstances often form a series of welcome memorials4 ,in religious meditations the memory becomes a sanctified instrument of spiritual improvement4 ,another part of this animated picture is furnished by the pencil of ,hope4 ,she draws encouraging prospects for the soul1 by connecting the past and present with the future4 ,seeing the promises afar off1 she is persuaded of their truth1 and embraces them as her own4 ,the ,spirit of ,god gives a blessing to both these acts of the mind1 and employs them in the service of religion4 ,every faculty of body and soul1 when considered as a part of the purchased possession of the ,saviour1 assumes a new character4 ,how powerfully does the apostle1 on this ground1 urge a plea for holy activity and watchfulness6 ,what6 know ye not that your body is the temple of the ,holy ,ghost which is in you1 which ye have of ,god1 and ye are not your own8 ,for ye are bought with a price3 therefore glorify ,god in your body1 and in your spirit1 which are ,god's 7#a ,cor4 vi4 #ai1 #bj74 ,the ,christian may derive much profit and enjoyment from the use of the memory1 as it concerns those transactions in which he once bore a part4 ,in his endeavours to recall past conversations and intercourse with deceased friends in particular1 the powers of remembrance greatly improve by exercise4 ,one revived idea produces another1 till the mind is most agreeably and usefully occupied with lively and holy imaginations4 ,lull'd in the countless chambers of the brain1 ,our thoughts are linked by many a hidden chain2 ,awake but one1 and lo1 what myriads rise6 ,each stamps its image as the other flies2 ,each1 as the varied avenues of sense ,delight or sorrow to the soul dispense1 ,brightens or fades3 yet all with sacred art ,control the latent fibres of the heart4 ,may it please ,god to bless1 both to the reader and the writer1 this feeble attempt to recollect some of the communications ,i once enjoyed in my visits to the ,dairyman's dwelling6 ,very soon after the receipt of the last letter1 ,i rode1 for the first time1 to see the family at their own house4 ,the principal part of the road lay through retired1 narrow lanes1 beautifully overarched with groves of nut and other trees1 which screened the traveller from the rays of the sun1 and afforded many interesting objects for admiration in the flowers1 shrubs1 and young trees which grew upon the high banks on each side of the road4 ,many grotesque rocks1 with little trickling streams of water occasionally breaking out of them1 varied the recluse scenery1 and produced a romantic and pleasing effect4 ,here and there the most distant prospect beyond was observable through gaps and hollow places on the road-side4 ,lofty hills1 with navy signal- posts1 obelisks1 and lighthouses on their summits1 appeared at these intervals2 rich cornfields were also visible through some of the open places2 and now and then1 when the road ascended a hill1 the sea1 with ships at various distances1 was seen4 ,but for the most part shady seclusion1 and objects of a more minute and confined nature1 gave a character to the journey and invited contemplation4 ,how much do they lose who are strangers to serious meditation on the wonders and beauties of nature6 ,how gloriously the ,god of creation shines in his works6 ,not a tree1 or leaf1 or flower1 not a bird or insect1 but it proclaims in glowing language1 ,god made me4 ,as ,i approached the village where the good old ,dairyman dwelt1 ,i observed him in a little field1 driving his cows before him towards a yard and hovel which adjoined his cottage4 ,i advanced very near him without his observing me1 for his sight was dim4 ,on my calling out to him1 he started at the sound of my voice1 but with much gladness of heart welcomed me1 saying1 ,bless your heart1 sir1 ,i am very glad you are come2 we have looked for you every day this week4 ,the cottage-door opened1 and the daughter came out1 followed by her aged and infirm mother4 ,the sight of me naturally brought to recollection the grave at which we had before met4 ,tears of affection mingled with the smile of satisfaction with which ,i was received by these worthy cottagers4 ,i dismounted1 and was conducted through a neat little garden1 part of which was shaded by two large overspreading elm trees1 to the house4 ,decency and order were manifest within and without4 ,no excuse was made here1 on the score of poverty1 for confusion and uncleanliness in the disposal of their little household4 ,everything wore the aspect of neatness and propriety4 ,on each side of the fire-place stood an old oaken chair1 where the venerable parents rested their weary limbs after the day's labour was over4 ,on a shelf in one corner lay two ,bibles1 with a few religious books and tracts4 ,the little room had two windows2 a lovely prospect of hills1 woods1 and fields appeared through one2 the other was more than half obscured by the branches of a vine which was trained across it2 between its leaves the sun shone1 and cast a cheerful light over the whole place4 ,this1 thought ,i1 is a fit residence for piety1 peace1 and contentment4 ,may ,i learn a fresh lesson for advancement in each1 through the blessing of ,god1 on this visit6 ,sir1 said the daughter1 we are not worthy that you should come under our roof4 ,we take it very kind that you should travel so far to see us4 ,my ,master1 ,i replied1 came a great deal farther to visit us poor sinners4 ,he left the bosom of his ,father1 laid aside his glory1 and came down to this lower world on a visit of mercy and love2 and ought not we1 if we profess to follow ,him1 to bear each other's infirmities1 and go about doing good as ,he did8 ,the old man now entered1 and joined his wife and daughter in giving me a cordial welcome4 ,our conversation soon turned to the loss they had so lately sustained4 ,the pious and sensible disposition of the daughter was peculiarly manifested1 as well in what she said to her parents as in what she more immediately addressed to myself4 ,i had now a further opportunity of remarking the good sense and agreeable manner which accompanied her expressions of devotedness to ,god and love to ,christ1 for the great mercies which ,he had bestowed upon her4 ,during her residence in different gentlemen's families where she had been in service1 she had acquired a superior behaviour and address2 but sincere piety rendered her very humble and unassuming in manner and conversation4 ,she seemed anxious to improve the opportunity of my visit to the best purpose for her own and her parents' sake2 yet there was nothing of unbecoming forwardness1 no self-sufficiency or conceitedness in her conduct4 ,she united the firmness and solicitude of the ,christian with the modesty of the female and the dutifulness of the daughter4 ,it was impossible to be in her company1 and not observe how truly her temper and conversation adorned the principles which she professed4 ,i soon discovered how eager and how successful also she had been in her endeavours to bring her father and mother to the knowledge and experience of the truth4 ,this is a lovely feature in the character of a young ,christian4 ,if it have pleased ,god1 in the free dispensation of his mercy1 to call the child by his grace1 while the parent remains still in ignorance and sin1 how great is the duty incumbent on that child to do what is possible to promote the conversion of those to whom so much is owing4 ,happy is it when the ties of grace sanctify those of nature4 ,the aged couple evidently regarded and spoke of this daughter as their teacher and admonisher in ,divine things1 while at the same time they received from her every token of filial submission and obedience1 testified by continual endeavours to serve and assist them to the utmost of her power in the daily concerns of the household4 ,the religion of this young woman was of a highly spiritual character1 and of no ordinary attainment4 ,her views of the ,divine plan of saving the sinner were clear and scriptural4 ,she spoke much of the joys and sorrows which1 in the course of her religious progress1 she had experienced2 but she was fully sensible that there is far more in real religion than mere occasional transition from one frame of mind and spirits to another4 ,she believed that the experimental acquaintance of the heart with ,god principally consisted in so living upon ,christ by faith1 as to aim at living like ,him by love4 ,she knew that the love of ,god toward the sinner1 and the path of duty prescribed to the sinner1 are both of an unchangeable nature4 ,in a believing dependence on the one1 and an affectionate walk in the other1 she sought and found the peace of ,god which passeth all understanding2 for so ,he giveth his beloved rest4 ,she had read but few books besides her ,bible2 but these few were excellent in their kind1 and she spoke of their contents as one who knew their value4 ,in addition to a ,bible and ,prayer-book1 ,doddridge's ,rise and ,progress1 ,romaine's ,life1 ,walk1 and ,triumph of ,faith1 ,bunyan's ,pilgrim1 ,allein's ,alarm1 ,baxter's ,saint's ,everlasting ,rest1 a hymn- book1 and a few tracts1 composed her library4 ,i observed in her countenance a pale and delicate hue1 which ,i afterwards found to be a presage of consumption2 and the idea then occurred to me that she would not live very long4 ,time passed on swiftly with this interesting family2 and after having partaken of some plain and wholesome refreshment1 and enjoyed a few hours' conversation with them1 ,i found it was necessary for me to return homewards4 ,the disposition and character of the parties may be in some sort ascertained by the expressions at parting4 ,god send you safe home again1 said the aged mother1 and bless the day that brought you to see two poor old creatures1 such as we are1 in our trouble and affliction4 ,come again1 sir1 come again when you can2 and though ,i am a poor ignorant soul1 and not fit to talk to such a gentleman as you1 yet my dear child shall speak for me2 she is the greatest comfort ,i have left2 and ,i hope the good ,lord will spare her to support my trembling limbs and feeble spirits1 till ,i lie down with my other dear departed kindred in the grave4 ,trust to the ,lord1 ,i answered1 and remember his gracious promise3 ',even to your old age ,i am ,he2 and even to hoary hairs ,i will carry you4' ,i thank you1 sir1 said the daughter1 for your ,christian kindness to me and my friends4 ,i believe the blessing of the ,lord has attended your visit1 and ,i hope ,i have experienced it to be so4 ,my dear father and mother will1 ,i am sure1 remember it2 and ,i rejoice in the opportunity of seeing so kind a friend under this roof4 ,my ,saviour has been abundantly good to me in plucking me 'as a brand from the burning1' and showing me the way of life and peace2 and ,i hope it is my heart's desire to live to his glory4 ,but ,i long to see these dear friends enjoy the power and comfort of religion likewise4 ,i think it evident1 ,i replied1 that the promise is fulfilled in their case3 ',it shall come to pass1 that at evening time it shall be light4' ,i believe it1 she said1 and praise ,god for the blessed hope4 ,thank ,him too1 that you have been the happy instrument of bringing them to the light4 ,i do1 sir2 yet1 when ,i think of my own unworthiness and insufficiency1 ,i rejoice with trembling4 ,sir1 said the good old man1 ,i am sure the ,lord will reward you for this kindness4 ,pray for us1 old as we are1 and sinners as we have been1 that yet ,he would have mercy upon us at the eleventh hour4 ,poor ,betsy strives much for our sakes1 both in body and soul2 she works hard all day to save us trouble1 and ,i fear has not strength to support all she does2 and then she talks to us1 and reads to us1 and prays for us1 that we may be saved from the wrath to come4 ,indeed1 sir1 she is a rare child to us4 ,peace be unto you and all that belong to you6 ,amen1 and thank you1 dear sir1 was echoed from each tongue4 ,thus we parted for that time4 ,my returning meditations were sweet1 and1 ,i hope1 profitable4 ,many other visits were afterwards made by me to this peaceful cottage1 and ,i always found increasing reason to thank ,god for the intercourse ,i there enjoyed4 ,an interval of some length occurred once during that year1 in which ,i had not seen the ,dairyman's family4 ,i was reminded of the circumstance by the receipt of the following letter3 ,rev4 ,sir1 ,i have been expecting to see or hear from you for a considerable time4 ,excuse the liberty ,i take in sending you another letter4 ,i have been confined to the house the greater part of the time since ,i left ---4 ,i took cold that day1 and have been worse ever since4 ,i walk out a little on these fine days1 but seem to myself to walk very near on the borders of eternity4 ,glory be to ,god1 it is a very pleasing prospect before me4 ,though ,i feel the workings of sin1 and am abased1 yet ,jesus shows his mercy to be mine1 and ,i trust that ,i am his4 ,at such times ,my soul would leave this heavy clay ,at his transporting word1 ,run up with joy the shining way ,to meet and prove the ,lord4 ,fearless of hell and ghastly death1 ,i'd break through every foe2 ,the wings of love and arms of faith ,would bear me conqueror through4 ,my desire is to live every moment to ,god1 that ,i may through his grace be kept in that heavenly1 happy frame of mind that ,i shall wish for at the hour of death4 ,we cannot live nor die happy without this1 and to keep it we must be continually watching and praying3 for we have many enemies to disturb our peace4 ,i am so very weak1 that now ,i can go nowhere to any outward means for that help which is so refreshing to my spirit4 ,i should have been very happy to have heard you last ,sunday1 when you preached at ---3 ,i could not walk so far4 ,i hope the ,word spoken by you was made a blessing to many that heard it4 ,it was my earnest prayer to ,god that it might be so4 ,but1 alas6 once calling does not awaken many that are in a sound sleep4 ,yet the voice of ,god is sometimes very powerful when his ministers speak1 when they are influenced by his ,holy ,spirit1 and are simple and sincere in holding forth the ,word of ,life4 ,then it will teach us all things1 and enlighten our mind1 and reveal unto us the hidden things of darkness1 and give us out of that ,divine treasure 'things new and old4' ,resting on ,god to work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure1 we ought always to work as diligent servants1 that know they have a good ,master1 that will surely not forget their labour of love4 ,if we could but fix our eyes always on that crown of glory that awaits us in the skies1 we should never grow weary in well-doing1 but should run with patience1 and delight in the work and ways of ,god1 where ,he appoints us4 ,we should not then1 as we too frequently do1 suffer these trifling objects here on earth to draw our minds from ,god1 to rob ,him of his glory1 and our souls of that happiness and comfort which the believer may enjoy amidst outward afflictions4 ,if we thus lived more by faith on the ,son of ,god1 we should endeavour to stir up all whom we could to seek after ,god4 ,we should tell them what ,he has done for us1 and what ,he would do for them if they truly sought ,him4 ,we should show them what a glorious expectation there is for all true believers and sincere seekers4 ,when our minds are so fixed on ,god1 we are more desirous of glorifying ,him1 in making known his goodness to us1 than the proud rich man is of getting honour to himself4 ,i mourn over my own backwardness to this exercise of duty when ,i think of ,god's willingness to save the vilest of the vile1 according to the dispensations of his eternal grace and mercy4 ,oh1 how amiable1 how lovely does this make that ,god of love appear to poor sinners1 that can view ,him as such6 ,how is the soul delighted with such a contemplation6 ,they that have much forgiven1 how much they love6 ,these thoughts have been much on my mind since the death of ---4 ,i trust the ,lord will pardon me for neglect4 ,i thought it was my duty to speak or write to him2 you remember what ,i said to you respecting it4 ,but ,i still delayed till a more convenient season4 ,oh1 how ,i was struck when ,i heard the ,lord had taken him so suddenly6 ,i was filled with sorrow and shame for having neglected what ,i had so often resolved to do4 ,but now the time of speaking for ,god to him was over4 ,hence we see that the ,lord's time is the best time4 ,now the night of death was come upon him2 no more work was to be done4 ,if ,i had done all that lay in my power to proclaim reconciliation by ,christ to his soul1 whether he had heard or no1 ,i should have been more clear of his blood4 ,but ,i cannot recall the time that is past1 nor him from the grave4 ,had ,i known the ,lord would have called him so suddenly1 how diligent ,i should have been to warn him of his danger4 ,but it is enough that ,god shows us what we are to do1 and not what ,he is about to do with us or any of his creatures4 ,pray1 sir1 do all you can for the glory of ,god4 ,the time will soon pass by1 and then we shall enter that glorious rest that ,he hath prepared for them that love ,him4 ,i pray ,god to fill you with that zeal and love which ,he only can inspire1 that you may daily win souls to ,christ4 ,may ,he deliver you from all slavish fear of man1 and give you boldness1 as ,he did of old those that were filled with the ,holy ,ghost and with power6 ,remember1 ,christ hath promised to be with all his faithful ministers to the end of time4 ,the greater dangers and difficulties they are exposed to1 the more powerful his assistance4 ,then1 sir1 let us fear none but ,him4 ,i hope you will pray much for me a poor sinner1 that ,god will perfect his strength in my weakness of body and mind2 for without ,him ,i can do nothing4 ,but when ,i can experience the teaching of that ,holy ,one1 ,i need no other teacher4 ,may the ,lord anoint you with the same1 and give you every grace of his ,holy ,spirit1 that you may be filled with all the fulness of ,god2 that you may know what is the height and depth1 the length and breadth of the love of ,god in ,christ ,jesus2 that you may be in the hand of the ,lord1 as a keen archer to draw the bow1 while the ,lord directs and fastens the arrows of conviction in the hearts of such as are under your ministry6 ,i sincerely pray that you may be made a blessing to him that has taken the place of the deceased4 ,i have heard that you are fellow- countrymen4 ,i hope you are1 however1 both as strangers in this world1 that have no abiding place1 but seek a country out of sight4 ,pray excuse all faults1 ,from your humble servant in the bonds of the ,gospel of ,christ1 ,e--- ,w---4 ,when ,i perused this and other letters1 which were at different times written to me by the ,dairyman's daughter1 ,i felt that in the person of this interesting correspondent were singularly united the characters of an humble disciple and a faithful monitor4 ,i wished to acknowledge the goodness of ,god in each of these her capacities4 ,i sometimes entertain a hope that the last day will unfold the value of these epistolary communications1 beyond even any present estimate of their spiritual importance4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,the translation of sinners from the power of darkness into the kingdom of ,god's dear ,son1 is the joy of ,christians and the admiration of angels4 ,every penitent and pardoned soul is a new witness to the triumphs of the ,redeemer over sin1 death1 and the grave4 ,how great the change that is wrought6 ,the child of wrath becomes a monument of grace--a brand plucked from the burning6 ,if any man be in ,christ1 he is a new creature3 old things are passed away2 behold1 all things are become new4 ,how marvellous1 how interesting is the spiritual history of each individual believer6 ,he is1 like ,david1 a wonder unto many2 but the greatest wonder of all to himself4 ,others may doubt whether it be so or not2 but to him it is unequivocally proved1 that1 from first to last1 grace alone reigns in the work of his salvation4 ,the character and privileges of real ,christians are beautifully described in the language of our ,church1 which1 when speaking of the objects of ,divine favour and compassion1 says3 ,they that be endued with so excellent a benefit of ,god1 be called according to ,god's purpose in due season2 they through grace obey the calling3 they be justified freely3 they be made sons of ,god by adoption3 they be made like the image of his only-begotten ,son1 ,jesus ,christ3 they walk religiously in good works2 and at length1 by ,god's mercy1 they attain to everlasting felicity4 ,such a conception and display of the ,almighty wisdom1 power1 and love1 is indeed full of sweet1 pleasant1 and unspeakable comfort to godly persons1 and such as feel in themselves the working of the ,spirit of ,christ mortifying the works of the flesh1 and their earthly members2 and drawing up their minds to high and heavenly things3 it doth greatly establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation1 to be enjoyed through ,christ1 and doth fervently kindle their love towards ,god4 ,nearly allied to the consolation of a good hope through grace1 as it respects our own personal state before ,god1 is that of seeing its evidences shed lustre over the disposition and conduct of others4 ,bright was the exhibition of the union between true ,christian enjoyment and ,christian exertion1 in the character whose moral and spiritual features ,i am attempting to delineate4 ,it seemed to be the first wish of her heart to prove to others1 what ,god had already proved to her1 that ,jesus is the ,way1 the ,truth1 and the ,life4 ,she desired to evince the reality of her calling1 justification1 and adoption into the family of ,god1 by showing a conformity to the image of ,christ1 and by walking religiously in good works2 she trusted that1 in this path of faith and obedience1 she should at length1 by ,god's mercy1 attain to everlasting felicity4 ,i had the spiritual charge of another parish1 adjoining to that in which ,i resided4 ,it was a small district1 and had but few inhabitants4 ,the church was pleasantly situated on a rising bank1 at the foot of a considerable hill4 ,it was surrounded by trees1 and had a rural1 retired appearance4 ,close to the churchyard stood a large old mansion1 which had formerly been the residence of an opulent and titled family2 but it had long since been appropriated to the use of the estate as a farm-house4 ,its outward aspect bore considerable remains of ancient grandeur1 and gave a pleasing character to the spot of ground on which the church stood4 ,in every direction the roads that led to this house of ,god possessed distinct but interesting features4 ,one of them ascended between several rural cottages1 from the sea-shore1 which adjoined the lower part of the village street4 ,another winded round the curved sides of the adjacent hill1 and was adorned both above and below with numerous sheep1 feeding on the herbage on the down4 ,a third road led to the church by a gently rising approach1 between high banks1 covered with young trees1 bushes1 ivy1 hedge-plants1 and wild flowers4 ,from a point of land which commanded a view of all these several avenues1 ,i used sometimes for a while to watch my congregation gradually assembling together at the hour of ,sabbath worship4 ,they were in some directions visible for a considerable distance4 ,gratifying associations of thought would form in my mind1 as ,i contemplated their approach1 and successive arrival within the precincts of the house of prayer4 ,one day1 as ,i was thus occupied1 during a short interval previous to the hour of ,divine service1 ,i reflected on the joy which ,david experienced1 at the time he exclaimed3 ,i was glad when they said unto me1 ,let us go into the house of the ,lord4 ,our feet shall stand within thy gates1 ,o ,jerusalem4 ,jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together3 whither the tribes go up1 the tribes of the ,lord1 unto the testimony of ,israel1 to give thanks unto the ,lord 7,psa4 cxxii4 #a-d74 ,i was led to reflect upon the various blessings connected with the establishment of public worship4 ,how many immortal souls are now gathering together1 to perform the all-important work of prayer and praise--to hear the ,word of ,god--to feed upon the ,bread of ,life6 ,they are leaving their respective dwellings1 and will soon be united together in the house of prayer4 ,how beautifully does this represent the effect produced by the voice of 'the ,good ,shepherd1' calling his sheep from every part of the wilderness into his fold6 ,as these fields1 hills1 and lanes are now covered with men1 women1 and children1 in various directions1 drawing near to each other1 and to the object of their journey's end3 even so1 many 'shall come from the east1 and from the west1 and from the north1 and from the south1 and shall sit down in the kingdom of ,god' 7,luke xiii4 #bi74 ,who can rightly appreciate the value of such hours as these8--hours spent in learning the ways of holy pleasantness and the paths of heavenly peace--hours devoted to the service of ,god and of souls2 in warning the sinner to flee from the wrath to come2 in teaching the ignorant how to live and die2 in preaching the ,gospel to the poor2 in healing the broken- hearted2 in declaring deliverance to the captives1 and recovering of sight to the blind4 ,blessed is the people that know the joyful sound2 they shall walk1 ,o ,lord1 in the light of thy countenance4 ,in thy name shall they rejoice all the day1 and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted4 ,my thoughts then pursued a train of reflection on the importance of the ministerial office1 as connected in the purposes of ,god with the salvation of sinners4 ,i inwardly prayed that those many individuals whom ,he had given me to instruct1 might not1 through my neglect or error1 be as sheep having no shepherd1 nor as the blind led by the blind2 but rather that ,i might1 in season and out of season1 faithfully proclaim the simple and undisguised truths of the ,gospel1 to the glory of ,god and the prosperity of his ,church4 ,at that instant1 near the bottom of the inclosed lane which led to the churchyard1 ,i observed a friend1 whom1 at such a distance from his own home1 ,i little expected to meet4 ,it was the venerable ,dairyman4 ,he came up the ascent1 leaning with one hand on his trusty staff1 and with the other on the arm of a younger man1 well known to me1 who appeared to be much gratified in meeting with such a companion by the way4 ,my station was on the top of one of the banks which formed the hollow road beneath4 ,they passed a few yards below me4 ,i was concealed from their sight by a projecting tree4 ,they were talking of the mercies of ,god1 and the unsearchable riches of his grace4 ,the ,dairyman was telling his companion what a blessing the ,lord had given him in his daughter4 ,his countenance brightened as he named her1 and called her his precious ,betsy4 ,i met them at a stile not many yards beyond1 and accompanied them to the church1 which was hard by4 ,sir1 said the old man1 ,i have brought a letter from my daughter3 ,i hope ,i am in time for ,divine service4 ,seven miles is now become a long walk for me3 ,i grow old and weak4 ,i am very glad to see you1 sir4 ,how is your daughter8 ,very poorly1 indeed1 sir3 very poorly4 ,the doctors say it is a decline4 ,i sometimes hope she will get the better of it2 but then again ,i have many fears4 ,you know1 sir1 that ,i have cause to love and prize her4 ,oh1 it would be such a trial2 but the ,lord knows what is best4 ,excuse my weakness1 sir4 ,he put a letter into my hand1 the perusal of which ,i reserved till afterwards1 as the time was nigh for going into church4 ,the presence of this aged pilgrim1 the peculiar reverence and affection with which he joined in the different parts of the service1 excited many gratifying thoughts in my mind2 such as rather furthered than interrupted devotion4 ,the train of reflection in which ,i had engaged1 when ,i first discovered him on the road1 at intervals recurred powerfully to my feelings1 as ,i viewed that very congregation assembled together in the house of ,god1 whose steps1 in their approach towards it1 ,i had watched with prayerful emotions4 ,here the rich and poor meet together in mutual acknowledgment1 that the ,lord is the ,maker of them all2 that all are alike dependent creatures1 looking up to one common ,father to supply their wants both temporal and spiritual4 ,again1 likewise1 will they meet together in the grave1 that undistinguished receptacle of the opulent and the needy4 ,and once more1 at the judgment-seat of ,christ1 shall the rich and the poor meet together1 'that every one may receive the things done in his body1 according to that he hath done1 whether it be good or bad' 7#b ,cor4 v4 #aj74 ,how closely connected in the history of man are these three periods of a general meeting together6 ,the house of prayer--the house appointed for all living--and the house not made with hands eternal in the heavens4 ,may we never separate these ideas from each other1 but retain them in a sacred and profitable union6 ,so shall our worshipping assemblies on earth be representatives of the general assembly and ,church of the firstborn which are written in heaven4 ,when the congregation dispersed1 ,i entered into discourse with the ,dairyman and a few of the poor of my flock1 whose minds were of like disposition to his own4 ,he seldom could speak long together without some reference to his dear child4 ,he loved to tell how merciful his ,god had been to him1 in the dutiful and affectionate attentions of his daughter4 ,all real ,christians feel a tender spiritual attachment towards those who have been the instrument of bringing them to an effectual knowledge of the way of salvation3 but when that instrument is one so nearly allied1 how dear does the relationship become6 ,if my friend the ,dairyman was in any danger of falling into idolatry1 his child would have been the idol of his affections4 ,she was the prop and stay of her parents' declining years1 and they scarcely knew how sufficiently to testify the gratitude of their hearts1 for the comfort and blessing which she was the means of affording them4 ,while he was relating several particulars of his family history to the others1 ,i opened and read the following letter3-- ,,sir1--,once more ,i take the liberty to trouble you with a few lines4 ,i received your letter with great pleasure1 and thank you for it4 ,i am now so weak1 that ,i am unable to walk to any public place of ,divine worship3 a privilege which has heretofore always so much strengthened and refreshed me4 ,i used to go in anxious expectation to meet my ,god1 and hold sweet communion with ,him1 and ,i was seldom disappointed4 ,in the means of grace1 all the channels of ,divine mercy are open to every heart that is lifted up to receive out of that ,divine fulness grace for grace4 ,these are the times of refreshing from the presence of the ,lord4 ,how have ,i rejoiced to hear a faithful and lively messenger1 just come1 as it were1 from communion with ,god at the throne of grace1 with his heart warmed and filled with ,divine love1 to speak to fallen sinners6 ,such an one has seemed to me as if his face shone as that of ,moses did with the glory of ,god1 when he came down from the mount1 where he had been within the veil4 ,may you1 sir1 imitate him1 as he did ,christ1 that all may see and know that the ,lord dwelleth with you1 and that you dwell in ,him through the unity of the blessed ,spirit4 ,i trust you are no stranger to his ,divine teaching1 aid1 and assistance1 in all you set your hand to do for the glory of ,god4 ,i hope1 sir1 the sincerity of my wishes for your spiritual welfare will plead an excuse for the freedom of my address to you4 ,i pray the ,giver of every perfect gift1 that you may experience the mighty workings of his gracious ,spirit in your heart and your ministry1 and rest your all on the justifying and purifying blood of an expiring ,redeemer4 ,then will you triumph in his strength1 and be enabled to say with the poet3 ',shall ,i through fear of feeble men1 ,the ,spirit's course strive to restrain8 ,or1 undismay'd in deed and word1 ,be a true witness for my ,lord8 ',awed by a mortal's frown1 shall ,i ,conceal the word of ,god most high6 ,how then before ,thee shall ,i dare ,to stand8 or1 how thine anger bear8 ',shall ,i1 to soothe the unholy throng1 ,soften thy truths and smooth my tongue1 ,to gain earth's gilded toys1 or flee ,the cross endur'd1 my ,god1 by ,thee6 ',what then is he whose scorn ,i dread1 ,whose wrath or hate makes me afraid8 ,a man6 an heir of death6 a slave ,to sin6 a bubble on the wave6 ',yea1 let men rage1 since ,thou wilt spread ,thy shadowing wings around my head3 ,since in all pain1 thy tender love ,will still my sure refreshment prove4 ',still shall the love of ,christ constrain ,to seek the wand'ring souls of men2 ,with cries1 entreaties1 tears to save1 ,and snatch them from the yawning grave4 ',for this1 let men revile my name1 ,no cross ,i shun1 ,i fear no shame3 ,all hail reproach1 and welcome pain1 ,only thy terrors1 ,lord1 restrain6' ,i trust1 sir1 that you see what a glorious high calling yours is1 and that you are one of those who walk humbly with ,god1 that you may be taught of ,him in all things4 ,persons in your place are messengers of the ,most ,high ,god4 ,is it too much to say1 they should live like the angels in all holiness1 and be filled with love and zeal for men's souls8 ,they are ambassadors in ,christ's stead to persuade sinners to be reconciled to ,god4 ,so that your calling is above that of angels3 for they are afterward to minister to the heirs of salvation2 but the sinner must be first reconciled to ,god4 ,and you are called on from day to day to intercede with man as his friend1 that you may win souls to ,christ4 ,christ is ascended up on high1 to intercede with his ,father for guilty sinners1 and to plead for them the merits of his death4 ,so that ,christ and his faithful ministers1 through the operation of the blessed ,spirit1 are co-workers together4 ,yet without ,him we can do nothing3 our strength is his strength1 and his is all the glory from first to last4 ,it is my heart's prayer and desire1 sir1 that you may1 by a living faith1 cleave close to that blessed exalted ,lamb of ,god1 who died to redeem us from sin--that you may have a sweet communion with ,father1 ,son1 and ,spirit--that you may sink deep in love and rise high in the life of ,god4 ,thus will you have such discoveries of the beauties of ,christ and his eternal glory1 as will fill your heart with true delight4 ,if ,i am not deceived1 ,i wish myself to enjoy his gracious favour1 more than all the treasures which earth can afford4 ,i would1 in comparison1 look upon them with holy disdain1 and as not worth an anxious thought1 that they may not have power on my heart1 to draw or attract it from ,god1 who is worthy of my highest esteem1 and of all my affections4 ,it should be our endeavour to set ,him always before us1 that in all things we may act as in his immediate presence2 that we may be filled with that holy fear1 so that we may not dare wilfully to sin against ,him4 ,we should earnestly entreat the ,lord to mortify the power and working of sin and unbelief within1 by making ,christ appear more and more precious in our eyes1 and more dear to our hearts4 ,it fills my heart with thankful recollections1 while ,i attempt in this weak manner to speak of ,god's love to man4 ,when ,i reflect on my past sins and his past mercies1 ,i am assured1 that if ,i had all the gifts of wise men and angels1 ,i could never sufficiently describe my own inward sense of his undeserved love towards me4 ,we can better enjoy these glorious apprehensions in our hearts1 than explain them to others4 ,but oh how unworthy of them all are we8 ,consciousness of my own corruptions keeps me often low2 yet faith and desire will easily mount on high1 beseeching ,god that ,he would1 according to the apostle's prayer1 fill me with all his communicable fulness1 in the gifts and graces of his ,spirit2 that ,i may walk well-pleasing before ,him1 in all holy conversation1 perfecting holiness in his fear4 ,if ,i err in boldness1 sir1 pray pardon me2 and in your next letter confirm my hope1 that you will be my counsellor and guide4 ,i can only recompense your kindness to me by my prayers1 that your own intercourse with ,god may be abundantly blessed to you and yours4 ,i consider the ,saviour saying to you1 as ,he did to ,peter1 ',lovest them me8' ,and may your heartfelt experience be compelled to reply1 ',thou knowest all things1 and thou knowest that ,i love thee supremely4' ,may ,he have evident marks of it in all your outward actions of love and humanity1 in feeding his flock1 and in the inward fervour and affection of all your consecrated powers2 that you may be zealously engaged in pulling down the strongholds of sin and ,satan1 and building up his ,church1 sowing the seeds of righteousness1 and praying ,god to give the increase2 that you may not labour for ,him in vain1 but may see the trees bud and blossom1 and bring forth fruit abundantly1 to the praise and glory of your heavenly ,master4 ,in order to give you encouragement1 ,he says1 ',whosoever converteth a sinner from the error of his way1 shall save a soul from death2' and that will increase the brightness of your crown in glory4 ,this hath ,christ merited for his faithful ministers4 ,i hope1 sir1 you will receive grace to be sincere in reproving sin1 wherever you see it4 ,you will find ,divine assistance1 and all fear and shame will be taken from you4 ,great peace will be given to you1 and wisdom1 strength1 and courage1 according to your work4 ,you will be as ,paul3 having much learning1 you can speak to men in all stations of life1 by ,god's assistance4 ,the fear of offending them will never prevent you1 when you consider the glory of ,god2 and man's immortal soul is of more value than his present favour and esteem4 ,in particular1 you are in an office wherein you can visit all the sick4 ,man's extremity is often ,god's opportunity4 ,in this way you may prove an instrument in his hand to do his work4 ,although ,he can work without means1 yet his usual way is by means2 and ,i trust you are a chosen vessel unto ,him1 to prove his name and declare his truth to all men4 ,visiting the sick is a strict command1 and a duty for every ,christian4 ,none can tell what good may be done4 ,i wish it was never neglected1 as it too often is4 ,many think that1 if they attend the ,church--the minister to preach and the people to hear--their duty is done4 ,but more is required than this4 ,may the ,lord stir up the gift that is in his people and ministers1 that they may have compassion on their fellow-sinners1 that they may never think it too late1 but remember that while there is life there is hope4 ,once more1 ,i pray1 sir1 pardon and excuse all my errors in judgment1 and the ignorance that this is penned in2 and may ,god bless you in all things1 and particularly your friendship to me and my parents4 ,what a comfort is family religion4 ,i do not doubt but this is your desire1 as it is mine1 to say3 ',i and my house will serve the ,lord1 ,but first obedient to his word ,i must myself appear3 ,by actions1 words1 and temper show ,that ,i my heavenly ,master know1 ,and serve with heart sincere4 ',i must the fair example set2 ,from those that on my pleasure wait ,the stumbling-block remove2 ,their duty by my life explain1 ,and still in all my works maintain ,the dignity of love4 ',easy to be entreated1 mild1 ,quickly appeas'd and reconciled1 ,a follower of my ,god3 ,a saint indeed ,i long to be1 ,and lead my faithful family ,in the celestial road4 ',lord1 if thou dost the wish infuse1 ,a vessel fitted for thy use ,into thy hands receive3 ,work in me both to will and do1 ,and show them how believers true ,and real ,christians live4 ',with all-sufficient grace supply1 ,and then ,i'll come to testify ,the wonders of thy name1 ,which saves from sin1 the world1 and hell1 ,its power may every sinner feel1 ,and every tongue proclaim6 ',cleans'd by the blood of ,christ from sin1 ,i seek my relatives to win1 ,and preach their sins forgiven2 ,children1 and wife1 and servants seize1 ,and through the paths of pleasantness ,conduct them all to heaven4' ,living so much in a solitary way1 books are my companions2 and poetry1 which speaks of the love of ,god and the mercies of ,christ1 is very sweet to my mind4 ,this must be my excuse for troubling you to read verses which others have written4 ,i have intended1 if my declining state of health permit1 to go to --- for a few days4 ,i say this1 lest you should call in expectation of seeing me1 during any part of next week4 ,but my dear father and mother1 for whose precious souls ,i am very anxious1 will reap the benefit of your visit at all events4 ,from your humble and unworthy servant1 ,e--- ,w---4 ,having read it1 ,i said to the father of my highly valued correspondent3 ,i thank you for being the bearer of this letter2 your daughter is a kind friend and faithful counsellor to me1 as well as to you4 ,tell her how highly ,i esteem her friendship1 and that ,i feel truly obliged for the many excellent sentiments which she has here expressed4 ,give her my blessing1 and assure her that the oftener she writes1 the more thankful ,i shall be4 ,the ,dairyman's enlivened eye gleamed with pleasure as ,i spoke4 ,the praise of his ,elizabeth was a string which could not be touched without causing every nerve of his whole frame to vibrate4 ,his voice half faltered as he spoke in reply2 the tear stood in his eyes2 his hand trembled as ,i pressed it2 his heart was full2 he could only say1 ,sir1 a poor old man thanks you for your kindness to him and his family4 ,god bless you1 sir2 ,i hope we shall soon see you again4 ,thus we parted for that day4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,it has not unfrequently been observed1 that when it is the ,lord's pleasure to remove any of his faithful followers out of this life at an early period of their course1 they make rapid progress in the experience of ,divine truth4 ,the fruits of the ,spirit ripen fast1 as they advance to the close of mortal existence4 ,in particular1 they grow in humility1 through a deeper sense of inward corruption1 and a clearer view of the perfect character of the ,saviour4 ,disease and bodily weakness make the thoughts of eternity recur with frequency and power4 ,the great question of their own personal salvation1 the quality of their faith1 the sincerity of their love1 and the purity of their hope1 are in continual exercise4 ,unseen realities1 at such a time1 occupy a larger portion of thought than before4 ,the state of existence beyond the grave1 the invisible world1 the unaltered character of the dead1 the future judgment1 the total separation from everything earthly1 the dissolution of body and spirit1 and their reunion at the solemn hour of resurrection--these are subjects for their meditation1 which call for serious earnestness of soul4 ,whatever consolations from the ,spirit of ,god they may have enjoyed heretofore1 they become now doubly anxious to examine and prove themselves1 whether they be indeed in the faith4 ,in doing this1 they sometimes pass through hidden conflicts of a dark and distressing nature2 from which1 however1 they come forth1 like gold tried in the furnace4 ,awhile they may sow in tears1 but soon they reap in joy4 ,their religious feelings have then1 perhaps1 less of ecstasy1 but more of serenity4 ,as the ears of corn ripen for the harvest1 they bow their heads nearer to the ground4 ,so it is with believers2 they then see more than ever of their own imperfection1 and often express their sense of it in strong language2 yet they repose with a growing confidence on the love of ,god through ,christ ,jesus4 ,the nearer they advance to their eternal rest1 the more humble they become1 but not the less useful in their sphere4 ,they feel anxiously desirous of improving every talent they possess to the glory of ,god1 knowing that the time is short4 ,i thought ,i observed the truth of these remarks fulfilled in the progressive state of mind of the ,dairyman's daughter4 ,declining health seemed to indicate the will of ,god concerning her4 ,but her character1 conduct1 and experience of the ,divine favour increased in brightness as the setting sun of her mortal life approached its horizon4 ,the last letter which1 with the exception of a very short note1 ,i ever received from her1 ,i shall now transcribe4 ,it appeared to me to bear the marks of a still deeper acquaintance with the workings of her own heart1 and a more entire reliance upon the free mercy of ,god4 ,the original1 while ,i copy it1 strongly revives the image of the deceased1 and the many profitable conversations which ,i once enjoyed in her company and that of her parents4 ,it again endears to me the recollections of cottage piety2 and helps me to anticipate the joys of that day when the spirits of the glorified saints shall be reunited to their bodies1 and be for ever with the ,lord4 ,the writer of this and the preceding letters herself little imagined1 when they were penned1 that they would ever be submitted to the public eye4 ,that they now are so1 results from a conviction that the friends of the pious poor will estimate them according to their value1 and a hope that it may please ,god to honour these memorials of the dead1 to the effectual edification of the living4 ,rev4 ,sir1 ,in consequence of your kind permission1 ,i take the liberty to trouble you with another of my ill-written letters2 and ,i trust you have too much of your blessed ,maker's lowly1 meek1 and humble mind to be offended with a poor1 simple1 ignorant creature1 whose intentions are pure and sincere in writing4 ,my desire is that ,i1 a weak vessel of his grace1 may glorify his name for his goodness towards me4 ,may the ,lord direct me by his counsel and wisdom6 ,may ,he overshadow me with his presence1 that ,i may sit beneath the banner of his love1 and find the consolations of his blessed ,spirit sweet and refreshing to my soul6 ,when ,i feel that ,i am nothing1 and ,god is all in all1 then ,i can willingly fly to ,him1 saying1 ',lord1 help me2 ,lord1 teach me2 be unto me my ,prophet1 ,priest1 and ,king2 let me know the teaching of thy grace1 and the disclosing of thy love4' ,what nearness of access might we have if we lived more near to ,god6 ,what sweet communion might we have with a ,god of love6 ,he is the great ,i ,,am4 ,how glorious a name6 ,angels with trembling awe prostrate themselves before ,him1 and in humble love adore and worship ,him4 ,one says1 ',while the first archangel sings1 ,he hides his face behind his wings4' ,unworthy as ,i am1 ,i have found it by experience1 that the more ,i see of the greatness and goodness of ,god1 and the nearer union ,i hope ,i have had with ,him through the ,spirit of his love1 the more humble and self-abased ,i have been4 ,but every day ,i may say1 ',lord1 how little ,i love thee1 how far ,i live from thee1 how little am ,i like thee in humility6' ,it is nevertheless my heart's desire to love and serve ,him better4 ,i find the way in which ,god does more particularly bless me1 is when ,i attend on the public ordinances of religion4 ,these are the channels through which ,he conveys the riches of his grace and precious love to my soul4 ,these ,i have often found to be indeed the time of refreshing and strengthening from the presence of the ,lord4 ,then ,i can see my hope of an interest in the covenant of love1 and praise ,him for his mercy to the greatest of sinners4 ,i earnestly wish to be more established in the ways1 and to honour him in the path of duties whilst ,i enjoy the smiles of his favour4 ,in the midst of all outward afflictions ,i pray that ,i may know ,christ1 and the power of his resurrection within my soul4 ,if ,i were always thus1 my summer would last all the year1 my will would then be sweetly lost in ,god's will1 and ,i should feel a resignation to every dispensation of his providence and his grace1 saying1 ',good is the will of the ,lord3 infinite wisdom cannot err4' ,then would patience have its perfect work4 ,but1 alas6 sin and unbelief often1 too often1 interrupt these frames1 and lay me low before ,god in tears of sorrow4 ,i often think what a happiness it would be1 if his love were so fixed in my heart1 that ,i might willingly obey ,him with alacrity and delight1 and gradually mortify the power of self-will1 passion1 and pride4 ,this can only arise from a good hope1 through grace1 that we are washed in that precious blood which cleanses us from every sinful stain1 and makes us new creatures in ,christ4 ,o that we may be the happy witnesses of the saving power and virtue of that healing stream which flows from the fountain of everlasting love6 ,sir1 my faith is often exceedingly weak4 ,can you be so kind as to tell me what you have found to be the most effectual means of strengthening it8 ,i often think how plainly the ,lord declares--,believe only1 and thou shalt be saved4 ,only have faith2 all things are possible to him that has it4 ,how ,i wish that we could remove all those mountains that hinder and obstruct the light of his grace2 so that1 having full access unto ,god through that ever-blessed ,spirit1 we might lovingly commune with ,him as with the dearest of friends4 ,what favour doth ,god bestow on worms6 ,and yet we love to murmur and complain4 ,he may well say1 ,what should ,i have done more that ,i have not done8 or wherein have ,i proved unfaithful or unkind to my faithless backsliding children8 ,sir1 ,i pray that ,i may not grieve ,him1 as ,i have done1 any more4 ,i want your counsel and your prayers for me in this matter4 ,how refreshing is the sight of one that truly loves ,god1 that bears his image and likeness6 ,but delightful as is conversation with true believers on earth1 whose hearts are lifted up to things above1 yet what is this to that happy day which will admit us into more bright realms1 where we shall for ever behold a ,god of love in the smiling face of his ,son1 who is the express image of his ,father1 and the brightness of his glory6 ,then1 if found in ,him1 we shall be received by the innumerable host of angels who wait around his throne4 ,in the meantime1 sir1 may ,i take up my cross1 and manfully fight under ,him who1 for the glory that was set before ,him1 endured the cross1 despised the shame1 and is now set down at his ,father's right hand in majesty6 ,i thank you for the kind liberty you have given to me of writing to you4 ,i feel my health declining1 and ,i find a relief during an hour of pain and weakness in communicating these thoughts to you4 ,i hope1 sir1 you go on your way rejoicing2 that you are enabled to thank ,him who is the giver of every good gift1 spiritual1 temporal1 and providential1 for blessings to yourself and your ministry4 ,i do not doubt but you often meet with circumstances which are not pleasing to nature2 yet1 by the blessing of ,god1 they will be all profitable in the end4 ,they are kindly designed by grace to make and keep us humble4 ,the difficulties which you spoke of to me some time since1 will1 ,i trust1 disappear4 ,my dear father and mother are as well as usual in bodily health2 and1 ,i hope1 grow in grace1 and in the knowledge and love of ,jesus ,christ4 ,my chief desire to live is for their sakes4 ,it now seems long since we have seen you4 ,i am almost ashamed to request you to come to our little cottage1 to visit those who are so far beneath your station in life4 ,but if you cannot come1 we shall be very glad if you will write a few lines4 ,i ought to make an excuse for my letter1 ,i spell so badly3 this was a great neglect when ,i was young4 ,i gave myself greatly to reading1 but not to the other2 and now ,i am too weak and feeble to learn much4 ,i hear sometimes of persons growing serious in your congregation4 ,it gives me joy2 and1 if true1 ,i am sure it does so to yourself4 ,i long for the pure ,gospel of ,christ to be preached in every church in the world1 and for the time when all shall know1 love1 and fear the ,lord1 and the uniting ,spirit of ,god shall make them of one heart and mind in ,christ our great ,head4 ,your greatest joy1 ,i know1 will be in labouring much for the glory of ,god in the salvation of men's souls4 ,you serve a good ,master4 ,you have a sure reward4 ,i pray ,god to give you strength according to your day4 ,pray1 sir1 do not be offended at the freedom and manner of my writing4 ,my parents' duty and love to you are sent with these lines from ,your humble servant in ,christ1 ,e--- ,w---4 ,epistolary communications1 when written in sincerity of heart1 afford genuine portraits of the mind4 ,may the foregoing be viewed with ,christian candour1 and consecrated to affectionate memory6 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,travellers1 as they pass through the country1 usually stop to inquire whose are the splendid mansions which they discover among the woods and plains around them4 ,the families1 titles1 fortune1 or character of the respective owners engage much attention4 ,perhaps their houses are exhibited to the admiring stranger4 ,the elegant rooms1 costly furniture1 valuable paintings1 beautiful gardens and shrubberies1 are universally approved2 while the rank1 fashion1 taste1 and riches of the possessor1 afford ample materials for entertaining discussion4 ,in the meantime1 the lowly cottage of the poor husbandman is passed by as scarcely deserving of notice4 ,yet perchance such a cottage may often contain a treasure of infinitely more value than the sumptuous palace of the rich man2 even the pearl of great price4 ,if this be set in the heart of the poor cottager1 it proves a gem of unspeakable worth1 and will shine among the brightest ornaments of the ,redeemer's crown1 in that day when ,he maketh up his jewels4 ,hence the ,christian traveller1 while in common with others he bestows his due share of applause on the decorations of the rich1 and is not insensible to the beauties and magnificence which are the lawfully-allowed appendages of rank and fortune1 cannot overlook the humbler dwelling of the poor4 ,and if he should find that true piety and grace beneath the thatched roof which he has in vain looked for amidst the worldly grandeur of the rich1 he remembers the declarations in the ,word of ,god4 ,he sees with admiration1 that the high and lofty ,one that inhabiteth eternity1 whose name is ,holy1 who dwelleth in the high and holy place1 dwelleth with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit2 and although heaven is his throne1 and the earth his footstool1 yet1 when a house is to be built1 and a place of rest to be sought for himself1 ,he says1 ,to this man will ,i look1 even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit1 and trembleth at my word4 7,see ,isa4 lvii4 #ae2 lxvi4 #a1 #b47 ,when a house is thus tenanted1 faith beholds this inscription written on the walls1 ,the ,lord lives here4 ,faith1 therefore1 cannot pass by it unnoticed1 but loves to lift up the latch of the door1 and to sit down and converse with the poor1 although perhaps despised1 inhabitant4 ,many a sweet interview does ,faith obtain1 when she thus takes her walks abroad4 ,many such a sweet interview have ,i myself enjoyed beneath the roof where dwelt the ,dairyman and his little family4 ,i soon perceived that his daughter's health was rapidly on the decline4 ,the pale1 wasting consumption1 which is the ,lord's instrument for removing so many thousands every year from the land of the living1 made hasty strides on her constitution4 ,the hollow eye1 the distressing cough1 and the often too-flattering red on the cheek1 foretold the approach of death4 ,what a field for usefulness and affectionate attention on the part of ministers and ,christian friends is opened by the frequent attacks1 and lingering progress1 of consumptive illness6 ,how many such precious opportunities are daily lost1 where ,providence seems in so marked a way to afford time and space for serious and godly instruction6 ,of how many may it be said1 ,the way of peace have they not known2 for not one friend ever came nigh to warn them to flee from the wrath to come4 ,but the ,dairyman's daughter was happily made acquainted with the things which belonged to her everlasting peace before the present disease had taken root in her constitution4 ,in my visits to her1 ,i went rather to receive information than to impart it4 ,her mind was abundantly stored with ,divine truths1 and her conversation was truly edifying4 ,the recollection of it must ever produce a thankful sensation in my heart4 ,i one day received a short note to the following effect3-- ,dear ,sir1 ,i should be very glad1 if your convenience will allow1 that you would come and see a poor unworthy sinner4 ,my hour-glass is nearly run out2 but ,i hope ,i can see ,christ to be precious to my soul4 ,your conversation has often been blessed to me1 and ,i now feel the need of it more than ever4 ,my father and my mother send their duty to you4 ,from your obedient ,and unworthy servant1 ,e--- ,w---4 ,i obeyed the summons that same afternoon4 ,on my arrival at the ,dairyman's cottage his wife opened the door4 ,the tears streamed down her cheek as she silently shook her head4 ,her heart was full4 ,she tried to speak1 but could not4 ,i took her by the hand1 and said3 ,my good friend1 all is right1 and as the ,lord of wisdom and mercy directs4 ,oh6 my ,betsy1 my dear girl1 is so bad1 sir4 ,what shall ,i do without her8 ,i thought ,i should have gone first to the grave1 but-- ,but the ,lord sees good that1 before you die yourself1 you should behold your child safe home to glory4 ,is there no mercy in this8 ,o1 dear sir6 ,i am very old and very weak1 and she is a dear child1 the staff and prop of such a poor old creature as ,i am4 ,as ,i advanced1 ,i saw ,elizabeth sitting by the fireside1 supported in an arm-chair by pillows1 with every mark of rapid decline and approaching death4 ,a sweet smile of friendly complacency enlightened her pale countenance as she said3 ,this is very kind indeed1 sir1 to come so soon after ,i sent to you4 ,you find me daily wasting away1 and ,i cannot have long to continue here4 ,my flesh and my heart fail2 but ,god is the strength of my weak heart1 and1 ,i trust1 will be my portion for ever4 ,the conversation was occasionally interrupted by her cough and want of breath4 ,her tone of voice was clear1 though feeble2 her manner solemn and collected2 and her eye1 though more dim than formerly1 by no means wanting in liveliness as she spoke4 ,i had frequently admired the superior language in which she expressed her ideas1 as well as the scriptural consistency with which she communicated her thoughts4 ,she had a good natural understanding2 and grace1 as is generally the case1 much improved it4 ,on the present occasion ,i could not help thinking she was peculiarly favoured4 ,the whole strength of gracious and natural attainments seemed to be in full exercise4 ,after taking my seat between the daughter and the mother 7the latter fixing her fond eyes upon her child with great anxiety1 while we were conversing71 ,i said to ,elizabeth3 ,i hope you enjoy a sense of the ,divine presence1 and can rest all upon ,him who has 'been with thee1' and has kept 'thee in all places whither thou hast gone1' and will bring thee into 'the land of pure delights1 where saints immortal reign4' ,sir1 ,i think ,i can4 ,my mind has lately been sometimes clouded1 but ,i believe it has been partly owing to the great weakness and suffering of my bodily frame1 and partly to the envy of my spiritual enemy1 who wants to persuade me that ,christ has no love for me1 and that ,i have been a self-deceiver4 ,and do you give way to his suggestions8 ,can you doubt amidst such numerous tokens of past and present mercy8 ,no1 sir2 ,i mostly am enabled to preserve a clear evidence of his love4 ,i do not wish to add to my other sins that of denying his manifest goodness to my soul4 ,i would acknowledge it to his praise and glory4 ,what is your present view of the state in which you were before you felt seriously concerned about the salvation of your soul8 ,sir1 ,i was a proud1 thoughtless girl1 fond of dress and finery2 ,i loved the world1 and the things that are in the world2 ,i lived in service among worldly people1 and never had the happiness of being in a family where worship was regarded1 and the souls of the servants cared for either by master or mistress4 ,i went once on a ,sunday to church1 more to see and be seen than to pray or hear the word of ,god4 ,i thought ,i was quite good enough to be saved1 and disliked and often laughed at religious people4 ,i was in great darkness2 ,i knew nothing of the way of salvation2 ,i never prayed1 nor was sensible of the awful danger of a prayerless state4 ,i wished to maintain the character of a good servant1 and was much lifted up whenever ,i met with applause4 ,i was tolerably moral and decent in my conduct1 from motives of carnal and worldly policy2 but ,i was a stranger to ,god and ,christ2 ,i neglected my soul2 and had ,i died in such a state1 hell must1 and would justly1 have been my portion4 ,how long is it since you heard the sermon which you hope1 through ,god's blessing1 effected your conversion8 ,about five years ago4 ,how was it brought about8 ,it was reported that a ,mr ---1 who was detained by contrary winds from embarking on board ship1 as chaplain to a distant part of the world1 was to preach at church4 ,many advised me not to go1 for fear he should turn my head2 as they said he held strange notions4 ,but curiosity and an opportunity of appearing in a new gown1 which ,i was very proud of1 induced me to ask leave of my mistress to go4 ,indeed1 sir1 ,i had no better motives than vanity and curiosity4 ,yet thus it pleased the ,lord to order it for his own glory4 ,i accordingly went to church1 and saw a great crowd of people collected together4 ,i often think of the contrary states of my mind during the former and latter part of the service4 ,for a while1 regardless of the worship of ,god1 ,i looked around me1 and was anxious to attract notice myself4 ,my dress1 like that of too many gay1 vain1 and silly servant girls1 was much above my station1 and very different from that which becomes an humble sinner1 who has a modest sense of propriety and decency4 ,the state of my mind was visible enough from the foolish finery of my apparel4 ,at length the clergyman gave out his text3 ',be ye clothed with humility' 7#a ,pet4 v4 #e74 ,he drew a comparison between the clothing of the body with that of the soul4 ,at a very early part of his discourse1 ,i began to feel ashamed of my passion for fine dressing and apparel2 but when he came to describe the garment of salvation with which a ,christian is clothed1 ,i felt a powerful discovery of the nakedness of my own soul4 ,i saw that ,i had neither the humility mentioned in the text1 nor any one part of the true ,christian character4 ,i looked at my gay dress1 and blushed for shame on account of my pride4 ,i looked at the minister1 and he seemed to be as a messenger sent from heaven to open my eyes4 ,i looked on the congregation1 and wondered whether any one else felt as ,i did4 ,i looked at my heart1 and it appeared full of iniquity4 ,i trembled as he spoke1 and yet ,i felt a great drawing of heart to the words he uttered4 ,he displayed the riches of ,divine grace in ,god's method of saving the sinner4 ,i was astonished at what ,i had been doing all the days of my life4 ,he described the meek1 lowly1 and humble example of ,christ2 ,i felt proud1 lofty1 vain1 and self-consequential4 ,he represented ,christ as ',wisdom2' ,i felt my ignorance4 ,he held ,him forth as ',righteousness2' ,i was convinced of my own guilt4 ,he proved ,him to be ',sanctification2' ,i saw my corruption4 ,he proclaimed ,him as ',redemption2' ,i felt my slavery to sin1 and my captivity to ,satan4 ,he concluded with an animated address to sinners1 in which he exhorted them to flee from the wrath to come1 to cast off the love of outward ornaments1 to put on ,jesus ,christ1 and be clothed with true humility4 ,from that hour ,i never lost sight of the value of my soul1 and the danger of a sinful state4 ,i inwardly blessed ,god for the sermon1 although my mind was in a state of great confusion4 ,the preacher had brought forward the ruling passion of my heart1 which was pride in outward dress2 and by the grace of ,god it was made instrumental to the awakening of my soul4 ,happy1 sir1 would it be1 if many a poor girl1 like myself1 were turned from the love of outward adorning and putting on of fine apparel1 to seek that which is not corruptible1 even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit1 which is in the sight of ,god of great price4 ,the greater part of the congregation1 unused to such faithful and scriptural sermons1 disliked and complained of the severity of the preacher3 while a few1 as ,i afterwards found1 like myself1 were deeply affected1 and earnestly wished to hear him again4 ,but he preached there no more4 ,from that time ,i was led1 through a course of private prayer1 reading1 and meditation1 to see my lost estate as a sinner1 and the great mercy of ,god through ,jesus ,christ in raising sinful dust and ashes to a share in the glorious happiness of heaven4 ,and ,o1 sir1 what a ,saviour ,i have found6 ,he is more than ,i could ask or desire4 ,in his fulness ,i have found all that my poverty could need2 in his bosom ,i have found a resting- place from all sin and sorrow2 in his ,word ,i have found strength against doubt and unbelief4 ,were you not soon convinced1 ,i said1 that your salvation must be an act of entire grace on the part of ,god1 wholly independent of your own previous works or deservings8 ,dear sir1 what were my works before ,i heard that sermon1 but evil1 carnal1 selfish1 and ungodly8 ,the thoughts of my heart1 from my youth upward1 were only evil1 and that continually4 ,and my deservings1 what were they but the deservings of a fallen1 depraved1 careless soul1 that regarded neither law nor gospel8 ,yes1 sir1 ,i immediately saw that1 if ever ,i were saved1 it must be by the free mercy of ,god1 and that the whole praise and honour of the work would be his from first to last4 ,what change did you perceive in yourself with respect to the world8 ,it appeared all vanity and vexation of spirit4 ,i found it necessary to my peace of mind to come out from among them and be separate4 ,i gave myself to prayer2 and many a happy hour of secret delight ,i enjoyed in communion with ,god4 ,often ,i mourned over my sins1 and sometimes had a great conflict through unbelief1 fear1 temptation1 to return back again to my old ways1 and a variety of difficulties which lay in my way4 ,but ,he who loved me with an everlasting love1 drew me by his loving-kindness1 showed me the way of peace1 gradually strengthened me in my resolutions of leading a new life1 and taught me1 that while without him ,i could do nothing1 ,i yet might do all things through his strength4 ,did you not find many difficulties in your situation1 owing to your change of principle and practice8 ,yes1 sir1 every day of my life4 ,i was laughed at by some1 scolded at by others1 scorned by enemies1 and pitied by friends4 ,i was called hypocrite1 saint1 false deceiver1 and many more names which were meant to render me hateful in the sight of the world4 ,but ,i esteemed the reproach of the ,cross an honour4 ,i forgave and prayed for my persecutors1 and remembered how very lately ,i had acted the same part towards others myself4 ,i thought also that ,christ endured the contradiction of sinners2 and as the disciple is not above his ,master1 ,i was glad to be in any way conformed to his sufferings4 ,did you not then feel for your family at home8 ,yes1 that ,i did indeed1 sir2 they were never out of my thoughts4 ,i prayed continually for them1 and had a longing desire to do them good4 ,in particular1 ,i felt for my father and mother1 as they were getting into years1 and were very ignorant and dark in matters of religion4 ,ay1 interrupted her mother1 sobbing1 ignorant and dark1 sinful and miserable we were1 till this dear ,betsy--this dear ,betsy--this dear child1 sir--brought ,christ ,jesus home to her poor father and mother's house4 ,no1 dearest mother2 say rather1 ,christ ,jesus brought your poor daughter home1 to tell you what ,he had done for her soul1 and1 ,i hope1 to do the same for yours4 ,at this moment the ,dairyman came in with two pails of milk hanging from the yoke on his shoulders4 ,he had stood behind the half-opened door for a few minutes1 and heard the last sentences spoken by his wife and daughter4 ,blessing and mercy upon her6 said he1 it is very true3 she left a good place of service on purpose to live with us1 that she might help us both in soul and body4 ,sir1 don't she look very ill8 ,i think1 sir1 we sha'n't have her here long4 ,leave that to the ,lord1 said ,elizabeth4 ,all our times are in his hand1 and happy it is that they are4 ,i am willing to go4 ,are not you willing1 my father1 to part with me into his hands who gave me to you at first8 ,ask me any question in the world but that1 said the weeping father4 ,i know1 said she1 you wish me to be happy4 ,i do1 ,i do1 answered he2 let the ,lord do with you and us as best pleases ,him4 ,i then asked her on what her present consolations chiefly depended1 in the prospect of approaching death4 ,entirely1 sir1 on my view of ,christ4 ,when ,i look at myself1 many sins1 infirmities1 and imperfections cloud the image of ,christ which ,i want to see in my own heart4 ,but when ,i look at the ,saviour himself1 ,he is altogether lovely2 there is not one spot in his countenance1 nor one cloud over all his perfections4 ,i think of his coming in the flesh1 and it reconciles me to the sufferings of the body2 for ,he had them as well as ,i4 ,i think of his temptations1 and believe that ,he is able to succour me when ,i am tempted4 ,then ,i think of his cross1 and learn to bear my own4 ,i reflect on his death1 and long to die unto sin1 so that it may no longer have dominion over me4 ,i sometimes think of his resurrection1 and trust that ,he has given me a part in it1 for ,i feel that my affections are set upon things above4 ,chiefly1 ,i take comfort in thinking of ,him as at the right hand of the ,father1 pleading my cause1 and rendering acceptable even my feeble prayers1 both for myself1 and1 as ,i hope1 for my dear friends4 ,these are the views which1 through mercy1 ,i have of my ,saviour's goodness2 and they have made me wish and strive in my poor way to serve ,him1 to give myself up to ,him1 and to labour to do my duty in that state of life into which it has pleased ,him to call me4 ,a thousand times ,i should have fallen and fainted1 if ,he had not upheld me4 ,i feel that ,i am nothing without ,him4 ,he is all in all4 ,just so far as ,i can cast my care upon ,him ,i find strength to do his will4 ,may ,he give me grace to trust ,him till the last moment6 ,i do not fear death1 because ,i believe that ,he has taken away its sting4 ,and ,o1 what happiness beyond6 ,tell me1 sir1 whether you think ,i am right--,i hope ,i am under no delusion4 ,i dare not look for my hope in anything short of the entire fulness of ,christ4 ,when ,i ask my own heart a question1 ,i am afraid to trust it1 for it is treacherous1 and has often deceived me4 ,but when ,i ask ,christ1 he answers me with promises that strengthen and refresh me1 and leave me no room to doubt his power and will to save4 ,i am in his hands1 and would remain there2 and ,i do believe that ,he will never leave nor forsake me1 but will perfect the thing that concerns me4 ,he loved me1 and gave himself for me2 and ,i believe that his gifts and calling are without repentance4 ,in this hope ,i live1 in this hope ,i wish to die4 ,i looked around me1 as she was speaking1 and thought--,surely this is none other than the house of ,god1 and the gate of heaven4 ,everything appeared neat1 cleanly1 and interesting4 ,the afternoon had been rather overcast with dark clouds2 but just now the setting sun shone brightly and somewhat suddenly into the room4 ,it was reflected from three or four rows of bright pewter plates and white earthenware1 arranged on shelves against the wall2 it also gave brilliancy to a few prints of sacred subjects that hung there also1 and served for monitors of the birth1 baptism1 crucifixion1 and resurrection of ,christ4 ,a large map of ,jerusalem1 and a hieroglyphic of the old and new man1 completed the decorations on that side of the room4 ,clean as was the whitewashed wall1 it was not cleaner than the rest of the place and its furniture4 ,seldom had the sun enlightened a house where order and general neatness 7those sure attendants of pious poverty7 were more conspicuous4 ,this gleam of setting sunshine was emblematical of the bright and serene close of this young ,christian's departing season4 ,one ray happened to be reflected from a little looking-glass upon her face4 ,amidst her pallid and decaying features there appeared a calm resignation1 triumphant confidence1 unaffected humility1 and tender anxiety1 which fully declared the feelings of her heart4 ,some further affectionate conversation and a short prayer closed this interview4 ,as ,i rode home by departing day-light1 a solemn tranquillity reigned throughout the scene4 ,the gentle lowing of cattle1 the bleating of sheep just penned in their folds1 the humming of the insects of the night1 the distant murmurs of the sea1 the last notes of the birds of day1 and the first warblings of the nightingale1 broke upon the ear1 and served rather to increase than lessen the peaceful serenity of the evening1 and its corresponding effects on my own mind4 ,it invited and cherished just such meditations as my visit had already inspired4 ,natural scenery1 when viewed in a ,christian mirror1 frequently affords very beautiful illustrations of ,divine truths4 ,we are highly favoured when we can enjoy them1 and at the same time draw near to ,god in them4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,it is a pleasing consideration that1 amidst the spiritual darkness which unhappily prevails in many parts of the land1 ,god nevertheless has a people4 ,it not unfrequently happens1 that single individuals are to be found who1 though very disadvantageously situated with regard to the ordinary means of grace1 have received truly saving impressions1 and through a blessing on secret meditation1 reading1 and prayer1 are led to the closest communion with ,god1 and become eminently devoted ,christians4 ,it is the no small error of too many professors of the present day1 to overlook or undervalue the instances of this kind which exist4 ,the religious profession and opinions of some have too much of mere machinery in their composition4 ,if every wheel1 pivot1 chain1 spring1 cog1 or pinion1 be not exactly in its place1 or move not precisely according to a favourite and prescribed system1 the whole is rejected as unworthy of regard4 ,but happily the ,lord knoweth them that are his2 nor is the impression of his own seal wanting to characterise some who1 in comparative seclusion from the religious world1 name the name of ,christ1 and depart from iniquity4 ,there are some real ,christians so particularly circumstanced in this respect1 as to illustrate the poet's beautiful comparison3-- ,full many a gem of purest ray serene ,the dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear2 ,full many a flower is born to blush unseen1 ,and waste its sweetness on the desert air4 ,yet this was not altogether the case with the ,dairyman's daughter4 ,her religion had indeed ripened in seclusion from the world1 and she was intimately known but to few2 but she lived usefully1 departed most happily1 and left a shining track behind her4 ,while ,i attempt a faint delineation of it1 may ,i catch its influence1 and become1 through inexpressible mercy1 a follower of them1 who through faith and patience inherit the promises4 ,from the time wherein ,i visited her1 as described in my last paper1 ,i considered her end as fast approaching4 ,one day ,i received a hasty summons to inform me that she was dying4 ,it was brought by a soldier1 whose countenance bespoke seriousness1 good sense1 and piety4 ,i am sent1 sir1 by the father and mother of ,elizabeth ,w---1 at her own particular request1 to say how much they all wish to see you4 ,she is going home1 sir1 very fast indeed4 ,have you known her long8 ,i inquired4 ,about a month1 sir4 ,i love to visit the sick2 and hearing of her case from a person who lives close by our camp1 ,i went to see her4 ,i bless ,god that ever ,i did go4 ,her conversation has been very profitable to me4 ,i rejoice1 said ,i1 to see in you1 as ,i trust1 a brother soldier4 ,though we differ in our outward regimentals1 ,i hope we serve under the same spiritual ,captain4 ,i will go with you4 ,my horse was soon ready4 ,my military companion walked by my side1 and gratified me with very sensible and pious conversation4 ,he related some remarkable testimonies of the excellent disposition of the ,dairyman's daughter1 as they appeared from recent intercourse which he had had with her4 ,she is a bright diamond1 sir1 said the soldier1 and will soon shine brighter than any diamond upon earth4 ,we passed through lanes and fields1 over hills and through valleys1 by open and retired paths1 sometimes crossing over1 and sometimes following the windings of a little brook1 which gently murmured by the road-side4 ,conversation beguiled the distance1 and shortened the apparent time of our journey1 till we were nearly arrived at the ,dairyman's cottage4 ,as we approached it1 we became silent4 ,thoughts of death1 eternity1 and salvation1 inspired by the sight of a house where a dying believer lay1 filled my own mind1 and1 ,i doubt not1 that of my companion also4 ,no living object yet appeared1 except the ,dairyman's dog1 keeping a kind of mute watch at the door2 for he did not1 as formerly1 bark at my approach4 ,he seemed to partake so far of the feelings appropriate to the circumstances of the family1 as not to wish to give a hasty or painful alarm4 ,he came forward to the little wicket-gate1 then looked back at the house-door1 as if conscious there was sorrow within4 ,it was as if he wanted to say1 ,tread softly over the threshold1 as you enter the house of mourning2 for my master's heart is full of grief4 ,the soldier took my horse1 and tied it up in a shed4 ,a solemn serenity appeared to surround the whole place2 it was only interrupted by the breezes passing through the large elm-trees1 which stood near the house1 and which my imagination indulged itself in thinking were plaintive sighs of sorrow4 ,i gently opened the door2 no one appeared2 and all was yet silent4 ,the soldier followed2 we came to the foot of the stairs4 ,they are come1 said a voice1 which ,i knew to be the father's they are come4 ,he appeared at the top4 ,i gave him my hand1 and said nothing4 ,on entering the room above1 ,i saw the aged mother and her son supporting the much-loved sister3 the son's wife sat weeping in a window-seat1 with a child on her lap2 two or three persons attended in the room to discharge any office which friendship or necessity might require4 ,i sat down by the bed-side4 ,the mother could not weep1 but now and then sighed deeply1 as she alternately looked at ,elizabeth and at me4 ,the big tear rolled down the brother's cheek1 and testified an affectionate regard4 ,the good old man stood at the foot of the bed1 leaning upon the post1 and unable to take his eyes off the child from whom he was so soon to part4 ,elizabeth's eyes were closed1 and as yet she perceived me not4 ,but over the face1 though pale1 sunk1 and hollow1 the peace of ,god which passeth all understanding1 had cast a triumphant calm4 ,the soldier1 after a short pause1 silently reached out his ,bible towards me1 pointing with his finger at #a ,cor4 xv4 #ee1 #ef1 #eh4 ,i then broke silence by reading the passage1 ,o death1 where is thy sting8 ,o grave1 where is thy victory8 ,the sting of death is sin1 and the strength of sin is the law4 ,but thanks be to ,god which giveth us the victory through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,at the sound of these words her eyes opened1 and something like a ray of ,divine light beamed on her countenance1 as she said1 ,victory1 victory6 through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,she relapsed again1 taking no further notice of any one present4 ,god be praised for the triumph of faith6 said ,i4 ,amen6 replied the soldier4 ,the ,dairyman's uplifted eye showed that the amen was in his heart1 though his tongue failed to utter it4 ,a short struggling for breath took place in the dying young woman1 which was soon over2 and then ,i said to her1-- ,my dear friend1 do you not feel that you are supported8 ,the ,lord deals very gently with me1 she replied4 ,are not his promises now very precious to you8 ,they are all yea and amen in ,christ ,jesus4 ,are you in much bodily pain8 ,so little1 that ,i almost forget it4 ,how good the ,lord is6 ,and how unworthy am ,i6 ,you are going to see ,him as ,he is4 ,i think--,i hope--,i believe that ,i am4 ,she again fell into a short slumber4 ,looking at her mother1 ,i said1 ,what a mercy to have a child so near heaven as yours is6 ,and what a mercy1 she replied1 in broken accents1 if her poor old mother might but follow her there6 ,but1 sir1 it is so hard to part6 ,i hope through grace by faith you will soon meet1 to part no more3 it will be but a little while4 ,sir1 said the ,dairyman1 that thought supports me1 and the ,lord's goodness makes me feel more reconciled than ,i was4 ,father1 mother1 said the reviving daughter1 ,he is good to me--trust ,him1 praise ,him evermore4 ,sir1 added she1 in a faint voice1 ,i want to thank you for your kindness to me--,i want to ask a favour2 you buried my sister--will you do the same for me8 ,all shall be as you wish1 if ,god permit2 ,i replied4 ,thank you1 sir1 thank you4 ,i have another favour to ask3 when ,i am gone1 remember my father and mother4 ,they are old1 but ,i hope the good work is begun in their souls4 ,my prayers are heard4 ,pray come and see them4 ,i cannot speak much1 but ,i want to speak for their sakes4 ,sir1 remember them4 ,the aged parents now sighed and sobbed aloud1 uttering broken sentences1 and gained some relief by such an expression of their feelings4 ,at length ,i said to ,elizabeth--,do you experience any doubts or temptations on the subject of your eternal safety8 ,no1 sir2 the ,lord deals very gently with me1 and gives me peace4 ,what are your views of the dark valley of death1 now that you are passing through it8 ,it is not dark4 ,why so8 ,my ,lord is there1 and ,he is my light and my salvation4 ,have you any fears of more bodily suffering8 ,the ,lord deals so gently with me1 ,i can trust ,him4 ,something of a convulsion came on4 ,when it was past1 she said again and again3 ,the ,lord deals very gently with me4 ,lord1 ,i am thine1 save me--blessed ,jesus--precious ,saviour--his blood cleanseth from all sin--,who shall separate8--,his name is ,wonderful--,thanks be to ,god--,he giveth us the victory--,i1 even ,i1 am saved--,o grace1 mercy1 and wonder--,lord1 receive my spirit6 ,dear sir1 dear father1 mother1 friends1 ,i am going--but all is well1 well1 well-- ,she relapsed again4 ,we knelt down to prayer3 the ,lord was in the midst of us1 and blessed us4 ,she did not again revive while ,i remained1 nor ever speak any more words which could be understood4 ,she slumbered for about ten hours1 and at last sweetly fell asleep in the arms of that ,lord who had dealt so gently with her4 ,i left the house an hour after she had ceased to speak4 ,i pressed her hand as ,i was taking leave1 and said ,christ is the ,resurrection and the ,life4 ,she gently returned the pressure1 but could neither open her eyes nor utter a reply4 ,i never had witnessed a scene so impressive as this before4 ,it completely filled my imagination as ,i returned home4 ,farewell1 thought ,i1 dear friend1 till the morning of an eternal day shall renew our personal intercourse4 ,thou wast a brand plucked from the burning1 that thou mightest become a star shining in the firmament of glory4 ,i have seen thy light and thy good works1 and will therefore glorify our ,father which is in heaven4 ,i have seen1 in thy example1 what it is to be a sinner freely saved by grace4 ,i have learned from thee1 as in a living mirror1 who it is that begins1 continues1 and ends the work of faith and love4 ,jesus is all in all3 ,he will and shall be glorified4 ,he won the crown1 and alone deserves to wear it4 ,may no one attempt to rob ,him of his glory6 ,he saves1 and saves to the uttermost4 ,farewell1 dear sister in the ,lord6 ,thy flesh and thy heart may fail2 but ,god is the strength of thy heart1 and shall be thy portion for ever4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,who can conceive or estimate the nature of that change which the soul of a believer must experience at the moment when1 quitting its tabernacle of clay1 it suddenly enters into the presence of ,god8 ,if1 even while we see through a glass darkly1 the views of ,divine love and wisdom are so delightful to the eye of faith1 what must be the glorious vision of ,god1 when seen face to face8 ,if it be so valued a privilege here on earth to enjoy the communion of saints1 and to take sweet counsel together with our fellow-travellers towards the heavenly kingdom1 what shall we see and know when we finally come unto ,mount ,sion1 and unto the city of the living ,god1 the heavenly ,jerusalem1 and to an innumerable company of angels1 to the ,general ,assembly and ,church of the ,firstborn1 which are written in heaven1 and to ,god1 the ,judge of all1 and to the spirits of just men made perfect1 and to ,jesus the ,mediator of the ,new ,covenant8 7,heb4 xii4 #bb-bd47 ,if1 during the sighs and tears of a mortal pilgrimage1 the consolations of the ,spirit are so precious1 and the hope full of immortality is so animating to the soul1 what heart can conceive1 or what tongue utter its superior joys1 when arrived at that state where sighing and sorrow flee away1 and the tears shall be wiped from every eye8 ,such ideas were powerfully associated together in my imagination as ,i travelled onward to the house where1 in solemn preparation for the grave1 lay the remains of the ,dairyman's daughter4 ,she had breathed her last shortly after the visit related in my former account4 ,permission was obtained1 as before1 in the case of her sister1 that ,i should perform the funeral service4 ,many pleasing yet melancholy thoughts were connected with the fulfilment of this task4 ,i retraced the numerous and important conversations which ,i had held with her4 ,but these could now no longer be maintained on earth4 ,i reflected on the interesting and improved nature of ,christian friendships1 whether formed in palaces or in cottages2 and felt thankful that ,i had so long enjoyed that privilege with the subject of this memoir4 ,i then indulged a selfish sigh for a moment1 on thinking that ,i could no longer hear the great truths of ,christianity uttered by one who had drunk so deep of the waters of the river of life2 but the rising murmur was checked by the animating thought3 ,she is gone to eternal rest--could ,i wish her back again in this vale of tears8 ,at that moment the first sound of a tolling bell struck my ear4 ,it proceeded from a village church in the valley directly beneath the ridge of a high hill1 over which ,i had taken my way4 ,it was ,elizabeth's funeral knell4 ,the sound was solemn2 and in ascending to the elevated spot over which ,i rode1 it acquired a peculiar tone and character4 ,tolling at slow and regular intervals 7as was customary for a considerable time previous to the hour of burial71 the bell1 as it were1 proclaimed the blessedness of the dead who die in the ,lord1 and also the necessity of the living pondering these things1 and laying them to heart4 ,it seemed to say3 ,hear my warning voice1 thou son of man4 ,there is but a step between thee and death4 ,arise1 prepare thine house1 for thou shall die and not live4 ,the scenery was in unison with that tranquil frame of mind which is most suitable for holy meditation4 ,a rich and fruitful valley lay immediately beneath2 it was adorned with cornfields and pastures through which a small river winded in a variety of directions1 and many herds grazed upon its banks4 ,a fine range of opposite hills1 covered with grazing flocks1 terminated with a bold sweep into the ocean1 whose blue waves appeared at a distance beyond4 ,several villages1 hamlets1 and churches1 were scattered in the valley4 ,the noble mansions of the rich1 and the lowly cottages of the poor1 added their respective features to the landscape4 ,do any of my readers inquire why ,i describe so minutely the circumstances of prospect and scenery which may be connected with the incidents ,i relate8 ,my reply is1 that the ,god of redemption is the ,god of creation likewise2 and that we are taught in every part of the ,word of ,god to unite the admiration of the beauties and wonders of nature to every other motive for devotion4 ,when ,david considered the heavens1 the work of ,god's fingers1 the moon and the stars which ,he has ordained1 he was thereby led to the deepest humiliation of heart before his ,maker4 ,and when he viewed the sheep1 and the oxen1 and the beasts of the field1 the fowl of the air1 and the fish of the sea1 he was constrained to cry out1 ,o ,lord1 our ,lord1 how excellent is thy name in all the earth6 7,ps4 viii4 #a47 ,i am the poor man's friend1 and wish more especially that every poor labouring man should know how to connect the goodness of ,god in creation and providence1 with the unsearchable riches of his grace in the salvation of a sinner4 ,and where can he learn this lesson more instructively than in looking around the fields1 where his labour is appointed1 and there tracing the handiwork of ,god in all that he beholds8 ,such meditations have often afforded me both profit and pleasure1 and ,i wish my readers to share them with me4 ,the ,dairyman's cottage was rather more than a mile distant from the church4 ,a lane1 quite overshadowed with trees and high hedges1 led from the foot of the hill to his dwelling4 ,it was impossible at that time to overlook the suitable gloom of such an approach to the house of mourning4 ,i found1 on my entrance1 that several ,christian friends from different parts of the neighbourhood had assembled together1 to pay their last tribute of esteem and regard to the memory of the ,dairyman's daughter4 ,several of them had first become acquainted with her during the latter stage of her illness3 some few had maintained an affectionate intercourse with her for a longer period4 ,but all seemed anxious to manifest their respect for one who was endeared to them by such striking testimonies of true ,christianity4 ,i was requested to go into the chamber where the relatives and a few other friends were gone to take a last look at the remains of ,elizabeth4 ,it is not easy to describe the sensation which the mind experiences on the first sight of a dead countenance1 which1 when living1 was loved and esteemed for the sake of that soul which used to give it animation4 ,a deep and awful view of the separation that has taken place between the soul and body of the deceased1 since we last beheld them1 occupies the feelings2 our friend seems to be both near1 and yet far off4 ,the most interesting and valuable part is fled away3 what remains is but the earthly perishing habitation1 no longer occupied by its tenant4 ,yet the features present the accustomed association of friendly intercourse4 ,for one moment we could think them asleep4 ,the next reminds us that the blood circulates no more3 the eye has lost its power of seeing1 the ear of hearing1 the heart of throbbing1 and the limbs of moving4 ,quickly a thought of glory breaks in upon the mind1 and we imagine the dear departed soul to be arrived at its long wished-for rest4 ,it is surrounded by cherubim and seraphim1 and sings the song of ,moses and the ,lamb on ,mount ,sion4 ,amid the solemn stillness of the chamber of death1 imagination hears heavenly hymns chanted by the spirits of just men made perfect4 ,in another moment1 the livid lips and sunken eye of the clay- cold corpse recall our thoughts to earth1 and to ourselves again4 ,and while we think of mortality1 sin1 death1 and the grave1 we feel the prayer rise in our bosom--,o let me die the death of the righteous1 and let my last end be like his6 ,if there be a moment when ,christ and salvation1 death1 judgment1 heaven1 and hell1 appear more than ever to be momentous subjects of meditation1 it is that which brings us to the side of a coffin containing the body of a departed believer4 ,elizabeth's features were altered1 but much of her likeness remained4 ,her father and mother sat at the head1 her brother at the foot of the coffin4 ,the father silently and alternately looked upon his dead child1 and then lifted up his eyes to heaven4 ,a struggle for resignation to the will of ,god was manifest in his countenance2 while the tears rolling down his aged cheeks at the same time declared his grief and affection4 ,the poor mother cried and sobbed aloud1 and appeared to be much overcome by the shock of separation from a daughter so justly dear to her4 ,the weakness and infirmity of old age added a character to her sorrow1 which called for much tenderness and compassion4 ,a remarkably decent-looking woman1 who had the management of the few simple though solemn ceremonies which the case required1 advanced towards me1 saying3 ,sir1 this is rather a sight of joy than of sorrow4 ,our dear friend ,elizabeth finds it to be so1 ,i have no doubt4 ,she is beyond all sorrow4 ,do you not think she is1 sir8 ,after what ,i have known1 and seen1 and heard1 ,i replied1 ,i feel the fullest assurance that while her body remains here1 the soul is with her ,saviour in ,paradise4 ,she loved ,him here1 and there she enjoys the pleasures which are at his right hand for evermore4 ,mercy1 mercy upon a poor old creature1 almost broken down with age and grief6 ,what shall ,i do8 ,betsy's gone6 ,my daughter's dead6 ,o1 my child6 ,i shall never see thee more6 ,god be merciful to me a sinner6--sobbed out the poor mother4 ,that last prayer1 my dear1 good woman1 said ,i1 will bring you and your child together again4 ,it is a cry that has brought thousands to glory4 ,it brought your daughter there1 and ,i hope it will bring you thither likewise4 ,god will in nowise cast out any that come to ,him4 ,my dear1 said the ,dairyman1 breaking the long silence he had maintained1 let us trust ,god with our child2 and let us trust ,him with our ownselves4 ',the ,lord gave1 and the ,lord hath taken away2 blessed be the name of the ,lord6' ,we are old1 and can have but a little further to travel in our journey1 and then-- he could say no more4 ,the soldier1 mentioned in my last paper1 reached a ,bible into my hand1 and said--,perhaps1 sir1 you would not object to reading a chapter before we go to the church8 ,i did so2 it was the fourteenth of the ,book of ,job4 ,a sweet tranquillity prevailed while ,i read it4 ,each minute that was spent in this funereal chamber seemed to be valuable4 ,i made a few observations on the chapter1 and connected them with the case of our departed sister4 ,i am but a poor soldier1 said our military friend1 and have nothing of this world's goods beyond my daily subsistence2 but ,i would not exchange my hope of salvation in the next world for all that this world could bestow without it4 ,what is wealth without grace8 ,blessed be ,god6 as ,i march about from one quarter to another1 ,i still find the ,lord wherever ,i go2 and1 thanks be to his holy name1 ,he is here to-day in the midst of this company of the living and the dead4 ,i feel that it is good to be here4 ,some other persons present began to take a part in our conversation1 in the course of which the life and experience of the ,dairyman's daughter were brought forward in a very interesting manner4 ,each friend had something to relate in testimony of her gracious disposition4 ,a young woman under twenty1 who had hitherto been a very light and trifling character1 appeared to be remarkably impressed by the conversation of that day2 and ,i have since had reason to believe that ,divine grace then began to influence her in the choice of that better part1 which shall not be taken from her4 ,what a contrast does such a scene as this exhibit1 when compared with the dull1 formal1 unedifying1 and often indecent manner in which funeral parties assemble in the house of death6 ,as we conversed1 the parents revived4 ,our subject of discourse was delightful to their hearts4 ,their child seemed almost to be alive again1 while we talked of her4 ,tearful smiles often brightened their countenances1 as they heard the voice of friendship uttering their daughter's praises2 or rather the praises of ,him who had made her a vessel of mercy1 and an instrument of spiritual good to her family4 ,the time for departing was now at hand4 ,i went to take my last look at the deceased4 ,there was much written on her countenance4 ,she had evidently died with a smile4 ,it still remained1 and spoke the tranquillity of her soul4 ,according to the custom of the country1 she was decorated with leaves and flowers in the coffin3 she seemed as a bride gone forth to meet the bridegroom4 ,these1 indeed1 were fading flowers1 but they reminded me of that paradise whose flowers are immortal1 and where her never-dying soul is at rest4 ,i remembered the last words which ,i had heard her speak1 and was instantly struck with the happy thought that death was indeed swallowed up in victory4 ,as ,i slowly retired1 ,i said inwardly1 ,peace1 my honoured sister1 be to thy memory and to my soul1 till we meet in a better world4 ,in a little time1 the procession formed3 it was rendered the more interesting by the consideration of so many that followed the coffin being persons of a devout and spiritual character4 ,the distance was rather more than a mile4 ,i resolved to continue with and go before them1 as they moved slowly onwards4 ,immediately after the body came the venerable father and mother1 #aaf bending with age1 and weeping through much affection of heart4 ,their appearance was calculated to excite every emotion of pity1 love1 and esteem4 ,the other relatives followed them in order1 and the several attendant friends took their places behind4 ,after we had advanced about a hundred yards1 my meditation was unexpectedly and most agreeably interrupted1 by the friends who attended beginning to sing a funeral psalm4 ,nothing could be more sweet or solemn4 ,the well-known effect of the open air1 in softening and blending the sounds of music1 was here peculiarly felt4 ,the road through which we passed was beautiful and romantic4 ,it lay at the foot of a hill1 which occasionally re-echoed the voices of the singers1 and seemed to give faint replies to the notes of the mourners4 ,the funeral-knell was distinctly heard from the church tower1 and increased the effect which this simple and becoming service produced4 ,we went by several cottages2 a respectful attention was universally observed as we passed3 and the countenances of many proclaimed their regard for the departed young woman4 ,the singing was regularly continued1 with occasional intervals of about five minutes1 during our whole progress4 ,i cannot describe the state of my own mind as peculiarly connected with this solemn singing4 ,i never witnessed a similar instance before or since4 ,i was reminded of elder times and ancient piety4 ,i wished the practice more frequent4 ,it seems well calculated to excite and cherish devotion and religious affections4 ,music1 when judiciously brought into the service of religion1 is one of the most delightful1 and not least efficacious means of grace4 ,i pretend not too minutely to conjecture as to the actual nature of those pleasures which1 after the resurrection1 the reunited body and soul will enjoy in heaven2 but ,i can hardly persuade myself that melody and harmony will be wanting1 when even the sense of hearing shall itself be glorified4 ,we arrived at the church4 ,the service was heard with deep and affectionate attention4 ,when we came to the grave1 the hymn which ,elizabeth had selected was sung4 ,all was devout1 simple1 animating4 ,we committed our dear sister's body to the earth1 in full hope of a joyful resurrection4 ,thus was the veil of separation drawn for a season4 ,she is departed1 and no more seen1 but she will be seen on the right hand of her ,redeemer at the last day2 and will again appear to his glory1 a miracle of grace and a monument of mercy4 ,my reader1 rich or poor1 shall you and ,i appear there likewise8 ,are we clothed with humility1 and arrayed in the wedding-garment of a ,redeemer's righteousness8 ,are we turned from idols to serve the living ,god8 ,are we sensible of our own emptiness1 and therefore flying to a ,saviour's fulness to obtain grace and strength8 ,do we indeed live in ,christ1 and on ,him1 and by ,him1 and with ,him8 ,is ,he our all in all8 ,are we lost and found1 dead and alive again8 ,my poor reader1 the ,dairyman's daughter was a poor girl1 and the child of a poor man4 ,herein thou resemblest her2 but dost thou resemble her as she resembled ,christ8 ,art thou made rich by faith8 ,hast thou a crown laid up for thee8 ,is thine heart set upon heavenly riches8 ,if not1 read this story once more1 and then pray earnestly for like precious faith8 ,but if1 through grace1 thou dost love and serve the ,redeemer that saved the ,dairyman's daughter1 grace1 peace1 and mercy be with thee6 ,the lines are fallen unto thee in pleasant places6 thou hast a goodly heritage4 ,press forward in duty1 and wait upon the ,lord1 possessing thy soul in holy patience4 ,thou hast just been with me to the grave of a departed believer4 ,now1 go thy way1 till the end be2 for thou shalt rest1 and stand in thy lot at the end of the days4 ,footnotes3 #aaf ,an interesting account of a visit made to the ,dairyman1 appeared in the ,christian ,guardian for ,october #ahac1 and which is here inserted3-- ,it has rarely1 if ever1 fallen to my lot to trace the gracious dealing of ,god with greater advantage or delight1 than in the narrative of the ,dairyman's ,daughter3 and as the ,isle of ,wight had evidently furnished the author with the scenery he has so finely touched1 ,i concluded that the pious subject of the little memoir had resided there1 and determined that1 when ,i next visited that delightful spot1 ,i would make inquiry respecting her4 ,at the close of ,april last year1 ,i had occasion to go there4 ,at the village of ,b--- ,i had the good fortune to learn her name1 and the situation of the cottage that had been honoured with her residence and death2 and being told that the old man1 her father1 whose name is ,w---1 still lived there1 ,i determined to find out his humble dwelling1 and obtain an interview with the aged ,dairyman4 ,it was with feelings not to be described that ,i visited the spot which had been so peculiarly honoured by the gracious presence of the ,most ,high4 ,on inquiry1 ,i found that ,elizabeth ,w--- died about eleven years ago2 that her mother followed her in the same year2 that one of her brothers 7whom ,i did not see7 lived in the same cottage2 and that her father was about eighty years of age4 ,the venerable old man appeared to wonder at the feelings of a stranger1 but seemed thankful for my visit1 and wept as ,i made past scenes again pass before his view4 ,i was happy to find that his hopes were built upon the ,rock of ,ages2 that his sure trust was in the ,redeemer of sinners4 ,we talked of the kind attentions of the ,rev4 ,mr ---1 of the happy death of ,elizabeth1 of the wondrous grace of ,god2 and when ,i bade him farewell1 and reminded him how soon he would again see his daughter1 not1 indeed1 encompassed with infirmity1 and depressed with disease1 but shining as the sun in the firmament1 the poor old man wept plentifully1 and little would he be to be envied who could have refrained4 ,i looked back on the cottage until it could no longer be seen1 and then went on my way rejoicing4 ,on the third of ,november last1 being again in that district1 ,i had the pleasure of repeating my visit to the good old ,dairyman1 who immediately recollected me4 ,he told me many persons had been to see him since my former call1 but he believed they were strangers1 not inhabitants of the island4 ,he appeared much weaker than before1 and evidently drawing nearer to his rest4 ,whether he is still living1 ,i know not2 but it is probable ,i shall see him no more4--,the pious old ,dairyman lived three years after this visit3 he departed in the hope of meeting his gracious ,redeemer4 99 99 99 99 99 ,schenck ,m',farlane1 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