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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10618 ***
+
+"JESUS SAYS SO."
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+BOSTON:
+
+MASS. SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY,
+Depository, No. 13 Cornhill.
+
+1851.
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Frontispiece.]
+
+
+
+
+"JESUS SAYS SO."
+
+OR,
+
+A MEMORIAL OF LITTLE
+SARAH G----
+
+FROM THE LONDON EDITION.
+
+_Approved by the Committee of Publication_.
+
+BOSTON:
+
+MASS. SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY,
+Depository, No. 13 Cornhill.
+1851.
+
+
+
+
+"JESUS SAYS SO."
+
+
+Sarah G---- was one of several children, living with their parents in a
+narrow lane in London. Early in the year 1847, Sarah's father had met
+with a serious accident, and was then in the hospital, where he remained
+for many weeks a severe sufferer. Sarah and her brothers, deprived of
+the usual means of support, and their mother being in constant
+attendance on her husband, were consequently often left in great
+necessity. More than once have these little ones been known to reach the
+hour of four or five in the afternoon, before taking any food; but
+amidst all their privations, no complaint was heard from the lips of
+Sarah. It was not known until after her death, how silently, yet how
+powerfully, the Spirit of God was, even at this time, working in her
+heart.
+
+There was nothing particularly attractive in her appearance; quiet and
+unobtrusive, she seemed to the outward observer like most other
+children; but "the Lord seeth not as man seeth." The Great Shepherd of
+the sheep had his eye on this little lamb of the fold, and marked her
+for his own. At home she was gentle and affectionate, obedient to her
+parents, and during their absence she watched kindly over her little
+brothers.
+
+Her poor family tasted largely of the cup of sorrow, but poverty and
+distress, instead of producing impatience and unkindness, seemed to bind
+each one more closely to the other. They experienced the truth of those
+words: "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and
+hatred therewith," Prov. 15:17. "Better is a dry morsel, and quietness
+therewith, than a house full of sacrifices with strife," Prov. 17:1.
+
+The death of her youngest brother appeared to make a strong impression
+on Sarah's mind; she said she liked to think she had a brother in
+heaven. Soon after that event, she was admitted into a Sabbath school,
+and it was her delight in the week to prepare her lessons. "Sunday is
+such a happy day," she would say; and on that morning she would rise
+earlier than usual to get ready for school.
+
+A little circumstance, which occurred at this time, marked her
+tenderness of conscience. A new bonnet had been promised to her, but not
+arriving at the time she had hoped, her disappointment was so great that
+she shed many tears. This was mentioned to a friend, who talked to her
+about it. Sarah made no remark at the time, but afterwards she said to
+her mother, "I did not know before that it was wrong to cry when we were
+disappointed; I will try not to do so again:" and in the evening her
+father overheard her begging God to forgive her pride and fretting about
+the bonnet.
+
+Another feature in Sarah's character may be here noticed: this was her
+love of truth. "She has never deceived me," was her mother's frequent
+remark. "I cannot remember a single instance of untruth, _even in
+play_," and perhaps this truthfulness of spirit enabled her the more
+readily to trust the word of another. "She promised me," Sarah would
+say, and on the promise she would ever rest, in all the sweet dependence
+of a child. Surely this may speak a word to those professing to be the
+followers of Him who keepeth his promise for ever--the covenant-keeping
+God. How lightly are promises often made! how carelessly and
+thoughtlessly broken!
+
+Sarah was only permitted to attend the Sabbath school for a few weeks.
+Her health and strength failed, and soon she was confined to her room,
+then to her bed, which she scarcely left for several months. But now the
+work of God within her became more evident. It was a pleasant service to
+sit by the bed of this young disciple, and read and talk with her of a
+Saviour's love. She said but little, except in answer to questions, but
+her bright and happy countenance showed how welcome was the subject. Who
+that witnessed her simple, child-like faith, would not acknowledge the
+fruit of the Spirit's teaching? It was the more apparent, as she had but
+little help from man, and few outward advantages, not even being able to
+read; but she treasured up in her mind all she heard, and it was as food
+to her soul, the joy and rejoicing of her heart.
+
+At an early period of her illness, a violent attack of pain and
+palpitation of the heart made her think she was dying, and she told her
+mother so, adding, "But I am not afraid, I am so happy." "What makes you
+so happy?" was asked. "Because I am going to heaven, and when I pray to
+Jesus, my heart seems lifted up." "But, Sarah, do you think your sins
+forgiven?" "Yes, mother, I am sure so." "What makes you so sure?"
+"Because _Jesus says so_."
+
+"Jesus says,"--this was ever the ground of her confidence, and proved to
+all around her the Saviour's oft-repeated lesson,--"Whosoever shall not
+receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall in no wise enter
+therein."
+
+Sarah lingered many weeks after this. Her mind was full of peace; as she
+lay on her sick bed, no shade of fear passed over her, all was sunshine
+within. This one happy thought filled her mind,--"Jesus loves me, I am
+going to heaven."
+
+A friend wishing to find out on what her hopes of happiness rested, and
+if she had a real sense of sin, said to her, "You talk much of going to
+heaven, tell me, do you deserve to go there?" "Oh, no," was her reply,
+"I do not deserve it." "Why not?" In a solemn tone, she answered,
+"Because I have sinned." It was remarked, "How then can you go there?
+Heaven is such a holy place, no sin can enter there." With the brightest
+smile she quietly replied, "Ah! but Jesus says he will wash away all my
+sin, and make my soul quite white, and he will carry me there."
+
+Oh that all would learn of her thus to take Jesus at his word! What an
+enemy to peace is an unbelieving heart!
+
+None spoke ill of this little girl, even those who knew her least
+remarked, "she was a good pleasant child," but her grateful affection
+beamed strongly towards all who showed her any kindness, and one who
+watched her with interest throughout her illness, will not soon forget
+the earnest smile of welcome with which she was always greeted, when too
+ill to speak. Thus she told her thanks.
+
+Once, the 103d Psalm was read to her, with some remarks on David's
+causes of thankfulness. It was remarked, "You, too, Sarah, have many
+things to bless God for; for what do you thank him most?" She answered,
+"Oh, I thank him most for sending Jesus from heaven to save me."
+
+Many were the words of comfort she spoke to her poor sorrowing mother,
+whose heart at times seemed almost broken at the prospect of losing her.
+She said, "You will not cry, when I am in heaven, dear mother. I am only
+going a little while first, and you will soon follow;" and once, on an
+occasion of deep family distress, she pointed to the surest way for
+relief, saying, "Mother, why do you cry so? Does not the Bible say God
+cares for the sparrows, and are not you better than a sparrow? O mother,
+pray, do pray, and then you will be so happy."
+
+So calmly, so peacefully, did this young disciple enter the dark valley,
+that truly she might have said,
+
+  "There's nothing terrible in death
+   To those who go to heaven."
+
+Resting in her Saviour's love she feared no evil, his rod and his staff
+they comforted her; sin was her only dread. Her only fear was that of
+offending her heavenly Father, and on this point she often did express
+much anxiety, saying, "Do tell me if I have done wrong. I do not want to
+sin; I am so afraid of making God angry. Sometimes my sins look so
+black, and seem to come between me and God." Then, as if she still felt
+secure in the only hiding-place for sinners, she added, "But Jesus says
+he will take them all away, and wash me whiter than snow."
+
+She delighted much in some little books suited to her age and
+circumstances that were read to her; one entitled, "The Infant's
+Prayer," and another, "The White Robes," were her greatest favorites. In
+allusion to the last of these, she often prayed, "O Lord Jesus, hear a
+poor little girl, do give me that beautiful white dress, without one
+spot or one stain;" and once when her mother noticed a little hurt on
+her arm occasioned by her putting on a change of dress, she sweetly
+said, "Never mind that, dear mother; my next dress will not hurt me."
+
+It was very pleasant to see the affection manifested by her brothers
+towards their little sick sister, and she repaid their kindness by
+anxiously entreating them to care for their souls. To her father she
+said, "I want you to promise me one thing--to meet me in heaven. O
+father! do love Jesus. I love him, indeed I do; but I want you to love
+him too. There is only one Jesus, one Saviour; and, father, he is so
+holy." Then turning to her mother, who was standing by her bed, she
+added, "You do love Jesus, but, O mother, pray do love him more, and
+more, and more;" she spoke with such energy, as if to impress her
+parents with her own feeling, as almost startled them.
+
+In this state of mind Sarah drew near the end of her pilgrimage, and it
+was not until about three days before her death that even the shadow of
+a cloud seemed to darken her path. Then, for the first time, her mind
+was agitated with doubts as to her Saviour's love for her, and very
+distressing to those around her were her anxious cries for pardon.
+"Father, forgive me, for Jesus Christ's sake," was her constant
+petition. She was visited by a minister and by several Christian
+friends, who used every effort to give her relief, but for some time all
+in vain; she seemed unable to lay hold on any promise for her comfort.
+One of these friends especially felt a deep interest in the dear child,
+though she had not known her until now. Of her little Sarah asked most
+earnestly, "Do you think that Jesus loves me?" She was assured that he
+did. "Do you know he loves me?" she asked; and then followed the solemn
+inquiry, "How do you know it?" After reading and talking with her for
+some time, she begged her friend would "pray with her to make her a
+little happy?" and afterwards in her own words, she would again plead
+with God, "Father, forgive me, for Jesus Christ's sake, and wash me in
+his blood, and make me a good girl, and take me to heaven." On one
+occasion she said, "I wish I could be a little happy,--I want something,
+I do not know what I want." She was answered, "I think I can tell you
+what you want, it is peace, it is to feel that God has pardoned all your
+sins." "Yes," she replied, "I think that is it."
+
+At another time, when talking of the joys of heaven, "Yes," she said,
+"they are singing, Glory, glory, glory," referring to her favorite hymn,
+beginning,
+
+  "Around the throne of God in heaven,
+   Thousands of children stand."
+
+
+But, as her friend says, it is not possible to convey her manner, her
+sweet tone and look. She said, "I wish I could go to heaven now, up
+through this ceiling, now while I feel a little happy." "But, my dear
+child, you cannot go to heaven in this way. You must die first; Jesus
+died; we must all die; it is God's appointed way for us to get to
+heaven." "Oh! I do not mind my sufferings, but I wish I was there now."
+
+Once she spoke rather impatiently, "I wish I could die, I wish I could
+die." She was reminded, "Jesus says, 'If you love me, keep my
+commandments;' and though you cannot obey God's will now in the same way
+as if in health, you can still suffer all he appoints." She quickly
+asked, "Will Jesus be angry if I am not patient? I will try, then, and
+pray to him to make me patient."
+
+Satan for a short season seemed permitted to make trial of her faith and
+love, and she struggled hard against his attacks. But the dear little
+one was safe in the arms of her Good Shepherd, and none could pluck her
+out of his hand. Her anxious prayers were heard and answered, and peace
+was restored to her soul. Her brightened countenance required not the
+addition of words to assure her friends of this, and yet they rejoiced
+to hear her say, "I am quite happy; I know Jesus loves me, and I shall
+soon see him."
+
+On the Sabbath, her last day on earth, she was very feeble, only able to
+utter a single word at a time, but her heart was full of thankfulness
+towards all who had cared for her, and especially to those who had
+sought to comfort her in her last distress, begging her mother would
+"always love them."
+
+At night, as her parents were watching beside her, she suddenly raised
+herself, and, throwing her arms alternately round the neck of each,
+seemed to take a last farewell. She was unable to speak, but to her
+mother's inquiry, "Tell me once again, my child, are you quite happy?"
+she replied by lifting up her hand, and pointing to heaven, while the
+brightest smile lighted up her countenance. This was her last act of
+consciousness. She lingered a few hours without any apparent suffering,
+and then her happy spirit took its flight, and joined the blissful
+company, that, having washed their robes and made them white in the
+blood of the Lamb, are ever before the throne of God, rejoicing in their
+Saviour's love.
+
+Sarah died at the age of eleven years, in August, 1848.
+
+Dear reader, before you close this book, ask, "Am I like Sarah G----?
+Have I ever prayed to Jesus to wash away all my sins, and make my soul
+quite white in his precious blood?" And then have you begged him to take
+you to heaven when you die, that you may be happy with him for ever? If
+not, do not wait another day, but entreat him now to give you his Holy
+Spirit to teach you to love him. Remember, it is this kind Saviour who
+calls you, who says, "Suffer the little children to come to me, and
+forbid them not;" and who promises to gather the lambs with his arm, and
+to carry them in his bosom.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Jesus Says So, by Unknown
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10618 ***