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diff --git a/19615-h/19615-h.htm b/19615-h/19615-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2847cde --- /dev/null +++ b/19615-h/19615-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3367 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII" /> +<title>The Dairyman's Daughter</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + H1, H2 { + text-align: center; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + } + H3, H4 { + text-align: left; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + TD { vertical-align: top; } + .blkquot {margin-left: 4em; margin-right: 4em;} /* block indent */ + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: gray;} + + .citation {vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h2> +<a href="#startoftext">The Dairyman's Daughter, by Legh Richmond</a> +</h2> +<pre> +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Dairyman's Daughter, by Legh Richmond + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Dairyman's Daughter + + +Author: Legh Richmond + + + +Release Date: October 24, 2006 [eBook #19615] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DAIRYMAN'S DAUGHTER*** +</pre> +<p><a name="startoftext"></a></p> +<p>Transcribed from the Alexander Hislop & Company edition by +David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org</p> +<h1>THE DAIRYMAN’S DAUGHTER.</h1> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">by<br /> +</span>LEGH RICHMOND.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><span class="smcap">author +of</span> “<span class="smcap">the annals of the +poor</span>,” <span class="smcap">etc</span>.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">EDINBURGH:<br /> +ALEXANDER HISLOP & COMPANY.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><!-- page 4--><a +name="page4"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 4</span><span +class="smcap">edinburgh</span>:<br /> +<span class="smcap">printed by schenck and +m‘farlane</span>,<br /> +<span class="smcap">st james square</span>.</p> +<p style="text-align: center"> +<a href="images/title.jpg"> +<img alt="The Dairyman’s Daughter" src="images/title.jpg" +/> +</a></p> +<h2><!-- page 5--><a name="page5"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +5</span>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<p>It is a delightful employment to discover and trace the +operations of Divine grace, as they are manifested in the +dispositions and lives of God’s real children. It is +peculiarly gratifying to observe how frequently, among the poorer +classes of mankind, the sunshine of mercy beams upon the heart, +and bears witness to the image of Christ which the Spirit of God +has impressed thereupon. Among such, the sincerity and +simplicity of the Christian character appear unencumbered by +those obstacles to spirituality of mind and conversation, which +too often prove a great hindrance to those who live in the higher +ranks. Many are the difficulties which riches, worldly +consequence, high connexions, and the luxuriant refinements of +polished society, throw in the way of religious <!-- page 6--><a +name="page6"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +6</span>profession. Happy indeed it is (and some such happy +instances I know), where grace has so strikingly supported its +conflict with natural pride, self-importance, the allurements of +luxury, ease, and worldly opinion, that the noble and mighty +appear adorned with genuine poverty of spirit, self-denial, +humble-mindedness, and deep spirituality of heart.</p> +<p>But in general, if we want to see religion in its most simple +and pure character, we must look for it among the poor of this +world, who are rich in faith. How often is the poor +man’s cottage the palace of God! Many can truly +declare, that they have there learned the most valuable lessons +of faith and hope, and there witnessed the most striking +demonstrations of the wisdom, power, and goodness of God.</p> +<p>The character which the present narrative is designed to +introduce to the notice of my readers, is given <i>from real life +and circumstance</i>. I first became acquainted with her by +receiving the following letter, which I transcribe from the +original now before me:—</p> +<blockquote><p>“Rev. Sir,</p> +<p>“I take the liberty to write to you. Pray excuse +me, for I have never spoken to you. But I once heard you +when you preached at --- <!-- page 7--><a name="page7"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 7</span>Church. I believe you are a +faithful preacher, to warn sinners to flee from the wrath that +will be revealed against all those that live in sin, and die +impenitent. Pray go on in the strength of the Lord. +And may He bless you, and crown your labour of love with success, +and give you souls for your hire.</p> +<p>“The Lord has promised to be with those whom He calls +and sends forth to preach his Word to the end of time: for +without Him we can do nothing. I was much rejoiced to hear +of those marks of love and affection to that poor soldier of the +S. D. Militia. Surely the love of Christ sent you to that +poor man! May that love ever dwell richly in you by +faith! May it constrain you to seek the wandering souls of +men with the fervent desire to spend and be spent for his +glory! May the unction of the Holy Spirit attend the word +spoken by you with power, and convey deep conviction to the +hearts of your hearers! May many of them experience the +Divine change of being made new creatures in Christ!</p> +<p>“Sir, be fervent in prayer with God for the conviction +and conversion of sinners. His power is great, and who can +withstand it? He has promised to answer the prayer of +faith, that is put up in his Son’s name: ‘Ask what ye +will, <!-- page 8--><a name="page8"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +8</span>it shall be granted you.’ How this should +strengthen our faith, when we are taught by the Word and the +Spirit how to pray! O that sweet inspiring hope! how it +lifts up the fainting spirits, when we look over the precious +promises of God! What a mercy if we know Christ, and the +power of his resurrection in our own hearts! Through faith +in Christ we rejoice in hope, and look in expectation of that +time drawing near, when all shall know and fear the Lord, and +when a nation shall be born in a day.</p> +<p>“What a happy time when Christ’s kingdom shall +come! then shall ‘his will be done in earth, as it is in +heaven.’ Men shall be daily fed with the manna of his +love, and delight themselves in the Lord all the day long. +Then, what a paradise below they will enjoy! How it +animates and enlivens my soul with vigour to pursue the ways of +God, that I may even now bear some humble part in giving glory to +God and the Lamb!</p> +<p>“Sir, I began to write this on Sunday, being detained +from attending on public worship. My dear and only sister, +living as a servant with Mrs ---, was so ill that I came here to +attend in her place and on her. But now she is no more.</p> +<p>“I was going to intreat you to write to her in answer to +this, she being convinced of the evil of her past life, and that +she had not walked in <!-- page 9--><a name="page9"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 9</span>the ways of God, nor sought to please +Him. But she earnestly desired to do so. This makes +me have a comfortable hope that she is gone to glory, and that +she is now joining in sweet concert with the angelic host in +heaven to sing the wonders of redeeming love. I hope I may +now write, ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the +Lord.’</p> +<p>“She expressed a desire to receive the Lord’s +Supper, and commemorate his precious death and sufferings. +I told her, as well as I was able, what it was to receive Christ +into her heart; but as her weakness of body increased, she did +not mention it again. She seemed quite resigned before she +died. I do hope she is gone from a world of death and sin, +to be with God for ever.</p> +<p>“Sir, I hope you will not be offended with me, a poor +ignorant person, to take such a liberty as to write to you. +But I trust, as you are called to instruct sinners in the ways of +God, you will bear with me, and be so kind to answer this wrote +letter, and give me some instructions. It is my +heart’s desire to have the mind that was in Christ, that +when I awake up in his likeness, then I may be satisfied.</p> +<p>“My sister expressed a wish that you might bury +her. The minister of our parish, whither <!-- page 10--><a +name="page10"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 10</span>she will be +carried, cannot come. She will lie at ---. She died +on Tuesday morning, and will be buried on Friday, or Saturday +(whichever is most convenient to you), at three o’clock in +the afternoon. Please to send an answer by the bearer, to +let me know whether you can comply with this request,</p> +<p>“From your unworthy servant,</p> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Elizabeth W---</span>.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>I was much struck with the simple and earnest strain of +devotion which this letter breathed. It was but +indifferently written and spelt; but this rather tended to endear +the hitherto unknown writer, as it seemed characteristic of the +union of humbleness of station with eminence of piety. I +felt quite thankful that I was favoured with a correspondent of +this description; the more so, as such characters were at this +time very rare in the neighbourhood. I have often wished +that epistolary intercourse of this kind was more encouraged and +practised among us. I have the greatest reason to speak +well of its effect, both on myself and others. +Communication by letter as well as by conversation with the pious +poor, has often been the instrument of animating and reviving my +own heart in the midst of duty, and of giving me the most +profitable information <!-- page 11--><a name="page11"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 11</span>for the general conduct of the +ministerial office.</p> +<p>As soon as the letter was read, I inquired who was the bearer +of it.</p> +<p>“He is waiting at the outside of the gate, sir,” +was the reply.</p> +<p>I went out to speak to him, and saw a venerable old man, whose +long hoary hair and deeply-wrinkled countenance commanded more +than common respect. He was resting his arm upon the gate, +and tears were streaming down his cheeks. On my approach he +made a low bow, and said:</p> +<p>“Sir, I have brought you a letter from my daughter; but +I fear you will think us very bold in asking you to take so much +trouble.”</p> +<p>“By no means,” I replied; “I shall be truly +glad to oblige you and any of your family in this matter, +provided it be quite agreeable to the minister of your +parish.”</p> +<p>“Sir, he told me yesterday that he should be very glad +if I could procure some gentleman to come and bury my poor child +for him, as he lives five miles off, and has particular business +on that day. So, when I told my daughter, she asked me to +come to you, sir, and bring that letter, which would explain the +matter.”</p> +<p>I desired him to come into the house, and then said:</p> +<p><!-- page 12--><a name="page12"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +12</span>“What is your occupation?”</p> +<p>“Sir, I have lived most of my days in a little cottage +at ---, six miles from here. I have rented a few acres of +ground, and kept some cows, which, in addition to my day-labour, +has been the means of supporting and bringing up my +family.”</p> +<p>“What family have you?”</p> +<p>“A wife, now getting very aged and helpless, two sons +and one daughter; for my other poor dear child is just departed +out of this wicked world.”</p> +<p>“I hope for a better.”</p> +<p>“I hope so, too, poor thing. She did not use to +take to such good ways as her sister; but I do believe that her +sister’s manner of talking with her before she died, was +the means of saving her soul. What a mercy it is to have +such a child as mine is! I never thought about my own soul +seriously till she, poor girl, begged and prayed me to flee from +the wrath to come.”</p> +<p>“How old are you?”</p> +<p>“Near seventy, and my wife is older; we are getting old, +and almost past our labour, but our daughter has left a good +place, where she lived in service, on purpose to come home and +take care of us and our little dairy. And a dear, dutiful, +affectionate girl she is.”</p> +<p><!-- page 13--><a name="page13"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +13</span>“Was she always so?”</p> +<p>“No, sir: when she was very young, she was all for the +world, and pleasure, and dress, and company. Indeed, we +were all very ignorant, and thought if we took care for this +life, and wronged nobody, we should be sure to go to heaven at +last. My daughters were both wilful, and, like ourselves, +strangers to the ways of God and the Word of his grace. But +the eldest of them went out to service, and some years ago she +heard a sermon at --- Church, by a gentleman that was going to +---, as chaplain to the colony; and from that time she seemed +quite another creature. She began to read the Bible, and +became sober and steady. The first time she returned home +afterwards to see us, she brought us a guinea which she had saved +from her wages, and said, as we were getting old, she was sure we +should want help; adding, that she did not wish to spend it in +fine clothes, as she used to do, only to feed pride and +vanity. She said she would rather show gratitude to her +dear father and mother, because Christ had shown such mercy to +her.</p> +<p>“We wondered to hear her talk, and took great delight in +her company; for her temper and behaviour were so humble and +kind, she seemed so desirous to do us good both in soul <!-- page +14--><a name="page14"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 14</span>and +body, and was so different from what we had ever seen before, +that, careless and ignorant as we had been, we began to think +there must be something real in religion, or it never could alter +a person so much in a little time.</p> +<p>“Her youngest sister, poor soul! used to laugh and +ridicule her at that time, and said her head was turned with her +new ways. ‘No, sister,’ she would say; +‘not my <i>head</i>, but I hope my <i>heart</i> is turned +from the love of sin to the love of God. I wish you may one +day see, as I do, the danger and vanity of your present +condition.’</p> +<p>“Her poor sister would reply, ‘I do not want to +hear any of your preaching; I am no worse than other people, and +that is enough for me.’</p> +<p>“‘Well, sister,’ Elizabeth would say, +‘if you will not hear me, you cannot hinder me from praying +for you, which I do with all my heart.’</p> +<p>“And now, sir, I believe those prayers are +answered. For when her sister was taken ill, Elizabeth went +to Mrs ---’s to wait in her place, and take care of +her. She said a great deal to her about her soul, and the +poor girl began to be so deeply affected, and sensible of her +past sin, and so thankful for her sister’s kind behaviour, +that it gave her great hopes indeed <!-- page 15--><a +name="page15"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 15</span>for her +sake. When my wife and I went to see her, as she lay sick, +she told us how grieved and ashamed she was of her past life, but +said she had a hope through grace that her sister’s Saviour +would be her Saviour too; for she saw her own sinfulness, felt +her own helplessness, and only wished to cast herself upon Christ +as her hope and salvation.</p> +<p>“And now, sir, she is gone; and I hope and think her +sister’s prayers for her conversion to God have been +answered. The Lord grant the same for her poor father and +mother’s sake likewise!”</p> +<p>This conversation was a very pleasing commentary upon the +letter which I had received, and made me anxious both to comply +with the request, and to become acquainted with the writer. +I promised the good Dairyman to attend on the Friday at the +appointed hour; and after some more conversation respecting his +own state of mind under the present trial, he went away.</p> +<p>He was a reverend old man; his furrowed cheeks, white locks, +weeping eyes, bent shoulders, and feeble gait, were +characteristic of the aged pilgrim. As he slowly walked +onwards, supported by a stick which seemed to have been the +companion of many a long year, a train of <!-- page 16--><a +name="page16"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 16</span>reflections +occurred, which I retrace with pleasure and emotion.</p> +<p>At the appointed hour I arrived at the church, and after a +little while was summoned to the churchyard gate to meet the +funeral procession. The aged parents, the elder brother, +and the sister, with other relatives, formed an affecting +group. I was struck with the humble, pious, and pleasing +countenance of the young woman from whom I had received the +letter. It bore the marks of great seriousness without +affectation, and of much serenity mingled with a glow of +devotion.</p> +<p>A circumstance occurred during the reading of the burial +service, which I think it right to mention, as one among many +testimonies of the solemn and impressive tendency of our truly +evangelical Liturgy.</p> +<p>A man of the village, who had hitherto been of a very careless +and even profligate character, went into the church through mere +curiosity, and with no better purpose than that of vacantly +gazing at the ceremony. He came likewise to the grave, and, +during the reading of those prayers which are appointed for that +part of the service, his mind received a deep, serious conviction +of his sin and spiritual danger. It was an impression that +never wore off, but gradually <!-- page 17--><a +name="page17"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 17</span>ripened into +the most satisfactory evidence of an entire change, of which I +had many and long-continued proofs. He always referred to +the burial service, and to some particular sentences of it, as +the clearly ascertained instrument of bringing him, through +grace, to the knowledge of the truth.</p> +<p>The day was therefore one to be remembered. Remembered +let it be by those who love to hear</p> +<blockquote><p>“The short and simple annals of the +poor.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>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 together? How much +do they lose who neglect to trace the leadings of God in +providence, as links in the chain of his eternal purpose of +redemption and grace!</p> +<blockquote><p>“While infidels may scoff, let us +adore.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>After the service was concluded, I had a short conversation +with the good old couple and their daughter. She had told +me that she intended to remain a week or two at the +gentleman’s house where her sister died, till another +servant should arrive and take her sister’s place.</p> +<p>“I shall be truly obliged,” said she, “by an +<!-- page 18--><a name="page18"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +18</span>opportunity of conversing with you, either there or at +my father’s, when I return home, which will be in the +course of a fortnight at the farthest. I shall be glad to +talk to you about my sister, whom you have just +buried.”</p> +<p>Her aspect and address were highly interesting. I +promised to see her very soon; and then returned home, quietly +reflecting on the circumstances of the funeral at which I had +been engaged. I blessed the God of the poor; and prayed +that the poor might become rich in faith, and the rich be made +poor in spirit.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<p>A sweet solemnity often possesses the mind, whilst retracing +past intercourse with departed friends. How much is this +increased, when they were such as lived and died in the +Lord! The remembrance of former scenes and conversations +with those who, we believe, are now enjoying the uninterrupted +happiness of a better world, fills the heart with pleasing +sadness, and animates the soul with the <!-- page 19--><a +name="page19"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 19</span>hopeful +anticipation of a day when the glory of the Lord shall be +revealed in the assembling of all his children together, never +more to be separated. Whether they were rich or poor while +on earth, is a matter of trifling consequence; the valuable part +of their character is, that they are kings and priests unto God, +and this is their true nobility. In the number of now +departed believers, with whom I once loved to converse on the +grace and glory of the kingdom of God, was the Dairyman’s +daughter.</p> +<p>About a week after the funeral I went to visit the family at +---, in whose service the youngest sister had lived and died, and +where Elizabeth was requested to remain for a short time in her +stead.</p> +<p>The house was a large and venerable mansion. It stood in +a beautiful valley at the foot of a high hill. It was +embowered in fine woods, which were interspersed in every +direction with rising, falling, and swelling grounds. The +manor-house had evidently descended through a long line of +ancestry, from a distant period of time. The Gothic +character of its original architecture was still preserved in the +latticed windows, adorned with carved divisions and pillars of +stone-work. Several pointed terminations also, in the +construction of the roof, according to the <!-- page 20--><a +name="page20"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 20</span>custom of our +forefathers, fully corresponded with the general features of the +building.</p> +<p>One end of the house was entirely clothed with the thick +foliage of an immense ivy, which climbed beyond customary limits, +and embraced a lofty chimney up to its very summit. Such a +tree seemed congenial to the walls that supported it, and +conspired with the antique fashion of the place to carry +imagination back to the days of our ancestors.</p> +<p>As I approached, I was led to reflect on the lapse of ages, +and the successive generations of men, each in their turn +occupying lands, houses, and domains; each in their turn also +disappearing, and leaving their inheritance to be enjoyed by +others. David once observed the same, and cried out, +“Behold, thou hast made my days as an hand-breadth, and +mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best +state is altogether vanity. Surely every man walketh in a +vain show; surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up +riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them” (Psal. +xxxix. 5, 6).</p> +<p>Happy would it be for the rich, if they more frequently +meditated on the uncertainty of all their possessions, and the +frail nature of every earthly tenure. “Their inward +thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their +<!-- page 21--><a name="page21"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +21</span>dwelling-places to all generations: they call their +lands after their own names. Nevertheless, man being in +honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This +their way is their folly; yet their posterity approve their +sayings. Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall +feed on them; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from +their dwelling” (Psal. xlix. 11-14).</p> +<p>As I advanced to the mansion, a pleasing kind of gloom +overspread the front: it was occasioned by the shade of trees, +and gave a characteristic effect to the ancient fabric. I +instantly recollected that death had very recently visited the +house, and that one of its present inhabitants was an +affectionate mourner for a departed sister.</p> +<p>There is a solemnity in the thought of a recent death which +will associate itself with the very walls, from whence we are +conscious that a soul has just taken its flight to eternity.</p> +<p>After passing some time in conversation with the superiors of +the family, 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 latter. I +received likewise other testimonies of the excellency of her +general character and conduct in <!-- page 22--><a +name="page22"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 22</span>the +house. I then took leave, requesting permission to see her, +agreeably to the promise I had made at the funeral, not many days +before.</p> +<p>I was shown into a parlour, where I found her alone. She +was in deep mourning. She had a calmness and serenity in +her countenance, which exceedingly struck me, and impressed some +idea of those attainments which a further acquaintance with her +afterwards so much increased.</p> +<p>She spoke of her sister. I had the satisfaction of +finding that she had given very hopeful proofs of a change of +heart before she died. The prayers and earnest exhortations +of Elizabeth had been blessed to a happy effect. She +described what had passed with such a mixture of sisterly +affection and pious dependence on the mercy of God to sinners, as +convinced me that her own heart was under the influence of +“pure and undefiled religion.”</p> +<p>She requested leave occasionally to correspond with me on +serious subjects, stating that she needed much instruction. +She hoped I would pardon the liberty which she had taken by +introducing herself to my notice. She expressed a trust +that the Lord would overrule both the death of her sister and the +personal acquaintance with me that resulted from it, to a present +<!-- page 23--><a name="page23"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +23</span>and future good, as it respected herself and also her +parents, with whom she statedly lived, and to whom she expected +to return in a few days.</p> +<p>Finding that she was wanted in some household duty, I did not +remain long with her, but left her with an assurance that I +proposed to visit her parents very shortly.</p> +<p>“Sir,” said she, “I take it very kind that +you have condescended to leave the company of the rich and +converse with the poor. I wish I could have said more to +you respecting my own state of mind. Perhaps I shall be +better able another time. When you next visit me, instead +of finding me in these noble walls, you will see me in a poor +cottage. But I am happiest when there. Once more, +sir, I thank you for your past kindness to me and mine, and may +God in many ways bless you for it.”</p> +<p>I quitted the house with no small degree of satisfaction, in +consequence of the new acquaintance which I had formed. I +discovered traces of a cultivated as well as a spiritual +mind. I felt that religious intercourse with those of low +estate may be rendered eminently useful to others, whose outward +station and advantages are far above their own.</p> +<p>How often does it appear that “God hath chosen the weak +things of the world to confound <!-- page 24--><a +name="page24"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 24</span>the things +which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which +are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to +bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in +his presence” (1 Cor. i. 27-29).</p> +<p>It was not unfrequently my custom, when my mind was filled +with any interesting subject for meditation, to seek some spot +where the beauties of natural prospect might help to form +pleasing and useful associations. I therefore ascended +gradually to the very summit of the hill adjoining the mansion +where my visit had just been made. Here was placed an +elevated sea mark: it was in the form of a triangular pyramid, +and built of stone. I sat down on the ground near it, and +looked at the surrounding prospect, which was distinguished for +beauty and magnificence. It was a lofty station, which +commanded a complete circle of interesting objects to engage the +spectator’s attention.</p> +<p>Southward the view was terminated by a long range of hills, at +about six miles distance. They met, to the westward, +another chain of hills, of which the one whereon I sat formed a +link; and the whole together nearly encompassed a rich and +fruitful valley, filled with cornfields and pastures. +Through this vale winded a small river for many miles: much +cattle were feeding <!-- page 25--><a name="page25"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 25</span>on its banks. Here and there +lesser eminences arose in the valley, some covered with wood, +others with corn or grass, and a few with heath or fern. +One of these little hills was distinguished by a parish church at +the top, presenting a striking feature in the landscape. +Another of these elevations, situated in the centre of the +valley, was adorned with a venerable holly tree, which had grown +there for ages. Its singular height and wide-spreading +dimensions not only render it an object of curiosity to the +traveller, but of daily usefulness to the pilot, as a mark +visible from the sea, whereby to direct his vessel safe into +harbour. Villages, churches, country-seats, farm-houses, +and cottages were scattered over every part of the southern +valley. In this direction, also, at the foot of the hill +where I was stationed, appeared the ancient mansion, which I had +just quitted, embellished with its woods, groves, and +gardens.</p> +<p>South-eastward, I saw the open ocean, bounded only by the +horizon. The sun shone, and gilded the waves with a +glittering light that sparkled in the most brilliant +manner. More to the east, in continuation of that line of +hills where I was placed, rose two downs, one beyond the other, +both covered with sheep, and the sea just visible over the +farthest of them, as a terminating boundary. <!-- page +26--><a name="page26"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 26</span>In +this point ships were seen, some sailing, others at anchor. +Here the little river, which watered the southern valley, +finished its course, and ran through meadows into the sea, in an +eastward direction.</p> +<p>On the north the sea appeared like a noble river, varying from +three to seven miles in breadth, between the banks of the +opposite coast and those of the island which I inhabited. +Immediately underneath me was a fine woody district of country, +diversified by many pleasing objects. Distant towns were +visible on the opposite shore. Numbers of ships occupied +the sheltered station which this northern channel afforded +them. The eye roamed with delight over an expanse of near +and remote beauties, which alternately caught the observation, +and which harmonised together, and produced a scene of peculiar +interest.</p> +<p>Westward, the hills followed each other, forming several +intermediate and partial valleys, in a kind of undulations, like +the waves of the sea, and, bending to the south, completed the +boundary of the larger valley before described, to the southward +of the hill on which I sat. In many instances the hills +were cultivated with corn to their very summits, and seemed to +defy the inclemency of weather, which, at these heights, <!-- +page 27--><a name="page27"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +27</span>usually renders the ground incapable of bringing forth +and ripening the crops of grain. One hill alone, the +highest in elevation, and about ten miles to the south-westward, +was enveloped in a cloud, which just permitted a dim and hazy +sight of a signal-post, a lighthouse, and an ancient chantry, +built on its summit.</p> +<p>Amidst these numerous specimens of delightful scenery I found +a mount for contemplation, and here I indulged it.</p> +<p>“How much of the natural beauties of Paradise still +remain in the world, although its spiritual character has been so +awfully defaced by sin! But when Divine grace renews the +heart of the fallen sinner, Paradise is regained, and much of its +beauty restored to the soul. As this prospect is compounded +of hill and dale, land and sea, woods and plains, all sweetly +blended together and relieving each other in the landscape; so do +the gracious dispositions wrought in the soul produce a beauty +and harmony of scene to which it was before a +stranger.”</p> +<p>I looked towards the village in the plain below, where the +Dairyman’s younger daughter was buried. I retraced +the simple solemnities of the funeral. I connected the +principles and conduct of her sister with the present probably +happy state of her soul in the world of spirits, and was <!-- +page 28--><a name="page28"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +28</span>greatly impressed with a sense of the importance of +family influence as a means of grace. “That young +woman,” I thought, “has been the conductor of not +only a sister, but, perhaps, a father and mother also, to the +true knowledge of God, and may, by Divine blessing, become so to +others. It is a glorious occupation to win souls to Christ, +and guide them out of Egyptian bondage through the wilderness +into the promised Canaan. Happy are the families who are +walking hand in hand together, as pilgrims, towards the heavenly +country. May the number of such be daily +increasing!”</p> +<p>Casting my eye over the numerous dwellings in the vales on the +right and left, I could not help thinking, “How many of +their inhabitants are ignorant of the ways of God, and strangers +to his grace! May this thought stimulate to activity and +diligence in the cause of immortal souls! They are precious +in God’s sight—they ought to be so in +ours.”</p> +<p>Some pointed and affecting observations to that effect +recurred to my mind, as having been made by the young person with +whom I had been just conversing. Her mind appeared to be +much impressed with the duty of speaking and acting for God +“while it is day,” conscious that “the night +cometh, when no man can work.”</p> +<p><!-- page 29--><a name="page29"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +29</span>Her laudable anxiety on this head was often testified to +me afterwards, both by letter and conversation. What she +felt herself, in respect to endeavours to do good, she happily +communicated to others with whom she corresponded or +conversed.</p> +<p>Time would not permit my continuing so long in the enjoyment +of these meditations, on this lovely mount of observation, as my +heart desired. On my return home I wrote a few lines to the +Dairyman’s daughter, chiefly dictated by the train of +thought which had occupied my mind while I sat on the hill.</p> +<p>On the next Sunday evening I received her reply, of which the +following is a transcript:—</p> +<blockquote><p style="text-align: right">“Sunday.</p> +<p>“Rev. Sir,</p> +<p>“I am this day deprived of an opportunity of attending +the house of God to worship Him. But, glory be to his name! +He is not confined to time nor place. I feel Him present +with me where I am, and his presence makes my paradise; for where +He is, is heaven. I pray God that a double portion of his +grace and Holy Spirit may rest upon you this day; that his +blessing may attend all your faithful labours; and that you may +find the truth of his Word, assuring <!-- page 30--><a +name="page30"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 30</span>us, that +wherever we assemble together in his name, there He is in the +midst to bless every waiting soul.</p> +<p>“How precious are all his promises! We ought never +to doubt the truth of his Word; for He will never deceive us if +we go on in faith, always expecting to receive what his goodness +waits to give. Dear sir, I have felt it very consoling to +read your kind letter to-day. I feel thankful to God for +ministers in our Church who love and fear his name; there it is +where the people in general look for salvation; and there may +they ever find it, for Jesus’ sake! May his Word, +spoken by you, his chosen vessel of grace, be made spirit and +life to their dead souls. May it come from you as an +instrument in the hands of God, as sharp arrows from a strong +archer, and strike a death-blow to all their sins. How I +long to see the arrows of conviction fasten on the minds of those +that are hearers of the word and not doers! O, sir! be +ambitious for the glory of God and the salvation of souls: it +will add to the lustre of your crown in glory, as well as to your +present joy and peace. We should be willing to spend and be +spent in his service, saying, ‘Lord, may thy will be done +by me on earth, even as it is by thy angels in +heaven.’ So you may expect to see his face with joy, +and <!-- page 31--><a name="page31"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +31</span>say, ‘Here am I, Lord, and all the souls thou hast +given me.’</p> +<p>“It seems wonderful that we should neglect any +opportunity of doing good, when there is, if it be done from love +to God and his creatures, a present reward of grace, in +reflecting that we are using the talents committed to our care, +according to the power and ability which we receive from +Him. God requires not what He has not promised to +give. But when we look back and reflect that there have +been opportunities in which we have neglected to take up our +cross, and speak and act for God, what a dejection of mind we +feel! We are then justly filled with shame. Conscious +of being ashamed of Christ, we cannot come with that holy +boldness to a throne of grace, nor feel that free access when we +make our supplications.</p> +<p>“We are commanded to provoke one another to love and +good works; and where two are agreed together in the things of +God, they may say:</p> +<p>“‘And if our fellowship below<br /> + In Jesus be so sweet,<br /> +What heights of rapture shall we know<br /> + When round the throne we meet!’</p> +<p>“Sir, I hope Mrs --- and you are both of one heart and +one mind. Then you will sweetly <!-- page 32--><a +name="page32"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 32</span>agree in all +things that make for your present and eternal happiness. +Christ sent his disciples out, not singly, but two and two, that +they might comfort and help each other in those ways and works +which their Lord commanded them to pursue.</p> +<p>“It has been my lot to have been alone the greatest part +of the time that I have known the ways of God. 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 God, and all his +gracious dealings. What a comfortable reflection, to think +of spending a whole eternity in that delightful +employment—to tell to listening angels his love, +‘immense, unsearchable!’</p> +<p>“Dear sir, I thank you for your kindness and +condescension in leaving those that are of high rank and birth in +the world, to converse with me who am but a servant here +below. But when I consider what a high calling, what honour +and dignity God has conferred upon me, to be called his child, to +be born of his Spirit, made an heir of glory, and joint heir with +Christ, how humble and circumspect should I be in all my ways, as +a dutiful and loving child to an affectionate and loving +Father! When I seriously consider these things, it fills me +with love and gratitude to God, and I do not wish for any higher +station, nor <!-- page 33--><a name="page33"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 33</span>envy the rich. I rather pity +them if they are not good as well as great. My blessed Lord +was pleased to appear in the form of a servant, and I long to be +like Him.</p> +<p>“I did not feel in so happy a frame for conversation +that day, nor yet that liberty to explain my thoughts, which I +sometimes do. The fault must have been all in myself; for +there was nothing in you but what seemed to evidence a Christian +spirit, temper, and disposition. I very much wished for an +opportunity to converse with you. I feel very thankful to +God that you do take up the cross, and despise the shame: if you +are found faithful, you will soon sit down with Him in glory.</p> +<p>“I have written to the Rev. Mr ---, to thank him for +permitting you to perform the burial service at ---, over my dear +departed sister, and to tell him of the kind way in which you +consented to do it. I should mention that your manner of +reading the service on that day had a considerable effect on the +hearers.</p> +<p>“Pray excuse all faults, and correct my errors. I +expect in a few days to return home to my parent’s +house. We shall rejoice to see you there.</p> +<p>“From your humble servant in Christ,</p> +<p>“E--- W---.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p><!-- page 34--><a name="page34"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +34</span>It was impossible to view such a correspondent with +indifference. I had just returned from a little cottage +assembly, where, on Sunday evenings, I sometimes went to instruct +a few poor families in one of the hamlets belonging to my +parish. I read the letter, and closed the day with +thanksgiving to God for thus enabling those who fear his name to +build up each other in faith and love.</p> +<p>Of old time, “they that feared the Lord spake often one +to another: and the Lord hearkened and heard it; and a book of +remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, +and that thought upon his name.”</p> +<p>That book of remembrance is not yet closed.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<p>The mind of man is like a moving picture, supplied with +objects not only from contemplation on things present, but from +the fruitful sources of recollection and anticipation.</p> +<p>Memory retraces past events, and restores an <!-- page 35--><a +name="page35"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 35</span>ideal reality +to scenes which are gone by for ever. They live again in +revived imagery, and we seem to hear and see with renewed +emotions what we heard and saw at a former period. +Successions of such recollected circumstances often form a series +of welcome memorials. In religious meditations the memory +becomes a sanctified instrument of spiritual improvement.</p> +<p>Another part of this animated picture is furnished by the +pencil of Hope. She draws encouraging prospects for the +soul, by connecting the past and present with the future. +Seeing the promises afar off, she is persuaded of their truth, +and embraces them as her own.</p> +<p>The Spirit of God gives a blessing to both these acts of the +mind, and employs them in the service of religion. Every +faculty of body and soul, when considered as a part of “the +purchased possession” of the Saviour, assumes a new +character. How powerfully does the apostle, on this ground, +urge a plea for holy activity and watchfulness! +“What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy +Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your +own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God +in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 +Cor. vi. 19, 20).</p> +<p>The Christian may derive much profit and <!-- page 36--><a +name="page36"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 36</span>enjoyment +from the use of the memory, as it concerns those transactions in +which he once bore a part. In his endeavours to recall past +conversations and intercourse with deceased friends in +particular, the powers of remembrance greatly improve by +exercise. One revived idea produces another, till the mind +is most agreeably and usefully occupied with lively and holy +imaginations.</p> +<blockquote><p>“Lull’d in the countless chambers of +the brain,<br /> +Our thoughts are linked by many a hidden chain;<br /> +Awake but one, and lo, what myriads rise!<br /> +Each stamps its image as the other flies;<br /> +Each, as the varied avenues of sense<br /> +Delight or sorrow to the soul dispense,<br /> +Brightens or fades: yet all with sacred art<br /> +Control the latent fibres of the heart.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>May it please God to bless, both to the reader and the writer, +this feeble attempt to recollect some of the communications I +once enjoyed in my visits to the Dairyman’s dwelling!</p> +<p>Very soon after the receipt of the last letter, I rode, for +the first time, to see the family at their own house. The +principal part of the road lay through retired, narrow lanes, +beautifully overarched with groves of nut and other trees, which +screened the traveller from the rays of the sun, and afforded +many interesting objects for admiration <!-- page 37--><a +name="page37"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 37</span>in the +flowers, shrubs, and young trees which grew upon the high banks +on each side of the road. Many grotesque rocks, with little +trickling streams of water occasionally breaking out of them, +varied the recluse scenery, and produced a romantic and pleasing +effect.</p> +<p>Here and there the most distant prospect beyond was observable +through gaps and hollow places on the road-side. Lofty +hills, with navy signal-posts, obelisks, and lighthouses on their +summits, appeared at these intervals; rich cornfields were also +visible through some of the open places; and now and then, when +the road ascended a hill, the sea, with ships at various +distances, was seen. But for the most part shady seclusion, +and objects of a more minute and confined nature, gave a +character to the journey and invited contemplation.</p> +<p>How much do they lose who are strangers to serious meditation +on the wonders and beauties of nature! How gloriously the +God of creation shines in his works! Not a tree, or leaf, +or flower, not a bird or insect, but it proclaims in glowing +language, “God made me.”</p> +<p>As I approached the village where the good old Dairyman dwelt, +I observed him in a little field, driving his cows before him +towards a yard and hovel which adjoined his cottage. I +advanced <!-- page 38--><a name="page38"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 38</span>very near him without his observing +me, for his sight was dim. On my calling out to him, he +started at the sound of my voice, but with much gladness of heart +welcomed me, saying, “Bless your heart, sir, I am very glad +you are come; we have looked for you every day this +week.”</p> +<p>The cottage-door opened, and the daughter came out, followed +by her aged and infirm mother. The sight of me naturally +brought to recollection the grave at which we had before +met. Tears of affection mingled with the smile of +satisfaction with which I was received by these worthy +cottagers. I dismounted, and was conducted through a neat +little garden, part of which was shaded by two large +overspreading elm trees, to the house. Decency and order +were manifest within and without. No excuse was made here, +on the score of poverty, for confusion and uncleanliness in the +disposal of their little household. Everything wore the +aspect of neatness and propriety. On each side of the +fire-place stood an old oaken chair, where the venerable parents +rested their weary limbs after the day’s labour was +over. On a shelf in one corner lay two Bibles, with a few +religious books and tracts. The little room had two +windows; a lovely prospect of hills, woods, and fields appeared +<!-- page 39--><a name="page39"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +39</span>through one; the other was more than half obscured by +the branches of a vine which was trained across it; between its +leaves the sun shone, and cast a cheerful light over the whole +place.</p> +<p>“This,” thought I, “is a fit residence for +piety, peace, and contentment. May I learn a fresh lesson +for advancement in each, through the blessing of God, on this +visit!”</p> +<p>“Sir,” said the daughter, “we are not worthy +that you should come under our roof. We take it very kind +that you should travel so far to see us.”</p> +<p>“My Master,” I replied, “came a great deal +farther to visit us poor sinners. He left the bosom of his +Father, laid aside his glory, and came down to this lower world +on a visit of mercy and love; and ought not we, if we profess to +follow Him, to bear each other’s infirmities, and go about +doing good as He did?”</p> +<p>The old man now entered, and joined his wife and daughter in +giving me a cordial welcome. Our conversation soon turned +to the loss they had so lately sustained. The pious and +sensible disposition of the daughter was peculiarly manifested, +as well in what she said to her parents as in what she more +immediately addressed to myself. I had now a further +opportunity of <!-- page 40--><a name="page40"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 40</span>remarking the good sense and +agreeable manner which accompanied her expressions of devotedness +to God and love to Christ, for the great mercies which He had +bestowed upon her. During her residence in different +gentlemen’s families where she had been in service, she had +acquired a superior behaviour and address; but sincere piety +rendered her very humble and unassuming in manner and +conversation. She seemed anxious to improve the opportunity +of my visit to the best purpose for her own and her +parents’ sake; yet there was nothing of unbecoming +forwardness, no self-sufficiency or conceitedness in her +conduct. She united the firmness and solicitude of the +Christian with the modesty of the female and the dutifulness of +the daughter. It was impossible to be in her company, and +not observe how truly her temper and conversation adorned the +principles which she professed.</p> +<p>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 truth. This is a lovely +feature in the character of a young Christian. If it have +pleased God, in the free dispensation of his mercy, to call the +child by his grace, while the parent remains still in ignorance +and sin, how <!-- page 41--><a name="page41"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 41</span>great is the duty incumbent on that +child to do what is possible to promote the conversion of those +to whom so much is owing. Happy is it when the ties of +grace sanctify those of nature.</p> +<p>The aged couple evidently regarded and spoke of this daughter +as their teacher and admonisher in Divine things, while at the +same time they received from her every token of filial submission +and obedience, testified by continual endeavours to serve and +assist them to the utmost of her power in the daily concerns of +the household.</p> +<p>The religion of this young woman was of a highly spiritual +character, and of no ordinary attainment. Her views of the +Divine plan of saving the sinner were clear and scriptural. +She spoke much of the joys and sorrows which, in the course of +her religious progress, she had experienced; 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 +another. She believed that the experimental acquaintance of +the heart with God principally consisted in so living upon Christ +by faith, as to aim at living like Him by love. She knew +that the love of God toward the sinner, and the path of duty +prescribed to the sinner, are both of an unchangeable +nature. In a believing <!-- page 42--><a +name="page42"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 42</span>dependence on +the one, and an affectionate walk in the other, she sought and +found “the peace of God which passeth all +understanding;” “for so He giveth his beloved +rest.”</p> +<p>She had read but few books besides her Bible; but these few +were excellent in their kind, and she spoke of their contents as +one who knew their value. In addition to a Bible and +Prayer-book, “Doddridge’s Rise and Progress,” +“Romaine’s Life, Walk, and Triumph of Faith,” +“Bunyan’s Pilgrim,” “Allein’s +Alarm,” “Baxter’s Saint’s Everlasting +Rest,” a hymn-book, and a few tracts, composed her +library.</p> +<p>I observed in her countenance a pale and delicate hue, which I +afterwards found to be a presage of consumption; and the idea +then occurred to me that she would not live very long.</p> +<p>Time passed on swiftly with this interesting family; and after +having partaken of some plain and wholesome refreshment, and +enjoyed a few hours’ conversation with them, I found it was +necessary for me to return homewards. The disposition and +character of the parties may be in some sort ascertained by the +expressions at parting.</p> +<p>“God send you safe home again,” said the aged +mother, “and bless the day that brought <!-- page 43--><a +name="page43"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 43</span>you to see +two poor old creatures, such as we are, in our trouble and +affliction. Come again, sir, come again when you can; and +though I am a poor ignorant soul, and not fit to talk to such a +gentleman as you, yet my dear child shall speak for me; she is +the greatest comfort I have left; and I hope the good Lord will +spare her to support my trembling limbs and feeble spirits, till +I lie down with my other dear departed kindred in the +grave.”</p> +<p>“Trust to the Lord,” I answered, “and +remember his gracious promise: ‘Even to your old age I am +He; and even to hoary hairs I will carry you.’”</p> +<p>“I thank you, sir,” said the daughter, “for +your Christian kindness to me and my friends. I believe the +blessing of the Lord has attended your visit, and I hope I have +experienced it to be so. My dear father and mother will, I +am sure, remember it; and I rejoice in the opportunity of seeing +so kind a friend under this roof. My Saviour has been +abundantly good to me in plucking me ‘as a brand from the +burning,’ and showing me the way of life and peace; and I +hope it is my heart’s desire to live to his glory. +But I long to see these dear friends enjoy the power and comfort +of religion likewise.”</p> +<p>“I think it evident,” I replied, “that the +<!-- page 44--><a name="page44"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +44</span>promise is fulfilled in their case: ‘It shall come +to pass, that at evening time it shall be +light.’”</p> +<p>“I believe it,” she said, “and praise God +for the blessed hope.”</p> +<p>“Thank Him too, that you have been the happy instrument +of bringing them to the light.”</p> +<p>“I do, sir; yet, when I think of my own unworthiness and +insufficiency, I rejoice with trembling.”</p> +<p>“Sir,” said the good old man, “I am sure the +Lord will reward you for this kindness. Pray for us, old as +we are, and sinners as we have been, that yet He would have mercy +upon us at the eleventh hour. Poor Betsy strives much for +our sakes, both in body and soul; she works hard all day to save +us trouble, and I fear has not strength to support all she does; +and then she talks to us, and reads to us, and prays for us, that +we may be saved from the wrath to come. Indeed, sir, she is +a rare child to us.”</p> +<p>“Peace be unto you and all that belong to +you!”</p> +<p>“Amen, and thank you, dear sir,” was echoed from +each tongue.</p> +<p>Thus we parted for that time. My returning meditations +were sweet, and, I hope, profitable.</p> +<p>Many other visits were afterwards made by me to this peaceful +cottage, and I always found <!-- page 45--><a +name="page45"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 45</span>increasing +reason to thank God for the intercourse I there enjoyed.</p> +<p>An interval of some length occurred once during that year, in +which I had not seen the Dairyman’s family. I was +reminded of the circumstance by the receipt of the following +letter:</p> +<blockquote><p>“Rev. Sir,</p> +<p>“I have been expecting to see or hear from you for a +considerable time. Excuse the liberty I take in sending you +another letter. I have been confined to the house the +greater part of the time since I left ---. I took cold that +day, and have been worse ever since. I walk out a little on +these fine days, but seem to myself to walk very near on the +borders of eternity. Glory be to God, it is a very pleasing +prospect before me. Though I feel the workings of sin, and +am abased, yet Jesus shows his mercy to be mine, and I trust that +I am his. At such times</p> +<p>“My soul would leave this heavy clay<br /> + At his transporting word,<br /> +Run up with joy the shining way<br /> + To meet and prove the Lord.</p> +<p>“Fearless of hell and ghastly death,<br /> + I’d break through every foe;<br /> +The wings of love and arms of faith<br /> + Would bear me conqueror through.”</p> +<p><!-- page 46--><a name="page46"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +46</span>My desire is to live every moment to God, that I may +through his grace be kept in that heavenly, happy frame of mind +that I shall wish for at the hour of death. We cannot live +nor die happy without this, and to keep it we must be continually +watching and praying: for we have many enemies to disturb our +peace. I am so very weak, that now I can go nowhere to any +outward means for that help which is so refreshing to my +spirit.</p> +<p>“I should have been very happy to have heard you last +Sunday, when you preached at ---: I could not walk so far. +I hope the Word spoken by you was made a blessing to many that +heard it. It was my earnest prayer to God that it might be +so. But, alas! once calling does not awaken many that are +in a sound sleep. Yet the voice of God is sometimes very +powerful when his ministers speak, when they are influenced by +his Holy Spirit, and are simple and sincere in holding forth the +Word of Life. Then it will teach us all things, and +enlighten our mind, and reveal unto us the hidden things of +darkness, and give us out of that Divine treasure ‘things +new and old.’ Resting on God to work in us both to +will and to do of his good pleasure, we ought always to work as +diligent servants, that know they have a good <!-- page 47--><a +name="page47"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 47</span>Master, that +will surely not forget their labour of love.</p> +<p>“If we could but fix our eyes always on that crown of +glory that awaits us in the skies, we should never grow weary in +well-doing, but should run with patience, and delight in the work +and ways of God, where He appoints us. We should not then, +as we too frequently do, suffer these trifling objects here on +earth to draw our minds from God, to rob Him of his glory, and +our souls of that happiness and comfort which the believer may +enjoy amidst outward afflictions. If we thus lived more by +faith on the Son of God, we should endeavour to stir up all whom +we could to seek after God. We should tell them what He has +done for us, and what He would do for them if they truly sought +Him. We should show them what a glorious expectation there +is for all true believers and sincere seekers.</p> +<p>“When our minds are so fixed on God, we are more +desirous of glorifying Him, in making known his goodness to us, +than the proud rich man is of getting honour to himself. I +mourn over my own backwardness to this exercise of duty when I +think of God’s willingness to save the vilest of the vile, +according to the dispensations of his eternal grace and +mercy. Oh, how <!-- page 48--><a name="page48"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 48</span>amiable, how lovely does this make +that God of love appear to poor sinners, that can view Him as +such! How is the soul delighted with such a +contemplation! They that have much forgiven, how much they +love!</p> +<p>“These thoughts have been much on my mind since the +death of ---. I trust the Lord will pardon me for +neglect. I thought it was my duty to speak or write to him; +you remember what I said to you respecting it. But I still +delayed till a more convenient season. Oh, how I was struck +when I heard the Lord had taken him so suddenly! I was +filled with sorrow and shame for having neglected what I had so +often resolved to do. But now the time of speaking for God +to him was over. Hence we see that the Lord’s time is +the best time. Now the night of death was come upon him; no +more work was to be done. If I had done all that lay in my +power to proclaim reconciliation by Christ to his soul, whether +he had heard or no, I should have been more clear of his +blood. But I cannot recall the time that is past, nor him +from the grave. Had I known the Lord would have called him +so suddenly, how diligent I should have been to warn him of his +danger. But it is enough that God shows us what <i>we</i> +are to do, and not what <i>He</i> is about to do with us or any +<!-- page 49--><a name="page49"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +49</span>of his creatures. Pray, sir, do all you can for +the glory of God. The time will soon pass by, and then we +shall enter that glorious rest that He hath prepared for them +that love Him. I pray God to fill you with that zeal and +love which He only can inspire, that you may daily win souls to +Christ. May He deliver you from all slavish fear of man, +and give you boldness, as He did of old those that were filled +with the Holy Ghost and with power!</p> +<p>“Remember, Christ hath promised to be with all his +faithful ministers to the end of time. The greater dangers +and difficulties they are exposed to, the more powerful his +assistance. Then, sir, let us fear none but Him. I +hope you will pray much for me a poor sinner, that God will +perfect his strength in my weakness of body and mind; for without +Him I can do nothing. But when I can experience the +teaching of that Holy One, I need no other teacher. May the +Lord anoint you with the same, and give you every grace of his +Holy Spirit, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God; +that you may know what is the height and depth, the length and +breadth of the love of God in Christ Jesus; that you may be in +the hand of the Lord, as a keen archer to draw the bow, while the +Lord directs <!-- page 50--><a name="page50"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 50</span>and fastens the arrows of conviction +in the hearts of such as are under your ministry!</p> +<p>“I sincerely pray that you may be made a blessing to him +that has taken the place of the deceased. I have heard that +you are fellow-countrymen. I hope you are, however, both as +strangers in this world, that have no abiding place, but seek a +country out of sight. Pray excuse all faults,</p> +<p>“From your humble servant in the bonds of the Gospel of +Christ,</p> +<p>“E--- W---.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>When I perused this and other letters, which were at different +times written to me by the Dairyman’s daughter, I felt that +in the person of this interesting correspondent were singularly +united the characters of an humble disciple and a faithful +monitor. I wished to acknowledge the goodness of God in +each of these her capacities.</p> +<p>I sometimes entertain a hope that the last day will unfold the +value of these epistolary communications, beyond even any present +estimate of their spiritual importance.</p> +<h2><!-- page 51--><a name="page51"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +51</span>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<p>The translation of sinners “from the power of darkness +into the kingdom of God’s dear Son,” is the joy of +Christians and the admiration of angels. Every penitent and +pardoned soul is a new witness to the triumphs of the Redeemer +over sin, death, and the grave. How great the change that +is wrought! The child of wrath becomes a monument of +grace—a brand plucked from the burning! “If any +man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed +away; behold, all things are become new.” How +marvellous, how interesting is the spiritual history of each +individual believer! He is, like David, “a wonder +unto many;” but the greatest wonder of all to +himself. Others may doubt whether it be so or not; but to +him it is unequivocally proved, that, from first to last, grace +alone reigns in the work of his salvation.</p> +<p>The character and privileges of real Christians are +beautifully described in the language of our Church, which, when +speaking of the objects of Divine favour and compassion, says: +“They that be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be +called according to God’s purpose in due season; they +through grace obey the calling: <!-- page 52--><a +name="page52"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 52</span>they be +justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they be +made like the image of his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ: they +walk religiously in good works; and at length, by God’s +mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity.”</p> +<p>Such a conception and display of the Almighty wisdom, power, +and love, is indeed “full of sweet, pleasant, and +unspeakable comfort to godly persons, and such as feel in +themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ mortifying the +works of the flesh, and their earthly members; and drawing up +their minds to high and heavenly things: it doth greatly +establish and confirm their faith of eternal salvation, to be +enjoyed through Christ, and doth fervently kindle their love +towards God.”</p> +<p>Nearly allied to the consolation of a good hope through grace, +as it respects our own personal state before God, is that of +seeing its evidences shed lustre over the disposition and conduct +of others. Bright was the exhibition of the union between +true Christian enjoyment and Christian exertion, in the character +whose moral and spiritual features I am attempting to +delineate.</p> +<p>It seemed to be the first wish of her heart to prove to +others, what God had already proved <!-- page 53--><a +name="page53"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 53</span>to her, that +Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” +She desired to evince the reality of her calling, justification, +and adoption into the family of God, by showing a conformity to +the image of Christ, and by walking “religiously in good +works;” she trusted that, in this path of faith and +obedience, she should “at length, by God’s mercy, +attain to everlasting felicity.”</p> +<p>I had the spiritual charge of another parish, adjoining to +that in which I resided. It was a small district, and had +but few inhabitants. The church was pleasantly situated on +a rising bank, at the foot of a considerable hill. It was +surrounded by trees, and had a rural, retired appearance. +Close to the churchyard stood a large old mansion, which had +formerly been the residence of an opulent and titled family; but +it had long since been appropriated to the use of the estate as a +farm-house. Its outward aspect bore considerable remains of +ancient grandeur, and gave a pleasing character to the spot of +ground on which the church stood.</p> +<p>In every direction the roads that led to this house of God +possessed distinct but interesting features. One of them +ascended between several rural cottages, from the sea-shore, +which adjoined the lower part of the village street. +Another winded round the curved sides of the adjacent <!-- page +54--><a name="page54"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 54</span>hill, +and was adorned both above and below with numerous sheep, feeding +on the herbage on the down. A third road led to the church +by a gently rising approach, between high banks, covered with +young trees, bushes, ivy, hedge-plants, and wild flowers.</p> +<p>From a point of land which commanded a view of all these +several avenues, I used sometimes for a while to watch my +congregation gradually assembling together at the hour of Sabbath +worship. They were in some directions visible for a +considerable distance. Gratifying associations of thought +would form in my mind, as I contemplated their approach, and +successive arrival within the precincts of the house of +prayer.</p> +<p>One day, as I was thus occupied, during a short interval +previous to the hour of Divine service, I reflected on the joy +which David experienced, at the time he exclaimed: “I was +glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the +Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O +Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact +together: whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto +the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the Lord” +(Psa. cxxii. 1-4).</p> +<p>I was led to reflect upon the various blessings <!-- page +55--><a name="page55"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +55</span>connected with the establishment of public +worship. “How many immortal souls are now gathering +together, to perform the all-important work of prayer and +praise—to hear the Word of God—to feed upon the Bread +of Life! They are leaving their respective dwellings, and +will soon be united together in the house of prayer. How +beautifully does this represent the effect produced by the voice +of ‘the Good Shepherd,’ calling his sheep from every +part of the wilderness into his fold! As these fields, +hills, and lanes are now covered with men, women, and children, +in various directions, drawing near to each other, and to the +object of their journey’s end: even so, many ‘shall +come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and +from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of +God’” (Luke xiii. 29).</p> +<p>Who can rightly appreciate the value of such hours as +these?—hours spent in learning the ways of holy +pleasantness and the paths of heavenly peace—hours devoted +to the service of God and of souls; in warning the sinner to flee +from the wrath to come; in teaching the ignorant how to live and +die; in preaching the Gospel to the poor; in healing the +broken-hearted; in declaring “deliverance to the captives, +and recovering of sight to the blind.” “Blessed +is <!-- page 56--><a name="page56"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +56</span>the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, +O Lord, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall +they rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness shall they be +exalted.”</p> +<p>My thoughts then pursued a train of reflection on the +importance of the ministerial office, as connected in the +purposes of God with the salvation of sinners. I inwardly +prayed that those many individuals whom He had given me to +instruct, might not, through my neglect or error, be as sheep +having no shepherd, nor as the blind led by the blind; but rather +that I might, in season and out of season, faithfully proclaim +the simple and undisguised truths of the Gospel, to the glory of +God and the prosperity of his Church.</p> +<p>At that instant, near the bottom of the inclosed lane which +led to the churchyard, I observed a friend, whom, at such a +distance from his own home, I little expected to meet. It +was the venerable Dairyman. He came up the ascent, leaning +with one hand on his trusty staff, and with the other on the arm +of a younger man, well known to me, who appeared to be much +gratified in meeting with such a companion by the way.</p> +<p>My station was on the top of one of the banks <!-- page +57--><a name="page57"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 57</span>which +formed the hollow road beneath. They passed a few yards +below me. I was concealed from their sight by a projecting +tree. They were talking of the mercies of God, and the +unsearchable riches of his grace. The Dairyman was telling +his companion what a blessing the Lord had given him in his +daughter. His countenance brightened as he named her, and +called her his precious Betsy.</p> +<p>I met them at a stile not many yards beyond, and accompanied +them to the church, which was hard by.</p> +<p>“Sir,” said the old man, “I have brought a +letter from my daughter: I hope I am in time for Divine +service. Seven miles is now become a long walk for me: I +grow old and weak. I am very glad to see you, +sir.”</p> +<p>“How is your daughter?”</p> +<p>“Very poorly, indeed, sir: very poorly. The +doctors say it is a decline. I sometimes hope she will get +the better of it; but then again I have many fears. You +know, sir, that I have cause to love and prize her. Oh, it +would be such a trial; but the Lord knows what is best. +Excuse my weakness, sir.”</p> +<p>He put a letter into my hand, the perusal of which I reserved +till afterwards, as the time was nigh for going into church.</p> +<p><!-- page 58--><a name="page58"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +58</span>The presence of this aged pilgrim, the peculiar +reverence and affection with which he joined in the different +parts of the service, excited many gratifying thoughts in my +mind; such as rather furthered than interrupted devotion.</p> +<p>The train of reflection in which I had engaged, when I first +discovered him on the road, at intervals recurred powerfully to +my feelings, as I viewed that very congregation assembled +together in the house of God, whose steps, in their approach +towards it, I had watched with prayerful emotions.</p> +<p>“Here the rich and poor meet together in mutual +acknowledgment, that the Lord is the Maker of them all; that all +are alike dependent creatures, looking up to one common Father to +supply their wants both temporal and spiritual.</p> +<p>“Again, likewise, will they meet together in the grave, +that undistinguished receptacle of the opulent and the needy.</p> +<p>“And once more, at the judgment-seat of Christ, shall +the rich and the poor meet together, ‘that every one may +receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath +done, whether it be good or bad’” (2 Cor. v. 10).</p> +<p>“How closely connected in the history of man are these +three periods of a general meeting together!</p> +<p><!-- page 59--><a name="page59"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +59</span>“The house of prayer—the house appointed for +all living—and the house not made with hands eternal in the +heavens. May we never separate these ideas from each other, +but retain them in a sacred and profitable union! So shall +our worshipping assemblies on earth be representatives of the +general assembly and Church of the firstborn which are written in +heaven.”</p> +<p>When the congregation dispersed, I entered into discourse with +the Dairyman and a few of the poor of my flock, whose minds were +of like disposition to his own. He seldom could speak long +together without some reference to his dear child. He loved +to tell how merciful his God had been to him, in the dutiful and +affectionate attentions of his daughter. 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 salvation: but when that instrument is +one so nearly allied, how dear does the relationship become!</p> +<p>If my friend the Dairyman was in any danger of falling into +idolatry, his child would have been the idol of his +affections. She was the prop and stay of her parents’ +declining years, and they scarcely knew how sufficiently to +testify the gratitude of their hearts, for the comfort and <!-- +page 60--><a name="page60"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +60</span>blessing which she was the means of affording them.</p> +<p>While he was relating several particulars of his family +history to the others, I opened and read the following +letter:—</p> +<blockquote><p>“<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,—Once +more I take the liberty to trouble you with a few lines. I +received your letter with great pleasure, and thank you for +it. I am now so weak, that I am unable to walk to any +public place of Divine worship: a privilege which has heretofore +always so much strengthened and refreshed me. I used to go +in anxious expectation to meet my God, and hold sweet communion +with Him, and I was seldom disappointed. In the means of +grace, all the channels of Divine mercy are open to every heart +that is lifted up to receive out of that Divine fulness grace for +grace. These are the times of refreshing from the presence +of the Lord. How have I rejoiced to hear a faithful and +lively messenger, just come, as it were, from communion with God +at the throne of grace, with his heart warmed and filled with +Divine love, to speak to fallen sinners! Such an one has +seemed to me as if his face shone as that of Moses did with the +glory of God, when he came down from the mount, where he had been +within the veil. <!-- page 61--><a name="page61"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 61</span>May you, sir, imitate him, as he did +Christ, that all may see and know that the Lord dwelleth with +you, and that you dwell in Him through the unity of the blessed +Spirit. I trust you are no stranger to his Divine teaching, +aid, and assistance, in all you set your hand to do for the glory +of God.</p> +<p>“I hope, sir, the sincerity of my wishes for your +spiritual welfare will plead an excuse for the freedom of my +address to you. I pray the Giver of every perfect gift, +that you may experience the mighty workings of his gracious +Spirit in your heart and your ministry, and rest your all on the +justifying and purifying blood of an expiring Redeemer. +Then will you triumph in his strength, and be enabled to say with +the poet:</p> +<p>‘Shall I through fear of feeble men,<br /> +The Spirit’s course strive to restrain?<br /> +Or, undismay’d in deed and word,<br /> +Be a true witness for my Lord?</p> +<p>‘Awed by a mortal’s frown, shall I<br /> +Conceal the word of God most high!<br /> +How then before Thee shall I dare<br /> +To stand? or, how thine anger bear?</p> +<p>‘Shall I, to soothe the unholy throng,<br /> +Soften thy truths and smooth my tongue,<br /> +To gain earth’s gilded toys, or flee<br /> +The cross endur’d, my God, by Thee!</p> +<p><!-- page 62--><a name="page62"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +62</span>‘What then is he whose scorn I dread,<br /> +Whose wrath or hate makes me afraid?<br /> +A man! an heir of death! a slave<br /> +To sin! a bubble on the wave!</p> +<p>‘Yea, let men rage, since Thou wilt spread<br /> +Thy shadowing wings around my head:<br /> +Since in all pain, thy tender love<br /> +Will still my sure refreshment prove.</p> +<p>‘Still shall the love of Christ constrain<br /> +To seek the wand’ring souls of men;<br /> +With cries, entreaties, tears to save,<br /> +And snatch them from the yawning grave.</p> +<p>‘For this, let men revile my name,<br /> +No cross I shun, I fear no shame:<br /> +All hail reproach, and welcome pain,<br /> +Only thy terrors, Lord, restrain!’</p> +<p>“I trust, sir, that you see what a glorious high calling +yours is, and that you are one of those who walk humbly with God, +that you may be taught of Him in all things. Persons in +your place are messengers of the Most High God. Is it too +much to say, they should live like the angels in all holiness, +and be filled with love and zeal for men’s souls? +They are ambassadors in Christ’s stead to persuade sinners +to be reconciled to God. So that your calling is above that +of angels: for they are <i>afterward</i> to minister to the heirs +of salvation; but the sinner must be <!-- page 63--><a +name="page63"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 63</span><i>first</i> +reconciled to God. And you are called on from day to day to +intercede with man as his friend, that you may win souls to +Christ. Christ is ascended up on high, to intercede with +his Father for guilty sinners, and to plead for them the merits +of his death. So that Christ and his faithful ministers, +through the operation of the blessed Spirit, are co-workers +together. Yet without Him we can do nothing: our strength +is his strength, and his is all the glory from first to last.</p> +<p>“It is my heart’s prayer and desire, sir, that you +may, by a living faith, cleave close to that blessed exalted Lamb +of God, who died to redeem us from sin—that you may have a +sweet communion with Father, Son, and Spirit—that you may +sink deep in love and rise high in the life of God. Thus +will you have such discoveries of the beauties of Christ and his +eternal glory, as will fill your heart with true delight.</p> +<p>“If I am not deceived, I wish myself to enjoy his +gracious favour, more than all the treasures which earth can +afford. I would, in comparison, look upon them with holy +disdain, and as not worth an anxious thought, that they may not +have power on my heart, to draw or attract it from God, who is +worthy of my highest esteem, and of all my affections. It +should be our <!-- page 64--><a name="page64"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 64</span>endeavour to set Him always before +us, that in all things we may act as in his immediate presence; +that we may be filled with that holy fear, so that we may not +dare wilfully to sin against Him. We should earnestly +entreat the Lord to mortify the power and working of sin and +unbelief within, by making Christ appear more and more precious +in our eyes, and more dear to our hearts.</p> +<p>“It fills my heart with thankful recollections, while I +attempt in this weak manner to speak of God’s love to +man. When I reflect on my past sins and his past mercies, I +am assured, that if I had all the gifts of wise men and angels, I +could never sufficiently describe my own inward sense of his +undeserved love towards me. We can better enjoy these +glorious apprehensions in our hearts, than explain them to +others. But oh how unworthy of them all are we? +Consciousness of my own corruptions keeps me often low; yet faith +and desire will easily mount on high, beseeching God that He +would, according to the apostle’s prayer, fill me with all +his communicable fulness, in the gifts and graces of his Spirit; +that I may walk well-pleasing before Him, in all holy +conversation, perfecting holiness in his fear.</p> +<p>“If I err in boldness, sir, pray pardon me; <!-- page +65--><a name="page65"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 65</span>and +in your next letter confirm my hope, that you will be my +counsellor and guide.</p> +<p>“I can only recompense your kindness to me by my +prayers, that your own intercourse with God may be abundantly +blessed to you and yours. I consider the Saviour saying to +you, as He did to Peter, ‘Lovest them me?’ And +may your heartfelt experience be compelled to reply, ‘Thou +knowest all things, and thou knowest that I love thee +supremely.’ May He have evident marks of it in all +your outward actions of love and humanity, in feeding his flock, +and in the inward fervour and affection of all your consecrated +powers; that you may be zealously engaged in pulling down the +strongholds of sin and Satan, and building up his Church, sowing +the seeds of righteousness, and praying God to give the increase; +that you may not labour for Him in vain, but may see the trees +bud and blossom, and bring forth fruit abundantly, to the praise +and glory of your heavenly Master. In order to give you +encouragement, He says, ‘Whosoever converteth a sinner from +the error of his way, shall save a soul from death;’ and +that will increase the brightness of your crown in glory. +This hath Christ merited for his faithful ministers.</p> +<p>“I hope, sir, you will receive grace to be <!-- page +66--><a name="page66"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +66</span>sincere in reproving sin, wherever you see it. You +will find Divine assistance, and all fear and shame will be taken +from you. Great peace will be given to you, and wisdom, +strength, and courage, according to your work. You will be +as Paul: having much learning, you can speak to men in all +stations of life, by God’s assistance. The fear of +offending them will never prevent you, when you consider the +glory of God; and man’s immortal soul is of more value than +his present favour and esteem. In particular, you are in an +office wherein you can visit <i>all</i> the sick. +Man’s extremity is often God’s opportunity. In +this way you may prove an instrument in his hand to do his +work. Although He <i>can</i> work without means, yet his +usual way is by means; and I trust you are a chosen vessel unto +Him, to prove his name and declare his truth to all men.</p> +<p>“Visiting the sick is a strict command, and a duty for +every Christian. None can tell what good may be done. +I wish it was never neglected, as it too often is. Many +think that, if they attend the Church—the minister to +preach and the people to hear—their duty is done. But +more is required than this. May the Lord stir up the gift +that is in his people and ministers, that they may have +compassion on their fellow-sinners, <!-- page 67--><a +name="page67"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 67</span>that they may +never think it too late, but remember that while there is life +there is hope.</p> +<p>“Once more, I pray, sir, pardon and excuse all my errors +in judgment, and the ignorance that this is penned in; and may +God bless you in all things, and particularly your friendship to +me and my parents. What a comfort is family religion. +I do not doubt but this is your desire, as it is mine, to +say:</p> +<p>‘I and my house will serve the Lord,<br /> +But first obedient to his word<br /> + I must myself appear:<br /> +By actions, words, and temper show<br /> +That I my heavenly Master know,<br /> + And serve with heart sincere.</p> +<p>‘I must the fair example set;<br /> +From those that on my pleasure wait<br /> + The stumbling-block remove;<br /> +Their duty by my life explain,<br /> +And still in all my works maintain<br /> + The dignity of love.</p> +<p>‘Easy to be entreated, mild,<br /> +Quickly appeas’d and reconciled,<br /> + A follower of my God:<br /> +A saint indeed I long to be,<br /> +And lead my faithful family<br /> + In the celestial road.</p> +<p><!-- page 68--><a name="page68"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +68</span>‘Lord, if thou dost the wish infuse,<br /> +A vessel fitted for thy use<br /> + Into thy hands receive:<br /> +Work in me both to will and do,<br /> +And show them how believers true<br /> + And real Christians live.</p> +<p>‘With all-sufficient grace supply,<br /> +And then I’ll come to testify<br /> + The wonders of thy name,<br /> +Which saves from sin, the world, and hell,<br /> +Its power may every sinner feel,<br /> + And every tongue proclaim!</p> +<p>‘Cleans’d by the blood of Christ from sin,<br /> +I seek my relatives to win,<br /> + And preach their sins forgiven;<br /> +Children, and wife, and servants seize,<br /> +And through the paths of pleasantness<br /> + Conduct them all to heaven.’</p> +<p>“Living so much in a solitary way, books are my +companions; and poetry, which speaks of the love of God and the +mercies of Christ, is very sweet to my mind. This must be +my excuse for troubling you to read verses which others have +written. I have intended, if my declining state of health +permit, to go to --- for a few days. I say this, lest you +should call in expectation of seeing me, during any part of next +week. But my dear father and mother, for <!-- page 69--><a +name="page69"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 69</span>whose +precious souls I am very anxious, will reap the benefit of your +visit at all events.</p> +<p>“From your humble and unworthy servant,</p> +<p>“E--- W---.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Having read it, I said to the father of my highly valued +correspondent:</p> +<p>“I thank you for being the bearer of this letter; your +daughter is a kind friend and faithful counsellor to me, as well +as to you. Tell her how highly I esteem her friendship, and +that I feel truly obliged for the many excellent sentiments which +she has here expressed. Give her my blessing, and assure +her that the oftener she writes, the more thankful I shall +be.”</p> +<p>The Dairyman’s enlivened eye gleamed with pleasure as I +spoke. The praise of his Elizabeth was a string which could +not be touched without causing every nerve of his whole frame to +vibrate.</p> +<p>His voice half faltered as he spoke in reply; the tear stood +in his eyes; his hand trembled as I pressed it; his heart was +full; he could only say, “Sir, a poor old man thanks you +for your kindness to him and his family. God bless you, +sir; I hope we shall soon see you again.”</p> +<p>Thus we parted for that day.</p> +<h2><!-- page 70--><a name="page70"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +70</span>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<p>It has not unfrequently been observed, 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 course, they make rapid +progress in the experience of Divine truth. The fruits of +the Spirit ripen fast, as they advance to the close of mortal +existence. In particular, they grow in humility, through a +deeper sense of inward corruption, and a clearer view of the +perfect character of the Saviour. Disease and bodily +weakness make the thoughts of eternity recur with frequency and +power. The great question of their own personal salvation, +the quality of their faith, the sincerity of their love, and the +purity of their hope, are in continual exercise.</p> +<p>Unseen realities, at such a time, occupy a larger portion of +thought than before. The state of existence beyond the +grave, the invisible world, the unaltered character of the dead, +the future judgment, the total separation from everything +earthly, the dissolution of body and spirit, and their reunion at +the solemn hour of resurrection—these are subjects for +their meditation, which call for serious earnestness of +soul. Whatever <!-- page 71--><a name="page71"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 71</span>consolations from the Spirit of God +they may have enjoyed heretofore, they become now doubly anxious +to examine and prove themselves, “whether they be indeed in +the faith.” In doing this, they sometimes pass +through hidden conflicts of a dark and distressing nature; from +which, however, they come forth, like gold tried in the +furnace. Awhile they may sow in tears, but soon they reap +in joy.</p> +<p>Their religious feelings have then, perhaps, less of ecstasy, +but more of serenity.</p> +<p>As the ears of corn ripen for the harvest, they bow their +heads nearer to the ground. So it is with believers; they +then see more than ever of their own imperfection, and often +express their sense of it in strong language; yet they repose +with a growing confidence on the love of God through Christ +Jesus. The nearer they advance to their eternal rest, the +more humble they become, but not the less useful in their +sphere. They feel anxiously desirous of improving every +talent they possess to the glory of God, knowing that the time is +short.</p> +<p>I thought I observed the truth of these remarks fulfilled in +the progressive state of mind of the Dairyman’s +daughter.</p> +<p>Declining health seemed to indicate the will of God concerning +her. But her character, conduct, <!-- page 72--><a +name="page72"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 72</span>and +experience of the Divine favour increased in brightness as the +setting sun of her mortal life approached its horizon. The +last letter which, with the exception of a very short note, I +ever received from her, I shall now transcribe. It appeared +to me to bear the marks of a still deeper acquaintance with the +workings of her own heart, and a more entire reliance upon the +free mercy of God.</p> +<p>The original, while I copy it, strongly revives the image of +the deceased, and the many profitable conversations which I once +enjoyed in her company and that of her parents. It again +endears to me the recollections of cottage piety; and helps me to +anticipate the joys of that day when the spirits of the glorified +saints shall be reunited to their bodies, and be for ever with +the Lord.</p> +<p>The writer of this and the preceding letters herself little +imagined, when they were penned, that they would ever be +submitted to the public eye. That they now are so, results +from a conviction that the friends of the pious poor will +estimate them according to their value, and a hope that it may +please God to honour these memorials of the dead, to the +effectual edification of the living.</p> +<blockquote><p><!-- page 73--><a name="page73"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 73</span>“Rev. Sir,</p> +<p>“In consequence of your kind permission, I take the +liberty to trouble you with another of my ill-written letters; +and I trust you have too much of your blessed Maker’s +lowly, meek, and humble mind to be offended with a poor, simple, +ignorant creature, whose intentions are pure and sincere in +writing. My desire is that I, a weak vessel of his grace, +may glorify his name for his goodness towards me. May the +Lord direct me by his counsel and wisdom! May He overshadow +me with his presence, that I may sit beneath the banner of his +love, and find the consolations of his blessed Spirit sweet and +refreshing to my soul!</p> +<p>“When I feel that I am nothing, and God is all in all, +then I can willingly fly to Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me; +Lord, teach me; be unto me my Prophet, Priest, and King; let me +know the teaching of thy grace, and the disclosing of thy +love.’ What nearness of access might we have if we +lived more near to God! What sweet communion might we have +with a God of love! He is the great I AM. How +glorious a name! Angels with trembling awe prostrate +themselves before Him, and in humble love adore and worship +Him. One says,</p> +<p>‘While the first archangel sings,<br /> +He hides his face behind his wings.’</p> +<p><!-- page 74--><a name="page74"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +74</span>Unworthy as I am, I have found it by experience, that +the more I see of the greatness and goodness of God, and the +nearer union I hope I have had with Him through the Spirit of his +love, the more humble and self-abased I have been.</p> +<p>“But every day I may say, ‘Lord, how little I love +thee, how far I live from thee, how little am I like thee in +humility!’ It is nevertheless my heart’s desire +to love and serve Him better. I find the way in which God +does more particularly bless me, is when I attend on the public +ordinances of religion. These are the channels through +which He conveys the riches of his grace and precious love to my +soul. These I have often found to be indeed the time of +refreshing and strengthening from the presence of the Lord. +Then I can see my hope of an interest in the covenant of love, +and praise Him for his mercy to the greatest of sinners.</p> +<p>“I earnestly wish to be more established in the ways, +and to honour him in the path of duties whilst I enjoy the smiles +of his favour. In the midst of all outward afflictions I +pray that I may know Christ, and the power of his resurrection +within my soul. If I were always thus, my summer would last +all the year, my will would then be sweetly lost in God’s +will, and I should feel a resignation to every dispensation of +his <!-- page 75--><a name="page75"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +75</span>providence and his grace, saying, ‘Good is the +will of the Lord: infinite wisdom cannot err.’ Then +would patience have its perfect work.</p> +<p>“But, alas! sin and unbelief often, too often, interrupt +these frames, and lay me low before God in tears of sorrow. +I often think what a happiness it would be, if his love were so +fixed in my heart, that I might willingly obey Him with alacrity +and delight, and gradually mortify the power of self-will, +passion, and pride. This can only arise from a good hope, +through grace, that we are washed in that precious blood which +cleanses us from every sinful stain, and makes us new creatures +in Christ. 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 love!</p> +<p>“Sir, my faith is often exceedingly weak. Can you +be so kind as to tell me what you have found to be the most +effectual means of strengthening it? I often think how +plainly the Lord declares—Believe only, and thou shalt be +saved. Only have faith; all things are possible to him that +has it. How I wish that we could remove all those mountains +that hinder and obstruct the light of his grace; so that, having +full access unto God through that ever-blessed Spirit, we might +lovingly commune with Him as with the <!-- page 76--><a +name="page76"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 76</span>dearest of +friends. What favour doth God bestow on worms! And +yet we love to murmur and complain. He may well say, What +should I have done more that I have not done? or wherein have I +proved unfaithful or unkind to my faithless backsliding +children?</p> +<p>“Sir, I pray that I may not grieve Him, as I have done, +any more. I want your counsel and your prayers for me in +this matter. How refreshing is the sight of one that truly +loves God, that bears his image and likeness!</p> +<p>“But delightful as is conversation with true believers +on earth, whose hearts are lifted up to things above, yet what is +this to that happy day which will admit us into more bright +realms, where we shall for ever behold a God of love in the +smiling face of his Son, who is the express image of his Father, +and the brightness of his glory! Then, if found in Him, we +shall be received by the innumerable host of angels who wait +around his throne.</p> +<p>“In the meantime, sir, may I take up my cross, and +manfully fight under Him who, for the glory that was set before +Him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and is now set down +at his Father’s right hand in majesty! I thank you +for the kind liberty you have given to me of writing to +you. I feel my health declining, and I <!-- page 77--><a +name="page77"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 77</span>find a relief +during an hour of pain and weakness in communicating these +thoughts to you.</p> +<p>“I hope, sir, you go on your way rejoicing; that you are +enabled to thank Him who is the giver of every good gift, +spiritual, temporal, and providential, for blessings to yourself +and your ministry. I do not doubt but you often meet with +circumstances which are not pleasing to nature; yet, by the +blessing of God, they will be all profitable in the end. +They are kindly designed by grace to make and keep us +humble. The difficulties which you spoke of to me some time +since, will, I trust, disappear.</p> +<p>“My dear father and mother are as well as usual in +bodily health; and, I hope, grow in grace, and in the knowledge +and love of Jesus Christ. My chief desire to live is for +their sakes. It now seems long since we have seen +you. I am almost ashamed to request you to come to our +little cottage, to visit those who are so far beneath your +station in life. But if you cannot come, we shall be very +glad if you will write a few lines. I ought to make an +excuse for my letter, I spell so badly: this was a great neglect +when I was young. I gave myself greatly to reading, but not +to the other; and now I am too weak and feeble to learn much.</p> +<p>“I hear sometimes of persons growing serious <!-- page +78--><a name="page78"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 78</span>in +your congregation. It gives me joy; and, if true, I am sure +it does so to yourself. I long for the pure Gospel of +Christ to be preached in every church in the world, and for the +time when all shall know, love, and fear the Lord, and the +uniting Spirit of God shall make them of one heart and mind in +Christ our great Head. Your greatest joy, I know, will be +in labouring much for the glory of God in the salvation of +men’s souls. You serve a good Master. You have +a sure reward. I pray God to give you strength according to +your day.</p> +<p>“Pray, sir, do not be offended at the freedom and manner +of my writing. My parents’ duty and love to you are +sent with these lines from</p> +<p>“Your humble servant in Christ,</p> +<p>“E--- W---.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Epistolary communications, when written in sincerity of heart, +afford genuine portraits of the mind. May the foregoing be +viewed with Christian candour, and consecrated to affectionate +memory!</p> +<h2><!-- page 79--><a name="page79"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +79</span>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<p>Travellers, as they pass through the country, usually stop to +inquire whose are the splendid mansions which they discover among +the woods and plains around them. The families, titles, +fortune, or character of the respective owners engage much +attention. Perhaps their houses are exhibited to the +admiring stranger. The elegant rooms, costly furniture, +valuable paintings, beautiful gardens and shrubberies, are +universally approved; while the rank, fashion, taste, and riches +of the possessor, afford ample materials for entertaining +discussion. In the meantime, the lowly cottage of the poor +husbandman is passed by as scarcely deserving of notice. +Yet perchance such a cottage may often contain a treasure of +infinitely more value than the sumptuous palace of the rich man; +even “the pearl of great price.” If this be set +in the heart of the poor cottager, it proves a gem of unspeakable +worth, and will shine among the brightest ornaments of the +Redeemer’s crown, in that day when He maketh up his +“jewels.”</p> +<p>Hence the Christian traveller, while in common with others he +bestows his due share of applause <!-- page 80--><a +name="page80"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 80</span>on the +decorations of the rich, and is not insensible to the beauties +and magnificence which are the lawfully-allowed appendages of +rank and fortune, cannot overlook the humbler dwelling of the +poor. 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 rich, he remembers the declarations +in the Word of God. He sees with admiration, that the high +and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, who +dwelleth in the high and holy place, dwelleth with <i>him +also</i> that is of a contrite and humble spirit; and although +heaven is his throne, and the earth his footstool, yet, when a +house is to be built, and a place of rest to be sought for +himself, He says, To this man will I look, even to him that is +poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. +(<i>See</i> Isa. lvii. 15; lxvi. 1, 2.)</p> +<p>When a house is thus tenanted, faith beholds this inscription +written on the walls, <i>The Lord lives here</i>. Faith, +therefore, cannot pass by it unnoticed, but loves to lift up the +latch of the door, and to sit down and converse with the poor, +although perhaps despised, inhabitant. Many a sweet +interview does Faith obtain, when she thus takes her walks +abroad. Many such a sweet interview have I myself enjoyed +beneath <!-- page 81--><a name="page81"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 81</span>the roof where dwelt the Dairyman and +his little family.</p> +<p>I soon perceived that his daughter’s health was rapidly +on the decline. The pale, wasting consumption, which is the +Lord’s instrument for removing so many thousands every year +from the land of the living, made hasty strides on her +constitution. The hollow eye, the distressing cough, and +the often too-flattering red on the cheek, foretold the approach +of death.</p> +<p>What a field for usefulness and affectionate attention on the +part of ministers and Christian friends is opened by the frequent +attacks, and lingering progress, of <i>consumptive</i> +illness! How many such precious opportunities are daily +lost, where Providence seems in so marked a way to afford time +and space for serious and godly instruction! Of how many +may it be said, “The way of peace have they not +known;” for not one friend ever came nigh to warn them to +“flee from the wrath to come.”</p> +<p>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 constitution. In +my visits to her, I went rather to receive information than to +impart it. Her mind was abundantly stored with Divine +truths, and her conversation <!-- page 82--><a +name="page82"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 82</span>was truly +edifying. The recollection of it must ever produce a +thankful sensation in my heart.</p> +<p>I one day received a short note to the following +effect:—</p> +<blockquote><p>“Dear Sir,</p> +<p>“I should be very glad, if your convenience will allow, +that you would come and see a poor unworthy sinner. My +hour-glass is nearly run out; but I hope I can see Christ to be +precious to my soul. Your conversation has often been +blessed to me, and I now feel the need of it more than +ever. My father and my mother send their duty to you.</p> +<p>“From your obedient</p> +<p>“And unworthy servant,</p> +<p>“E--- W---.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>I obeyed the summons that same afternoon. On my arrival +at the Dairyman’s cottage his wife opened the door. +The tears streamed down her cheek as she silently shook her +head. Her heart was full. She tried to speak, but +could not. I took her by the hand, and said:</p> +<p>“My good friend, all is right, and as the Lord of wisdom +and mercy directs.”</p> +<p>“Oh! my Betsy, my dear girl, is so bad, sir. <!-- +page 83--><a name="page83"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +83</span>What shall I do without her? I thought I should +have gone first to the grave, but—”</p> +<p>“But the Lord sees good that, before you die yourself, +you should behold your child safe home to glory. Is there +no mercy in this?”</p> +<p>“O, dear sir! I am very old and very weak, and she +is a dear child, the staff and prop of such a poor old creature +as I am.”</p> +<p>As I advanced, I saw Elizabeth sitting by the fireside, +supported in an arm-chair by pillows, with every mark of rapid +decline and approaching death. A sweet smile of friendly +complacency enlightened her pale countenance as she said:</p> +<p>“This is very kind indeed, sir, to come so soon after I +sent to you. You find me daily wasting away, and I cannot +have long to continue here. My flesh and my heart fail; but +God is the strength of my weak heart, and, I trust, will be my +portion for ever.”</p> +<p>The conversation was occasionally interrupted by her cough and +want of breath. Her tone of voice was clear, though feeble; +her manner solemn and collected; and her eye, though more dim +than formerly, by no means wanting in liveliness as she +spoke. I had frequently admired the superior language in +which she expressed her ideas, as well as the scriptural <!-- +page 84--><a name="page84"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +84</span>consistency with which she communicated her +thoughts. She had a good natural understanding; and grace, +as is generally the case, much improved it. On the present +occasion I could not help thinking she was peculiarly +favoured. The whole strength of gracious and natural +attainments seemed to be in full exercise.</p> +<p>After taking my seat between the daughter and the mother (the +latter fixing her fond eyes upon her child with great anxiety, +while we were conversing), I said to Elizabeth:</p> +<p>“I hope you enjoy a sense of the Divine presence, and +can rest all upon Him who has ‘been with thee,’ and +has kept ‘thee in all places whither thou hast gone,’ +and will bring thee into ‘the land of pure delights, where +saints immortal reign.’”</p> +<p>“Sir, I think I can. My mind has lately been +sometimes clouded, but I believe it has been partly owing to the +great weakness and suffering of my bodily frame, and partly to +the envy of my spiritual enemy, who wants to persuade me that +Christ has no love for me, and that I have been a +self-deceiver.”</p> +<p>“And do you give way to his suggestions? Can you +doubt amidst such numerous tokens of past and present +mercy?”</p> +<p>“No, sir; I mostly am enabled to preserve a <!-- page +85--><a name="page85"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 85</span>clear +evidence of his love. I do not wish to add to my other sins +that of denying his manifest goodness to my soul. I would +acknowledge it to his praise and glory.”</p> +<p>“What is your present view of the state in which you +were before you felt seriously concerned about the salvation of +your soul?”</p> +<p>“Sir, I was a proud, thoughtless girl, fond of dress and +finery; I loved the world, and the things that are in the world; +I lived in service among worldly people, and never had the +happiness of being in a family where worship was regarded, and +the souls of the servants cared for either by master or +mistress. I went once on a Sunday to church, more to see +and be seen than to pray or hear the word of God. I thought +I was quite good enough to be saved, and disliked and often +laughed at religious people. I was in great darkness; I +knew nothing of the way of salvation; I never prayed, nor was +sensible of the awful danger of a prayerless state. I +wished to maintain the character of a good servant, and was much +lifted up whenever I met with applause. I was tolerably +moral and decent in my conduct, from motives of carnal and +worldly policy; but I was a stranger to God and Christ; I +neglected my soul; and had I died in such a state, hell must, and +would justly, have been my portion.”</p> +<p><!-- page 86--><a name="page86"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +86</span>“How long is it since you heard the sermon which +you hope, through God’s blessing, effected your +conversion?”</p> +<p>“About five years ago.”</p> +<p>“How was it brought about?”</p> +<p>“It was reported that a Mr ---, who was detained by +contrary winds from embarking on board ship, as chaplain to a +distant part of the world, was to preach at church. Many +advised me not to go, for fear he should turn my head; as they +said he held strange notions. But curiosity and an +opportunity of appearing in a new gown, which I was very proud +of, induced me to ask leave of my mistress to go. Indeed, +sir, I had no better motives than vanity and curiosity. Yet +thus it pleased the Lord to order it for his own glory.</p> +<p>“I accordingly went to church, and saw a great crowd of +people collected together. I often think of the contrary +states of my mind during the former and latter part of the +service. For a while, regardless of the worship of God, I +looked around me, and was anxious to attract notice myself. +My dress, like that of too many gay, vain, and silly servant +girls, was much above my station, and very different from that +which becomes an humble sinner, who has a modest sense of +propriety and decency. The state of <!-- page 87--><a +name="page87"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 87</span>my mind was +visible enough from the foolish finery of my apparel.</p> +<p>“At length the clergyman gave out his text: ‘Be +<i>ye</i> clothed with humility’ (1 Pet. v. 5). He +drew a comparison between the clothing of the body with that of +the soul. At a very early part of his discourse, I began to +feel ashamed of my passion for fine dressing and apparel; but +when he came to describe the garment of salvation with which a +Christian is clothed, I felt a powerful discovery of the +nakedness of my own soul. I saw that I had neither the +humility mentioned in the text, nor any one part of the true +Christian character. I looked at my gay dress, and blushed +for shame on account of my pride. I looked at the minister, +and he seemed to be as a messenger sent from heaven to open my +eyes. I looked on the congregation, and wondered whether +any one else felt as I did. I looked at my heart, and it +appeared full of iniquity. I trembled as he spoke, and yet +I felt a great drawing of heart to the words he uttered.</p> +<p>“He displayed the riches of Divine grace in God’s +method of saving the sinner. I was astonished at what I had +been doing all the days of my life. He described the meek, +lowly, and humble example of Christ; I felt proud, lofty, vain, +and self-consequential. He represented <!-- page 88--><a +name="page88"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 88</span>Christ as +‘Wisdom;’ I felt my ignorance. He held Him +forth as ‘Righteousness;’ I was convinced of my own +guilt. He proved Him to be ‘Sanctification;’ I +saw my corruption. He proclaimed Him as +‘Redemption;’ I felt my slavery to sin, and my +captivity to Satan. He concluded with an animated address +to sinners, in which he exhorted them to flee from the wrath to +come, to cast off the love of outward ornaments, to put on Jesus +Christ, and be clothed with true humility.</p> +<p>“From that hour I never lost sight of the value of my +soul, and the danger of a sinful state. I inwardly blessed +God for the sermon, although my mind was in a state of great +confusion.</p> +<p>“The preacher had brought forward the ruling passion of +my heart, which was pride in outward dress; and by the grace of +God it was made instrumental to the awakening of my soul. +Happy, sir, would it be, if many a poor girl, like myself, were +turned from the love of outward adorning and putting on of fine +apparel, to seek that which is not corruptible, even the ornament +of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great +price.</p> +<p>“The greater part of the congregation, unused to such +faithful and scriptural sermons, disliked <!-- page 89--><a +name="page89"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 89</span>and +complained of the severity of the preacher: while a few, as I +afterwards found, like myself, were deeply affected, and +earnestly wished to hear him again. But he preached there +no more.</p> +<p>“From that time I was led, through a course of private +prayer, reading, and meditation, to see my lost estate as a +sinner, and the great mercy of God through Jesus Christ in +raising sinful dust and ashes to a share in the glorious +happiness of heaven. And O, sir, what a Saviour I have +found! He is more than I could ask or desire. In his +fulness I have found all that my poverty could need; in his bosom +I have found a resting-place from all sin and sorrow; in his Word +I have found strength against doubt and unbelief.”</p> +<p>“Were you not soon convinced,” I said, “that +your salvation must be an act of entire grace on the part of God, +wholly independent of your own previous works or +deservings?”</p> +<p>“Dear sir, what were my works before I heard that +sermon, but evil, carnal, selfish, and ungodly? The +thoughts of my heart, from my youth upward, were only evil, and +that continually. And my deservings, what were they but the +deservings of a fallen, depraved, careless soul, that regarded +neither law nor gospel? Yes, <!-- page 90--><a +name="page90"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 90</span>sir, I +immediately saw that, if ever I were saved, it must be by the +free mercy of God, and that the whole praise and honour of the +work would be his from first to last.”</p> +<p>“What change did you perceive in yourself with respect +to the world?”</p> +<p>“It appeared all vanity and vexation of spirit. I +found it necessary to my peace of mind to come out from among +them and be separate. I gave myself to prayer; and many a +happy hour of secret delight I enjoyed in communion with +God. Often I mourned over my sins, and sometimes had a +great conflict through unbelief, fear, temptation, to return back +again to my old ways, and a variety of difficulties which lay in +my way. But He who loved me with an everlasting love, drew +me by his loving-kindness, showed me the way of peace, gradually +strengthened me in my resolutions of leading a new life, and +taught me, that while without him I could do nothing, I yet might +do all things through his strength.”</p> +<p>“Did you not find many difficulties in your situation, +owing to your change of principle and practice?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir, every day of my life. I was laughed at +by some, scolded at by others, scorned by enemies, and pitied by +friends. I was called hypocrite, saint, false deceiver, and +many more <!-- page 91--><a name="page91"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 91</span>names which were meant to render me +hateful in the sight of the world. But I esteemed the +reproach of the Cross an honour. I forgave and prayed for +my persecutors, and remembered how very lately I had acted the +same part towards others myself. I thought also that Christ +endured the contradiction of sinners; and as the disciple is not +above his Master, I was glad to be in any way conformed to his +sufferings.”</p> +<p>“Did you not then feel for your family at +home?”</p> +<p>“Yes, that I did indeed, sir; they were never out of my +thoughts. I prayed continually for them, and had a longing +desire to do them good. In particular, I felt for my father +and mother, as they were getting into years, and were very +ignorant and dark in matters of religion.”</p> +<p>“Ay,” interrupted her mother, sobbing, +“ignorant and dark, sinful and miserable we were, till this +dear Betsy—this dear Betsy—this dear child, +sir—brought Christ Jesus home to her poor father and +mother’s house.”</p> +<p>“No, dearest mother; say rather, Christ Jesus brought +your poor daughter home, to tell you what He had done for her +soul, and, I hope, to do the same for yours.”</p> +<p>At this moment the Dairyman came in with two pails of milk +hanging from the yoke on his <!-- page 92--><a +name="page92"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +92</span>shoulders. He had stood behind the half-opened +door for a few minutes, and heard the last sentences spoken by +his wife and daughter.</p> +<p>“Blessing and mercy upon her!” said he, “it +is very true: she left a good place of service on purpose to live +with us, that she might help us both in soul and body. Sir, +don’t she look very ill? I think, sir, we +sha’n’t have her here long.”</p> +<p>“Leave that to the Lord,” said Elizabeth. +“All our times are in his hand, and happy it is that they +are. I am willing to go. Are not you willing, my +father, to part with me into <i>his</i> hands who gave me to you +at first?”</p> +<p>“Ask me any question in the world but that,” said +the weeping father.</p> +<p>“I know,” said she, “you wish me to be +happy.”</p> +<p>“I do, I do,” answered he; “let the Lord do +with you and us as best pleases Him.”</p> +<p>I then asked her on what her present consolations chiefly +depended, in the prospect of approaching death.</p> +<p>“Entirely, sir, on my view of Christ. When I look +at myself, many sins, infirmities, and imperfections cloud the +image of Christ which I want to see in my own heart. But +when I look at the Saviour himself, He is altogether lovely; <!-- +page 93--><a name="page93"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +93</span>there is not one spot in his countenance, nor one cloud +over all his perfections.</p> +<p>“I think of his coming in the flesh, and it reconciles +me to the sufferings of the body; for He had them as well as +I. I think of his temptations, and believe that He is able +to succour me when I am tempted. Then I think of his cross, +and learn to bear my own. I reflect on his death, and long +to die unto sin, so that it may no longer have dominion over +me. I sometimes think of his resurrection, and trust that +He has given me a part in it, for I feel that my affections are +set upon things above. Chiefly, I take comfort in thinking +of Him as at the right hand of the Father, pleading my cause, and +rendering acceptable even my feeble prayers, both for myself, +and, as I hope, for my dear friends.</p> +<p>“These are the views which, through mercy, I have of my +Saviour’s goodness; and they have made me wish and strive +in my poor way to serve Him, to give myself up to Him, and to +labour to do my duty in that state of life into which it has +pleased Him to call me.</p> +<p>“A thousand times I should have fallen and fainted, if +He had not upheld me. I feel that I am nothing without +Him. He is all in all.</p> +<p>“Just so far as I can cast my care upon Him <!-- page +94--><a name="page94"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 94</span>I +find strength to do his will. May He give me grace to trust +Him till the last moment! I do not fear death, because I +believe that He has taken away its sting. And O, what +happiness beyond! Tell me, sir, whether you think I am +right—I hope I am under no delusion. I dare not look +for my hope in anything short of the entire fulness of +Christ. When I ask my own heart a question, I am afraid to +trust it, for it is treacherous, and has often deceived me. +But when I ask Christ, he answers me with promises that +strengthen and refresh me, and leave me no room to doubt his +power and will to save. I am in his hands, and would remain +there; and I do believe that He will never leave nor forsake me, +but will perfect the thing that concerns me. He loved me, +and gave himself for me; and I believe that his gifts and calling +are without repentance. In this hope I live, in this hope I +wish to die.”</p> +<p>I looked around me, as she was speaking, and +thought—Surely this is none other than the house of God, +and the gate of heaven. Everything appeared neat, cleanly, +and interesting. The afternoon had been rather overcast +with dark clouds; but just now the setting sun shone brightly and +somewhat suddenly into the room. It was reflected from +three or four rows of bright <!-- page 95--><a +name="page95"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 95</span>pewter plates +and white earthenware, arranged on shelves against the wall; it +also gave brilliancy to a few prints of sacred subjects that hung +there also, and served for monitors of the birth, baptism, +crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ.</p> +<p>A large map of Jerusalem, and a hieroglyphic of “the old +and new man,” completed the decorations on that side of the +room. Clean as was the whitewashed wall, it was not cleaner +than the rest of the place and its furniture. Seldom had +the sun enlightened a house where order and general neatness +(those sure attendants of pious poverty) were more +conspicuous.</p> +<p>This gleam of setting sunshine was emblematical of the bright +and serene close of this young Christian’s departing +season. One ray happened to be reflected from a little +looking-glass upon her face. Amidst her pallid and decaying +features there appeared a calm resignation, triumphant +confidence, unaffected humility, and tender anxiety, which fully +declared the feelings of her heart.</p> +<p>Some further affectionate conversation and a short prayer +closed this interview.</p> +<p>As I rode home by departing day-light, a solemn tranquillity +reigned throughout the scene. The gentle lowing of cattle, +the bleating of sheep <!-- page 96--><a name="page96"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 96</span>just penned in their folds, the +humming of the insects of the night, the distant murmurs of the +sea, the last notes of the birds of day, and the first warblings +of the nightingale, broke upon the ear, and served rather to +increase than lessen the peaceful serenity of the evening, and +its corresponding effects on my own mind. It invited and +cherished just such meditations as my visit had already +inspired. Natural scenery, when viewed in a Christian +mirror, frequently affords very beautiful illustrations of Divine +truths. We are highly favoured when we can enjoy them, and +at the same time draw near to God in them.</p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<p>It is a pleasing consideration that, amidst the spiritual +darkness which unhappily prevails in many parts of the land, God +nevertheless has a people. It not unfrequently happens, +that single individuals are to be found who, though very +disadvantageously situated with regard to the ordinary means of +grace, have received truly saving impressions, <!-- page 97--><a +name="page97"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 97</span>and through a +blessing on secret meditation, reading, and prayer, are led to +the closest communion with God, and become eminently devoted +Christians. It is the no small error of too many professors +of the present day, to overlook or undervalue the instances of +this kind which exist. The religious profession and +opinions of some have too much of mere <i>machinery</i> in their +composition. If every wheel, pivot, chain, spring, cog, or +pinion, be not exactly in its place, or move not precisely +according to a favourite and prescribed system, the whole is +rejected as unworthy of regard. But happily “the Lord +knoweth them that are his;” nor is the impression of his +own seal wanting to characterise some who, in comparative +seclusion from the religious world, “name the name of +Christ, and depart from iniquity.”</p> +<p>There are some real Christians so particularly circumstanced +in this respect, as to illustrate the poet’s beautiful +comparison:—</p> +<blockquote><p>“Full many a gem of purest ray serene<br /> + The dark unfathom’d caves of ocean bear;<br /> +Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,<br /> + And waste its sweetness on the desert +air.”</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Yet this was not altogether the case with the Dairyman’s +daughter. Her religion had indeed ripened in seclusion from +the world, and she was <!-- page 98--><a name="page98"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 98</span>intimately known but to few; but she +lived usefully, departed most happily, and left a shining track +behind her. While I attempt a faint delineation of it, may +I catch its influence, and become, through inexpressible mercy, a +follower “of them, who through faith and patience inherit +the promises.”</p> +<p>From the time wherein I visited her, as described in my last +paper, I considered her end as fast approaching. One day I +received a hasty summons to inform me that she was dying. +It was brought by a soldier, whose countenance bespoke +seriousness, good sense, and piety.</p> +<p>“I am sent, sir, by the father and mother of Elizabeth +W---, at her own particular request, to say how much they all +wish to see you. She is going <i>home</i>, sir, very fast +indeed.”</p> +<p>“Have you known her long?” I inquired.</p> +<p>“About a month, sir. I love to visit the sick; and +hearing of her case from a person who lives close by our camp, I +went to see her. I bless God that ever I did go. Her +conversation has been very profitable to me.”</p> +<p>“I rejoice,” said I, “to see in you, as I +trust, a <i>brother soldier</i>. Though we differ in our +outward regimentals, I hope we serve under the same spiritual +Captain. I will go with you.”</p> +<p>My horse was soon ready. My military companion <!-- page +99--><a name="page99"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +99</span>walked by my side, and gratified me with very sensible +and pious conversation. He related some remarkable +testimonies of the excellent disposition of the Dairyman’s +daughter, as they appeared from recent intercourse which he had +had with her.</p> +<p>“She is a bright diamond, sir,” said the soldier, +“and will soon shine brighter than any diamond upon +earth.”</p> +<p>We passed through lanes and fields, over hills and through +valleys, by open and retired paths, sometimes crossing over, and +sometimes following the windings of a little brook, which gently +murmured by the road-side. Conversation beguiled the +distance, and shortened the apparent time of our journey, till we +were nearly arrived at the Dairyman’s cottage.</p> +<p>As we approached it, we became silent. Thoughts of +death, eternity, and salvation, inspired by the sight of a house +where a dying believer lay, filled my own mind, and, I doubt not, +that of my companion also.</p> +<p>No living object yet appeared, except the Dairyman’s +dog, keeping a kind of mute watch at the door; for he did not, as +formerly, bark at my approach. He seemed to partake so far +of the feelings appropriate to the circumstances of the family, +as not to wish to give a hasty or <!-- page 100--><a +name="page100"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 100</span>painful +alarm. He came forward to the little wicket-gate, then +looked back at the house-door, as if conscious there was sorrow +within. It was as if he wanted to say, “Tread softly +over the threshold, as you enter the house of mourning; for my +master’s heart is full of grief.”</p> +<p>The soldier took my horse, and tied it up in a shed. A +solemn serenity appeared to surround the whole place; it was only +interrupted by the breezes passing through the large elm-trees, +which stood near the house, and which my imagination indulged +itself in thinking were plaintive sighs of sorrow. I gently +opened the door; no one appeared; and all was yet silent. +The soldier followed; we came to the foot of the stairs.</p> +<p>“They are come,” said a voice, which I knew to be +the father’s “they are come.”</p> +<p>He appeared at the top. I gave him my hand, and said +nothing. On entering the room above, I saw the aged mother +and her son supporting the much-loved sister: the son’s +wife sat weeping in a window-seat, with a child on her lap; two +or three persons attended in the room to discharge any office +which friendship or necessity might require.</p> +<p>I sat down by the bed-side. The mother could not weep, +but now and then sighed <!-- page 101--><a +name="page101"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 101</span>deeply, as +she alternately looked at Elizabeth and at me. The big tear +rolled down the brother’s cheek, and testified an +affectionate regard. The good old man stood at the foot of +the bed, leaning upon the post, and unable to take his eyes off +the child from whom he was so soon to part.</p> +<p>Elizabeth’s eyes were closed, and as yet she perceived +me not. But over the face, though pale, sunk, and hollow, +the peace of God which passeth all understanding, had cast a +triumphant calm.</p> +<p>The soldier, after a short pause, silently reached out his +Bible towards me, pointing with his finger at 1 Cor. xv. 55, 56, +58. I then broke silence by reading the passage, “O +death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy +victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin +is the law. But thanks be to God which giveth us the +victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”</p> +<p>At the sound of these words her eyes opened, and something +like a ray of Divine light beamed on her countenance, as she +said, “Victory, victory! through our Lord Jesus +Christ.”</p> +<p>She relapsed again, taking no further notice of any one +present.</p> +<p>“God be praised for the triumph of faith!” said +I.</p> +<p><!-- page 102--><a name="page102"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +102</span>“Amen!” replied the soldier.</p> +<p>The Dairyman’s uplifted eye showed that the amen was in +his heart, though his tongue failed to utter it. A short +struggling for breath took place in the dying young woman, which +was soon over; and then I said to her,—</p> +<p>“My dear friend, do you not feel that you are +supported?”</p> +<p>“The Lord deals very gently with me,” she +replied.</p> +<p>“Are not his promises now very precious to +you?”</p> +<p>“They are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus.”</p> +<p>“Are you in much bodily pain?”</p> +<p>“So little, that I almost forget it.”</p> +<p>“How good the Lord is!”</p> +<p>“And how unworthy am I!”</p> +<p>“You are going to see Him as He is.”</p> +<p>“I think—I hope—I believe that I +am.”</p> +<p>She again fell into a short slumber.</p> +<p>Looking at her mother, I said, “What a mercy to have a +child so near heaven as yours is!”</p> +<p>“And what a mercy,” she replied, in broken +accents, “if her poor old mother might but follow her +there! But, sir, it is so hard to part!”</p> +<p>“I hope through grace by faith you will soon meet, to +part no more: it will be but a little while.”</p> +<p><!-- page 103--><a name="page103"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +103</span>“Sir,” said the Dairyman, “that +thought supports me, and the Lord’s goodness makes me feel +more reconciled than I was.”</p> +<p>“Father, mother,” said the reviving daughter, +“He is good to me—trust Him, praise Him +evermore.”</p> +<p>“Sir,” added she, in a faint voice, “I want +to thank you for your kindness to me—I want to ask a +favour; you buried my sister—will you do the same for +me?”</p> +<p>“All shall be as you wish, if God permit;” I +replied.</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir, thank you. I have another favour +to ask: when I am gone, remember my father and mother. They +are old, but I hope the good work is begun in their souls. +My prayers are heard. Pray come and see them. I +cannot speak much, but I want to speak for their sakes. +Sir, remember them.”</p> +<p>The aged parents now sighed and sobbed aloud, uttering broken +sentences, and gained some relief by such an expression of their +feelings.</p> +<p>At length I said to Elizabeth—“Do you experience +any doubts or temptations on the subject of your eternal +safety?”</p> +<p>“No, sir; the Lord deals very gently with me, and gives +me peace.”</p> +<p><!-- page 104--><a name="page104"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +104</span>“What are your views of the dark valley of death, +now that you are passing through it?”</p> +<p>“It is <i>not</i> dark.”</p> +<p>“Why so?”</p> +<p>“My Lord is <i>there</i>, and He is my light and my +salvation.”</p> +<p>“Have you any fears of more bodily suffering?”</p> +<p>“The Lord deals so gently with me, I can trust +Him.”</p> +<p>Something of a convulsion came on. When it was past, she +said again and again:</p> +<p>“The Lord deals very gently with me. Lord, I am +thine, save me—blessed Jesus—precious +Saviour—his blood cleanseth from all sin—Who shall +separate?—His name is Wonderful—Thanks be to +God—He giveth us the victory—I, even I, am +saved—O grace, mercy, and wonder—Lord, receive my +spirit! Dear sir, dear father, mother, friends, I am +going—but all is well, well, well—”</p> +<p>She relapsed again. We knelt down to prayer: the Lord +was in the midst of us, and blessed us.</p> +<p>She did not again revive while I remained, nor ever speak any +more words which could be understood. She slumbered for +about ten hours, and at last sweetly fell asleep in the arms of +that Lord who had dealt so gently with her.</p> +<p>I left the house an hour after she had ceased <!-- page +105--><a name="page105"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 105</span>to +speak. I pressed her hand as I was taking leave, and said +“Christ is the Resurrection and the Life.” She +gently returned the pressure, but could neither open her eyes nor +utter a reply.</p> +<p>I never had witnessed a scene so impressive as this +before. It completely filled my imagination as I returned +home.</p> +<p>“Farewell,” thought I, “dear friend, till +the morning of an eternal day shall renew our personal +intercourse. Thou wast a brand plucked from the burning, +that thou mightest become a star shining in the firmament of +glory. I have seen thy light and thy good works, and will +therefore glorify our Father which is in heaven. I have +seen, in thy example, what it is to be a sinner freely saved by +grace. I have learned from thee, as in a living mirror, who +it is that begins, continues, and ends the work of faith and +love. Jesus is all in all: He will and shall be +glorified. He won the crown, and alone deserves to wear +it. May no one attempt to rob Him of his glory! He +saves, and saves to the uttermost. Farewell, dear sister in +the Lord! Thy flesh and thy heart may fail; but God is the +strength of thy heart, and shall be thy portion for +ever.”</p> +<h2><!-- page 106--><a name="page106"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 106</span>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<p>Who can conceive or estimate the nature of that change which +the soul of a believer must experience at the moment when, +quitting its tabernacle of clay, it suddenly enters into the +presence of God? If, even while “we see through a +glass darkly,” the views of Divine love and wisdom are so +delightful to the eye of faith, what must be the glorious vision +of God, when seen face to face? If it be so valued a +privilege here on earth to enjoy the communion of saints, and to +take sweet counsel together with our fellow-travellers towards +the heavenly kingdom, what shall we see and know when we finally +“come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, +the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, +to the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are +written in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the +spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the Mediator of +the New Covenant?” (Heb. xii. 22-24.)</p> +<p>If, during the sighs and tears of a mortal pilgrimage, the +consolations of the Spirit are so precious, and the hope full of +immortality is so animating to the soul, what heart can conceive, +<!-- page 107--><a name="page107"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +107</span>or what tongue utter its superior joys, when arrived at +that state where sighing and sorrow flee away, and the tears +shall be wiped from every eye?</p> +<p>Such ideas were powerfully associated together in my +imagination as I travelled onward to the house where, in solemn +preparation for the grave, lay the remains of the +Dairyman’s daughter.</p> +<p>She had breathed her last shortly after the visit related in +my former account. Permission was obtained, as before, in +the case of her sister, that I should perform the funeral +service. Many pleasing yet melancholy thoughts were +connected with the fulfilment of this task. I retraced the +numerous and important conversations which I had held with +her.</p> +<p>But these could now no longer be maintained on earth. I +reflected on the interesting and improved nature of +<i>Christian</i> friendships, whether formed in palaces or in +cottages; and felt thankful that I had so long enjoyed that +privilege with the subject of this memoir. I then indulged +a selfish sigh for a moment, 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 life; but the rising +murmur was checked by the animating thought: “She is gone +to eternal <!-- page 108--><a name="page108"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 108</span>rest—could I wish her back +again in this vale of tears?”</p> +<p>At that moment the first sound of a tolling bell struck my +ear. It proceeded from a village church in the valley +directly beneath the ridge of a high hill, over which I had taken +my way. It was Elizabeth’s funeral knell.</p> +<p>The sound was solemn; and in ascending to the elevated spot +over which I rode, it acquired a peculiar tone and +character. Tolling at slow and regular intervals (as was +customary for a considerable time previous to the hour of +burial), the bell, as it were, proclaimed the blessedness of the +dead who die in the Lord, and also the necessity of the living +pondering these things, and laying them to heart. It seemed +to say: “Hear my warning voice, thou son of man. +There is but a step between thee and death. Arise, prepare +thine house, for thou shall die and not live.”</p> +<p>The scenery was in unison with that tranquil frame of mind +which is most suitable for holy meditation. A rich and +fruitful valley lay immediately beneath; it was adorned with +cornfields and pastures through which a small river winded in a +variety of directions, and many herds grazed upon its +banks. A fine range of opposite hills, covered with grazing +flocks, terminated <!-- page 109--><a name="page109"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 109</span>with a bold sweep into the ocean, +whose blue waves appeared at a distance beyond. Several +villages, hamlets, and churches, were scattered in the +valley. The noble mansions of the rich, and the lowly +cottages of the poor, added their respective features to the +landscape.</p> +<p>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 relate? My reply is, that the God of +redemption is the God of creation likewise; 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 +devotion. When David considered the heavens, the work of +God’s fingers, the moon and the stars which He has +ordained, he was thereby led to the deepest humiliation of heart +before his Maker. And when he viewed the sheep, and the +oxen, and the beasts of the field, the fowl of the air, and the +fish of the sea, he was constrained to cry out, “O Lord, +our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (Ps. +viii. 1.)</p> +<p>I am the poor man’s friend, and wish more especially +that every poor labouring man should know how to connect the +goodness of God in creation and providence, with the unsearchable +riches of his grace in the salvation of a sinner. <!-- page +110--><a name="page110"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +110</span>And where can he learn this lesson more instructively +than in looking around the fields, where his labour is appointed, +and there tracing the handiwork of God in all that he +beholds? Such meditations have often afforded me both +profit and pleasure, and I wish my readers to share them with +me.</p> +<p>The Dairyman’s cottage was rather more than a mile +distant from the church. A lane, quite overshadowed with +trees and high hedges, led from the foot of the hill to his +dwelling. It was impossible at that time to overlook the +suitable gloom of such an approach to the house of mourning.</p> +<p>I found, on my entrance, that several Christian friends from +different parts of the neighbourhood had assembled together, to +pay their last tribute of esteem and regard to the memory of the +Dairyman’s daughter. Several of them had first become +acquainted with her during the latter stage of her illness: some +few had maintained an affectionate intercourse with her for a +longer period. But all seemed anxious to manifest their +respect for one who was endeared to them by such striking +testimonies of true Christianity.</p> +<p>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 Elizabeth.</p> +<p><!-- page 111--><a name="page111"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +111</span>It is not easy to describe the sensation which the mind +experiences on the first sight of a dead countenance, which, when +living, was loved and esteemed for the sake of that soul which +used to give it animation. A deep and awful view of the +separation that has taken place between the soul and body of the +deceased, since we last beheld them, occupies the feelings; our +friend seems to be both near, and yet far off. The most +interesting and valuable part is fled away: what remains is but +the earthly perishing habitation, no longer occupied by its +tenant. Yet the features present the accustomed association +of friendly intercourse. For one moment we could think them +asleep. The next reminds us that the blood circulates no +more: the eye has lost its power of seeing, the ear of hearing, +the heart of throbbing, and the limbs of moving. Quickly a +thought of glory breaks in upon the mind, and we imagine the dear +departed soul to be arrived at its long wished-for rest. It +is surrounded by cherubim and seraphim, and sings the song of +Moses and the Lamb on Mount Sion. Amid the solemn stillness +of the chamber of death, imagination hears heavenly hymns chanted +by the spirits of just men made perfect. In another moment, +the livid lips and sunken eye of the clay-cold corpse recall our +thoughts <!-- page 112--><a name="page112"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 112</span>to earth, and to ourselves +again. And while we think of mortality, sin, death, and the +grave, we feel the prayer rise in our bosom—“O let me +die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like +his!”</p> +<p>If there be a moment when Christ and salvation, death, +judgment, heaven, and hell, appear more than ever to be momentous +subjects of meditation, it is that which brings us to the side of +a coffin containing the body of a departed believer.</p> +<p>Elizabeth’s features were altered, but much of her +likeness remained. Her father and mother sat at the head, +her brother at the foot of the coffin. The father silently +and alternately looked upon his dead child, and then lifted up +his eyes to heaven. A struggle for resignation to the will +of God was manifest in his countenance; while the tears rolling +down his aged cheeks at the same time declared his grief and +affection. The poor mother cried and sobbed aloud, and +appeared to be much overcome by the shock of separation from a +daughter so justly dear to her. The weakness and infirmity +of old age added a character to her sorrow, which called for much +tenderness and compassion.</p> +<p>A remarkably decent-looking woman, who had the management of +the few simple though <!-- page 113--><a name="page113"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 113</span>solemn ceremonies which the case +required, advanced towards me, saying:</p> +<p>“Sir, this is rather a sight of joy than of +sorrow. Our dear friend Elizabeth finds it to be so, I have +no doubt. She is beyond <i>all</i> sorrow. Do you not +think she is, sir?”</p> +<p>“After what I have known, and seen, and heard,” I +replied, “I feel the fullest assurance that while her body +remains here, the soul is with her Saviour in Paradise. She +loved Him <i>here</i>, and <i>there</i> she enjoys the pleasures +which are at his right hand for evermore.”</p> +<p>“Mercy, mercy upon a poor old creature, almost broken +down with age and grief! What shall I do? +Betsy’s gone! My daughter’s dead! O, my +child! I shall never see thee more! God be merciful +to me a sinner!”—sobbed out the poor mother.</p> +<p>“That last prayer, my dear, good woman,” said I, +“will bring you and your child together again. It is +a cry that has brought thousands to glory. It brought your +daughter there, and I hope it will bring you thither +likewise. God will in nowise cast out any that come to +Him.”</p> +<p>“My dear,” said the Dairyman, breaking the long +silence he had maintained, “let us trust God with our +child; and let us trust Him with <!-- page 114--><a +name="page114"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 114</span>our +ownselves. ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken +away; blessed be the name of the Lord!’ We are old, +and can have but a little further to travel in our journey, and +then—” he could say no more.</p> +<p>The soldier, mentioned in my last paper, reached a Bible into +my hand, and said—“Perhaps, sir, you would not object +to reading a chapter before we go to the church?”</p> +<p>I did so; it was the fourteenth of the Book of Job. A +sweet tranquillity prevailed while I read it. Each minute +that was spent in this funereal chamber seemed to be +valuable. I made a few observations on the chapter, and +connected them with the case of our departed sister.</p> +<p>“I am but a poor soldier,” said our military +friend, “and have nothing of this world’s goods +beyond my daily subsistence; but I would not exchange my hope of +salvation in the next world for all that this world could bestow +without it. What is wealth without grace? Blessed be +God! as I march about from one quarter to another, I still find +the Lord wherever I go; and, thanks be to his holy name, He is +here to-day in the midst of this company of the living and the +dead. I feel that it is good to be here.”</p> +<p>Some other persons present began to take a <!-- page 115--><a +name="page115"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 115</span>part in our +conversation, in the course of which the life and experience of +the Dairyman’s daughter were brought forward in a very +interesting manner. Each friend had something to relate in +testimony of her gracious disposition. A young woman under +twenty, who had hitherto been a very light and trifling +character, appeared to be remarkably impressed by the +conversation of that day; and I have since had reason to believe +that Divine grace then began to influence her in the choice of +that better part, which shall not be taken from her.</p> +<p>What a contrast does such a scene as this exhibit, when +compared with the dull, formal, unedifying, and often indecent +manner in which funeral parties assemble in the house of +death!</p> +<p>As we conversed, the parents revived. Our subject of +discourse was delightful to their hearts. Their child +seemed almost to be alive again, while we talked of her. +Tearful smiles often brightened their countenances, as they heard +the voice of friendship uttering their daughter’s praises; +or rather the praises of Him who had made her a vessel of mercy, +and an instrument of spiritual good to her family.</p> +<p>The time for departing was now at hand.</p> +<p>I went to take my last look at the deceased. There was +much written on her countenance. <!-- page 116--><a +name="page116"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 116</span>She had +evidently died with a smile. It still remained, and spoke +the tranquillity of her soul. According to the custom of +the country, she was decorated with leaves and flowers in the +coffin: she seemed as a bride gone forth to meet the +bridegroom. These, indeed, were fading flowers, but they +reminded me of that paradise whose flowers are immortal, and +where her never-dying soul is at rest.</p> +<p>I remembered the last words which I had heard her speak, and +was instantly struck with the happy thought that “death was +indeed swallowed up in victory.”</p> +<p>As I slowly retired, I said inwardly, “Peace, my +honoured sister, be to <i>thy</i> memory and to <i>my</i> soul, +till we meet in a better world.”</p> +<p>In a little time, the procession formed: it was rendered the +more interesting by the consideration of so many that followed +the coffin being persons of a devout and spiritual +character. The distance was rather more than a mile. +I resolved to continue with and go before them, as they moved +slowly onwards.</p> +<p>Immediately after the body came the venerable father and +mother, <a name="citation116"></a><a href="#footnote116" +class="citation">[116]</a> bending with age, and weeping <!-- +page 117--><a name="page117"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +117</span>through much affection of heart. Their appearance +was calculated to excite every emotion of pity, love, and +esteem. The other relatives followed them in order, and the +several attendant friends took their places behind.</p> +<p>After we had advanced about a hundred yards, my meditation was +unexpectedly and most agreeably <!-- page 118--><a +name="page118"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +118</span>interrupted, by the friends who attended beginning to +sing a funeral psalm. Nothing could be more sweet or +solemn. The well-known effect of the open air, in softening +and blending the sounds of music, was here peculiarly felt. +The road through which we passed was beautiful and +romantic. It lay at the foot <!-- page 119--><a +name="page119"></a><span class="pagenum">p. 119</span>of a hill, +which occasionally re-echoed the voices of the singers, and +seemed to give faint replies to the notes of the mourners. +The funeral-knell was distinctly heard from the church tower, and +increased the effect which this simple and becoming service +produced.</p> +<p>We went by several cottages; a respectful attention was +universally observed as we passed: and the countenances of many +proclaimed their regard for the departed young woman. The +singing was regularly continued, with occasional intervals of +about five minutes, during our whole progress.</p> +<p>I cannot describe the state of my own mind as peculiarly +connected with this solemn singing. I never witnessed a +similar instance before or since. I was reminded of elder +times and ancient piety. I wished the practice more +frequent. It seems well calculated to excite and cherish +devotion and religious affections.</p> +<p>Music, when judiciously brought into the service of religion, +is one of the most delightful, and not least efficacious means of +grace. I pretend not too minutely to conjecture as to the +actual nature of those pleasures which, after the resurrection, +the reunited body and soul will enjoy in heaven; but I can hardly +persuade myself that melody and harmony will be wanting, <!-- +page 120--><a name="page120"></a><span class="pagenum">p. +120</span>when even the sense of hearing shall itself be +glorified.</p> +<p>We arrived at the church. The service was heard with +deep and affectionate attention. When we came to the grave, +the hymn which Elizabeth had selected was sung. All was +devout, simple, animating. We committed our dear +sister’s body to the earth, in full hope of a joyful +resurrection.</p> +<p>Thus was the veil of separation drawn for a season. She +is departed, and no more seen, but she will be seen on the right +hand of her Redeemer at the last day; and will again appear to +his glory, a miracle of grace and a monument of mercy.</p> +<p>My reader, rich or poor, shall you and I appear there +likewise? Are we “clothed with humility,” and +arrayed in the wedding-garment of a Redeemer’s +righteousness? Are we turned from idols to serve the living +God? Are we sensible of our own emptiness, and therefore +flying to a Saviour’s fulness to obtain grace and +strength? Do we indeed live in Christ, and on Him, and by +Him, and with Him? Is He our all in all? Are we +“lost and found,” “dead and alive +again?”</p> +<p>My <i>poor</i> reader, the Dairyman’s daughter was a +<i>poor</i> girl, and the child of a <i>poor</i> man. +Herein <!-- page 121--><a name="page121"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 121</span>thou resemblest her; but dost thou +resemble <i>her</i> as she resembled Christ? Art thou made +rich by faith? Hast thou a crown laid up for thee? Is +thine heart set upon heavenly riches? If not, read this +story once more, and then pray earnestly for like precious +faith?</p> +<p>But if, through grace, thou dost love and serve the Redeemer +that saved the Dairyman’s daughter, grace, peace, and mercy +be with thee! The lines are fallen unto thee in pleasant +places! thou hast a goodly heritage. Press forward in duty, +and wait upon the Lord, possessing thy soul in holy +patience. Thou hast just been with me to the grave of a +departed believer. Now, “go thy way, till the end be; +for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the +days.”</p> +<h2>Footnotes:</h2> +<p><a name="footnote116"></a><a href="#citation116" +class="footnote">[116]</a> An interesting account of a +visit made to the Dairyman, appeared in the <i>Christian +Guardian</i> for October 1813, and which is here +inserted:—</p> +<p>“It has rarely, if ever, fallen to my lot to trace the +gracious dealing of God with greater advantage or delight, than +in the narrative of the Dairyman’s Daughter: and as the +Isle of Wight had evidently furnished the author with the scenery +he has so finely touched, I concluded that the pious subject of +the little memoir had resided there, and determined that, when I +next visited that delightful spot, I would make inquiry +respecting her. At the close of April last year, I had +occasion to go there. At the village of B--- I had the good +fortune to learn her name, and the situation of the cottage that +had been honoured with her residence and death; and being told +that the old man, her father, whose name is W---, still lived +there, I determined to find out his humble dwelling, and obtain +an interview with the aged Dairyman.</p> +<p>“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 High. On inquiry, I found that +Elizabeth W--- died about eleven years ago; that her mother +followed her in the same year; that one of her brothers (whom I +did not see) lived in the same cottage; and that her father was +about eighty years of age. The venerable old man appeared +to wonder at the feelings of a stranger, but seemed thankful for +my visit, and wept as I made past scenes again pass before his +view. I was happy to find that his hopes were built upon +the Rock of Ages; that his sure trust was in the Redeemer of +sinners. We talked of the kind attentions of the Rev. Mr +---, of the happy death of Elizabeth, of the wondrous grace of +God; and when I bade him farewell, and reminded him how soon he +would again see his daughter, not, indeed, encompassed with +infirmity, and depressed with disease, but “shining as the +sun in the firmament,” the poor old man wept plentifully, +and little would he be to be envied who could have +refrained. I looked back on the cottage until it could no +longer be seen, and then went on my way rejoicing.</p> +<p>“On the third of November last, being again in that +district, I had the pleasure of repeating my visit to the good +old Dairyman, who immediately recollected me. He told me +many persons had been to see him since my former call, but he +believed they were strangers, not inhabitants of the +island. He appeared much weaker than before, and evidently +drawing nearer to his rest. Whether he is still living, I +know not; but it is probable I shall see him no +more.”—The pious old Dairyman lived three years after +this visit: he departed in the hope of meeting his gracious +Redeemer.</p> +<p style="text-align: center">* * * * *</p> +<p style="text-align: center"><i>Schenck & +M‘Farlane</i>, <i>Printers</i>, <i>Edinburgh</i>.</p> +<h2><!-- page 123--><a name="page123"></a><span +class="pagenum">p. 123</span>POPULAR BOOKS<br /> +<span class="smcap">published by</span><br /> +ALEXANDER HISLOP & CO.,<br /> +<span class="smcap">edinburgh</span>,<br /> +<span class="smcap"><i>and sold by all +booksellers</i></span>.</h2> +<h3>New Juvenile Reward-Books.</h3> +<p><i>Small 8vo</i>, <i>illustrated</i>, <i>beautifully +bound</i>, <i>cloth elegant</i>, <i>price 1s. 6d. each</i>.</p> +<p>1. <span class="smcap">Ned’s Motto</span>: +“<span class="smcap">Little by Little</span>.” +By the Author of “Win and Wear,” &c.</p> +<p>2. <span class="smcap">Bertie Lee</span>; or, <span +class="smcap">The Threshold of Life</span>. 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