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diff --git a/38545-0.txt b/38545-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c751d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/38545-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1991 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Pilot's Daughter, by Francis Cunningham + + +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 Pilot's Daughter + an account of Elizabeth Cullingham + + +Author: Francis Cunningham + + + +Release Date: January 10, 2012 [eBook #38545] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER*** + + +Transcribed from the 1841 L. & G. Seeley edition by David Price, email +ccx074@pglaf.org + + PRINTED BY + L. AND G. SEELEY, THAMES DITTON, SURREY. + + + + + + THE + PILOT’S DAUGHTER; + + + AN ACCOUNT OF + ELIZABETH CULLINGHAM, + WHO WAS BORN AND DIED + IN + THE PARISH OF LOWESTOFT. + + * * * * * + + BY THE + REV. FRANCIS CUNNINGHAM, M.A. + VICAR OF LOWESTOFT. + + * * * * * + + LONDON: + L. AND G. SEELEY, 169 FLEET STREET. + J. HATCHARD AND SON, PICCADILLY. + J. NESBIT, BERNER’S STREET. + + * * * * * + + 1841. + + + + +THE PILOT’S DAUGHTER. + + +The subject of this little memoir was so well known to her neighbours, +and to the many young persons with whom she associated, that I have felt +sure a short account of her would not be unacceptable to them. They knew +her quiet, virtuous, consistent, pious walk, and they will, I am sure, +bear witness, that I do not over-state the blameless character which she +maintained. This, as it was an example to others, so it must be a cause +of heartfelt rejoicing to her friends now that she has finished her +course, and entered into her rest. To others, this little history may +have its use. It is not the account of a person of unusual powers of +mind, or of attainment; nor of one placed in extraordinary circumstances, +although she was blessed with pious parents, who watchfully instructed +her in the truths of Religion, as well as taught her by their example. +She had only the advantages which many young persons in every village and +town possess, nor did she attain to any situation in life, which +multitudes may not aspire to. But she gained a deep and well-grounded +feeling of Religion. She learned the evil nature of her heart. She +discovered and gained that treasure, which is revealed in the Lord Jesus +Christ. She laid hold by faith on his merits. She was taught of the +Holy Spirit; and the graces of the Spirit were in an eminent degree +manifested in her life. She by the same power acquired the adorning of +the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the +ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of the Lord of +great price. She followed in the simple training of the ministry of the +Church: neither seeking to wander from its pastures, nor exercising any +want of charity towards those who differed from her, one of whom, +attached to another denomination of Christians, her only surviving +sister, and nearest friend, was her constant companion; with her she +lived in perfect unity of Spirit. Her circumstances then had nothing in +them out of the ordinary course of human life. She had temptations +peculiar to her own character and disposition, and she met with the usual +trials, which belong to her situation in life. She had her time of +health, and of sickness. She was a daughter and a sister. She was +engaged in a variety of pursuits both to gain her livelihood, and to do +good to others; but in every state,—without exhibiting any quality to +which her friends and neighbours might not aspire,—she may be truly said +to have walked after her measure in her Master’s footsteps, and to have +adorned her Christian profession. + +The father of this young woman was James Cullingham. He had for many +years been a Pilot. He was a man of somewhat original character. +Throughout his life he had followed, without variation, the usual line of +his calling, and faithfully discharged the duties of his occupation. The +business of a Pilot on this part of the coast, is to take ships coming +from the North to London. Then to return home again, to wait perhaps a +few days till the opportunity occurs of another voyage. This kind of +life is one of a good deal of temptation; but it did not prove more than +this to him, for he passed through it without reproach, although somewhat +unsuccessfully as to his own profit. In the depth of the winter, when +the Northern Ports were frozen, his usual duties were suspended. It was +in these intervals we had occasion to observe his valuable character. +His season of rest was employed chiefly at home, reading various books; +in his latter years, books of devotion; and he was rarely absent from the +House of God. In the latter part of his life, he was in the habit, when +at home, of having stated prayer three times a day; and he read the +Scriptures in the order of the Calendar of the Prayer Book; at this +period he also gave up all watching for the coming in sight of ships on +the Sabbath day; always, however, being ready to go out to them, as his +profession called him to do, if there was any actual necessity. On the +week days at the prayers, as well as on the Sunday, he constantly +attended the services of the Church. I shall long remember, during the +last years of his life, (the only period when I knew him,) his +respectable appearance, his attentive demeanour and the animation with +which he made the responses out of a large prayer book, which was his +constant companion, altogether manifesting the fulness of heart, with +which he entered into the service of God. He was a fine model of a man, +whose religion partook of the character of a former age. He was deeply +serious, entirely practical, strict in his attachment to the Church; but +his religious feeling, although it led him sometimes to a fearless +reproach of sin in others, did not so much draw him to aim at the +conversion of his neighbours. He owed very much of the expansion of his +religious mind to a social Prayer Meeting, at which he was a constant +attendant. One of his family remembers the first deviation from that +remarkable firmness which belonged to his natural character, on which +occasion he came home from one of these Meetings, deeply affected, and +witnessed by his tears, the impression he had received. He had one +remarkable deliverance from Shipwreck. He had been called to take charge +of a ship in distress which in the course of ten minutes must have +perished, had it not pleased God to direct an instantaneous change of the +wind. In this danger he felt himself calm and prepared for his end. He +was, in after years, constantly sensible of this deliverance, and on two +sheets of paper, nailed up in his bed room, he wrote as a memorial in his +own large hand: “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I +fear; the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid?” +And “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart hath trusted in him, +and I am helped: therefore my heart danceth for joy, and in my song will +I praise him.” Psalm xxviii. 8. He was a man of undaunted courage, +considering, that in his station of life, it was his duty to run any +risks by which he might be faithful to his occupation, and acquit himself +of the responsibility entrusted to him. + +Elizabeth’s Mother was a person of no common character. She had been +left an orphan at sixteen years of age. She had spent many years in +service, and at the conclusion of this time, had married. Her character +was one of great decision, and warmth of feeling. She was a person of +singular benevolence, and filled a valuable post amongst her afflicted +neighbours, and in our District Society. Her great sympathy with others, +and her uncommon power of body and of mind, had led her to give up days +and nights to nursing her neighbours. This labour eventually undermined, +and permanently injured her vigorous constitution. Those only, who saw +her in her afflictions, can be aware of the deep feeling which dwelt in +her heart. She was in the habit of reading a variety of common books +which fell in her way. I remember some very curious questions, which she +once put to me on the family of an individual, which had figured in the +History of England. Her piety was ardent. It was her habit to retire +every afternoon to her chamber for prayer. She had not, perhaps, as much +of adherence to the forms of the Church as her husband, although she was +zealously attached to it, and a constant frequenter of its services. She +was very peculiarly observant of statements of doctrine, made in the +Public Ministry, giving the most marked preference to those which freely +offered the grace of God to all. She had been led to very deep +seriousness of religious feeling by the ardent piety and interesting +death of her second daughter, who exemplified, during eleven weeks of +painful sickness, an attainment in religion, which afforded the fullest +assurance of her joyful entry into the everlasting kingdom of her Lord +and Saviour. That daughter had taken a somewhat higher course of mental +pursuit, than any of her family. She was accustomed to express her +devout feeling in verse, and a copy book has been put into my hands, +containing a variety of little poems, which at least shew her sweetness +of mind, and her knowledge of religion. I cannot forbear quoting one of +them, not particularly for its excellence, but because it serves to +prove, in reply to the charge often made of ingratitude against the poor, +how frequently a deep feeling of thankfulness may exist, which +nevertheless gains no public expression. These lines are on the death of +a venerable Clergyman, whom I myself knew to have been frequently +foremost in acts of benevolence, and often, if necessity required it, +willing to stand almost alone in deeds of enlarged charity. + + ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. J. G. SPURGEON, + RECTOR OF OULTON. + + Hark! tis the loud knell which tolling so dreary, + Announces to all, a frail mortal’s decease; + That relieved from pain, at rest is the weary, + A Christian has entered the mansions of peace. + + But it tells us a _friend of the poor_ is departed, + A benevolent friend has resign’d his last breath, + And the eye where the soft tear of pity has started, + Is now closed, and sleeps in the silence of death. + + Yet while in deep sorrow, his loss we’re deploring, + His spirit is mounting to Heaven above; + To those regions of light he is rapidly soaring, + To reap the reward of his labours of love. + + Peace to thine ashes! thy warfare is ended, + Thou hast fought the good fight, and hast entered thy rest; + Still a tear dims their eye, thou so kindly befriended, + And thy memory is sweet to the poor and distress’d. + +On her death bed, Susan Cullingham spoke of ‘passing the dark valley, +but,’ she added, ‘It is _light_,’ and she bade her friends go to the +grave, not to _weep_, but to look for her in heaven. + +I think that I have rarely known in their rank of life, a finer specimen, +of what I might wish the whole population of my parish to be, than the +Father and Mother of Elizabeth Cullingham. They lived most happily +together, and after death were not long separated. Their death I shall +have occasion presently to record. + +Elizabeth’s early life was such as might be expected in her station. She +had exceedingly good health and spirits at this period. She was fully on +par with all other girls in childish pursuits. Her disposition was, +however, always careful. She was considerate in all things, not wasteful +of any thing, a stayer at home, prudent and disposed to seriousness. At +the age of sixteen, she went to fill a subordinate situation in a family +in London, in which a female relative was the housekeeper. In this +situation she was exposed to no more temptation than belongs to a servant +in general. She was permitted, indeed, to partake of the usual +amusements which are allowed to servants in London, but she was protected +from the evils which might have resulted from those amusements, by the +watchful attention of the relation under whose care she was placed, and +by the preventing grace of God. + +During the three years of her residence in London nothing occurred to +mark her course. She fulfilled her duties, and gained the character of a +good servant. She returned to Lowestoft about the month of May, 1831, in +health and spirits. Her return was the wish of her careful mother, who +feared to leave her daughter at a distance, without the protection of the +kind relative, who had now retired from service. On her return, +Elizabeth resided in her own family, and followed the business she had +been taught; but her residence at home was under somewhat new +circumstances. At this period certain means of instruction were offered +to the young people of the parish, which, under Divine help, were +peculiarly calculated to meet her opening mind. These means were 1st, a +Bible Class, and 2nd, a meeting of women, belonging to the Church, for +the more especial object of Social Prayer. Both of these she frequently +acknowledged to have been of great advantage to her. + +In the Bible Class, the Scriptures were read, and generally explained, +whilst the object constantly kept in view was to fix the word on the +conscience of the young people. Each one of these were invited to repeat +some portion of Scripture or a hymn, selected by themselves. The meeting +of women was under the immediate. direction of the minister, but presided +over by Mrs. Cunningham: in it the word of God was read, and a review +taken of the sermons of the preceding Sunday. Two or three of the +members were then at liberty to engage in prayer. In the latter years of +her life, Elizabeth occasionally offered up prayer. These meetings were +generally seasons of edification to her, and very much tended to +establish her religious mind: they had also the effect of uniting her +with those of our Church who were likeminded. Their general result I +have found to be greatly beneficial to the Church itself. It was +observed by her relations that from the time of Elizabeth’s first +attendance on these occasions, she devoted herself more entirely to the +service of God. Her conduct was altered: she became more serious, and +she had more love for the Scriptures, and as the necessary consequence, +other books were laid aside: her natural fretfulness was also brought +under, and her character assumed that sweetness and quietness which it +retained till the end. For two or three years she went on in this +course. She was laborious in gaining her livelihood, and as her health +was never strong, after her return home she occupied herself at +needle-work, at which, however, through the indulgence of her parent, she +was not required to labour more than suited her health. + +She was habitually, and by principle, industrious, feeling that it was +equally a Christian duty to be diligent in business, as to be fervent in +spirit, serving the Lord. I do not remember any circumstances relating +to her history at this period which were of importance. For two or three +years she pursued the even tenor of her way. She was dutiful to her +parents, kind to all around her, serviceable to the Church, and in every +way an ornament to her Christian profession. The work of conversion was +obviously going on in her soul. The fulfilment of every duty, private +and public, gave full proof of it. + +It was about the year 1833 that she had the offer made of a situation in +a gentleman’s family, of which the religious habits were particularly +suited to her. Into this family she entered, and was absent for about +three years in a distant part of the kingdom. During this time she had a +severe attack of illness, which resulted in her return home. But as this +new state of servitude was somewhat of a trial to her, and it had its +peculiar burden in her weak state of health, and with her naturally +anxious habit of mind, so it was calculated to exhibit the strength of +principle which she had attained. I am glad to be able to bring forward +a witness of her conduct as a servant during this period. When she was +dead I wrote to her late master, to ask about her, and I subjoin a part +of his reply in his own words. + + _Brighton_, _July_ 28. + + “MY DEAR FRIEND, + + “Though we cannot but lament the removal of such manifestly bright + saints as E. C. from this our lower earth, yet every such removal is + like a door opened in heaven; and one seems to hear her peaceful + spirit saying to us, “Be followers of me, and of them who have + inherited the promises.” Blessed are such dead who die in the Lord. + As long as E. C. was in my service, I always considered her as one of + the most perfect characters I had ever seen. She was with us, I + should think, about three years. + + “She always seemed to me a model of Christian deportment as a + servant, for I never saw one ruffle or ripple in the even stream of + her temper; I never saw her upset or put out by any hasty order or + word which I might have spoken. She was evidently always at rest in + Jesus—enjoying very unusually peace and joy in believing—and this was + no doubt granted to a more simple and consistent _obedience_ than is + generally seen in professors of our days. The characteristic graces + of her state appeared to me humility and quiet contentment in her + situation of life. She had no high sounding profession, but all was + a meek, yet very firm, testimony to that blessed Master’s grace who + had “wrought all her works in her.” + + “When _servants_ are really thus Christian, they do especially + _adorn_ the Gospel of God their Saviour. “Exhort servants to be + obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all + things, not answering again, not purloining, but shewing all good + fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrines of God our Saviour in all + things.” Titus ii. 9. + + “She did this most eminently. Of course I can say little more: the + incidents in a servant’s life are generally so few. Hers was a + blessed constancy, an even flow of calm and established piety.” + + * * * * * * * * * + +The testimony of this letter to the character of Elizabeth, as a servant, +is remarkable. ‘Not one ruffle or ripple in the even stream of her +temper,’ of this naturally anxious, and even fretful, girl. ‘Never upset +or put out by any hasty order or word:’ ‘_consistent obedience_:’ +‘humility and quiet contentment in her situation in life,’ marking all +her course. How truly may we feel with her master that all this was a +strong testimony to the grace of that blessed Saviour, who had “wrought +all her works in her.” Yet what encouragement does this case afford to +many others who are engaged in domestic service. She fulfilled her duty +as unto the Lord, and of her Master in heaven she will doubtless receive +her reward. + +Elizabeth now having returned home, took her place in the parish. She +sought to be serviceable to others as well as to gain her livelihood: she +was a constant helper to the ministry, and a great comfort to her +parents, with whom she dwelt. Her religious mind appeared to be +continually progressing. At the close of the year 1836, she began a +private journal, which has been lent to me. It contains chiefly notes of +sermons which she heard, and of the impression which they produced on her +mind. How happy it is when the soul is brought so to hunger and thirst +after righteousness, that it feeds upon all the food which is presented +to it; when the means of grace are used not without profit, when sermons +are listened to, and applied to the heart, when the word of God is read, +and marked, and inwardly digested, so that the hope of everlasting life +is embraced, and held fast. It was so with Elizabeth C. + +No word seemed to be received without attention and application. I wish +that her example may be followed in this matter, and with the same +blessing. I will now make some extracts from her journal; they will +serve to shew the very inside of her mind. It begins Dec. 18, 1836. +‘Mr. C. preached from Isaiah xl. 3, 5. I felt my mind much impressed +with the sermon. O that the Lord may remove every mountain that impedes +my way to Him.’ Saturday being the last day of the year she writes—‘When +I look back on the past year, how many short comings and backslidings, +how much coldness and lukewarmness have I to mourn over: O blessed Lord, +enable me to dedicate myself afresh to thy service, in entering upon +another year, and do thou pardon all that is passed.’ January 1. ‘The +first text which caught my eye this morning was Isaiah i. 25. “O blessed +Lord, purge away all my sins, and make me to walk humbly before thee.” +Mr. C. preached from Rom. xii. 1, 2. How was my mind impressed when he +pointed out the necessity of giving the whole heart to God. I was led to +pray earnestly that the Lord would enable me to do so for Jesus sake. +January 2. Attended a Prayer Meeting at the Vicarage, to implore the +outpouring of the Spirit. O Lord, hear the prayers which have this day +been offered up. January 15. Mr. C. preached from 1 Cor. ii. 9. The +sermon was truly interesting and affecting, as he spoke to us of the +death of two individuals, Mrs. R., and Mrs. C., well known to us, who +died under very affecting circumstances. Mr. C. pointed out what it was +to love the Lord, and what was prepared for them that love him. We have +no doubt but our dear friends are now enjoying those things which are +prepared for the righteous. O blessed Lord, prepare me for every change +and condition of life; but above all prepare me for death, that I may be +ready to meet thee with joy.’ + +I may be permitted to digress from my subject for a few moments, to +relate the history of the two individuals alluded to. The elder of the +two died full of years, many of which had been spent in the Service of +God. She was 91 years of age, and the Parent, in the fourth generation, +of a large number of our Congregation. Although surrounded by many +witnesses at her death, she departed so quietly, that none could know +when she took her flight. Of her it might be truly said, she had “fallen +asleep in Christ.” The other individual was Mary Rackham. She was the +Mother of a large family; she acted a prominent part in her husband’s +much frequented Butcher’s shop, and this brought her into the observation +of the whole Parish. She was well known by her constant attention to +business, being inferior to none in the active pursuit of her daily +duties. She was confessedly the woman in the parish, who appeared to me +to have the largest share of varied occupation. She was however in the +midst of all her duties, distinguished for her obliging manners to all +about her. In her family, the utmost good order and consistency were +observed. + +She had lost one child, whom she trusted she had trained for God, and now +her longing anxiety was, that all the rest of her family should follow in +the same course. How entirely her heart was set upon this I could well +judge, who was often led into conversation with her on that subject. But +her labours and conflicts, and her victory in her own soul were still +more conspicuous. She was naturally of an eager and sanguine +temperament, but that this had an entirely new and spiritual direction +was manifest to all. Her disposition was not to entertain high notions +of herself; yet was she confident in her Saviour, and she never testified +any doubt as to her portion in Him. Her zeal for the Service of God was +very great, and her attendance at his house, considering her +circumstances, was remarkable. On Thursday Evening, as on Sunday, she +was always to be found in her place. She was an attendant at the latest +Sacrament, and twice at the services on the last Sunday of her life. But +her seasons of private devotion were as regularly maintained. She was +watchful to secure her morning and evening retirement;—and in order to +keep up the Spirit of devotion, which she feared might flag through the +hurry of business; she constantly retired in the middle of the day, when +her business had a pause, for the purposes of reading and devotional +exercises. She was a member, and a constant attendant, when she was +able, on the Society for Social prayer. She died after her confinement; +and we had the opportunity of witnessing only an awful, but a calm and +cheerful delirium which filled up her latest hours. But a more beautiful +and instructive example of holy devotedness to every duty, performed in +the faith of Christ, we could scarcely have had the opportunity of +witnessing, than that which she exhibited in her daily walk and +conversation. She died at the age of 35 years, leaving five children +behind her. + +The Journal of E. C. goes on. ‘Thursday Evening, March 5. Mr. Hogarth +preached from 2 Cor. v. He described the body as a tent, which must soon +be dissolved, and the miseries of the wicked, who have no hope beyond +this life. None said Mr. H., but the followers of Christ can take up the +language of the text. Enable me, O Lord, thine unworthy servant, +experimentally to feel that I, even I, have a building of God, an house +not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. March 8. Mr. C. spoke of a +dear Christian friend, S. J. who was called to put off her earthly +tabernacle last Sabbath. We feel assured she had a building of God, an +house prepared for her disembodied Spirit—to her, said Mr. C. may the +text be applied. “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into +the Joy of thy Lord.” Give me grace, O Lord, to improve the talent +committed to me, that when thou callest me to give up my account, I may +be ready as thy servant was.’ Susan Jones, the person here alluded to, +was an individual of great interest. She illustrated a valuable little +tract, entitled the “_Single talent well employed_.” She was one of +three sisters, who lived together in Lowestoft. She had resided with a +family in Scotland, whose testimony to her worth, as well as that of the +heads of the family in which she died, I shall venture to insert. She +was one of the brightest ornaments of our little Christian Society, and +much beloved by all who knew her. I will copy the account of her +inscribed in the memoranda of a friend. + + ‘This morning’s post brought me the tidings of dear Susan Jones’ + death, or rather of her being on the point of death, and a request + that I would inform her sisters of it. Another valued member of our + Society, a true sister in the Lord—one much beloved by us and by many + here is now departed! The letter was from Mr. S. a Clergyman, with + whom she had been staying at Woodbridge about three months, in order + to nurse Mrs. S. in her confinement.’ + +The following is an extract of his letter. + + ‘Poor dear Susan was apparently well this morning, and engaged as + usual, till about 11 o’clock; when upon her stooping down, she felt + an acute pain; but as she was subject to this, we were not + alarmed.—Finding, however, that the pain continued, we sent for our + medical attendant. The suffering for a short time became acute, and + the symptoms so alarming, that it was soon evident there was no hope + of her life. It is considered that a vessel near the heart had given + way, and that she is sinking from internal bleeding. She is indeed + as one fallen asleep. Her mind is calm, and her heart is + _fixed_;—her gratitude to God, her patience, love, _humility_, + combined with simple trust, are all so conspicuous, that I cannot + perceive which is the greatest. She appears not to have a thought in + the world, and has not said one word regarding it. Her thoughts are + all towards God, and the voice of praise and prayer to him, for + spiritual blessings are her only theme. “Thy will be done,” seems + the first and uppermost feeling of her heart. You may feel assured + when you receive this, that her Spirit is in Heaven, with her beloved + Saviour. All her words are now either to, or of her God and Saviour, + and she appears to have closed her senses to this trying scene. Her + bodily sufferings now are small. I feel as though in parting from + her, I was losing one of my best friends, and I only pray that the + Almighty, in his mercy, may so help me, that I may see dear Susan in + another and better world. With every good wish and prayer,’ + + Believe me, + Yours faithfully, + J. P. S.’ + +February 27th. ‘Received this morning the account of dear Susan Jones’s +death. The following is an extract from Mr. S’s. second letter.’ + + ‘Poor dear Susan was called away a few hours sooner than we expected. + She breathed her last a quarter before one o’clock this morning, when + she exchanged a Sabbath day on earth, for an eternal Sabbath in + heaven. I feel as strong a confidence that she is now in glory, as I + can feel of any person I ever knew. The verse for the day in the + Christian Almanack, 26th February, is, “There remaineth, therefore, a + rest for the people of God,” as it were greeting me on my coming down + stairs this morning, with a most welcome and appropriate assurance, + and as it were in confirmation of my feelings. All I can say of her + in her life, and in her death, would come short of the reality, and I + can only hope and pray that I may be kept from abusing the privilege + I have had in her friendship; and that her image and example may, by + God’s blessing, be the means of assisting my weakness, and helping me + on to an _entrance_ into glory for ever and ever with her!’ + +May we seek to follow her humble and Christian course, blameless and +harmless as she was, loved by all, and loving all. She was not quick to +discover, or speak of the faults of others, being too humbly alive to her +own. I never remember to have left her after the fullest communications +with her, distressed or perplexed by histories of others, and their +faults and failings; over these she drew the curtain, and fixed her eye +_only upon her own_. She introduced the subject of other people only to +speak kindly and affectionately of them: she appeared “without +partiality,” nor had she that selfishness which soon takes affront: I +never knew her vexed with any one for supposed unkindness or neglect: she +seemed always to think she received more than she deserved. O may we all +have grace to follow her in this, and in many other of her Christian +virtues. + +When thus suddenly seized, and with nothing but death before her, her +soul was found perfectly _staid_. No distressing fears or conflicts +overwhelmed her; but she met the summons with perfect fortitude and +resignation. When Mr. S. said to her, ‘Dear Susan, do you not feel +afraid?’ ‘O no, sir, I have no fear; I am leaning on the arm of Jesus, +He is my support—He is holding me behind and before. God has laid his +hand upon me: His will be done; He will keep me, He will support me.’ +The sting of death seemed entirely withdrawn, and the glorious hope of +being for ever with the Lord, swallowed up all pain in quitting this +valley of tears. O the blessedness of living thus in preparation for +death! May the instructive lesson sink deeply into all our hearts, +leading us to a watchful circumspect devotion to our God and Saviour; +that, when he shall please to call us, we may say with her, ‘_ready_, +_Lord_, _ready_.’ + +As it was my painful office to inform her dear sisters of the affecting +event of Susan’s seizure and probable departure at that moment, I went in +after the service on Sunday morning. At the moment of my entry, Hannah +was reading a paper she held in her hand. I asked them if they had heard +any thing of Susan. ‘Not very lately; but we have just been reading a +paper of her’s we found in her Bible.’ These were the words:—‘O my dear +sisters, we have now began another year, O may we live it _fit to die_, +should we be called away before it is past. This day I have been to hear +Mr. Salmon, and we had a most excellent sermon from Zechariah i. 5. +“Your fathers, where are they?” God bless you both.—Susan Jones.’ + +This seemed a merciful preparation for breaking to them the sorrowful +tidings, which I did, as carefully as possible, endeavouring to arm them +with Christian feeling of dependance upon God, and with sense of His +presence and love in this event. They were not at first so overwhelmed +as I expected: they were deeply attached to each other, and nothing could +exceed the careful and affectionate manner in which Susan had nursed +Elizabeth in a long and painful illness. Her watchful affection had +bound them still more closely together. + +Elizabeth Jones has since died, and has left ample testimony to her faith +in the Lord Jesus Christ, and her meetness to appear in the presence of +God, through the merit of her Saviour. We had most interesting and +satisfactory testimonies of Susan Jones’s character from others. Lady H. +thus writes of her in a letter to Elizabeth. + + ‘You cannot doubt how great were my feelings of sorrow, when I heard + of the decease of my faithful friend, your dear sister Susan; indeed + I hardly think any such event, out of my own family, could have + grieved us all so deeply. Almost the last words I ever heard from + her were, ‘if I am gone when you return to England, never sorrow for + your poor old servant.’ But I do sorrow for her very deeply, and + shall always think that I have lost a faithful friend, one who did me + and my children good, and not evil, during all those days of her life + which she spent with me, and I am very sure she has continued to do + us good by the hearty prayers she addressed for us, to Him whose eyes + are in every place. Her unwearied kindness to my children, I never + did, and never could, repay; I allude chiefly to the good principles + she taught them, of love to God, love to their parents, to one + another, and to all their brethren of mankind. O happy mother shall + I be, if my offspring depart not from the ways which their old nurse + taught them. + + ‘When I was at the Lord’s table last Sunday, I thought of Susan, who + had so often been there with her master and me. I was prepared to + remember her when we are directed to bless the Lord ‘for all his + servants departed this life in His faith and fear,’ whose good + example, whatever their station in this world may have been, we pray + for grace to follow.’ + +But I will return to some portions of E. C’s. journal. ‘March 12. +Attended the Prayer Meeting as usual in the morning.’ This meeting was +held on the Sabbath morning at 9 o’clock, and is composed of a few +persons who meet together to ask a blessing on the coming means of grace. + +‘I felt my mind,’ she says, ‘much drawn out in prayer. The meeting was +lively, and I trust the Lord was with us, though some of the weakest of +his creatures. In the morning, Mr. C. preached from Hebrews ix. 13, 14, +the first part considering what it was to purge the conscience from dead +works. He spoke not only of the dead works of the unconverted, but also +of the dead works of the Christian. How often is he found hard-hearted, +and cold, and lukewarm, and too often bringing forth fruit to the +dishonour of God. What then but the blood of Christ can cleanse him from +his dead works. Lord, give me grace and faith to apply to that blood +continually.’ So did she speak of her own _deficiencies_. Next she +speaks of her own _labours_ on the same day. ‘Attended the school in the +afternoon. O Lord, bless and own my poor labours. Enable me to teach +for Thee, that thy name may be glorified.’ Passing over a portion of her +journal, she comes to ‘April 16. Mr. Hoare preached from Hebrews ix. +14–16. He beautifully described how Christ was the High Priest of his +people; how He atoned for their sins by shedding his own blood; and how +he entered into the Holiest of Holies, where he ever liveth to make +intercession for them. He also spoke of the tenderness of Christ; +whereby he sympathized, and of his power, whereby He was able to save to +the uttermost all that come to God by Him. He most earnestly entreated +the trembling believer to come boldly to One who was both able and +willing to save him.’ Her own reflections on this sermon may be gathered +from the expressions she has applied to it. + +‘Mr. Swanison from Jer. xxxi. 18–20. In the conduct of Ephraim teaching +us the nature of true repentance. The prayer of Ephraim shews the change +in his mind. He entreats God to turn him, feeling that he cannot turn +himself. He feels and owns he has been a rebel, but he relies on the +Lord to turn him and to pardon all his sins. Here we see the mercy and +the love of God displayed. He does not receive the repentant sinner as a +servant, but he calls him his dear son. Oh what encouragement to the +poor returning sinner, to know that God, whom he feels that he has +offended, earnestly remembers him still.’ + +I am glad to make extracts from the sermons of many of my dear fellow +helpers in the gospel, who have been working with me in this field of +labour, and who have each,—one planting, and another watering, but God +giving the increase;—been so honoured as to give suitable culture to a +plant of the Lord, whom they will one day meet in glory, in the heavenly +paradise. I also make these extracts, that we may be enabled to trace +the means by which the mind of our departed friend, was furnished with +food convenient for its growth in grace and holiness. + +‘May 21. Attended the morning Prayer Meeting. Felt rather dead in +prayer. May the Lord quicken my affections and warm my cold heart.’ +‘Mr. C. from Amos viii. 8, 9. Sermon on the Jews. He spoke much on the +fulfilment of prophecy; the Lord, in various places, threatening to +disperse and destroy this people, but not make a full end, &c. &c. O +Blessed Lord, give me to live, that I neglect not this message, for if +thou spared not the natural branches, neither wilt thou spare me if I +neglect thy word. Lord, give me thy Spirit, and guide me in all my ways, +for thy dear Son’s sake.’ + +Passing over other subjects, we may take the effect produced on her mind, +by one of the social meetings before alluded to. + +‘Monday Evening, Sept. 1. Attended Mrs. C.’s meeting. Mrs. C. spoke +much of the Omnipresence of God. I felt the subject very much, and I was +enabled to pour out my soul in prayer. Surely the Lord’s presence was +with us at that time. O blessed Lord, keep me humble; empty me entirely +of self, that my unworthy services may be acceptable in thy sight.’ It +is plain by this passage, that she had felt the approach of temptation, +but she met it in the spirit of watchfulness and prayer. + +On another occasion, she says, ‘I attended the meeting. I trust the Lord +was with our little party, and that he will hear and answer prayer. I +feel my own weakness, and utter unworthiness in approaching thee, O Lord, +but look thou in mercy upon me; pardon my sins, forgive my iniquities, +and let not the imperfections of my prayers render them odious in thy +sight. Thou Lord, knowest my weakness; O strengthen me that I may be +enabled to confess thee with more boldness; but O keep me humble.’ + +‘Oct. 15. This Morning, the Rev. D. Hogarth preached from Malachi ii. 2, +3. O Blessed Jesus, do thou purify and cleanse my soul from the dross of +sin, which I feel still hinders me from enjoying the light of thy +countenance. O remove the veil from mine eyes, and sin from my heart, +that I may see and understand what thy will is; do thou enlighten and +guide me in thy way.’ + +An event now occurred in the family of Elizabeth Cullingham, of the +deepest interest and importance. This was the death of her Father. On +Monday, Jan. 8, 1838, about two o’clock in the afternoon, a foreign ship +came in sight, and hoisted a flag for a Pilot. She was about ten miles +from the shore, but although the weather was threatening, and the evening +approaching, it seemed practicable to reach the ship; and as it was +suspected, that others might be in the offing, which would likewise +require assistance, two Pilots put off, with thirteen men in one yawl, +and one Pilot with twenty-one in another. The dangers which might have +terrified ordinary men, did not prevent these brave seamen from +encountering the perils which threatened them in the way of duty. + +It was a maxim of James Cullingham, that he ought, in his duty as a +Pilot, to fear no danger, and that whenever others would take him, he +should go. The yawls carried their mainsails at first, and expected to +reach their object. But the vessel, instead of keeping its first course +towards the boats, when they were five or six miles from the shore, stood +out to sea. The yawls therefore, in their effort to reach the ship, were +carried far from land,—and daylight drew to a close before the men were +aware of their situation. + +The wind meantime arose, and the snow drifted heavily. The greatest +anxiety was soon felt by all on shore. The scene which presents itself +on these occasions, may be conceived, but not described. Fathers, +Mothers, Wives, Sisters, Brothers, and Children, are seen intently +watching every change in the sky and waves, eagerly gazing upon the +distance to catch a glimpse of the absent objects of their love: grasping +every phantom of hope which may present itself; but at length—convinced +by some undoubted sign, that they must hope no more.—Many are the vows +which are then made; many are the prayers which are then offered. The +watching and suspense, however, were in this case, soon at an end. At +seven o’clock one of the yawls through great danger, reached the shore, +and this left no doubt as to the loss of the other, in which was James +Cullingham, and another Pilot. It is supposed this yawl, the ‘Peace,’ in +endeavouring to get into the gat-way, had missed the light, it being +thick with snow, that she got into broken water, and had gone down. But +none were left to tell the tale of woe. The boat itself, sometime +afterwards, was washed on shore, a complete wreck. Very few of the +bodies were recovered: but amongst the number, that of James Cullingham +was found, very remarkably, eight months afterwards. Twelve widows and +thirty two children, were in consequence of this disaster, left +destitute. This was, indeed, a night of agony, to numbers on shore. +Still the possibility of escape presented itself to their minds, but it +was hoping against hope. Yet was every one afraid of acknowledging to +the chief mourners, what in their own minds was their fixed opinion, that +no chance remained. None would, at all events, be the first to declare +the awful truth to those broken hearted sufferers. + +But there must have been a scene even more affecting than the one now +recorded. In the boat were fifteen men, who were in the very jaws of +destruction. One other heave of the impetuous sea, and their state was +fixed, fixed for ever. Some of them, perhaps, had been drunkards, or +Sabbath breakers, or neglecters of Religion; but now they were called at +once to give account of what they had done, and what they had left +undone, and nothing could be left, to which they might look forward, but +the punishment which awaits the sinner. It is impossible to conceive a +scene more really appalling, although outwardly its awfulness might be +concealed by the anxiety and efforts which it caused. But to think of +the never-dying soul, hitherto uncared for, unprepared with all its sins +upon it, hurried in one moment into judgment, and to the wages of its +transgressions, is awful indeed! What may have been the case of these +men, the day of Judgment will disclose. “Blessed are the dead which die +in the _Lord_.” That it was the portion of James Cullingham so to die, +we can have no doubt. His faith, his converted heart, evidenced by his +life, afford a warrant of good hope as to his condition. He lived to +Christ, and death was doubtless gain to him. Whether at sea, or on his +bed, he might sink in peace, for a joyful inheritance would await him. + +But what was the lot of the mourners in his own bereaved family on that +sad night? James Cullingham had left his house in the morning, and that +he was gone, was probably not more noticed than at other times. It was +expected that the yawl which took him out, would in due course return. + +Soon however, alarm arose on the beach, and rapidly spread itself in the +town. In the evening, it was naturally expected that some news would +come from the Pilots, for the boat which conveyed them to the vessels +must of necessity return. But no news arrived. Elizabeth had been sent +to bed by her Mother, who with her other daughter sat alone in the house +in the deepest anxiety. The wind became very tempestuous. The snow +drifted. A solemn awe was spread over the cottage. But there was +nothing to be done, but to wait, and pray, and to support the mind in +silence; still hoping that every moment would bring them tidings. + +The eldest daughter at length went up stairs, leaving her Mother alone. +The three brothers had been on the beach; and soon apprehending the real +state of the case; they had scattered themselves on the coast, several +miles to the southward, hoping that the boat might be driven on shore in +that direction. Meanwhile a universal apprehension was spread abroad, +and every one who knew how deeply the news would affect the family of +James Cullingham forbore to come to the house, lest they might be the +involuntary means of conveying the sad intelligence. The Mother sat +alone till the morning, at this time a stranger unwittingly revealed the +extent of the calamity. She was heard passing the road, when the anxious +wife went to the door to ask whether she had heard any thing of the yawl. +She replied, unconscious to whom she was speaking. “_Nothing_. _It will +never come back again_!” The awful fact now broke in upon the mind of +Mrs. Cullingham. At once she understood that all was lost; she received +the news however, without any outcry or lamentation. But it sunk deeply +within. Her expression to her daughter was, ‘your Father is gone, he is +safely arrived, I shall join him in Heaven.’ She never once was heard to +murmur. But the blow was intensely severe, and the weight of sorrow +seemed to be borne alike, by the daughters and the Mother. It may be +said to have been the death signal at a more remote period of Elizabeth, +as well as of her Mother. Neither of them ever recovered their health. +To the Widow the loss was in all respects very great. It might truly be +said of her and her husband, “they were pleasant in their lives, and in +their death they were not divided.” In a very few months, she was called +to follow him. A large subscription which was raised, chiefly at a +distance from home, together with the property of her husband, and the +assistance of her Children, left the Mother of Elizabeth in no want as to +her worldly circumstances. But the suddenness, and the manner of her +husband’s death, and the haunting reflection that his body was yet +unburied, left a sort of wretchedness in her mind, which nothing but her +faith and hope could subdue. Her mode of life was now some what altered. +She had more time to read the Scriptures, which she did every afternoon, +as well as morning and evening. But in the month of March, she was +attacked with a paralytic stroke. This was not violent, and it affected +her body more than her mind. It was a time of deep heart searching to +her, and of preparation for her end. Her mind might be said to dwell in +heavenly hope. She was deeply earnest in her devotions. I have entered +her room, and finding her intent in prayer, have retired unobserved. Her +mind was not easily distracted when employed in communing with God. But +her state was not happy; she was oppressed with the sensation of her +disorder, and she continued to feel intensely the circumstances of her +husband’s death, and to mourn over his undiscovered and unburied body. +At length however, it pleased God to relieve her from one of these causes +of grief, by a remarkable interposition of his favor. By a very singular +accident, her husband’s body was washed on shore in the month of October, +many miles from the place where he was lost. It had been lying nearly +nine months in the sea, and, on reaching the shore, had been found, and +buried. Information having been given that a body had been so found, it +was disinterred, and identified by his children. It was then brought +home to Lowestoft, where it now lies in our churchyard, among the remains +of different members of his family. This was an occasion which +peculiarly called out the gratitude of his widow. After this event, she +recovered the full powers of her mind. During the remaining few weeks of +her life, she seemed to have gained clearer assurance of her own safety, +and a more joyful hope and anticipation of future blessedness. Her state +of conflict was now changed to one of full assurance of hope. One +remarkable scene of her last days, of which I was a witness, I will +relate in Elizabeth’s words, copied from her journal. On the day of her +mother’s death she writes, ‘The Lord has been pleased to take my dear +mother out of this state of trial and suffering. How calm, how patient +she was through her long and painful illness. No murmuring, no repining +ever escaped her lips. Her end was peace. Mr. C. called to see her on +the Sunday evening: she was then able to speak only at intervals. He +spoke to her of the joys of heaven. She appeared to take no notice for +some moments, when suddenly reaching forth her hand to heaven, she +exclaimed, _Christ there_! Then bringing it back, and laying it on her +heart, she said, _Christ here_!’ How expressive were these simple words +of her state of mind, and of her hope in her Redeemer. On this day she +spoke to me of ‘going home,’ which was the view she entertained of her +departure. On the last morning of her life she made sign to her daughter +to read to her: she read part of John xiv. The mother then clasped her +hands in prayer. This was nearly the last act of her life. She seemed +now to be peculiarly alive to the reality of the presence of her Lord and +Saviour as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that by Him a heavenly +mansion had been prepared for her. Her room had been a kind of shelter +from the bustle and confusion of the world around, and her daughters, who +in turn remained at home on the Sabbath day, and read the service of the +Church to her, testified of the comfort which those seasons of retirement +ministered to them. These were, indeed, times of refreshment from the +Lord. A friend of her’s thus describes an interview which she had with +her a short time before her death. ‘I had delightful communication with +her just before I left home: I sat by her bed-side, and we talked much on +the eternal state. She was entirely sensible, could look at the +approaching dissolution of her body with perfect peace. We spoke of the +heavenly Jerusalem, and of the joyful prospect before her of entering +into rest: her faith was strong and clear. She renounced every thing in +herself, and through the unmerited mercy of her dear Redeemer, she felt +assured that her sins were pardoned, and that an abundant entrance would +be ministered to her into the everlasting kingdom of her God and Saviour. +Her life of faith, and of active duty, and her death, so cheered by +confidence in the Good Shepherd, afforded the fullest warrant of this +blessed end of all her labours and her trials.’ + +I must now carry back this memoir to the beginning of the year. A +funeral sermon was preached on the occasion of the death of James +Cullingham. He was a communicant, and his character called for this +public notice. Advantage was taken of the same occasion to speak of the +death of another individual, a friend of Elizabeth and her mother, and I +believe of most of the servants of God, who came within her reach in our +little flock. This was Mary Smith. Her husband’s shop in which she +served, made her well known in the parish, and enabled her to do much for +others, and thus brought into view most of the infirmities which belonged +to her nature. She was a woman of very marked and zealous character, +well known to those about her, both in her natural and her renewed state. +In both she was industrious and kind-hearted, a good wife, mother, and +neighbour; but in her former state very clearly without that feeling of +religion which marked her latter years. Indeed it may be said that she +had gone so far as to ‘persecute that way which she afterwards followed.’ +She was a very marked instance of an entire change of heart, by the power +of the Holy Spirit. The natural ardour of her mind was sanctified in her +converted state; it worked with the same power, but in another direction, +and under another influence: she traced the change in her mind to a +sermon which she heard on Phil. ii. 12. She then set conscientiously +about working out her salvation, and she found her heavenly Father, ever +ready to work in her, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Her +sense of this marked interference of the divine power on her behalf was +never lost sight of; for the anniversary of the day when she first gave +heed to the message of salvation, she remembered with much feeling. Of +her domestic character, those who have lived with her have spoken to me, +and have borne high testimony to her as a wife and a mother, and during +her employment in the business of her shop. Her will became remarkably +subjected to the will of God in all things. It may be truly said, that +she did her duties as “to the Lord.” She had a very praiseworthy habit +of praying with her children, whenever she found them in fault. Her +religious character was marked by a strict conformity to the doctrines of +the Church, of which she was a consistent, faithful, zealous member. In +attendance on its services she had been brought to the knowledge of +salvation, and she continued to walk in the truest submission, and the +most lively attachment to its ministry. In another point she has left us +an example. She was ever particularly alive to watch for the souls of +others, to lead them forward, and to draw them to seek God. There are +many now living who could bear witness to the earnestness, with which she +sought to warn the unconverted, to reclaim the wanderer, to recover the +backslider. + +Her kindness to her poor neighbours was remarkable. Her medical man +informed me, that he scarcely ever went into her house, without her first +asking him about some one who wanted relief, which relief she was always +eager to give according to her means, and many were the portions which +her provision-shop supplied. Few ministers have had a more valuable +‘helper,’ in all respects. I must add a short account of her, given to +me in writing by one in her own house, who, at the time when she, Mrs. S. +was opposed to spiritual religion, had chosen another fold than the +Church of England in which to seek the way of salvation. This testimony +is therefore not given in ignorance of her real character, or in undue +partiality to her principles. + +After speaking of the striking circumstances of her conversion, the paper +goes on to say, ‘The words of the Apostle were fulfilled in her. “If any +man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, +behold, all things are become new.” Yes, I know the truth of this, for I +have seen it in her who is departed. Indeed she has proved to all around +her, that she was a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus Christ; not one +who said, “Lord, Lord,” but in works denied him. + +‘She showed her love to God by keeping His commandments. I have known +her, many and many a time, sacrifice her own comforts to relieve her poor +neighbours. I have known her take her clothes from her back, and her +shoes from her feet. It was her delight to do her heavenly Father’s will +in all things. She was determined, as far as she was able, to do good to +all, especially to those of the household of faith. She was one who +visited the sick and afflicted, the fatherless and widow, and strove to +keep herself unspotted from the world. Her views of herself were truly +humble: she took the word of God for her guide. She did not shun to +reprove sin, but knowing the terror of the Lord, she sought to persuade +her fellow-sinners to be reconciled to God. She sought after backsliders +with great care and perseverance, and aimed to encourage those that stood +fast in the Lord. Her love of the means of grace, both public and +private, was very great, and witnessed by her regular attendance on them. +Her patience in her affliction, and resignation to the will of God, was +indeed striking. Her sufferings and trials had been many in life, “but +not too many,” as she said on her dying bed. The cup had been wisely +mixed by her heavenly Father.’ + +January 2. She began to complain of her head, and the next day she was +wholly confined to her bed. Two days after, she became so weak as to be +unable to help herself. On Sunday the 7th she took but little notice. +She was then asked, whether she was happy. She replied, ‘Oh, yes, very +happy, very happy: Christ very precious to me.’ At another time she was +asked, whether she could say, with the Apostle, that she was “ready to be +offered up?” ‘Oh yes,’ she said. On Monday, speaking of death as the +gate of life, she said, ‘O blessed gate—it is the gate of heaven to me:’ +and at another time, ‘Christ is all in all to me.’ On the following +morning she had the power of attention, and answered to the prayer of +others in a fervent Amen. So she departed in peace and blessedness. + + * * * * * + +I must now return to the history of Elizabeth Cullingham. Deep and +constant was her grief at her father’s death. She sympathized with her +family; but she had then the pleasing task of waiting on her mother +through her long affliction, and never was nursing more tenderly +ministered, or more kindly received than by these two sisters, and their +sinking parent. If there was some variety in their form of worship, +their feelings were the same. To gratify their mother’s wishes was next +to the love of God, the main object with her daughters. With her + + ‘That constant flow of love, that knew no fall, + Ne’er roughened by those cataracts and breaks, + That humour interposed too often makes.’ + +Whilst they + + ‘The tender office now engage, + To rock the cradle of reposing age, + With lenient arts extend a mother’s breath, + Make languor smile, and smooth the bed of death; + Explore the thought, explain the asking eye, + And keep awhile _one_ parent from the sky! + +But I must suffer Elizabeth again to speak for herself. + +What follows was written at the close of the year of sorrow, through +which she had just past. ‘Thou, O Lord, hast seen fit to take both my +parents from me, but thy word of promise is, “When father and mother +forsake thee, the Lord will take thee up.” Enable me, O Lord, to follow +my dear parents, as they followed Christ; that when time with me shall be +no more, I may have a joyful entrance into thy kingdom, where parting +shall be no more known, and every tear shall be wiped from my now weeping +eyes. I would desire, blessed Lord, to submit to thy will in these most +affecting bereavements. O comfort me with the consolations of thy +Spirit, and bring me and my dear brothers and sisters near to thyself. +Amidst our many trials may we remember our many mercies. May we be +enabled to thank Thee for all. What a comfort not to sorrow as those +without hope: but to be assured that through the merits of Christ our +dear parents are translated from a body of sin and corruption, to a +glorious immortality.’ + +So Elizabeth wound up the history of the past eventful year. Her +patience, meekness, and resignation, her thankfulness for the mercies she +received, and her joyous hope are alike an instructive lesson to us all. + +I find another interesting record at the beginning of the year 1839. + +‘I have now entered upon another year. Oh how different do all things +now appear, to what they did at the commencement of the last. I was then +blessed with my dear parents, and I looked forward for some years of +comfort and of guidance from them; but thy ways, O Lord, are not my ways, +neither are Thy thoughts my thoughts; Thou hast taken them from me that I +may look to thee alone for help and comfort. O give me grace to seek all +I want from Thee. Wean me, blessed Lord, from the world, and all its +treatments, and enable me to live entirely to Thee. Thou knowest, Lord, +my weakness and proneness to start aside from my best Friend, but pardon +all Thou hast seen amiss in me, through the past year, and enable me now +to live more devotedly to Thy service.’ + +The method which she chose of quietly taking a review of the past, and +forecasting the circumstances of the new year, appeared to be peculiarly +profitable, and may afford a direction as to the mode of spending this +interesting season. + +Elizabeth and her sister were now thrown on their own resources. Their +father’s house was sold for the benefit of his family. After their +removal, they kept a school. This flourished, and it was a great +benefit, as far as it went, in the parish, being conducted with so much +good order and Christian feeling. But after a time, the noise of the +children became unbearable to Elizabeth, and obliged her sister to give +it up, and to turn to other means of support. Elizabeth’s mind, as +appears from her Journal, was all this time gradually growing in grace. +The habits of their little family were very regular. The two sisters +read three or four verses, and prayed together every morning, in addition +to the usual family prayer with their brother, who lived with them. +Elizabeth’s chief infirmity was a proneness to be hurt by unkindness or +neglect; this she tried to conquer, and through Divine Grace, succeeded +to a great degree. She had always been careful of her money, feeling how +needful it might be to her in her weakly state of health. At the time of +her death she had a small sum in the savings bank; but she was alive to +the snare of covetousness. She used to say, what shall we give? She +subscribed to the Missionary and the Jewish Society, and originated a +little Bible Society collection: but she also felt the duty of denying +herself, that she might save something more for these works of charity. +She was constantly diligent, and during the last winter of her life she +read the Scriptures a great deal, and grew proportionally in grace. She +was regular in her attendance at the different meetings, being generally +accompanied by a friend in somewhat similar circumstances of life, who +was attached to our communion. But nothing more marked her character +than a holy, humble, simple, unpretending walk, carrying about with her, +I may truly say, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. She repeatedly +wrote in her Journal during the last year of her life. Her observations +were chiefly founded on sermons which she had heard, and which she +applied to herself. There was not one observation in them of a carping +critical character. But what she received she sought to turn to the best +profit, and to obtain from it growth in grace. Speaking of the sermon of +a young Minister among us, she was struck with his appeal for decision in +religion, on the ground of the uncertainty of life. ‘O,’ she adds, ‘how +he warned and exhorted the young to decide for God, that they might +obtain pardon and peace here, and happiness in the world to come.’ She +concludes her account of another sermon. ‘Help me, O Lord, to watch +always, that I sin not against Thee, and help me so to pray, that the +enemy may flee before me:’ and again, ‘Help me, blessed Lord, to be daily +growing in holiness, humility, and love, that I may feel in every trial, +and temptation, thou art my Rock and Defence.’ As the summary of one +week, she says, ‘I have felt my soul decay in the last week. The enemy +has been permitted to buffet and assault me very much, tempting me to +unbelief. But O thou compassionate Saviour, who prayed for thy disciple +of old, that his faith might not fail, look upon me, and deliver me from +my strong foe. O strengthen my faith, for it is weak. Show me wherein I +have sinned; lift up the light of thy countenance upon me.’ Again, after +a sermon of Mr. Allen’s. ‘What encouragement to the believer to know +that Jesus, his Saviour and Redeemer, has before trodden every painful +path, and endured every conflict, and has promised that as he overcame, +so shall we, through his merit.’ + +She heard a Sermon from a minister before alluded to, on growth in +religion, in which that subject was illustrated by a tree in the growth +of its roots, in its branches, and in its fruitfulness. The subject +appears very much to have struck her. She concludes it by saying, ‘Help +me, blessed Lord, to be daily growing in holiness, humility and love; and +may I feel in every trial and temptation, that thou art my Rock, and my +Defence.’ ‘Nov. 24. I have felt much depressed to day by fretfulness +and coldness: O Lord, quicken me.’ ‘Heard Mr. R. this evening, from Luke +v. 31, 32. Felt my mind much impressed by the Sermon. Blessed Lord, +impress it on my heart, by thy Spirit. Strip me of all +self-righteousness, make me feel more and more, my need of thee.’ + +The above extracts from her Journal, will shew the quiet working of the +Spirit of God in her heart, chiefly by means of the word of God. Other +means are not so commonly and particularly alluded to by her, but she +always in life expressed her profit in all; in the Lord’s Supper, in the +social prayer meetings on Monday Evening, and Sunday Morning, and the +bible class, all of which she continued constantly to attend. I add two +testimonials concerning her. One of them was communicated to a friend at +a distance, who had been staying some time in Lowestoft, and who had been +made acquainted with Elizabeth. It is written by a person who was in the +constant habit of seeing her, and who knew her well. The other is +written by a very intimate friend. + + _Lowestoft_, _July_ 6. 1840. + + MY DEAR FRIEND, + + ‘I must indulge myself by writing a few lines to you, for my heart is + full to-night. We have lost our sweet young friend Elizabeth + Cullingham, in whom you were so much interested. Do not you remember + her spiritual and interesting prayer, the first morning I went with + you to the Sunday prayer meeting? I recollect introducing her to + you. She was indeed a true christian. I never recollect to have + heard any one find the slightest fault with her, nor had I myself + ever occasion to do so in all the intercourse I have had with her, + during the last nine years. Her’s was indeed a chaste conversation, + coupled with fear. It was not the outward adorning of wearing of + gold, or of putting on of apparel, but the ornament of a meek and + quiet Spirit, which shone most conspicuously in her. Chastity, + meekness, and modesty were her striking characteristics. I am glad I + introduced you so particularly to her, and I think you will not + forget the sweet impression of those _visits_. Her lovely subdued + countenance, her neat appearance, the perfect consistency of her + dress, for she was always beautifully neat. I think—I may say I + never knew her expend money on ribbon or other unnecessary article in + dress. I mention this as it is a rare quality, even amongst the + sober and serious young people. The love of dressing beyond their + means and situation in life is so common a habit, and so great a + temptation to young people in general, that her correct conduct in + this respect, was one lovely fruit of having her affections set on + things above. O that our dear young people might see and feel the + beauty of this line of conduct. By her circumspect and careful + conduct, she silenced every tongue that could rise up against her. + The wandering and unsettled desire after pleasure, was quite subdued + in her. She was content to lead a quiet, sober, religious life. She + found it better to avoid the general society of young persons, and + was sweetly content in the situation in which God had placed her; + setting an example to other young women of the beauty of a retired + and modest demeanour, avoiding from taste, as well as principle, all + society that was not religious. She felt that light and trifling + intercourse with those whose hearts followed after vanity and + pleasure, was unprofitable and hurtful. O how blessed it is to see + young persons turn away from following vanity! To see as a fruit of + religion, a separation from the world, from the manners, the + appearance, and the spirit of it. I saw all this in Elizabeth. She + had for many years been a member of our women’s meeting, and though + one of the youngest, her ardent love of the ministry under which she + lived, her Christian experience, and occasionally her prayers, were a + help and comfort to our society, and she was most persevering, though + often very ill. + + ‘I must also notice her example in the house of God. There was no + lightness, or carelessness in her demeanour, but her mind seemed to + be filled with the sense of the divine presence, and to be thirsting + after the knowledge of his truth; she gave the deepest attention to + the preacher’s word. No religious mind can shew lightness in the + house of God. How often have I enjoyed sweet sympathy with her, when + sitting near her in her usual seat at St. Peter’s Chapel. Have we + not endeavoured to “pray with the Spirit, and to sing with the + understanding also?” I could weep from my heart to find her seat + empty. She met patiently her many trials, and meekly bowed her head + to the will of God. The awful death of her father in the yawl, had + deeply afflicted her; indeed she never recovered the shock: but I may + say, under every trial and bodily suffering, of which she had much, I + never heard her complain, but with calm serenity she yielded herself + unto the Lord. + + ‘I had the privilege of visiting her the day before her death, and + found her sweetly serene and happy, full of confidence in her + Saviour; delighting in prayer, and evidently finding it “sweet to lie + passive in her Saviour’s hands,” and to know no will but his. And + the next day, a few hours before her end, can I ever forget the + solemn impressive scene of our partaking of the body and blood of + Christ together in the Holy Sacrament; her deep attention—her + response to the words of the service—her fervent manner in taking the + bread, as a sign or seal of her living upon Christ, who was to her + soul the bread of life, and her drinking the wine as an emblem of + that blood, that she had felt to be so _precious_?’ + + ‘After this solemn communion together, we united in earnest prayer + and thanksgiving on her account, that the works in her might be + finished in righteousness, and that she might soon find herself in + the glorious mansions prepared for her, by the beloved of her soul. + She appeared perfectly sensible, and able to taste this spiritual and + interesting communication with us. I then arose and took my leave of + her.’ + +The testimony of her friend is as follows: + + ‘During the ten years of my intercourse with her, I have found her + conversation as becometh the gospel of Christ. She has treated me at + all times with a sisterly affection and respect; I have proved her a + tried friend, one that would not forsake in time of trouble. Though + separated for three years, I always found her the same dear friend as + ever. I have often been cheered with her kind exhortation to me, to + seek with earnestness the Lord, and attend at all times the means of + grace, telling me they were indeed channels, through which the Lord + bestowed his blessings to his faithful followers. Though we were + separated in body, we were not separated in our union with Christ. + When I have needed reproof, she has given it to me, but in the + meekest manner possible. She was also very tender over the faults of + others. I never heard her speak unkindly of any one—“considering + herself, lest she also should be tempted.” She was most earnest for + a revival in religion, both in our own Church, and for the spread of + the gospel in distant lands. This was evident, both in her prayers + and her zeal in subscribing to different societies. How sorry are we + to lose her name from the number of those young people who are + interested in the Jews, for we always found her most willing to aid + in this delightful cause, and what she gave, seemed to be in the + spirit of prayer. How often I have heard her pour forth her heart in + prayer, that the Jews might be brought into the fold of Christ; and + truly we may say, concerning our Bible Association, which was formed + amongst a few of us, that indeed our head is gone. She was so deeply + interested in it, and did so long for the Anniversary Meeting, that + our subscription might be carried in, not to gain the praise of men, + but with a desire to do something for the glory of God. But she is + gone, and her works do follow her. May I always remember her + christian walk and conversation, for in her I saw the fruits of the + Spirit shine forth, for she was not desirous of vain glory, but in + all points, she esteemed others better than herself. Humbly do I + hope, that the grace which made her to differ, may constrain me to + walk in her steps.’ + +The commencement of the year 1840, the last year of Elizabeth’s life, is +noticed by her in her Journal, with her usual seriousness. + + ‘Through the mercy of God, I have been permitted to enter upon + another year; and O how much have I to thank him for the mercies of + the year that is passed. I have had many little illnesses, but the + Lord has in mercy spared me, while many that I know, have been + summoned to give up their account. O Lord what am I, that thou hast + spared me a worthless worm of the earth? O fill my heart with love + and gratitude for all thy mercies to me, and if my life be spared, + may it be entirely devoted to thy service. Great God, enable me to + live to thee. O let me enjoy all that I have, as coming from thee, + and whatever thou art pleased to take from me, take not away thy Holy + Spirit. O blessed Spirit, who art One with the Father, and the Son, + enter into my poor sinful heart, and root out all my sinful and + corrupt affections and reveal Jesus to me as all in all.’ + +As her time drew to a close, her conflicts do not seem to have been +lessened. + +On March 24. She says, ‘Being off my guard this morning, the enemy +gained an advantage over me in my temper. Immediately I felt my sin, and +was led to cry out, “Against thee, thee only have I sinned.” I was +almost driven to despair, but these precious promises were applied, “If +any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the +righteousness,” and “the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin.” O my +God whom I have offended, let this be a warning to me to watch and pray, +that I enter not into temptation.’ + +On her birth-day she says, ‘I have passed another year of my life; but O +my God, how little to thy glory. I have been very much tried in my soul +of late. The enemy has been permitted to tempt me very much with +unbelief. Sometimes I question whether I am a Christian at all, yet my +desire is to love and serve my God. The conflict is sharp, yet do I +believe Jesus will deliver me. I do feel willing to part with any thing, +if Jesus smile upon me.’ + +‘On Sunday, heard a sermon from Mr. R. on these words, “There shall not a +hair of your head perish.” The sermon was delightfully encouraging. I +have felt the comfort of it during the last week, having had some little +perplexing things to meet. O how sweet to feel in the time of trial and +temptation, that nothing is unnoticed by our Heavenly Father. + +‘Sunday, April 12. I feel my health very poorly. I know not what the +Lord is about to do with me. Whether life or death, Lord make me thine. +I desire to glorify thy name upon earth, and find my way to heaven.’ + +Her usual industry and care in recording the sermons she heard, appears +this year as it did the last. But I pass over all these records, and now +I come to the last entry of her Journal. It is dated April 17. Good +Friday. + + ‘I was informed divine service began half an hour later than it did. + I was therefore very late at Chapel, which vexed me very much. I + could not enjoy the service. My head is in a very bad state. The + enemy takes advantage of my bodily infirmities and sorely distresses + me. I was led this afternoon, earnestly to entreat the Lord to + direct my mind to some portion of his word for comfort. I prayed + with the Bible before me, and opened on 2 Cor. xii. 9. Satan then + seemed to say, this is not for you; but my God tells me, “His grace + is sufficient for me.” Lord, enable me to trust in thee.’ + +It was a strong act of faith, performed with suitable solemnity, which +made this young woman believe that she should find in the Bible an answer +to her prayer. But she did so in a remarkable manner, and having +received the direction to depend on the grace of God as sufficient for +her, how strikingly her faith led her to hold it fast, so that angel, +principality, or power could not separate her from it. But how +instructive is her example in dealing with temptation. She felt its +danger; she sought, as the weapon of defence, “the sword of the Spirit, +which is the word of God.” The Lord was pleased to direct her to a +suitable text. She received it in faith and obtained the victory. Most +gladly, therefore, might she with the Apostle, “glory in her infirmities, +that the power of Christ might rest upon her,” and say with him, “When I +am weak then am I strong.”’ + +The last months of Elizabeth’s life afforded her the means of quietly +pursuing her course in preparation for her end. She was unable to do +more than work at her needle. This however afforded her the opportunity +of calm and continual meditation. Her circumstances were entirely +favourable for her state of mind. Her kind brother who resided with her +and her sister made every effort to afford her relief. In the last ten +days of her life her symptoms became more decided: she laid aside her +work, and ceased to think of the things of the world. She herself was +not at that time able to read, but she could still listen to others. On +the Sunday evening the subject of heaven and reunion with those already +there, chiefly occupied her attention. Her state was calm and suffering, +but neither she, nor any one, thought her end was so near; but I will +give the account of this from her sister and constant companion. + + ‘The health of my dear sister had been some time declining; her last + illness was short and severe: she suffered much pain, but bore it + with Christian patience and resignation. Her weakness was extreme; + she could speak but little, but when able to converse, she would + freely tell me the state of her mind. She was indeed building on the + Rock of Ages, on the sure foundation; but she had humbling views of + herself, although sweet and exalted views of the Saviour. We did not + think death so near; but the last morning of her life a sudden change + took place, which was better perceived by those around her, than felt + by herself. As usual, in the morning we read and prayed together. + She joined with peculiar earnestness: but when I had risen from my + knees I could not refrain from weeping. I saw her hands darkened in + colour, which marked the alteration in her bodily state. She asked + me why I cried. I said, I am sorry to see you so ill. She answered, + ‘I thought I was better this morning.’ With great anxiety I waited + the arrival of her medical attendant, and soon found my fears + respecting the near approach of death were not groundless. Upon my + again entering the room, she anxiously enquired the opinion of the + doctor. I told her as gently as the excited state of my feelings + would permit. I asked if she could rest her soul on Christ. She + said, “Yes, I feel peace; but O for a fuller assurance.” I told her + we had sent for Mr. C. and her brothers, at which she expressed great + satisfaction, and said, “I feel drowsy, but do not let me sleep; I + have no time for sleeping; I want to speak while I can.”’ + +When I arrived in her chamber, she said at once, ‘I think that I am +dying.’ I did not contradict her. She then expressed herself as not +feeling all that joy in her departure which she had hoped might have been +her portion. But the fact was, that a profound humility gave a tone to +all her feelings of herself. She put me in mind of the expression of Mr. +Simeon on his dying bed. ‘I think that if you should see me die, you +will not see me die triumphantly. No! triumph will not suit me till I +get to heaven. If I am admitted, as I hope to be there, then, if there +be one that will sing louder than the rest, I think I shall be that one; +but while here, I am a sinner, a redeemed sinner, and as such I would lie +here to the last, at the foot of the cross, looking unto Jesus, and go as +such into the presence of God.’ Elizabeth’s Journal shews this to have +been her feeling. She then, however, declared her sense of the +possession of a true peace, founded on the atonement of her Saviour. She +expressed a very earnest desire for the spiritual welfare of all about +her, especially of the young with whom she met in the Bible Class. She +was dying. She asked to receive the Sacrament. I engaged to come in the +afternoon, and administer it. In all this there was nothing of hurry, or +fearfulness, or mistrust, but the image of a soul fearing no evil, and +walking though the Valley of the Shadow of Death, with the comfort of her +Saviour’s rod and staff. It left no doubt in my mind as to her state of +blessedness. But I will now return to her sister’s narrative. ‘On Mr. +C.’s arrival, he conversed and prayed with her; she then requested to +receive the Sacrament: he took his leave, promising soon to return. She +now took an affectionate leave of her brothers and other relatives, +speaking to each with great kindness, respecting the salvation of their +never dying souls. After settling some little affairs (this was the +distribution of her little property, and the gift of some money to the +societies to which she had subscribed) she looked at me, and said, I +think that is all. ‘How long will Mr. C. be, I wish him to come now.’ I +said, ‘Dear, I will send for and hasten him.’ She said, ‘Do so, I wish +once more to commemorate the dying love of the Saviour on earth, then I +will lay me down and die in Jesus.’’ + + Jesus can make a dying bed, + Feel soft as downy pillows are. + +The scene of this celebration of the Lord’s Supper I shall not readily +forget. Herself, her sisters, the valued friends of her life, were +before me. Her own countenance was so beautifully calm and heavenly. +She sat up, but she was sinking very fast, and I feared that she might +die during the service; but all the while she made the greatest effort to +give all her strength to this holy ordinance. She followed me in the +responses, and at the conclusion I read over to her the blessing of the +‘Visitation of the Sick,’ ‘Unto God’s gracious mercy and protection we +commit thee. The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face +to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up the +light of his countenance on thee, and give thee peace both now and +evermore.’ I do not expect again to see a face upon which the radiant +light of God’s countenance may shine more brightly and happily than upon +this dying saint. The scene was most touching in every way. After I had +done, a dear friend, one whom I have mentioned before, commended her soul +to God, in a solemn strain of spiritual blessing. After a pause, at her +own request, I read her a hymn. I then took my leave, desiring to give +up her dying moments to her own disposal, and feeling that there were +others in the house to whom she might wish to speak some last words of +admonition or of comfort. + +‘After partaking of the Sacrament,’ her sister continues, ‘she appeared +sweetly composed, while Mr. C. commended her parting soul to God. She +then looked round, as if looking for some one, and as I approached the +bed, she fixed her dying eyes upon me, and said, “Happy translation.” I +said, “Dear, do you feel very happy now?” She answered, “O yes, happy.” +{62} Soon after this, her medical man, Mr. B., came in, and she +conversed with him on her approaching end. She said she was sure he had +done all he could in a medical point of view. She thanked him for his +attention during her illness, and then added, “Now, sir, pray with me.” +After prayer, she repeated the following lines:— + + ‘What is there here to court my stay, + Or hold me back from home; + While angels beckon me away, + And Jesus bids me come.’ + +Some time after, she said, ‘now I must pray for patience to wait the +Lord’s time. Come Lord Jesus!’ Soon after she said, ‘I would not come +back again, now I have got a glimpse of the heavenly kingdom.’ She made +use of similar expressions, till she gradually sunk in death, and her +Spirit took its flight to the paradise of God. + +The funeral of Elizabeth Cullingham took place in the usual course. It +was attended, as well by her own family, as by many of her christian +friends. There was nothing in it to call for attention. It was +consistent with her own simple unostentatious life. A large party of the +attendants met at a neighbouring cottage, where the voice of thanksgiving +was raised for the mercies which had been granted to our departed friend, +and prayer was offered up for all who had been connected with her. On +the ensuing Sunday Evening, a funeral Sermon was preached on her account. +The text was taken from Rev. iii. 12. “Him that overcometh will I make a +pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will +write upon him the name of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh +down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” + +The subjects dwelt upon in the Sermon were—The course of a christian’s +life; and the eternal reward which follows his death. The victory over +the world, the flesh, and the devil was through divine grace, obtained by +our departed friend, and now she has her reward. She is become a pillar +in the temple of her God, to shew forth his praises through eternity +amidst the redeemed in heaven; where “they hunger no more, neither thirst +any more: neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat. For the lamb +which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them +unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from +their eyes.” + +Her tomb stone in the church yard, bears a memorial to the truth of which +all who attended upon her in her last hours can bear witness. They are +lines somewhat transposed from a beautiful little poem of Mr. Dale’s. + + ‘Triumphant in thy closing eye, + The hope of glory shone; + Joy breath’d in thy expiring sigh, + To think the fight was won. + + ‘And thus shall faith’s consoling power, + The tears of love restrain, + O! who that saw thy parting hour, + Could wish thee back again?’ + + SHE WAS AGED 28 YEARS. + +In drawing this memorial to a conclusion, I wish to add a few words in +the way of encouragement to any young persons, who may read the account +which has been given. + +In the first place I wish to repeat, what I have before stated, that the +subject of this history had nothing in her natural character or her +situation in life, which distinguished her case from that of thousands. +She was not particularly clever, or naturally very amiable, or very much +instructed, or a person of great leisure, or brought up under very +extraordinary circumstances. She had a moderate portion of talents +committed to her—but she used what she had well. I know how prone we all +are, to think that others around us have advantages which we have not, +and to take this for an excuse for not giving ourselves to God as others +do. + +I wish to make the same remark about all the persons whose history has +been introduced into this memoir. They were occupied in business, or +engaged in the common duties of life; they had no greater advantages than +belong to many of their neighbours, they were persons of like passions +with others. There is nothing therefore in their case to make an excuse +for those who have not followed in their steps. It must however be +admitted that some individuals are often situated in a more favourable +position than others for the cultivation of religious duties, and I am +willing to allow that Elizabeth Cullingham had every advantage of this +kind. At the same time I say without hesitation, that I believe the +great mass of our young people possess the means, by which she gained her +highest advantages. The preached word seems to have been her chief +outward help, and the ordinary instruction in the scriptures, and the +little meetings for prayer, were the means of grace which she followed. +Within her own mind, however, she at the same time laboured diligently, +she watched and prayed, she came out from worldly temptation, and she +sought to set her affections on things above. But these efforts are +within the reach of all who will enter upon them. Such is the liberty +given to young persons in this present day, that it seems to me, that in +almost any case, the excuse of not having the fullest opportunity of +obtaining religious instruction is groundless. There may indeed be cases +where young persons are deprived of a liberty which they should always +have of attending at the House of God at stated times. But these +instances are very few. No! the fault is not with the husbandman. ‘What +could I have done more,’ the divine master says, ‘that I have not done.’ +It is with ourselves. Our heavenly Father would gather us to himself, +but we will not. + +But, I will shortly point out the chief rules of christian doctrine, by +which I think that Elizabeth advanced to that state, in which she became +so meet for her heavenly rest. + +A chief failing which is constantly dwelt upon in her writings is that +_of her own sinfulness_. I will not refer to any more passages of her +Journal, but we may gather this from those already cited. This sense of +sinfulness, distinct from a mere regret at the inconvenience and disgrace +of sin, must form the foundation of a sound religious state; ‘against +thee, thee only have I sinned,’ was David’s feeling. Thus it was with +Elizabeth Cullingham also. Notwithstanding her meek and holy walk, and +the conscientious feeling which she had of the uprightness of her +motives, she felt the deceitfulness of her heart, and the sinfulness of +her state in the sight of God; and that she had within her a root of +bitterness, which continually brought condemnation, and which required +the constant renewal of the Holy Ghost to overcome. + +But in this, ‘her fervent spirit laboured. Here she fought, and here +obtained fresh triumphs o’er herself.’ Still the sinfulness of her +nature was a subject continually present in her mind. She mourned over +it; she strove against it; and it was a constant burden, which only the +cross of Christ could enable her to bear. + +But a second feeling which dwelt in her mind, and which produced the most +important practical consequences was, that _God is reconciled to sinners +through the Atonement of Jesus Christ_, _and received in the heart by +Faith_. The doctrine conveyed by this view of religion was the +foundation stone on which her peace, and liberty in prayer, and holiness +rested. “Ye,” says the Apostle, “who were far off, are made nigh by the +blood of Christ, for he is our peace,” and “being justified by faith, we +have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Although constantly +cast down by the sense of her sinfulness, Elizabeth was enabled, as +constantly to look by faith to the Atonement; and if her sense of sin, by +reason of the assaults of Satan, became greater as she advanced in years, +yet with it, her hope of pardon increased, so that in the end, she felt +an assurance that an ‘entrance would be ministered unto her abundantly, +into the everlasting kingdom of her Lord and Saviour.’ On the doctrine +of the Atonement moreover was founded her _comfort in prayer_, for it was +only as she felt that God was willing to accept her as a returning child, +that she was enabled to ask with confidence. But in this belief, she was +enabled to go to God, with the simplicity of a child. She felt that he, +who as a Father had redeemed her, was now willing freely to give her all +things. Moreover, this doctrine was the foundation of her _holiness_, as +she believed that she was _not_ pardoned by any work of her own, so she +was not tempted to measure her goodness towards God by a rule, or +standard which she judged might constitute his requirements; but her aim +was rather to serve Him in the measure in which she loved Him, with all +her heart, and mind, and soul, and strength. If she had felt that she +had been justified by works, she would have sought only to have done +those works which might have secured her pardon; but now, being justified +by faith, its constant attendant, _constraining love_, was begotten in +the mind, and she felt that there was nothing she did not long to devote +to the service of her God and Saviour. + +One other doctrine was a source of the greatest comfort and benefit to +her, it was a _belief in the converting_, _consoling power of the Holy +Ghost_. Her dependence for growth in Christian graces, was alone on the +power of the Holy Spirit; the love of the Spirit seemed to dwell in her +heart, and she was most anxious not to lose this holy influence by sin, +or by doubts, or unwillingness to receive his Holy influences. + +Her whole creed and course of conduct, may be said to have been very +simple. It was that directed by the Church, to which she was greatly +attached, and which she followed with a holy, humble, obedient mind. Her +aim was constantly to lead a serious, practical, quiet life, she meddled +very little with the world, she aimed to live above it. Her chief desire +was to be a follower of Christ, according to the station in which she had +been placed. + +But I now wish to add a word on the choice which she so deliberately made +of a life dedicated to religion, and the advantages which resulted to her +from it. + +How many refuse to take the course of religious duty, thinking its +pursuits irksome, its reward in no wise tending to present, whatever they +may do to future, comfort. But I may venture to assert, from the +constant demeanour of our departed friend, that although her course was +one of conflict and of trial, it was still one of substantial peace and +comfort; and if she had not the joys which the world esteems, she had +others which never left her, till she exchanged them for higher and purer +delights. She early learned that young people, who fancy that +substantial enjoyment is only to be found in the ordinary pleasures of +life, make a great mistake. There may be much of indulgence or of +excitement in worldly gratifications, and those who seek them may reap a +present pleasure from them, but substantial happiness is alone to be +found in religion. For this is a happiness which does not depend on +external circumstances, it is the same in all states of life, and usually +it rises higher when the hour of trial and of sickness comes on, which +deadens the present enjoyments of life, and overwhelms the senses. It +makes the cup run over even in the deepest desolations which the +Christian is called to pass through. + +But O how incomparably more blessed is her state now, and will be in all +eternity, than if she had followed another course in life! She now +regrets nothing she suffered, by which the work of God in her own soul +was carried on; she rejoices to have borne the cross, inasmuch as it hath +worked for her a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. All the +seed of good which for years she was permitted to sow, she now reaps, and +the fruit of it shall all be gathered into the garner of God. + +If then _she_ found the way of religion to be a way of pleasantness, and +a path of peace, and if now she is reaping a good reward for the +confession of Christ, we have the same way opened by which to return to +the Father, and the Holy Spirit is at hand to teach us, to enlighten, to +strengthen, to comfort, to direct us in prayer. Let no one refuse the +offer which the Gospel makes of its blessings. Let all, without delay, +hasten to give themselves up to the service of Christ, not doubting but +‘if they are stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the +Lord, their labour will not be in vain in the Lord.’ + + * * * * * + + THE END. + + * * * * * + + PRINTED BY + L. AND G. SEELEY, THAMES DITTON, SURREY. + + + + +Footnotes + + +{62} I have subsequently to this event, found the same signal of faith +in a dying person recorded in one of Mr. Richmond’s tracts.—_Vide +Churchman’s Monthly Review_. April 1841. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER*** + + +******* This file should be named 38545-0.txt or 38545-0.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/8/5/4/38545 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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