218 BRIEF NARRATIVES, DISPLAYING ever beheld in scenes of worldly revelry and pleasure. Many followers of the world may be found professedly happy while sporting amidst the gaieties of this life, but where one so when leaving them for ever? Many cheerful in the world, but where one so when going out of it? They may be cheerful living, but the Christian can be so when dying too. Perhaps you look on death as dreadful; but many as young as you have met it without a fear; and without a wish to stay longer here, have passed through that important hour to life, to happiness, to Jesus, heaven, and God. What causes the difference between them and you? Is it not this? They knew in whom they had believed, and, knowing this, knew also that heaven was their home. O my young friend, embrace that gospel, whose blessings formed their support! Then if life, that most uncertain of all uncertain things, should end long before you expect its conclusion, it will not end before you are found ready for a better. § 4. It is not merely apostles and martyrs that have passed triumphantly into eternity. Many of the young disciples of the Lord have died with as much composure, and as much holy joy as they. In 1808, died H. S. Golding, in the 24th of his year When he felt the approach age. of death, he is stated to have uttered these rapturous expressions: "I find now it is no delusion! My hopes are well founded! Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man conceive the glory I shall shortly partake of! Read your Bible! I shall read mine no more -no more need it!" brother said to him, "You seem to When his enjoy fore THE CHEERING POWER OF EARLY RELIGION. 219 tastes of heaven," "O,” replied he, "this is no longer foretaste - this is heaven! I not only feel the climate, but breathe the air of heaven, and soon shall enjoy the company! Can this be dying? This body seems no longer to belong to the soul! it appears only as a curtain that covers it; and soon I shall drop this curtain, and be set at liberty!" Then putting his hand to his breast, he exclaimed, “I rejoice to feel these bones give way, as it tells me I shall be with my God in glory!" The last words that he was heard to utter, were "glory, glory, glory!" In July, 1827, died, at an early age, a young disciple of the Saviour, related to the late eminent missionary, Mr. Ward: her name was Jane. When about fifteen, she embraced religion, and sought peace in a Saviour's love, encouraged by the gracious promise, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The happy influence of true piety upon her heart, was displayed in her conduct; and is pleasingly expressed in a letter written about two years after her admission into the church of Christ. The heart that dictated, and the hand that wrote, now moulder in the dust of death, but some expressions written by that now mouldering hand, may teach the young the worth of early piety. "I am in perfect health, but not knowing how soon death may come. I am hastening to the grave, but not with sorrow; for I know in whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep what I have committed unto him. I must soon part with all below, and with you, my dear minister, but not for ever; for I hope we shall soon meet in Christ, and part no more. 220 BRIEF NARRATIVES, DISPLAYING It is my desire to press forward. O that I could glorify my Redeemer more than I do! Behold, God is my salvation. Blessed be the Lord that he hath enabled me to say this! If I had a thousand hearts and a thousand tongues, they all should be employed in praising and adoring the great Redeemer. O that I could leave the world and all its sins! When my mind is taken up with the thoughts of eternity, then I want to be gone to that world, where neither sin nor sorrow shall wound. Where they who meet shall never part, Where grace achieves its plan; And God, uniting ev'ry heart, Dwells face to face with man. I want more grace to subdue all the evils within, and bring them into sweet and humble subjection to the will of God. I would be his entirely, and his for ever; his in life; his in death; and his to all eternity; and then I know he will be mine for ever. Life is uncertain, but death is welcome; death is no more the king of dread to me, through Jesus Christ. I long to be with him. I am young, but not too young to die; not too young to glorify my Redeemer; who hath bought me with his precious blood. The Lord has been my refuge in time of trouble. Praise him for me, for I do not, I cannot, half enough. His boundless love to me is unsearchable. Remember me in the prayers you offer to God. Prayer will not be wanted long. Praise will soon begin in brightest strains. " My dear young reader, these sentiments were not expressed by a Christian worn out with age, and ripened for heaven, by a long course of piety; but they were those of an amiable girl of THE CHEERING POWER OF EARLY RELIGION. 221 seventeen, nine years before the important summons to eternity came. Have you her comforts? is her Saviour yours? The peace thus imparted by a knowledge of the Saviour, Jane enjoyed, when the solemnities of eternity drew near. Her last illness was long and painful. Many hours of severe distress did she pass in her sick chamber, or on her bed of death, but all was peace within. She said, "I have enjoyed for some years more comfort than I can express; then why should I repine! - When I am not torn with pain, I have always felt peace and pleasure — I wish to be in heaven with my Saviour-I trust I am waiting for his coming; I feel extreme pain at times, but I do not feel one pain in my mind." At times she expected recovery, but could say, "When I began to get better, I was not anxious to recover I am now very willing to suffer, if the Lord will give me grace and strength — If I knew I were not to recover I should be happy ; I can say with the Psalmist, O God, my heart is fixed; -I know he is mine; I know that I am his; I have not a wish to recover.". - Often did she express her confidence in her Saviour, which at times rose to the full assurance of faith. "My mind is very happy-in a very happy frame, and a thankful frame- I have not exultation, but I know that if all the world were lost I should be saved."-She anticipated with comfort an entrance on her heavenly Father's home. With all this gladdening confidence, was min. gled deep humility; "I am," she said, “an unworthy sinner, and have done nothing for my salvation." In her latest hours, when the power of speech was almost gone, she faintly whisper - 222 BRIEF NARRATIVES, DISPLAYING ed, "Happy, happy," and seemed in prayer to say, "Come, my dear Saviour!". Shall you die thus? Can you die thus unless you seek the Saviour as yours? and yield, like Jane, your youth to him? Anne Bailey in early youth sought her God; but found no settled peace for several years. Thus tried, she felt tempted to give up hope; but still persevered, and at length obtained the peace she sought. Enriched with that blessing, she desired admission into a Christian church; and when about eighteen made the solemn profession of religion. Her subsequent course was one of consistent and honourable piety. She was, in various ways, the subject of affliction. Under one trial, she thus expressed her feelings: "By the grace and assistance of my God, none of these things shall move me from my steadfastness in the Lord. Many, many, my dear M-, are the trials I am called to encounter daily; but that time is not far distant, at the longest, when I shall have done with trials; and then I shall be for ever at rest. Though every earthly friend should forsake me, I have a friend in Christ, that will not: and there is still a way of access to the throne of grace. I hope we shall meet in that world, where our employment will be praise to him who hath washed us from our sins in his own blood." A few months after the date of this letter, she was attacked with an illness from which she never recovered; and which, with a few intervals of less severe suffering, confined her principally to her bed, for upwards of six successive years. During this long period of affliction, her patience, resignation, and peace were exemplary. In |