EVIDENCES OF HIS FAVOR. 109 melting time and a season of refreshing from his presence. After such multiplied and striking evidences of his favor can I doubt that the Lord is with me? After so many direct answers to my prayers, shall I not have confidence in the Lord, that whatsoever I ask of him according to his will, he heareth me? "And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." I need not tell you how anxious I am to see you all, but more especially my dear little Mary Elizabeth. Poor little thing; I was sorry to hear that she had been sick, but she is in the the hands of the Lord, and I trust her health will be precious in his sight. If continued and fervent prayers can bring down blessings, she and you all will be enriched with every spiritual and temporal blessing. I am desirous of bringing her to Mrs. Lewis'. Though I doubt not your unwearied kindness and attention to her, I cannot feel entirely satisfied to have her away from me. ****** **** Wednesday evening. I resume my letter. I ought perhaps to wait longer before I undertake to speak confidently, but I think I can safely say that the Lord has given me a treasure in Mary Jane. I am entirely satisfied with the choice I have made, or rather which the Lord has made for me. I find in her a most amiable companion, an affectionate friend, a loving wife, and an intelligent and useful helper, and I have no doubt that my dear little Mary Elizabeth will find in her a kind, attentive and tender mother, who will in all respects supply the place of one whose memory we all so much cherish. You cannot help being pleased with her. From all the family I have experienced nothing but kindness and affection, and I feel entirely at home here. Mrs. Lewis was down to Point Pleasant yesterday with all her family except my wife, and was highly pleased with Rev. R. O. Spencer. Indeed, he seems to have got a peculiar hold upon her affections, and he will doubtless find in her a warm and valuable friend. The people at Point Pleasant, so far as AFFECTIONATE FRIENDS. 111 I can learn, are very much gratified with his removal there, and will, I doubt not, be kind and liberal to him and his family. I preached twice yesterday in Galliapolis-in the morning to a numerous, and in the afternoon to a large congregation, who all appeared very serious and attentive. At night, I understand, a still greater number turned out to hear Rev. R. O. Spencer. I have not yet missed an appointment. With the week ending to-day I have preached nine sermons and led six classes. What abundant reason have I to bless the Lord for his great goodness to me. I am in the kindest of families, among the most amiable and affectionate friends. Mrs. Lewis has just given me a feeling invitation to bring my little Mary Elizabeth down here, and in every way to consider this as my home. And the Lord permitting, you may look for Mary Jane and me up the last of next week. Very affectionately, CHAS. R. BALDWIN. CHOSEN IN THE FURNACE. CHAPTER X. "Behold I have refined thee but not with silver, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." The truth of this declaration was strikingly exemplified in the life of Mr. Baldwin. While watching around the dying couch of his first wife and reading to her the Holy Bible, it pleased our Heavenly Father to call him by His Spirit to seek religion. Her last illness and death were graciously sanctified to the opening of the eyes of his spiritual understanding, to perceive the "chief good." Well might he exclaim : "I thank thee, God, for all I've known And quite as gratefully I own, The bitter drops of life's alloy. Oh! there was wisdom in the blow LIFE'S SUNNY HOURS CHANGED. 113 That laid my dearest idol low, And left my bosom lone and drear. I thank Thee, God, for all the smart The sigh of grief, the throb of pain." After his second marriage he commenced house keeping in Guyandotte, September 20th, 1834, with a bright prospect of uninterrupted domestic felicity-but in less than four short months, life's sunny hours were changed to a mournful shade. In the early the winter of 1834 the health of his wife became much impaired, and she fell into a rapid decline. Her disease was of such an insidious nature that at first no serious apprehensions were entertained, either by herself or friends, about its results. However, when her smyptoms changed and became still more alarming, they broke up house keeping, and Mrs. B. returned to her own home above Point Pleasant, where she remained until she died. Not long after her return she wrote to Mr. Baldwin who was absent on the circuit, a kind letter from which I make an extract to |