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that she was an ill-deferving crea- | fhe expreffed herself to one pref

ture; and was hopefully brought, about the time she was eight years old, to a faving knowledge of Chrift. She made a public profeffion of religion about four years after. She was a perfon who ever fupported her Chriftian profeffion, exhibiting through life increafing evidence of her attachment to the religion of Chrift. The writer of thefe memiors hath been intimately acquainted with her for 30 years. He does not recollect an inftance thro all that period, in which the appeared to be equally entertained on any fubject of converfation, or enquiry, whatever, as on the fubject of religion.

ent, in the following manner. "I want now to go. I do not wish ever to return to my room any more. It would greatly gratify me, if I might now be called for. If I might die here, and go from this place, to my father's house in glory." In the course of her confinement, fhe was repeatedly fuppofed to be near the end of life and her family, and friends called together, to be prefent at her death." At fuch seasons, she was wont to poffefs peculiar compofure, and confidence, and to improve the little ftrength fhe had, in bearing decided teftimony in favour of Chrift, and in recommending him, and his religion to all around her.

;

At a certain time viewing death as near the adverted to thofe lines, "Tho I fhould walk thro death's dark shade, my shepherd's with me there." On its being obferv

Is was no uncommon thing with her, in whatever company, to manifeft a degree of inattention, or uneafinefs, while other concerns engroffed the principal attention of those who were prefent. For many years before her death, fhe ap-ed, that God no doubt would carpeared to poffefs a very strong affurance of her intereft in the promifes. She was afraid of fin, but not of punishment. For about two years fince, her bodily complaints were fuch as deprived her of the privilege of attending the ftated worship, and ordinances of God, with his people. Through all this period, he was never known to manifeft the leaft uneafinefs with the difpofals of providence. Often expreffing herfelf to this purpose, "That he was contented, as it was evidently God's pleasure, for wife ends, to deprive her of the privilege." Once however, about three months before her death, being more comfortable than ufual, fhe attended through the whole religious exercifes of the forenoon; and joined with her Christian friends in commemorating the death of Chrift. After it was over, ftill keeping her place,

ry her fafely through, fhe replied, "O yes! He will-I know he will. He is faithful. Though I pafs through the valley of the fhadow of death, I fhall fear no evil. God's friends have been my friends in this world, and he will not caft me off at last, among his enemies. No! I fhall join the happy company-shall be welcome to the happy manfions in my father's houfe, and shall have a long eternity in which to praise him, but it will not be too long." It being noticed that her speech failed her, the answered with a smile, " Yes! my redemption draws nigh! I am ready to go but am willing to wait as long as God has any thing for me to do, or to fuffer. Thy will be done!-Thy will be done!"

She after this revived, and for a feafon was more comfortable. It was ufual with her, on over hearing fome enquiry refpecting a watch

er, to observe," She should not | God might not originate from an apprehenfion, that he had refpect to her, and meant to make herhappy? She anfwered, "Alas, I am a poor finful creature, it is no If matter, what becomes of me. God can be glorified in me, that is all my defire."

no more.

In the afternoon before her death, fhe improved the intervals, when her weaknefs and dittress would admit, to converse on the folemnities of eternity. She faid the nearer fhe advanced toward it, the more real it appeared. On be

need any that he never was without one. The watchman of Ifrael who never flumbers or fleeps, I fhall is conftantly with me. need no other." Some weeks before her death, being vifited by fome Chriftian acquaintance, in the course of the converfation, the expreffed herself as follows-" I want that God in difpofing events as to me, would regard his own glory. If God is glorified, I want I fear no hell, unless it be a feparation from God; and I do not believe he will ever fuffering afked whether there was certhis. If God be with me, I cannot be miserable, there can be no hell where he graciously is." A little more than a week before her death, the defired that the conference might be at her house. After prayer, and finging, the obferved, I hope you will all of you fing hallelujah with me hereafter, in heaven." On the queftion being asked her, whether the depended on going there, as much as on dying? Her reply was, "Yes; juft as much. Why God took me when I was a child, and I made a covenant with Chrift-I chose him for my friend, and Saviour― and I have always found him faithful. Not one of all his promifes hath ever failed. He has told me I never fhall be afhamed, or confounded, and I can truft him. I can teftify for him. This is the God I love.-I can recommended me, he never will." The Minifter was providentially abfent, him to you all." She observed, when he died. She was fhe wifhed to fee him. afked whether he had any thing new to fay to him? Her answer was,

The question was afked her, how the accounted for it, that God fhould fo diftinguifh her with his favour? She anfwered to this purpose, "not on account of any worthihefs of mine. I was the meaneft, the vileft, the moft unworthy of finners; but wholly for his own name's fake." On the question being asked, whether her love to

tainly a future state of rewards and
punishments, as the fcriptures re-
prefented? She expreffed herself
with unusual engagedness, “There
is, there certainly is an eternal state
of happiness and mifery. I fhall
foon be in a state of perfect happi-
nefs, O praife, free grace." On
being afked if fhe did not feel for
poor finners, fhe replied, "O yes!
But they are in the hands of God,
and I can leave them there. I do
not defire that any of them fhould
be admitted into heaven, unless
their hearts are changed. I do
not wifh any child of mine fhould
be faved, unless they will fubmit
to God, and love Chrift. It would
fpoil heaven for all holy beings."
She was afked, but are you not at
all afraid to die? Her anfwer was,
"No! no! not in the leaft. I
can truft my God, for he never fail-

"She wanted to fee him, to encourage him in his great work. She was queftioned, whether fhe wifhed him to preach any new doctrine? She replied, "No. I want to bear my dying teftimony, to the

truths, which I have been accuftomed to hear. She then fell into a lethargic ftate, apparently infenfible and fo continued, 'till all tokens of life difappeared.

"The fweet remembrance of the juft, Shall flourish while they fleep in duft." Torringford, October 1, 1800.

MESS'RS. EDITORS,

THE following story and fragment, which are believed to be true, are prefented you, by your respectful friend,

PHILOTA.

The life and death of two Sifers contrafled; a real fad.

M

fhe repented, and prayed God to change it, fhe muft fink down to endless mifery. Theodocia at times appeared to be very thoughtful, and would beg her aunt to pray for her. She feemed to have a sense of her finfulmefs, but on her return to her father's, the scoffs of her fifter and gay companions wore off her ferioufnefs. Thus it continued until Maria was 18, when fhe married a young gentleman of infinuating manners, eafy address, and affluent fortune, but quite a profligate character. She had formed her ideas of happiness from the books fhe read, and now thought odocia, on the marriage of her all her wishes were gratified. Thefifter, went to refide with her aunt, ARIA and Theodocia were who had been for fome months in the daughters of a gentle-a decline, and was then unable to man in eafy circumstances, who leave her bed. When she faw lived in a populous town. He Theodecia, fhe ftretched out her took great pains in their education, arms to embrace her, and with and they were early taught most of tears faid, "Oh my child, that I the polite accomplishments, and to could die with a hope of meeting behave well in company. Maria you in heaven; how it would fweetwas fond of reading, but there was en my last hours?" These words not proper attention paid to fee ftruck Theodocia to the heart, for that the read books that would tend fhe had been mingling in the diffito improve her mind in virtue. pation occafioned by her fifter's wedNovels were her delight, her im-ding, and all ferious thoughts had agination was naturally romantic, for a time been obliterated from her and fuch reading tended to heigh-mind. The feeling with which ten the fault. She was at the age her aunt fpoke these words, imprefof 15 introduced into company, fed her deeply, and her former and being eafy and accomplished in thoughtfulness returned. She was her manners was much careffed. in great diftrefs of mind, fhe wonTheodocia was two years younger dered at her ftupidity and said than her fifter. She commonly "there was no hope for her who fpent half of her time with a pi- had fo many times quenched the ous aunt in the country, who en- Spirit of God." Her aunt, tho' deavoured to inftil into her mind the felt for her diftrefs, was rethe principles of religion. She joiced too fee her anxiety. She told her that all her outward ac- would often call her to the bedfide, complishments would never pre- and pray for her, with fuch earnpare her for heaven; that though eftness as affected all around them, the might appear agreeable to the and before fhe died, had the conworld, her heart was naturally op- folation of feeing her niece rejoice pofed to holiness; and that unless in the perfections of God, and VOL. I. No. 5. A a

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join with her in praifing the Re- | ligious character, who was ftruck

deemer.

a

with her piety. She continued an for a number of years, and her ornament to the religion of Jefus children were taught to know and fear the Lord, and her Chriftian friends were delighted in her company.

ftitution began to decline and it was At the age of 42 her confoon perceived that he was in a confumption. Her friends were diftreffed at the thought, but the fmilingly faid, "it is the Lord let him do what feemeth him good."

diforder, the appeared perfectly During the firft ftages of ber tranquil and ferene; and as her diffolution approached, her mind feemed to be carried above all earthly things. She was tranf

After the death of her aunt, fhe returned to her father's, but her conduct was not pleafing to her friends, and they were forry that her aunt's death had made her fo gloomy. Theodocia affured them that he was not gloomy, and that fhe never 'till of late, knew what happiness was. Her fifter invited her to spend a feafon in her gay family, intending to laugh her out of her ferioufnefs; the accepted the invitation, and there was large company invited to spend the first afternoon with her. They were defired to avoid all ferious converfation with her, even if the wished it; but in the midst of their mirth, Maria was fuddenly taken ported at the thoughts of death, ill. Theodocia helped her leave and would frequently exclaim, the room, and the company foon difperfed. She had a very diftrefly." "Come Lord Jefus, come quickfed night, and in the morning med-ed at the approach of those whom Her countenance brightenical aid was called, which pronoun- fhe fuppofed to be Chriftians, and ced her diforder a pleurify. Her fhe would fay, "O help me praife mind was most of the time deran- the Lord! how glorious is his ged, but in intervals of reafon fhe character! eternity will be filled would fhriek out, "where am I with his praifes, O joyful thought!" going! Oh, that I was Theodo-On a certain time, as her young cia." She would catch hold of children gathered by her bed, af her and fay, "pray, pray for me, fifter, I am going to mifery," and ter looking round on them, with a her words would then be unintelli- at the fame time rolling from her fmile of ineffable pleasure, tears gible. Theodocia kneeled by her eyes, fhe faid, "Sweeteft babes, bed, and begged God to have mer. cy on her foul, and told her to look thefe, but I think God hath enahow hard for a mother to part with unto the Saviour; but the wretch-bled me to triumph! Sweet babes, ed Maria faid there was no mercy in ftore for her. Thus fhe continued three days, and then died in the arms of Theodocia. It was bitter to part with her thus; but fhe acquiefced in the will of the Lord, who fitteth on the throne doing all things right. After the death of her fifter fhe returned home, and continued with her father about two years, when the was married to a gentleman of re

may God blefs and preferve you in
eft! The ferenity, and fweet inlet
this evil world! Farewel
my dear.
have felt in praying for you, I
of peace to my own mind, that I
think affures me, that I fhall at
leaft meet fome of you in heaven."
She continued in extacies for fev-
eral days, her joys of mind were fo
great, that he almoft forgot her
pains of body.
triumphant fpirit broke from its fee-
At length her

therefore it becomes the fervants, of the Most High to obey the divine command, Warn the people, whether they will hear or forbear.

encouragement to continue their prayers and their exertions for the profperity of Zion.

ORDINATION.

On Wednesday Sept. 24, 1300, the Rev. Jofeph Rowell was or dained over the Church of Chrift

"The people generally affemble for public worship, at the time appointed, notwithstanding they regard not the word. Curiofity, or the over-ruling hand of God caufes them to meet to hear the preach-in Cornish, New-Hampshire. The ing of the gospel; and many of Rev. Ethan Smith made the trothem retire with their eyes bedew- ductory prayer; the Revalier ed with tears. It is in the power Harris preached the ferman from of God to foften the heart, and it Titus ii. 7, 8. the Rev. aiah appears as though he had, in feve- Potter made the ordaining prayer, ral inftances, manifefted his pow- the Rev. Jacob Haven gave the er, but what the confequence will charge; the Rev. Abijah Wynes, be, he only knows. gave the right hand of Fellowship; and the Rev. Siloam Short, made the concluding prayer. The exercifes were performed in a peculiarly impreffive and folemn manner.

"The Lord, I trust is about to cause a change in the manners of many of the people in this country. Tho' an indifference to religion prevails in fome places, particularly where I now am; it is not generally fo, thro' the country, that is, there are many places in which a reformation is already begun, and I hope it will foon fpread and become uni

POETRY.

COMMUNICATED AS ORIGINAL.

blood of Fefus.

verfal; when the knowledge of the Prayer for Repentance and cleansing by the Lord fhall cover the whole earth as the waters do the fea."

SINCE the publication of our last number, the Rev. David Huntington has entered on a miffion to the new fettlements in the northern parts of Vermont, and the west fide of Lake Champlain.

THE Rev. William Storrs lately returned from a miffion to Vermont. He spent thirteen weeks on his miffion; was generally received with kindness, and the people expreffed a high fenfe of obligation to their brethren in Connecticut for fending Miffionaries among them. In feveral towns, Mr. Storrs found a more than common attention to religion, and in fome a pretty general awakening.

The friends of religion have great

I.

Almighty

We humbly bow with penitential fighs;
Lmighty God,beforethy throne,
Laden with guilt we deeply groan;
O fee our grief, and hear our mournful
cries!

We'll own thy love, & tell thy pow'r,
And all thy grace in fongs adore.

2. Renew thefe guilty hearts of ours, And cleanfeus in the fin-atoning flood!

Pour down thy grace in plenteous

fhowers,

Forgive us through the Saviour's flow-
ing blood!

We'llownthy love, & tell thy pow'r,
And all thy grace in fongs adore.

3. Bleft Jefus, fecour mourning grief,
And keep us in a penetential frame;
To all our forrows give relief,
And form our tongues to fhout thy
glorious name!

We'llown thy love, & tell thy pow'r,
And all thy grace in fongs adore,
PHILOTA

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