Declining health.

of religion; that she felt there was such a thing as going too far the other way, and thus obliging those around us to believe that religion was a thing incompatible with the enjoyment of even the common blessings which God has abundantly given us.

"As the winter advanced, her hold on life weakened, and, before the early spring, she appeared to feel that health was never to be hers. The prospect did not, as before, affect her sadly; but her dread of the last struggle, and her anticipation of coming pain, seemed to increase. On asking her how she felt, one day, she replied, "I do not like to say, my sufferings. With Anzonetta* I can say, "My Saviour suffered;" but my cough is violent, and I do experience much bodily pain; still, it is the future I dread. I think I shall die very hard-do you not?'

"I replied, No. I think yours will be an easy death, and that you will fall gently asleep in the arms of Jesus. To him alone you must look.'

"On Sunday, the 26th of April, Emma appeared to sink rapidly; her depression of spirits, and her fear of death, still continuing, she sent for Miss T―, believing that the enemy was near; but on the morrow she revived, and partook of the communion at the hands of Dr. H—, then just returned from the south. She felt much strengthened, as well by his conversation as by the sacrament. I found her a day or two afterwards in a trusting spirit, but rather depressed, that as yet her prayers in reference to the removal of this dread of death were not answered. Gathering comfort to my own soul from the words of Scripture on this head, I spoke to her of the Saviour's agony, and his evident shrinking; and although we both felt the difference between the load of sin which he bore for us, and ours

* She referred here to ANZONETTA R. PETERS, who had given such wonderful evidence of divine support through a long sickness, and in her dying hour. The author has now in preparation an extended memoir of this young saint, a brief sketch of whom was drawn in the last chapter of "The Pastor's Testimony.”

What have I done for God?

View of heaven.

which we were directed to cast upon him, we acknowledged there was consolation in the thought.

She said,

"Job's many prayers for life recurred to me. 'How often you quote from Job; I know very little of that book. Indeed, I never thought that I could obtain so much encouragement from his experience as your present reference has given me. When I hear you so readily bring the words of Scripture to prove what you say, I wonder that I know so little of it.'

"Upon my remarking, that the vocation of a Sundayschool teacher brought it often to the memory, she answered with a sigh,

"Yes; you have gone on in the way, so far at least as outward works, without ceasing; but I, what have I done for God? What shall I do? Nothing, emphatically nothing.'

"Not so, Emma; God is permitting you before you depart to glorify him in sickness. He is enabling you to be a preacher of righteousness to your family.'

"God grant me that blessing,' she said, fervently; 'I do believe the Lord is beginning a good work in their hearts, and I have much faith that he will carry it on.'

"At her request I besought, for her, grace for a dying day. I felt that God was very present then, and I believe that Emma felt so too; for she said, as I rose, with a look that seemed to pierce the very heavens, Blessed prayer! how near it brings us to God!' There was a childlike simplicity in her manner, that reminded me of David's words, My soul is even as a weaned child.' I wept; she seemed distressed, and said,

"You must not do so, and yet the Saviour's eyes were bedewed with tears.' A smile passed over her face as she continued, 'You know I shall soon be happy; come, look up, you often comfort me, I will comfort you; there shall be no more tears where I am going.' I did indeed look up, for I had seldom heard her speak with such assured faith. The half hour that followed was one of the happiest I

ever passed with Emma. Evidently she was ripening for glory.

"Anxious to know how she had been carried through her change of residence, I visited her the first Monday in May. It was a time never to be forgotten, for the same sweet spirit of childlike confidence and simplicity remained. The fear of dissolution was for the time removed, and she seemed to stand on the borders of the promised land. She had greatly feared that her death would occur before the removal of the family, and felt very grateful when it was the evident intention of her Lord to allow her to go through it with comfort. I found her sitting up near a window, from which a view of the river and the seminary was visible. She said, 'Is not this beautiful? So like the country; yet do you know, instead of making me wish to stay, it only reminds me of the little step between me and everlasting life. I look up at the blue sky and think of Him who dwelleth beyond it, and it seems but a little way for the spirit to ascend.' She talked constantly this afternoon. I remember it, not only because it was the last time she spoke above a whisper, but it was also the last time that her joy was cloudless. She spoke much of her parents, much of their love and care for her during her sickness. I thank God for them besides,' she said, because they make me understand him better; my mother's unceasing, anxious care, he tells me cannot compare with His. My father's tenderness reminds me of my heavenly Father-all love, all compassion, and O reviving thought! all might! Yes, Lord, I do rejoice in thee as my Father!' She dwelt long on this, tracing God's dealings with her as an indulgent yet chastening parent, and then looked upward with such a glow of devotion, such an intensity of feeling depicted on her countenance, as I never saw equalled. Again she said, I have been thinking of the words of the hymn, The Dying Christian to his Soul.

6

Hark! they whisper, angels say,
Sister spirit! come away;

Communion of saints.

and it seems to me almost that I hear the sound of their melodies, and the silver tone of that summons,

Sister spirit! come away.

Sister spirit! yes, I do feel that I shall soon go with those who call to me even now, come away! Descending as it were from this foretaste of heaven, she asked after Mr. C—, and expressed a strong desire to receive the communion when he came : mentioned Mr. P-, C. and one or two others that she would like with her.

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“O,' she said, it would be delightful in such fellowship to commune again; most solemn, most profitable, I feel it would be.' She then inquired particularly concerning the Sunday-school of St., mentioning many of its former members, and expressing a prayerful desire for its spiritual prosperity. On the following Tuesday our beloved pastor, Mr. C, arrived. I hastened to inform her, but found her too weak to bear the excitement of the administration of the communion. 6 My mother,' she said, 'I believe thinks my spirit may depart, and although to me it might be joy thus to exchange the communion of the visible for that of the invisible church, it would be very distressing to you all.'

She

"When I next saw Emma she was unable to speak above a whisper, so that I could not take so much interest in her remarks, for she still continued to converse. expressed much pleasure in having again seen Mr. C—, and then said, 'Now that this my anxious desire has been gratified, now that I have seen my kind, watchful friend, I would also see Mr. M- -. Do you think, if I live until his return, that he will come and see me?' "'

The interview, to which reference in the preceding remarks is made, was to me one of deep and solemn interest. Being again in the neighbourhood of Emma, and hearing that life still continued to linger in her emaciated frame, like the flickering blaze of an expiring wick in the wasted socket,

I felt an earnest desire to see her again before her final exit. I also learned that she had sent a very urgent request that I would not fail to pay her a visit. The only time at my disposal, which I purposed to devote to Emma, was Thursday afternoon. The weather was exceedingly unpropitious. The rain descended in torrents, threatening to overwhelm every thing with a flood. I did not, however, allow myself to be diverted from my purpose, but persevered in defiance of the storm, and found myself richly repaid for the effort which it had cost.

The emotions that thronged my bosom, as I entered the sick and dying chamber of Emma, I cannot describe. There was one thought, however, that combined itself with a scriptural expression, and made me exclaim to myself, • Here is a brand plucked from the burning.' Emma was reposing in an easy chair, and appeared exceedingly pale and thin. And yet there was the impress of all that was sweet and lovely upon her countenance still. A smile lit up her features, as though to welcome me, and yet in a moment it was chased away by a cloud that seemed to come with bitter remembrances over her pale, but still beautiful countenance. In our conversation I endeavoured to touch upon those points that I thought would be most useful to her in her present state of mind, and her present vicinity to the eternal world. She could converse but little. As I incidentally adverted to the past, her eyes filled with tears, and she said at intervals,

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"O, what a monument I am of the distinguishing grace of God! How had I wandered from him! How richly did I deserve to have been left to eat the fruit of my own ways, and be filled with my own devices.' But yet, after all, I hope he has had mercy on me, and restored me to his favour. Sometimes, in view of my ingratitude, my vileness, and my guilt, I am ready to think that mercy can never stoop so low as to take me out of this horrible pit into which I had fallen. But, as I continue to cry unto the Lord, and wait patiently