Few persons converse so frequently, and apparently with so much delight on religious subjects, as she did. Yet she spoke with diffidence respecting her own hope, in language like this. "I trust that God has begun a good work in me, and will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. I desire to love Christ more than all things else, and hope I do. Yet I often weep that I love him no more, and am no more like him." More than 30 years previous to her death she was deprived of health. Her diseases broke down her constitution, and produced frequent seasons of severe pain and great debility, which she ever endured with an eminent degree of patience, apparently resulting from true resig nation to the divine will Though she was often doubting and trembling respecting her hope, previous to her last sickness, God was pleased to grant her grace for a dying hour. Her evidences of an interest in the merits of Christ appeared clear to herself. Her hope was firm and fastened on things beyond the vail of mortality. Equally free from stupidity and enthusiastie raptures, she seemed willing to wait all her appointed time till her change should come; but As her illness was choosing rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. lingering, she sometimes expressed her reluctance to have the prayers of friends for her longer continuance in the body. Portions of Scripture treasured in memory furnished her with much of the language which she used to counsel and exhort others, and to express her own sentiments and comforts. These were generally the most appropriate passages, and the most impressive language which could have been used. To the friends around her dying pillow, death appeared disarmed of its terrors by the manifestations of divine support. After much distress she was at length granted an easy dismission, and we hope an entrance was ministered unto her into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For the extension of this kingdom she cheerfully contributed, and fervently prayed. She sought to glorify her Maker through life and in death. Among the last words which she uttered were these, with which we conclude the present remarks, "Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord." At Concord, (N. H.) August 10, 1817, MRS. MARY CALFE. This pious and venerable lady had nearly attained her ninety eighth year. Her life "show'd somewhat of that happier life to come. For five or six years before her decease she was confined to her bed, in consequence of a fall. Yet she continued cheerful, never uttering a complaint or murmur; but evincing a perfect contentment with the divine will. It was delightful to witness the sweet serenity of her temper, to hear her talk of heavenly things, and to behold in age and decrepitude, an ob ject which youth and beauty might have envied. She had early chosen that good part, which was her strength and support in age. The Rev. George Whitefield she considered her spiritual father; for his memory she retained the greatest affection and reverence. She loved to dwell on those days when his preaching excited such awakening in New England, to recount what she knew of its effect in her native town, (Exeter, N. H.) and what she believed it had been made the instrument of effec ing in her own heart. Allusion to this period would recal an accuracy of recollection which had failed her on subjects more recent. Her memory also remained painfully accurate on a scene of sorrow through which she early passed; the death of her first husband, Mr. Samuel Bradley, who was killed by the Indians, at Concord, Aug. 1746. Mrs. Bradley was afterwards married to Mr. Calfe of Chester, whom she survived nearly thirty years. These years were passed in the family of her son, the late Hon. John Bradley of Concord, who died July 5, 1815, aged 71. On the death of this beloved child, Mrs. Calfe strikingly exemplified the Christian. She became a consoler to the afflicted family, and not only her faith and hope, but her mental powers, appeared to brighten on the trying occasion. Before her confinement she had been accustomed to read a great deal, and for some time without glasses; but afterwards she was never able to read much, and the last year not any. Her sense of hearing had likewise failed, so that she could understand little, if any thing, from the reading of others. But, while wisdom was thus shut out, she was happy in having a mind richly stored from the word of God. This Holy Book had been her delight. It "taught her how to die," and how to live reconciled to every dispensation from the hand of her heav enly Father. Her intimate acquaintance with the sacred volume was discoverable in her conversation. Highly edifying were her observations on religious subjects, while "the darken'd eye, the withered face, and hoary hair," gave to them an additional interest. This good woman loved the Sabbath, and to worship God in public; she rejoiced in the revival of religion, and in the extended knowledge of the Gospel to the destitute. One week before her death, her nurse being dangerously sick, she gave her much pious counsel; besought her to renounce all self-righteousness, saying "we have no righteousness of our own, we are all sinners, but the righteousness of Christ is sufficient." Him she recommended to others, Him alone she trusted, not her own merit.-The word of God was her meditation all the day. She often repeated from John, (a book much in her mind) "lu my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am there ye may be also." Her nurse, who had attended her for more than twenty years, said she often heard her voice in the silence of night repeating passages of Scripture, and engaged in prayer. Her last illness was of only two or three days continuance. She could not converse, but évidence was not then wanting of her preparation for eternity. On Sabbath day, (10th at noon,) she gently fell asleep in Jesus." His brother, Jonathan Bradley, and three other men, Peters, Lovekin, and Bean, were killed at the same time. (Stickney and Roberts, were taken captive.) Since the above was written, died, August 15, Mas. HANNAH BRADLEY, aged 66, relict of the late Hon John Bradley. The tears of friendship-the tears of the poor speak, her eulogy. Long will affection dwell on her virtues. At Amesbury, Mass. Sept. 8, 1817, Mrs. MIMA SAWYER, wife of the Rev. Benjamin Saw yer, and third daughter of the Rev. Abijah Wines, of Newport, N. H. in the 27th year of hier age. She remembered her Creator in the days of her youth, and became hopefully pious when about fourteen years old. At the age of sixteen she made a public profession of her faith, which it is acknowledged she adorned till her death. Her convictions of sin, and of her ill desert, were apparently very pungent and peculiarly sol eran. She expressed herself in the following manner. "I have been such a vile sinner, it is astonishing that God has spared me till now. I wonder he has not cut me down, and sent me to hell long before this time It appears to me that I am the vilest sinner upon earth. Hell appears so much the fittest place for me, should God send me there, I feel as though I could truly say, Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight." She embraced the doctrines of grace. She appeared to love and understand them well. It was, however, her peculiar pleasure to dwell on the doctrine of salvation by Christ. It was to her a delightful consideration, that we are dependant on such a Savior for eternal life. Her love to God and her Savior never failed, but seemed to glow with peculiar ardor in her last sickness. Her own language to her husband, one morning as he entered her chamber, be fore her disease was considered alarming, was, "O my dear friend, what views of God and Christ I have had the last night; and what ardent love to the Savior I have felt! It appears to me that I never had such glorious prospects, and such heavenly joy and comfort before. Religion is all" Such was the temper of mind she exhibited in life and at death. She endured the distress of a fatal disease with great patience, and cheerful resignation to the divine will. So far, the writer of this sketch has depended much on information received from the friends of Mrs. Sawyer. He would now express an opinion formed from his own observation, and mention some traits of character, which endeared her to the people of the parish, to all her friends, but especially to Gospel ministers. She was remarkably frank in her conversation, though modest and benevolent. She was active, and very attentive to all in her house, and always made her friends welcome and happy. She possessed a discriminating mind, was discreet, governed well in her family, and managed her domestic concerns with more than ordinary skill. When she did not take a part, she lis tened with peculiar attention to religious conversation; rejoiced in the prosperity of the church, and felt a lively interest in the various means now in use to extend the Redeemer's kingdom. She was well adapted to her station, calculated to bless society, and especially to comfort and assist her husband in the arduous duties of his sacred office. In a word, she appeared to possess the qualities of a good wife, good mother, friend to the human family, and a real disciple of the Di vine Redeemer. And should not these things be told of such a dear woman "for a memorial of her?" The departure of friends should always animate the diligence, and improve the watchfulness of survivors, and be received as an admonition to all; but especially to those who are just entering on the more active and important part of life, with prospects of health, com fort and usefulness. We should always live as dying creatures, and as not knowing the time then our Lord will come. We cannot fail to cherish the memory of those who were once dear, even after their departare from this world of sorrow. Nay, the recollection of their virtues, cheers us amidst the glooms of our earthly pilgrimage, with the hope of meeting them hereafter, when they shall belong to the society of the wise, and the virtuous, purified and glorious forever. The reflection that we shall meet all our pious friends when made free from imperfection, gives an imperishable value to their memory, and should animate us to look forward to death, not as the extinction of happiness, but as the introduction to pure and perfect felicity in the society of all we loved, and the general assembly of the first born. When we look at our present existence, and extend not our views beyond the short period allotted to us here, we are apt to exclaim; "We are such stuff "As dreams are made of, and our little life "Like the baseless fabric of a vision "And, like the unsubstantial pageant faded, But our hope in Jesus bursts through the thick glooms of the grave, and through the vista of eternity discloses beings and worlds beyond the present, and gives a glimpse of that perfection and glory, "Which mortals dream of, but which angels know." Instead of making us grieve at the dispensations of Providence, when those who are in the midst of their usefulness are removed, such events should influence us to cultivate a more intimate acquaintance with heaven, as the final abode of all the virtuous, and the happy world where bur friendship will be perpetual. It was grief which led us to complain of the determinations of God in an event which has anused lamentation and wo; but reflection has restored the calmness of resignation to the weeping friends. The early removal of those qualified for usefulness and honor, always gives surviving friends a painful struggle, or a disposition to complain of Him who maketh darkness his pavilion. But the ways of Jehovah are always reasonable as well as just. I have been led to this reflection, from the recent death of a young man whose hopes in the world were great, and from whom his friends anticipated all which can be expected from talents, literature, and virtue. The subject of this memoir, LUTHER BARSTOW, Esq. of Homer, New York, died at Canterbury, Con. August 12th, 1817, in the 321 year of his age. Mr. Barstow had been declining for some weeks, when he left Homer to visit his parents, hoping that a journey would be beneficial to his health. He reached the place of destination on the 19th of July, much fatigued, and nearly exhausted. So rapidly did he decline after this, that he was soon unable to visit his friends; but with an unusual calmness, he endured till the morning of August 12th, when he expired without a struggle or a groan. His parents had the satisfaction of invoking the blessing of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, upon his departing soul, and the melancholy pleasure of closing his dying eyes! Mr. B. was a graduate of Brown University. While a member of that seminary he pursued science and literature with an ardor seldom equalled, and a success which all admired. Having a thorough knowledge of human nature, he was always ready to guide, correct, or stimulate the prejudices of his associates; and many now wonder with what facility he gained the ascendency over his equals in age and standing. He excelled in the solid sciences, as well as literature. His talents as a writer are well known to those who were students at that time in college, and to those who witnessed his public exhibitions. Few young men have left the institution with more honor at Commencement, or greater respect from the faculty and students universally, than Mr. Barstow. To the writer of this sketch he explained his feelings fully when he entered upon his professional studies. He possessed a firm belief in Christianity, and his conduct was agreeable to its dictates. It was through a want of confidence in his owu Christian character, that he declined the study of theology, and turned his attention to the law. Had he been satisfied that Jesus had instamped his image upon his soul, it would have been his delight to spend and be spent for Christ and his religion. He would have been an ornament to that profession, had not this darkness prevented his entering it. As it was, he always became an advocate for religion, and made its opposers afraid or ashamed in his presence. Having completed his legal studies at the usual time, he settled in Pennsylvania. He was gaining the confidence of the people, when sickness, occasioned by that climate, almost destroyed his constitution; and he removed to the Western District of New York, where he continued until a few days before his death. In his last place of residence he was esteemed and respected by all with whom he was acquainted, and had exalted hopes of usefulness. But his life was cut off in the midst of his prospects, and we hope he now enjoys that assembly of the righteous, where sorrow and imperfection cease; that he is now free from the glooms which accompanied him in life, as it respected his Christian character, which were dissipated in the hour of death; and that his hope, which supported him in that solemn hour, and seemed to say to all present, "See how a Christian can die," was such as maketh not ashamed. Instead of complaining, we ought to say, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." At Andover, Dec. 15, 1815, MISS SARAH HILLS, in the 42d year of her age. The subject of this brief memoir was born of respectable parents, Josiah and Elizabeth Hills, of Newbury, Mass. She was the youngest of eleven children. In her younger years, with ordinary advantages for improving her mind, she was devoted to the common cares and labors of domestic life. But after arriving at mature age, instead of giving herself to the vanities, or being engrossed with the business of life, she discovered an increasing thirst for knowledge, which nothing could satisfy but solid acquisitions. Her most valuable improvements began, at an age when the improvements of the female mind are generally closed. Her success in a late education is here recorded, as a powerful motive to others to copy the laudable example of her zeal and perseverance. The truth is, she possessed strength and activity of mind far above what is common. Her conversation, her letters, and some attempts at poetry showed what her genius, connected as it was with a very correct judgment and taste, was capable of accomplishing. It was after she had succeeded in furnishing her mind with much useful knowledge, that she became sensible of the supreme importance of religion. For several years she was the subject of deep anxiety and distres respecting her spiritual condition. During this period, she was conscious of total and unyielding opposition of heart to the humbling doctrines of the Gospel, especially to the doctrines of man's depraved and ruined state, and the sovereignty of divine grace in the salvation of sinners. With great subtilty of reasoning, and greater violence of feeling, she fought against the truth, till the conviction got full possession of her conscience that the fault lay in herself. But even that conviction did not control her feelings. The writer of this memoir was intimately conversant with her, while for a long time her conscience, was clearly convinced of the truth, and yet her heart fully set against it. He likewise remembers the time, when her resistance began to abate, and her feelings quietly to acquiesce in the holy doctrines of Christianity. But in her, the transition from enmity to love, from hardness of heart to penitence was, so far as her apprehension of it was concerned, very gradual. The renovation of her character was accompanied with marks so indistinct and obscure, that she remained long in a state of perplexing doubt. It was in the year 1811, that she became so well satisfied of her piety, that she thought it proper to make a public profession of religion. Both before and after this, her feeble, broken health, attended with a long train of nervous complaints, contributed, undoubtedly, to overcast her future prospects, and interrupt her comforts. But she had that portion of enjoyment, which her God and Savior saw best to give; and no doubt, the various afflictions and sufferings she endured, and the imperfections she lamented, prepared her to partake, with higher relish, the unmingled pleasures of the heavenly world. Miss Hills had uncommon sensibility to the pleasures of friendship, and tender sympathy for the afflicted. The influence which her intelligence and her piety gave her over the minds of her many relatives and friends, she applied to the best purposes. She labored to persuade the irreligious to seek heavenly wisdom, to excite the friends of God to be diligent and persevering, to impart comfort to the afflicted, and hope to the desponding christian. She was a very intimate friend and useful correspondent of several pious females, who have de voted themselves to the Missionary service. HARRIET NEWELL was her friend, and her relative; and it will be seen that many of the letters, published in HARRIET NEWELL'S MEMOIRS, were written to her beloved Miss S. H. The letters of Miss Hills in this correspondence, were it thought expedient to commit them to the public, would be read with very lively emotions. But the most interesting view of her character is yet to be disclosed. I refer to her excellence, as an Instructress of youth and children. She was, many years employed as a teacher in Newbury, Newburyport, Haverhill, and Andover. To this employment she became strongly attached. Few have had a deeper impression of the importance of early instruction, and few have conceived more justly than she did, the best methods of attaining the end of a Christian education. She had carefully observed the various passions, dispositions and prejudiees of the youthful mind. She knew the thoughts and feelings of children. She knew the avenues to their consciences and their hearts. In her addresses to them, she conveyed momentous truths,-but it was in the language of children. By the fund of engaging thoughts which she possessed, by the promptness and the affectionateness of her speech, and the condescending familiarity of her whole manner, she could fix the attention and touch the hearts of her little pupils. All who enjoyed her instruction, of whatever age, were sure to respect and love her, because they saw that she was their friend, and was ready to bestow unwearied labors upon the improvement of their minds and their characters. Miss Hills had just conceptions of the importance of eligious instruction. She did not, like many, consider it as a subordinate branch of education. She did not pass over it with as little attention as she could, without giving offence to her employers. No, she regarded it as the grand business, the first thing and the last thing, in a good education. With these views, she did not content herself in requiring her pupils to repeat hymns and catechisms. She took pains to make religion intelligible to them, and to instil its holy doctrines and precepts into their listening minds. This was her daily labor. To be successful in forming those who were under her care, to Christian virtue and piety, was the constant subject of her thoughtfulness and anxiety, and her prayer to God. At the beginning and close of her school each day, she read a portion of seripture, and in behalf of her pupils and of herself, called upon God." It is matter of joy to the Christian community, that this practice is obtaining so wide a prevalence in our schools. As Miss Hills loved the business of teaching the young, and was persuaded that she had a better prospect of usefulness in this employment than in any other, she came to the purpose of devoting to it the remainder of her life. For a number of her last years, she seemed to have no other object. What of health and strength God should be pleased to give her, she was determined to expend in this delightful, though arduous work. And while she was able to sustain the labor of instruction, there was no want of opportunity. After her health became so broken and feeble, as to prevent her engaging in her favorite work, she was invited to visit her friend, MADAM ABBOT, widow of the late Samuel Abbot, Esq. of Andover. With that lovely and venerable woman her few remaining days were spent. Through the greater part of her last sickness, the violence of the fever, that was consuming what remained of a feeble, exhausted constitution, rendered her incapable of conversation and of thought. She had however, some lucid intervals, in which she manifested much of the tenderness of a penitent, the humility of a trembling believer, and the sweet consolation of one who could look unto Jesus for the whole of salvation. Miss Hills did not live in vain. She contributed to the instruction and the happiness of a large number. There is good reason to believe that the seed, which she so diligently planted and watered, will, in many instances, through the blessing of God, spring up, and bear fruit to everlasting life. Her decease has been a subject of deep and mournful feeling to many friends, who knew the soundness of her understanding and the warmth and sincerity of her love; and to many pupils, who it is hoped, received from her the elements of a new and happy life. [Some extracts from the diary of Miss Hills, will appear in our next.] COMFORT IN DEATH. For the Panoplist. Extract of a letter from a minister in the western part of Massachusetts to his friend in Boston, giving a brief relation of the happy death of Miss P-B W-, Jan. 9, 1818. "You may not have heard that PB- is dead. I have much reason to believe she was carried by angels into Abraham's bosom. About Iralf an hour after I left the house she closed her own eyes, and departed without even the motion of a finger. When I left her, I thought she might live until the next day. Her brothers and sisters, and various other friends were present to see her in the full possession of her reason, and to hear her express her entire resignation, and even her longing desire to be gone." "Tell me, my soul, can this be death!" It might be wrong, but I almost wanted, not to say quite, to place myself in her room; for so far as I could judge, there was no one in the company so happy as she was herself. Can any thing light up a smile upon the aspect of death, but religion? Can any thing else make the immortal soul willing to quit its earthly tabernacle forever, and to leave the world, with all the beloved objects which it contains? For a better country, one infinitely beter, it is not to be wondered at that we should be willing to exchange this; and if faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen,-faith can bring the two worlds with which we have connexion into striking contrast before the dying saint, and show the vanity of the one, and the glory of the other. For a Father in heaven, who would not leave parents on earth? And with a well grounded hope of being associated with angels, and with the spirits of just men made perfect, who would not cheerfully bid adieu to all that are called relatives and friends here below?" "P's mind was occupied with the great theme day and night.-Her parents have much comfort in her death, as you may well suppose, and all her friends, who can be comforted at all. I know not whether any good effects will result from this very interesting death, to me, or to the people of my charge. Join with me, my Brother, in daily fervent supplication, that we may all be as P― appeared to be; and that in a particular manner, those, who are young may become sober-minded, and have something set before them more substantial than the vanities, which usually engage their attention.-The funeral text was Isaiah xxvi, 12. DESTITUTE CONDITION OF THE BACK SETTLEMENTS IN VIRGINIA. WE have seen a letter from a respectable clergyman in one of the middle states, who had visited the sulphur Springs of Virginia for his health, in which it is stated, "that in a region containing 120,000 souls, the people, with the exception of a few thousand Baptists and Methodists, are totally destitute of any religious privileges whatever." "When I was there," he adds, "though extremely weak, I made some exertions to preach, and did preach every Sabbath, and frequently on week-days. There is only one minister to five counties in that neighborhood, and each county containing several thousand souls. I have been making some exertions to get tracts into that country, which is the region and shadow of spiritual death." METHUEN FEMALE BIBLE SOCIETY. On the 2d of July last, the Female Bible Society in Methuen, held their an Jual meeting. From a report of the treasurer, it appears that a few females in one, small society, by paying only 25 cents annually, have furnished the destitute in the neighborhood of Natchez, (Miss.) with more than 20 Bibles. From the Report made and accepted by the society we give the following abstract: "We would express our gratitude to the Father of mercies for his goodness to this society, and our belief that notwithstanding the smallness of our offering, it has through the divine blessing been productive of good. We trust that it has in some instance edified the lonely saint in the wilderness, or excited the uninstructed and thoughtless to inquiry concerning the way of salvation. Let us be encour aged by the reflection that multitudes are engaged with us in these best of labors, while we remember with thankfulness the favors shown us by the New York and Philadelphia Bible Societies, and particularly, for the Reports of their proceedings: we notice with delight the efforts exhibited by various denominations of Christians, and the increasing harmony among them, and regard it as an auspicious omen, intimating that the time to favor Zion is at hand. The noble cause in which we are engaged, is not to feed a few with the bread that perisheth, but to diffuse a knowledge of the bread of life to those who are perishing for lack of vision. The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof. The silver and the gold are his; and we, relying on his promised assistance, again offer a portion of it to him, in the hope that it may be instrumental in imparting Saving benefits to the souls of our fellow men." Signed by order of the Society. MARY EASTMAN, President. |