INTRODUCTION. THIS little work treats of the initiatory steps of an immortal being-steps, feeble and insignificant if viewed alone, but assuming value and importance when considered as terminating in an eternal destiny. By such steps is each human course commenced-and such are the solemn results involved in its mortal termination. The chief benefit derived from christian biography, is its exhibiting to the eye, the image of Christ in the character of his servant; the manner in which that blessed image first began to be formedand the various means and incidents which contributed to its advancement towards perfection. Growth is the only sure token of healthy spiritual life. The soul has its winter and its spring times, its seasons of seeming check and deadness, and its seasons of shooting upward from the earthly towards the heavenly character. A faithful writer remarks, that the soul may suppose itself acquainted with its corruption in its length and breadth, while, perhaps, it has only moisten TX38 ed its lips at the bitter cup, and may subsequently be constrained to drink much more of it.' And thus it is that the Christian must travel the same path more than once. Soul searchings must be renewed-repentings require to be repented of. Love to the Mighty Deliverer, who has performed the wonderful rescue, may at first be ardent and grateful-afterwards, it will become humble and intelligent, with the increasing perception, that not only the first deciding movement from death to life, but each particular step of the journey through the wilderness, must be guided and upheld by Him who bestows the temper of strangers and pilgrims, and who keeps his people by his own power, through faith unto salvation. Ignatius, the aged, though he had been head shepherd of the church of Antioch for thirty-seven years, yet made such attainments in the knowledge of Christ during his last journey, when he went to Rome anticipating nothing but martyrdom, that he wrote, 'Now, I begin to be a disciple, nor shall any thing, of things visible or invisible, move me.' Here was evident experience of growth in the divine life; and though he was far from lightly esteeming the power of the Spirit, by which he first trusted in Christ, he had now attained a union so much more intimate by the increase of faith and love, that he felt himself as, comparatively, but beginning to be a disciple. Happy soul which knows that it is but beginning to live, when about to terminate a long course of years amid the fangs of wild beasts in a heathen arena! Happy consciousness of vital strength and of undying felicity even in a perishing body! Blessed Jesus! who gave himself for his people that he might sanctify and cleanse them, and present to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle. So mighty are the final results of first sowing the seed of divine truth in the soul, that the mind is overpowered by the contemplation. Those slender efforts, which, under the dew of the Holy Spirit's blessing, terminate in the union of an everlasting being to Christ, in a covenant that can never be broken, seem so amazingly honoured, that they ascend in importance and solemnity, the more they are considered. The experienced reader may find both pleasure and improvement, in tracing the various seasons of spiritual growth in the subject of this memoir. Should the example of her early piety awaken any careless spirits to inquire why they have not yet set out to seek the Lord,—or should her evident spiritual advancement in the divine life, and her greatly brightening graces, as she drew near to its most unlooked-for consummation, be the means of stirring up any to examine whether their souls are slumbering in the frost of winter, or shooting upward in the breath of spring, the writer will have a blessed return for the trial endured in laying more wide a wound which only reunion can finally close; and, in unlocking those fountains of tears, which, however, have flowed, during the compilation, more in thankful submission and gratitude, than in selfish mourning, it becomes her to own, with humble praise, the refreshment that her own soul has received, by means of researches among those remains, a small portion of which is here tremblingly presented. To the chosen friends of the dear departed one, the book will be welcome, for the love of herself, and of Him whom she sought and followed, while amongst them. To strangers, may the Holy Spirit make it welcome, as a messenger of PEACE ! JULY 26, 1841. |