To a Friend. "GREENWOOD, Dec. 16, 1849. but post 'I commenced a letter to you last spring, dear poned its completion, that I might address an expression of sympathy to another bereaved mother; and, soon after, I became so ill, that it seemed probable that my intercourse with earthly friends. would be exchanged for the blessedness which is in reserve for every sinner who is washed in the blood of the Lamb. 'My Father, I deemed Thou had'st called me to dwell In the rest Thou hast for me above, But I find myself still in the flesh, It is well if I go; if I stay, it is love. 'Love ordered the plan, and in love such as Thine, Who spared not to save me an offering divine- "It is this love, my dear which sustains my spirit, now that my precious sister, who gave me almost maternal affection, and for whom my warm attachment was growing deeper and stronger, comes no more into my chamber to gladden me with offices of love. But she has gone just where I would have her be, and thanksgivings are mingled with my tears. We appreciate the sympathy you so appropriately express in the letter sister M. has received this evening; the letter which induces me to ask for a slate and pencil that I may tell you some of the thoughts which come into my heart. "I have ever been sinful and unworthy, yet my Saviour has dealt gently with me, and as His disciple, I must lovingly persuade you to sit at His feet, and learn from Him better lessons than the world and your heart can teach you. Oh, cast aside the weapons of rebellion; they are wounding your own soul. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. You labor and are heavy laden.' 'Come unto Me, and I will give you rest,' is the invitation of Him who died to save you. Will you resolutely refuse to accept it? Will you go down into eternity unpardoned and unconsoled, when you know there is 'balm in Gilead, and a Physician there'? And will you endeavor to occupy the attention of your sick child with the pursuits of a world, from which you fear she may be removed before you? Is this a mother's love? Beware, beware, dear that you grieve not the Holy Spirit of God. You must stand at the judgment-seat of Christ with those dear children. Let of Jesus. were them bless you as the friend of their souls, their guide to the Cross And if only the temporal comfort of our dear consulted, believe me, my beloved when I tell you, that no cordial is so reviving to the exhausted spirits and unstrung nerves of an invalid as religion, which brings repentance, faith, peace, love and cheerful submission to the will of the Most High. "I make this assertion with confidence. Two physicians have expressed the opinion that the prolongation of my life is to be in a great measure ascribed to the tranquillity of spirit which I have alone derived from the hopes of the Gospel; not from any powers of endurance which I possess, not as a reward for obedience, but as a free gift of grace. "I saw little of dear but my heart yearned over her with inexpressible tenderness. Could her fluttering heart be calmed to silence by the laughter of the merry? No; the poor child must come to my Saviour, and His gentle voice will be music to her soul. "My dear it is my affectionate and earnest request that you will now go to the solitude of your chamber, and kneel down before God to ask His guidance. I would not make your poor child gloomy. I would spend nights and days in ministering to her comfort, if it were possible; but I would tenderly remind her, that 'except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” and urge her to seck at once the safety and happiness which her Heavenly Father is so willing to give her, if she will but come through Him who is the way, the truth and the life." " * CHAPTER XXI 1850. Letter to a Bereaved Mother in Ireland-Persuasive Letter to a Youth. -Letters to Dr. N.-To a Relative-Intercourse with the YoungUnitarian Views Letter on the subject to R. S.- Dr. ChanningArianism-Letters of Friendship and Condolence. To a Bereaved Mother. "January, 1850. "There is certainly no earthly tie so strong as that which unites the hearts of parents and children, and I do not doubt you have realized the strength of this attachment more than ever since your daughter has left the home of her childhood for a land of strangers. How often have your thoughts followed her as she has crossed the ocean, and how earnestly have you desired to hear of her safe arrival! It must have been very painful to have received the tidings of her dangerous illness, and you are of course awaiting further intelligence with intense anxiety. your "It is a new friend who writes you this letter-the sick lady who has been so long carefully nursed by your cousin Sarah, and who makes the earnest request that you will lift up your hearts in prayer, that God will give you strength to bear the sad news she is so sorry to communicate. 'Thy will be done,' should always be the language of a Christian's heart, and I pray that you may be enabled to cast this heavy weight upon those everlasting arms which are alone strong enough to support it. When I tell you that child has passed away from earth, my heart is cheered by the hope that she is gone to that land where the inhabitant shall never say, I am sick,' and where every tear is wiped away. This is the blessedness of all who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, and I trust your beloved Margaret was thus prepared for Heaven. Surely it is better to be with Jesus than to dwell upon this sinful earth; and when you feel disposed to regret that you permitted your daughter to leave her home, remember that all events are under the control of a wise and holy Being, who uses second causes to promote His own designs. You would have gladly retained your child to watch over your declining years, but you submitted to the sacrifice of her society because the necessities of your family required her assistance. Do not, therefore, reflect upon yourselves; but ask our Heavenly Father to sanctify this great sorrow, and to make it the means of preparing the remaining members of your family for a better world. Are any of them unreconciled to God? Let them remember that this is a solemn message to them: 'Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.' * * * Go to 'Call "I shall not forget to pray that God will give you grace to glorify Him by entire submission to His will. I do most sincerely sympathize with you in this great bereavement, and rejoice that we have a compassionate Saviour who loves to comfort the mourner. Him with all your sorrows. Turn your thoughts to prayers. upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me,' is a most consoling promise. If it were not for afflictions, we could not understand the meaning and value of the gracious assurances which our Heavenly Father has given us. I cannot tell you how precious they have been to me in the hour of sickness and "I have loved your family so long and so well, dear H., that I am fully prepared to share your joys and sorrows; and very earnest has been my desire to convey to your father and mother an expression of many affectionate thoughts which have filled my heart since their recent bereavement. But, my young friend, it is for you that I am chiefly solicitous: your conversion is the result I anticipate from this painful dispensation of Providence. "When you were very young, a sweet little sister, with her beautiful dark eyes and clustering locks, was the companion of your studies and your plays, but the Friend of children withdrew this little one from your family circle, that He might enfold her more closely under the shadow of His wing. He loved you too, dear H., though He left you longer upon the earth, and I wish you had gone to Him with your childish sorrow, and asked Him to be your guide through the pilgrimage of life. How many blessed lessons you might have already learned! How much restraining grace would have been vouchsafed you, and how many hours of communion with God would then have been your privilege! Oh! H., you have sometimes realized your need of the blessing of God. His Spirit has often striven with your young heart; but you have not heeded the gentle monitions, and now He has spoken in a loud voice of warning. "I am thankful it was not you, dear H., whom the Angel of Death was commissioned to remove from earth; but who can tell what his next errand may be? Are you prepared for a sudden summons to the eternal world? Is your theoretical acquaintance with the sinfulness of your nature accompanied by a painful realization of the burthen you bear? Are you willing to investigate your spiritual condition, or do you endeavor to quiet the tumult of a sometimes awakened conscience by increased attention to the passing scenes of time? And if your years be many, will it still he thus? Will you increase your sources of worldly enjoyment, add to your intellectual stores, strive to rise higher and higher in human estimation, and yet be unfurnished for the world to come? And will you go down into eternity under the heavy pressure of the wrath of the Lamb, to survey your lost estate in the full light of the religious instruction by which your responsibility is so much increased? "The immediate surrender of your heart to God will secure a bright contrast to this mournful picture. I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me,' is a promise, of which I hope you will soon testify the truth. 'The Word of the Lord is tried,' and this experience will be but the prelude of a lifetime of rich discoveries of the treasures of grace, and an eternity of progression in wisdom and happiness. Dear H., can you refuse this offered felicity? Will you incur the fearful risk of delay? "It is not needful to expound to you the principles of our faith, but it is very requisite to urge upon you to pray earnestly that you may be able to appreciate and accept the gift of redemption. 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,' is a requisition so simple that our proud nature would make an addition to its terms; and it may be that you hesitate to 'come boldly to the throne of grace,' until you can present an offering of love and obedience, or at least some adequate measure of contrition for sin. Oh, go to our blessed Saviour as you are, my dear young friend! Do not wait to feel more deeply or to become better. All you require you will find at the foot of the cross, and there only. 'Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.' Receive Him into your heart, who is 'all in all,' and you will be made complete in Him. I |