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beat no more. Eternity appeared to be opened to his view, his work was done, and he was ready to go. A short time before he expired he prayed for an easy passage through the gates of death. The Lord heard his prayer; and he died so easy, that he glided into eternity, glorious eternity! almost before it was perceived he was gone.

Thus expired our great and good brother William Beauchamp, on Thursday night about 12 o'clock, at Mr. Joseph Peck's, in Peoli, Orange county, Indiana, on the 7th day of October, 1824, in the 53d year of his age.

On Saturday following a funeral sermon was preached, before the corpse was interred, by Bishop Roberts, from Psalm cxvi. 15, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." On the second Sunday following, in the evening, a short discourse was delivered in remembrance of their friend to the citizens of Mount Carmel, by the writer of this memoir, from 2 Kings ii. 12, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof."

A brief view of his character will follow in conclusion.

"Ye noble few! who here unbending stand
Beneath life's pressure, yet bear up awhile,
And what your bounded view, which only saw
A little part, deem'd evil, is no more:

The storms of wintry time will quickly pass,
And one unbounded spring encircle all."

[To be concluded in our next?

MEMOIR OF MRS. MARY CARPENTER,

LATE CONSORT OF THOMAS CARPENTER, ESQ.

Communicated for the Magazine by the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson.

DEATH has removed from our land, our city, and our church, a "bright and shining light:" Mrs. Mary Carpenter will be long remembered, and long regretted. For many years she stood a pillar in the temple, and a mother in Israel. Young and beautiful, she gave her heart to God, and made her habitation the residence of hospitality and kindness; thither the mourner repaired for encouragement, the afflicted for consolation, and the tempted for advice.

The Christian stranger was directed to her well known abode, and was ever received with smiles of courtesy and affection. Hers might indeed be called the "Pilgrim's Home."

From the cheerfulness of her manner, and the serenity of her brow, one unacquainted with the chequered scene which the whole course of her life presented, would have thought that she had been exempted from the common ills of humanity; that she had glided gently down the streams of life, while the sun of prosperity shone brightly on her. But the purest gold has been refined; and when the conflicting waves of affliction, and be

reavement, and temptation, and trial, beat against her bark, it did not perish, for Jesus was near. Like the disciples of old, she cried to her Saviour, and even in the midst of the tempest without, He spoke, and all was peace and joy within. She could magnify his name, and praise him for providences, which to other than an eye of faith, would have appeared most grievous.

Of the earlier part of her life there is the following short notice in her diary:

"Mary Hawkins was born August 22, 1752, and at the age of twenty-one married to Mr. John Houseman. On the following year I rejoiced at the birth of my first child. My soul was filled with gratitude for my recovery, which I did not expect, having prepared my grave clothes; but God knew I was not fit for heaven. I rested in his mercy without considering his justice in punishing the sinner who dies without repentance. My heart continued tender, I wept under the preached word, but my natural disposition being very lively, before the next sabbath these impressions would wear off. Still the mercies of God followed me in such abundance, that when I took a view of them, (which I often did,) my heart was filled with love to Him: but this was not the love of Christ. God gave me a very great affection for Doctor Livingston; though brought up in the Episcopal church, I attended his preaching, and the Lord was pleased to make him the blessed instrument of showing me that hell was open to all who are out of Christ. At first I was grieved that the Doctor should speak so harshly to me. I did not know that it was the Spirit of God, and not man who made the application. Oh, my God! how many ways hast thou to bring poor sinners to thee! What love! What patience!"

During the revolutionary war Mr. Houseman and herself retired to the country, where she mourned for the means of grace which she no longer was privileged to enjoy, and wept at the recollection of those she had slighted. Her soul could not find rest or comfort in the things of time and sense, and although she languished for the presence of God, her ignorance of Christian experience was such, that she knew not whither to carry her complaints. There was no religious friend near to point this weary and heavy laden pilgrim to the cross of Christ; to bid her cast her burden there, and rest on him who alone hath the words of life and salvation. She promised that if God should restore her to her home, and to her religious privileges, she would serve him. By the kind providence of her heavenly Father she was again brought to the city in April 1777, and was abundantly prospered in her temporal concerns. Like the patriarch of old she remembered her vow, sought out a house dedicated to the living God, and enrolled her name with those of its members. She writes as follows:

"In December 1778, my mind was led by the Spirit to see my lost and undone condition by nature, my sins from a child, my baptismal

vows unfulfilled. I cried day and night to the Lord, and I resolved to be found in all the means of grace. I had from a child a great reverence for the sacrament, and I thought it my duty to obey the command of my Saviour by commemorating his death; I therefore gave in my name to the rector of the Episcopal church, to commune the sabbath after Christmas. On my way I was very much tempted to turn back, from a sense of my unworthiness, but this thought came powerfully to my mind, if I perish, I will perish, calling for mercy at the feet of Christ.' I sat weeping during the time of service, much tempted, but God strengthened me, and enabled me to approach the altar. While I stood weeping, and waiting an opportunity to kneel at the altar, my blessed Jesus, by his Spirit, bade me be of good cheer, my sins were all forgiven. My sorrow was gone in an instant: my soul filled with love to God and man. My heart expanded with affection to all around. Oh! glorious time! never to be forgotten by me, either in time, or in eternity. My soul praise the Lord! Yea "I'll praise him while he lends me breath, And when my voice is lost in death

Praise shall employ my nobler powers."

While I am recording the goodness of God my soul is filled with his love; the Spirit of God bears witness that I am his child. Since that time I have endeavoured to adorn my profession with faith and love : through floods of temptation I have been enabled to give up my soul to him, who has done so much for me."

During her first marriage, after rising by great industry to affluence, her husband and herself, with one daughter, were settled in easy and pleasant circumstances. Her husband, however, was soon and suddenly removed into a world of spirits. A few years after she closed the eyes of her only surviving child; but, blessed be God, this child, through her instrumentality, was permitted to drink of the cup of salvation, and enter into the joy of her Lord. In this the Christian could, and did rejoice; and while tears flowed down the mother's cheeks, the smile of gratitude was on her lips, and her tongue uttered praise and thanksgiving. Scenes of uncommon trial followed these bereavements but in this furnace did her faith fail? No, it shone more brightly. God was to her a "strong tower," and he enabled her to "glory in tribulation," and praise him in the fire. Few persons have been called to sufferings of so varied, and so painful a nature; but love was the shining trait which subdued every pang, and raised her above the common standard of professors. The following extracts from her journal will show the spirit of love, resignation, and humility, which were the principles of her conduct. In sickness she writes

:

"I think it good to have my flesh weakened, and brought low. Jesus knows what is best for such a poor creature as I am; he is my friend, and will have no rival, but will empty me from vessel to vessel until I am made meet for his kingdom. Glory be to his name that he notices me, and purges me that I may bring forth more fruit.

"I see daily so much love in all my afflictions that it humbles me to the dust."

After enumerating several severe trials in which her "soul was grieved, both within and without," she adds,

"But blessed be my Saviour, who does all things well; he has heard and answered prayer, and I can now praise him for all my trials and temptations, which have worked for my good, and for the glory of God. Though sorrow may endure for a night, joy cometh in the morning.' The servant is not above his Lord;' if they have persecuted him, they will persecute me also; but Jesus is my friend, he has given me resignation to his will in all things. I am not my own, for I am bought with a price,' no less than Jesus's blood. Glory to God in the highest! I love all my enemies, and now I lay me down to take my rest, for the Lord will be my protector and Saviour now and ever.

"There cannot be a more powerful argument to persuade us to a patient submission to divine providence, than the knowledge that for one cross we have many mercies; for one drop of evil, a sea of benefits and favours: and this we should confess, were we as careful to consider the mercies we enjoy as we are to recount the evils we suffer; and if we were duly sensible that we are less than the least of the many mercies we enjoy, and that in all our sufferings God punishes us less than we deserve. Holy Job thought it reasonable thus to argue: 'Shall I receive good at the hand of the Lord, and not evil?? And there is no Christian, however grievous his chastening may be for a time, but finds it was good for him to have been afflicted."

At a time when her body was weakened by the severe trials and exercises of her mind, she observes :

"My Lord is ever nigh to help me. If thou wert not to stand by me, my Saviour, I should fall a prey to my weakness; but thou art my strength. On thee I cast my care. Still continue to support me by thy power, and direct my steps. I am blind, be thou my sight: I am ignorant, be thou my wisdom: cleanse me from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, increase my faith, and perfect me in holiness.'

"Oh, my God, and my deliverer, how shall I love and praise thee as I ought. The more I see of my own vileness by nature, the more I see how much my Jesus loves me; and that merit in us, is not the condition of the gospel, but repentance and faith in the merits of a Saviour who has done so much for me. He has loved me and all my children: them he has taken to glory, where I expect to meet all my dear family. My husband, my father, and many more dear friends; not for any thing that any of us have done, no, no, but for Jesus's sake.

"I want to be more devoted to God in heart and life. I see myself a poor, helpless creature. Oh God! enlarge my heart to make thee room. I want more love, more faith, more patience, more humility, more meekness. Lord, supply my every want from thy fulness, for by grace I must be saved.

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Jesus, thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, and glorious dress.'

8

The things of this world I desire to be thankful for, as blessings from my heavenly Father; but this will not suffice,

'From nobler springs my joys arise,

From higher sources come.""

These few extracts will present a fair sample of her diary, which is one continued breathing out of her soul in humble love and holy resignation, as if this precept of the apostle had been the motto of her life, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." And many are the aspirations of prayer, and many the returns of a thankful heart which are there recorded; and while she could bless her Saviour for the roughness of her path, and praise him even for its thorns, not a flower sprung up before her and around her, unheeded or unblessed; even the every day mercies of going out and coming in safely, which we are so apt, as common mercies, to receive each moment and each hour forget, called forth her warmest gratitude. Happy the Christians who thus trace each stream of comfort to its source, and take their richest draughts from that fountain whose "streams make glad the city of God."

Thus passed the days of her widowhood, "trusting in God, and continuing in supplication day and night." Of her it might indeed be written, "Well reported of for good works. She has brought up children, lodged strangers, washed the saints' feet, relieved the afflicted, diligently followed every good work." But a new era in her life commenced, and she thus records her second marriage with Mr. T. Carpenter, who, like herself, had long been an esteemed member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

"April 29, 1808. By a variety of unaccountable providences I was married to Mr. Thomas Carpenter, and I trust by the direction of my God, to whom I have made prayer and supplication ever since I was acquainted with the intention of my friend. Oh! may our union be for His glory, and the good of the church militant; and when we shall be parted by death may we join the church triumphant, to praise our Jesus for redeeming love through all eternity."

This marriage made no difference in her mode of living, she had met with a "true yokefellow," and her house was still an asylum for the destitute, a refuge for the afflicted, and a home for the stranger: but though she had in some respects enlarged her sphere of usefulness, and again saw gathered around the "dear domestic hearth," those who could address her by the tender appellations of wife and mother, she yet experienced the truth of that scripture, "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth ;" and her soul felt that life is but a pilgrimage to a better and more enduring city. She was called upon, near the close of life, to part with much of this world's good; and through the grace of

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