Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

the school of affliction, has met with repeated bereavements, and, I hope, will come out of the furnace refined and purified, adopting the language of the Psalmist, "It is good for me, that I have been afflicted."

This is a loud and monitory call to us, and ought to be indelibly impressed on our minds. It speaks forcibly to every heart, "Be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh."

When I was first apprised of the heartrending event, almost the first idea that struck my mind was, that perhaps this may be introductory to a reformation. But flatter not yourself, my dear Mrs. P. that this will be the case; but pray that it may be. There were indeed some appearances, that I considered favorable; but they were evanescent, as "the morning cloud and early dews." I tremble, when I think of that striking passage of holy writ, "The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. O that we may be spared, not to provoke Heaven with our daring crimes, but to repent of our aggravated sins, to return unto the Lord, and walk softly and humbly before him. At present it is with us a gloomy time. Ο that this dark and dreary night may be the precursor of a resplendent and soul-reviving morning. But tho we should be given up to hardness of heart in this place, yet glorious things are spoken of the city of our God. Christ shall have "the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession." Then shall the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ; all shall know him from the

least to the greatest, be of one heart and one soul; and great grace shall be upon all.

Oh my friend, if these things be so trans porting to us, who discern them enly with an eye of faith, what will they be to those who witness and participate them in all their splendor, in all their glory. And if the church militant be thus enlarged and beautified, while encompassed with sin, what will be the church triumphant, composed of patriarchs, prophets, apostles and martyrs-all the immense multitude of the redeemed from the first to the latest generation of all climes and nations, all refined from sin and pollution, made consummately holy and happy, and in concert with angels and archangels gazing with wonder on the perfection of Deity, and ascribing unceasing praise to the slain Lamb? Their felicity is commensurate with the desires of their immortal souls, and durable as the eternal mind. Their sublime and glorious employment knows no relaxation, no alloy, no jarring note; but all are one in Christ Jesus, and eternity itself is not too long to utter all their praise. But what imagination can conceive, what tongue or pen describe, the glory of that state, where Jesus is all in all, and where his children shall behold him face to face, and "mingle with the blaze of day?" Verily it is an exceeding and eternal weight of glory-"an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away.' Stop then, my inexperienced pen, nor darken counsel by words without knowledge.

[ocr errors]

May we, my dear sister, be circumspect, redeem the time, ever abounding in the work

of the Lord, flying with love and zeal to do his will, and at last have a welcome entrance into the joy of our Lord. Sweet, happy day, that sets the prisoner free, and introduces him to light, life, liberty and glory, such as needs a seraph's pencil to delineate, and the language of eternity to express. Your much obliged friend, FANNY WOODBURY.

Letter to Miss M. G. of Boston..

Beverly, Feb. 1, 1813. A FEW leisure moments occur, which I cheerfully devote to my dear Miss G. I hope this will find you assiduously engaged in religion, and enjoying the smiles of your covenant Redeemer. You know, my friend, that substantial happiness is not to be found in this barren world. Alas, shall we not pity its deluded votaries, who anticipate, but seldem or never realize? It constantly eludes their grasp, and mocks their fond expectations. Not all the honors, riches and pleasures of the world can confer real felicity on an immortal being. But there is a world, my sister, beyond this mortal state, where blooming bliss and ever during glory reign, such as "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of mortal man conceived." From those blissful regions God looks down with a benignant eye on his humble followers, and communicates a drop of heaven to worms below. The sincere, the humble, the uniform Christian is happy. He enjoys the favor and protection of the Majesty of heaven, and he has a title to those celestial regions, when he has passed this state of minority. He has a Shepherd full of kindness,

full of power, who careth for him, and wilk guide him through this waste, howling wilderness, and protect him as the apple of his eye, and who will be his ever satisfying and unfading portion. When time shall be no longer, when this huge globe shall be one vast conflagration, the Christian shall be secure and happy in the ark of safety, in the Paradise of God. He beholds with admiration the glorious assembly and church of the first born in heaven, and gazes on the glories of Deity with ineffable delight, while he triumphantly sings, Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto Him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb forever." As long as God exists, he shall flourish in unfading spring; and improve in felicity and knowledge through the revolutions of eternal ages. But poor and very inadequate at best are our conceptions of the immeasurable and exalted happiness of departed saints; for it is an "exceeding great and eternal weight of glory." Would we gain those peaceful shores, holiness is indispensa ble. Our hearts, being naturally contaminated and full of evil, must be renewed and sanctified by divine grace, or we can never enter the New Jerusalem, the residence of infinite Purity. Unerring truth hath said, "Except ye be born again, ye cannot enter the kingdom of God." This is the essential change, which every descendant of Adam and Eve, must experience, in order to be admitted into heaven. How important it is, that we should impartially and critically search and examine our hearts and lives, and endeavor to ascertain whether we are renewed in the spirit of our minds, and

display the fruits of the Spirit in our lives and conversation. However painful the investigation, it is absolutely necessary. We must dive into the corrupt fountain, from whence proceeds every sinful act, and discover its latent pollutions. We must scrutinize our external deportment, and compare all with that infalli ble criterion, the word of God, and see whether we have the characteristic lineaments of a true Christian, or are deceiving ourselves with vain hopes. But ah, we are insufficient of ourselves to do any thing. Our sufficiency is of God. May we realize our entire dependence on Him, im his assistance, and the

influences of hised Spirit.

My best love Sear Miss W. May you both be blessed with much of Enoch's spirit, and enjoy the peculiar love of your covenantRedeemer. Pray for me, that I may live devoted to God. If this letter deserves an answer, do write immediately. Your affectionate friend, FANNY WOODBURY.

Letter to Miss N. J. of Beverly.

My dear friend,

Beverly, Feb. 2, 1813.

I AM pleased with the freedom with which you write, and with equal pleasure shall reciprocate your confidence. I can make no remuneration for your favors; but only express my willingness, and look to Him, without whose cognizance not a sparrow falls to the ground. From the treasures of his wisdom, knowledge and grace, may he bounteously communicate to you, and make you an instrument of great and extensive good to a world lying in wick

« PredošláPokračovať »