Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

parents, she accompanied him to that country. There she did not forget the Sabbath-school, and still attended to her religious duties. In a short time she became very useful to her uncle, and was able to superintend his business whilst he came over to England. Martha remained in Ireland until the 26th of May, 1852, when she returned home with her father, who had been on a visit to her uncle.

Mr. Walley's health had been indifferent for some time, and he had been advised to try the voyage, but a week after his return he was summoned to the upper world. He left satisfactory evidence behind that he is now in heaven. Martha's health at this time began to fail. She suffered much from fainting fits, and was in consequence prevented from returning to Ireland. She became gradually worse, her disease gained ground and took firmer hold of her frame. As she grew worse, she was desirous of being visited by some Christian friends from the Chapel. When asked how she felt, she said, "I am short of something," thus proving that morality in its brightest forms will not satisfy us on a dying bed. She was directed to Jesus,-the Lamb in God who taketh away the sins of the world. Her desires after heaven and the salvation of her soul became more earnest. At another time the song of the pilgrim on his way to heaven, was sung to her in which she joined with tears. She now seemed drawing nearer to her Saviour, her conversation was sweet and pleasing. She would talk of Heaven and its joys, of Christ's love in dying to save sinners.

On Sunday the 14th of August, she was much troubled about the safety of her soul. Such passages of Scripture as were applicable to her case were repeated. “All is well” was sung, and now she laid hold of her Saviour with a firm grasp. She felt the pardoning love of God, and was assured her sins were forgiven. After this, Satan often strove to weaken her confidence, but she trusted in God, One day being asked how she felt, she said "All is well" and that God for Christ's sake had pardoned all her sins. The week before she died she often said to her mother,

and sisters, "do not weep for me, weep for yourselves, I am going to heaven." When told that her stay on earth was likely to be very short, "then," said she, "I shall soon be in heaven with my Jesus." This was on the Monday. She however revived and lived until the Saturday following, when rather unexpectedly death summoned her away. To a friend who was with her at the time, she said, all is right, "come Lord Jesus;" seeing her mother weeping, she said, "do not cry for me, come Lord Jesus, receive my soul," and stroking her deathly hand down the face of her friend, said "all is over," and the spirit passed away. Thus died Martha Walley, in the 17th year of her age.

Dear reader, may you like Martha choose the good part, and "prepare to meet your God," so that at death, you may be admitted into the abodes of the blessed, where there is fulness of joy.

PETER BARNETT.

TO THE TEACHERS AND SCHOLARS Of the Tabernacle Sabbath-school, Meadow Lane, Leeds. My dear Friends,

Both young and old, some whom as yet I have not seen, yet love; accept a few lines from one who has often assembled and joined with you in devotional exercises; from one who sincerely loves you, and hopes to see you once again in the flesh. I speak to you through the medium of the pen, because I am not favoured with the opportunity of personally addressing you as I have been wont to do in times past. And I may say they were happy times, something like the times David had when he watched his father's sheep, and sung to his solemn tuned Harp the sweet songs of Zion.

Those bright joyous seasons are fled

But ah!

Far, far; beyond time's stinted shore,
Like friends we have laid with the dead;
They will never return to us more.

*The Author is a Scholar in one of our Sunday-schools in
Yorkshire. EDITOR.

But I hope to enjoy others equally as bright. Allow me to say, especially to you who have chosen religion as your guardian Angel, Christ as the foundation of your hopes, heaven as your future residence, that, though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. And while I pen these lines, tears unbidden start, while the reminiscences of Sabbath-school days crowd thick and fast upon my memory. And I may add how sweet and cheering the remembrance; in imagination I hear you singing the beautiful verse or hymn, which I have often sung, and which is wafted to the skies every Sabbath, by many infant voices

Lord, how delightful 'tis to see
A whole assembly worship Thee,
At once they sing, at once they pray;

They hear of heaven, and learn the way.

The Sabbath-school in many instances has been the porch to the portals of eternal blessedness; and the hymn to which we have just alluded, has been sung by many in the Tabernacle-school, who have now passed away to the skies, and are swelling the Anthem of heaven, and casting their blood-bought crowns at the feet of Him who was once a babe in Bethlehem,-they struggled hard as we do now, but the days of their mourning are ended, and God with the soft hand of his love, has wiped all tears from their eyes. Let us follow them, who through faith and patience are now inheriting the promises

And dying, find our latest foe,

Under our feet at last.

With your permission I will now say a few words on the new Year upon which we are just entering. As a certain writer says- the old Year is dead, though many grateful remembrances linger to endear and sanctify its departed scenes. It is gone, and buried in the sepulchre of by gone ages, and its epitaph is now carved in eternal marble, it has gone with all its moments, with all its

opportunities, and with all its miseries. With some it has sped quickly away, while to others it has moved with tender feet. Many have been anxious to see its close, while others have dreaded its approaching end, to some it has brought sorrow, and to others joy, it has given and taken away, '56 is no longer ours. We have done with it until the dust of ages shall spring into life, and the mighty waters give up the dead. We know how we have spent it, and it has carried with it a report of our conduct, which will be read to us, when Time is no more. O that it may be a good report

That we may give for every Year,
A good account at last.

What then are your prospects and decisions, in reference to the New Year. I speak now particularly to you who have not yet entered on the path of purity and peace; I dare say you hope, or expect to have a happy New Year. And I hope from the bottom of my soul, that you may have a happy New Year. But let me say, that the Year, so far as happiness is concerned, will be to a great extent, what we feel disposed to make it. There are many false notions in the world, with reference to happiness, some think that happiness consists in the abundance of worldly good, and many young people cherish this mistaken notion, until they painfully discover its fallacy. Why, there are many, who during the past Year, had all that the world calls grand and great; splendid homes, gold and silver, superior wearing apparel, and moved among a gay and fashionable circle of friends, and yet look back upon the past Year with unhappy feelings and bitter regrets. Like Solomon, who gave the world a fair test, in retired moments they have been wont to exclaim, all is vanity &c. On the other hand, there are many living in humble homes, like the desert flower, obscure and unknown to the world, who have had but the common fare of life besides numerous difficulties to encounter, yet have been happy as possible upon earth, and possess in their minds a happy and pleasing retrospect.

Happiness, my dear friends, does not consist in what we have, but in what we are. A man may be very rich, but unless he has treasure in heaven, &c. he never can be happy. I had rather be a Lazarus in life, than a Dives in death, for I am convinced from experience and observation, that apart from religion, there can be no true happiness or enjoyment

"Tis religion that can give, &c.

Do you ask why? I answer, because man possesses a body and an immortal soul. You and I are linked to two worlds, and the desires of an immortal spirit, possess a kind of infinity and cannot be satisfied with finite objects. The soul must have a good, suited to its nature and constitution; Something lasting that will stay,

When heaven and earth are fled away.

And that something is religion, the pearl of great price, and which is within the reach of the poorest, and the most illiterate person upon earth. O! with all your getting, get wisdom-the wisdom of the Bible. Buy the truth, and sell it not, this will be your guardian angel through life, encircle your dying pillow with a halo of heavenly glory, and light up the dark valley of death.

Do not historical accounts prove the world to be a broken reed at last? Do not the many wrecks on the ocean oftime, faithfully warn against making the world the foundation of our hopes? Just glance over the pages of history, and converse for a few moments with the departed, for they being dead yet speak, and all will bear testimony to what I have said in reference to the world. Gaze on Alexander who conquered the world, sitting weeping, because every other planet is beyond his reach, and because he had not conquered himself. See that iron hoofed despot-Napoleon, fretting himself to death on a gloomy Island, while yet in the prime of life. The world slew him. Tread softly in the death chamber of Elizabeth, and listen to the high estimate she puts on time in her last moments,-O time, a world of gold for an inch of time. And Oh! bear in mind the words of Cardinal

« AnteriorContinuar »