THE GRACE OF GOD MANIFESTED.

A Short Account of MRS. ELIZABETH SMITH, late of BALDERTON, near NEWARK.

BY JOHN HANNAH.

MRS. ELIZABETH SMITH, whose maiden name was BATES, was born at Newark-upon-Trent, in the county of Nottingham, May 21, 1781. Her mother was a moral woman, and endeavoured to teach her children something of the fear of GOD. She afterwards became a member of the Methodist Society, and obtained the enjoyment of experimental religion.

When Elizabeth was eleven years of age, she entered into service, and, by living in many different situations, had an opportunity of seeing much of the world. At one place, which she had at Newark, her mistress took a sitting for her in the Methodist chapel. She was very fond of the singing, and constantly attended both preaching and prayer-meetings; but she wished that the people would sing more, and pray less

At the age of nineteen she went to London, where she resided four years. She was of a lively disposition, and sought earnestly for happiness in what the world calls innocent amusements; such as, attending the theatre, reading plays and novels, singing trifling songs, &c. One evening she attended the exhibitions at Vauxhall. When she entered the place, and saw the trees illuminated with variegated lamps, and heard the music, of which she was very fond, she exclaimed, "Surely this is heaven;" but continuing there until two o'clock in the morning, the lamps began to go out, the music was withdrawn,-and a heavy shower of rain fell, so that she was constrained to acknowledge that "all was vanity."

On leaving London, she returned to Newark. She had sought happiness in the metropolis, and had not found it; but she thought she should be more successful if she sought it in the retirement of a country village. She accordingly took a situation. at Bridgeford, between Newark and Nottingham, but was still disappointed, and became more miserable than ever. She then began to attend the Methodist chapel in that place, but still remained in spiritual darkness. After this, she removed again to Newark, and took a situation near the Methodist chapel. One Sabbath-day, having employed herself in trifling amusements, she was convinced that she had sinned against GOD, and became so wretched that she envied the sparrow on the tree. Every thing, she thought, was happy but herself. When she saw the Metho dists leave the chapel, and observed the friendly and affectionate VOL. XLIV. JULY, 1821. * 3 M *

manner in which they separated from each other, she thought, "Surely they are a happy people." She now discovered that it was religion which she wanted to make her happy, and began earnestly to seek it. She was completely ashamed of her gay dress, and, instead of endeavouring, like some others, to lay it aside by degrees, she cast it off at once, and began to wear such apparel as "becometh women professing godliness." She was admitted into the Methodist Society, by MR. C. GLOYNE, in March, 1805.

She now became deeply acquainted with the depravity of human nature, and her need of a SAVIOUR; and, after continuing in great distress of mind about three weeks, was brought into the " glorious liberty of the children of GoD," while in the chapel one watch-night. Her old companions were surprised that so cheerful a girl as she had been should become a Methodist. Some thought they had better attempt to persuade her from it ;-others said that would be of no use, she was too stupid;-and others cried, "She is too hot to hold." For about three weeks she enjoyed an uninterrupted peace, and was then tempted to suppose that she had deceived herself, and had not experienced a. real change; but by conversing with some of her christian friends, she soon learned that the christian life is a warfare, and that she ought not to conclude that the work was not begun merely because it was not finished.

Her religion being offensive to the family in which she lived, she received notice that she must either renounce it or quit her situation; and, though this was the best place she ever had, she cheerfully left it for the sake of CHRIST; "choosing," like Moses, "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God," than, by violating her principles, to enjoy any worldly advantages whatever. She took another situation at Newark, and previously agreed with her mistress that she should have some time allowed her to attend the means of grace. Her mistress, understanding that she was a Methodist, signified that she had no objection to her religion, only she did not wish her to introduce it among the other servants. To this, however, she made no promise, but conscientiously used what authority she had in the kitchen to promote the interests of godliness. She made it a rule to ask a blessing before, and to return thanks after, meals; to reprove sin whenever it was committed in her presence; and to avail herself of any opportunity that offered of advancing the spiritual welfareof her fellow-servants.

In this situation she remained a year, and then, wishing to have more time to attend the ordinances of religion, and other duties, than a state of servitude allowed, she apprenticed herself to learn the business of a dress-maker, and here also agreed that she should have time to pursue her religious duties. Whenever she

wished to attend the chapel in the evening, she was willing to go to work an hour before the usual time in the morning. On one occasion she and her shop-companions had mourning to prepare hastily for a funeral, and they were much diverted with the expectation that she with themselves would be under the necessity of working on the Sabbath-day; but by "redeeming the time," as they also might have done, she accomplished her share of the work without interfering at all with the Sabbath.

Being active at needle-work she was only six months in learning the trade, and then engaged in business for herself at Newark, where she and another young woman, who was also a Methodist, lived happily together. As she was "diligent in business," and "fervent in spirit," the blessing of the LORD rested upon her. Even the lady, whose situation she was required to leave on account of her religion, now employed her. At this time the word of GOD was peculiarly precious to her, and she often read it on her knees. Her Sabbaths were employed in attending the public and private means of religion, and in visiting the sick,-a duty in which she took great delight. She had much compassion for sinners, and endeavoured to persuade them to repent; but her zeal was not altogether approved of, for it was said by some that she could not even let beggars alone.

Close application to business injured her health, and sometimes so far affected her eye-sight, that she was not able to work; and having nothing else to depend upon for a subsistence, she was led, with respect to her temporal as well as her spiritual necessities, to exercise faith in Him who feeds the fowls of the air, and clothes the grass of the field. Once, when the sacrament of the LORD'SSupper was about to be administered at the chapel, she, being scarce of money, did not know whether it was proper for her to give sixpence at the collection, as she always had done, or something less; but after considering the matter, she resolved to give sixpence, and trust in the LORD. The next day a person employed her to make a bonnet, for which, together with some materials she provided for it, she charged one shilling and four-pence. The person said, "That's too little, I must not give you less than two shillings:" thus, by receiving eight-pence more than she expected, she found that the sixpence she had lent to the LORD was returned with good interest. At another time, when there was a collection at the chapel, all the money she had was only one farthing, which she freely cast into the LORD's treasury. On another occasion, when she and two other females visited a poor woman who was afflicted, she was much grieved that, having no money, she was obliged to leave her without relieving her necessities; but as they were returning home, she, being just behind her companions, saw a sixpence in the dirt which they had passed over, and, without saying any thing to them, eagerly took it up, * 3 M 2*

and hastened back to the poor woman, rejoicing that she now had it in her power to relieve this poor disciple of JESUS CHRIST.

Being reduced to a very feeble state of bodily health, she was advised to remove to some village, where it was thought a change of air might be serviceable to her; but to this, at first, she could not agree, fearing that, if she lived in a village where there were not so many religious opportunities as she had been accustomed to at Newark, she should suffer a declension in her christian experience. Becoming, however, still weaker, she at length consented to try the experiment, which had a very good effect. She went to reside at Besthorpe, eight miles from Newark, where she rented a small house, which she called her "Cottage of Content." Here she found some very kind friends, and was restored to good health. The young woman, who had lived with her at Newark, still continued with her, but shortly afterwards entered into the marriage-state, and, falling into a decline, died before the end of the year happy in the LORD. Elizabeth now lived by herself, rejoicing in the love of GoD, and striving to be useful to her neighbours. It is not to be expected, however, that she gained universal applause: some thought she made too much ado about religion,-others ceased to employ her in business,-and she was threatened with being turned out of her house. But these things had no effect upon her. She continued "steadfast, unmoveable, abounding in the work of the LORD."

On Dec. 11, 1810, she was married to MR. THOMAS SMITH, of Saxelby, near Lincoln. In her new situation she endeavoured to promote the welfare of all around her, whether professors of religion or not. She and her husband entertained the Preachers at their house, and she was remarkable for encouraging the young Preachers who were just entering upon their arduous work. She enjoyed a good state of health until the 9th of November, 1811, when she was delivered of a still-born child, which circumstance occasioned an affliction that finally terminated in her death. About three weeks after the birth of her second child, in February, 1814, a swelling commenced in her neck and throat, which baffled the skill of the Physicians who attended her, and her mouth became so sore that it was not without considerable pain and difficulty that she could swallow any food.-Being pressed down with affliction and powerful temptation, she lost that evidence of her sanctification which she had received about two years after her first conversion. It pleased the LORD to remove, by death, her little boy, aged eight months, whom she feared she had made her idol. On the 20th of May, 1816, she was delivered of another child, and it was now thought that she could not continue here much longer. She longed for the sanctification which she had formerly enjoyed. In July she removed with her husband from Saxelby to Balderton, near Newark, and

in the following month it was expected that she must depart. In December, she recovered the evidence of her sanctification, and enjoyed it in a more clear and satisfactory manner than she had ever done before. On Christmas-day she appeared to be dying, but her work was not yet done; and, as MR. BENSON observes in his Commentary on John xxi. 19, "it is not only by acting, but also and especially by suffering, that the saints glorify GoD. With regard to death, which we must all suffer, it is the great concern of every good man, whatever death he dies, to glorify GOD in it. And when we die patiently, submitting to the will of GOD; die cheerfully, rejoicing in hope of the glory of GoD; and die usefully, witnessing to the truth and goodness of religion, and encouraging others, we glorify GoD in dying." Contrary to all expectation, she lingered in extreme suffering upwards of three years longer, and had an opportunity, which by divine grace she did not fail to improve, of glorifying God by patiently, cheerfully, and usefully resigning herself, during her gradual death, to the unerring appointments of his will.

At first, however, she did not find it so easy to suffer as to do the will of God; but the grace of her SAVIOUR was sufficient for her, and to her death she retained her evidence of his sanctifying love. The swellings in her neck being so large and painful that she could swallow very little food, she became extremely weak. Though she had a desire to "depart and be with CHRIST," she found it hard work to leave her two children, the one six, and the other four years of age, but she obtained that degree of grace which enabled her to resign them into the hands of her heavenly Father, and she felt confident that he would take care of them. The younger died shortly after her mother. For more than a year she was confined entirely to her room, during which time she was visited by many, to whom she endeavoured to make herself useful. She spoke of her approaching dissolution with great delight, and had her funeral dress prepared upwards of three years before her death. Though, from the severe pressure of her afflictions, it was desirable for her to depart, she observed that she was quite willing either to go or stay. Two or three days before she died, when she appeared scarcely able to speak, she suddenly clapped her hands, and exclaimed aloud, "Glory, glory." The day before she departed, she spoke to some who were around her bed, but was so feeble that she could scarcely be heard: it was thought she said, "Be holy, be holy." She had a restless night, and seemed to be in much pain. Her mother asked her if "JESUS was precious; " she replied, "Yes, bless GOD." After this she spoke no more, but about eight o'clock on the morning of May 29, 1820, in the presence of her husband, her two children, her mother, sister, and another female, her happy spirit took its flight to those regions of unfading glory