Letter from Matthew Franklin to Charity Rotch. New York, 2d Month 21st, 1805.

DEAR FRIEND,

I AM now sitting up to watch the remains of my dear, and much valued friend, Robert Mott, who departed this life between the hours of four and five, this morning; of whom it may be emphatically said, "he being dead yet speaketh." The latter years of his life were checquered with afflictions, which, previous to the illness that has taken him from us, had much weaned him from the love of things that "perish with the using," and stained the beauty and glory of this fading world in his view. He had not left the great work of his soul's salvation unattended to, till arrested by the king of terrors; but for several years past has evinced by the expressive language of conduct, a❝diligence to make his calling and election sure;" and by reason hereof, when his late sickness took hold of him, which presaged a speedy dissolution, he was not affrighted!—Death had not a terrific aspect to him. His mind was brought into such sweet serenity, and Christian patience, that it was truly pleasant to be with him. I have gone into the room, when my spirit hath as quickly felt the precious sweetening influence with which his mind was clothed, as we could feel in the atmosphere, in going out of a cold into a warm room. His heart overflowed with love for the whole bulk of mankind, and for individuals in a particular manner; divers of whom, a few days before his death, he sent for, and delivered gospel messages to them, which were very memorable seasons indeed. And should they be erased from their

memories without producing a lasting and salutary effect, they will prove, I apprehend, as a dread hand-writing on the wall against them on a future day.

Notwithstanding he had been preserved in such a remarkable equanimity and sweetness of mind, and had a heart full of love to his fellow creatures, he did not feel that full assurance of eternal felicity, that his soul longed for, till within a few days past. Previous to which, he had often said, there seemed nothing in the way; but now of a sudden he looked round upon those about him, and with an animated countenance expressive of the beatific prospect, which then beamed upon his mind, he expressed himself to the following import:-" What is this I see? Eternal felicity before me. Now I have assurance of a happy and glorified immortality. I see it as clear as I see the sun, shining in the room." With more of this nature, and henceforward his mind overflowed with holy joy and ecstacy; the fervour whereof would seem to make him almost forget his house of clay.

About half an hour before his spirit fled, his friends discovered a little difference in his breathing, though no struggle nor emotion of any kind; and thus as if with full consent, soul and body separated; and it is my firm belief, that he is initiated into the company of saints and angels, and the spirits of the just, already made perfect, to chant the never-ending anthem of, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are all thy ways, thou King of Saints."

Thus, he is gone! I loved him tenderly, because I believed he loved the Lord Jesus. But, he is

gone! His day's work is done, and he has entered into rest! What more shall I say of him? It is no flattery to eulogize the dead. He was one that was

often in the deeps; he mourned the desolations of Zion, though few knew the travail of his spirit. He was a man of a strong mind, sound judgment, and clear discernment, as most of his years; and I was looking forward to the day when he would come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, as one of the valiants in Israel. So short-sighted was I, that I was looking forward to the time, when, if I kept my rank in righteousness, we might take sweet counsel together, and salute each other as fellow servants.

But the Lord knows what is best, and he has taken him. May many, many that are left behind, emulate those virtues that conspicuously shone in him, during the latter years of his life. I sincerely sympathize with his precious widow. Her loss is indeed great, but happy for her she is acquainted with that Arm, that is higher than Agag, and mightier than the mighty waves of the sea. believe she is a precious plant, and that the heavenly Father's regard is towards her, and "what he does, she may not know now, but she will know hereafter."

I

Thus I have dwelt long upon this theme, but it is one that nearly interests my feelings; and I trust it will not be unacceptable to my dear friend. He is to be buried on seventh-day next, at three o'clock, P. M. from our meeting house.

What an inestimable favour it is to get well through this earthly pilgrimage, where there are so many besetments, and complicated discouragements! I am often led to fear, that I shall never be of this

happy number, when I take a view of my own manifold infirmities, and liability to swerve from a state of "watching unto prayer." Yet, blessed be the Lord Omnipotent, there are seasons, in mercy meted out, when I can see with an eye of faith a state attainable, that the enlightened Young speaks of, when he says,

"His hand the good man fastens on the skies, And bids earth roll, nor heeds her idle whirl." It appears to me that I have a great deal to do, and to suffer, before the language will salute my ear (if that blissful moment should ever arrive,) "Come thou blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for the righteous from the foundation of the world." But I desire not to repine, nor to let in undue discouragements. I know it is said, "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," and we are advised, to let the morrow take care for the things of itself. If our faith fail not, we have nothing to fear. If we are preserved in a lively, active faith, we cannot entirely fall away. We may for a moment deviate, but conviction will soon follow, and our faith in Christ will wash away the guilt. Therefore let our prayers often ascend to the Majesty on high, that he may be pleased to preserve our faith inviolate, in his own dread power, and in the saving grace of his dear Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and in the sacred records of the Scriptures of truth.

Thus shall we be led, in every trying dispensation to recur to Him, the munition of rocks; and when storms assail, to hide in his pavilion. Here is the only place of safety,-casting all our care on Him, who careth for the sparrows, and having no

confidence in the flesh. Oh! this state of true humiliation and abasement of self!" may we seek it— press after it-lay fast hold of it." Thus we may come to adopt the language of the spouse in the Canticles, "My beloved is mine, and I am his, he feeds among the lilies." He will arise at times as a morning without clouds, and shine upon the garden of our hearts, that we can sing with the psalmist, "Thou crownest the year with thy goodness, and thy paths drop fatness, they drop upon the pastures of the wilderness, and the little hills rejoice on every side." Affectionately, farewell.

MATTHEW FRANKLIN.

ACCOUNT OF ANN CARLILE.

ANN CARLILE, only daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Carlile, of Plumstead, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, was placed at West-town boarding school about the 4th month, 1802. She remained there, pursuing her studies, till the latter end of the 9th month following, when the scarlet fever prevailing in the family, she, with many others, left the school for a short time. After passing a few weeks with a relative in the neighbourhood, she returned, and entered on her literary pursuits; but, in a few days was attacked with the scarlet fever, attended with bilious symptoms. Her case, however, was not considered alarming, till the third or fourth day, when it was deemed needful to send for her parents. But it was too late for them to arrive before her close, which took place on the morning of the 30th of the 10th month, 1802. They reached VOL. IV.-6