"August 18, 1785. "REV. AND VERY DEAR SIR:-Though but yesterday I parted with my beloved husband's remains, I must now endeavour to collect my wounded mind, as I would not have any of his words fall to the ground, and give, if pos sible, some account of the awful, but, to him, glorious

scene.

"Our union increased daily, as did his health and strength; his consumptive complaint appeared quite removed, and in my eyes the bitterness of death was past. The work was sweetly prospering, and in a variety of circumstances the sun of prosperity shone around us.

"For some time before this last illness, his precious soul (always alive to God) was particularly penetrated with the nearness of eternity; there was scarce an hour in which he was not calling upon me to drop every thought and every care, that we might attend to nothing but drinking deeper into God. We spent much time in wrestling prayer for the fulness of the Spirit, and were led in a very peculiar manner to an act of abandonment (as we called it) of our whole selves into the hands of God, to do or suffer whatever was pleasing to him. On Thursday, August 4, he was taken up in the work of God from three in the afternoon till nine at night; when he came home, he said, 'I have taken cold.' Friday and Saturday he was but poorly, though he went out part of the day, but seemed uncommonly drawn out in prayer. On Saturday night his fever first appeared very strong. I begged him not to go to the church in the morning, but let a pious brother who was here preach in the yard; but he told me he believed it was the will of the Lord, and that he was assured it was right he should go; in which case I never dared to dissuade him. As I was in the morning with a little com. pany of our pious women, I begged they would pray that he might be strengthened, and that I might have a grain of that faith which supported the faithful when their friends were martyred. In reading the prayers he almost fainted away. I got through the crowd with a friend, and entreated him to come out of the desk, as did some others; but he let us know, in his sweet manner, that we were not to interrupt the order of God. I then retired to my pew, where all around me were in tears. When he was a little

refreshed by the windows being opened, and a nosegay thrown into the desk by a friend, he went on; and afterward going up into the pulpit, preached with a strength and recollection that surprised us all.

"In his first prayer he said, Lord, thou wilt manifest thy strength in weakness; we confer not with flesh and blood, but put our trust under the shadow of thy wings.'

“His text was from Psalm xxxvi, ‘Thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast; how excellent is thy mercy, O God; and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.'

"After he had pointed out the Saviour of mankind, and observed, how some by sin had made themselves beasts, he showed that the promise, even in that sense, might be applied to the sinner, as well as to the beasts of the earth: and in speaking to these, with his usual earnestness, he pressed, invited, and entreated them to return unto God, enforcing those words of our Lord when he came near to Jerusalem, and wept over it: If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.' These words peculiarly pierced the hearts of many, as they have since told me. He continued to observe, in nearly the following words, That the wings of the Lord are compared to those of an eagle for strength and protection,' Exodus xix, I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.' And to those of a hen for love and care, Like as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.' In the Jewish tabernacle, where was the holy of holies, two cherubim were placed, whose extended wings joining together overshadowed the mercy seat. When Christ died upon the cross, his arms were stretched out, and these were as wings of love which he opened, and still holds wide open, to receive all that come unto him; let us then, when we see his love and power thus united to save and bless us, enter boldly into the holy of holies through the door of Divine mercy. A friend threw me some flowers to revive me when I was faint, but the mercy of the Lord is far more reviving; it is this I would hold out to you, and drop it into your very bosoms; may it sink deep there, that you may taste and see how good the Lord is,' and confess that his saving mercy is above

the richest perfume, for he saves both man and beast!'

"After sermon he went up the aisle to the communion table, with these words: I am going to throw myself under the wings of the cherubim before the mercy seat.'

"The congregation was large, and the service held till near two. Sometimes he could scarcely stand, and was often obliged to stop for want of power to speak. The people were deeply affected. Weeping was on every side. Gracious Lord! how was it my soul was kept so calm in the midst of the most tender feelings? Notwithstanding his extreme weakness, he gave out several verses of hymns, and various lively sentences of exhortation. As soon as the service was over, we hurried him away to his bed, where he immediately fainted away. He afterward dropped into a sleep for some time, and upon waking, cried out, with a pleasant smile,Now my dear, thou seest I am no worse for doing the Lord's work: he never fails me when I trust in him.' After he had got a little dinner he dozed most of the evening; now and then waking (as was usual with him) full of the praises of God. That night his fever returned, but not so bad as on Saturday; nevertheless from Sunday his strength de. creased amazingly. On Monday and Tuesday we had a little paradise together; he lay on a couch in the study, and was at times very restless, as to change of posture, but sweetly pleasant, and often slept for a good while. When awake, he delighted much in hearing me read hymns and tracts on faith and love. His words were all animating, and his patience beyond what I can express. When he had any bitter or nauseous medicine to take, he seemed to enjoy the cross, reminding me of a word he used often to repeat, that our business was to seek a perfect conformity to the will of God, and then leave him to give us what comfort he saw good. I asked him, if he should be taken from me, whether he had any particular directions or orders to give me, since I desired to form my whole life thereby. He replied, No, not by mine, the Holy Ghost shall direct thee; I have nothing particular to say, only that the Lord will open all before thee; and let not any one bring thee into bondage. If I stay with thee, I will keep thee from oppression; but if I should be

taken from thee, beware.' I said, Hast thou any conviction the Lord is about to take thee? He answered, No, not in particular; only I always see death so inexpressi. bly near, that we both seem to stand as on the verge of eternity.' While he slept a little, I laid my trial before the Lord, entreating him, if it was his good pleasure, to spare my beloved husband a little longer; but my prayer seemed to have no wings. It was held down, and I could not help mingling continually therewith, Lord, give me perfect resignation! This uncertainty in my own mind made me rather tremble, lest the Lord was going to take the bitter cup out of my dear's hand, and give it unto ne. The cup of separation he had for some weeks before ery deeply drank of, when I myself was ill of the fever. At that time he often passed through the whole parting scene, and struggled for the fortitude of perfect resignation. Sometimes he would say at that season, O Polly! shall I ever see the day when thou must be carried out to be buried? How will the little things which thou wast accustomed to use, and all those which thy tender care has prepared for me in every part of the house, how will they wound and distress me! How is it! I think I feel jealousy-I am jealous of the worms! I seem to shrink at giving my dear Polly to the worms!'

"Now all these reflections returned with a millstone's weight on my heart. I cried to the Lord, and those words were deeply impressed on my spirit: Where I am, there shall my servants be, that they may behold my glory.' This promise was full of matter as well as unc. tion to my soul. It explained itself thus: That in Christ's immediate presence was our home, and that we should find our reunion in being deeply centred in him. I received it as a fresh marriage for eternity. As such I still take, and trust for ever to hold it. All that day, whenever I thought of this expression, to behold my glory,' it seemed to wipe every tear away, and was as the ring by which we were joined anew.

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"Awaking some time after, he said, Polly, I will tell you what I have been thinking of; it was Israel's fault that they asked for signs; we will not do so; but abandoning our whole selves into the hands of God, we will there lie patiently before him, assured that he will do all things well.'

"My dear love,' said I, if ever I have done or said any thing to grieve thee, how will the remembrance wound my heart, shouldst thou be taken from me!'

"He entreated and charged me, with inexpressible tenderness, not to allow the thought; declaring his thank. fulness for our union, in a variety of words which remain written on my heart, as with the adamantine pen of friendship deeply dipped in blood.

"On Wednesday, after groaning all day as it were under the weight of the power of God, he told me he had received such a manifestation of the full meaning of that word, 'God is love,' as he could never be able to tell. It fills me, said he; it fills me every moment. O Polly! my dear Polly! God is love! shout, shout aloud! O! it so fills me, I want a gust of praise to go to the ends of the earth. But it seems as if I could not speak much longer; let us fix on a sign between ourselves, (tapping me twice with his dear finger,) now I mean God is love, and we will draw each other into God: observe! by this we will draw each other into God.'

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Sally coming in, he cried out, ‘O Sally! God is love! shout both of you; I want to hear you shout his praise.' Indeed it was a season of love. All this time the medical friend who attended him with unwearied diligence, hoped he was in no danger. He knew it to be the fever; but as he had no bad headache, much sleep, without the least delirium, and an almost regular pulse, seldom much quicker than my own, he thought the symptoms amazingly mild; for though the disease was commissioned to take his life, yet it seemed so restrained by the power of God, that we truly discerned in it the verity of those words, Death is

yours.

"On Thursday his speech began to fail. While he was able he continued speaking to all who came in his way. Accidentally hearing that a stranger was in the house, he ordered her to be called up, though uttering two sentences almost made him faint. To his friendly doctor he would not be silent while he had any power of speech; often saying, 'O, sir, you take much thought for my body; give me leave to take thought for your soul.' And I be. lieve his words will remain with that friend for ever. When I could scarcely understand any thing he said, I