of the glorious gospel, a state which I often pant after, and am so
generally a stranger to; in each day a religious engagement seemed
peculiarly blessed to myself. A sense of being liked and loved, is
gratifying; at the same time I acknowledge, it has its dangers; it is,
however, a stimulus to do good and to communicate."
4th Month, 25th. "A poor body, and a weak restless mind! How the sword
does wear the scabbard! but this world is not to be our paradise; perhaps
I lose some little strength in striving to make it so. Oh! my God, have
pity upon me; thou alone canst know how much I suffer;--if my children
ail anything, what it costs me."
In 1826, she visited the families of Friends in Darlington Monthly
Meeting, in company with Isaac Stephenson; and in allusion to this
engagement, she writes: "Entered last week on a visit, with I.
Stephenson, to the families of this Monthly Meeting. Ministry is surely
a gift! may the vessel be purified by using it in faith."
3rd Month, 1826. "After many cogitations and some provings of faith, I
went with Isaac Stephenson to Manchester, Lancaster, and Leeds: I felt it
like leaving all to follow what I believed to be my divine Guide; it cost
me some heart-sinkings and tears, but my mind was sweetly preserved in
peace and confidence; and, though I had times of depression and fear to
pass through, I have been thankful that I made the sacrifice. It has
endeared me to many individuals; and at times, in the undoubted belief
that it was a divine requiring, it has strengthened my faith, and excited
some degree of thankfulness for being so employed."
4th Month, 16th. "A sweet day of rest and peace, such as I do not
remember to have known for years."
4th Month, 18th. "Monthly Meeting one of perplexity and fear, Oh! for
dwelling deep and lying low! and waiting in quietness for the 'little
cloud!' but it seems as if my faith were to be tried by things coming
unexpectedly upon me, and to be humbled by feeling ill prepared."
From this time she went on advancing rapidly in the work of the ministry:
her truly catholic spirit expanded in love to her fellow-creatures; the
inmates of the palace as well as those of the prison, shared alike her
Christian zeal and interest. Her naturally powerful and refined mind,
deeply instructed in the things of God, rendered her peculiarly fitted to
labour amongst those, who being invested with wealth and influence, she
regarded as stewards, deeply responsible for the right occupation of
their various gifts: with many of these, in the upper classes of society,
she sought and obtained opportunities for conveying religious counsel;
and in not a few instances there was a deep response in the hearts of her
hearers, to the truths which she had to proclaim.
The public meetings which she held were very numerous,--many of them very
remarkable. Her fervour in seeking to arouse to a sense of their
condition, those who were "dead in trespasses and sins,"--her sound and
convincing arguments, in controverting the views of the infidel,--her
zeal against the lukewarm professor, and her earnest affectionate
invitations to the humble believer in Jesus, to "lay aside every weight,"
and partake, in all their fulness, of the blessings purchased for them by
the dear Son of God; will long be remembered by those who felt the truth
and unction of her appeals. She dwelt upon the glorious scheme of
redemption, through the propitiatory sacrifice of Christ Jesus upon the
cross, for the sins of the whole world; and of the absolute necessity of
sanctification of spirit, through the effectual operation of divine grace
on the heart, as one, who had herself largely participated, in the
blessings and mercies of her God. She was, however, no stranger to deep
mental conflicts, both in the prosecution of her religious labours, and
in the more retired sphere of domestic life, as some of her memoranda
show.
In 1827, after visiting with her husband, the counties of Devon and
Cornwall, an engagement which occupied them nearly two months, and
included a visit to the Scilly Isles, she writes:--
7th Month, 1827. "I felt it a day of favour when we gave in our account
at the Monthly Meeting, the third day after our arrival at home, but in
returning from this journey, I have been made remarkably sensible, that
the business of religion is the business of the day, and that the
exercises and strength of any past day, are but as nothing for the day
that is passing over us; and many of these days have been passed in much
mental conflict, and much bodily weakness and languor."
1828. "Many, and many have been my fears, lest the good things that
others may see us surrounded with, should be as a stumbling block leading
to covetousness; how hardly shall they that have riches lead the life of
a humble follower of the dear Redeemer! These thoughts often beset me,
and sometimes make me fear, if ever I have a right to open my mouth to
advocate His cause."
"I could wish I had a heart, a head, and a mind fit for all I could
embrace, but that may never be: however, altogether my mind has been of
late, less covered with clouds than it used to be, and my health revives
with it. 'What shall I render for all thy benefits?' may well be the
language of my soul."
In 1829 she was again joined by her dear husband in a visit to Ireland;
after which she writes:--
10th Month, 1829. "We passed through many deep baptisms, many sinks both
of body and mind, and in the course of three or four months, attended all
the particular meetings; I think we did too much in the time to do it as
well as we might; there was much exercise of faith, but patience had not
its perfect work:--may my daily prayer be for patience, and the daily
close exercise of my spirit to obtain it; for want of it, I get into many
perplexities, that might be avoided; yet with all the omissions and
commissions that I can look back upon with shame, I can number this
journey among the many mercies of my life, being at times in it,
introduced into a more soul-satisfying state than I had perhaps ever
known before, and I was never more fully persuaded that we were
commissioned to preach the gospel. The company of my dear husband was
truly a comfort and support, as well as very endearing, and this journey
has enlarged my heart in love to hundreds, and has written many epistles
there, which I trust may never be blotted out."
In 1830, she laid before her Monthly Meeting, a prospect of going to
America. This concern was cordially united with, and she and her husband
were liberated for the service in that land. In reference to this very
weighty engagement, she thus writes to her dear cousin, Elizabeth Fry:--
Darlington, 2nd Month, 4th, 1830.
"My dearest Betsy,
I believe some of thy tenderest sympathies will be aroused, on hearing
of the momentous prospect now before us of visiting North America. I
dare say many, many years ago, thy imagination sent me there,--call it
by that name, or the more orthodox one of faith,--so has mine, but I
saw it without baptism; now, I pass into it under baptism, which in
depth far exceeds any thing I have known before; the severing work it
is to the ties of nature, to my dear Father, Mother, and Children,
breaks me all to pieces, but I have much, if not entirely, been spared
from doubts; all I seem to have had to do was to submit; this is a
great comfort, for which I desire to be thankful, and for that peace
which in the midst of deep suffering has so far rested upon it.
Thy very affectionate
H. C. BACKHOUSE."
Her labours in America were very abundant, and there is reason to
believe, blessed to very many. During the five years she spent on that
Continent, she visited the greater part of the meetings of Friends, and
in doing so, shrank from no hardship or privation consequent upon
travelling in districts recently settled.
In 1833, Jonathan Backhouse thus writes of her labours--
"I do think my wife's labours in these parts, have been of essential
service;--helped some sunken ones out of a pit, strengthened some weak
hands, and confirmed some wavering ones, as well as comforted the
mourners. She has no cause to be discouraged about her labours, they
have been blessed."
Her husband thinking it desirable to return for a while to England,
Hannah C. Backhouse was provided with a most faithful valuable companion
in Eliza P. Kirkbride, and for her as well as for many other beloved
friends to whom she had become closely united in America, she retained a
warm interest and affection to the close of her life.
In 1835, they returned to England, and in the bosom of her beloved family
and friends, great was, for a time, her domestic happiness. But home
endearments were not permitted to interfere with her devotion to Him, to
do whose will, was not only her highest aim, but her chief delight: and
whenever the Lord's call was heard, she was ready to obey. Many parts of
England, and Scotland were visited between this time and 1845. During
this interval some of her nearest domestic ties were broken; her eldest
surviving son, an engaging youth of seventeen, her beloved husband, and a
precious daughter, the wife of John Hodgkin, of Tottenham, were all
summoned to their eternal home: whilst under the pressure of sorrow
occasioned by the removal of Ann Hodgkin, the following letter was
penned:--
Tottenham, 12th Month, 9th, 1845.
"My losses have been many and great, but the greatness of this, I am
increasingly coming into the apprehension of. She was lovely in her
life, and in death may we not be divided! or _by_ death, but may her
sweet spirit be very near in my remembrance, to the end of my days,
and then may I join Father and Mother, Brothers and Sisters, Husband
and Children,--how many of the nearest ties now, we trust, in heaven,
and how few on earth comparatively. On this subject I cannot now
dwell,--when I can view her free from all weakness, corruption, and
suffering, in the enjoyment of _that_ rest, she knew so well how to
appreciate, I could smile with a joyful sorrow; but few of such
moments have been given; in general a patient bearing of the present
moment, is the most we have arrived at, under the blessed unmoved
confidence that all is well.
Your very affectionate sister,
H. C. BACKHOUSE."
From this time a cessation from labour was granted, and after having thus
devoted the meridian of her life to the service of her Lord, she was
permitted for some years previous to her decease, to enjoy a season of
almost uninterrupted repose. Love, meekness, gentleness, and peace were
eminently the clothing of her spirit; and like Moses viewing from the
Mount the Promised Land, she seemed almost to live above the trials and
temptations of time; nothing appeared materially to disturb or ruffle the
repose of her soul, deeply centred in God. Her ministry was often
strikingly beautiful and impressive, especially exhorting to unreserved
dedication, and dwelling on the glories of the heavenly kingdom.
During the latter part of 1849, her health, which had long been delicate,
began increasingly to give way; at the end of the 3rd Month of 1850, she
was seized with alarming illness, from which little hope was entertained
of her recovery; from this she so far rallied as to leave her bed-room,
and go into an adjoining sitting-room, but never was able to go down
stairs. It was evident her strength was very small, but no immediate
danger was at this time apprehended. She was at times, cheerful, always
tranquil and full of repose, and able to enjoy the company of those
immediately around her; at other times illness oppressed her, and
prevented the power for much exertion of mind or communication of
thought. But words were not needed to declare her faith or her love,
when through having faithfully occupied with the grace that had been
given to her, her whole life might almost be said to have been one act of
dedication to God.
On the night of the 5th of Fifth Month, increased illness came on, she
continued conscious almost to the last, and alluded with perfect calmness
to the fresh symptoms of danger. On her sister remarking to her, that
"though it was a dark valley, it would soon be all joy to her," she
responded by a beautiful smile, but power of articulation soon failed,
and on the morning of the 6th of Fifth Month, 1850, she most gently
expired.
We cannot close this account more appropriately than in the language of a
dear friend who had long known and loved her.
"A character of such rare excellence, such singleness of purpose, such
true devotedness, in which the intellectual and the spiritual were so
well balanced, and well developed together:--a character in which, with
all the occasional undulations and agitations of the surface, there was
such a deep, such a clear, such a calm and steady under-current of
sterling piety, of unwavering attachment to the cause of our God and of
his Christ, of close adherence to the leadings of his Spirit, and strong
desire to do his will;--a character in which the woman, the Christian,
and the Quaker were so fused into one, did truly adorn the doctrine of
God her Saviour. It was conspicuous that by the grace of God she was
what she was; though nature had done much, grace had done much more, and
it was evident that she humbly felt that she was not her own, that she
was bought with a price; that amidst all that surrounded her of the
perishing things of time, she did not live unto herself, but unto Him who
died for her and rose again, who was her Alpha and Omega, her all in all.
In our little and afflicted church, the loss is great: she was one of our
stakes, and one of our cords! The stake is removed, the cord is broken,
but our God abideth for ever."
A SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND LABOURS OF PATRICK,
The Apostle of the Irish.
We think it will be agreeable to our readers, that we should occupy a few
vacant pages, by the following lively particulars respecting "Patrick,
the Apostle of the Irish." They are extracted from a work lately
published, under the title of, "Light in Dark Places; or Memorials of
Christian Life in the Middle Ages," which is stated, in the preface, to
be translated from a German work by the late Augustus Neander. Patrick
flourished in the early part of the fifth century, before the Romish yoke
was imposed upon the British churches, but not before much superstition
had become mixed with the purity of the Christian faith.
His early circumstances seem, however, to have entirely detached him from
dependence upon man, and to have driven him to the One great Source of
light and strength. Romanists have a story of his having gone to Rome,
and having received there his authority as the first bishop of Ireland;
but it is evident that his _call_ to preach the gospel to the Irish, was
not of man, or from man, but immediately from God, who inspired him with
holy faith and courage, and in a most remarkable manner prospered his
labours.
* * * * *
This remarkable man was prepared, by very peculiar circumstances, for his
important work; and in his instance, also, it may be seen, how that
infinite wisdom which guides the development of the kingdom of God
amongst men, is able to bring great things out of what seems
insignificant to the eyes of men.
Patrick, called in his native tongue Succath, was born A.D. 372, between
the Scottish towns of Dumbarton and Glasgow, (then appended to England,)
in the village of Bonaven, since named in honour of him, Kilpatrick. He
was the son of a poor unlettered deacon of the village church. No
particular care was bestowed on his education, and he lived on
light-heartedly, from day to day, without making the religious truths
taught him by his parents matters of personal interest, until his
seventeenth year.
Then, it happened that he was awakened by a severe chastisement from his
Heavenly Father from this sleep of death to a higher life. Some pirates
of the wild tribe of the Scots, who then inhabited Ireland, landed at the
dwelling-place of Patrick, and carried him off with other captives. He
was sold into slavery to a Scottish prince, who committed to him the care
of his flocks and herds. Necessity directed his heart to that God of
whom, in his days of rest in his father's house, he had not thought.
Abandoned of men, he found consolation and blessedness in Him, and now
first learned to perceive and enjoy the treasures which the Christian has
in heaven. Whilst he roamed about with his flocks, through ice and snow,
communion with his God in prayer, and quiet contemplation, were his
portion. Let us hear how he himself, in a confession which he
subsequently wrote, describes this change which took place in him.
"I was about sixteen years old, and knew nothing of the true God, when I
was led into captivity with many thousands of my countrymen, as we
deserved, in that we had departed from God, and had not kept his
commandments. There God opened my unbelieving heart, so that I, although
late, remembered my sins, and turned with my whole heart to the Lord my
God, to Him who had regarded my loneliness, had had compassion on my
youth and my ignorance, and had watched over me before I knew him; who,
ere I knew how to choose between good and evil, had guarded and cherished
me, as a father doth his son. This I know assuredly, that before God
humbled me, I was like a stone lying sunk in deep mire; but He who is
able came, He raised me in his mercy, and set me on a very high place.
Therefore must I loudly bear witness to this, in order, in some measure,
to repay the Lord for such great blessings in time and eternity, great
beyond the apprehension of human reason. "When I came to Ireland," he
says, "and used daily to keep the cattle, and often every day to pray,
the fear and the love of God were ever more and more enkindled in me, and
my faith increased, so that, in one day, I spoke a hundred times in
prayer, and in the night almost as often; and even when I passed the
night on the mountains, or in the forest, amid snow and ice and rain, I
would awake before daybreak to pray. And I felt no discomfort, there was
then no sloth in me, such as I find in my heart now, for then the Spirit
glowed within me."
After he had passed six years in the service of this prince, he thought
he heard a voice in his sleep which promised him a speedy return to his
native land, and soon afterwards announced to him that a ship was already
prepared to take him. In reliance on this call, he set out, and after a
journey of many days, he found a ship about to set sail. But the captain
would not, at first, receive the poor unknown youth. Patrick fell on his
knees and prayed. He had not finished his prayer before one of the
ship's company called him back, and offered him a passage. After a
wearisome voyage, in which he experienced, from the grace which guided
him, many a deliverance from great peril, and many a memorable answer to
prayer, he arrived once more amongst his people.
Many years after this, he was again carried off by pirates. But, in
sixteen days, by the special guidance of Providence, he regained his
freedom, and again returned, after many fresh perils and fatigues, to his
people. Great was the joy of his parents to see their son again after so
many perils, and they entreated him thenceforth to remain with them
always. But Patrick felt an irresistible call to carry to the people
amongst whom he had passed the years of his youth, and amongst whom he
had been born again to the heavenly life, the tidings of that salvation
which had been imparted to him by Divine grace, whilst amongst them. As
the apostle Paul was by the Lord called, in a nocturnal vision, to carry
to the people of Macedonia the first tidings of salvation, so there
appeared to Patrick one night, in a vision, a man from Ireland with many
letters. He gave him one, and Patrick read the first words, "The words
of the Irish." And as he read these words, he thought he heard the
simultaneous cry of many Irish tribes dwelling by the sea, "We pray thee,
child of God, come and dwell once more amongst us." He could not read
further, from the agitation of his heart, and awoke.
Another night he thought he heard in a dream a heavenly voice, whose last
words only were intelligible to him, namely, these words,--"He who gave
his life for thee, speaks in thee." And he awoke full of joy. One night
it seemed to him as if something that was in him, and yet above him, and
was not himself, prayed with deep sighings, and at the end of the prayer
it spoke, as if it were the Spirit of God himself. And he awoke, and
remembered the expressive words of the apostle Paul, concerning the
inward communion of the children of God with his Spirit, "The Spirit
itself helpeth our infirmities. For we know not what we should pray for
as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings that cannot be uttered." And in Romans viii. 24 "Christ which
also maketh intercession for us."
As the Almighty Shepherd of souls does not draw all to himself by the
same means, nor guide and nourish them alike; but, on the contrary
reveals and communicates himself to them in divers manners, according to
his various purposes for them, and their various wants; it pleased Him to
grant Patrick, by many manifestations of his grace, the pledge of the
certainty of his fellowship with Himself, and of his call to preach the
Gospel in Ireland. His parents and friends sought to hold him back,
representing to him that such an undertaking far exceeded his capacity.
He himself informs us of this, when he says: "Many dissuaded me from this
journey, and said behind my back, 'Why does this man throw himself into
danger, amongst the heathen who do not know the Lord?' It was not said
maliciously, but they could not comprehend the thing on account of my
rustic life and manners." But nothing could mislead him, for he trusted
in the power of the Lord, who imparted to him the inward confidence that
He had called him, and was with him. He himself says of this: "Whence
came to me so great and blessed a gift, that I should know and love God,
and be able to forsake my country and my kindred, although large gifts
were offered me, with many tears, if I would remain? And against my will
I was compelled to offend many of my kindred and my well-wishers. But by
God's guidance, I yielded not to them; it was not my own power, it was
God who triumphed in me, and resisted them all, so that I went amongst
the people of Ireland to preach to them this Gospel, prepared to suffer
much contempt from the unbelieving, and many persecutions, even to
chains; and, if needful, to sacrifice my freedom for the good of others.
And if I am counted worthy, I am ready also to lay down my life with joy
for His name's sake."
Patrick, accordingly, went to Ireland, in the year 431. He could now
make use of his early proficiency in the Irish language. He gathered
great multitudes of the people together in the open air, by beat of drum,
to tell them of the sufferings of the Saviour for sinful men; and the
doctrine of the cross manifested its characteristic power over many
hearts. Patrick met indeed with much opposition. The priests and
national bards, who possessed great influence, excited the people against
him, and he had to endure many a hot persecution. But he overcame by his
steadfastness in the faith, by his fervent zeal, and by a love which drew
all hearts to itself. Patrick addressed himself especially to the chiefs
and princes of the people. They could do the most mischief, if they were
excited by the Druids against the strange religion; and, on the other
hand, if they received the Gospel, they might make their people more
accessible, and form a counterbalance to the influence of the Druids.
Patrick took the part of servants who had suffered hard usage from their
masters. When he found youths of the lower ranks, who seemed to him
fitted for a higher calling, he provided for their education, and trained
them to be teachers of the people.