CHAPTER V.

RETROSPECTION.

Shall we not now pause a moment by the side of this fresh grave, and

look back over the pathway trod by the modest woman, whose form lies

sleeping here, embalmed in flowers, and call to mind anew the virtues

she possessed.

We have seen her in the midst of a large family, performing the duties

of wife and mother. Shall we not for a moment regard her in that

larger sphere of Christian labor, which she filled in the church and

in her community.

In 1846 she became an earnest and zealous follower of the Lord, and

united with the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Gouldtown, of

which the Rev. (now Bishop) A. W. Wayman was then pastor. She was

converted during a period of affliction, and I think the lines written

in that year and bearing the inscription "written after a time of

affliction," page 129, are intended to commemorate that event. The

second and third verses seem to describe the state of a soul passing

from death to life, through faith in the gospel. She joined the church

in October of that year, and seems to have commenced her labors at

once. In the Sunday-school she became a teacher and was successful in

that capacity in bringing many souls to Christ. It was her object to

secure the conversion of every scholar committed to her care, and she

seldom failed. She also became teacher of an adult Bible class, which

met weekly at her house or the house of one of the neighbors; she

managed for some time a weekly prayer meeting, composed of the female

members of the church, and subsequently became an active member of the

church aid society. Yet, with all this activity, there was no

ostentation, no public show, no noisy parade, no extravagant shouting.

She was an uncompromising opponent to woman's preaching, and to all of

those mutual aid societies bearing high sounding titles. I think

nothing could have induced her to countenance in any way the numerous

"orders" which prevail so largely among our people, and she wore no

badge, or jewelry. No rings were on her fingers or in her ears, and

yet she affected no plainness of dress. She repudiated extravagance of

all sorts, and sought to avoid everything which might render her

noticeable. After five years of Christian life and labor she came

forward as a candidate for baptism; for on this subject she

entertained peculiar scruples. She was baptised in 1851, and surely

none could have been more worthy. This rite was performed by Rev.

Shepherd Holcombe in the church of which she had been a member five

years.

She seems to have consecrated herself most fully to the Lord, and

although she repudiated the theory of the "second blessing," yet she

doubtless enjoyed all that the strongest advocates of that theory

claim. She says in a letter dated February 13th, 1876, (see page 33),

that she had laid all upon the altar, even her children, and she did

not dare take them off! She counted herself as nothing, not even

"worth a sacrifice," and was certainly all the Lord's. What does she

mean by this? Seven days before in a scrap book containing numerous

clippings she had written the following: "On this 6th day of February,

1876, I consecrate myself and all I have anew to the Lord. Many years

I have been His; but I renew my covenant. All I have,--all my

affections, all my wealth (what I have), all my labors, as far as I

can understand, are His, to be used for His glory."

Mark, she says: "I consecrate myself, _anew_." She had been the Lord's

before, for many years, and she now makes no new covenant, but she

_renews_ the old covenant. This was in strict accord with all her

previous life, and although she advanced far towards the heights of

holiness, she always turned away from the theory of special

sanctification, regarding it as an error in doctrine and an unreality

in experience; and yet none could have gone farther in consecration

than herself. Every word of this declaration is solemn and sincere,

and this consecration is without reserve. Here then is what she means

by having laid her children on the altar and not daring to take them

off.

During her remaining days my oldest sister writes: "She seemed more

devoted, more perfected to our Heavenly Father's will than ever."

Notwithstanding her feebleness she regularly attended the church on

Sabbath mornings, and met the Sunday-school teachers once a week,

going over the lessons and giving much valuable instruction. After the

dismission of the morning service on Sabbath, she regularly met her

class, and my sister, whose seat was near hers, writes: "Every Sunday

she would say, 'I am trying to _live_ a Christian; I wish to die a

Christian and see what the end of a Christian life will be.' On the

last Sunday she met the class, which was just one week and four days

before she died--she seemed if possible, more devoted than usual and

her words impressed me much. I did not think then that I should never

hear her speak in class again."

My mother had read the Scriptures with great care and was not fully

persuaded that infant baptism was therein taught, and although a

Methodist, she hesitated to give her children to God and the church in

this ordinance. Of her six children not one was baptised in infancy,

nor did she teach them to "say prayers." It required great faith to

depart from so general a custom, but being taught of God, she dared to

do it. The reader will observe in my brother's poem, which actually

reproduces the scenes of our childhood, that there is no picture of a

child with clasped hands kneeling down and lisping his evening prayer

by his mother's knee. No such picture was common there. Early in the

days of her life as a mother she abandoned the custom. Prayerless the

six children went to bed, and prayerless they went to their daily

tasks, and this not through negligence but through principle. She

thought "saying prayers" a grave species of trifling; and, as father

worked sometimes nights and sometimes days, regularity in family

prayer, if desired, could not be had. I am not certain that _it was

desired_. Religion, not even in its forms, was forced upon the

children but on the contrary it was rendered so attractive, that the

children of that household would crowd around that mother in the

evening and tease her to tell them a story. The story would always be

told just before bed-time and would be likely to end with a solemn

appeal to our consciences, the reading of a chapter from the old

family Bible, a prayer and then all the children were hurried to bed.

This was not a nightly occurrence, but seemed wholly dependent upon

our asking. The stories were always from the Bible and to our little

minds were wonderfully well told; often filling us with such hatred

toward bad men, that on seeing their pictures we would wish to

destroy them, and making us cry over those that had suffered.

Such was the character of the religious training she gave her

household. I wish it were possible to obtain one of those stories just

as she told it. The nearest approach to anyone of them is the little

story about "SELF" told with her pen many years later, when writing

was to her a great difficulty, to two of her grandchildren. While it

may be interesting, I am sure it bears but a faint comparison to those

that her own children heard in their childhood from her own lips.

I had thought to pass over this part of my mother's work for fear it

might not be understood; or that others attempting to imitate her

herein might suffer great loss in their families. Where the religious

care of the children is left to the mother, and she is not specially

gifted, it is perhaps better to teach by rote and by form; but where

conditions are otherwise, it is better to teach the children directly

the doctrines of religion and let them make their own forms.

Religion and reverence for God and sacred things, then becomes a part

of their nature and is more likely to be sincere.

Looking upon this life, shall we ask what there is in it which has won

so much Christian admiration and entitles it to so much praise. I

answer, it is found in her sincerity, purity and unconquerable faith.

She believed God and believed every word of God. It is found in her

abundant Scriptural knowledge qualifying her to believe intelligently;

in her knowledge of persons acquired by habits of close observation;

her knowledge of history and the natural sciences, and her general

acquaintance with literature. These accomplishments united to the most

modest demeanor, rendered her a woman of note and a Christian for whom

any community, church or age might have been grateful. It is not mine

to estimate her worth or paint her character. The homage which I bear

her makes all praise seem tame. No words of mine can portray the

excellencies which I attribute her. I leave therefore, the work of

determining her great moral and Christian worth to more competent and

less partial judges. To be permitted to wreathe any name with such

garlands as are brought by the learned, the eloquent and the honored

whose names adorn this book, is sufficient privilege to me. Her

earthly fame I entrust to their keeping and through them to posterity.

She enjoyed the testimony while on earth that her works pleased God

and to Him who was her solace and stay in life, and her rod and staff

in death; who gave her those shining qualities of head and heart, and

preserved her to a life of usefullness, I commend not in hopeless

sorrow but in hope of a glorious reunion her immortal and unburdened

soul.

My task is done. I lay the tribute humble as it is, and as I feel it

is, upon the fresh grave of my departed mother. May her example, her

words, her suffering, her triumph, serve as happy angels, calling us

to a higher and holier life, and to that reward which awaits on the

other side the gates. Hear her words when entering death's vale: "The

gates are hard to open, but there's _glory on the other side_!" Glory

on the other side! And hard as it may have seemed to open the gates

when at some distance, I doubt not as she drew near them that they

opened of their own accord!

REMINISCENCE OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF Mrs. Rebecca Steward,

BY BISHOP JABEZ P. CAMPBELL, D. D.

MRS. REBECCA STEWARD, wife of James Steward, was the daughter of

Benjamin and Phoebe Gould, of Bridgeton, Cumberland County, N. J. She

was born May 2d, 1820. Her father, Benjamin Gould, was the son of

Abijah Gould, whose father's name was Benjamin, who was either the son

or grandson of Elizabeth, a granddaughter of Sir John Fenwick, one of

the proprietors of New Jersey in its early colonial times.

Rebecca, the subject of this sketch, was married to James Steward in

1838, by the Rev. Vansant, of the M. E. Church.

The fruit of this marriage were six children; a boy and a girl

alternately, all of whom are now living.

The early educational advantages of Mrs. Steward were those afforded

by the township school. Here she became a good English scholar, and

supplemented the instruction, thus received, by extensive reading; so

that she became proficient, both as a writer and a conversationalist.

She was converted and joined the A. M. E. Church, at Gouldtown, in

1846.

In 1869 commenced her physical suffering, which, at times was so

acute, as to carry her to the very portal of the grave. What she said

upon religious subjects was of the most earnest character. When her

children were even very young, it was her usual custom to read to them

from the Bible such portions as would impress upon their minds the

divine lessons of this Holy Book; and instil into their plastic

hearts, "line upon line, and precept upon precept;" and, after thus

reading and explaining, she would kneel with them and plead with God

to guide them by His heavenly Light!

One evening, in the midst of these devout exercises, and while asking

God for His guidance, her husband entered the room, and then and

there, for the first time, bowed in prayer with his family.

But a short time after this occurrence, her husband and Mr. Abel Lee,

the father of President Lee, of Wilberforce University, were both

converted and united with the Church.

Lamartine relates in his opening chapter of his "Voyage to the Holy

Land," that the desire, to make the journey, was awakened in his mind

by his mother's Bible lessons. He stated that his reward for a good

lesson, was to be permitted to see the pictures of an illustrated

Bible, and hear from his good mother's lips the history and

explanations of these pictures. Is it necessary to be said, that we

can see the effect of Rebecca Steward's Bible lessons upon the minds

of her children, in giving them an impulse to seek for things divine?

From 1869 to 1872, two of her sons were in the South, one in Georgia

and the other in Florida, viz.: William and Theophilus (Rev. T. G.

Steward). They visited the paternal roof once a year. When their visit

had terminated, and they were about to depart, she would bid them

adieu with cheerful words, and an invocation to heaven to bless them;

she would urge them back to their posts of duty, beseeching them to be

pious men, and in all things labor for the honor and glory of God, and

be not dismayed if a messenger should come to them, saying: "_Mother

is done suffering_." She would say: "The Good Man" would keep her

safely and take her home in His own good time.

The premonition of a sudden death was constantly before her; but this

was no evidence that it created fear; for she was on a Rock. A few

evenings previous to her death, she said, with a tender smile:

"Children, you will look for me in the morning, but mother will not be

here." She was fully prepared to meet Death, but he came not then. A

few days after this she was seized with such violent spasms as to

destroy consciousness; but, when the spasms had passed, and her

consciousness had returned, and observing that her husband and the

children, who were at her bedside, were sore distressed, and that her

husband had telegraphed to New York for Theophilus, and to

Philadelphia for William, the latter a clerk in the A. M. E. Book

Room, and the former had just closed his Pastorate of the Bridge St.

A. M. E. Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., she chided her husband, by saying,

that it was not worth while to worry and distress them. Then, after

telling her husband to meet her in heaven, she expired in the arms of

her oldest daughter.

Taine, whose illustrations of individual or natural characteristics

have been unequalled, has said, with much force, that behind the

fossil there was an animal, and that behind the old, faded manuscript

there was a man; and we know the man and his peculiarities from the

manuscript. For such axiomatic expressions as these, Taine has been

applauded by the most learned of every land. Yet, to a Bible reader,

axioms as forcible as Taine's, stand conspicuous throughout the sacred

pages.

A man is known by his works. "Do we gather figs from thistles?" "Can

an impure fountain send forth sweet water?" are Bible axioms.

We have been led to the above digression from the facts related to us;

because, behind these facts, we shall show there existed no ordinary

woman. Though descended from what might be claimed as the aristocracy

of one of the original thirteen States, a State as proud of its

ancestry as the most pretentious, she assumed no aristocratic

prerogatives; but, among the humblest, still showed herself to be a

Christian woman, in the full significance of these words; and, if she

claimed homage, it was conceded to her spontaneously by the right of

her mental adornments and the graces of an unsullied Christian life.

Here mankind are beginning, though late, to concede all the

distinctive traits of preeminence.

Rebecca Steward was a woman of extraordinary ability, and possessed

some of the most excellent qualities of both heart and mind. Eulogy

will not appear to be exaggeration, when pronounced in the presence of

those who knew her; and they will unanimously declare, that she feared

God and loved her race. None were her superiors, and few were her

equals. She was not influenced by the arbitrary rules conceived in

prejudice of caste or race; her sympathies were as wide as humanity,

and as uncontaminated as a child's; her sympathies were guided by her

judgements, and her judgements were made clear by the teachings of the

hand of God, and not warped by the infections of exclusiveness. Gifted

with a mind of ceaseless activity, comprehensive observation, and the

most placid reflection, she yet possessed a head whose capacious

breadth could feel the pulsations of an humble heart. In whatever

class, or position, or society she was cast, she was equally at home;

with the refined and intellectual, she ranked their peer; to the

ignorant, poor, and lowly, she was a helping hand, and a guiding voice

to a higher life. Her conversations were distinguished by freedom of

language and the appropriate words in which she clothed her thoughts.

She shunned the stilted words of the pedant as she conversed to

communicate thoughts and principles. She did not read to treasure

ideas and sentiments for her own selfish, personal or mental

amusements, but she read and thought, that she might communicate to

others that which she read; and thus, here and there, plant a seed,

whose unending product could be estimated alone before the throne of

God. She was generous with her thoughts as with her means; and they

who needed either, received freely and liberally, as she herself had

received most liberally from the bounteous Giver.

Charlotte Brunte is often cited as an example of how much can be

accomplished by the mind, even when the body is afflicted.

Rebecca Steward inherited a delicate constitution; but,

notwithstanding, the superiority of her intellect so husbanded the

physical strength, as to enable her in her mental achievements to

compensate for a weak body. Her mind seized upon thoughts with

marvelous facility; and religious thoughts were the permeating

influence that flowed continually through her life. Her influence has

been left upon all who came in contact with her; and her influences

were constantly on the side of her divine Master, from whose inspired

Book she drew the web and woof of her most remarkable and impressive

conversations; and she seemed to have relied implicitly upon the

words: "_Open thy mouth and I will fill it_." Unassuming in all she

did; free to give expression to her thoughts; steadfast in faith; with

such an abundance of those qualities that adorn humanity, that we

cannot enumerate them; she was one of those of whom the world is not

worthy; and therefore, God took her from the evil to come.

Dear reader, in the life and character of this beloved

Christian woman, we have a most happy illustration of Christian

faith and practice.

In it all the Christian graces are seen to shine most

conspicuously. I repeat, in her life the Christian graces of

faith, hope and charity, or the love of God and humanity, had

a most happy illustration.

Go thou and do likewise, and God shall reward thee as He

rewarded her.

May the grace of God enable thee so to do, is the prayer of thy

friend and brother,

JABEZ P. CAMPBELL.

PHILADELPHIA, PA.,

AUGUST 20TH, 1877.

MY RECOLLECTIONS OF Rebecca Steward,

BY PROFESSOR B. F. LEE,

President of Wilberforce University.

Among the persons earliest and dearest in my recollections is she,

whose name stands at the head of this article.

In my childhood, I associated her with my highest ideas of perfection;

in my youth, I looked upon her as one especially interested in my

well-being and well-doing; in my manhood I knew her to be a devoted

Christian, who was always anxious for all men to know Christ and to

keep His commandments, and I never thought otherwise than that she was

praying for my success. This has often stimulated me to perseverence

and hope in good works, while it has kept me from many snares.

My aunt had an aptness in dealing with and managing children, which

made them feel easy in her presence; rendered her instructions

impressive, her society agreeable, her manners attractive, and her

authority respectable to them.

She possessed a form, general appearance and features, which would

have given grace and honor to any position ever filled by woman; while

she possessed a native intellect, which had reached that state of

culture in which human life appears to best advantage, and which, had

she sought it, would have admitted her to the higher circles of life.

Her ideas of life and things were clear, reasonable and definite;

while her appreciation of the worth and object of life was highly

philosophic and Christian. She always breathed the purest atmosphere

her circumstances and state admitted. It seemed to me that no one

could soar higher upon the strength of similar conditions than she. It

is one of the finest points in the philosophy of life, to know where

to place the lever in order to gain the greatest advantage of the

weight, this she seemed to me to nearly always know, and, consequently

to carry the burdens of life with comparative ease.

When I was left at ten years of age an orphan, she gave me many items

of advice and encouragement, which were as precious ointment to my

soul; when I lay on what I supposed was a death bed, she knew how to

talk with me and how to pray for me, so as to impress me with her

sympathy for me and true faith in God. I can never forget those days

of my fearful looking for the messenger, death, when I was without

hope and God in the world. My dear aunt would say to me, when the

physician thought I would hardly recover: "Frank, I think you will get

well. I believe God has a great work for you. I can see it. He will

raise you up if you will only trust Him." Then she would bring duty

right to my heart, urge me to trust, faith, and repentance towards

God. How well I remember her asking, with the tears streaming down her

cheeks: "Now, Frank, can't you see Jesus in this?" the blessed _word_

which she had been reading. "Can't you look right to him and live?"

Then, after it pleased God to allow me to get well, she never forgot

me, but always urged me to give myself up to Christ, pointing out to

me the narrow escape which I had made, praying and agonizing with me;

so that to-day, whatever I am for humanity and God, I owe largely to

that sainted woman, as God's instrument.

At the head of the domestic circle, with my uncle, she appeared to

have a clear and high notion of home economy. Her house was a house of

order, pleasure, books, the Bible, religion, and prayer. Every member

of her family was taught that noble and divine idea of liberty in

love. The erring were made to feel the weight of guilt keenly, and the

force of love deeply. The well disposed were not flattered to ruin,

but urged to grace. She reared her children for heaven and God. If any

of them should fail to enjoy the end of her life in their behalf, she

will still have her reward.

In a letter to me, immediately subsequent to the marriage of her

youngest child, she said: "I have raised a family of six children. I

had long set up in my house an altar to God to which we all came, but

now, thank God, we have seven altars set up to Him." How great must

have been the satisfaction of seeing every one of her children not

only settled in life, but given to God. "Train up a child in the way

he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it," is well

verified in this case.

There was an air of grace and light in her house, which no one could

fail to observe, after a very short residence in her family.

Discussion of general topics was free and intelligent. Happy

expressions showed that their source was happy hearts.

The books on her shelves, though not so numerous as in many houses,

yet were of the best and from the finest authors. I infer, though I

never heard her say so, that Burns was one of her favorites among the

poets.

In social life my aunt had few superiors. She took a broad view of the

state and wants of her community, and was, therefore, one of its

leading and most useful members. Her opinions, with regard to matters

of general interest, were highly respected, and her advice often

sought.

While she was earnestly and plainly Christian in all her thoughts and

actions, yet she was not of a sad temperament. This made her able to

direct the thoughts of others in the proper way.

In the church she was for the last twenty-five years of her life an

abiding and faithful Christian. I have never met with any one who had

clearer views of the life and work of faith. Some of the most

comfortable, consoling, and impressive conversations I have ever had

with Christians, ministers not excepted, have been with her. Her

experience was rich, because she had cherished it as from God. The

latter part of her life was attended with great suffering, yet she

would not complain, but was made perfect through suffering and

allowing patience to have its perfect work. She had learned how to

endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

I have made it a rule for ten or twelve years to write to my aunt as

soon as I returned home from watch-meetings. In this correspondence

she has given me much advice and encouragement in the walks of

Christianity; telling me of her own experience in suffering and

trusting, in the true spirit of Christian heroism, always expressing

herself as only awaiting the Lord's call. These letters have been to

me as angel's whispers, as heavenly messengers, telling me how to

live, how to wait and trust, and I might add, showing me how to die

unto the world daily.

With reference to the doctrine of holiness of heart, in my opinion,

she was perfectly clear, practical, and scriptural. By practical, I

mean in experience and in practice. Her utter rejection of _human_

perfection, but full faith in _Christian_ perfection, I think in

perfect keeping with the teachings of the holy Scriptures. She knew

the truth, and the truth made her free.

I have never heard one word of her latest testimony to the saving

power of the blood of Jesus, but, without hearing this, I venture the

assertion that she died rich in faith and abundantly sustained by

grace. O how sweetly, years before she died, have I heard her repeat

the consoling words: "I know that my Redeemer liveth!" (O, these

blessed words! more than all the words addressed to the human hearts

by all religions outside of ours), and "I am striving to make my

calling and elections sure," "I am pressing towards the mark," etc.

These added to what I know of her life, are enough to assure me of her

safe passage over the dark stream.

In the loss of her, Gouldtown has lost one of its stays and guides;

the world, an eminent woman, one of its greatest, because one of its

best, and the church one of its most valiant soldiers.

As for myself, I feel to weep with her children in the loss of a

spiritual mother, as well as a beloved and highly respected aunt. Let

her memory be dear to us, and her exemplary life be to us one of those

lights which illuminate the path of the just, "shining more and more,

until the perfect day."

With my grandmother, my aunt Tamson, my own dear father, and the

millions of sainted dead, let her body rest and her soul enjoy the

eternal bliss of _the promises_ and the God of the promises.

Mrs. Rebecca Steward BY BENJ. T. TANNER, D.D.

Exactly when or where the writer first made the acquaintance of the

subject of this memoir, is forgotten; but he deems himself exceedingly

fortunate in the fact itself. To know Rebecca Steward _now_, may not

seem much; but in after years, when the real greatness of her

character will have become known, as we doubt not it will, to have

known her, will be accounted a most happy incident in one's life.

It is so easy to talk of personal greatness, when the fact is, the

truly great are as rare as purest diamond. Not one in a thousand

approach it; not one in ten thousand attain to it, or, more properly

speaking, possess it--for it is a thing of possession, rather than of

acquirement. Be it born in you, you have it. If not, not. For while

there may be a tide in the affairs of men, which lead on to "fortune,"

there is no such tide to a greatness that is real.

Of the few really great souls whom it has been our privilege to know,

Mrs. Rebecca Steward was the peer of any. In a very broad sense she

was a great woman. As a daughter she was great in dutiful affection;

as a sister, in the very broadest sympathy; as a wife, in her

incomparable fidelity; and as a mother, in a patience that knew no

bounds.

It need not, however, be expected, that any stranger could sound the

depth of her nature, in the above mentioned spheres. The qualities we

have presumed to mention, were those that floated upon the surface of

her life, and, like sweetest water lily, must need attract the

attention of the passer by.

It is as a friend and as a member of the African Methodist Episcopal

Church, that the writer himself knew her, and in both which spheres

she was eminently great. So vivid, indeed, are the remembrances of the

friendship that existed between her and ours, in view of her sudden

demise, we find most pertinent the words of Montgomery:

"Friend after friend departs,

Who hath not lost a friend?

There is no union here of hearts

That finds not here an end;

Were the frail world our only rest,

Living or dying, none were blest."

When the sad announcement of her death was made at our own dear

fireside, "Dead! Dead, Papa!" were the only words that first passed

from lip to lip, while a silence ensued that was painful.

But the real greatness of soul we purpose noticing, was that that

evidenced itself in regard to the Church of her choice. A more zealous

_African_ Methodist never lived. She had convictions in regard to the

work and the economy of the Church organized by Allen, and these

shaped her every course in life. Nothing could turn her against the

organization itself. Her love towards it was proof against episcopal

misjudgment or pastoral insufficiency. She looked from men to

principles. Though exceedingly intelligent, she shrank not back from

identifying herself with a class, known to be generally ignorant. Well

to do in the affairs of this world, she was content to remain as the

equal of the poor. And lastly, it might be in place to mention a

peculiarity of the locality in which this very attachment to a

despised Church was evidenced. The reader of this volumn will already

have learned that Gouldtown, N. J., is a peculiar place. Of descent in

blood by no means low, and of the strongest Presbyterian proclivities,

the Goulds have ever been thought exceedingly _conservative_--utterly

free from that fire which many suppose to be the substance of

Methodism. Upon the correctness of this thought it is no intention of

ours to pronounce. Sufficient is it to say, that the general bearing

of the community, secular and spiritual, is in keeping with their

recognized descent and religious bias. Such being the case, the wonder

is that they should have maintained their identity with the _African_

Methodist Episcopal Church. Nor is it certain that they would, had it

not been for the uncompromising zeal of the subject of this volume,

who ever stood like a very breakwater in its defence.

When we call to mind the scores of our people who have left us, on

account of our ignorance, our poverty, and our color, the fidelity of

Rebecca Steward is but an indication of that greatness of soul with

which we credit her, and which is yet to be the admiration of

generations unborn.

From our heart we say:

"_Requiescat in pace._"

Mrs. Rebecca Steward BY REV. T. GOULD.

What I have to say is after thirty years' observation, to say nothing

of my early boyhood days, when I used to visit her house with my

father, who esteemed her as his own daughter and her husband as his

own son. To me they both seemed as elder brother and sister.

It appears to me that I can remember when I knew but little difference

between her husband and my own brothers. He being the oldest and the

first married out of the household, to me it was my oldest brother

getting married, and I was wonderfully well pleased with his wife.

When father would say "Theodore, I guess we will go and see James and

Beckie to-day," it was a grand treat for me, for I knew, boy like, I

was going to get something good to eat. Father having lost his

eye-sight, of course some one must lead him, and this was my lot, and

I have many a time heard her read the news and books of interest to

him. To visit them was pleasant to him to the day of his death.

Although he lived to have eight children married, (four boys and four

girls), I do not think he had a son-in-law or a daughter-in-law whom

he esteemed higher than he did the boy who spent fifteen or sixteen

years under his roof and the lady of his choice. In 1846 I united with

the church of which she was a member, and from that time to the day of

her death, I looked up to her for that advice and counsel which had

much to do with shaping my early life. And if I have been worth

anything to the church as a minister, her prayers, instructions and

counsel have helped to mould me into what I am.

I shall ever thank God for permitting me to have the association of

this Christian woman, whose very breath seemed to be perfumed with the

odor of heaven, for her daily food was God's word.

She was a Bible student; and in the Bible history was so well informed

and upon all the cardinal points of Bible doctrine, and the current or

popular questions of the day, that a very eminent and learned bishop

said to me several years ago after paying her a short visit, "No one

can possibly spend five minutes in conversation with Sister Steward

without being edified." Another intelligent minister said to me,

"Sister Steward is one of the best read women I ever had the favor of

conversing with."

To the church she was a pillar. She was among the few that were found

at the prayer meeting and Sabbath-school, and was always aiming to do

something for the Master's cause. As a wife and mother, I can only say

few husbands are favored as was her's. No woman could possibly be more

interested in the welfare of her husband's business than she was. She

was a helpmeet in every sense of the word to her husband. To my mind

but few children among us have been favored as were her's.

I doubt not but there are many lessons now fresh in their minds which

she taught them, which, if treasured up, will add to their present,

future, and eternal happiness. Oh, that we had more mothers like her!

whose devotion to their children would extort from their lips the

words of Sister Steward. In conversing with her one day, some years

since, when the children were getting pretty well grown, she

exclaimed, "Oh, the souls of my children! Oh, what would I do if one

of them should be lost! They are all good children, but the Saviour

says, 'ye must be born again,' that is what I want; to see them

converted is my constant prayer to God. Oh, it is the burden of my

heart." And more than once have we knelt in prayer together that she

might enjoy the pleasure of seeing _all of her children converted_.

Years passed, and one by one they came in.

I had not seen her for some time, but after the usual salutations

among the first things said was: "Thank God! He has let me live to see

all my children converted and in the church! My prayers are answered.

Thank God! The whole family is in the ark; what a happy woman I am!"

It was my privilege to visit her during several severe spells of

sickness. I have the first time yet to hear her murmur or complain;

but I have often heard her say: "These light afflictions which are but

for a moment, are working for me a far more exceeding and eternal

weight of glory." "My work is patience" was a familiar word with her

in affliction. To me she always seemed cheerful when she was in the

furnace, and it was her lot to be often there. She has been a great

sufferer, and yet, there seemed to be something in her experience that

impressed me that she was keeping up a terrible fight to get the

victory until her last sickness, which lasted between three and four

years. She said to me one day during that period: "Thank God, I have

got where I have long desired to be; that is, where I can trust God

for all things." She said some of her happiest hours were spent in the

sick-room.

The devotion to her aged and infirm mother, who had been confined to

her room for twenty-six years, with but little exception, was marked

and intense. When her health and circumstances would permit, she has

walked the mile, between her house and her mother's, back and forth,

two and three times a week, to assist in making her mother

comfortable. It appears that a wonderful providence was attending her

life, and preparing her to depart to that Better Land. It seems that

the Master was sparing her to see her mother of ninety years close her

eyes before He called her to that blessed reward with that sainted

mother, who went three weeks before her, and a dear sister, who had

gone a day before her mother. Oh, what a blessed meeting there must

have been, when they met in that heavenly land; where affliction and

sorrow are all over, and where the dead in Christ rest from their

labors and their works follow them!

Aunt Rebecca Steward BY MRS. ELIZABETH LLOYD. (NIECE.)

I cannot remember the time when I did not love and revere Aunt

Rebecca; but my most precious remembrances of her are connected with

the sabbath school, where, to my mind, she was incomparable; and even

now, after the lapse of twenty-five years, the precious lessons that

she taught her class are still in my mind and heart, and have greatly

influenced my life and kept me from forbidden paths. You must know, as

long as I attended Gouldtown Sunday School, which was from the

reorganization of the school (which, under God, was wholly through

Aunt Rebecca's influence), I was a member of her class.

There was one lesson that she used frequently give us, from the second

chapter of first Peter, it seems to me, that I shall ever remember.

With what earnestness and with what solemnity did she strive to

enforce its beautiful teachings upon our hearts. Again I remember one

particular lesson she gave personally to me, and, as I remember it

well yet, it must prove how faithful she was in teaching. Among her

very words were: "_Search the Scriptures, and may they make you wise

unto salvation! May they be a guide to your feet and a light to your

path, and may your sins be blotted out!_" Very likely Aunt Rebecca had

forgotten it long since, but I never have. When I was fifteen years of

age, I was strongly exercised in mind about salvation, and it was Aunt

Rebecca who helped me then; and ever since, in my somewhat chequered

life, my heart has always turned to her, and, I must say, that never

once have I left her presence without feeling better, stronger, and

wiser. She was a kind of inspiration to me. I have gone to her when I

have felt that I was in the depths, and have left, feeling as if I

could brave all things, and endure all things for the love of Christ.

I have been so comforted by her words of wisdom and encouragement,

and, sometimes, by her words of reproof also; for she never failed in

her gentle, sweet, and yet decided manner in telling me wherein she

thought I was wrong, for which to-day I thank her. In one instance, I

went to her, overwhelmed with my sorrow, and ready to despair; she

reflected a while, and then asked: If I had ever prayed for C----? I

found that I never had. She showed me my duty in such a plain way, and

said, that if I prayed for him, that I would not have such bitter

feelings; and how earnestly she entreated me to begin praying for him.

Among the words she used, were: "You could not bear to see that man

lost, cut off from Christ forever. Think of the relationship he holds

to yourself and your children. _You must pray for him!_" This was four

years ago, but the seed, that was sown that day, is still bearing

fruit, and I have been blessed myself while praying for _him_. * * * *

I now know that she had been taught of Christ. When I lost my little

girl, Annie, though she was unable to walk without a staff, like an

angel of mercy, she came to me in my sorrow, and prayed and talked

with me, and now, my more than aunt, my almost mother, who, or what

will fill your place to me? With tears in my eyes, and pain in my

heart, I ask who? Ever since I can remember, I have gone to you with

what I could not go to any one else; always sure of a loving welcome,

and always the gainer, through your words of wisdom! Oh! how I loved

Aunt Rebecca! I remember, when she was confined to her room so long,

of her once saying to me, that she often prayed for me. I was overcome

to tears, thinking how good, how charitable she was, to remember me in

her afflictions. That parlor seemed to me then, and has ever since,

like the gate of heaven and house of prayer. When I think of my dear

aunt's goodness, and of her truly noble womanhood, of her grand

intellect, and, withal, of her sweet humility, of her perfect faith

and trust, and obedience to the Father's will, and of how she labored

for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom, I can but say: "Many

daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all." She

never lost an opportunity of saying a word for Jesus, and no one ever

came near her influence, without knowing, that she had learned of

Christ. I never remember of asking for instruction of her, upon any

subject, without getting it; and I have heard many others say the

same. It seemed to me, that she always had a word in season. She was

certainly the most self-sacrificing of any woman that I ever knew. She

was always willing to do good, no matter at what expense to the body,

if she could; and, it seemed to me, that she was always looking for an

opportunity.

In the purity and loftiness, and expansiveness of her nature, there

was no room for that narrow-minded selfishness, which cannot rejoice

with those that do rejoice. Of her it can be truly said: SHE LOVED HER

NEIGHBOR AS HERSELF; and she was pleased with the advancement of every

one.

As long, and as well as I have known her, I have never known her to

speak of the shortcomings of others, only, in what seems to me, as the

highest and broadest charity of a pure-minded christian woman, with

sorrow and regret that they had so failed.

Another admirable trait was her straightforwardness. Her clear

insight, that seemed to grasp and hold the most difficult truths,

while the rest of us were struggling with doubts and fears, scarcely

telling gold from dross, led her to seize always the pure gold.

Truly, she was ever ready for every good word and labor of love. I

call to mind deeds of charity, of which the world knows nothing, which

greatly benefitted the recipients; and her ever ready sympathies with

the wants and woes of others, assures me, that she won the approbation

of Him, who said: "Inasmuch, as ye have done it to one of the least of

these, my disciples, ye have done it unto me."

Dear cousin, there may be many more learned and eloquent

tributes paid to your mother's memory, but none can be more

loving than mine; and, if you will permit this letter (crude I

know, for I am not accustomed to writing out my thoughts), to

share a place among them, I shall feel honored.

Your cousin,

LIB.

PART II.

Containing: "Two Years on the Brink of Jordan," with Letters on

Sanctification and a Story for Little Folks; the last named written

expressly for Two Little Nephews,

BY MRS. REBECCA STEWARD.

TWO YEARS ON THE BRINK OF JORDAN.

Early one spring morning, as I was going about my work, a messenger

arrived, saying my Father wanted me. So I made haste and finished up

all my work, looked over my wardrobe, picked out and packed up such

articles as I thought I should need, and started on my journey, my

guide going on before. We had not traveled far before we came to a

broad, dark river, whose waters at the time were very much swollen. My

guide said, I would have to wait awhile till a ferryboat could come

and take me across; so I sat down on the bank of the river and began

musing. The river, though so dark and swollen, did not look so

dreary, for my guide had given me a telescope, through which I could

look away beyond and see my Father's House, which was illuminated with

glory and light; and the light from that far mansion shone over the

river and the dark valley all around. While I sat there musing, the

boat came, but not for me; there were other friends there, the Father

had sent for before me; but he sent me this comforting message: "I

will never leave thee, nor forsake thee," and my soul answered: "All

the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change comes." (Job

iv., 14.) And so for many days I sat there waiting and musing; again

and again the boat came and went, friend after friend passed over, but

still the message came not for me. At length I began to grow weary and

impatient; to neglect my Father's business; saying my Lord delays his

coming; then came this quiet reproval: "Ye have need of patience, that

after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."

"For yet a little while and He that is to come will come and will not

tarry." (Heb. ix., 36, 37.) After this gentle reproof, I felt ashamed

and strove to humble myself under the mighty hand of God, and in due

time He did build me up, for my guide advised me to take my telescope

and take another look towards my Father's House. I did so, and the

sight gave me new vigor, for I could see all the surroundings of my

Home. I could see its beautiful gardens, all its choicest fruit and

its sweetest flowers; and flowing through the midst of the garden I

could see the "pure river" of the "Water of Life," which watered and

enlivened every plant that grew in the garden; and on either side of

the river stood the "Tree of life," "which bore twelve manner of

fruit, and yielded her fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree

were good for the healing of the nations;" then there was the sweet

Lilly of the Valley, in its humble innocence sending up its rich

perfume; then the "Rose of Sharon" was there, whose odor filled the

air with sweetness, and the Birds of Paradise were there,--those sweet

little songsters that the Father had brought from the cold, sterile

regions beyond Jordan, and placed in His beautiful garden. They were

busily flitting from branch to branch, warbling forth their sweetest

notes, and making the air resound with their music. Some of them I

thought I almost knew, by the mark of their feathers. As I sat gazing,

the river that before had been so swollen, seemed to subside and

become very narrow, and seemed as if I had nothing to do, but get up

and walk across; but my guide detained me, saying: "If ye be willing

and obedient, ye shall in due time eat the good of the land, but if

disobedient, the sword of the enemy shall devour you."

* * * * *

Being still detained and feeling somewhat weary, "I laid me down and

slept, and awoke again, for the Lord sustained me." On awaking, I

took up my telescope to take another look across, but I only had it

adjusted to my eye, when I again discovered the ferryboat in the

distance. This time I thought surely it was coming for me, and began

to look around and make all things ready for departure; but again I

was doomed to disappointment. The boat came, but not for me this time

either; another friend must go before me, one whom the Father thought

more weak and needy than I. And as He saw me begin to grieve and fret,

He sent me another comforting message, saying: "I will not leave the

comfortless, in the sixth trial; and in the seventh, I will not leave

thee nor forsake thee." Then again my soul replied, I will fear no

evil; in God alone will I put my trust. When I found I had to wait

awhile longer, I thought I would look around on this side of Jordan,

for I had been so anxious to get home to my Father's House, and so

busy looking beyond, that I had not noticed anything on this side so

much; and in the glory of light that beamed across the river, I had

not noticed the poisonous flowers that spread their baneful influence

over all the land, or the muddy, filthy pools, sending up their

miasmatic odors, poisoning the air; and while I was looking, with

shame let me say it, poisonous as were those flowers, noxious as was

the vapor from the pools, I began to be interested in them, and to

seek after them; so much so, that my guide said softly in my ear:

"Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." (Matt. xxvi., 41.)

But I was so engrossed with the flowers, and the whisper came so

softly, that I did not heed it, but kept on going farther away from

the river, losing sight more and more of my Father's House. Again my

guide called after me, but this time in louder tones: "Therefore be ye

also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man

cometh." (Matt. xxvi., 24.) But still, strange as it may seem, and as

ungrateful as it appears after the pleasant view I had had of my

Father's House, and the soothing promises he had given me, such is

perverse human nature, that I paid but little heed, but still wandered

on, plucking flowers, now here, now there, 'till I had gone quite

away; but still my loving Father would not leave me, "for whom the

Lord loveth he chasteneth," and on looking up I saw my guide

approaching with a rod, which, when he came near enough, he laid

heavily about me. Humbled, ashamed and bleeding, he brought me back

and laid me exhausted on the bank, where I lay for many days without

power to move or courage to look up. Although I had been so

disobedient, yet was my guide most assiduous in his attentions and

care of me, saying: "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as

with sons, for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not. (Heb.

xii., 70.) And as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth

them that love him, for he knows our frame that we are but dust."

(Ps. clxxxiii, 13.) It sorely repented me, and with the Psalmist I

exclaimed: "My feet were almost gone, my steps were well nigh

slipped." (Ps. lviii, 2) Then I began to cry mightily unto the Lord

for help, and from His temple He heard me, and from His Holy Hill He

sent me succor. And I was comforted by this message: "Before thou

callest I will hear thee, and while thou art yet speaking, I will

answer thee." Being thus comforted and somewhat strengthened, my guide

advised me to take up my telescope again and take another look across

the river. It had been so long since I had looked across, he thought

it would do me good, and so it did; for as I looked the green shores

appeared so pleasant and inviting to me, it made me feel at once like

passing over, and while I was gazing I saw the boat again leave the

shore; this time I thought it would certainly come for me. Again I

gathered up my things making ready to depart, and many friends

gathered around me, mourning and weeping, begging me not to go, but

stay with them; yet I was anxious to be gone. Many were the petitions

that went over to my Father's House to spare me a little longer, that

"they could not do without me;" in this I could not join them. I could

only say: "Lord let thy will be done." Meanwhile the boat came nearer

and nearer, and I lay looking, both hoping and fearing; hoping it was

coming for me, and fearing it was coming for me; for like the apostle

I was in a strait betwixt two: "for me to live is Christ, but to die

is gain." (Phil. vii., 21-23.) And I suppose that the prayers of

tender friends must have prevailed, for when the boat drew nearer, I

found it was not coming for me yet, but I received this message: "Let

Patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire,

wanting nothing." (James, i., 4.) From this I saw that Patience was to

be my best friend and I tried to take her close to my bosom, and my

heart breathed the prayer: "Lord help me with Patience to do all thy

righteous will concerning me," and, as I sat there, with Patience for

my comforter, I grew calm and composed and began to wonder what had

become of the boat I had seen approaching, when, on looking around, I

saw it had stopped close by an old friend that had been laying there

for a long time; almost ever since I had been there, and, while I

looked, I saw her with a shout spring up and step quickly into the

boat. Oh! with what rapture I gazed; and when the boat struck out from

the shore I could hardly contain myself, I felt I really must go too.

But Patience laid her hand on me, and whispered to me, to take my

telescope and look after them; and, as I looked, the boat sprang from

the shore with great velocity; the river seemed to become narrower,

and the light from my Father's Temple so illuminated it, that the

darkness had all fled away; and, as I gazed, my vision became brighter

and brighter, and my telescope became more powerful, and it seemed, I

might follow the boat with my naked eye, as it sped its way across,

until it neared the other shore; and, as it neared the shore, I saw

the pearly gates of my Father's House fly open, a company came out to

meet her, with songs of welcome, saying: "Come ye, blessed of my

Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of

the world." (Math. xxv., 34.) So they took hold of her and led her in

through the gates; and, as they went through, I could hear the

warbling of the birds amidst the rustling of the leaves, and could see

the waving grass and sweet flowers, and the waters rippling along

their winding way. As I looked, I really thought there were more birds

than I had ever seen before; and I never heard them sing so sweetly.

As I gazed upon the shining ones, I tried to see if I could recognize

any of them; and I thought I could see several whose faces were

familiar to me there, and with whom I had associated; and, while I was

still looking, they led her into the vestry; then I lost sight of her

awhile; but, presently, they brought her forth clothed in white linen,

pure and clean, and a palm of victory was placed in her hand; then I

saw a greater number come to meet her, and they all joined in one

mighty overpowering song, saying: "Salvation to our God, who sitteth

on the throne, and unto the Lamb." (Rev. vii., 10.)

As I heard this, my heart felt like bursting with rapture. O! how I

longed to be there! Just then the pearly gates swung to, and I could

see them no more. When I could see no more within, I thought I would

take a look around and view the holy ground, and "mark well her

bulwarks." So I looked well around her walls, and measured her towers,

which I found to be very strong, so that no enemy could prevail

against them; and her walls were great and high, and I found they lay

four-square and rested on twelve foundations, all of them precious

stones, and on each foundation there was a name written, which, when I

had looked more closely, I found to be the names of the twelve tribes

of the children of Israel; and in each wall I saw there were three

gates, and on the gates I saw the names of the twelve apostles of the

Lamb; and, as I still looked, I saw numbers coming and entering in at

the gates, from all parts of the world, East, West, North, and South;

every gate seemed in use, and with every new arrival there were new

songs of praise. As I still looked, I discovered, that all that went

over, did not enter the pearly gates; but, instead, some were hurled

over a dreadful precipice, which lay just below the wall, and led to a

dark, dreary gulf below, where the voice of their groanings was

dreadful to hear. Then I asked: "Who are these?" And my guide informed

me: "These are they that go away into everlasting punishment, and the

smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever." And now my guide

thought I had seen quite enough for awhile, and so had better lie down

and rest; musing on these words: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,

neither has it entered the heart of man, the things which God has

prepared for them that love Him."

While wondering what more could be for the child of God, than that

which my eyes had already seen, I fell asleep. When I awoke,

everything looked calm and bright around me; so I thought, with

Patience, I would take a stroll along the banks, and see if there were

any friends there whom I knew; for I saw many had gathered there

unobserved, while I had been so deeply interested in what was going

on, on the other side of the river. As I went around from one to

another, I found several I was acquainted with; some had been waiting

for a long time, others had just arrived. Some were waiting with

patience, others were growing very impatient. To while away the time,

and for mutual encouragement, I sat down, and entered into

conversation with some of them. "For as iron sharpeneth iron, so doth

a man the face of his friend." Some had grown very weary, and one

said: "I would have fainted, unless I had believed, to see the

goodness of the Lord in the land of the living; and now I believe,

that ere long I shall see the King in his beauty, for I have the

promise, that He, that is to come, will come, and will not tarry. And

my Father's command is: Wait on the Lord, be of good courage; and also

the promise: And He shall strengthen thine heart. Wait, I say, on the

Lord."

With this I felt very much encouraged, and felt as if I too could

"Wait on the Lord." Much more encouragement from one and another I

found, till presently I saw one coming up in great haste, saying: "My

Father has just sent for me in great haste, and I must be gone. Have

you seen the boat that takes us across?" I looked up and saw it

coming, and, while waiting for it to come to the shore, I asked her at

what time the messenger came for her. "In the early part of the

evening," she said, just as she had folded away all her work, and

closed up her house, and had sit down, to enjoy a long, quiet evening,

thinking over those texts of warning: "Let your loins be girded about

you, and your lights burning." Another: "Be ye also ready; for in an

hour, when you think not, the Son of man cometh." And said she: Just

while I was musing on these things, there came a knock at the door,

and the messenger came in, saying: "The Master calleth for thee;" so I

left all and made great haste to get here. The boat then came

alongside; she sprang in, and it shot off from the shore like an

arrow. Again I felt as if I _could_ not be left behind; and, feeling

so anxious to go, I almost sprang into the water; for the river looked

so narrow, and I could see the bottom so plain; it seemed as if I

could walk across; but Patience laid hold of me and gently held me

back, saying: "Wait on the Lord, that the trial of your faith being

much more precious than of gold, that perisheth, though it be tried

with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the

appearing of Jesus Christ."

But I still felt so homesick and complaining, that my friend had

almost gained the other side, before I had observed it; so, then, I

thought, if I could not go, I could see across, and with my telescope

I could follow her and see her enter the pearly gates; by this time

she had reached the shore, and I saw a great company come out to meet

her, having harps in their hands; among them were several that I knew,

who had journeyed with us through life, whom I had heard many times

tell their hopes and fears; but, now, they were safely housed in their

Father's mansion, never more to go out. As they came to her they

commenced chanting: "Blessed are they that do his commandments; that

they may have a right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through

the gates into the City."

As they led her through the gates, I again heard the singing of birds;

it seemed to me, at this time, they sang louder and sweeter than ever.

And amongst them I saw three,[1] that I thought looked more bright

and cheerful than the rest. These kept all the time very near her,

sometimes sitting on her shoulders, sometimes in one place, then

another; but all the time keeping near her, and expressing the utmost

joy. On examining more closely, I found they were some pets that she

had sent to her Father several years before; and now they led her into

the vestry; and, while they were robing her, as the gates were still

ajar, I thought I would look further within. So, by readjusting my

telescope, and increasing its magnifying power, I could see away

beyond the walls; and I discovered there "many mansions," that my

"Elder Brother" had gone many years ago to prepare, for all those that

love him. I thought, "my sister will soon inhabit one of these

mansions," and, how long, ere I too shall inhabit one also; and, in

the anxiety and desire of my soul, I cried: "How long, oh Lord!" Then

my guide whispered, reprovingly: "In patience possess ye your soul."

So, being comforted, I continued my gaze, and, looking further on, I

saw a great and high mountain, which, my guide told me, was Mount

Zion; and a Lamb stood on the mountain, and with him a hundred and

forty and four thousands, having their Father's name written in their

foreheads; and I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many

waters, and as the voice of a great thunder; and I heard the voice of

harpers, harping on their harps; and, they sang, as it were, a new

song before the throne. (Rev. xiv., 1-3.) Then I inquired of my guide

who the Lamb was, and who was this great company that was with him;

and he said: "The Lamb is He that was slain from the foundation of the

world, and they, that are with him, are those who follow the Lamb,

withersoever he goeth; these were redeemed from among men, being the

first fruits unto God and the Lamb." As I listened to their music, I

tried to hear what they were singing; and I found they were singing

the "Song of Moses, the servant of God," and the song of the Lamb,

saying: "Great and marvelous are thy ways, Lord God Almighty. Just and

true are thy ways, thou King of Saints. Who shall not fear thee, O

Lord, and glorify thy name, for Thou only art holy; for all nations

shall come and worship before thee, for thy judgments are made

manifest." (Rev. xv., 3, 4.)

[1] Three children that this Christian mother had buried

before.

I had become so enraptured with this beautiful sight, and so charmed

with the music, that I had quite forgotten my sister; but now I

bethought myself to look for her. I had not looked long, before I

discovered her amidst the company of the just made perfect; and, I

thought, her song was the loudest of any, as she sang: "I have come up

through tribulations, and washed my robes and made them white in the

blood of the Lamb!" Oh, how I longed to be amongst the heavenly

throng; but just then I heard friends calling me on this side, saying:

"Oh, be content to stay with us a little longer; we cannot let you go;

even lying here, we cannot do without you; even this is better than

not have you at all." The little children came winding themselves

around me, begging me to stay. "Oh," they would say, "we do want you

to be back among us; we cannot bear you to leave us." Oh! the power of

human love! How my heart was grieved! I was again in a strait betwixt

two; for, indeed, I felt it better to "depart and be with Christ." But

my Father knew best what he wanted me to do, so He left me the

promise: "Abide in me and I will abide in you; I will not leave you

comfortless; I will come to you." After this I entered into

conversation with my guide, about my friends that had gone over; said

he: "How did you know those friends?" I answered by asking him another

equally important question: "How did you know the Lamb that was slain

from the foundation of the world?" Said he: "I knew Him by the marks

in His hands and side, (John xx., 20), and from what the angels told

us when He was taken up into heaven and a cloud received him out of

sight." "This same Jesus," said they, "which is taken up from you into

heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into

heaven." (Acts i., 9.) Well, said I, that is just how I knew my

friends; by the marks on them. Some men will say: "How are the dead

raised up, and with what body do they come? Thou fool; that which thou

sowest is not quickened, except it die, and that, which thou sowest,

thou sowest not that body that shall be, but are grain; it may chance

of wheat, or of some other grain, but God giveth it a body as it hath

pleased him, and to every _seed his own body_. There are also

celestial bodies and bodies terrestial; but the glory of the celestial

is one and the glory of the terrestial is another. There is one glory

of the sun and another of the moon, and another glory of the stars;

for _one star differeth from another star in glory_, so also _is the

resurrection of the dead_. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a

spiritual body; there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual

body. And so it is written, that the first man, Adam, was made a

living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. How be it,

that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural, and

afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of earth, earthy,

the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are

they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also

that are heavenly. And as we have born the image of the earthy, we

shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren,

that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth

corruption inherit incorruption." (1 Cor. xv.) Now this is the way

that I know them. As the Lamb that was slain, took upon him the image

of the earth, earthy, the form of a servant, so do they take upon them

the image of the Lord from heaven; and, as you have shown me the Lamb,

I cannot be mistaken in them, and I think when I look again, I shall

find many more that I have known; for I think I know what kind of

_seed_ they were, and from every seed I look for its own plant. Then

said my guide: "Who else do you think you will find there, besides

your immediate friends?" I answered: "I think I shall see Moses and

Elijah, from the fact that they were seen with my Saviour on the Mount

of Transfiguration; and God is not the God of the dead, but of the

living. And I think I shall see Abraham, because Christ himself says

the rich man saw him with Lazarus in his bosom. And I shall see

Israel, for the Revelator tells me that he saw one hundred and forty

and four thousand of the children there. I shall see Solomon and

David, and Samuel and Paul, and Peter, and so many others that I

cannot now name, all of the one hundred and forty and four thousand of

the tribes of Israel." I felt so rejoiced with the thought of meeting

so many, that I could heartily join with the Poet in saying:

"Give joy or grief, give ease or pain,

Take life or friends away.

But let me find them all again,

In that Eternal day."

For many days more I lay there on the brink, waiting for the boatman;

but still he came not. I began to think Patience was about to desert

me; it seemed to me, I had so nearly lost sight of her, that I could

hardly hear her voice; then I cried unto my Father: "Cast me not away

from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me!" Then came

the message: "Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him;" this

comforting, though short message, cheered me much, for it seemed to

bring a sweet sense of rest and security with it; and with the

Psalmist I could say: "Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the Heavens, and thy

faithfulness reaches into the clouds; thy righteousness is like the

great mountains; thy judgments are as great deeps; Lord, thou

preservest man and beast; how excellent is thy loving kindness, O God;

therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy

wing; they shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy

house, and thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of thy pleasures."

I felt filled with that sweet peace that flows as a river, and enters

in and fills the soul with glory and with God. As the boatman came not

for me yet, I thought I would look around again and see if any new

friends had gathered along the brink; and, while I was looking, I saw

one coming with slow, reluctant step, as if he would rather stay on

this side of Jordan than to cross over; but his guide kept urging him

on with the Father's message: "Come unto me all ye that are weary and

heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "Well," said he, "I am weary

and heavy laden; I have had a tiresome journey through this howling

wilderness, and fain would find rest; but I have become so dirty and

bedabbled through the swamps and quagmires, that I have not a garment

fit to appear before Him in." The guide answered: "All that _will_

come, may come and partake of the waters of life freely." Then said

he: "I will arise and go to my Father." He brightened up and quickened

his pace; as soon as the guide saw that he was willing to go, he sent

to the servants to bring hither the best robe and put it on him; and,

so neatly clad, and in his right mind, I saw him approach the "bank,"

and seeing he would have to wait some time for the boatman, I entered

into conversation, by asking at what time the Father sent for him; he

said: "Just about noon, just as I had finished up my morning's work,

and thought the hardest of the day was done, and I could in the

afternoon finish those little jobs that I had planned in the morning;

but in the hour, I thought not, the Son of man came." "But what," I

asked, "made you so reluctant to come?" "Oh," said he, "I thought the

Father was angry with me; for it is written: 'God is angry with the

wicked every day;' but I heard another say: 'He that cometh with a

broken and a contrite heart, he will in no wise cast out.' I thought

I would go, for I could only perish anyway, and if I tried to stay

away, I knew I should perish; another said to me:

"A broken heart He'll not despise,

Nor on the contrite sinner frown,

His ear is open to their cries,

He'll quickly send salvation down."

"And He did send salvation; for, when I cried mightily unto the Lord,

He heard me, and from His Holy Hill He sent me help; He took me up

from the mire and clay and dressed me in garments neat and clean, and

has brought me in sight of my heavenly rest! Only this narrow river

lies between, and I shall cross that, for I think I see the boatman

coming now." With a glad shout of triumph he entered the boat and was

gone. I knew the gates would be opened again, so I made haste to

gather up my telescope; and again I saw the shining ones come to meet

and welcome a brother to his eternal rest; and again I heard the glad

shouts of welcome and praise, as they dressed him in clean, white

robes, and put a crown on his head, and led him to the Father, who met

him, and with His own hand wiped all tears from his eyes, telling him,

he should have no more sorrow, nor crying, nor sickness, nor death,

nor go any more out, neither should he thirst any more, and the sun

should not light on him, nor any heat. Oh! What more, I thought, could

I want to make up an eternal rest! Just then my attention was

attracted by the sound of unutterable groanings and crying, and I

looked around to see what it all meant, and I saw close beside me one

lying apparently in great agony. I inquired what could be the matter?

Said he: "Just this morning, quite early, the Master has sent for me,

and here I am; naked and barefooted; without a thing to cover me; I

had a garment all washed in the blood of the Lamb. The Master provided

it for me, but I thought it was too long and straight for me; so I

laid it aside, and now I cannot find it; OH! HELP ME TO LOOK FOR IT!"

By this time others hearing his cries had been attracted to the spot,

and in piteous moans and tears he begged, he entreated them, to assist

in searching for the neglected robe. All this while he lay there

without making an effort to seek for it himself; and, although his

friends searched with much earnestness, they could not find it. They

then besought him to get up and look for it himself; but he could not

be persuaded, and would continue to lie there groaning, and begging

them to continue their search. Meanwhile the boatman was waiting and

urging him to go, till finally he compelled him to go on board, and

the boat pushed off; and immediately the river became so dark and

swollen, that we lost sight of it, and we _could see it no more_.

Surely, thought I, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is

eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

For many days I lay there, feeling very listless, not caring to look

beyond the river, nor even to look on this side. I was just in the

condition to listen to the voice of the tempter, when he whispered:

"Why stay here any longer? the Lord delays his coming; He might have

come sooner; it is very cruel to be lying in this dreary, loathsome

place so long." And again, with shame I must confess, that after all

the visions of glory I had seen, and all of my Father's goodness to

me, I listened to his wily whispering, till I became almost enraged,

and began to cast about me this way and that, for a way of

deliverance. At one moment I would feel like going back into the

wilderness, in all its filth and quagmires, and the next I would feel

like rushing headlong, uncalled for, into the river; any way, it

seemed to me, to get out of this murky, deathly atmosphere. For

several days I was thus tempted. Oh! those were dreadful days to me! I

sat in sullen silence, and would not look toward my Father's house; I

would not see the light that was beaming across; would not see my

Father's gracious smile; nor would I see His loving hand reached out

to help me. My telescope lay beside me, but I would not take it up.

But, oh! the depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God! "How

unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!"

Blessed be His Holy Name. He would not leave me, nor suffer His loving

kindness to be removed from me; but in the midst of deserved wrath He

remembered mercy toward me. On looking up I saw my guide coming near,

saying: "Dost thou well to be angry. Hast thou not received good from

the hands of the Lord, and shalt thou not receive the evil? And if

thou doest well, shalt thou not dwell in the land of the living

forever? For the mercy of the Lord is round about them that put their

trust in Him. Though clouds and darkness may be round about Him, yet

righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne." At these

words the tempter left me, and Patience again resumed her seat, and

commenced to soothe and tranquilize my spirit, saying: "Return unto

thy rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with thee. Ye, that fear

the Lord, trust in the Lord, for He is your help and your shield. O!

forget not all His mercies." At this I felt very much humbled and

sinsick; and I longed to be free from the power of sin and temptation,

and earnestly I prayed the Father: "Lead me not into temptation, but

deliver me from all evil!" And with the apostle I could exclaim: "Oh!

wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this

death? Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! Then I would fly away and

be at rest." "But then," said Patience, "as you cannot go yet, you had

better take your telescope and look again beyond the river." So I took

it up and began to look around; first on this side, but here, as

usual, I could find no rest or abiding place; nothing but filth and

stench that sickened me; but as soon as I turned my gaze toward my

Father's house, I was struck with the glorious light that fell from

the place; for it seemed to shine with peculiar brightness; and, as

the gates were ajar, I could look full within; but I could see no sun,

nor moon, nor the light of a candle; but the light was glorious, far

surpassing the light of the sun at noon-day. So I looked in wonder, to

see from where it came. My guide said: "There is no need of the sun or

of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and

the Lamb is the light thereof. (Rev. xx., 2, 3.) And this is the same

light that has lighted up this valley ever since the time the Lamb

passed through it and fought and conquered the tempter; for it was in

this valley He spent some time, and on this bank He was hard beset;

here was the dreadful conflict; here it was He was hedged in as you

are; here the tempter raged as he never had raged before; and Jordan

swelled and roared, and overflowed her banks; such a time was never

known before, since the world began; but the Lamb gained the victory;

bound the enemy, subdued Jordan, and passed safely over. And all his

followers have to do, is to keep in the light and they need not fear."

Then the prayer arose from my heart: "Oh Lord! help me to walk in the

light of thy countenance; my times are in thy hands; deliver me from

the hands of my enemies; make thy face to shine on thy servant; save

me for thy mercies' sake." Then said my guide: "_Be of good cheer_."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sanctification.

BY MRS. R. S.

CAN WE BE SANCTIFIED AND LIVE?

I have often heard it questioned: Can we live in a sanctified state? I

ask first, is not Christ able to keep us in a sanctified state? Did

God ever break a covenant that He has made? Every covenant He has made

with man has been sealed with blood; and the Apostle says, without the

shedding of blood is no _remission of sins_. When God made His

promises to Abraham, that in his seed all the nations of the earth

should be blessed, He made Abraham take an heifer of three years old,

a she-goat of three years old, a ram, a turtle dove and a young

pigeon, and divide them asunder, that the flowing blood might, as it

were, cleanse the passage between the parts; and the Lord passing

between the parts in the form of a smoking furnace and a burning lamp,

swore unto Abraham that to him and his seed He would give that land

forever. Having sealed the covenant with blood, and with an oath, God

was bound to keep it; and He did keep it. Although He permitted them

to be severely tried and carried away from their own land into cruel

bondage, and to serve under hard task-masters for many years, yet did

they become a great nation, for God had said: "In blessing I will

bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars

of heaven," and "in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be

blessed."

When God is about bringing them out of bondage, He renews His covenant

and again requires blood; but this time the blood of a perfect lamb,

and the blood must be sprinkled upon the door-posts and lintels of

every door, setting the inmates apart to God, or showing that God's

people dwelt there; and the destroying angel passed over the land but

destroyed them not, because God knew and kept them. He brought them

safely out of bondage into a wilderness, and conducted them _through_

the wilderness safely to the promised rest. He did not at once let

then enter into that rest; but kept them in the wilderness to try

them, and prove them. They were His people, sanctified to Him by the

blood of the perfect lamb, and He could keep them just as well in the

wilderness as in the land of Canaan. He could spread their table in

the sight of their foes. When they wanted meat, He gave them quails in

abundance; when they wanted bread, He sent them manna from

heaven--angels food; when they wanted water the rock contained a full

supply, but must be smitten to produce it; and it sent forth a stream

that followed them through all their journey, typifying the spirit of

grace that accompanies the child of God through all his journey.

Although they wandered forty years in the wilderness, their garments

did not grow old, nor their sandals wear out. So we see that God

provided for them through all their wandering and brought them to that

promised rest, and according to his promise they became a great

nation.

Once more, God renews the covenant He made with Abraham, or in other

words fulfilled it. Here it requires again the shedding of blood, and

this time it must be the precious blood of the Lord Jesus, the only

begotten son of God which cleanses from all sin. If the typical blood

of Abraham's heifer and Moses' lamb, could prevail with God, to the

temporal salvation of man, how much more shall the precious blood of

Christ prevail to the purifying and washing away of all our sins. As

God gave the promise of the "seed" to Abraham, and set it apart in

Israel, he has perfected it in Christ. As He kept them (His people) in

the temporal wilderness through which they had to pass to get to their

promised rest, so will He keep us in Christ through this wilderness of

sin through which we must all pass. It is not His will to take us at

once from the world; but to keep us in the world; to help build up

His kingdom in the world; for it must take perfect workmen to do

perfect work.

Christ when praying for his Apostles, prayed not the Father to take

them out of the world; but that He should keep them from the evil of

the world. Nor need we ever look to be freed from temptation; but He

will not suffer more to come upon us than He will give us grace to

bear, and with every temptation will provide a way for our escape.

Christ at one time said to Peter "Satan desireth to have thee, that he

may sift thee as wheat;" but what follows? The wrath of God hangs over

Peter, but Christ our mediator intercedes, and his soothing words are,

"I have prayed the Father for thee, that thy faith fail thee not; and

when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Thus we must be

kept for mutual aid and for mutual comfort.

If God were to remove each one as soon as he becomes perfect in

Christ, who would be left to tell transgressors the way? Or how could

the kingdom of Christ flourish in the world? For the kingdoms of this

world are to become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and the

sanctified Christian is the salt of the earth. Take him away, and what

becomes of the world? God has use for all His perfect men and women in

the world; they must be _in_ the world, but not _of_ the world.

It is a mistaken idea that we can be Christians and not sanctified

Christians; and, as God has use for us in the world, it is very plain

that He is not only able to keep us, but He will keep us, until He has

finished all His righteous will concerning us; until everything is

done that we can do; until we have withstood temptation at every point

even as our Saviour did; until the last battle is fought and the

victory won! Oh! I wish that every Christian would feel that he is a

sanctified Christian, and go to work as such. Oh! that every one could

feel that to-day I am a _pillar_ in the temple of our God; a _living

stone_ in the building; instead of sitting still and dreaming: "Can I

be sanctified, or when can I be sanctified." Oh! that _Christians_

would awake, and look around, and see what they can do for the Master.

The fields are all white for harvest. The Lord calls for laborers.

Christian brothers and sisters will you not awake; will you not have

faith in Christ; seeing that God hath perfected in him all that He

promised in Abraham, and all that He "set apart in Israel." The Lord

which made heaven and earth is thy keeper. "He will not suffer thy

foot to be moved; He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold He

that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy

keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not

smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee

from all evil; He shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve

thy going out, and thy coming in from this time forth, and even

forever." (Psalms cxxi., 3-8). This God, O Christian, is thy God. He

that spreadeth out the heavens as a curtain; who keepeth the stars in

their courses; who causes the sun to show forth his light at morning,

and the moon at evening. He that keeps all nature in its proper course

year after year for so many ages, will He not keep thee through thy

life's short day and bring thee to heaven at last?

As a father pitieth His children so the Lord pitieth them that love

Him. The father will labor hard night and day, will make any

sacrifice, will deny himself any pleasure, will travel East, West,

North or South, and endure any hardships for his children's sake; and

should he have a dozen or more, yet his care over them will not

diminish, nor will he grow weary of his labors. "If ye then being evil

know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your

Heavenly Father give His holy spirit to them that ask Him." Let us

then trust a Father's love, and dwell safely under the shadow of his

wing and we need not fear!

"Though friends should all fail and foes all unite," we may go on

firmly trusting "The Lord will provide" trusting in His everlasting

arms, we shall pass safely through the wilderness of sin, and at last

get safely into our Father's house, where we shall rest from all care

and sing our sufferings o'er; where sin, and sorrow, pain and death,

never can enter. Being washed and cleansed in the blood of the Lamb,

we shall join our voices with one accord in singing blessing and honor

and wisdom and thanksgiving be unto the Lamb forever and forever.

Sanctification. BY MRS. R. S.

When God had finished His work of creation, He set apart the seventh

day, and sanctified it to Himself. In it no one was to do any work; it

was to be holy. The day in itself was like all other days; nothing

different; just as long, just as short; but He chose it to himself. He

chose the _whole_ of it, and all of it at _once_. He did not say, half

shall be yours and half mine; or, I will sanctify a part now and the

rest on next seventh day; but as soon as the day dawned, _it was

hallowed to the Lord_.

So in the work of redemption. Christ has finished His work; done all

there is to do. He has opened the way and made it passible, and now

invites all to come and find pardon; and sets the time when they

should come. He says, now is the accepted time; to-day is the day of

salvation; if ye hear my voice, harden not your hearts. The time is

fulfilled, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; repent ye and believe

the Gospel.

The day of redemption has dawned. Our King has fought the mighty

battle; has gained the glorious victory; has set up His Kingdom, and

now invites every one to become willing subjects. And all He requires

of us is simply to "repent and believe the gospel," which promises

that all things shall be added unto us. We may ask for it with

confidence and without fear, for it is our Father's good pleasure to

give us the Kingdom.

Then repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, are the

very groundwork of religion; and are more than all burnt offerings.

For He taketh no delight in sacrifices and offerings, but a contrite

heart is always acceptable with Him.

What is repentance but a sorrow for sin, and the forsaking of sin for

our love to God. Love to God, because He first loved us. God loves us.

He wills our salvation; and draws us to Him by the cords of love. We

feel a sorrow in our hearts; a weariness of sin, a dread of coming

vengeance; we begin to consider, and finally to ask, "What shall I do

to be saved." Then comes the promise: "Believe on the Lord Jesus

Christ and thou shalt be saved." What then is faith but believing in

Him who was sent; believing that he came to save; believing that He is

willing to save; believing that He will save; because the Father sent

Him for this purpose. Him hath the Father sanctified, and sent unto

the world to save the world. Believe that He is able to save; "thou

hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life

to as many as thou hast given Him." (John xvii, 2.) Believe that He is

willing. "I lay down my life for the sheep." Then, we can go to God

pleading these promises, and God will _justify_ us through this faith,

and Christ will apply the _sanctifying blood_ that seals the covenant.

For, by His own blood He has entered, once for all, into the Holy

place, having obtained "eternal redemption for us."

And as every law and every precept was sprinkled with blood, so has

Christ sealed every promise and every covenant, with His own precious

blood. Then it surely follows, we cannot believe without being

justified; and we cannot be justified without being sanctified.

"Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God, through

our Lord Jesus Christ," and this peace we can only have by being one

in Christ and abiding in Him. It is a peace the world cannot give nor

take away; a peace that subdues all evil passions, a peace that keeps

us patient and cheerful under difficulties; that keeps us humble and

truthful under trials and temptations. This is the grace that must

prevail in a distressing hour; and, filled with the sweet peace, we

can sing "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, etc.," and this

sanctifying grace makes us heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ,

who owns us for brethren and writes our names in the Book of Life.

But some may inquire: "How can we become perfect at once?" Do you see

that little babe? As soon as it is born it is a _perfect child_;

perfect in its father's love, perfect in its mother's tender care;

perfect as a child--not yet a perfect man, but all the _germ of the

man is there_. His limbs, hands and feet are perfect; of his body

there is no part lacking; and under the fostering care, and tender

nursing of his mother, the rigid but wholesome discipline of the

father, he must grow to perfect _manhood_,--and who can fix the time

when the child ceases and when the man begins. Or, see the branch in

the vine; as soon as it shoots its buds out of the vine, it is a

branch in the vine, and never ceases to be such until cut off. The

grain of mustard seed cast into the ground becomes a tree; but who can

tell when it ceases to be a plant. So is every one that is born of the

Spirit. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, thou hearest the sound

thereof and canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth."

As soon as we believe we are perfect in Christ; and through the wise

and just discipline of God the father, and the loving and tender care

of Christ as our mother, being fed with the word, we grow in grace and

in the knowledge of the truth daily. We can no more exist in a

justified state and not be sanctified, than a child can be born

without a _natural mother_! _Ye must be_ _born again_,--born of the

water, and of the _spirit, and of the blood_; for that which is born

of the flesh is flesh! The natural mind is "enmity against God; it is

not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." But if we are

in Christ, we are new creatures; "old things are done away, and all

things are become new. There is therefore now no condemnation to them

which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the

spirit." Then

"Christ the sanctifying blood applies,

And makes us white as snow."

Sanctification. BY MRS. R. S.

A father, while making provision for his children, whether rich or

poor, will naturally expect love and obedience from them in return;

and an unkind or disobedient act in them must be a cause of great

sorrow to the father's heart, yet it is very seldom that he will go so

far as to turn the child away from his door.

So with our Heavenly Father. He has done all for us that can be done;

He has laid up an eternal Inheritance for us; He has prepared for us

"many mansions," and preserves for us a crown "that fadeth not away,"

and now requires of us humble obedience, full submission to His holy

will.

He not only commands us to repent and believe, but to take up our

cross daily and follow Jesus.

If we wish to follow any one we must either see the person or the way

in which he has walked; let us then find the foot-prints of Jesus,

that we may walk therein and live.

While on earth, His whole life was spent in doing good; He was found

among the needy and poor, the afflicted and sorrowing, relieving their

afflictions, soothing their sorrow or quieting their fears. He was

never found among the giddy and gay, in the halls of revelry and

mirth. He was ever ready to weep with those who wept, and to rejoice

with those who rejoiced in the truth. Was there a bereaved mother or

disconsolate sister weeping over their dead? Christ was there to join

His tears and comfort them. Did they need any of His assistance? He

was ever ready to give it. Was any afflicted with sore disease? He was

ready to heal them; none ever came to Him in vain; He upbraided never,

and sent none empty away. He shunned none for their poverty and

favored none for their wealth. He was never presumptuous or proud.

When tempted by Satan to exert His power for His own benefit, He

refused, and silenced the tempter with the scathing rebuke: "Get thee

hence, Satan, for it is written, thou shall not tempt the Lord thy

God."

Thus in all things our Saviour was bearing His cross; tempted by

Satan; hated and scorned by false friends; persecuted by enemies; and

finally, dying for the sins of the world.

This, dear Christian, was the path trodden by our Saviour. And

remember, He was a sanctified Saviour. "Him hath the Father

sanctified," etc.

He has not only left His foot-prints for us to follow, but He has also

left a rule for us to walk by, that, being in the light, we may walk

in the light.

The first commandment given is: "Thou shalt LOVE;" and the second

commandment is: "Thou shalt LOVE. LOVE is the fulfilling of the law."

This is the power that puts the whole Christian life in action. This

love must be toward God, with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength,

and to our neighbor as ourself. As impossible as this may appear to

the "carnal mind," yet to the child of God it is very possible. What

can be more possible than for a child to love his father and his own

brothers and sisters! Although, as children, they may not all agree in

everything, they will have different sentiments, different opinions,

and different ways of acting. They will still be united in their love

to their parents and their love to each other. They will not, by any

means, do anything to injure each other, but will do all they can to

assist each other; neither will they be first to expose one another's

faults, but will practice that "charity that covereth a multitude of

sins."

This is just what God requires of His children, viz.: to be _perfect

in our love to Him, and to have perfect charity, one with another_.

"Charity, that thinketh no evil, is not easily provoked, rejoices not

in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth." This is the love that helps

us to overcome difficulties, that enables us to bear each other's

burdens, that makes us feel each other's cares, and forgive each

other's faults; that prevents us from taking "up a reproach against

our neighbor, (Psalm xv., 3), and makes us one family in Christ."

This love purifies the heart and brings us close to God, making us

bold to take up, and firm to sustain the consecrated cross. But it is

impossible to attain to this perfect life without some trials and

sufferings. Our Saviour had His trials and temptations, so must we

have. He did not purchase our salvation and pass to Heaven "on flow'ry

beds of ease," neither can we.

He laid aside His glory and made Himself of no reputation, and took

upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of

sinful flesh, and humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even

the death of the cross; therefore, in following Him, we must, as saith

the apostle, lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets

us. We must strip ourselves of all un-godliness and worldly lusts, of

every appearance of evil, to the plucking out of the right eye or the

cutting off of the right hand. It is better to live maimed than to die

whole. We must also put on the whole armor of God which Christ alone

can give, as the poet grandly sings:

"In the mountain of Zion, in Christ's armory

There are sword, shield and breast-plate and helmet for thee."

Having put on this "whole armor," the command is to _stand_!

"Stand then against your foes

In close and firm array,

Legions of wily friends oppose

Throughout the evil day."

The world, the flesh, and Satan will oppose us. The flesh will

continually cry for ease, for comfort and for pleasure that is not

becoming. It will say the cross is too heavy, the way is too hard; the

life we are trying to live is too perfect, we never can attain to it,

our Saviour never intended it and no one ever did thus live. It will

appeal to our self-love, and tell us we are already better than our

neighbors and should not mingle with other people. It will appeal to

our pride and tell us the valley of blessing is too low, and those

that walk therein are far beneath us, and in our pride we may say of

them: "Stand thou there, for I am holier than thou;" or it may appeal

to our malice and say, your brethren and friends speak evil of you and

do not believe you; and all this can only be overcome by that charity

which is the "bond of perfection." These are some of the battles we

have to fight, and we can only fight successfully clad in the armor of

charity.

The world will display all its charms, cause all its glory to pass

before us. It will show its mines of gold, its mountains of iron, its

halls of learning, its ships of commerce. It will introduce us to its

halls of pleasure and its walks of recreation, but with an eye fixed

on the glory of the eternal world, the glories of this must fade and

become as nothing. Its gold becomes as dross and its pleasures less

than the morning dew.

We have another dreaded foe, the Arch Fiend himself; who comes to us

with all his power and all his rage. We have not only to contend with

flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers, who will employ

every means at their command to retard our progress. But we must

"---- meet the sons of night

And mock their vain design."

We must conquer them all through the blood of Christ and the sign of

the Cross! In this alone can we conquer all our foes, this alone can

help us to walk pleasantly in the valley of humiliation. It is only

with the Cross of Christ on our shoulders and the love of God shed

abroad in our hearts that we can walk the heavenly road.

But with this love we can say always: "Father, Thy will be done." In

sickness or health, adversity or prosperity, in afflictions and all

trials we can possess our souls in patience. This is the love that

removes mountains, that makes enemies friends, and takes the _beam_

from our own eye, so that we may see the mote in our brother's eye,

and enable us to help each other on the way.

If a brother is in need, or a sister in distress, or a mother

bereaved, we are ready to lend a helping hand or give a word of

consolation, thus fulfilling the law of Christ.

Love must then pervade the soul, and unite us to Christ and to each

other, as the sap pervades the vine and the branches, uniting them

together and causing them to produce fruit. The branch cannot bear

fruit of itself: no more can we separate from Christ; but if we abide

in Him, we shall bring forth much fruit. "If ye abide in me and my

word in you, ye shall ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done

unto you."

Let us ask daily for grace to keep us in this perfect way, "ask and ye

shall receive." We need a constant daily supply of the bread of life,

that feeds the soul and keeps it alive in Christ. Let us go daily to

our Father's table, that we may partake of the dainties of Heaven and

grow in grace and the knowledge of the truth.

"That having all things done,

And all our conflicts passed,

We may o'ercome through faith alone,

And stand entire at last."

Story originally written for her little Grandsons, James and Charley.

Dear Jim and Charley:

Here is one of my stories for little folks. It is about a

giant, that lives about here, and in fact I guess he lives in a

great many places. He is a monstrous big fellow, a great deal

larger than the King of Og, whose bed it was said was twelve

feet long and eight feet broad. He is bigger than Goliath whom

David killed, in fact larger than any giant you ever heard of.

And if you ever meet with this big fellow, I hope _you_ will

kill _him_, rather than become his subjects. For he is a king,

or rather a despotic emperor; he holds complete control over

his subjects and compels them to do whatever he wishes. He is

always peering around, knocking at people's doors, and peeping

into people's houses, to see if he can get any one to serve

him. In fact sometimes he walks right boldly into _my_ house

and compels _me_ to serve him. He is a wonderful fellow and I

think he must be very old, and he is very ugly; he is

blear-eyed and snub-nosed, and everything else that is ugly,

and he makes people do ugly things. He makes men and women

strut about and think they are somebody--why, I have heard of

so many bad things he has caused people to do, that I hardly

know what to tell you first. He has made nation go to war with

nation, he makes men fight and kill each other, and many years

ago he made an old king dress himself all up in purple robes,

and sit upon his throne, and declare he was God. He made

Joseph's brethren sell Joseph down into Egypt when he was a

little boy. And Absalom, David's son, to pursue after his

father to kill him, and he caused the wicked Jews to crucify

our blessed Saviour and kill him.

Oh, he has done so many bad things, and is still doing bad; for

he makes little boys and girls do bad. I must tell you

something he makes them do; he makes little boys run away from

their mother and tell lies and smoke segars and do a great many

bad things; he makes little girls primp themselves up and think

they are young ladies, and must not help their mothers any

more; he makes children quarrel and fight and call names to get

advantage of each other; he makes a little boy that I know call

his little playmate----. And now boys what do you think of my

giant, old and ugly and every way bad? Do you think you will be

his subjects, or will you kill him when you meet him, as David

did Goliath with a sling and stone? I should like to hear you

guess his name, but as you are so far away I shall have to tell

you; his name is "GIANT SELF." See what a great big fellow he

is and what bad things he can make you do. Now if you don't

want to be his subjects, I will tell you what you must do. When

you meet him, for I know you will meet him, you must take the

sling of faith and the stone of prayer and kill him. That is,

when you feel any selfish thoughts coming into your heart you

must ask your Heavenly Father to take them all away, and keep

you from pleasing Giant Self, and make you good boys, help you

to grow up good men, and ever keep you in His care----

Your grandma prays.

The little scraps of poetry which follow, have lain among my mother's

papers for over thirty years. I do not think they were ever shown to

any of her most intimate friends. They were written mostly in 1846,

when my mother was about twenty-six years of age, and were simple

heart effusions, never intended for public eye.

Even those addressed to particular persons I do not think were ever

presented; and my mother, though fond of the poets, seems never to

have thought herself gifted to write poetry. I selected the few found

in these pages from an old scrap-book, and I may say I regard these as

the best, and perhaps the only ones adapted to public reading, found

in the meagre collection. I make no corrections in them.

T. G. S.

Poetry

Thoughts suggested by the Return of Spring.

Once more I hail the happy spring

Tho' sadness to my heart it brings,

It brings to mind the seasons past

When sporting in the joys of youth

I sallied forth to meet the spring

And hear the birds so sweetly sing.

But ah, those days are past and gone

Those happy days forever flown

And now, through weariness and care

I wander on all through the year

My youthful friends are fled and gone

And not a friend for me remains

I feel deserted and unknown

A stranger in this world alone--

No one with me to sympathise

Or share with me my cares or joys

When sore afflictions rack my frame

And not one hope for me remains

Even then forsaken and alone

I vent my sighs and make my moan

And tho, I greet the happy spring

Yet sadness to my heart it brings.

The Inscription to this is simply "Written after a Time of

Affliction."

I love the Lord, my strength, my tower,

The Lord my rock and fortress is,

My God my strength in whom I trust,

My buckler and my hope of bliss.

The Lord is worthy to be praised,

He saves me from my enemies;

Sorrow and death compass'd me round,

Death and the grave made me afraid.

I called upon the Lord and cried:--

My God, he heard my feeble voice,

Out of His temple. Lo! He came

And bade my broken heart rejoice.

The earth shall tremble at His word,

The hills shall fly at His command.

He bows the heavens as their Lord

And rides upon a Cherrub's wings.

He will deliver me from sin,

And set my soul at liberty,

He will reward my righteousness,

If from my God I do not stray.

To a Sister on her Birthday.

Your birthday my sweet sister,

What shall my off'ring be,

I've no rich gifts or treasures

I can present to thee.

But Oh! my sweetest sister,

I raise a fervent prayer,

For all thy future welfare

While thou may'st sojourn here.

May many happy birthdays

Roll o'er thy peaceful head,

In good old age may you lay down

Your life among the dead.

And may your soul ascend to God

And reign with Him on high,

And praise Him in that bright abode,

Where pleasures never die.

To a Minister on his Return after a long Absence.

Dear Shepherd you've been wand'ring

So long and far away

Your sheep become disconsolate,

Therefore have gone astray.

Not so, the Mighty Shepherd,

He ne'er forsakes His sheep,

He leads them forth in pasture,

So rich, so green, so sweet;

He leads them to the fountains,

Along the crystal stream--

They feed beside the mountains,

Who put their trust in Him.

Transcriber's Note: Archaic spellings and punctuation have been

retained.

End of Project Gutenberg's Memoirs of Mrs. Rebecca Steward, by T. G. Steward