The mind of man is like a moving picture, supplied with objects not only
from contemplation on things present, but from the fruitful sources of
recollection and anticipation.
Memory retraces past events, and restores an ideal reality to scenes
which are gone by for ever. They live again in revived imagery, and we
seem to hear and see with renewed emotions what we heard and saw at a
former period. Successions of such recollected circumstances often form
a series of welcome memorials. In religious meditations, the memory
becomes a sanctified instrument of spiritual improvement.
Another part of this animated picture is furnished by the pencil of Hope.
She draws encouraging prospects for the soul, by connecting the past and
the present with the future. Seeing the promises afar off, she is
persuaded of their truth, and embraces them as her own.
The Spirit of God gives a blessing to both these acts of the mind, and
employs them in the service of religion. Every faculty of body and soul,
when considered as a part of "the purchased possession" of the Saviour,
assumes a new character. How powerfully does the apostle on this ground
urge a plea for holy activity and watchfulness! "What! know ye not that
your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have
of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price;
therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
The Christian may derive much profit and enjoyment from the use of the
memory as it concerns those transactions in which he once bore a part. In
his endeavours to recall past conversations and intercourse with deceased
friends, in particular, the powers of remembrance greatly improve by
exercise. One revived idea produces another, till the mind is most
agreeably and usefully occupied with lively and holy imaginations.
"Lulled in the countless chambers of the brain,
Our thoughts are linked by many a hidden chain.
Awake but one, and lo! what myriads rise!
Each stamps its image as the other flies.
Each, as the varied avenues of sense
Delight or sorrow to the soul dispense,
Brightens or fades; yet all, with sacred art,
Control the latent fibres of the heart."
May it please God to bless, both to the reader and the writer, this
feeble attempt to recollect some of the communications which I once
enjoyed in my visits to the Dairyman's dwelling.
Very soon after the receipt of the last letter, I rode for the first time
to see the family at their own house. The principal part of the road lay
through retired narrow lanes, beautifully overarched with groves of nut
and other trees, which screened the traveller from the rays of the sun,
and afforded many interesting objects for admiration, in the flowers,
shrubs, and young trees, which grew upon the high banks on each side of
the road. Many grotesque rocks, with little trickling streams of water
occasionally breaking out of them, varied the recluse scenery, and
produced a romantic and pleasing effect.
Here and there the more distant prospect beyond was observable through
gaps and hollow places on the roadside. Lofty hills, with many signal-
posts, obelisks, and light-houses on their summits, appeared at these
intervals; rich cornfields were also visible through some of the open
places; and now and then, when the road ascended a hill, the sea, with
ships at various distances, was seen. But for the most part shady
seclusion, and objects of a more minute and confined nature, gave a
character to the journey, and invited contemplation.
How much do they lose who are strangers to serious meditation on the
wonders and beauties of nature! How gloriously the God of creation
shines in his works! Not a tree, or leaf, or flower, not a bird or
insect, but it proclaims in glowing language, "God made me."
As I approached the village where the good old Dairyman dwelt, I observed
him in a little field, driving his two cows before him towards a yard and
hovel which adjoined his cottage. I advanced very near him without his
observing me, for his sight was dim. On my calling out to him, he
started at the sound of my voice, but with much gladness of heart
welcomed me, saying, "Bless your heart, sir, I am glad you are come: we
have looked for you every day this week."
The cottage door opened, and the daughter came out, followed by her aged
and infirm mother. The sight of me naturally brought to recollection the
grave at which we had before met. Tears of affection mingled with the
smile of satisfaction with which I was received by these worthy
cottagers. I dismounted and was conducted through a neat little garden,
part of which was shaded by two large overspreading elm-trees, to the
house. Decency and order were manifested within and without. No excuse
was made here, on the score of poverty, for confusion and uncleanliness
in the disposal of their little household. Everything wore the aspect of
neatness and propriety. On each side of the fireplace stood an old oaken
arm-chair, where the venerable parents rested their weary limbs after the
day's labour was over. On a shelf in one corner lay two Bibles, with a
few religious books and tracts. The little room had two windows: a
lovely prospect of hills, woods, and fields, appeared through one; and
the other was more than half obscured by the branches of a vine which was
trained across it; between its leaves the sun shone, and cast a cheerful
light over the whole place.
"This," thought I, "is a fit residence for piety, peace, and contentment.
May I learn a fresh lesson for advancement in each, through the blessing
of God on this visit."
"Sir," said the daughter, "we are not worthy that you should come under
our roof. We take it very kind that you should travel so far to see us."
"My Master," I replied, "came a great deal further to visit us poor
sinners. He left the bosom of his Father, laid aside his glory, and came
down to this lower world on a visit of mercy and love; and ought not we,
if we profess to follow him, to bear each other's infirmities, and go
about doing good as he did?"
The old man now entered, and joined his wife and daughter in giving me a
cordial welcome. Our conversation soon turned to the loss they had so
lately sustained. The pious and sensible disposition of the daughter was
peculiarly manifested, as well in what she said to her parents as in what
she more immediately addressed to myself. I had now a further
opportunity of remarking the good sense and agreeable manner which
accompanied her expressions of devotedness to God, and love to Christ for
the great mercies which he had bestowed upon her. During her residence
in different gentlemen's families where she had been in service, she had
acquired a superior behaviour and address; but sincere piety rendered her
very humble and unassuming in manner and conversation. She seemed
anxious to improve the opportunity of my visit to the best purpose for
her own and her parents' sake; yet there was nothing of unbecoming
forwardness, no self-confidence or conceitedness in her conduct. She
united the firmness and solicitude of the Christian with the modesty of
the female and the dutifulness of the daughter. It was impossible to be
in her company and not observe how truly her temper and conversation
adorned the principles which she professed.
I soon discovered how eager and how successful also she had been in her
endeavours to bring her father and mother to the knowledge and experience
of the truth. This is a lovely feature in the character of a young
Christian. If it have pleased God, in the free dispensation of his
mercy, to call the child by his grace while the parents remain still in
ignorance and sin, how great is the duty incumbent on that child to do
what is possible to promote the conversion of those to whom so much is
owing! Happy is it when the ties of grace sanctify those of nature!
The aged couple evidently regarded and spoke of this daughter as their
teacher and admonisher in divine things, while at the same time they
received from her every token of filial submission and obedience,
testified by continual endeavours to serve and assist them to the utmost
of her power in the daily concerns of the household.
The religion of this young woman was of a highly spiritual character, and
of no ordinary attainment. Her views of the divine plan in saving the
sinner were clear and scriptural. She spoke much of the joys and sorrows
which, in the course of her religious progress, she had experienced; but
she was fully sensible that there is far more in real religion than mere
occasional transition from one frame of mind and spirits to another. She
believed that the experimental acquaintance of the heart with God
principally consisted in so living upon Christ by faith as to aim at
living like him by love. She knew that the love of God toward the
sinner, and the path of duty prescribed to the sinner, are both of an
unchangeable nature. In a believing dependence on the one, and an
affectionate walk in the other, she sought and found "the peace of God
which passeth all understanding;" for "so he giveth his beloved rest."
She had read but few books besides her Bible; but these few were
excellent in their kind, and she spoke of their contents as one who knew
their value. In addition to a Bible and Prayer-book, "Doddridge's Rise
and Progress," "Romaine's Life, Walk, and Triumph of Faith," "Bunyan's
Pilgrim," "Alleine's Alarm," "Baxter's Saint's Everlasting Rest," a hymn-
book, and a few tracts, completed her library.
I observed in her countenance a pale and delicate hue, which I afterwards
found to be a presage of consumption; and the idea then occurred to me
that she would not live very long.
Time passed on swiftly with this interesting family, and after having
partaken of some plain and wholesome refreshment, and enjoyed a few
hours' conversation with them, I found it was necessary for me to return
homewards. The disposition and character of the parties may be in some
sort ascertained by the expressions at parting.
"God send you safe home again," said the aged mother, "and bless the day
that brought you to see two poor old creatures such as we are, in our
trouble and affliction. Come again, sir, come again when you can; and
though I am a poor ignorant soul, and not fit to talk to such a gentleman
as you, yet my dear child shall speak for me. She is the greatest
comfort I have left, and I hope the good Lord will spare her to support
my trembling limbs and feeble spirits, till I lie down with my other dear
departed children in the grave."
"Trust to the Lord," I answered, "and remember his gracious promise:
'Even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs I will carry you.'"
"I thank you, sir," said the daughter, "for your Christian kindness to me
and my friends. I believe the blessing of the Lord has attended your
visit, and I hope I have experienced it to be so. My dear father and
mother will, I am sure, remember it; and I rejoice in the opportunity of
seeing so kind a friend under this roof. My Saviour has been abundantly
good to me, in plucking me as 'a brand from the burning,' and showing me
the way of life and peace; and I hope it is my heart's desire to live to
his glory. But I long to see these dear friends enjoy the power and
comfort of religion likewise."
"I think it evident," I replied, "that the promise is fulfilled in their
case: 'It shall come to pass that at evening time it shall be light."
"I believe it," she said, "and praise God for the blessed hope."
"Thank him, too, that you have been the happy instrument of bringing them
to the light."
"I do, sir; yet when I think of my own unworthiness and insufficiency, I
rejoice with trembling."
"Sir," said the good old man, "I am sure the Lord will reward you for
this kindness. Pray for us, old as we are, and sinners as we have been,
that yet he would have mercy upon us at the eleventh hour. Poor Betsy
strives much for our sakes, both in body and soul: she works hard all day
to save us trouble, and I fear has not strength to support all she does;
and then she talks to us, and reads to us, and prays for us, that we may
be saved from the wrath to come. Indeed, sir, she's a rare child to us."
"Peace be to you, and to all that belong to you!"
"Amen, and thank you, dear sir," was echoed from each tongue.
Thus we parted for that time. My returning meditations were sweet, and I
hope profitable.
Many other visits were afterwards made by me to this peaceful cottage,
and I always found increasing reason to thank God for the intercourse I
there enjoyed.
An interval of some length occurred once during that year in which I had
not seen the Dairyman's family. I was reminded of the circumstance by
the receipt of the following letter:--
"REV. SIR,
"I have been expecting to see or hear from you for a considerable
time. Excuse the liberty I take in sending you another letter. I
have been confined to the house the greater part of the time since I
left ---. I took cold that day, and have been worse ever since. I
walk out a little on these fine days, but seem to myself to walk very
near the borders of eternity. Glory be to God, it is a very pleasing
prospect before me! Though I feel the working of sin, and am abased,
yet Jesus shows his mercy to be mine, and I trust that I am his. At
such times--
'My soul would leave this heavy clay
At his transporting word,
Run up with joy the shining way
To meet and prove the Lord.
Fearless of hell and ghastly death,
I'd break through ev'ry foe;
The wings of love and arms of faith
Would bear me conqu'ror through.'
My desire is to live every moment to God, that I may, through his
grace, be kept in that heavenly, happy frame of mind, that I shall
wish for at the hour of death. We cannot live or die happy without
this; and to keep it, we must be continually watching and praying: for
we have many enemies to disturb our peace. I am so very weak, that
now I can go nowhere to any outward means for that help which is so
refreshing to my spirit.
"I should have been very happy to have heard you last Sunday, when you
preached at ---. I could not walk so far. I hope the word spoken by
you was made a blessing to many who heard it. It was my earnest
prayer to God that it might be so. But, alas! once calling does not
awaken many that are in a sound sleep. Yet the voice of God is
sometimes very powerful, when his ministers speak; when they are
influenced by his Holy Spirit, and are simple and sincere in holding
forth the word of life. Then it will teach us all things, and
enlighten our mind and reveal unto us the hidden things of darkness,
and give us out of that divine treasure 'things new and old.' Resting
on God to work in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure,
we ought always to work as diligent servants, that know they have a
good Master, that will surely not forget their labour of love.
"If we could but fix our eyes always on that crown of glory that waits
us in the skies, we should never grow weary in well-doing, but should
run with patience and delight in the work and ways of God, where he
appoints us. We should not then, as we too frequently do, suffer
these trifling objects here on earth to draw away our minds from God,
to rob him of his glory and our souls of that happiness and comfort
which the believer may enjoy amidst outward afflictions. If we thus
lived more by faith in the Son of God, we should endeavour to stir up
all whom we could to seek after God. We should tell them what he has
done for us, and what he would do for them if they truly sought him.
We should show them what a glorious expectation there is for all true
believers and sincere seekers.
"When our minds are so fixed on God, we are more desirous of
glorifying him, in making known his goodness to us, than the proud
rich man is of getting honour to himself. I mourn over my own
backwardness to this exercise of duty, when I think of God's
willingness to save the vilest of the vile, according to the
dispensations of his eternal grace and mercy. Oh, how amiable, how
lovely does this make that God of love appear to poor sinners, that
can view him as such! How is the soul delighted with such a
contemplation! They that have much forgiven, how much they love!
"These thoughts have been much on my mind since the death of ---. I
trust the Lord will pardon me for neglect. I thought it was my duty
to speak or write to him: you remember what I said to you respecting
it. But I still delayed till a more convenient season. Oh, how I was
struck when I heard the Lord had taken him so suddenly! I was filled
with sorrow and shame for having neglected what I had so often
resolved to do. But now the time of speaking for God to him was over.
Hence we see that the Lord's time is the best time. Now the night of
death was come upon him; no more work was to be done. If I had done
all that lay in my power to proclaim reconciliation by Christ to his
soul, whether he had heard or no, I should have been clear of his
blood. But I cannot recall the time that is past, nor him from the
grave. Had I known the Lord would have called him so suddenly, how
diligent I should have been to warn him of his danger! But it is
enough that God shows us what _we_ are to do, and not what _he_ is
about to do with us or any of his creatures. Pray, sir, do all you
can for the glory of God. The time will soon pass by, and then we
shall enter that glorious rest that he hath prepared for them that
love him. I pray God to fill you with that zeal and love which he
only can inspire, that you may daily win souls to Christ. May he
deliver you from all slavish fear of man, and give you boldness, as he
did of old those that were filled with the Holy Ghost and with power!
"Remember, Christ has promised to be with all his faithful ministers
to the end of time. The greater dangers and difficulties they are
exposed to, the more powerful his assistance. Then, sir, let us fear
none but him. I hope you will pray much for me, a poor sinner, that
God will perfect his strength in my weakness of body and mind; for
without him I can do nothing. But when I can experience the teaching
of that Holy One, I need no other teacher. May the Lord anoint you
with the same, and give you every grace of his Holy Spirit, that you
may be filled with all the fulness of God; that you may know what is
the height and depth, the length and breadth, of the love of God in
Christ Jesus; that you may be in the hand of the Lord as a keen archer
to draw the bow, while the Lord directs and fastens the arrows of
conviction in the hearts of such as are under your ministry!
"I sincerely pray that you may be made a blessing to him that has
taken the place of the deceased. I have heard that you are fellow-
countrymen: I hope you are, however, both as strangers in this world,
that have no abiding place, but seek a country out of sight.
"Pray excuse all faults.
"From your humble servant in the bonds of the gospel of Christ,
"E--- W---."
When I perused this and other letters, which were at different times
written to me by the Dairyman's daughter, I felt that in the person of
this interesting correspondent were singularly united the characters of a
humble disciple and a faithful monitor. I wished to acknowledge the
goodness of God in each of these her capacities.
I sometimes entertain a hope that the last day will unfold the value of
these epistolary communications, beyond even any present estimate of
their spiritual importance.