Page images
PDF
EPUB

ficial support, through neglect, which shall presently be accounted for, they bent downward, shooting out in unchecked profusion, until the whole space might with strict propriety be called a bower. The upper part of the wall was more gaudily attired, in all the variations of green moss, yellow and blue creepers, and the dark red of the wall-flower. Beyond these, nothing appeared but a strip of sky. At the foot of the rampart some thrifty hand had arranged a narrow plantation of balm, sage, parsley, and thyme, so close that the introduction of any other shrub was impossible: of course, the old wall possessed the sole claim to the designation of a flower-garden; and, circumstanced as I then was, I learnt to be thankful for any medium that led my eye to the brighter world above; for, in truth, all sublunary things were exceedingly dark around me.

It was impossible, at least to me, to avoid identifying the Jessamine with her who owned that narrow spot, and who was peacefully journeying on, to take up her last earthly abode in one still narrower. Disease had blanched her cheek to the whiteness of the flower, and bowed her frame like its declining branches; while the nature of her malady forbade the continuance of her once favourite occupation of training and propping the Jessamine. Cancer, in its worst and most excruciating form, had seized upon her; and, at the time whereof I speak, it had spread from the side to the arm, reducing her to a state of suffering not to be conceived but by those who have closely watched the progress of that deadly complaint, devouring its victim piecemeal.

Often have I gone out from the presence of the dear sufferer, to meditate upon the amazing power

of divine grace, which she abundantly possessed; a rich treasure, in an earthen vessel so deplorably marred as to make it doubly apparent that all the excellency of that power was of God. I found it hard, in an early stage of my Christian experience, to reconcile the acuteness of her bodily anguish with those promises of holy writ that describe the believer as possessed of all things-godliness as having the promise of this life, as well as that which is to come-and the Lord as withholding no good thing from them that walk uprightly. I could not comprehend how such exquisite patience should be visited with tribulation so severe; for I had still to learn, that the tribulation wrought the patience. Hundreds of times have I paced up and down that confined path, murmuring against the cross that my friend so cheerfully bore; and questioning the love that so grievously afflicted her. Sometimes the dumb boy, then in the first steps of instruction, would come to me, increasing my perplexity by shewing that the same thoughts occupied his mind. In his imperfect phraseology, he would again and again say, 'Poor Mrs. C. much burt. What? God love Mrs. C.? God hurt Mrs. C. What?' The word-what! interrogatively repeated, with an impatient shake of the head, signified a desire for information. In this case, I could only reply, "Yes, God loves Mrs. C. Poor Mrs. C. soon go to heaven.' Jack, who realized heavenly things in a way that few of us attain to, was content with this assurance, under the expectation of her immediate removal to glory: but I knew that she had, probably, many a long month to linger yet; and as weeks passed away, Jack would come out with his embarrassing

'What? Mrs. C. very long pain. What? God love Mrs. C.?'

I found her, one day, in her nice parlour, dressed, as usual, with exquisite neatness, her poor arm supported in a sling of white muslin, and her pale cheek wearing the sorrowful smile that rarely left it. 'Have you had a tolerable night, dear friend?' I asked. She replied, I had no sleep at all; the doctor dared not give me an anodyne, and the pain was so excessive, that I could not help weeping. However, a thought came into my mind that comforted me. It occurred to me, that I might have been brought up a Socinian; and oh, dear lady, how dreadful it would have been, to acknowledge Jesus Christ as something less than God! When I thought of the mercy that taught me from my early youth to confess Him as God; and the sovereign grace that has more lately enabled me to see Him as my God, bearing my sins in His own body on the tree, oh, then my tears fell much faster; but they were full of joy; and I learnt the value of the pain that kept me awake to recal this mercy to mind, and to meditate on the great love of my Saviour.'

While she said this, her tears again stole forth; but her countenance wore an aspect so heavenly, that I soon betook myself to the Jessamine walk, to wonder why I had never thanked God for not allowing me to be born among Socinians.

A whole year, I think, this blessed woman lingered in tortures indescribable; and latterly she would not admit into her room any but those who were obliged to enter it; so great was the delicacy of her feelings for others. She, however, used to speak from her bed to those in an adjoining apartment, the door

being placed ajar, and very sweet was her conversation. One day, after a week of dreadful agony, she asked her maid to lift her from the bed, to try if a change of position would bring any relief; she was, accordingly, seated on a low chair; and, laying her head on the girl's shoulder, in a very soft, but animated voice, she whispered, 'Mary,-Heaven!'

and instantly departed thither.

I placed some delicate Jessamine flowers in her coffin; and most delicious it was to gaze upon her placid countenance with a vivid recollection of her bitter sufferings, and an equally vivid assurance of her present bliss. Never did the beautiful hymn, commencing, 'Ah, lovely appearance of death,' seem so appropriate, as when I repeated it beside her corpse; never did the high wall of the dark little garden, studded with shining white stars, afford so sweet a meditation as on the close of that summer's eve. Three or four days after, Jack and I arose very early to see her remains committed to the ground, while the dew-drops were still upon the grass. His smile was triumphantly joyous, though tears stole down his cheeks, as he said, 'Yes, God loves Mrs. C. Good Mrs. C. gone to heaven. Jesus Christ loves Mrs. C.'

I have frequently been led to consider the assertions of some christians, that bodily suffering is not an evil: that, when in severe pain, they could desire still greater, as enabling them the more to glorify God; and also that such inflictions are sent altogether as marks of distinguishing favour, not in punishment. I do not think that such was the view taken by my friend; she appeared to regard the sufferings of her body as a chastisement, not joyous but griev

ous; but being to her, through divine grace, made an exercise of faith, patience, and love, it yielded most peaceable and beautiful fruits. I have been startled, many a time, by the rash and presumptuous complaints of those in prosperity, lamenting that they had no cross laid upon them, and envying the lot of their afflicted friends; as though tribulation and anguish were the determined portion of all God's children. I grant that the apostle assures us we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of heaven; and that all who live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution; but I cannot see that it necessarily follows, we are to doubt our adoption, when the Lord, giving us liberally all things to enjoy, fills our hearts with food and gladness. Ease and prosperity are, in themselves, very trying to the christian; and he is apt enough, when so tried, finding his corruptions strong, and sin struggling for the dominion, to prescribe for himself a course of temporal calamities, as the only effectual remedy; instead of applying for the sanctifying aid of the Holy Spirit, who taught Paul no less how to abound, than how to suffer need. I have often admired the levelling simplicity of that concise portion of our beautiful litany, which bids us pray "In all time of our wealth, in all time of our tribulation, good Lord, deliver us." One state is not a whit more secure than the other; we are just as prone to make a popish purgatory of our afflictions, as we are to make a fool's paradise of our joys; and sinful as it is to repine under the chastening rod, it appears even more inexcuseable to grumble at the profusion of our temporal mercies. On the other hand, unless in some very peculiar cases, it seems to me quite as

« PreviousContinue »