A Brief Memoir | Page 4

solicitous
to fulfil them, seeking in every way to contribute to the happiness of
those around her, whether among the poor or among the friends and
relatives of her own circle.
Her journal, while it exhibits an intense earnestness in analyzing the
state of her own mind, and perhaps rather too much proneness to dwell
morbidly upon it, also evinces the tender joy and peace with which she
was often blessed by the manifested presence of her Lord. It unfolds an
advancement in Christian experience to which her conduct bore living
testimony, and proves that in humble reliance on the hope set before
her in the gospel, with growing distrust of herself, her faith increased in
God her Saviour, and through his grace she was enabled to maintain the
struggle with her soul's enemies, following on to know the Lord.
Thus it was, as she sought preparation for a more enlarged sphere of
usefulness on earth, her spirit ripened for the perfect service of heaven;
and six weeks after she left her father's house a bride, the summons was
received to join that countless multitude who "have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; therefore are they
before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple."
DIARY.
The diary which was kept by the beloved object of this memoir, and the
extracts from which form the principal part of this volume, is contained

in several volumes of closely-written manuscript, and, taken as a whole,
is a most interesting record of mental and spiritual growth. At times it
was continued with almost daily regularity, but at others, either from
the pressure of occupations or from various causes, considerable
intervals occur in which nothing was written. It has been the endeavor
of the editor to make such selections as may preserve a faithful picture
of the whole. There is almost of necessity a certain amount of repetition,
as in seasons of depression, when faith and hope seemed to be much
obscured, or, on the other hand, when cheerful thankfulness and joy of
heart were her portion; and in such places it did not seem right to
curtail her words too much. Many entries referred too closely to
personal and family matters to be suitable for publication, and the
uneventful character of her life does not leave room to supply in their
stead much in the way of narrative; but it will be remembered that it is
the heavenward journey that it is desired to trace, not simply towards
the land "very far off," but that pilgrimage during which, though on
earth, the believer in Jesus is at times privileged to partake of the joys
of heaven.
The first volume of the series is entitled, by its author, "Mementos of
Mercy to the Chief of Sinners." Some lines written on her fourteenth
birthday--about the period, of its commencement--may appropriately
introduce the extracts.
6th Mo. 9th, 1837.--
Can it be true that one more link
In that mysterious chain,
Which
joins the two eternities,
I shall not see again?
Eternity! that awful thing
Thought tries in vain to scan;
How far
beyond the loftiest powers
Of little, finite man!
E'en daring fancy's fearless flight
In vain would grasp the whole,

And then, "How short man's mortal life!"
Exclaims the wondering
soul.
A bubble on the ocean's breast,
A glow-worm's feeble ray,
That

loses all its brilliancy
Beneath the orb of day.
Can it be joyful, then, to find
That life is hastening fast?
Can it be
joyful to reflect,
This year may be our last?
Look on the firmament above,
From south to northern pole:
Can we
find there a resting-place
For the immortal soul?

Where can we search to find its home?
The still small voice in thee

Answers, as from the eternal throne,
"My own shall dwell with me."
And I have one year less to seek
An interest on high;
Am one year
nearer to the time
When I myself must die!
And when that awful time will come,
No human tongue can say;

But, oh! how startling is the thought
That it may be to-day!
How shall my guilty spirit meet
The great, all-searching eye?

Conscious of my deficiencies,
As in the dust I lie.
How shall I join the ransom'd throng
Around the throne that stand,

And cast their crowns before thy feet,
Lord of the saintly band?
12th Mo. 6th, 1836. There are seasons in which
I am favored to feel a
quiet resignation, to spend
and be spent in the service of Him who,
even in
my youthful days, has been pleased to visit me with
the
overshadowing of His mercy and love, and to require
me to give up
all my dearest secret idols, and
every thing which exalts self against
the government
of the Prince of Peace.
4th Mo. 3d, 1837. Almost in despair of ever
being what I ought to be.
I feel so poor in every
good thing, and so amazingly rich in every bad