་་་་་་ seech thee, suitably to humble me at thy feet, and never let my conduct or my temper be unbecoming. In spite of what a flattering world may say, may I ever retain a low opinion of my best actions and performances, viewing them all unworthy the notice of thy pure eyes, and far below what ought to come from one so in debt to thee, and so highly favoured. O wilt thou favour me with the most self-abasing views of myself, and with the most deep and abiding sense of my own utter helplessness, vileness, and nothingness; that whenever I approach thy mercy seat, it may be as an impotent beggar, craving a crumb of mere undeserved mercy. I beseech thee at this critical period, when the voice of adulation sounds in my ears, and so many things concur to inflate my proud heart, O I entreat thee to subdue every self-exalting thought, and clothe me with the lowly graces of the spirit. And wilt thou bless the weak efforts of my pen, to the awakening of Christless sinners, and to the comfort and benefit of thy humble followers? O make me an instrument of good in the world, a blessing to some precious souls, that I may not be a worthless cypher in creation. LETTER TO MISS C. T. OF BEVERLY. MY DEAR, DEAR CLARISSA, Beverly, April 10, 1814. As I highly appreciate your friendship and correspondence and ardently wish their continuance, I should esteem it a privilege to address you in the epistolary way, It is probable she here refers to what was said in favour of a letter of hers, which was published in the Panoplist the preceding February. could the productions of my pen add in the least degree to your edification and felicity. But, filled as I am with a sense of my weakness and insufficiency, I still know and rejoice that the Lord can bless the weakest means to the advancement of his cause, and the glory of his name; and to him may we look for a benediction upon our mutual communications, that we may be helpers of each other's joy and spiritual good. Our wishful eyes seem already to greet the glimmering dawn of the latter day glory, and with hearts beating high with wondering expectations, we look forward to its meridian splendour. Glorious period! big with events beyond the narrow ken of worms, bringing an immense revenue of praise and glory to the Most High, and issuing in the everlasting felicity and excellency of innumer◄ able intelligences; events which shall attract the admir ing attention of all the celestial spirits, and cause them to celebrate in higher strains, the mighty displays of all conquering grace. Yes, my dear sister, this apostate earth is to be reclaimed by the power of Immanuel, and constrained to bow in meek homage at his feet. Though now it is the scene of wide spread wretchedness, misery, and sin; convulsed to its centre with desolating judgments; a Golgotha, covered with the skulls, and crimsoned with the blood of slaughtered millions; yet ere long it shall be filled with the rising glory of our God; and, decked in righteousness, peace, and holiness, shall reflect the image, and taste the joys of a fairer clime. We have pitied and prayed for the millions and millions of our immortal race, whose eyes have never glided over the page of eternal truth; whose ears have never listened to the messages of heaven, who are perishing for lack of vision. We have hung in anguish over the dying pagan and beheld him pass the dread gulf that separates time from eternity. To him the dark valley is not illumined with a single ray of light; and gloom impenetrable rests upon the grave. He sinks into the icy arms of death; but no light from heaven cheers his desponding soul. Our hearts have ached for the youthful widow, wrapt in the devouring flames, and for the hapless devotees of Jugger naut, submitting to the awful crush of the ponderous wheel. We have pitied the sable sons of Africa, torn from all that was dear in home, and friends, and native land, and burdened, with the galling yoke of bondage. We have felt for the degraded Hottentots, wandering in the sandy desert, unmindful of a country flowing with better blessings than milk and honey. But these scenes and acts of cruelty, at which the bosom of humanity bleeds, shall ere long cease to exist. They shall be swept from the face of the earth, when the religion of the cross shall cover all lands. Our God has declared, and not one tittle of his word shall fail, he has declared, that he will give his Son the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession; and that those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, shall come to the light of religion, and triumph in the joys of his salvation. Ethiopia shall stretch out her hand unto God, and the wilderness shall bud and blossom as the rose, bearing on her gentle zephyrs, songs of praise to the Prince of peace. Yonder is the lowly hut of the Hottentot, smiling in peace and righteousness, and triumphing in the wonders which Calvary exhibits; while the sweet incense of prayer ascends to the court of heaven, and enters the ears of the Eternal. The temples of superstition shall be consecrated to Jehovah, where his eyes and his heart shall be per petually; where shall stand the legates of the skies, upon whom admiring crowds shall gaze, breathing from their grateful hearts, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" The glorious gospel of Christ shall travel to the remotest corners of our habitable globe, spreading life, light, and salvation, far as the curse extends, and converting the habitations of cruelty into habitations of righteousness-solitary desarts into fruitful fields, and the regions of darkness into a valley of vision. From the east, from the west, from the north, and from the south, shall come forth an illustrious army of Christian champions, ransomed from the ruins of sin and death, and elevated to the joys and pleasures that flow from a fairer clime. The warring nations, drinking into the sublime spirit of Christianity, shall drop their feuds and jealousies, and harmoniously become one in Christ, and wherever the sun sheds his genial rays, there shall the Son of righteousness shine in glorious splendour, and get to himself honour and glory, the reward of his bleeding love. Hosannas to his name, sung by young men and maidens, old men and babes, in joyful concert, shall roll across the mighty waters, fill the forests with melody; and, soaring sweetly beyond the skies, shall increase the joys, and swell the chorus of heaven! O my sister, viewing this millennial morn only in perspective, is enough to warm every benevolent heart, and dictate the fervent petition, "Come, thou desire of nations, come, And, added to thy many crowns, receive yet one,- 'Let our hearts glow with love to the Redeemer, and let his cross be all our glory. O may you be filled with his love, and know more and more the charms of his person, and beauty of his character. Adieu, my dear sister. May the friendship commenced in this vale of tears, be ere long transplanted to brighter regions, and realize the ardour and consummation of heaven. Pray that your Fanny may be emptied of self, and clothed with humility; that she may ever realize her nothingness and vileness, and drink deeply into the spirit of that religion which ascribes all glory to God, and abases man to the lowest dust. May my Clara's bosom be the residence of peace and joy. EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO MISS H. P. OF BRADFORD. Beverly, April, 1814. SHALL We not, my sister, be willing to become fools for Christ's sake? If we have the least degree of love to the man of sorrows, shall we not be willing to be counted the off-scouring of all things, to have our names cast out as evil, and loaded with contumely, ridicule, and reproach, that we may secure the favour of our God, and the salvation of our souls? Surely we should esteem it an honour to be conformed to our bleeding Lord in suffering; knowing that it is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master. Friday eve. Well, my dear sister, we have had a precious meeting somewhat like that we had last week, and you were remembered with tender affection. These meetings must not come to nothing; for I feel they are good. May we have a meeting soon, where sin and sorrow, parting and death, are no more forever. FANNY. |