JUDITH, the third sister, died of a consumption after a short confinement, early in the year 1798, aged eighteen years and about three months. This precious child had by nature somewhat more to subdue than her sisters, but being daily favoured with the touches of divine truth, and made sensible of its attractive loveliness, she hesitated not, but gave herself up to its powerful influence, knowing all she could do was to be as passive clay in the hand of the great Potter; by thus submitting, the Lord in whom she delighted, worked mightily for her deliverance, and subdued all things unto himself. Her baptisms were deep and incommunicable; she dwelt much in inward retire ment, and her words were few and weighty.She bore her last sickness with unremitted patience and meekness; she often said, there was no cloud before her. Two days previous to her decease, she was obliged to take to her bed, when she sweetly said, had it been permitted, she hoped to have been of the number of those who were not confined to bed, that she might not give trouble. The next morning her mental faculties were much impaired, she seemed to lose the recollection of those about her, until one of her brothers came into the room, when she called out, "Oh, is peace, sweet peace!" Before her departure she seemed long engaged in supplication; but these words only were clearly understood, "It is all grace, free grace and mercy!" After which, with upraised eyes and hands, expressed she saw an angel! when quickly her sweet spirit took its flight to the mansions of eternal rest and peace. all She was admitted into membership with the Society of Friends about eighteen months before her decease. A covenant with God made by her when about thirteen years old: "O Almighty and incomprehensible Being, I am now about to fulfil what has been long foretold by the prophet Isaiah. One shall say I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself by the name of Israel, I do here before thee this night, Oh my heavenly Father, subscribe with my hand that I am thine; and I do, from the bottom of my heart desire no portion but thee my God: deny, or give me what thou pleasest, but never let me be without thee, and I shall have enough; in thee is centered all my happiness. I do from this moment renounce all the pomps and vanities of this false, wicked world; but, Oh, what have I to renounce, but what would for ever make me miserable! "Let angels and archangels be my witnesses, if ever I am so base as to break this my covenant, let my name witness against me, 1793. 166 JUDITH USSHER." LETTER I. To her Mother. 1794. I MUCH wish to be with my dearest friends, to retire oftener, and to have more communion with my God; that God who will never leave us if we look up to him at all times and places. Oh that we may cleave to him with our whole heart, that when temptations arise we may not be like the ruffled sea, but that we may look with fresh confidence to the rock from whence we are hewn, and receive fresh strength: may this be all our case. G LETTER II. To her Mother. 1795. I REJOICE that my sweet Lucy enjoys such true happiness in our dear Lord: may she be kept by the power of God unto salvation; may He keep her from the poisonous snares and temptations of the world. It was He who drew us, blessed be his name, from the yawning gulph which leads to everlasting misery, to know Him that is true, and Jesus Christ whom He sent to perform for us, what, by reason of our sinful nature, we could not, by thought, word, or deed, perform for ourselves; that by faith in His perfect righteousness and meritorious death, we may have a key to the blessed mansions of eternity. What a delightful, but much neglected book is the bible; how should it be valued by the children of God! in it are promises to support us in the midst of temptations, |