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loved with a tenderness I feel at this day unabated: alas! they have long ceased to listen to the voice of their bereaved brother! My parents had both early in life been brought to feel that peace which passeth all understanding: accordingly, they instructed their children in the way which led thereto; and earnestly did they pray that their children might be made partakers of their blessings: and with respect to my brother, their prayers were heard, and early answered.

When I was five years old, he was seized with an inflammation of the lungs, which carried him to the grave in a few weeks. Great was our grief on this first invasion of our great enemy: but my brother gave evident signs that he had been called to partake early of those joys "wherewith a stranger intermeddleth not," in the blessed world beyond the grave. I well recollect that when I was led to see him in his little coffin, I was struck with the unruffled calm which sat upon his young brow; and I put my hand for an instant on his cheek-that chilling cold touch I shall never forget! For some short time I thought that I should not again be happy :

But soon to childhood's wayward heart,
Does crushed affection cease to smart;

and, ere a twelvemonth had elapsed, I had almost ceased to recollect that I once had a brother.

There was a gentleman of the name of L, who lived so near us, that his park adjoined that of my father: he had an only son, about a year older than myself, with whom I had been acquainted from my very infancy he was a beautiful boy; the pride of his father, and justly the admiration of all who knew him. He had been educated like myself under the parental roof, under the eye of a tutor, who felt fully the importance of the charge which he had undertaken, and endeavoured to lead his pupil not only up the steep hill of learning to the temple of Wisdom, but also up the more steep hill Difficulty, to the gate of the eternal city. In neither of these was he disappointed, for while his pupil far outstripped all his companions in the former contest, his heart seemed possessed with the richest graces of the Holy Spirit: his name was Theophilus, and truly was his name the index of his mind; for while he entered with spirit into the plans which his tutor proposed for his advancement in worldly wisdom, as well as into the amusements which his companions delighted in, his heart seemed wholly set on the things of eternity; and though he was

the heir of very large fortunes, he prized them not, properly considering them only as committed to him for the glory of God, and remembering that to whom much is given, of him will much be required. Would to God I could now say, that I felt the same resignation to the divine will in all things, that this young disciple expressed!

We were one fine morning riding out together in the early part of the summer, when I was about thirteen years of age, enjoying the calm serenity of the season, and the beauties of creation, which were so richly displayed in the scenery of the county in which we lived, when suddenly we came to a beautifully romantic dell, down which my companion proposed that we should walk together. I immediately assented, and, leaving our horses with the servant, we proceeded down its rugged pathway: we soon came to a part, where the sun was no longer visible, owing to the height of the rocks on each side of our path, together with the thick foliage of the trees which grew on the top of this lovely abyss. We heard no sound save that of the melodious birds: and a soft low murmur, as of falling waters: and we soon came in sight of a little fantastic cascade, which fell from the top of the rock, and descended in short falls, through a narrow passage it had worn for itself, till, on reaching the bottom, it poured along in a clear limpid stream, and presently crossed our path in a pure sparkling torrent, which flowed through a craggy aperture in the rock on the other side of the way, and we saw it no more.

Theophilus seemed rather deeper in thought than was usual with him, on this day, and we had walked on a considerable distance, ere he broke the silence.

"Charles," said he at length, in accents I shall never forget, "do you love me?" I gave no answer: there was something peculiar in his manner, which made me hesitate concerning his meaning; he repeated his question, and added, “I have two requests to make you; solemn requests, which I trust you will not refuse me." He then paused, gathered strength, and continued: " "My master has called me, and I trust I am prepared to follow him. It may seem strange to you, but I feel confident that my hour is at hand. And though I have done little to deserve remembrance of any one here, I cannot help hoping that you will not forget me, but faithfully perform these two requests, when I am laid in silence, in my cold grave. O Charles, I beseech you, by the

love which I bear you, and which I think you also have for me, seek the Lord while he may be found; otherwise we part now, to meet no more for ever: I conjure you, meet me at that day, at the right hand of God."

:

I could listen calmly no longer: I had never contemplated the stroke which my friend now so confidently anticipated, and his solemn but kind tone of voice so completely overcame me, that I burst into tears. He embraced me tenderly, and continued: "The wish I have most at heart I have already expressed but another presses heavily on my mind: when I am gone, and my parents have no longer a son to administer to their comforts, will you put yourself as much as possible in my stead? O grant me but these two requests, and I shall have settled all my earthly affairs." Here the thought of his parents pressed too heavily on his feelings for him to bear, he fell upon my neck, and wept most bitterly. At last he roused himself, dried his tears, and bade me do so likewise, and added, "I feel assured the Lord will comfort my dear parents when I am gone."

His forebodings were, alas! but too prophetic his health, which had long been but weak, now rapidly declined, and, before the autumn, he was no more.

Even six-and-forty years after it, my heart still bleeds at the thought of that strong band which was then severed for so long a time: it will now soon be united! I cannot describe the forlorn and melancholy feelings which swelled in my heart, when the cold earth received into its bosom the relics of one so dear: but, oh! Lord, thou dost all things well; thou didst by this stroke call me to thyself: bless the Lord, O my soul!

A severe illness succeeded to this violent grief in which it pleased the Lord to look down upon me, and lead me in the arms of his love to seek him, and I sought not in vain!-From that time, though many have been my falls, my doubts, and my fears, I have, blessed be He, endeavoured to set the Lord always before me, and now I shall shortly meet Him, and see Him face to face!

The office which my beloved Theophilus had left me, I endeavoured to fill with the greatest anxiety: however, the same foe which deprived me of a friend I almost idolized, did not long suffer me to enjoy this melancholy pleasure; the mother of my dear friend never recovered the blow; and in a few months she also was laid in the long home where her son was quietly

reposing. It was a heavy stroke indeed for her poor husband; and had not the everlasting arms been underneath him, he must have sunk under it soon as it was, he lingered on, a solitary man; one who, having been bereft of all that could make life pleasant, "now only looked for worlds beyond the grave," he lived for two years, and then he also was laid beside his partner and beloved son, and the name of Lwas heard no more!

nor

Thus had the great foe to mankind been busy in the family of my dearest friend, till he had left them neither root branch: there is now no remnant left of this once happy family, save one tomb, where their ashes all quietly repose on it are inscribed the names of Charles, Sophia, and Theophilus L-; but it is now falling to decay, and presents me with a melancholy relic of a friendship so inviolable that death itself has not yet dissolved it, and his next stroke will unite it indissolubly and for ever! O Lord, enable me to wait thine own good time for that glorious event, when I shall no longer be a sojourner and a pilgrim upon the earth!

Well, time rolled on; and I had attained my twenty-first year: my sister was nineteen; and as yet our family was unbroken, save by the death of my dear brother, when my sister gave some signs of consumption. My parents carefully and tenderly watched her, and all was done that might allay and arrest the course of the disease, but all was unavailing the hand of death had infixed an arrow there, which was now rankling in the wound, and gradually, but surely, undermining the springs of existence: but I cannot dwell upon a subject so painful; ere six months had elapsed, my sister was in the house appointed for all living. Blessed be God, he had long before led her in the right way, and her death-bed was one of a triumphant Christian: we shall soon meet, to part no more for ever.

The ways of the Lord are mysterious : but he that has his heart set aright can entertain no doubts: for the Lord cannot fail in his promise to his people: oh! no: then, oh! my soul, cease thy strife, doubt no more in that day, when the secrets of all hearts, and all hidden things, shall be laid open, wilt thou see the wise purposes of Jehovah, and blessed will be the retrospect.

This last bereavement cut very deep: I feel even now the effects of the long and painful illness which followed; and never shall I forget the anguish of soul which it caused my dear parents, in conjunction with the late trying providence. I reco

vered, however, again to experience the goodness of the Lord, and bless him that I had been afflicted, for before I was afflicted I went astray.

Time passed away: yet we never recovered that cheerfulness which we had known before my beloved sister's death: my parents, however, bore it as Christians, my father especially seemed to acquiesce more fully in the divine will, and had begun to interest himself in schemes for the good of mankind, and the benefit of the surrounding neighbourhood; which had been in a manner laid aside, when the depth of our grief was an all-absorbing feeling but my dear mother was never able again to resume those village cares which had been her chief delight when my beloved Maria was her assistant: it overcame her so much as materially to injure her health, at every new attempt, and she at last wholly gave it up. I could not but remark, that her health had been gradually on the decline, and a severe winter realized my worst fears: she was taken alarmingly ill, from a violent cold caught during a long snowy ride, and was confined to her bed. From the first moment of her illness, she expressed her conviction that it would be her last; and so, alas! it proved. She, however, bore up through the winter, and till the spring we did not see any material change for the worse: during that time she had been every day growing more and more spiritual in her desires, and frequently, during her conversations with me, I have felt my heart glow with a joy so divine, so peaceful, that it almost seemed heaven begun below.

One morning she sent to desire me to spend a few hours with her, as she wished to say something particular to me. On the first sight of her emaciated countenance, I could perceive she had changed for the worse; and in a voice of alarm I asked her how she felt. She replied, "Very weak, but very happy." She then bade me sit down, and thus began:

"My beloved Charles, I am now about to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better: I have yet two bands left, which unite me to earth, which I shall soon be called upon to sever. O may it be only for a time. But I do not despair: for I have a strong band which is not severed, and by which I have long endeavoured to draw you, and not in vain, after me: it is prayer, which I have long made for you; and that prayer seems to me to be answered and let me not be mistaken!But, no: I cannot be mistaken: for trusting on Him who never has forsaken those who

put their trust in Him, I commit the souls of your father and yourself into his gracious keeping; and never did he lose any that came unto him: I have given you to Him; and now one part remains; give yourselves to Him; body, soul, and spirit, to his service and having done so, be not desirous to quit it before the time: he knows and does all things best: he is one on whom you may rely with confidence. Our Lord has appointed two ways, whereby those of his servants whom he has left in the world, may prepare themselves for his coming: O my beloved Charles, endeavour always to have your loins girt, and your lamp burning, so that whether your Lord call you, early or late, slowly or on a sudden, you may be found ready: and then shall we meet again in happiness in heaven!"

Exhausted by this effort, she fell back, and ceased to speak; when she recovered, she added more, which I do not distinctly recollect, but it was of the same tenor as that I have already recorded; and truly my soul was filled with a peace that passeth all understanding.

In the middle of the following night, I was called up to behold the dying agonies of my beloved parent: O could the doubting, despairing Christian have beheld the triumphant faith which held her up through the gloom, and illumined her path in the dark valley, how would all his fears have been put to flight, and his hands strengthened to continue that warfare, which for her was now so victoriously closing. We could not weep, while one to us so dear, was so joyful: we could not imbitter her dying couch with tears of sorrow: nay, I can hardly call the feeling which swelled in my bosom by the name of grief; it partook so largely of that holy joy which was so eminently the comfort of this expiring saint yet when all was still, the happy soul fled, and the tender cord snapped which united us; then did sorrow burst forth in unrestrained tears: we knelt down, and implored the guidance of our heavenly Father, who had so calmly led my dear parent into the mansions of bliss above: yes, on that solemn night, around the bed of death, did we pour out our very souls in prayer.

A week after this, the mortal remains of my beloved mother were laid between those of my brother and sister; there to await the sound of that last trump which shall awake the dead, open the graves, and gather all unto the great judgment-seat of Christ!

How lonely did we return to our dwelling, and behold the place where she used

to sit now empty, the cares in which she had busied herself, now performed by unaccustomed, disregarded hands! We were now reduced from five to two; and yet we were not two, for Christ was ever present, and, oh! what a bosom friend is He!

About this time also died mine only cousin, an amiable girl, an orphan, a few years younger than myself: when the intelligence of her death reached me, and I recollected that I was now the only one left in that generation: Then I am now alone, said I, as I wept over the letter that brought the sad tidings: oh! no: almost all my earthly ties are now dissolved, of all on earth am I forsaken, and yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me! Blessed comfort, to have a friend that never dies!

Well, sir three years now passed away: and I had reached my twenty-seventh year, when my dear father, who had survived all his family and relations except myself, paid the great debt of nature. But, oh! how few have such blessings as I had: I could look back on all these broken branches of my family circle, and say, "These all died in faith."

I was now left in the wide world without a relation, among all that throng the busy scene; and standing_by_the_graves of all my earthly hopes and loves, I was tempted to think myself alone: but my heaving heart still responded to those words, "Nay, but we are seven,"-once we sat round our cheerful table; my beloved parents, my dear brother, sister, cousin, my adored Theophilus, and myself! Six, are now sitting at a better, a more cheerful table, even at the marriage supper of the Lamb: and though to sight invisible, yet by the eye of faith are they clearly seen, and often have I held a communion in spirit with them, oh! how blessed, how peaceful, none can tell!

I lived for a year in solitude and seclusion but as it did not seem likely that I should sink under my sorrows, and my general good health precluding the idea that I should meet with an early dismissal, I sought the hand of a lady, the daughter of a deceased gentleman, who had posşessed considerable property about twenty miles from my own residence; she was one well calculated to soothe the sorrows of my heart, and fill the fearful gap which had so early been made in my family: and I obtained her. We lived for a year, mutually enjoying each other's society, and tasting of that heavenly bliss, and that sweet communion "with the glorified spirits above, that encompass yon heavenly throne," that had been so much my solace, on the de

cease of the last member of my family. But, above all, the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, was an everpresent joy, and one that I would not have parted with for worlds. At the end of this time we were blessed with a son, and many and fervent were the prayers that we offered up in his behalf, that he might become the adopted child of God. When my boy was about two years old, my dear wife was called to part with her mother; one who, since I became acquainted with her, had inspired me with a love truly filial, and, though not united to her by ties of blood, I felt almost as much as my dear wife on her death. She died, however, in the full assurance of hope, and I have no doubt of meeting her with the rest of my sainted relatives, around the throne of God in that day.

Our thoughts were now turned to the care of our son's education, and having felt the advantages of one under the parental roof, not only in my own case, but also in that of my beloved Theophilus, I determined to direct it myself, till such a time should arrive, at which a tutor might be desirable. I cannot now help weeping at the anxiety which we then felt for his future welfare in the world: but, oh! how full of mercy are thy ways! how deep and unsearchable thine ordinances ! O enable me to have faith, that in whatever way thou shalt direct my path, I may acquiesce without a murmur.

We called our son, Theophilus, in memory of that dear friend, whose likeness will never be erased from my mind and he was remarkably like him, when he reached the age of boyhood; so much so, that he often made me weep over the recollection of past days. His talents were very great which made me the more anxious that they should be directed in a right course; for those talents which it pleases the Lord to commit to any one, will, if misemployed, rise up in judgment against him at the last day, and awful will be their testimony.

Blessed be God, our endeavours were crowned with success; he seemed to have a reverence and fear of God always before his eyes, and we often indulged the hope, that he would be a chosen instrument in the hand of the Lord, for the good of his fellow-creatures. But that was not to be: the rapid progress he made in his studies shewed a strength and maturity of mind, which we feared would, as it often does, bring on a premature death: our fears were too well founded. He was, however, uncommonly active in person and dispo

sition; and though so eminently gifted in mind, he enjoyed those relaxations which required bodily exertion only. Thus he went on until he was about thirteen years of age; when he suddenly became more thoughtful and fond of meditation than he had hitherto been: which, with other symptoms, very much alarmed us. On consulting a physician, our worst fears were fully realized; he gave it as his opinion, that it was a rapid decline; and that unless he was removed to the sea, he would go off in a few months. We immediately repaired thither, to the beautiful village of T-, in the south of the county in which we resided, and for several months he continued to improve so much, that we had fixed the day for our return to the hall but, oh! how short-sighted is man he underwent a severe relapse, and became so alarmingly ill, that we could not but see that his health was rapidly declining, and his end approaching.

We were accustomed to walk with him on the sea shore, and were, one delightful afternoon, pacing as usual the smooth hard sands. The sea was as still as a plate of glass; excepting that, near the land, a slight ripple grew stronger and stronger as it ap proached the shore, where it at length broke in a little wave. Nothing was seen on the vast expanse save one ship, which on the farthest verge of the horizon was pursuing its solitary course, and a few fishing-boats; and here and there a grey sea-gull was riding in calm security on its surface, or hovering over its prey, and, now darting down upon it, disappeared. On the top of the lofty cliff, a few jackdaws with their hoarse rough voices broke the stillness, but all beside was peace. We walked along for some time in silence, till, glancing at my dear son, I perceived his cheeks wet with the tears he in vain endeavoured to restrain. I said to him, "My dear Theophilus, is your trust reposed on the Rock of ages?" "I hope so," he answered: "I have no wish to live, butbut for you," with a heaving sob, which almost made my heart break, "My dear son," said I, "be calm;" at the same time vainly endeavouring to restrain myself: "God has willed that you should precede us your parents into eternal glory : and you should rather rejoice, though we must for a season mourn: for it is an unspeakable blessing to be taken away from the evil to come.

“O my dear father," said he, “we shall not be separated long: and, if the happiness which God hath prepared for them that love him, be capable of measure, how

shall I rejoice when you also are released from your mortal load, and join me before the throne! Blessed Jesus, how unspeakable are the joys that thou dost give to those that trust in Thee: I never felt peace like this before."

"And can you then, my son," said I, "tread on the brink of eternity, with a firm conviction that your sins are washed away in his blood, and atoned for by his sacrifice?" "I can," he exclaimed, a heavenly joy lighting up his whole countenance; "for though my sins, in thought, word, and deed, are as scarlet, yet is his blood suffi cient to atone for all. He has heard my cry for mercy; and has answered it, I am sure he has, in this strong assurance that I feel of his pardon, yet am I most unworthy: for could my heart with all its most secret thoughts be laid open, how full of the basest ingratitude, blasphemy, and sin, would it appear! But they are all washed away, blessed Saviour, in thy precious blood." "Precious blood," exclaimed I, "oh, how inestimable a price did that dear Saviour pay for us!" He seemed now to be engaged in mental prayer, till we reached home, and I could hardly refrain from breaking out into a triumphant song of praise for the great grace which the Lord had poured out so abundantly on my dear son. A short time after this, he was admitted into the realms of eternal bliss: and left us alone again in this sickening world. Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

His beloved remains were removed, and interred with those of my revered parents, and dear brother and sister.

My wife never smiled again to the day of her death, O sir, did I not know that these trials were from the Lord, I should be almost tempted to murmur that I have so long survived these broken branches of my family but it is thy hand, O Lord, that hath brought all these troubles upon me; it is Thy will that hath done all this; and Thy will be done.

Six months after this, the last, very last tie that bound me to this world, was burst asunder, in the death of my dear wife: and never will any other bond lead me to cling to earth, and its heart-sickening follies. "Vain pomp and glory of the world, I hate you,"-what allurements can ye hold out for one, whose every hope is now in heaven! No, none: I have done with thee, earth: and now, "the less of this cold world, the more of heaven; the briefer life, the earlier immortality."

Well, sir: my beloved partner was laid with her son and her name was entered

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