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ations upon the importance of religion.

To a neighbor, who looked upon her and observed that he was sorry to see her in such a situation, she replied, very ear

very desirous that the work of God might be revived among them that she had made this the subject of her earnest prayer; that now, though she was about to leave them, it seemed to her still more desirable and import-nestly, that he was mistaken in ant than it had ever before, and that she hoped her death might be blest as a mean to effect this; and be sanctified to her husband to quicken and animate him in his labors among them as a minister of Christ.

respect to her situation-that he saw her in the happiest situation she had ever experienced in life-and that she would not exchange her present situation for that of any person in the

room.

Towards morning she desired To a young man, a particular a neighbor who was present, and acquaintance, she said: "You who had several children, to see I am going to leave this send and call them. When they world, and I warn you to precame to her bed-side, she ten-pare for death. You doubtless derly and impressively addressed flatter yourself that you shall enthem upon the importance of be-joy much pleasure in this world. coming religious, and being pre-But you will never enjoy true pared for death while youngand closed by repeating to them

these words:

"Now in the heat of youthful blood, Remember your Creator God.

Behold the months come hastening on, When you shall say-My joys are gone."

happiness till you make your peace with God. Think of what I say, and prepare for death. It may overtake you soon. Spend not the best of your days in the service of sin and Satan; but make your peace with God; and devote your best days to him."

To a young man who had late ly recovered from sickness, she said: "You have been brought very near the grave the summer past. You felt very anxions

In the morning when the day light fully appeared, she said: "Well, I am alive this morning! I did not expect last night to see the light of another morn-about yourself-I felt anxious ing! How thankful ought we to be for every morning!

When the usual time for family prayer arrived, at her particular desire the scriptures were read, and a prayer made by her husband, as being their last family prayer together. At this time, the joiners, who were building their house, being in the room, she said; "You were preparing a house for me. But I am going to a silent and narrow house -the house to which we must all soon go❞—and added exhort

for you, and tried to pray for you. It has pleased God to spare your life-You must devote the remainder of it to him. You experienced a great deal of pain and distress, in your sickness-I also have suffered an immense deal during mine, but it is nothing to what Christ suffered for us. Go to Christ. He never sent any empty away. Pray for me, and for yourself. Youth is the best time to seek God, and prepare for death. You cannot be too soon engaged in

the cause of Christ. Should you | ly expressed herself on this subbegin now, you would never re-ject to this effect" That she gret it. I have enjoyed more true happiness, in one hour, in religion, than in my whole life, in all things else."

was a dependant creature, had been a great sinner, and very neglectful of God. That it would be just in God to banish her for ever from his presence. That if he should, she could have nothing to say; and that it was no matter what became of her, if God was glorified." Yet such was her sense of the glory of the divine character, and the fulness there is in Christ, and such the conscious cleaving of her soul

him, and her joy and peace in believing, that she "abounded in hope."

Addressing a particular female friend, to whom she had expected to live a near neighbor--she said: "I must die and leave you. But you are only a step behind me; and it is no matter which goes first. I hope you will assist in bringing up the child which I leave. You will probably, continue a near neigh-to bor to him. Instruct him, with yours, in the ways of early piety. Strive to live for God and Upon being asked whether his glory. I trust you will."- she had ever experienced doubts Then kissing her with her cold and fears relative to her state, and trembling lips, she said, "I since she first entertained a hope, hope we shall meet in heaven to she answered in the affirmative. be for ever with God."-With | And when questioned as to the another friend, living in a part means by which she had risen of the same house, she parted above them and regained her in the same manner-saying, hope and comfort in religion, "You have been a mother to me she said it was by prayer. And since we have lived together. she earnestly recommended it We have enjoyed many agreea- to all doubting Christians, to be ble hours together-but we shall much in prayer, as a most hapenjoy no more in this world. I py means of removing their am going to leave you. Fare-doubts, by quickening their afwel! I hope we shall meet infections and giving them peace another world, enjoying the bles- and joy in God. sings which are laid up in store for them who love God."

Being asked by one, whether, if it were submitted to her she would choose to live or die? She answered," to die."-The hope which she entertained of herself at this time, though strong even to assurance, appeared to, be founded on the merits of Christ, and the free grace and faithfulness of God. She appeared to rejoice in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh, and to desire that God might be all in all in her salvation. She repeated

To her particular friends and connections, as well as to her husband, she expressed a strong desire that they would make known to her child, if he should live to years of understanding, her dying words and wishes respecting him. Particularly her earnest desire, that he would make religion his business in early life, taking the bible for his guide through life. And if it were the will of God, and he should be qualified, that he would devote himself to the ministry of the gospel; and that he might

be a means, in God's hands, of bringing many souls to Christ.

engagedness in pursuing worldly happiness to the neglect of God and religion, and requested that they might be informed of her earnest desire that they would prepare for death. Her eldest brother, and two eldest sisters were present during part of this scene. With these she conversed in a very tender and affectionate manner remind

She repeatedly expressed a desire to see her parents once more before she died, if it were God's will. They had left her two days before; it being then supposed that she was better, and might recover-and they did not arrive again till after the affecting scene was closed. When speaking of them, she manifest-ing them of former trials, and

ed a tender, filial concern on account of the affliction they would experience in her death--but expressed a desire and hope that they might be resigned willing to part with her, and ready to follow her at the call of God.

Of a young brother and sister who were absent, she said, “Charge them, if I do not see them, to prepare to follow me. My prospects for long life, one year ago, were as promising as theirs now are. Oh, tell them God is waiting to be gracious and that they never will find happiness in any thing but religion. I have enjoyed more happiness in one hour of prayer, or at a religious meeting, than in my whole life while in the service of sin. Tell them these are my dying words."

To several connections of the family, and particular persons of her acquaintance, she sent the most pressing desires that they would not delay repentance for an hour-charging them as their dying friend to make their peace with God-Assuring them that nothing but religion could give them any true peace in the world, or support them in the hour of death. She also expressed a tender concern for all her young friends in her native place

and spoke with regret of their

mercies which they had experienced at the hand of God, and exhorting them to be devoted to his service. "You see," said she, "I am dying. You must be willing to part with me. I am willing to go, if it is God's will. I pray that I may have patience, and that my will may be swallowed up in the divine will."Seeing her sisters very much affected, she took them both by the hand, and with a look of inexpressible sweetness, said: "Jesus can make a dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are; While on his breast I lean my head, And breathe my life out gently there." "Weep not for me, my dear sisters, but weep for yourselves and for your children."

It was noticed as remarkable by those present that though evidently dying, she could speak with such an audible voice, and distinct articulation, and with so little intermission, till her last moments.

The above is but a specimen of her conversation. Indeed, in the opinion of those who were present, but a faint idea can be given of the interesting scene. Death appeared to be baffled by his prey. It was both a pleasing and solemn day to the Christians who were present. They were humbled, encouraged and strengthened; and rejoiced and

46

Let Christians be humbled, en

triumphed in the grace and pow- if through grace, they are enaer of God, by which a feeble | bled to be followers of them who mortal was enabled by the vic- through faith and patience intory of faith, to triumph over herit the promises, they shall the world, and over death. Their shortly have a happy meeting souls might triumphingly say, with her, as she prayed they "O death! where is thy sting?" might, to part no more; where Even persons of philosophical they will find her improvedand sceptical minds, wondered possessed of far higher degrees were impressed-said " they had of knowledge and grace, and evnever seen the like"-that "such ery thing which is excellent, tranquillity of soul in death was than she had here below, being glorious!" And seemed almost perfected in the image of her disposed to admit it to be an ev- God and Saviour. idence of the reality of experimental religion, and its import-couraged and quickened, by such ance in the article of death.What a striking instance indeed was it, of the efficacy and worth of a Christian faith? What an instance of its power to overcome the world! What motives had she to desire to live-motives I mean calculated to operate upon the feelings of the human heart? But such was the light which shone upon her soul-such the joy and peace she had in believing, and so high her affection to her God and Saviour, that she could part with an affectionate consort-all her friends to whom she was most tenderly attached, and even the little surviving babe of her bosom, to go at the call of God, through the dark valley of the shadow of death. What a Let sinners ask themselves, display of grace! What a pre-whether the death here recordcious death! "Precious in the ed is like the death of the wicked, sight of the Lord is the death of or not more to be desired? And his saints." if they desire to die the death of the righteous, and to have their latter end like his-let them re

instances of the power and faithfulness of God in the death of his children. In such instances God shows his people something of what heaven is, and what he is able to do for them. If he can so fill the souls of his children with joy and peace even in the dark valley of the shadow of death; what shall we conceive of the realms of light and bliss in his immediate presence?

Let not careless professors, who live in a compliance with the maxims and customs of a vain generation, expect that such a peaceful death will be theirs. They are planting thorns to pierce them in their dying moments.

Let all who read, reflect seriously upon the subject-give God the glory, and learn to prac-member that they must live the tise the lessons which it teaches. life of such a life of faith on the Son of God. In this way, and in this only, may they hope that their deaths will be peaceful, and precious in the sight of the Lord.

Let surviving connections be consoled under a temporary loss of their friend, from the consideration of the glory which she has been instrumental of giving to God, by her death-and that

tentots.

(Continued from p. 393.)

The Rev. Mr. Kicherer's Narra- [ terposed, and prevented this mistive of his Mission to the Hot-chief. About this time, General Dundas, the British Governor of the Cape, was pleased to make me a present of 1001. in reward of my services, and offered to promote me to the living at Rodezand, where Mr. Voss had been minister; this generous offer however I thought it right to decline.

H

Return to Zak River. AVING continued at the Great River about ten months, and finding that the produce of the land was insufficient for the support of our numerous cattle, we thought it expedient to separate. We began to remove in the month of March, 1802. The river being then low, we took the favorable opportunity of crossing it; but as we could not at that time pass the desart, we erected sheds of branches for a temporary residence, till we should be able to pursue our journey to Zak River. Here we celebrated the New Year; when all my people came to dine with me, and I preached to them on the parable of the Barren Fig-Tree. I was much indisposed in body at this time, owing, I conceive, to the want of bread; nor was I more comfortable in my mind.

Some of the Boschemen of the country about Zak River, who expressed a desire for our return to that neighborhood, having mischievously given us false information, that considerable rain had fallen in the wilderness, (a circumstance which alone could enable us to pass it,) we broke up our encampment,

and commenced our journey. We had not proceeded far, before we were convinced that the Boschemen had deceived us.— We travelled till the third day without finding a drop of water. Our cattle then began to be in the utmost distress; their looks indicated extreme anguish, and their piteous lowing seemed to I should have remarked, that forebode our destruction in the in the month of January, the En-wilderness. At length we found glish Commissioners, returning a very small pool, just sufficient from the Bootsuannas, request- to assuage our own thirst, but ed me to assist them in procur- not that of our animals. A girl ing cattle; I therefore accom- was just going to drink, when, panied them to the Kraal of to our great mortification, we Cornelius Kock, by whom we perceived that it had been poiwere kindly received. Immedi-soned by the Boschemen, for we ately I embraced the opportuni- discovered many heads of serty of preaching, and teaching pents swimming in it. I know the people, which I continued it is commonly reported that the from morning to night. venom of serpents may be swallowed without danger, but our experience leads us to believe the contrary. Water thus poisoned will soon cause à person who has drank it to become so giddy that he cannot walk upright, and if an antidote be not Fff

My poor people, at home, were in the mean time in much danger of being deprived of all their property, by a Boscheman free-booter of great fame, whose name is Courakakoup. Providence, however, seasonably inVOL. V. NO. 11.

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