"Yes, I can say, 'I have loved the habitation of thine house.' O that I could feel now the preciousness of the things of eternity!" Pressing my remarks still further, I said, "Do you think that at the last great day, our God will say, 'Depart from me, I never knew you?"" This led to a pause, when he said, "No! He will not." After some further conversation, we united in prayer, and felt that the Lord was in our midst; yea, indeed, it was a season long to be remembered. On Wednesday, Sept. the 9th, I saw him again, and found his darkness was gone. After we talked of the way the Lord had led us; of the afflictions through which He had brought us; and of the very many mercies we had received from His hands; he said, "I am dying; I could never have thought death could have been so easy; my fears are all gone, I can leave everything now in the Lord's hands." I said, "Have you any message to the Church?" His reply was, "Tell them I am resting entirely on the work of the Lord Jesus Christ; for He is to me everything now! O, the love of Christ how precious! I have never had to regret anything I have done for the service of the Lord. How great His love is to me!" the Then alluding to our anniversary, he said, "I am glad the cause of poor is to be advocated on that day. The Lord has done wonders for us. Four years ago who would have thought it!" He wept; he sang; he rejoiced. The whole of his family were present on this occasion; and after some further conversation upon the certainties of the Gospel, we went to prayer, and a holy season it was. After a close friendship of more than twenty years we took a farewell of each other, till we meet where sorrow and parting cannot be known. To the wonder of us all, he lived eight days after this, and bore further testimony of the faithfulness of that God who had loved him from all eternity, and brought him right at last. E. B. TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE MR. JOHN CARR, OF THE SURREY TABERNACLE, WHO FELL ASLEEP IN JESUS' ARMS, SEPT. 19, 1867. M OST holy God, thy ways are true and just, Righteous art thou, in Thee we put our trust; Join all our powers to praise the sacred E nduring much - when faint pursuing still; Yet now he sees 'twas all his Father's will. Thus, though we mourn, and feel the stroke severe, A nd friends surviving shed the falling THE LATE RECTOR OF OPENSHAW. SINCE We have known Manchester, three men of great power in the Gospel have been removed from it-MR. WILLIAM NUNN, MR. WILLIAM GADSBY, and now MR. WILLIAM PARKS-whose departure from this world of sorrow is expressed in the following memorial card, which has been forwarded to us :— In affectionate remembrance of the Rev. William Parks, B.A., rector of Fairfield, 8th October, 1867. We once spent a short time in converse with this now departed saint. His decision for the truth of the Gospel could hardly be exceeded; while his benevolent heart was ever ready to sympathise with the Lord's people in their afflictions, trials, and sorrows. He was a most indefatigable labourer in the Lord's vineyard. We fear his studies and exertions in the cause of truth were too much for his mental powers. He is gone to his rest; he has received his reward. His spirit has joyfully associated herself with millions of the glorified in heaven; while ALL UNITE in looking upon, and ascribing majesty and honour to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever." But what that is we know not now. In our little "CHEERING WORDS" for November, we have given part of Mr. Parks's last epistle to his bereaved flock. We believe it will be found very comforting to all who know experimentally the value of the Gospel of Christ in its saving and meetening power. THE DEATH OF AN AGED PILGRIM. WHO HAD BEEN AN INMATE OF THE ASYLUM AT CAMBERWELL FOR UPWARDS OF THIRTEEN YEARS, AND A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH AT THE SURREY TABERNACLE FROM ITS FORMATION. JUDITH GREGORY said to Mr. James Wells one Sabbath day, “Does Mr. Upton preach the truth?” Mr. Wells, knowing her character from her conversation in the factory at Chelsea, said, "You are an ungodly woman. What do you want with the truth? If you live and die as you are, you will be lost." The words took hold of her, were applied by the Holy Spirit with divine and saving power; her conversation was changed, and the people in the factory said, "Why, Gregory has turned Methodist!" When Mr. Wells began to speak in the name of the Lord, she became one of his hearers, and was one of the number who formed the Church in Princes place, Westminster. She worked as long as she was able for her living. When her strength began to fail, the Church with the Pilgrims' pension, supported her the remainder of her days. For the last six months, she has been confined to her bed; and, at times, has been deeply tried in her mind about the reality of her religion, though in her darkest moments she would often allude to the way and manner in which she was led to see and feel her lost condition as a sinner and when, through age and infirmity, she could not reach the Tabernacle, and meet in the assembly of the saints as in past days, she would sigh. A few weeks before her death, one Lord's day afternoon when visiting her, she said, "O, that I could hear that blessed man of God, through his instrumentality I was made to feel my sad state, and often my soul has been encouraged while in the house of prayer." "Do you think so," said I, "after all the reproaches that have been cast upon him that he is a servant of God?" "I don't think so, but I am sure that he is, and that God raised him up for a great work. I am a monument of mercy; hitherto the Lord hath helped me. I do love his precious name. O, that I could feel more of His presence, my mind is so dark at times; many doubts, many fears, many rebellions, but I know that he can save to the uttermost." "No voice but Thine can give me rest, And bid my fear depart; No love but Thine can make me blest, As her end drew near, the clouds began to disperse, light broke in, and she felt that the mercy of the Lord was from everlasting. On Monday, October 7, she fell asleep in Jesus. The friends at the Surrey Tabernacle, having taken care of her in her life-time, deposited her remains at Nunhead cemetery on the following Friday. Mr. Wells delivered an address at the grave to those who had come to pay the last tribute of respect, in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection. E. B. MRS. JOHN BRETT.-This spiritual and valuable partner of John Brett (whose labours in the ministry at Sudbourne, in Suffolk, and in many other places, have been noticed in this publication), departed recently, at Hutton, near Hounslow. We cannot possibly, this month, give the letters which her husband has given us; but we will (D.v.) as early as possible. Solemn Question in Death. [WE have ever been ready to plead the cause of the poor, perhaps it is because the really poor best know what it is to be poor. Be that as it may, we willingly obey the request of our brother Benjamin Taylor to give the following :] MY DEAR BROTHER,-I send you a letter which I received from a sister in Christ, a widow indeed, a woman of great faith and prayer, eminent for consistency of walk, and godliness of life. I have known her for many years as one of the most tried ones among the Lord's living family. Her letter speaks for itself, and may I beg the insertion of it in the EARTHEN VESSEL, for the perusal of others who may be suffering in the furnace of tribulation? I deeply feel for our sister in her trying circumstances; and should rejoice if any of the kind readers of the VESSEL would contribute a small mite as a token of their Christian affection to one that is in every sense of the word worthy of their notice. I rejoice to find that a lady, a lover of the truth as it is in Jesus, has, through the insertion of a former letter in the VESSEL, manifested such kindness. This deed will not be forgotten by Him who "gathers the lambs in His arms, and carries them in His bosom." Poor as I am, I shall have great pleasure to set the wheel in motion by contributing for my own part 2s. 6d. towards helping a needy one. Pulham St. Mary, Oct 9th, 1867. B. TAYLOR, MY DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,-The Lord has put me into deep waters; I have had one wave upon another for this last two years, but blessed be my God it has not been all sorrow. I have been blessed with great joy; my loving Father has Himself mixed the sweet with the bitter. I told you in my last I had one dear girl in a very sad way for the last month. She has been much worse but seems better. Last Friday week got up to dinner and tea, and was so cheerful she eveng ot to a chair alone, and exclaimed, “Safely landed once more.' She got to bed about 7 o'clock; but about 12 she had another attack of sickness. It did not last long; she seemed to go to sleep. About 6 her sister asked her if she would have a cup of tea, but this time she said, "No, thank you." She asked her if she would take her medicine; she said, "Yes, please." After that she lay so quiet, I thought she must have been asleep. Once or twice she opened her eyes, and made an effort to speak, but was not able. My dear brother, my dear girl from the time of her birth to her death, has never given me a moment's uneasiness as to outward conduct; always punctual in all her actions. I can say in my heart before God, I never remember her telling a falsehood; and if she found any one telling a lie, she would tell them the consequence. I cannot tell when a change of heart took place, but I believe her brother's death made a great impression on her mind. She would frequently take her Bible, and ponder over it, and very much enjoyed Huntington's "Kingdom of Heaven taken by Prayer." I think she was in one respect like young Timothy; "knew the Holy Scriptures from a child." She was only four years and nineteen days old, when she had read the Old and New Testament through, and her father gave her a new Bible as a reward. I can say respecting my late husband; "the memory of the just is blessed." I said to her during her affliction, "My dear child, I should like to know the state of your mind, as to the prospects of eternity. Are you respecting it, happy? "Yes," she would say, " perfectly I said to her one day, happy." Charlotte, my dear girl, do you feel yourself a sinner in the eyes of a holy and just God? do you feel your interest in Christ? are you happy in Him?" She would say, "Yes." I said to her a few days before she died, "Charlotte, my dear, are you still resting on Christ, for salvation?" "Yes, mother; but it seems you won't believe me." I said, "Yes, my dear, I will, but I am so anxious about you." The week before she died, her sister Martha read one of Mr. Wells's sermons to her, and she said "that was good," and said to her sister Martha, if she was to take that sermon over the way (meaning the Wesleyan chapel,) they would fling it out of the pulpit. At another time, her sister Hephzibah said to her, "Charlotte, is your mind easy?" 66 Ꮓ and she said "Yes, quite ;" and her sister replied, "If you are resting on Christ, that will be easy." She said again, "I will read the Psalm that I got comfort from;" it was the fifty-first psalm, and these were the words, "Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O Lord;" but I do not remember she said anything, she was a very little talker. She would answer all questions very satisfactorily; I believe she was a deep thinker; and there is a blessed portion for them that thought upon His name. I could not perceive any outward conflict; she was quietly resting on Jesus. One more thing I will notice respecting my dear girl. When her sisters were baptized in June she seemed very low in spirit; I tried to comfort her, and said, "If it should please God you should get better you must go to Sudbourne, and if you wish it Mr. Large will baptize you;" she seemed pleased, and said "Do you think so? but I shall not be able." I said, "The will of the Lord be done." She said, "Yes, mother." "Then" I said" "you are willing either to live or die?" and her answer was, "Yes." Always so calm and so happy; not a murmur, nor the least impatience manifested. My dear brother, you may not feel so confident as I do respecting the state of my dear child. I have had to travail in soul for her; and the Lord has given me such comforting promises in my own soul, such sweet answers of peace, that I cannot doubt it. I have had days and nights of agonizing prayer, and wrestling with my God, and He has answered me to my soul's comfort. Yes, I will maintain my hold, 'tis Thy goodness makes me bold; yes, there is nothing to hinder us coming boldly to Him who is our all, and in all our troubles He is our stronghold. I have had deep and sore trials, and sore afflictions and bereavements. Buried my only son, had all dear children laid on a bed of suffering, my affliction in breaking my leg, and now another dear girl laid in her last resting place, all in twelve months and a few days, and can I say aught to these things? no, God forbid; I can say with sweet submission, "Father, Thy will be done." My dear brother, a singular providence took place yesterday as I sat writing; a lady, a lover of truth, a member of Mount Zion, Barking road, Essex, came down to see a friend; and seeing your letter you so kindly put in the VESSEL concerning my dear boy, she thought she would call and see me; and a more warm-hearted lover of the truth I have not found for years, her visit did indeed comfort my poor disconsolate heart. I told her I was writing to a dear friend of mine, a minister at Pulham St. Mary, to tell of my great loss, and she experienced a great wish to have it put in the VESSEL. She administered to my temporal need, blessed me in the name of the Lord, and left me; promised to call and see me if ever she came down in the country again. My dear brother, I shall ever have to bless the Lord for the kindness of Mr. Large, and the Sudbourne friends. They collected between them 30s. and Mr. Cutts, of Leiston, one of Aldringham deacons, 1s. 9d., for which I felt truly grateful. They likewise would like to see it in the VESSEL ; these kind providential deliverances open up to my mind a passage of Scripture I had brought to my mind, "I will cover thy head in the day of battle." We laid the remains of my beloved child by the side of her dear father and brother, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, at the early age of twenty. My Christian love to Mrs. T., and yourself.-Yours in Christ, S. MASON. |