My soul felt that
painful struggling with the powers of darkness, which I have often
experienced when knelt by the side of a seeking sinner. As the people
withdrew, a little girl was waiting for me to go and see her mother,
who is much worse. I found her supported in bed by a neighbour, the
perspiration streaming down her face. She held out her hand to me, and
told me Christ was precious. By-and-bye a whisper was heard,
'I'll praise my Maker while I've breath.'
Her voice failed. While I prayed, angels seemed hovering around. I
said, you do not feel any doubt; she replied, 'No; I rest upon the
promise.' She died the next day.--My mind was deeply impressed with
the thought of eternity, occasioned by the sound of the passing bell.
How leaden falls the deep-toned sound!
The heart is with its weight oppress'd;
A soul has cross'd life's narrow bound,
A soul--for ever lost or blest.
For ever! what a word is this!
Ye careless mortals, be it known;
In everlasting woe or bliss,
This word, for ever! is your own.
Momentous thought! I feel it now;
This long eternity is mine:
My soul shall this duration know,--
A quenchless spark of life divine!
When I retired, I besought the Lord to awake me, and give me health
to go to the six o'clock prayer-meeting. In this, He condescended to
answer me; but my body inclined to rest. For a moment, I listened;
but my prayer and promise occurred to me, and durst I thus offend
the Lord? I rose, conferring no longer with flesh and blood, and was
abundantly repaid.
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