at the time as if there could not have been anything in all the Bible so suitable and so sweet. Then I thought again, ' But, O dear Lord, can it be possible that ever such a word belongs to me?' Oh, the blessing seemed too great, for the word was very sweet to me." She then went on to speak of some difficulties that she had relative to the fact of her commencing to hear the word at ―. But having heard the word of life, which had been made the power of God unto the salvation of her soul, through the instrumentality of that holy man of God, the late Mr. Robert Barnes, of Glemsford, Suffolk, it was her desire to hear him. The Lord, however, soon cleared the way, and in a few months she was received into the church and continued a member till her death, which was four or five years. Much that she said to me has escaped my memory. I only, therefore, write what I at present perfectly remember of her. She told me that after the Lord had manifested Himself to her soul, and she was walking in the light of His countenance, she thought she saw Him in everything, and beauty in all His works; she looked up to the sky, and oh, those beautiful orbs, they never appeared, she said, so glorious before. But these bright seasons did not last long. She never after this soared very high; her days of darkness were more than her bright ones. But the dear Lord did not forsake her, but I believe at times gave her gracious tokens of His covenant love and faithfulness, and blessed her with great tenderness of conscience. She was very tender of the honour of God, and would reprove inconsistencies when she saw them in the people of God. I remember going once to see some friends of mine, who were deeply afflicted in their family. I left my friends' house on the Thursday evening and went to hear Mr. Barnes, and Eliza and another Christian friend, a neighbour of hers, had also come for the evening service. At the close of the service, she and her friend and myself walked from Glemsford to Cavendish together, and it being then a rather lonely path, we enjoyed it the more. Oh, it was a delightful walk! I have often thought of that lovely evening. But my poor imperfect memory, I am sorry to say, retains not much of the conversation by the way. The Lord was evidently ripening her for that place which He had prepared for her; and for a year or two previous to her death, I believe she felt a continual longing desire to depart, and be with Christ, whom her soul loved. For though she was such a lowly child of God, and of such a sorrowful spirit, yet I do not think she often doubted her interest in Jesus. But it was the inward conflict that she used to make such grievous complaints about. Oh, how she did long to be free from all sin and sorrow! I recollect once walking down the street with her, and when we were opposite the churchyard she looked towards it, and remarked, with a heavy sigh, that she longed for the time very often when she hoped she should be laid there and be at rest with her dear Saviour. 1 perceived that the thoughts of death and heaven were uppermost in her mind. I will now speak more especially upon what I distinctly remember of her last few months. Early in the year 1852 her health began to decline, and she also suffered from weakness of the eyes. In April her eyes got better, but her health was still room. fast giving way. She was at this time a thoughtful young woman of eighteen. She gradually weakened, and when she became so ill that it was evident she could not long survive, I was sent for to go and see her, which I did, on Lord's day, August 29th. It was at noon that I went, between services. It was a month before she died. When I entered the room she held out her hand to me and said, "Oh, Elizabeth, I am glad to see you! I was afraid you would not be able to get here. Come and sit down; you must be very tired. Oh, Elizabeth," she added, "I have thought about you since you were here the last time, you did seem so happy; but you know I could not feel so; but then I was just as safe-I say I was just as safe." Oh, yes, dear, that you were,' I answered, "I never doubted that." There were several friends in the One of them told me that Mr. Bhad been with her the last night. She had had a very bad night, and her sufferings were very great. Ah," she replied, "but I do not mind my sufferings. This is nothing to what my dear Saviour suffered for me, and it is nothing to what I deserve, for I deserve ten times more than this." Her elder sister sat on the side of the bed weeping. She wiped the tears off her sister's eyes, kindly saying, "What do you cry for? I am happy." "I know you are, dear," said the other. While I was sitting by her one of the Lord's people came to see her. He kindly took hold of her hand and asked her how she was? Going to heaven, sir," she answered; "the dear Lord called me young, and now He is going to take me home. Sometimes when I have seen the people pass to hear the Gospel I have felt very sorry that I could not go; but this morning," she added," I did not want to go. Oh, I long to be with my dear Jesus." 66 66 66 She then repeated texts and verses of hymnsvery many-which I cannot recollect, only this I know was very sweet to her "Sovereign Ruler of the skies." I never before saw Eliza so happy and cheerful as at this time. She was certainly triumphing in Christ. The time now came that I must leave her, which I did with much reluctance. I then bade her farewell, and she said, "I shall see you no more in this world, but we shall meet in heaven." After this she still continued very happy, even till the very last. Satan, it seemed, was not permitted to trouble her. She had had much buffeting from the foe all along her life, but in death she had sweet victory. The night before she died she rested quietly till two o'clock in the morning. A few hours after, being raised up in bed, she was very happy and peaceful, and died in her sister's arms. Just before she departed, a friend went into the room, and she lifted up her hand as if she were rejoicing at the prospect of so soon going to be with her Lord. She died on the 27th of September, 1852, aged 18 years and a half. Sweet is the memory of her name. "Her only hope was Jesus' blood, And God's unchanging love." Her death took place in September, as if she were to be spared another dreary winter. Also it occurred early on the Monday morning, when many weary ones, after the Sabbath of rest, have to buckle on the armour afresh, as it were, for another week's combat and toil with the things of the world. It was her unspeakable happiness to put the harness off, and that for ever and ever. On the 10th of October, Mr. Barnes preached a sermon on her death, from this text, "I go to prepare a place for you" (John xiv. 2). August 29th, 1868. E. BIBLE ENIGMA. WHAT king was made wise, and wealthy, and good? What scribe read the word from a pulpit of wood? What saint did in wicked idolatry join? Who was once saved alive by goodness divine? Who followed the Lord wholly, and so did excel? Who was it did something against his own will? Who was it put forth a speech against Paul? What king wept and pray'd, with his face to the wall? What Steward's described as heir unto all ? What name was first given to disciples of old? |