Under this precious influence, her countenance beamed with sweetness, and she emphatically repeated many times,--"Divine compa.s.sion! mighty love!"
and raising her hand, exclaimed, "Oh such love!--such love!--and to me such a sinner; is it not marvellous?" adding, "a weary burdened soul, oh Lord, am I, but the blood of Jesus can wash the guilty sinner clean.--Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.--Oh how wonderful! hard things have been made easy, and bitter things sweet."
She remarked that, at such a solemn hour, the world had no relish, "oh no!" she said, "it is not worth a thought:
"The world recedes, it disappears, Heaven opens on my eyes, my ears.""
To a young friend whom she tenderly loved, she said, "Oh if we should all meet in heaven, will it not be delightful? oh! dear ---, we must all come to this, and nothing will do for any of us but the blood of the Lamb."
She continued for some time addressing those around her in this strain; and to the question of her brother, whether she was happy? she replied, "Yes, indeed, I am happy." Thus her dying lips seemed to testify, that she was mercifully brought to see the salvation of G.o.d, and that he is able to save to the uttermost all those who come unto him, through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.
HENRY NEILD, _Over Whitley_, _Cheshire_. An Elder. 59 10mo. 4 1849
In the removal of this beloved friend, we have another instance of the uncertainty of time, and another call to prepare for the life to come.
Henry Neild left home on the 12th of 9th month, 1849, for the purpose of attending his Monthly and Quarterly Meetings, at Nantwich; but he was taken ill in the former meeting, and though relieved by medical aid, it failed to remove disease, which continued daily to waste his frame, and in little more than three weeks terminated his earthly pilgrimage; and we thankfully believe, through redeeming mercy, translated the immortal spirit to "an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away."
He had long been a very useful and willing helper in the small Quarterly Meeting, of which he was a member; and a true sympathizer with the afflicted, taking heed to the apostolic injunction, "Bear ye one anothers burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Deep and fervent were his desires for the welfare of our Society, for the maintenance of all our religious testimonies, and that its members might be redeemed from the influence and spirit of the world.
In the early part of his illness, he remarked that "it was surprising to himself, how entirely he could leave all earthly things; he had desired to leave all to Him who doeth all things well; and to commit himself into the hands of his dear Saviour."
At another time, he said, "I am very gently and mercifully dealt with, I feel that I am a poor unfaithful creature, but I consider it a favour to be made sensible of this, for it is only of divine mercy that we can rightly feel our need." Thus kept in humble reliance upon the mercy of G.o.d, in Christ Jesus his Saviour, he was permitted to repose on that "Anchor to the soul which is sure and steadfast," and to cast all his care upon our compa.s.sionate and ever present Redeemer.
He died at Nantwich, at the house of Croudson Tunstall, whose own death took place little more than a month afterwards.
WILLIAM NEWSOM, _Limerick_. 62 6mo. 18 1850
In affixing a few lines to this name, the desire is simply to arrest the attention of any reader, who may be too closely engaged in temporal things; giving their strength to that which cannot profit, and not sufficiently pondering the pa.s.sing nature of all terrestrial things.
William Newsom had been extensively engaged in commerce through great part of his life, and there was reason to fear he was unduly absorbed by its cares and allurements: for the last year or more, he appeared to be becoming more sensible that disappointment was stamped upon his pursuits; his bodily health heretofore unbroken, began also to decline, and it was comfortingly believed by his friends, that this and other revolving circ.u.mstances, were tending to turn the energies of his mind from perishable, to imperishable objects. A few months before his decease, it became still more evident, that the hand of his heavenly Father was laid upon him in mercy; and on one occasion, he remarked, "that he saw nothing in the world worth living for, it abounded in trouble and disappointment, all outward things were stained in his eyes, there was nothing but religion that could be of any avail for any of us; and it mattered not when we were taken--young, old, or middle aged--if we were but ready, that was the great point!" His experience, however, during the last few days of his life shewed, that although the ground might have been prepared, the work was by no means effected; deep and sore conflict was then his portion, and oh! with what fervency did he call upon his Saviour, beseeching him in his mercy to be pleased to look down upon his poor unworthy creature, for he alone could help in that awful hour. Once he exclaimed, "what could all the world do for me now?" His wife, under great exercise of spirit, replied, "Nothing! the best, when laid upon such a bed as thou art, have nothing to look to or depend upon, but the mercy of the Saviour;" the poor sufferer earnestly pleaded that that mercy might be extended to him, remarking, "He has all power in heaven and in earth." He then fervently prayed that the Lord would save his never dying soul. It is believed, that whilst his many sins of omission and commission were brought vividly before his view, by the unflattering witness, he was made very fully sensible that the great work of salvation rests between the soul of man and his Creator, and that "no man can redeem his brother, or give to G.o.d a ransom for him." Through the night, he was mostly engaged in prayer, with uplifted hands invoking for mercy and forgiveness.
Some time before his death, the great conflict of mind he had been under, appeared to subside, and to be succeeded by a sweet calm, and he intimated to his wife, that he felt comfortable and satisfied. Till within half an hour of the close, prayer continued flowing from his lips, the last audible sounds being an appeal to the Lord; and but a few minutes before he ceased to breathe, a conscious look at his dear wife, seemed to say, "all is peace;" and it was granted to her exercised spirit to believe, that the unshackled soul when released, was received into a mansion of rest, through the mercy and merits of his Lord and Saviour. In reference to that impressive hour this dear relative writes,--"Oh! how many times that solemn night, did I long that all the world could feel the great necessity, whilst in health and strength, so to live, as to be prepared for that awful hour, which sooner or later must come upon us all; it is a very dangerous thing to put off the work of the soul"s salvation to a deathbed, or to depend upon mercy being extended as at the eleventh hour, for it may not then be found." Let us then be concerned to work whilst it is called to-day, and be ready to meet the awful summons,--"Steward give up thy stewardship, for thou mayest be no longer steward."
SUSANNAH NICKALLS, _Ashford_, _Folkstone_. Wife of Thomas Nickalls. 65 6mo. 1 1850
MARY NICHOLSON, _Liverpool_. 78 12mo. 14 1849
MARY OSTLE, _Newtown_, _Beckfoot_, _c.u.mberland_. Widow of Thomas Ostle.
83 12mo. 18 1849
HANNAH PALMER, _Radway_. Widow of William Palmer. 71 10mo. 17 1849
JOHN PERCY, _Ballinagore_, _Ireland_. Son of John and Anna Perry. 3 2mo. 1 1850
RICHARD PATCHING, _Brighton_. 70 2mo. 15 1850
RACHEL PATTINSON, _Felling, near Newcastle-on-Tyne_. Widow of Thomas Pattinson. 59 1mo. 5 1850
SOPHIA GULIELMA PAYNE, _Lambeth Walk_, _Surrey_. Daughter of James and Ann Payne. 1 6mo. 7 1850
ELIZABETH PEARSON, _Preston_. Daughter of Daniel and Ann Pearson. 1 7mo. 6 1850
JOHN PEGLER, _Mangersbury_, _near Stow_, _Warwickshire_. 74 7mo. 6 1850
ISABELLA PEILE, _Carlisle_. Wife of Thomas Peile. 45 8mo. 1 1850
FRANCIS EDWARD PENNEY, _Dorking_. Died at Brighton. Son of the late Richard Penney. 22 7mo. 27 1850
ELIZABETH HALL PICKARD, _Bushcliffe House_, _Wakefield_. Wife of David Pickard. 35 10mo. 30 1849
HARTAS PICKARD, _Bushcliffe House_, _Wakefield_. Son of David and Elizabeth H. Pickard. 1 11mo. 26 1849
ELIZABETH PIERSON, _Dublin_. Daughter of Joseph Pierson. 25 2mo. 3 1850
SARAH LYDIA N. PIKE, _Derryvale_. 6 7mo. 27 1850
HANNAH LECKY PIKE, _Derryvale_. Children of the late James Nicholson and Sarah Pike. 3 9mo. 7 1850
ELIZABETH PIM, _Richmond Hill_, _Dublin_. An Elder. Widow of Jonathan Pim. 63 2mo. 22 1850
EMILY PIM, _Mountmelick_. 4 4mo. 5 1850
FREDERICK PIM, _Mountmelick_. Children of Samuel and Susanna Pim. 1 7mo. 31 1850
ELIZABETH PLUMLEY, _Tottenham_. 72 1mo. 10 1850
SARAH PRESTON, _Earith_, _Hunts_. An Elder. Widow of Samuel Preston. 79 4mo. 22 1850
JOHN PRICHARD, _Leominster_. 86 5mo. 24 1850
ESTHER PRIDEAUX, _Plymouth_. Widow of Philip C. Prideaux. 71 1mo. 8 1850
_Jane Prideaux_, _Kingsbridge_.
The decease of this friend is recorded in the Annual Monitor of last year. We have since been furnished with the following notice of her.
Our beloved friend, Jane Prideaux, died the 26th of the Second month, 1849, aged 87 years: for many years before her decease, she filled very acceptably the station of Elder, and therein approved herself a lowly follower of her Lord and Master. Very precious to her surviving friends, is the remembrance of her innocent, circ.u.mspect walk, holding out as it does in an impressive manner, the invitation, "Follow me as I have followed Christ." During the latter years of her lengthened life, the fruits of her faith became increasingly prominent, and she was endeared to her friends and neighbours around her in no common degree. But it was during the last two months of her life, when under great bodily suffering, that her tongue was more fully set at liberty to declare the lovingkindness of the Lord, who in this season of trial was graciously pleased to lift up the light of his countenance upon her, and to grant a full evidence of acceptance with himself, enabling her to rejoice in the a.s.surance that when her earthly house of this tabernacle should be dissolved, there would be granted to her "a building of G.o.d, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
Her patient, cheerful endurance of bodily pain was striking and instructive; and in some seasons of closest conflict, her faith was strong, and her acknowledgment of the supporting power of G.o.d, full and fervent. She often said, the Lord was able to save and to deliver to the uttermost, and would deliver _her_, when patience had had its perfect work. Very impressive were her short pet.i.tions to the Father of mercies, for his support and deliverance, accompanied as they constantly were with the addition, "if consistent with thy will." She remarked, "I am in the hands of an unerring Creator, He _cannot_ err. We must not look to ourselves, but to our Saviour, who loved us and gave himself for us--even for _me_, the most unworthy of his creatures. He healeth all my diseases, and I have many, but my mercies outweigh them all." Love and interest for her friends seemed often to dwell in her heart beyond the power of expression. Speaking of those who were members of the meeting to which she belonged, she sent messages to each, and made appropriate remarks respecting them individually, dwelling with especial comfort on the remembrance of those among them who were bearing the burden of the day, and labouring to promote their great Master"s cause. She afterwards said, whilst tears of tenderness flowed, "Oh! how many comfortable meetings I have had in that little meeting-house, how have I loved to go and sit there! It was not a little illness that kept me away: and how has it rejoiced my heart to see individuals come in, who have been as the anointed and sent!" On being told one morning that Friends were going to meeting, she said, "May they know the Sun of righteousness to arise as with healing in his wings;" emphatically adding, "I think they will."
At another time she sent messages of love to many of the members of her Monthly Meeting, adding with an expression of feeling, to which those around could not be insensible. "But I cannot name all; my love is universal; G.o.d is love."
One night, when in great pain, she acknowledged in grateful terms, the kindness of her attendants, and her belief that a blessing with a full recompense would be given them; and addressing one of them, she continued, "I love thee tenderly, and feel thee near in the best life--in the truth that is blessed for ever." Afterwards, she broke forth with an audible voice thus: "Bless the Lord, oh my soul! and praise him for all his benefits. What can I do! how shall I praise him enough!" And then, as with melody of soul, she added,--
"Heavenly blessings without number, Gently falling on my head."
After taking an affectionate farewell of those around her, and addressing them in an instructive and encouraging manner, she added, "I can heartily say, that death is robbed of its sting, and the grave of its victory.
Thanks be unto G.o.d who giveth the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
And again, "Praise and magnify the Lord! Oh if I could sing, I would sing his praise!"
To some beloved relatives, from a distance, who came to see her, she testified of her faith, hope, and confidence,--acknowledged, that although frail in body, she was strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might; and expressed her desire, that they might all meet where partings are not known, adding, "goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life; and there is a promise for the poor in spirit that will be fulfilled, "When the poor and needy seek water and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the G.o.d of Israel will not forsake them.""