What is earth, maiden? A place to be gay.
What is earth, seamstress? A place where I weep.
What is earth, sluggard? A good place to sleep.
What is earth, soldier? A place for a battle.
What is earth, herdsman? A place to raise cattle.
What is earth, widow? A place of true sorrow.
What is earth, tradesman? I"ll tell you to-morrow.
What is earth, sick man? "Tis nothing to me.
What is earth, sailor? My home is the sea.
What is earth, statesman? A place to win fame.
What is earth, author? I"ll write there my name.
What is earth, monarch? For my realm "tis given.
What is earth, Christian? The gateway of heaven.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LORD"S GRACIOUS DEALINGS WITH MARY STUBBS, WHO DIED AT G.o.dMANCHESTER, DECEMBER 19TH, 1887, AGED TWENTY-FOUR YEARS.
We cannot say when, or by what means, the Lord first implanted the seed of eternal life in our sister"s soul; but as in nature, so in grace--there is first the dropping of the seed, then the blade and the ear, and after that, the full corn in the ear; the full corn in many, as in our sister"s case, not appearing until they are laid down by a fatal disease.
By letters which I received from her the last few years, I had a hope the seed was sown from the love which she manifested to the truth and people of G.o.d. At the same time, many of her words and actions manifested much impatience, showing that she was a child of fallen Adam, and that she was under another influence than the Holy Spirit of G.o.d.
This was a trial to us, giving us many errands to the throne of grace, not knowing what the end might be; and not only was it a grief to us, but also to herself.
Some months ago, writing to me, she said, "I feel so very unhappy. I wish I had never been born, for I do not feel fit to live, nor yet fit to die."
Her sister, with whom she lived, says, "Once or twice before her last affliction have we found her weeping, after she returned from the house of G.o.d--once especially, when Mr. Oldfield spoke from the words, "Thou shalt preserve me from trouble," at which time she seemed sorely tried; and referring to it on her dying bed, said, "Satan did tempt me so then; but what a mercy G.o.d preserved me! I felt that, if I had died then, I must have been lost.""
At another time she found her in great distress, and, inquiring the cause, she said, "I feel so ill! I do not think I shall live long, and I know I am not prepared to die."
About three weeks after this, she went to St. Ives" anniversary, and heard Mr. Hull preach from the text, "In this place will I give you peace." The words seemed to have an abiding-place in her heart, and proved a promise to her in her affliction. They were as "bread cast upon the waters, found and enjoyed after many days." When she returned from St. Ives, she looked quite ill, and said, "It seems as though I am not to go anywhere and enjoy myself."
A few weeks after this, she took to her room, which she never left again. But, as her bodily strength decreased, she became more and more anxious about eternal things, and said to her sister and one of the members, who were sitting with her, "I do not think I shall get better.
If I was sure I should go to heaven, I should not mind dying; but I keep thinking of all my past sins, and all that I have done and said. Do you think the Lord will forgive?" and with great earnestness she exclaimed, "Oh, do tell me--do you think He will forgive all my sins, and take me to heaven?" They told her they felt sure, if the Lord had made her sins a burden to her, and enabled her to beg of Him to cleanse her in His precious blood, He would, in His own time, answer her pet.i.tions, and they encouraged her to give Him no rest until He spoke home peace and pardon to her soul.
On Sat.u.r.day, November 12th, Mr. Oldfield called to see her. She asked him if he thought the Lord would forgive her. He a.s.sured her that, if the Lord had made her long for His pardoning love, He would appear for her. He had sweet liberty in prayer on her behalf, and, having read at her request the twenty-seventh Psalm, he inquired if she had any favourite hymns. She replied, "Yes--"There is a fountain filled with blood."" He remarked, "The dying thief felt he needed that fountain, and so do you and I, Mary." She answered, "Yes, we do."
In the evening, two of her sisters came to see her, and she exclaimed, "What! are you both come so far to see me? I am not worthy," and burst into tears.
On Sunday, November 13th, she said but little during the day, but still kept begging of the Lord to forgive her all her sins, and take her to heaven; and in the evening He answered her prayer, and sweetly spoke home peace and pardon to her heart. She exclaimed, "Jesus has pardoned all my sins! Yes, yes, He has told me so! I am so happy! Oh, so happy!
Jesus! Jesus! Thou art precious to my soul! Oh, come and take me! I long to be with You, dear Jesus!" and, with solemn sweetness, she added, ""Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."
"Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, Unworthy though I be, For me a rich, a free reward, A golden harp for me.
"Jesus is "the Chiefest among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely.""
Thus she laid, blessing and praising His dear name till she was completely exhausted.
Early the next morning she said, "I am still on this bed of affliction.
The Lord has spared me one more day, but I hope He will soon come and fetch me. I do so long to go, but
"I must wait a little longer, Till His appointed time, And glory in the knowledge That such a home is mine.
"Yes, "that such a home is mine!" I shall wear a white robe there, and sing "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"
"Yes, loudest of the crowd I"ll sing, Whilst heaven"s resounding mansions ring With shouts of sovereign grace."
On Monday, November 14th, I and my brother visited her for the first time. She was at first overcome, but soon revived, and said, "I am so pleased to see you both. I asked the Lord to spare me to see you all before I died. How kind He is to hear me!"
I spent, altogether, the greatest part of four days with her, and those will be reckoned amongst the happiest days of my life, though mixed with sorrow at the thought of losing one made doubly dear by the sweet manifestation of the spirit of Christ in her. We could but look on and say, "What hath G.o.d wrought!" she herself saying, "I am not the one I was once, but am a new creature in Christ Jesus, for the Lord has heard my prayers, and forgiven all my sins, and now I know I am going to heaven," her countenance at the same time beaming with joy.
On Tuesday, November 15th, she asked her eldest brother to read to her--
"When languor and disease invade This trembling house of clay, "Tis sweet to look beyond our cage, And long to fly away,"
which she much enjoyed.
On Wednesday, November 16th, she said to me, "Oh, Joseph, I feel Jesus is all around me, and I know He is soon coming to take me home. I am so happy, and waiting to go to my home of eternal rest."
Turning to those present, she said, "You do not mind parting with me, now you know I am going to heaven, do you?" and, seeing us in tears, she said, "I cannot think what you have to grieve about. If I were not going to heaven, then you might grieve."
At times she seemed completely lost to all around, and was in sweet communion with G.o.d, and laid blessing and praising His dear name. The following are only a few of the sweet words that fell from her lips--"Oh, Jesus, I am so happy! Thou art precious to my soul. I long to be with Thee, dear Jesus--not that I wish to leave my brothers and sisters, only to come to Thee. I can leave everything to come to Thee, dear Jesus. Come and fetch me. Fetch me soon, if it is Thy will; but if I must wait a little longer, give me patience to wait Thy time."
At other times, she would repeat with sweet feeling her favourite hymns and chapters, amongst which were, Psalms xxiii., xxvii., and ciii.; and hymns, "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds," "There is a fountain filled with blood," and "Father, whate"er of earthly bliss." The last verse of the latter seemed particularly precious to her--
"Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine My life and death attend; Thy presence through my journey shine, And crown my journey"s end."
One morning, she wished her books, &c., brought to her, that she might give us each a parting gift, saying, "Keep them in remembrance of me, when I am gone to heaven to be with Jesus."
On Wednesday, November 16th, in the evening, Mr. Oldfield again saw her.
She spoke very freely to him, and said, "Won"t it be nice to depart and be with Jesus?--much better than remaining here. I think He will soon come and fetch me. He has pardoned all my sins. Yes, He told me so." He read John x. at her wish, and spoke in prayer, which she much enjoyed and spoke of afterwards.
When I was about to leave her, she said, "I want you all to sing, "How sweet the name of Jesus sounds,"" which we did, she joining with all the strength she had, her face being radiant with joy.
Another morning she awoke, and commenced singing several sweet hymns.
Truly she experienced the words of Isaiah, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee."