ask a favour; you buried my sister--will you do
the same for me?"
"All shall be as you wish, if God permit;" I replied.
"Thank you, sir, thank you. I have another favour to ask: when I am
gone, remember my father and mother. They are old, but I hope the good
work is begun in their souls. My prayers are heard. Pray come and see
them. I cannot speak much, but I want to speak for their sakes. Sir,
remember them."
The aged parents now sighed and sobbed aloud, uttering broken sentences,
and gained some relief by such an expression of their feelings.
At length I said to Elizabeth--"Do you experience any doubts or
temptations on the subject of your eternal safety?"
"No, sir; the Lord deals very gently with me, and gives me peace."
"What are your views of the dark valley of death, now that you are
passing through it?"
"It is _not_ dark."
"Why so?"
"My Lord is _there_, and He is my light and my salvation."
"Have you any fears of more bodily suffering?"
"The Lord deals so gently with me, I can trust Him."
Something of a convulsion came on. When it was past, she said again and
again:
"The Lord deals very gently with me. Lord, I am thine, save me--blessed
Jesus--precious Saviour--his blood cleanseth from all sin--Who shall
separate?--His name is Wonderful--Thanks be to God--He giveth us the
victory--I, even I, am saved--O grace, mercy, and wonder--Lord, receive
my spirit! Dear sir, dear father, mother, friends, I am going--but all
is well, well, well--"
She relapsed again. We knelt down to prayer: the Lord was in the midst
of us, and blessed us.
She did not again revive while I remained, nor ever speak any more words
which could be understood. She slumbered for about ten hours, and at
last sweetly fell asleep in the arms of that Lord who had dealt so gently
with her.
I left the house an hour after she had ceased to speak. I pressed her
hand as I was taking leave, and said "Christ is the Resurrection and the
Life." She gently returned the pressure, but could neither open her eyes
nor utter a reply.
I never had witnessed a scene so impressive as this before. It
completely filled my imagination as I returned home.
"Farewell," thought I, "dear friend, till the morning of an eternal day
shall renew our personal intercourse. Thou wast a brand plucked from the
burning, that thou mightest become a star shining in the firmament of
glory. I have seen thy light and thy good works, and
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