.

me repeat it, not my will but thine be done, thy mercies are more in < number than I can reckon up, the 'way is made plain before me."

March 1ft, 1797.

he thinks beft.And again let | the end. That this affurance was founded on those special divine communications of love to her soul, which, at certain feafons efpecially was fo elevated and fublime as well nigh to overpower her mortal frame; demonftrating the truth of the fcriptues that perfect love cafteth out fear.That the degree as well as the existence of grace in the heart, though it fuppofes human exertion, is ultimately to be refolved into the fovereign pleafure of him, whofe prerogative it is, as well to confer different de

"One day more and I am again 'called upon to renew my engagements to hee, by yet ftronger engagements.-Thou haft in all thy ways led me in a path I little thought of. And now keep me, O Lord, in the hollow of thy 'band.-Suffer me not to idolize the bleffing thou art about to be'ftow. May I receive it as a pre-grees of glory on the veffels of cious loan from the Lord, and whenever he calls, may I be willing to leave, or be left, as 'the Lord in his righteous provi-feated in the affections, and perdence fees best."

mercy, as to make one veffel to honor, and another to dishonor: And, laftly, that true religion is

fons of comparatively small attain. ments in doctrinal knowledge may in the exercife of faith, love, hu

Having celebrated her marriage with the Hon. Judge Bishop on the next day, as has been mention-mility and every grace, greatly ed, fhe arrived at Richmond on the 5th, and on the next day fhe obferves :

Of what importance it is to live the religion I profess before ⚫ this household, and not to caft ftumbling blocks in the way of 'those with whom I have promised to walk by the precepts of the Gofpel. And let me look beyond the gift to the Lord."

|

excel other Chriftians of the profoundest erudition and deepest difcernment in the fcriptures, evincing that God is able out of the mouth of babes and fucklings to perfect praife.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE CON.
EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.
GENTLEMEN,

THE following Memoirs of the life of Mrs. Lucy Gaylord late confort of Deacon Nehemiah Gaylord of Torringford, who Having now given the intended died, Sept. 3, 1800, in the 74th view of the writings of Mrs. Bith-year of her age, are committed to op we conclude with the obvious your infpection to be published, or remarks, that while many real fuppreffed as you think proper. Christians are exercifed, perhaps a great part of their lives, with dif treffing doubts and fears, with refpect to their state, this highly fa vored perfon foon attained to the full affurance of hope, which continued through all her trials and temptations without wavering to

MRS

RS. Gaylord was daughter of Mr. Ichabod Loomis, of Windfor, in this ftate. She was endowed with a fenfible mind, and an amiable difpofition. She was very early in life impreffed, with an overbearing conviction,

that fhe was an ill-deferving creature; and was hopefully brought, about the time fhe was eight years old, to a faving knowledge of Chrift. She made a public profeffion of religion about four years after. She was a perfon who ever fupported her Chriftian profeffion, exhibiting through life increafing evidence of her attachment to the religion of Christ. The writer of thefe memoirs hath been intimately acquainted with her for 30 years. He does not recollect an instance thro' all that period, in which fhe appeared to be equally entertained on any fubject of converfation, or enquiry, whatever, as on the fubject of religion.

more.

"I'

fhe expreffed herself to one pref-
ent, in the following manner.
want now to go. I do not wifh
ever to return to my room any
It would greatly gratify
me, if I might now be called for.
If I might die here, and go from
this place to my father's houfe in
glory." In the course of her con-
finement, fhe was repeatedly fup-
pofed to be near the end of life;
and her family, and friends called
together, to be prefent at her death.
At fuch feafons, fhe was wont to
poffefs peculiar compofure, and
confidence, and to improve the
little strength fhe had, in bearing
decided teftimony in favour of
Chrift, and in recommending him,
and his religion to all around her.

At a certain time viewing death as near the adverted to thofe lines, "Tho I fhould walk thro death's dark fhade, my shepherd's with me there. On its being obferv.% : ed, that God no doubt would carry her fafely through, fhe replied, "O yes! He will-I know he will. He is faithful. Though I pafs through the valley of the fhadow of death, I fhall fear no evil. God's friends have been my friends in this world, and he will not caft me off at last, among his enemies. No! I fhall join the happy company-shall be welcome to the happy manfions in my father's houfe, and shail have a long eternity in which to praise him, but it will not be too long." It being noticed that her fpeech failed her, fhe answered with a fmile, "Yes! my redemption draws nigh! I am ready to go but am willing to wait as long as God has any thing for me to do, or to fuffer. Thy will be done!-Thy will be done!"

It was no uncommon thing with her, in whatever company, to manifeft a degree of inattention, or uneafiness, while other concerns engroffed the principal attention of thofe who were prefent. For many years before her death, the appeared to poffefs a very ftrong af furance of her interest in the promifes. She was afraid of fin, but not of punishment. For about two years fince, her bodily complaints were fuch as deprived her of the privilege of attending the ftated worship, and ordinances of God, with his people. Through all this period, fhe was never known to manifeft the least uneafinefs with the difpofals of providence. Often expreffing herfelf to this purpose, "That he was contented, as it was evidently God's pleasure, for wife ends, to deprive her of the privilege." Once how ever, about three months before her death, being more comfortable than ufual, the attended through the whole religious exercifes of the forenoon; and joined with her She after this revived, and for a Chriftian friends in commemorafeafon was more comfortable. It ting the death of Christ. After was ufual with her, on over hearit was over, ftill keeping her place, ing fome enquiry refpecting a watch

er, to obferve," She fhould not God might not originate from an apprehenfion, that he had refpect to her, and meant to make her happy? She answered, Alas, I am a poor finful creature, it is no matter, what becomes of me. If God can be glorified in me, that is all my defire."

In the afternoon before her death, the improved the intervals, when her weakness and diftrefs would admit, to converfe on the folemnities of eternity. She said the nearer fhe advanced toward it, the more real it appeared. On be

need any that he never was without one. The watchman of Ifrael who never flumbers or fleeps, is conftantly with me. I fhall need no other." Some weeks before her death, being visited by fome Christian acquaintance, in the courfe of the converfation, she expreffed herself as follows-" I want that God in difpofing events as to me, would regard his own glory. If God is glorified, I want no more. I fear no hell, unless it be a feparation from God; and I do not believe he will ever fuffering afked whether there was certhis. If God be with me, I cannot be miferable, there can be no hell where he gracioufly is." A little more than a week before her death, the desired that the conference might be at her houfe. After prayer, and finging, the obferved, "I hope you will all of you fing hallelujah with me hereafter, in heaven." On the queftion being afked her, whether the depended on going there, as much as on dying? Her reply was, "Yes; juft as much. Why God took me when I was a child, and I made a covenant with Chrift-I chofe him for my friend, and Saviourand I have always found him faithful. Not one of all his promaifes hath ever failed. He has told me I never shall be ashamed, or confounded, and I can trust him. I can teftify for him. This is the God I love.-I can recommended me, he never will." The Minhim to you all."

The queftion was afked her, how fhe accounted for it, that God fhould fo diftinguifhber with his favour? She answered to this purpofe, "not on account of any worthinefs of mine. I was the meaneft, the vileft, the moft unworthy of finners; but wholly for his own name's fake." On the queftion being afked, whether her love to

I do

tainly a future ftate of rewards and
punishments, as the fcriptures re-
prefented? She expreffed herself
with unufual engagednefs, "There
is, there certainly is an eternal state
of happiness and mifery. I fhall
foon be in a state of perfect happi-
nefs, O praife, free grace." On
being afked if fhe did not feel for
poor finners, fhe replied, "O yes!
But they are in the hands of God,
and I can leave them there.
not defire that any of them should
be admitted into heaven, unless
their hearts are changed. I do
not wifh any child of mine fhould
be faved, unless they will fubmit
to God, and love Chrift. It would
fpoil heaven for all holy beings."
She was afked, but are you not at
all afraid to die? Her anfwer was,
"No! no! not in the least.
can truft my God, for he never fail-

I

ifter was providentially abfent,
when he died. She obferved,
fhe wifhed to fee him.
She was
afked whether he had any thing
new to fay to him? Her anfwer
was,
"She wanted to fee him, to
encourage him in his great work.
She was queftioned, whether the
wifhed him to preach any new doc-
trine? She replied, "No, I want
to bear my dying teftimony, to the

0

truths, which I have been accuffhe repented, and prayed God to tomed to hear. She then fell into a lethargic ftate, apparently infenfible and fo continued, 'till all tokens of life difappeared.

M

were

He

change it, the muft fink down to endless mifery. Theodocia at times appeared to be very thoughtful, and would beg her aunt to pray for her. She feemed to have a sense of her finfulness, but on her return to her father's, the fcoffs of her fifter and gay companions wore off her ferioufnefs. Thus it continued until Maria was 18, when fhe married a young gentleman of infinuating manners, eafy addrefs, and affluent fortune, but quite a profligate character. She had formed her ideas of happiness from the books fhe read, and now thought odocia, on the marriage of her all her wishes were gratified. The

fifter, went to refide with her aunt, who had been for fome months in

ARIA and Theodocia v the daughters of a gentle-a decline, and was then unable to man in eafy circumftances, who leave her bed. When the faw lived in a populous town. Theodocia, fhe stretched out her took great pains in their education, arms to embrace her, and with and they were early taught mott of tears faid, "Oh my child, that I the polite accomplishments, and to could die with a hope of meeting behave well in company. Maria you in heaven; how it would fweetwas fond of reading, but there was en my last hours?" Thefe words not proper attention paid to fee ftruck Theodocia to the heart, for that the read books that would tend the had been mingling in the diffito improve her mind in virtue.pation occafioned by her fifter's wedNovels were her delight, her im-ding, and all ferious thoughts had agination was naturally romantic, for a time been obliterated from her and fuch reading tended to heigh-mind. The feeling with which ten the fault. She was at the age her aunt fpoke these words, imprefof 15 introduced into company, fed her deeply, and her former and being eafy and accomplished in thoughtfulness returned. She was her manners was much careffed. in great diftrefs of mind, fhe wonTheodocia was two years younger dered at her ftupidity and faid than her fifter. She commonly "there was no hope for her who fpent half of her time with a pi- had fo many times quenched the ous aunt in the country, who en- Spirit of God." Her aunt, tho' deavored to inftil into her mind the felt for, her diftrefs, was rethe principles of religion. She joiced to fee her anxiety. She told her that all her outward ac- would often call her to the bedfide, complishments would never pre- and pray for her, with fuch earnpare her for heaven; that though cftnefs as affected all around them, the might appear agreeable to the and before the died, had the conworld, her heart was naturally op- folation of feeing her niece rejoice pofed to holiness; and that unless in the perfections of God, and

VOL. I. No. 5.

A a