Grace-Rev. C. G. Finney-On the Conduct of a Minister's Wife-Parental In- dulgence-Death of her Daughter-in-law-Nearness to God-Feelings at the Lord's Supper-To her Son in Trial-To her Son R. F. W.-Visit to Napton 164-190 The Christian's Chequered Life-Death of her Son H.-Letters on her Bereave- ment-Diary-Letter to her Daughter-Taplow-Reflections on Visiting Wind- sor Castle-Maternal Associations—Address to Mothers-Letter to John-street Her Passion for Souls-Incident of Rev. Charles Simeon-Faithfulness of an American Pastor-Letter to the Duke of Letter to Lord-Letter to the Archbishop of on Baptismal Regeneration-Letter to A. G., Esq., of New York-Letter to E. T. C., Esq.-Letter to I. W., Esq., Boston, U. S.— Letter to J. T., Esq.-Her Love of Union and of Truth-The Evangelical Alliance-Diary-Anti-State-Church Movement-Letter to Miss C.-Letter to the Hon. and Rev. B. W. N.-Letter to a Missionary, on the American Anti- Slavery Society-Letter to her Niece, Mrs. G.-On Public Reading and Prayer -On Ministerial Watchfulness-On Intercourse with God-Her Faith in the Resurrection of Christ-Looking unto Jesus-Conversion of her Grand- Her Peculiar Talent--The Philosophy of Sympathy-Abercrombie on the Moral Feelings-Letters of Consolation: To a beloved Friend-To Miss L. O., on the Death of her Mother-To Mrs. F., on the Illness of her Husband-To Mrs. E. B., on the Death of her Infant-To Mrs. C., on her Illness-To the same, on the Death of her Sister-To Mrs. C., on her Affliction-To Miss L. O., on behalf of a Distressed Clergyman-To her Son, on the Death of his Child-To Mrs. G., on the Death of her Husband-To Mr. W., on the Death of his Wife-To Rev. J. H. E., on his Illness-To Mrs. H., on the Death of her Husband- To Miss E. W., in Trial-To Rev. B. P. in Domestic Affliction-" Must I my Brother Keep?"-Extracts from her Diary-"There is a Voice, it comes to Remarks on Christian Experience-Diary-Letters on Experimental Religion-Let- Christ To Rev. J. H. E., a Word in Season to a Sick Pastor-To Mrs. Lieuten- ant-Col. P. B., on an open Heart with God-To the Hon. F. T., on making Sure of Salvation-To Lady L., on the Holy Spirit-To Miss S., on the Christian Race-To Lady Mary F., on Waiting for the Lord-To Mrs. C., Heaven an In- centive to Religious Perseverance-To Mrs. C., on the Intercession of Christ -To Mrs. C. G., on the Death of her Child-To her Son-To Miss I, in her Illness-To E. S., on Telling Jesus-To W. D. L., in Darkness of Mind-Mrs. Fruit in Old Age-Diary-Rev. Dr. Stone, Brooklyn-Prayer in Suffering-Death of Dr. Chalmers-Burden Cast upon God-Her Lameness-Remarkable Re- covery-Napton Vicarage--Death of her Daughter-in-law-Visit to the Grave -Anticipations of Heaven-Bridge on Faith-Her Prayer for the Evangelical Alliance-Letter to her Daughter-Death of the Rev. James Harrington Evans -Sympathy with Anxious Inquirers-Letter to Lady A. de Capel B.-Letters to H. and E. S.-Alarming Illness-Dr. Golding Bird-Letters to her Grand- children-Rev. David Fenton Jarman-General Correspondence Last Epoch of the Christian's Life-Growing Heavenliness-Longing to Depart- Devotional Meditations-The Sight of the Dying-Religion the Business of Life -Faith in the Posthumous Answers to Prayer-Exclusive Dealings with God "Beyond the Smiling and the Weeping "-Broken-hearted Communion- Longing for Revival-The One Church, the Bride of Christ-Recognitions in Heaven-Last Sabbath in the Sanctuary-Failing Strength-Holy Counsels- The Sick Room-The Gate of Heaven-Dying Sayings-The Closing Scene— MEMOIR. CHAPTER I. THE real believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is truly and emphatically a 'a living soul.' Christianity with him is more than a creed, a symbol, or a name; it is a vital and a vitalizing principle, an incorporate of his moral being: in a word, it is a spiritual life. In his experience the 'glorious gospel of the blessed God is not a myth,' but a Divine verity; and the truths it reveals are not fictions but attested facts, not dreams but solemn realities. He has passed from death unto life, is a new creature in Christ, has his 'fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life.' And while multitudes are thronging the mere vestibule of the temple, offering their dead sacrifices to a living God; he, approaching by the 'new and living way,' has penetrated within the inner shrine, and, enveloped with the incense-cloud of the great Atoning Sacrifice, is holding 'fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Christ Jesus.' The highest element of his being is to glorify God here; and the consummation of his hope hereafter will be the enjoyment of God for ever. Thus experimentally taught of the Spirit, he is led to disbelieve as a fable, and to reject as an impertinence, every dogma and vanity that would supplant the true gospel of Christ, or that offers itself as a substitute for a real heartfelt experience of the truth. To sanctify and adorn this lower world with such 'living temples' of the Spirit, and to replenish the world to come with their wonder and praise, was the great purpose of God in the gracious mission of His Son to our race. "I am come that they might have life." "The water that I shall give you shall be in you a well of water springing up into everlasting life." "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” In an age when religious formalism-the bane of the Christian church—is so prevalent; and when even in Christ's quickened body the pulse of spiritual life in many throbs but languidly, it is refreshing to meet with an instance of real, earnest religion, exhibiting in its governing principles, and reflecting in its daily habit, the power and lustre of a heavendescending and a heaven-alluring Christianity. Such an example now invites the study of the spiritual mind. And to a spiritual mind only will it possess any degree of interest or attraction. The sentimentalist, whose piety sublimates into dreamy mysticism,-the formalist, whose religion evaporates. into ritual observance,--or the romantic, whose ideal of Christianity is the vastness and splendour of heroic achievement, will be conscious of a feeling of disappointment as the eye. rolls over these pages. The history they detail, and the character they portray, derives nothing of its incident or its charm from sources equivocal as these. And yet it is no imaginary or inimitable Christian we are about to contemplate. There was nothing in her principles or example— nothing in the grace which made her what she was, and to which she owed all her hope for eternity-to which the most humble saint may not aspire, and to which the feeblest might not attain. "If none go to heaven but such a man as this, what will become of me?" was the desponding exclamation of one who witnessed with admiration, yet dismay, the preeminently godly conversation of the seraphic Leighton. We anticipate, however, no such feeling of despair as the result of the perusal of this volume. We trust that the life we are about to trace, heavenly and holy though it was, will so cxhibit the fullness and preciousness of Christ, so illustrate the power and sufficiency of divine grace, and so unfold the loving, winning character of God, as to stimulate and encourage the lowliest heart that admires its beauty, and would fain transcribe its excellence. Nevertheless, it is of incalculable advantage to have before us some bright examples of saints who have outstripped their competitors, and gained the summit of the hill up which the train of feeble pilgrims is still painfully toiling. Such extraordinary proficients in the life and power of godliness are the salt of the earth to keep it from corruption. They rebuke the slackness of those halfhearted, home-sick mariners who stand off and on, wistfully eying the shore from which they have voluntarily parted, instead of launching into the deep, and making sail for a better country. Such a 'proficient in the life and power of godliness' we are about to present; and although a filial hand tremblingly attempts the portrait, it yet will be his single aim so truthfully to delineate each feature of her character as to present her as she really was; and yet so carefully to veil the glory of the creature as shall constrain all who look upon the picture to magnify the grace of God in her. MRS. WINSLOW was born in St. George's, Bermuda, on the 28th of February, 1774. On the paternal side she was of Scotch descent. Her grandfather, Dr. George Forbes,t was a native of Scotland, but resided in Bermuda; and was united in marriage to the eldest daughter of Thomas Jones, Esq., President of the Council, and during two temporary vacancies in the administration, acting Governor of the colony. Robert Forbes, the youngest son of this marriage, adopting the profession of his father, pursued his studies in Edinburgh; and on taking his degree, returned to the island, and afterwards married Mary, the only daughter of Alexander Rush, Esq. MARY FORBES, the subject of this Memoir, was the single issue of this union. An only child, and the sole representative of his family, her father's affections and hopes concentrated upon her with no ordinary intensity, and his anxiety to fit her for her future position in life was proportionably great. No means, therefore, which a cultivated mind could suggest, or ample resources command, were spared in placing within her reach the highest literary advantages. After giving, with his own hands the first form and development to her mind and character, a competent tutor was procured from Scotland, to whose educational care the interesting charge was now confided. But while her mental training, under her father's supervision, was thus successfully advancing, another and not less potent influence was silently at work, aiding the formation of a character which, for its natural impressibility and strength, * Pearson's Life of Archbishop Leighton. Dr. Forbes belonged to a younger branch of the fifteenth Lord Forbes, of Putechie Castle, Aberdeenshire. |