; FRIENDS’

REVIEW. 211

 

more poorly than usual, was persuaded to lie
down, and in a few minutes expired. He left a
son and daughter* by his first wife, and four
sons and three daughters by his last, my oldest
child. This event, in my feeble state, afflicted
me deeply. I could not go to see and sym-
pathise with my afflicted daughter, or attend
the burial; and knowing the many trials with
which she was left to struggle, and my inability
to afford her any assistance, added greatly to
the bitterness of which I before had to partake.
Oh, may the everlasting Father be near to sup-
port and strengthen her mind to bear up under
the exceeding weight of. difficulties that appear
before her, and be her counsellor and guide,
that so she may be conducted in wisdom to His
praise, who hath suffered so heavy an affliction
to be her portion.” *

“May a portion of his spirit,’ writes Martha
Allinson in her diary, “ever rest upon his
afflicted widow. May wisdom and strength be
afforded so to walk through this state of proba-
tion that I may be also ready when the awful
messenger comes, whether sooner or later. All
I now ask for is, that the God and Father of all
our mercies would be pleased to take me and my
poor fatherless children under His fatherly care
and protection, and preserve us from the evils that
are in the world, unto His heavenly kingdom.”

Shortly after, whilst sweetly bending to the
storm, she writes: ‘‘Oh that I may be furnished
with wisdom and understanding, to do that

which is pleasing in the Divine sight. Then I.

trust, he will condescend to bless my endeavors,
and furnish with bread to eat and raiment to
put on. May I never suffer myself to distrust
His tender mercy and unmerited goodness, who
has hitherto sustained me through many sore
trials, with which no one living but myself was
acquainted. In my trouble I looked for my
dear father to lean upon. I anxiously wished
for the company of those who, as I thought, had
been in degree made perfect in the school of
afliction; but it was necessary for me to know
that all saving help is from God, that it is my
duty to resign all, and in the depth of sincerity
to say, “thy will be done,” trusting in and de-
‘pending upon Him alone, who, in the time of
need and trouble, is a present help. Blessings
and honor, thanksgiving and praise be rendered
unto Him that sits u the throne, saith my
soul, in that He hath helped me, a poor worm !”’

A messenger being sent for D. C., with the
hope of bringing him to the dying bed, found
him ill, under care of Dr. Caspar Wistar. Ina
letter, by return of messenger, he says: ‘The
“ccount of your situation 1 am poorly able to
bear. To know of it without being able to get
to see you, adds much to the weight I have to
bear ; but hard thin s, dear Patty, are not new
to thee or to me. What is yet behind is only

*William and Mary Allinson, who both lived to be
honorable Elders in the Church, ne

known to Him, whose goodness hath hitherto
sustained us. The prospect before thee, my
dear child, is heavy. Lean unto Him who can
kill and make alive. How tenderly he cared
for me and my orphan children, thyself hast
experienced in an extraordinary manner. Oh
may thy father’s God and thine be near to sus-
tain and bear up the mind to look to and trust
inhim. My heart is filled with love and feeling
for you; but thou hast not now to learn how lit-
tle an earthly parent can do for his most beloved
child. In writing this I have set up as long as
Tam well able. Repine not at the disappoint-
ment of my absence. He that governs all
things cannot err. We had daily looked for
you here. In this world ye shall have tribula-
tion. I have longed much to see thee, since
my late journey, to recount the marvellous work-

deed are his ways. ae
Give my dear love to Samuel; he cannot
doubt my desire to see him, could it have been.

farewell.” -

 

WM. FORSTER TO JOS. JOHN GURNEY. _

Tottenham, Tenth month 14, 1815. —
My very dear Friend :—On the receipt of
thy last affectionate and acceptable communica-
tion, such were the feelings of sympathy and
gratitude, and, if I may venture to use the term,
of Christian fellowship, which it excited in my
heart, that I determined on something in the
shape of a reply as soon as I was able. I feel
that something had been at’ work so to rivet
thee in my heart that almost every day I think
of thee ; wish to hear about thee ; to know how
it fares with thee, and I will not say, that if I
really know what it is to pray, that I do not
remember thee in my feeble attempts to look
towards the throne of grace. I wish I knew
how to tell thee all I have thought and felt in
reference to thy Biblical researches, and how
much I am interested in the result. I was
really glad that thou hadst given up thy time
and attention to the subject; particularly so,
because I was aware that thou wast impressed
with its importance, and I did not doubt but
thou might be able to throw some light on pas-
sages of Scripture, which may have been too
much overlooked, especially those in the Old
Testament. * * * JI ‘felt so much the
awfulness of the engagement, that I could but.
desire in secret aspiration to the Source of
help, that grace might be granted adequate to
the exigencies of the occasion—nor could I
doubt that He who knew thy desire to p

 

so that at least thy own faith would be strength-
ened, whilst thou wast endeavoring todo what
thou could for the confirmation’ of thy fellow

 

believers. I am the better pleased with the

ing of the Shepherd of Israel ; marvellous in-

With a flow of the most feeling love, dear child,

*

his glory, would vouchsafe the aid of Hi spirit,