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 >OWER OF FAITH; 
 
 EXEMPLIFIED IN THE 
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS 
 
 OS THE LATE 
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM, 
 
 f orfc. 
 
 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom ; aud before honour is 
 humility. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud : but he will estaUlish 
 the border of the widow. 
 
 KEW YORK PRINTED. 
 
 tonDon : 
 
 RE-PRINTED BY AND FOR 
 
 R. EDWARDS, CRANE COURT, FLEET STREET ; 
 
 SOLD ALSO BY R. BAVNES, IVY LANE, AND W. BOOTH, DUKE STREETj 
 MANCHESTER SQUARE. 
 
 1819.
 
 StacK 
 Annex 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 LIFE of Mrs. Graham ................................ 1 
 
 Devotional Exercises .................................. 53 
 
 Provision for her last Journey through the Wilderness, and 
 
 Passage over Jordan .............................. 155 
 
 Poetry .............................................. 193 
 
 LETTERS. 
 To Mrs. Graudidier ...................... . ........... 203 
 
 Extracts of Letters to P , chiefly written when she was in 
 
 affliction ................. ....................... 206 
 
 To Mrs. G y ...................................... 228 
 
 Extracts of Letters written to Mr. and Mrs. B , whiie in 
 
 Britain, for the benefit of Mrs. B.'s health, in , 1 801 and 
 
 1802 .......................................... 231 
 
 To the same in New York ............................. , 256 
 
 To Mr. A. D , Edinburgh .......................... . . 261 
 
 To Mrs. O , Edinburgh .............................. 263 
 
 To Miss M ........................................ 265 
 
 To Mrs. Juliet S , New York .......................... 273 
 
 To Miss Van Wyck, New York .......................... 278 
 
 To the same ..... .......... . ........................ ib. 
 
 To Mr. James Todd, New York ........................ 2B2 
 
 To Mrs. J. W ..................... ............... 285 
 
 To Dr. H. M , Rothsay, Bute ........................ 287 
 
 To the same .............. . ......................... 289 
 
 To Dr. Marshall ....................... . .............. 291 
 
 To Mrs. Marshall ...... .............................. 294 
 
 Letter from Viscountess Glenorchy to Mrs. Graham ........ 295 
 
 ADDRESSES. 
 To the Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with small 
 
 Children, 1800 ........................ .......... 297 
 
 To the same, April, 1 806 . . ............................ 300 
 
 
 On opening a School for poor Children ; addressed to the 
 
 Teachers who volunteered their Serviees .............. 304 
 
 Extract from the concluding part of Mrs. Graham's last Will 
 
 and Testament .......................... . ....... 306 
 
 Lines on the Decease of Mrs. Graham ... ..... , ........ ... 307 
 
 f~if~\f~\ f ~ O'S r*i 
 
 IcUUUSlr
 
 anfc 
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 
 
 IN writing the volumes of biography,, so frequently 
 presented to the world, the motives of their authors 
 have been various, and the subjects diversified. 
 
 Mankind take an interest in the history of those 
 who, like themselves, have encountered the trials, and 
 discharged the duties, of life. Too often, however, 
 publicity is given to the lives of men, splendid in acts 
 of mighty mischief, in whom the secret exercises of the 
 heart would not bear a scrutiny. The memoirs are 
 comparatively few, of those engaged in the humble and 
 useful walks of active benevolence, where the breath- 
 ings of the soul would display a character, much to be 
 admired, and more to be imitated. 
 
 The celebrated Dr. Buchanan has observed, that if 
 you were to ask certain persons, even in Christian 
 countries, if they had any acquaintance with the reli- 
 gious world, they would say, ' they had never heard 
 there was such a world.' While the external conduct 
 of individuals is made the subject of much critical re- 
 mark, the religion of the heart, the secret source of 
 action, too frequently escapes unnoticed and unex- 
 plored. 
 
 It is only when the career of life is closed, that the 
 character is completely established. On this account, 
 memoirs of the living are in few instances read with 
 much interest by others ; or contemplated without the 
 danger of self-deception, and too much complacency, 
 by the living subjects themselves.
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 But when the soul has departed, and the body sleeps 
 in dust, it may prove useful to survivors, to examine 
 the principles which led their departed friend to a life 
 of honourable benevolence, and to a peaceful end. 
 
 On this account, and at the urgent request of many 
 respectable persons, it has been deemed advisable to 
 % publish some of the writings of Mrs. ISABELLA GRA- 
 HAM, recently called away from us, whose character 
 was so esteemed, and whose memory is so venerated in 
 the city Avhere she dwelt. 
 
 Self was so totally absent from all her motives to 
 activity in deeds of benevolence, that she at once com- 
 manded love and respect ; and, in her case peculiarly, 
 unalloyed with any risings of jealousy, envy, or distrust. 
 
 Blessed with a spirit of philanthropy, with an ardent 
 and generous mind, a sound judgment, an excess of 
 that sensibility which moulds the soul for friendship, 
 a cultivated intellect, and the rich stores of ample 
 experience, her company was eagerly sought, and 
 highly valued, by old and young. Though happily 
 qualified to shine in the drawing-room, she spent but 
 a small portion of her time there ; for such a disposi- 
 tion of it would have been mere waste, contrasted with 
 her usual employments. Her step was never seen 
 ascending the hill of ambition, nor tracing the mazes 
 of popular applause. Where the widow and the or- 
 phan wept, where the sick and the dying moaned, 
 thither her footsteps hastened ; and there, seen only 
 by her Heavenly Father, she administered to their 
 temporal wants, breathed the voice of consolation on 
 their ear, shed the tears of sympathy, exhibited the 
 truths of the gospel from the sacred volume, and 
 poured out her soul for them in prayer to her Saviour 
 and her God. 
 
 In a few such deeds she rested not ; the knowledge 
 of them was not obtruded upon others, nor recorded 
 by herself. The recollection of past exertions was 
 lost in her zeal to accomplish greater purposes and 
 greater good ; her heart expanded with her experience, 
 and her means were too limited, her activity almost 
 inaction, compared with the abounding desires of her 
 soul to alleviate the miseries, and to -increase the com- 
 forts of the poor, the destitute, and the afflicted.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 3 
 
 Let no one think this picture the painting of fancy, 
 or the colouring of partial affection. It is sober truth ; 
 a real character. 
 
 To know the latent springs of such external excel- 
 lence is worthy of research ; they may be all summed 
 up in this, ' the Religion of the Heart.' 
 
 The extracts from Mrs. Graham's letters, and from 
 her devotional exercises, will form the best develope- 
 ment of her principles, arid may, with the blessing of 
 God, prove useful to those who read them. In all her 
 writings will be manifested the power of faith, the 
 efficiency of grace ; and in them, as in her own uni- 
 form confession, Jesus will be magnified, and self will 
 be humbled. 
 
 In connection with such a publication, it is thought 
 that a short sketch of her life will prove acceptable ; 
 a life chiefly distinguished by her continual depend- 
 ance on God, and his unceasing faithfulness and 
 towards her. 
 
 Isabella Marshall (afterwards Mrs. Graham) was 
 born on the C 29th of July, 1?42, in the shire of Lanark, 
 in Scotland. Her grandfather was one of the elders 
 who quitted the established church with the Rev. 
 Messrs. Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine. She was edu- 
 cated in the principles of the church of Scotland. Her 
 father and mother were both pious : indeed, her mo- 
 ther, whose maiden name was Janet Hamilton, ap- 
 pears, from her letters yet extant, to have possessed a 
 mind of the same character as her daughter afterwards 
 exhibited. 
 
 Isabella was trained to an active life, as well as fa- 
 voured with a superior education. Her grandfather, 
 whose dying bed she had assiduously attended, be- 
 queathed her a legacy of some hundred pounds. In 
 the use to which she applied this money, the soundness 
 of her judgment thus early manifested itself. She re- 
 quested it might be appropriated to the purpose of 
 giving her a finished education. When ten years of 
 age, she was sent to a boarding-school, taught by a 
 lady of distinguished talents and piety. Often has 
 Mrs. Graham repeated to her children the maxims of 
 B 2
 
 4 LIFE AND WHITINGS OP 
 
 Mrs. Betty Morehead. With ardent and unwearied 
 endeavours to attain mental endowments, and especially 
 moral and religious knowledge, she attended the in- 
 structions of Mrs. Morehead for seven successive win- 
 ters. How valuable is early instruction ! With the 
 blessing of God, it is probable that this instructress 
 had laid the foundation of the exertions and usefulness 
 of her pupil in after life. How wise and how gracious 
 are the ways of the Lord ! Knowing the path in 
 which he was afterwards to lead Isabella Marshall, her 
 God was pleased to provide her an education of a 
 much higher kind than was usual in those days. Who 
 would not trust that God who alone can be the Guide 
 of our youth. 
 
 Her father, John Marshall, farmed a paternal estate, 
 called the Heads, near Hamilton. This estate he sold, 
 and rented the estate of Eldersley, once the habitation 
 of Sir William Wallace. There Isabella passed her 
 childhood and her youth. She had no precise recol- 
 lection of the period at which her heart first tasted that 
 the Lord was gracious. As long as she could remem- 
 ber, she took delight in pouring out her soul to God. 
 
 In the woods of Eldersley she selected a bush, to 
 which she resorted in seasons of devotion ; under this 
 bush, she was enabled to devote herself to God, through 
 faith in her Redeemer, before she had attained to her 
 tenth year. To this favourite, and, to her, sacred 
 spot, she would repair, when exposed to temptation, 
 or perplexed with childish troubles. From thence she 
 caused her prayers to ascend, and always found peace 
 and consolation. 
 
 Children cannot at too early a peqpd seek the favour 
 of the God of Heaven. How blessed to be reared and 
 fed by his hand, taught by his Spirit, and strengthened 
 by his grace ! 
 
 The late Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, afterwards President 
 of Princeton college, was at this time one of the minis- 
 ters of the town of Paisley. Isabella sat under his 
 ministry, and at the age of seventeen she was admitted 
 by him to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. In 
 the year, 1765, she was married to Dr. John Graham, 
 then a practising physician in Paisley, a gentleman of 
 liberal education and of respectable standing.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 5 
 
 About a year after their marriage, Dr. Graham was 
 ordered to join his regiment, the Royal Americans, 
 then stationed in Canada. 
 
 Before they sailed for America, a plan had been di- 
 gested for their permanent residence in that country. 
 Dr. Graham calculated on disposing of his commission, 
 and purchasing a tract of land on the Mohawk river, 
 to which his father-in-law, Mr. Marshall, and his family 
 were to follow him. 
 
 The regiment was quartered at Montreal for several 
 months, and here Jessie, the eldest daughter of Dr. and 
 Mrs. Graham, was born. They afterwards removed to 
 Fort Niagara on Lake Ontario, and continued in gar- 
 rison there for four years ; here Joanna and Isabella 
 Graham were born. Mrs. Graham always considered 
 the time she passed at Niagara, as the happiest of her 
 days, contemplated in a temporal view. The officers 
 of the regiment were amiable men, and attached to 
 each other. A few of them were married, and their 
 ladies were united in the ties of friendship. The so- 
 ciety there, secluded from the world, exempt from the 
 collision of individual and separate interests, which of- 
 ten create so much discord in large communities ; and 
 studious to promote the happiness of each other, en- 
 joyed that tranquillity and contentment, which ever 
 accompany a disinterested interchange of friendly of- 
 fices. This fort being in a situation detached from 
 other settlements, the garrrison were, consequently, de- 
 prived of ordinances, and the publick means of grace ; 
 the life of religion in the soul of Mrs. Graham was 
 therefore at a low ebb. A conscientious observance 
 of the Sabbath, which throughout life she maintained, 
 proved to her at Niagara as a remembrance and revi- 
 val of devotional exercises. She wandered, on those 
 sacred days, into the woods Jiround Niagara, searched 
 her Bible, communed with her God and herself, and 
 poured out her soul in prayer to her covenant Lord. 
 Throughout the week, the attention of her friends, her 
 domestic comfort and employments, and the amuse- 
 ments pursued in the garrison, she used to confess, oc- 
 cupied too much of her time, and of her affections. 
 
 Here we behold a little society enjoying much com- 
 fort and happiness in each other, yet falling short of
 
 6 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 that pre-eminent duty., and superior blessedness, of 
 glorifying, as they ought to have done, the God of 
 heaven, who fed them by his bounty, and offered them 
 a full and free salvation in the gospel of his Son. No 
 enjoyments, nor possessions, however ample and ac- 
 ceptable, can crown the soul with peace and true feli- 
 city, unless accompanied with the fear and favour of 
 Him who can speak pardon to the transgressor, and 
 shed abroad his love in the hearts of his children : thus 
 giving an earnest of -spiritual and eternal blessedness, 
 along with temporal good. 
 
 The commencement of the revolutionary struggle 
 in America, rendered it necessary, in the estimation of 
 the British Government, to order to another scene of 
 action the sixtieth regiment, composed in a great mea- 
 sure of Americans. 
 
 Their destination was the island of Antigua ; Dr. 
 Graham, Mrs. Graham, and their family, consisting 
 now of three infant daughters, and two young Indian 
 girls, crossed the woods from Niagara to Oswegatche, 
 and from thence descended the Mohawk in batteux 
 to Schenectady. Here Dr. Graham left his family and 
 went to New-York, to complete a riegociation he had 
 entered into for the sale of his commission, to enable 
 him to settle, as he originally intended, on a tract of 
 land which it was in his power to purchase on the 
 banks of the river they had just descended. The gen- 
 tleman who proposed to purchase his commission, not 
 being able to perfect the arrangement in time, Dr. 
 Graham found himself under the necessity of proceed- 
 ing to Antigua with the regiment. Mrs. Graham, on 
 learning this, hurried down with her family to ac Com- 
 pany him, although he had left it optional with her to 
 remain. 
 
 At New-York they were treated with much kindness 
 by the late Rev. Dr. John Rodgers, and others, especi- 
 ally by the family of Mr. Vanbrugh Livingston. With 
 Mr. Living-ton's daughter, the wife of Major Brown of 
 the sixtieth regiment, Mrs. Graham formed a very 
 warm friendship, which continued during the life of 
 Mrs. Brown. 
 
 On their arrival in Antigua, Mrs. Graham was intro- 
 duced to the families of two brothers of the name
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 7 
 
 of^ Gilbert, gentlemen of property, and great piety. 
 They were connected with the Methodists, and;, by their 
 pious exertions, and exemplary lives, with the blessing 
 of God, became instruments of much good to many in 
 that island. 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. Graham participated largely in the hos- 
 pitality and friendship of many respectable families at 
 St. John's. 
 
 Dr. Graham was absent in St. Vincent's for some 
 months ; having accompanied, as surgeon, a military 
 force, under Major Etherington, sent thither to quell 
 an insurrection of the Caribbeans. 
 
 On his return to Antigua, he found Mrs. Graham al- 
 most inconsolable for the loss of her valuable mother, 
 the tidings of whose death had just reached her. He 
 roused her from this state of mind by saying, that 
 ' God might perhaps call her to a severer trial, by 
 taking her husband also.' The warning appeared pro- 
 phetic. On the 17th of November, 1774, he was seized 
 with a feverish disorder, which was not, for the first 
 three days, alarming, in the estimation of attending 
 physicians ; yet it increased afterwards with such vio- 
 lence, as to terminate his mortal existence on the 22d. 
 The whole course of the Doctor's illness produced a 
 most interesting scene. He calculated on death ; ex- 
 pressed his perfect resignation ; gave his testimony to 
 the emptiness of a world, in which its inhabitants are 
 too much occupied in pursuing bubbles, which vanish 
 into air ; and died in the hope of faith in that divine 
 Redeemer tcho is able to save to the uttermost alt that come 
 unto God by Him. At the commencement of her hus- 
 band's illness, Mrs. Graham entertained no apprehen- 
 sions of danger to his life. When hope, as to continuance 
 of temporal life, was extinguished, her anxiety for his 
 spiritual and eternal welfare exercised her whole soul. 
 When he breathed his last, gratitude to God, and joy at 
 the testimony he had given of dying in the faith of Jesus, 
 afforded a support to her mind, which the painful feel- 
 ings of her heart could not immediately shake : but 
 when the awfiil solemnities were over earth to earth, 
 dust to dust- and the spirit gone to God who gave it 
 when all was still, and she was a widow indeed that 
 tenderness of soul and sympathy of friendship., for
 
 .8 L1FB AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 which Mrs. Graham was ever remarkable, were brought 
 into severe and tumultuous exercise. Her husband, 
 companion, protector, was gone ; a man of superior 
 mind, great taste, warm affection, and domestic habits. 
 She was left with three daughters, the eldest of whom 
 was not more than five years of age ; and with the 
 prospect of having another child in a few months. Of 
 temporal property, she possessed very little : she was 
 at a distance from her father's house : the widow and 
 the fatherless were in a foreign land. The change in 
 her circumstances w r as as sudden as it was great. 
 
 She had now no sympathizing heart to receive and 
 return the confidence of unbounded friendship 5 and 
 thus, by reciprocal communion, to alleviate the trials, 
 and enrich the enjoyments of life. All the pleasing 
 plans, all the cherished prospects, of future settlement 
 in life, were cut off in a moment. While sinking into 
 a softened indifference to the world, in the contempla- 
 tion of her severe loss, she was, on the other hand,, 
 roused into exertion for the sustenance and support of 
 her young family, whose earthly dependance was now 
 necessarily upon her. 
 
 Not satisfied with the custom of the island, in bury- 
 ing soon after life is extinct, her uneasiness became so 
 great, that her friends judged it prudent to have her 
 husband's grave opened, to convince her that no symp- 
 toms of returning life had been exhibited there. The 
 fidelity of her heart was now as strongly marked as her 
 tenderness. She dressed herself in the habiliments of 
 a widow, and, surveying herself in a mirror, determined 
 never to lay them aside. This she strictly adhered 
 to, and rejected every overture, afterwards made to 
 her, of again entering into the married state. She 
 breathed the feelings of her heart in a little poem, in 
 which she dedicated herself to her God as a widow 
 indeed. 
 
 On examining into the state of her husband's affairs, 
 she discovered that there remained not quite two hun- 
 dred pounds sterling in his agent's hands. 
 
 The circumstances afforded an opportunity for the 
 display of the purity of Mrs. Graham's principles, and 
 her rigid adherence to the commandments of her God. 
 in every situation.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 9 
 
 It was proposed to her, and urged with much argu- 
 ment, to sell the two Indian girls, her late husband's 
 property. 
 
 No considerations of interest, or necessity, could 
 prevail upon her to make merchandise of her fellow- 
 creatures, the works of her heavenly Father's hand ; 
 immortal beings. One of these girls accompanied her 
 to Scotland, where she was married ; the other died in 
 Antigua, leaving an affectionate testimony to the kind- 
 ness of her dear master and mistress. 
 
 The surgeon's mate of the regiment was a young 
 man whom Dr. Graham had early taken under his pa- 
 tronage. The kindness 'of his patron had so far 
 favoured him with a medical education, that he was 
 enabled to succeed him as a surgeon to the regiment. 
 
 Notwithstanding the slender finances of Mrs. Graham, 
 feeling for the situation of Dr. H , she presented 
 to him her husband's medical library, and his sword : 
 a rare instance of disinterested regard for the welfare 
 of another. 
 
 This was an effort towards observing the second 
 table of the law, in doing which she was actuated like- 
 wise by that principle which flows from keeping the 
 first table also. Nor was the friendship of Dr. and Mrs. 
 Graham misplaced. The seeds of gratitude were sown 
 in an upright heart. Dr. H , from year to year, ma- 
 nifested his sense of obligation, by remitting to the 
 widow such sums of money as he could afford. This 
 was a reciprocity of kind offices, equally honourable to 
 the benefactor, and to him who received the benefit : 
 an instance, alas ! too rarely met with in a selfish world. 
 
 It may here be remarked, in order to show how much 
 temporal supplies are under the direction of a special 
 providence, that Dr. H 's remittances and friendly 
 letters were occasionally received by Mrs. Graham, 
 until the year 1795 : after this period her circumstances 
 were so favourably altered, , as to render such aid un- 
 necessary : and from that time she heard no more from 
 Dr. H ,- neither could she hear what became of him, 
 notwithstanding her frequent inquiries. 
 
 It may be profitable here to look at Mrs. Graham, 
 contrasted with those around her whose condition in 
 the world was prosperous. Many persons, then in 
 B 5
 
 10 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 Antigua, were busy and successful in the accumulation 
 of wealth, to the exclusion of every thought tending to 
 toliness, to God, and to heaven. The portion which 
 they desired, they possessed. What then ? They are 
 since gone to another world. The m&gic of the words, 
 ' My property,' ' An independent fortune/ has beeft 
 dispelled ; and that for which they toiled, and in which 
 they gloried, has since passed into a hundred hands : 
 the illusion is vanished, and, unless they made their 
 peace with God through the blood of the cross, they 
 left this world, and, alas ! found no heaven before 
 them. But, amidst apparent affliction and outward 
 distress, God was preparing the heart of this widow, 
 by the discipline of his covenant, for future usefulness ; 
 to be a blessing, probably, to thousands of her race, 
 and to enter, finally, on that rest which remaineth for 
 the people of God. 
 
 Her temporal support' was not, in her esteem, ' an 
 independent fortune,' but a life of dependance on the 
 care of her heavenly Father : she had more delight in 
 suffering and doing his will, than in all riches. The 
 secret of the Lord is with those who fear him, and he will 
 show them his covenant. To those who walk with God, 
 he will show the way in which they should go ; and 
 their experience will assure them he directs their paths. 
 Bread shall be given them, and their water shall be sure. 
 She parsed through many trials of a temporal nature, 
 but she was comforted of her God through them all ; 
 and at last was put in possession of an eternal treasure 
 in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, 'nor 
 thieves break through and steal. May this contrast be 
 solemnly examined, and the example of this child of 
 God made a blessing to many ! 
 
 Previously to her confinement, and the birth of her 
 son, Mrs. Graham set her house in order, in the proba- 
 ble expectation of her decease. She wrote a letter to 
 her father in Scotland, commending her young family - 
 to his protection ; also a letter to her friend Mrs. G , 
 giving the charge of her affairs, and of her family, to 
 her and her husband Captain G , during their stay in 
 Antigua. 
 
 In this letter she expressed her full confidence in the 
 friendship of Mrs. G , but at the same time declared
 
 JfRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 11 
 
 lier solicitude about her indifference to spiritual con- 
 cerns j and dealt very faithfully with her conscience, 
 as to the propriety and necessity of her being more 
 engaged to seek the favour of God, through the tne- 
 diation and atonement of the blessed Redeemer. 
 
 It pleased God, however, to preserve her life at this 
 time ; and she soon after dedicated her infant son to 
 her God in baptism ; giving him the name of his ra- 
 ther, John. 
 
 Having now no object to induce her to stay longer 
 at Antigua, she disposed of her slender property, and, 
 placing her money in the hands of Major Brown, re- 
 quested him to take a passage for herself and family, 
 and to lay in their sea-stores. 
 
 Mrs. Graham, after seeing a railing placed around 
 the grave of her beloved husband, that his remains 
 might not be disturbed until mingled with their kin- 
 dred dust, bade adieu to her kind friends, and with a 
 sorrowful heart, turned her face towards her native 
 land. Xo ship offering for Scotland at this time, she 
 embarked with her family in one bound to Belfast in 
 Ireland. Major Brown and his brother officers saw her 
 safely out to sea ; and he gave her a letter to a gentle- 
 man in Belfast, containing, as he said, a bill for the 
 balance of the money she had deposited with him. 
 After a stormy and trying voyage, she arrived in safety 
 at her destined port. The correspondent in Ireland of 
 Major Brown, delivered her a letter from that officer, 
 expressive of esteem and affection 5 and stating, that, 
 as a proof of respect for the memory of their deceased 
 friend, he and his brother officers had taken the liberty 
 of defraying the expences of her voyage. 
 
 Consequently, the bill he had given was for the full 
 amount of her original deposit ; and thus, like the bre- 
 thren of Joseph, she found all her money in the sack's 
 mouth. Being a stranger in Ireland, without a friend 
 to lock out for a proper vessel in which to embark for 
 Scotland, she and her children went passengers in a 
 packet 5 on board of which, as- she afterwards learned, 
 there was not even a compass. A great storm arose, 
 and they were tossed to and fro for nine hours in im- 
 minent danger. The rudder and the masts were car- 
 ried away ; every thing on deck thrown overboard ;
 
 12 LIFE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 and at length the vessel struck in the night upon a 
 rock, on the coast of Ayr, in Scotland. The greatest 
 confusion pervaded the passengers and crew. Among 
 a number of young students, going to the University 
 at Edinburgh, some were swearing, some praying, and 
 all were in despair. The widow only remained com- 
 posed. With her babe in her arms, she hushed her 
 weeping family, and told them, that in a few minutes 
 they should all go to jofri their father in a better world. 
 The passengers wrote their names in their pocket 
 books, that their bodies might be recognized, and re- 
 ported for the information of their friends. One 
 young man came into the cabin, asking, ' Is there 
 any peace here ?' He was surprised to find a female 
 so tranquil j a short conversation soon evinced that 
 religion was the source of comfort and hope to them 
 both in this perilous hour. He prayed, and then read 
 the 107th Psalm. While repeating these words, He 
 maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are 
 still, the vessel swung off the rock, by the rising of the 
 tide. She had been dashing against it for an hour and 
 a half, the sea making a breach over her, so that the hold 
 was now nearly filled with water. Towards morning, 
 the storm subsided, and the vessel floated until she 
 rested on a sand-bank. Assistance was afforded from 
 the shore ; and the shipwrecked company took shelter 
 in a small inn, where the men seemed anxious to drown 
 the remembrance of danger in a bowl of punch. How 
 faithful a monitor is conscience ! This voice is listened 
 to in extreme peril. But, oh, infatuated man, how 
 anxious art thou to stifle the warnings of wisdom in 
 the hour of prosperity ! Thousands of our race, no 
 doubt, delay the preparation for eternity, until, vi- 
 sited with sudden death, they have scarcely a moment 
 left for the performance of this solemn work. 
 
 Mrs. Graham retired to a private room, to offer up 
 thanksgiving to God for his goodness, and to commend 
 herself and her orphans, to his future care. 
 
 A gentleman from Ayr, hearing of the shipwreck, 
 came down to offer assistance ; and in him Mrs. Graham 
 was happy enough to recognize an old friend. This 
 gentleman paid her and her family much attention,
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 13 
 
 carrying them to his own house, and treating them 
 with kindness and hospitality. 
 
 In a day'or two after this, she reached Cartside, and 
 entered her father's dwelling j not the large ancient 
 mansion, in which she had left him, but a thatched 
 cottage, consisting of three apartments. Possessed of 
 a too easy temper, and unsuspecting disposition, Mr. 
 Marshall had been induced to become security for 
 some of his friends, whose failure in business had re- 
 duced him to poverty. He now acted as factor of a 
 gentleman's estate in this neighbourhood, of whose fa- 
 ther he hat! been the intimate friend, with a salary of 
 twenty pounds sterling per annum, and the use of a 
 small farm. 
 
 Tn a short time, however, his health failed him, and 
 he was deprived of this scanty pittance, being inca- 
 pable, as the proprietor was pleased to think, of fulfil- 
 ing the duties of factor. 
 
 Alive to every call of duty, Mrs. Graham now con- 
 sidered her father as added, with her children, to the 
 number of dependants on her industry. She proved, 
 indeed, a good daughter ; faithful, affectionate, and 
 dutiful, she supported her father through his declining 
 years ; and he died at her house, during her residence 
 in Edinburgh, surrounded by his daughter and her 
 children, who tenderly watched him through his last 
 illness. 
 
 From Cartside she removed to Paisley, where she 
 taught a small school. The slender profits of such ah 
 establishment, with a Avidow's pension of sixteen pounds 
 sterling, were the means of subsistence for herself and 
 her family. When she first returned to Cartside, a 
 few religious friends called to welcome her home. 
 The gay and wealthy part of her former acquaintances, 
 flutterers, who, like the butterfly, spread their silken 
 wings only to bask in the warmth of a summer sun, 
 found not their way to the lonely cottage of an af- 
 flicted widow. Her worth, although in after life 
 rendered splendid by its own fruits, was at this time 
 hidden, except to those whose reflection and wisdom 
 had taught them to discern it more in the faith and 
 submission of the soul, than in the selfish and extrava- 
 gant exhibitions of the wealth bestowed by the bounty
 
 14 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 of Providence, but expended too often for the purposes 
 of vanity and dissipation. 
 
 In such circumstances, the Christian character of 
 Mrs. Graham was strongly marked. Sensible that her 
 heavenly Father saw it good, at this time, to depress 
 her outward condition, full of filial tenderness, and, 
 like a real child of God, resigned to whatever should 
 appear to be his will, her conduct conformed to his 
 dispensations. With a cheerful heart, and in the hope 
 of faith, she set herself to walk down into the valley of 
 humiliation, leaning upon Jesus, as the Beloved of her 
 soul. 1 delight to do thy will, O my God, yea, thy law 
 is within my heart, was the spontaneous effusion of her 
 genuine faith. She received, with affection, the scrip- 
 tural admonition, Humble yourselves therefore under 
 the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due 
 time : casting all your care upon him ; for he careth for 
 you. 
 
 She laid aside her childrens' fine frocks, and clothed 
 them in homespun. At Cartside, she sold the butter 
 she made, and her children were fed on the milk. It 
 was her wish to eat her own bread, however coarse, 
 and to owe no person any thing but love. At Paisley, 
 for a season, her breakfast and supper was porridge, 
 and her dinner potatoes and salt. Peace with God, 
 and a contented mind, supplied the lack of earthly 
 prosperity ; and she adverted to this her humble fare, 
 to comfort the hearts of suffering sisters, with whom 
 she corresponded at a later period of life, when in 
 comfortable circumstances. 
 
 Meantime, the Lord was not unmindful of his be- 
 lieving child ; but was preparing the minds of her 
 friends for introducing her to a more enlarged sphere 
 of usefulness. 
 
 Her pious and attached friend, Mrs. Major Brown, 
 had accompanied her husband to Scotland, and they 
 now resided on their estate in Ayrshire. Mr. Peter 
 Reid, a kind friend when in Antigua, was now a mer- 
 chant in London. This gentleman advised her to in- 
 vest the little money she had brought home, (and 
 which she had still preserved,) in muslins, which she 
 could work into finer articles of dress ; and he would 
 ship them in a vessel of his own, freight free, to be
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 15 
 
 sold in the West Indies. His object was partly to in- 
 crease her little capital, and partly to divert her 
 mind from meditating so deeply on the loss of her la- 
 mented husband ; for she shed -o many tears while 
 at Cartside, as to injure her eye-sight, and to render 
 the xise of spectacles necessary, 'i he plan, so kindly 
 proposed, was soon adopted : and the muslin dresses 
 were, accordingly, shipped : but she soon afterwards 
 learned that the ship was captured by the French. 
 This was a severe blow to her temporal property, and 
 more deeply felt, as it was received at the time when 
 her father was deprived of his office. 
 
 Mrs. Brown, after consulting with the Rev. Mr. Ran- 
 dall, of Glasgow ; the Rev. Mr. Ellis, of Paisley ; Lady 
 Glenorchy and Mrs. Walker, of Edinburgh ; proposed 
 to Mrs. Graham to take charge of a boarding-school in 
 the metropolis. 
 
 The friends of religion were of opinion, that such an 
 establishment, under the direction of such a character 
 fis Mrs. Graham, would be of singular benefit to young 
 ladies, destined for important stations in society. Her 
 liberal educution, her acquaintance with life, and her 
 humble, yet ardent piety, were considered peculiarly 
 calculated to qualify her for so important a trust. 
 
 Another friend had suggested to Mrs. Graham the 
 propriety of opening a boarding-house in Edinburgh, 
 which he thought could, through his influence, be ea- 
 sily filled by students. 
 
 She saw obstacles to both ; a boarding-house did 
 not appear suitable, as her daughters would not be so 
 likely to have the same advantages of education as in 
 a "boarding-school. To engage as an instructress of 
 youth on so large a scale, with so many competitor, 
 appeared, for her, an arduous undertaking. 
 
 In this perplexity, as in former trials, she fled to her 
 unerring Counsellor, the Lord, her covenant God. 
 She set apart a day for fasting and prayer. She 
 spread her case before the Lord, earnestly beseeching 
 him to make his word a light to her fee f, and a lamp 
 to her path ; and to lead her in the way she should go ; 
 especially, that she might be directed to choose the 
 path in which she could best promote his glory, and 
 the highest interests of herself and her children. On
 
 16 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 searching the Scriptures, her mind was fastened on 
 these words, in John xxi. 15. Simon, son of Jonas, 
 lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, 
 Lord ; thou knowesi that I love thee. He said unto him, 
 Feed my lambs. 
 
 Never, perhaps, was this commandment applied with 
 more energy, nor accompanied with a richer blessing, 
 since the days of the Apostle, than in the present 
 instance. 
 
 Her determination was accordingly made. She re- 
 solved to undertake the education of youth, trusting 
 that her Lord would make her an humble instrument 
 to feed his lambs. Here was exhibited an instance of 
 simple, yet powerful faith in a believer surrounded by 
 temporal perplexities ; and of condescension and rnercy 
 on the part of a compassionate God. Light, unseen 
 by mortal eyes, descended on her path. 
 
 How weak, perhaps enthusiastic, would this have 
 appeared to the busy crowd, blind to the special pro- 
 vidence exercised by the God of heaven towards all his 
 creatures ! 
 
 When the assembled universe shall, at the great day 
 f judgment, be called around the throne of the Judge 
 >f the whole earth, such conduct will then appear to 
 aave been wise, judicious, and efficient : but to the eye 
 )f carnal reason, absorbed in the devices and cnlcula- 
 ions of worldly wisdom, it now appears delusive and 
 mavailing. There are some passages in Miss Hannah 
 VIore's Practical Piety, on the sufferings of good men, 
 peculiarly applicable to the faith, exercises, and con-> 
 duct of Mrs. Graham, at this season of difficulty and 
 deprivation. She felt the pressure of her affliction ; 
 but, like the Psalmist, she gave herself unto prayer, 
 realizing, in a measure, the poet's description : 
 
 * Prayer ardent opens heaven, Ie(s down a stream 
 Of glory on the consecrated hour 
 Of man in audience with the Deity.' 
 
 Although her faith was strong, yet her mind was 
 xnder such agitation, from her total want of funds to 
 rfirry her plan into effect, and from other conflicting 
 sxercises, as to throw her into a nervous fever, which 
 lept her confined to her bed for some weeks. On her
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. it 
 
 recovery, she felt it her duty to go forward, trusting 
 that He who had directed her path, would provide the 
 means that were necessary to enable her to walk in 
 it : she sold her heavy furniture, packed up all her 
 remaining effects, and prepared to set out from Pais- 
 ley for Edinburgh, on a Monday, sometime in the year 
 1780. 
 
 On the previous Saturday, she sat by her fire mus- 
 ing and wondering in what manner the Lord would 
 appear for her at this time, when a letter was brought 
 to her from Mr. Peter Reid, inclosing a sum of money 
 which he had recovered from the underwriters, on ac- 
 count of Mrs. Graham's muslins, captured on their pas- 
 sage to the West Indies. Mrs. Graham had considered 
 them as totally lost, but her friend had taken the pre- 
 caution to have them insured. 
 
 With this supply, she was enabled to accomplish her 
 object, and arrived in Edinburgh with her family. Her 
 friend Mrs. Brown met her there, and stayed with her 
 a few days, to comfort and patronize her in her new 
 undertaking. Mrs. Brown was her warm and constant 
 friend, until her death, which happened in Paisley, in 
 1782, when she was attending the communion. She 
 bequeathed her daughter Mary to Mrs. Graham's care. 
 But in 17S5 the daughter followed the mother, being 
 cut off by a fever, in the twelfth year of her age. 
 
 It may be proper here to introduce the name of Mr. 
 George Anderson, a merchant in Glasgow, who had 
 been an early and particular friend of Dr. Graham. 
 He kindly offered his friendly services, and the use of 
 his purse, to promote the welfare of the bereaved fa- 
 mily of his friend. Mrs. Graham occasionally drew 
 upon both. The money she borrowed, she had the 
 satisfaction of repaying with interest. 
 
 A correspondence was carried on between them after 
 Mrs. Graham's removal to America, until the death of 
 Mr. Anderson in 18O2. Such was the acknowledged 
 integrity of this gentleman, that he was very generally 
 known in Glasgow by the appellation of ' honest 
 George Anderson.' 
 
 During her residence in Edinburgh, she was honour- 
 ed with the friendship and counsel of many persons of 
 dietinction and piety. The Viscountess Glenorchy^
 
 18 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 Lady Ross Baillie, Lady Jane Belches, Mrs. Walter 
 Scott, (mother of the poet,) Mrs. Dr. Davidson, and 
 Mrs. Bailie Walker, were among her warm personal 
 friends. The Rev. Dr. Erskine, the Rev. Dr. Davidson, 
 (formerly the Rev. Mr. Randall,) and many other res- 
 pectable clergymen, were also her friends. She and 
 her family attended on the ministry of Dr. Davidson, an 
 able, evangelical, useful pastor. 
 
 Her school soou became considerable in numbers 
 and character. Her early and superior education now 
 proved of essential service to her. She was indefati- 
 gable in her attention te the instruction of her pupils. 
 While she was faithful in giving them those accom- 
 plishments which were to qualify them for acting a dis- 
 tinguished part in this world, she was also zealous in 
 directing their attention to that Gospel by which they 
 were instructed to obtain an inheritance in the eternal 
 world. She felt a high responsibility, and took a deep 
 interest in their temporal and spiritual welfare. As a 
 mother in Israel, she wished to train them up in the 
 ways of the Lord. 
 
 She prayed with them morning and evening, and on 
 the sabbath, (which she was careful to devote to its 
 proper use,) she took great pains to imbue their minds 
 with the truths of religion,. Nor did, she labour in vain. 
 Although she was often heard to lament that her life 
 was unprofitable, compared with her opportunities of 
 doing good, yet, when her children, Mr. and Mrs. B , 
 visited Scotland in 1801, they heard of many charac- 
 ters, then-' pious and exemplary, who dated their first 
 religious impressions from those seasons of early in- 
 struction which they enjoyed under Mrs. Graham, 
 while in Edinburgh. 
 
 Mrs. Graham's manner in the management of youth 
 was peculiarly happy. While she kept them diligent 
 in their studies, and strictly obedient to the laws she 
 had established, she was endeared to them by her ten- 
 derness ; and the young ladies instructed in her school, 
 retained for her, in after life, a degree of filial affection, 
 which was expressed on many affecting occasions. 
 This was afterwards remarkably the case with her pu- 
 pils in America. Her little republic was completely 
 governed by a system of equitable laws. On every
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GRAHAM, 19 
 
 alleged offence, a court-martial, as they termed it, was 
 held, and the accused tried by her peers. There were 
 no arbitrary punishments, no sallies of capricious pas- 
 sion. The laws were promulgated, and obedience was 
 indispensable. The sentences of the courts-martial 
 were always approved, and had a salutary effect. In 
 short there was a combination of authority, decision, 
 and tenderness, in Mrs. Graham's government, that 
 rendered its subjects industrious, intelligent, circum- 
 spect, and happy. She enjoyed their happiness ; and, 
 in cases of sickness, she watched her patients with un- 
 remitting solicitude and care, sparing no expence to 
 promote their restoration to health. 
 
 A strong trait in her character was distinctly marked, 
 by her practice of educating the daughters of pious 
 ministers at half price. This was setting an example 
 worthy of imitation. It was a conduct conformable to 
 scriptural precept. If (said the apostle Paul) we have 
 sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if ire 
 shall reap your carnal things ? Do ye not know that they 
 irhich minister about holy tilings, live of the things of the 
 temple 9 Even so hath the Lord ordained, ihat they 
 which preach the gospel, should live by the gospel. 
 
 Always conscientious in obeying the commandments 
 of her God, she observed them in this matter, giving, 
 in her proportion, at least, the widow's mite. 
 
 By another plan (for she was ingenious in contriv- 
 ances to do good) she greatly assisted those in slender 
 circumstances, especially such as were of the household 
 of faith. Believing that the use of sums of ten, fifteen, 
 or twenty pounds in hand, would be serviceable, by 
 way of capital, to persons in a moderate business, she 
 was in the habit of making such advances, and taking 
 back the value in articles which they had for sale. 
 She charged no interest, being amply repaid in the 
 luxury of her own feelings, when she beheld the be- 
 nefit it produced to her humble friends. The board 
 of her pupils being paid in advance, she was enabled 
 to adopt this plan with more facility. Were her spirit 
 more prevalent in the world, what good might be done ! 
 The heart would be expanded, reciprocal confidence 
 and affection cherished ; and, instead of beholding 
 worms of the dust fighting for particles of yellow sand,
 
 90 LIFE AND WRITINGS OJ 1 
 
 we should behold a company of affectionate brethren^ 
 leaning upon, and assisting each other through the 
 wilderness of this world. Look not every man on his 
 own things, said Paul, but every man also on. the things 
 of others. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil 
 the law of Christ. 
 
 On the subject of promoting the external accom- 
 plishments of her scholars, it became a question of im- 
 portance, how far Mrs. Graham was to countenance 
 them in their attendance on public balls to what 
 length it was proper for her to go, so as to meet the 
 received opinions of the world in these concerns. She 
 consulted with her pious friends, and wrote to Lady 
 Glenorchy on the subject. Her Ladyship's letter in 
 reply is so excellent, that it is given at full length with 
 Mrs. Graham's letters, and will, consequently, be found 
 in this publication. In after life, Mrs. Graham was of 
 opinion, that she and her scholars had gone too far in 
 conformity with the opinions and manners of the world. 
 A reference to this deviation from what she considered 
 a close Christian walk in life, will be frequently found 
 in her subsequent exercises : the tenderness of her own 
 conscience, however, often made her speak of her de- 
 parture from a strictly religious course, with more se- 
 verity than it really deserved, considering tfie delicacy 
 of her situation, as an instructress of children whose 
 parents, probably, were averse from restraining their 
 children so rmich, in the style of their education, as 
 might have suited Mrs. Graham's views of a Christian's 
 circumspection, and abstraction from worldly amuse- 
 ments and pursuits. 
 
 Lady Glenorchy, being in a delicate state of health, 
 made frequent use of Mrs. Graham as her almoner to 
 the poor. On one of these visits, Mrs. Graham called 
 on a poor woman, with a present of a new gown. ' I 
 am obliged to you and her ladyship for your kindness,' 
 said the poor woman, rich in faith ; ' but I maun gang 
 to the right airth first, ye wad na hae come, gin ye had 
 na been sent ; the Lord hath left me lately wi but ae 
 goon for week day and sabbath, but now he has sent 
 vou wi a sabbath day's goon :' meaning, in plain 
 H/nglish, that her thankfulness was first due to the 
 God of providence, who had put it into the hearts
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 21 
 
 of his children to supply the wants of this poor dis- 
 ciple. 
 
 Mrs. Graham used to repeat, with pleasure, an anec- 
 dote of her friends, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas. Mr. Doug- 
 las was a talluw-chandler, and furnished candles for 
 Lady Glenorchy's chapel. The excise tax was very 
 high on those articles ; and many persons of the trade 
 were accustomed to defraud the revenue by one stra- 
 tagem or another. Religious principle would not per- 
 mit Mr. Douglas to do so. Mrs. Graham, one evening, 
 was remarking how handsomely the chapel was lighted. 
 ' Aye, Mrs. Graham,' said Mrs. Douglas, ' and it is all 
 pure the light is all pure, it burns bright.' It would 
 be well if Christians of every trade and profession were 
 to act in like manner 5 that the merchant should have 
 no hand in unlawfully secreting property, or in encou- 
 raging perjury, to accumulate gains ; that the man of 
 great wealth should have neither usury, nor the shed- 
 ding of blood by privateering, to corrode his treasures ; 
 that all should observe a just weight and a just mea- 
 sure in their dealings, as in the presence of God. Let 
 every Christian seek after the consolation of Mrs. 
 Douglas, that the light which refreshes him may be 
 pure. 
 
 It being stated as matter of regret, that poor people, 
 when sick, suffered greatly, although while in health 
 their daily labour supported them, Mrs. Graham sug- 
 gested the idea of every poor person in the neighbour- 
 hood laying aside one penny a week, to form a fund 
 for relieving the contributors when in sickness. Mr. 
 Douglas undertook the formation of such an institu- 
 tion. It went for a long time under the name of 
 ' The Penny Society.' It afterwards received a more 
 liberal patronage, has now a handsome capital, and is 
 called ' The Society for the Relief of the Destitute 
 Sick.' 
 
 In July, 1786, Mrs. Graham attended the dying bed 
 of her friend and patroness, Lady Glenorchy : this 
 lady had shown her friendship in a variety of Avays, 
 during her valuable life ; she had one of Mrs. Graham's 
 daughters for some time hi her family ; condescended 
 herself to instruct her, and sent her for a year to a 
 French boarding-school in Rotterdam ; she defrayed
 
 29 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 all her expences While there, and furnished her with a 
 liberal supply of pocket money, that she might not see 
 distress without the power of relieving it. So much 
 does a person's conduct in maturer years depend upon 
 the habits of early life, that it is wise to accustom 
 young people to feel for, and contribute, in their de- 
 gree, to the relief of the afflicted and the needy. 
 
 Lady Glenorchy was a person in whom was emi- 
 nently displayed the power of religion. Descended 
 from an ancient family, married to the eldest son of 
 the Earl 'of Breadalbane, beautiful and accomplished, 
 she was received into the first circles of society. With 
 her husband she made the tour of Europe, visiting the 
 several courts on that continent. Yet all these tilings 
 she counted but loss for the excellency of the. knowledge 
 of Christ Jesus her Lord. She became a widow while 
 yet in the bloom of youth. She devoted herself to the 
 service of the Lord, and was made singularly useful. 
 She kept a regular account of her income, and of the 
 different objects to which it was applie I She built 
 and supported several chapels in England ; and erected 
 one in Edinburgh, in which pious ministers of different 
 denominations should be admitted to preach. 
 
 She also built a manufactory for the employment of 
 the poor, where the education of children was strictly 
 attended to : even the porter's lodges on each side of 
 her gate were occupied as schools for the neighbour- 
 ing poor. Her pleasure grounds were thrown open 
 for the accommodation of the numbers who usually 
 come from a distance, to attend a communion season 
 in Scotland. In a year of scarcity, the same grounds 
 were planted with potatoes for the supply of the poor. 
 She distributed with great judgment various sums of 
 money in aid of families who were poor, yet deserving. 
 She never encouraged idleness or pride, and often re- 
 marked, that it was better to assist people to do well 
 in the sphere which Providence had assigned them, 
 than to attempt to raise .them beyond it. There was 
 so much wisdom in the active application of her chari- 
 ties, as to render them both efficient and extensive. 
 She seldom was seen in these works of beneficence ; 
 her object was to do good : the gratitude of those on 
 whom she bestowed benefits, was no part of her mo-
 
 MKS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 23 
 
 tive, or even of her calculation. What she did, she 
 did unto God, and in obedience to his commands : her 
 faith and hope were in God. 
 
 She contributed largely to the public-spirited insti- 
 tutions established at Edinburgh in her day. One or 
 two of the most useful she was the first to suggest the 
 idea of, always accompanying her recommendation 
 with a handsome donation, in money, to encourage 
 the work. 
 
 The venerable Society for the Promotion of Chris- 
 tian Knowledge and Piety, shared largely her patron- 
 age ; and, at her death, she bequeathed them five 
 thousand pounds. 
 
 She indulged the hope of seeing an union of exertion 
 among all Christian denominations, for sending the 
 Gospel to the Heathen. How delighted would she 
 have been with the Missionaiy Societies of London 
 and elsewhere, had her life been spared to behold 
 their extensive operations ! 
 
 She sold her estate of Barnton, that she might apply 
 the money^ to a more disinterested object than her 
 personal accommodation, and that her fortune might 
 be expended with her life. ' I recollect here,' said 
 Saurin, in one of his sermons, ' an epitaph said to be 
 engraven on the tomb of Atolus of Rheims : He ex- 
 ported his fortune before him into Heaven by his chari- 
 ties he is gone thither to enjoy it.' 
 
 This might be truly said of Lady Glenorchy. la 
 her manners she discovered great dignity of character, 
 tempered with the meekness and benevolence of the 
 Gospel. Her family was arranged with much economy, 
 and a strict regard to moral and religious habits. She 
 usually supported some promising and pious young 
 minister as her chaplain, which served him as an intro- 
 duction to respectability in the church. With very 
 few exceptions, all those who entered her family a.' 
 servants, were, in process of time, brought under reli- 
 gious impressions. So far it pleased the Lord to 
 honour her pious endeavours to render her family one 
 of the dwellings of the God of Jacob. 
 
 She carried on an extensive correspondence with 
 the agents of her charities in various places, as well as 
 with persons in the highest walks of life. The late
 
 24 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 celebrated William Pitt, whom she had known when a 
 boy, was pleased with her letters, and replied in the 
 most respectful terms to the counsel which she at times 
 had given him, on the higher concerns of his spiritual 
 and eternal welfare. 
 
 It is much to be desired that some suitable biogra- 
 phical account of this valuable lady should be prepared 
 for the benefit of the public, and the gratification of 
 her numerous friends. 
 
 Mrs. Graham had the honour of attending the death- 
 bed, and of closing the eyes, of this eminent Christian. 
 It had been Lady Glenorchy's express desire that Mrs. 
 Graham should be sent for to attend her dying bed, if 
 within twenty miles of her, when such attendance 
 should be necessary. 
 
 When Dr. AVitherspoon visited Scotland, in the year 
 1785,- he had frequent conversations with Mrs. Graham, 
 on the subject of her removal to America. She gave 
 him at this time some reason to calculate on her going 
 thither, as soon as her children should have completed 
 the course of education she had proposed for them. 
 
 Mrs. Graham had entertained a strong partiality for 
 America ever since her former residence there, and had 
 indulged a secret expectation of returning thither. 
 
 -It was her opinion, and that of many pious people, 
 that America was the country where the Church of 
 Christ would eventually flourish. She -was therefore 
 desirous to leave her offspring there. 
 
 After some correspondence with Dr. Witherspoon, 
 and consultation with pious friends, her plan received 
 the approbation- of the latter. She had an invitation 
 from many respectable persons in the city of New-York, 
 with assurances of patronage and support. She ar- 
 ranged her affairs for quitting: Edinburgh. The Al- 
 gerines being then at war with the United States, her 
 friends insisted on her chartering a small British vessel, 
 to . carry herself and family to the port of New York. 
 This increased her expences ; but Providence, in faith- 
 fulness and mercy, sent her at this time a remittance 
 from Dr. Henderson : and a legacy of two hundred 
 pounds bequeathed her by Lady Glenorchy, as a mark 
 of her regard, was of great use to her in her present 
 circumstances.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA OKAJ1A1I. 2!> 
 
 Thus, in the month of July, 1789, Mrs. Graham once 
 more prepared to go to a land whwh the Lord seemed ta 
 tell her of ; and after a pleasant though tedious .voyage, 
 she landed in New York on the 8th day of September. 
 
 At New York she and her family were received with 
 the greatest cordiality and confidence. The late Rev. 
 Dr. Rodgers and the Rev. Dr. Mason were especially 
 kind to her. She came eminently prepared to instruct 
 her pupils in all the higher branches of female educa- 
 tion : the favourable change effected by her exertions 
 in this respect, was soon visible in the minds, manners, 
 and accomplishments of the young ladies committed to 
 her care. She opened her school on the 5th of Octoi 
 ber, 1789, with five scholars, and before the end of the 
 same month the number increased to fifty. She not 
 only imparted knowledge to her pupils, but also, by her 
 conversation and example, prepared their minds to re- 
 ceive it in such a manner as to apply it to practical 
 advantage. While she taught them to regard external 
 accomplishments as ornaments to the female character, 
 she was careful to recommend the practice of virtue, as 
 the highest accomplishment of all, and to inculcate the 
 principles of religion, as the only solid foundation for 
 morality and virtue. The annual examinations of her 
 scholars were always well attended, and gave great sa- 
 tisfaction. General Washington, while at New York, 
 honoured her with his patronage. "jQhe venerable and 
 amiable Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the State 
 of New York, then the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Moore, 
 never once was absent from those examinations. She 
 was sensible of his friendship, and always spoke of him 
 in terms of great esteem and respect. 
 
 She united in communion with the Presbyterian 
 Church under the pastoral care of the late Rev. Dr. 
 John. Mason. This excellent man was her faithful 
 friend, and wise counsellor. Under his ministry her 
 two daughters, Joanna and Isabella, joined the church 
 in the year 1791. Her eldest daughter Jessie, who 
 had made a profession of religion in Scotland, was 
 married in July, 1790, to Mr. Hay Stevenson, merchant 
 of New York, and she became a member or the Pres- 
 byterian Church under the care of Dr. Rodgers, where 
 her husband attended.
 
 iJ(J LIFE AND WHITINGS OF 
 
 In the year 1?91, her son, who had been left in 
 Scotland to complete his education, paid his mother a 
 visit. Mrs. Graham, considering herself as inadequate 
 to the proper management of a boy, had, at an early 
 period of his life, sent her son to the care of a friend, 
 who had promised to pay due attention to his morals 
 ftnd education. The boy had a warm affectionate 
 heart, but possessed, at the same time, a bold and fear- 
 less spirit. Such a disposition, under proper manage- 
 ment, might have been formed into a noble character ; 
 but he was neglected and left in a great measure to 
 himself by his first preceptor. 
 
 For two years of his life, he was under the care of 
 Mr. Murray, teacher of an Academy at Abereorn. He 
 was a man truly qualified for this station. He in- 
 structed his pupils with zeal ; led even their amuse- 
 ments ; and to an exemplary piety added the faithful 
 counsel of a friend. He loved, and was therefore be- 
 loved. Under his superintendence, John Graham im- 
 proved rapidly, and gained the affections of his teacher 
 and companions. Happy for him, had he continued in 
 such a suitable situation. He was removed to Edin- 
 burgh, to receive a more classical education. Being 
 left there by his mother and sisters, the impetuosity of 
 his temper, and a propensity for a sea-faring life, in- 
 duced his friends to place him as an apprentice in the 
 merchant-service. He was shipwrecked on the coast 
 of Holland ; and Mr. Gibson of Rotterdam, a friend of 
 Mrs. Graham, took him to his house, and enabled him 
 to come to the United States. He remained at New 
 York for some months. His mother deemed it his duty 
 to return to Scotland, to complete his time of service. 
 His inclination tended evidently to the profession of a 
 sailor : she, therefore, fitted him out handsomely, and 
 he embarked for Greenock in the same ship with Mr. 
 John Mitchell Mason, the only son of the late Dr. 
 Mason, who went to attend the theological lectures at 
 the Divinity Hull in Edinburgh. 
 
 Mrs. Graham's exercises of mind on parting with her 
 son, were deep and affecting. She cast him upon the 
 covenant mercy of her God 3 placing a blank, as to 
 temporal things, in her Lord's hand, but cleaving with 
 a fervent faith and hope to the promise of spiritual life :
 
 MRS. ISABELLA SHAHAM. ^/ 
 
 Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve tliem alive ; 
 and let thy widows trust in me. 
 
 Three months afterward?, she learned that a press- 
 gang had boarded the ship in which her son had been ; 
 and, although he was saved from their grasp by a 
 stratagem of the passengers, yet all his clothes were 
 taken away from him. Reflecting on this event, she 
 says, ' Shall I withdraw the blank I have put into the 
 Redeemer's hands ? Has he not hitherto done all 
 things well ? Have not my own afflictions been my 
 greatest blessings ? Lord, I renew my blank.' After 
 undergoing many sufferings, this young man wrote to 
 his mother from Demerara, in the year 1794, that he 
 had been made a prisoner ; had been retaken ; and then 
 intended to go to Europe with the fleet which was soon 
 to sail under convoy. His letter was couched in terms 
 of salutary reflection on his past life ; and a hope of 
 profiting by past experience. This was the last account 
 which Mrs. Graham had of her afflicted son. All in- 
 quiries instituted respecting him proved fruitless, and 
 she had to exercise faith and submission, not without 
 hope towards God, that the great Redeemer had taken 
 care of, and would finally save, this prodigal son. She 
 had known a case in her father's family, which excited 
 their solicitude, and encouraged her hope. Her young- 
 er brother, Archibald Marshall, a lad of high temper, 
 though possessed of an affectionate heart, had gone 
 to sea, and was not heard of at all for several years. 
 A pious woman, who kept a boarding-house at Pais- 
 ley, found one of her boarders one day reading Dod- 
 dridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul 
 of Man," with Archibald Marshall's name written on 
 the blank leaf. On inquiry, the stranger told her he 
 got that book from a young man on his death-bed, as 
 a token of regard. That young man was Archibald 
 Marshall He was an exemplary Christian : ' and I 
 have reason,' added he, ' to bless God that he ever 
 was my messmate.' The woman, who heard this ac- 
 count, transmitted it to Mr. Marshall's family, who 
 were known to her. Mrs. Graham had no such conso- 
 latory account afforded to her ; but under much yearn- 
 ing of heart, she left this concern, as well as every
 
 2S LIFE Atft> WHITINGS Of 
 
 other, to the disposal of that God who doeth all thing/ 
 well. 
 
 In the spring of 1792, she and her family were called 
 to a severe trial, by the translation of their beloved 
 pastor, Dr. Mason, to a better world. A few months 
 before his decease, \vhile preaching to his people, his 
 recollection failed him, his sermon was gone from his 
 mind, and he sat down in his pulpit, unable to proceed. 
 After a short pause, he arose, and addressed his people 
 in a pious and affectionate strain ; he considered this 
 event as a call from his heavenly Master to expect a 
 speedy dismission from the .tabernacle of clay ; and so- 
 lemnly admonished them also to be prepared for the 
 will of God. His people, who loved him, were affected 
 to tears. An illness soon followed, which terminated 
 in the death of the body. He. departed on the night 
 when Mrs. Graham took her turn of watching with 
 him. He breathed his last while she was performing 
 this friendly office. This she always accounted a pri- 
 vilege and honour bestowed upon her by her Divine 
 Master. Great was the grief of Dr. Mason's congre- 
 gation on his loss. In him, to great learning, were 
 united meekness, prudence, diligence, a knowledge of 
 the world, and an affectionate superintendence of the 
 interests, spiritual and temporal, of his flock. He so 
 arranged his avocations and studies, in regard to time, 
 that he had always a few hours in the afternoon to 
 devote to visiting the families of his congregation. So 
 regular was the order he observed in his arrangement 
 of time, that Mrs. Graham and her family knew when 
 to calculate on seeing him, and always expected him 
 with the anticipation of profit and pleasure. Once 
 every week they were sure of seeing him, if in health. 
 His visits were short, his conversation serious, awaken- 
 ing, instructive, and affectionate. He inquired about 
 their temporal affairs, and, in cases of difficulty, he 
 always gave them his best advice. His counsels were 
 salutary ; his knowledge of the world, and his discri- 
 mination of characters, rendered him well qualified to 
 advise. In one of his visits to Mrs. Graham, she men- 
 tioned to him the want of good servants as one of her 
 great trials. ' Mrs. Graham,' said he, ' have you ever 
 prayed to the Lord to provide good servants fur you ?
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM, ,9 
 
 Nothing 1 which interests our comfort is too minute for 
 the care of our heavenly Father.' 
 
 To one of her daughters, who felt a strong inclina- 
 tion to profess her faith in Christ by joining the com- 
 munion of his church, but yet was afraid that her heart 
 was not sufficiently engaged for the service of God, Dr. 
 Mason proposed the following question : ' If,' said he, 
 ' the world, with all its wealth, pleasures, and power, 
 were placed in one scale, and Christ alone in the other, 
 which would your heart freely choose as a portion ?' 
 On her replying, there would be no hesitation as to her 
 choice of Christ, he gave her encouragement to profess 
 her faith, although it 'might not at present amount to 
 the full assurance of hope. 
 
 He was, indeed, a faithful shepherd of his flock ; and 
 his people mourned for him as for an affectionate father. 
 It is much to be desired that his example were more 
 followed by Christian pastors. To preach with eloquence 
 and acceptance, is a talent of great value ii a minister 
 of the Gospel ; this makes him respected ; and his con- 
 gregation admire him, because, for one reason, they are 
 proud of him : but to gain their affections, to make a 
 congregation the children of an aged pastor, or the 
 friends and brethren of a younger one, let the minister 
 visit the families of his people : this will seal on their 
 hearts the regard whidi their understandings had al- 
 ready dictated. 
 
 Very few ministers have been more remarkable for 
 a strict attention to this duty, than the late Dr. John 
 Mason, and his venerable and attached friend, the late 
 Dr. John Rodgers. When the former died, the latter 
 exclaimed, ' 1 feel as if 1 had lost a right arm !' They 
 who once laboured together to promote the cause of the 
 Redeemer on earth, are now singing his praises before 
 the throne of the Eternal. 
 
 The congregation, bereaved of their pastor, wrote 
 immediately to his son, Mr. John Mitchell Mason, to 
 hasten his return from Edinburgh to New York. 
 
 After preaching to them with great acceptance for 
 several months, he was ordained as pastor of the 
 Church, in April, 1/92. 
 
 Mrs. Graham entertained for him the most affectionate 
 attachment ; and this attachment was reciprocal.
 
 SO JtlFK AND WRITrNGS Of 
 
 Thus -it pleased God to repair the breach he had made,, 
 and to build up this Church by the instrumentality of the 
 son, when he had removed the father to that rest which 
 remainekh for the people of God. 
 
 In July, 1?95. Mrs. Graham's second daughter, 
 Joanna, was married to Mr. Divie Bethune, merchant 
 in New York. In the following month, her eldest 
 daughter, Mrs. Stevenson, was seized with a fatal ill- 
 ness. Possessing a most amiable disposition and ge- 
 nuine piety, she viewed the approach of death with 
 the composure of a Christian, and the intrepidity -t)f 
 faith. 
 
 She had been in delicate health for some years be- 
 fore, and now a complication of disorders denied all 
 hope of recovery. She sung a hymn of triumph, nntil 
 the struggles of death interrupted her. Mrs. Graham 
 displayed great firmness of mind, during the last trying 
 scene : and when the spirit of her daughter fled, the 
 mother raised her hands, and, looking towards heaven, 
 exclaimed, ' 1 wish you joy my darling.' She then 
 washed -.her face, took some refreshment, and retired 
 to rest. 
 
 Such was her joy of faith at the full, salvation of her 
 child ; but when the loss of her company was felt, the 
 tenderness of a mother's heart afterwards gave vent to 
 feelings of affectionate sorrow : nature will feel, even 
 when faith triumphs. 
 
 Mrs. Graham made it a rule to appropriate a tenth 
 part of her earnings, to be expended for pious and cha- 
 ritable purposes : she had taken a lease of two lots of 
 ground, in Greenwich-Street, from the Corporation of 
 Trinity Church, with a view of building a house on 
 them for her own accommodation : the building, how- 
 ever, she never commenced : by a sale, which her son, 
 Mr. Bethune, made of the lease in 1795, for her, she 
 got an advance of one thousand pounds. So large a 
 profit was new to her. ' Quick, quick,' said she, ' let 
 me appropriate the tenth before my heart grows hard.' 
 What fidelity in duty ! What distrust of herself ! Fifty 
 pounds of this money she sent to Mr. Mason, in aid- of 
 the funds he was collecting for the establishment of a 
 Theological Seminary. 
 
 In the year 1797, a society was instituted, at New
 
 MBS. ISABELLA 'GRAHAM. 31 
 
 York,, for the relief of poor widows with small children ; 
 a society which arose into great respectability, and has 
 been productive of very beneficent effects. The Lord, 
 in his merciful providence, prepared this institution, to 
 grant relief to the many bereaved families who were left 
 widows and orphans by the ravages of the yellow fever 
 in the yesiv -7S. 
 
 It took its vise from an apparently adventitious cir- 
 cumstance. Mr. B , in the year 1796, was one of the 
 distributing managers of the St. Andrew's Society. The 
 distribution of this charity was, of course, limited to a 
 certain description of applicants. Mr. B , interested 
 for widows not entitled to share in the bounty of the 
 St. Andrew's Society, frequently collected small sums 
 for their relief. He consulted with a few friends on the 
 propriety of establishing a Female Society, for the relief 
 of poor widows with small children, without limitation. 
 Invitations, in the form of circular letters, were sent 
 to the ladies of New York, arid a very respectable 
 number assembled at the house of Mrs. Graham. The 
 proposed plan was approved, and a Society organized. 
 Mrs. Graham was elected first Directress, which office 
 she held for ten years. 
 
 At the semi-annual meeting in March 1793, Mrs. 
 Graham made a very pleasing report of the proceedings 
 of the Managers, and of the amount of relief afforded to 
 the poor. The ladies of New York rendered themselves 
 truly deserving of applause, for their zeal in this bene- 
 volent undertaking. 
 
 In the month of September, 1798, Mrs. Graham's 
 daughter, Isabella, was married to Mr. Andrew Smith, 
 merchant of New York, now of Richmond, Virginia. 
 Her family being thus settled to her satisfaction, she 
 was prevailed upon to retire from business, and to live 
 with her children. 
 
 Miss Farquharson, her assistant, to whom she was 
 much attached, declined to succeed her, choosing rather 
 to enjoy the society of her patroness and friend. She 
 was a young lady of genuine piety and worth. The 
 Lord had designed her for another important station. 
 She is now Mrs. Loveless, of Madras, the help-meet of 
 the London Society's excellent Missionary there. Mrs. 
 Graham maintained a correspondence with Mrs. LeVe- 
 kss, and always regarded her with ranch affection.
 
 S3 LIFB AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 " During the prevalence of the yellow fever in 1798, 
 it was with much difficulty that Mrs. Graham was dis- 
 suaded from going into the city, to attend on the sick : 
 the fear of involving her children in the same calamity; 
 in the event of her being attacked by the fever, was the 
 chief reason of her acquiescing in their wish to prevent 
 so hazardous an undertaking. During the subsequent 
 winter, she was indefatigable in her attentions to the 
 poor : she exerted herself to procure work for her wi- 
 dows, and occupied much of her time in cutting it out, 
 and preparing it for them. The Managers of the Wi- 
 dow's Society had each a separate district ; and Mrs. 
 Graham, as first Directress, had a general superintend- 
 ence of the whole. She was so happy in the execution 
 of her trust, as to acquire the respect and confidence of 
 the ladies who acted with her, as well as the affections 
 of the poor. 
 
 Her whole time was now at her command, and she 
 devoted it very fathfully to promote the benevolent ob- 
 ject of the Institution over which she presided. The 
 extent of her exertions, however, became known, not 
 from the information given by herself, but from the ob- 
 servations of her fellow-labourers, and especially from 
 the testimony of the poor themselves. 
 
 In the summer of 1800, she paid a visit to her friends 
 in Boston. When she had been absent for some weeks, 
 her daughter, Mrs. B , was surprised at the frequent 
 inquiries made after her, by persons with whom she 
 was unacquainted ; at length she asked some of those 
 inquirers what they knew about Mrs. Graham ? They 
 replied, ' We live in the suburbs of the city, where she 
 used to visit, relieve, and comfort the poor. We had 
 missed her so long, that we were afraid she had been 
 sick : when she walked in our streets, it was custo- 
 mary with us to come to the door, and bless her as she 
 passed.' 
 
 Until January, 1803, she lived alternately with her 
 children, Mrs. Bethune, and Mrs. Smith ; at this period 
 Mr. Smith having removed from New York, Mrs. 
 Graham resided with Mr. and Mrs. Bethune, until her 
 departure to a better world. They loved her not only 
 from natural affection, but for her superior worth : 
 they valued her, for they believed that many blessings
 
 MRS- ISABELLA GKAHAM. 33 
 
 were vouchsafed to them and their family in answer to 
 her prayers. 
 
 The Society for the relief of poor widows with small 
 children, having received a charter of incorporation, and 
 some pecuniary aid from the Legislature of the State, 
 the ladies who constituted the Board of Direction, were 
 engaged in plans for extending their usefulness ; Mrs. 
 Graham took an active part in executing these plans. 
 The Society purchased a small house, where they re- 
 ceived work of various kinds, for the employment of 
 their widows. They opened a school for the instruction 
 of their orphans, and many of Mrs. Graham's former 
 pupils volunteered their services, taking upon them- 
 selves, by rotation, the part of instructors. Besides 
 establishing this school, Mrs. Graham selected some of 
 the widows, best qualified for the task, and engaged 
 them, for a small compensation, to open day schools, 
 for the instruction of the children of widows, in distant 
 parts of the city ; she also established two Sabbath- 
 schools, one of which she superintended herself, and 
 the other she placed under the care of her daughter. 
 Wherever she met with Christians sick and in poverty, 
 she visited and comforted them ; and, in some instances, 
 opened small subscription lists to provide for their 
 support. 
 
 She attended occasionally, for some years, at the Alms 
 House, for the instruction of the children there in reli- 
 gious knowledge. In this work she was much assisted 
 by a humble and pious female friend, who was seldom 
 absent from it on the Lord's day. In short, her whole 
 time was occupied in searching out the distresses of the 
 poor, and devising measures to comfort and establish 
 them to the extent of her influence and means At 
 the same time, far from arrogating any merit to her- 
 self, she seemed always to feel how much she was 
 deficient in following fully the precepts and the foot- 
 steps of her beloved Lord and Saviour, who went about 
 doing good. 
 
 It was often her custom to leave home after b;-?ak- 
 fast, (taking with her a few rolls of bread,) and return 
 in the evening about eight o'clock. Her only dinner 
 on snch days was her bread, and perhaps some soup at 
 the Soup House established by the Humane Society for 
 c 5
 
 34 LIFE AND WHITINGS OF 
 
 the poor, over which one of her widows had been, at her 
 recommendation, appointed. She and her venerable 
 companion, Mrs. Sarah Hoffman, second Directress of 
 the Widow's Society, travelled many a day and many a 
 step together in the walks of charity. Mrs. Graham 
 was a Presbyterian, Mrs. Hoffman an Episcopalian. 
 Those barriers, of which such an unhappy use has been 
 made by sectarians to separate the children of God, fell 
 down between these two friends at the cry of affliction, 
 and were consumed on the altar of Christian love. 
 Arm in arm, and heart to heart, they visited the abodes 
 of distress, dispensing temporal aid from the purse of 
 charity, and spiritual comfort from the word of life. 
 One has already entered into rest, the other must shortly 
 follow. Amidst many comforts, and many afflictions, 
 the life of Mrs. Hoffman has been a life of faith and 
 resignation : her end will be peace ; and then she will 
 join her beloved and attached friend, in singing the 
 praises of that Divine Redeemer, whose footsteps on 
 earth they humbly endeavoured in his strength to fol- 
 low. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; yea, 
 saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours, and 
 their works do follow them. 
 
 At each annual nTeeting, Mrs. Graham usually gave 
 an address to the Society, with a report of the proceed- 
 ings of the managers through the preceding year. In 
 April, 1800, she stated, that ' again the pestilence had 
 ' emptied the city ; again every source of industry was 
 ' dried up ; even the streams of benevolence from the 
 ' country failed. Those storehouses from which relief 
 ' was issued to thousands in former calamities, now 
 ' disappointed their hopes ; and those spared by the 
 ' pestilence, were ready to perish by the famine. Such 
 ' widows as had no friends in the country, under whose 
 ' roof they might for a time seek shelter, were shut up 
 ' to the only relief within their power, even to that 
 ' Society which had formerly saved them in many a 
 ' strait. They came, were received with tenderness, 
 ' assisted with food, advice, and medicine. Four of the 
 ' Society's Board, at ths risk of their lives, remained 
 ' in the city, steady in the exercise of their office. One 
 ' hundred and forty-two widows, with four hundred 
 ' and six children, under twelve years of age, by far the
 
 "MBS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. '>*> 
 
 * greater part under six, have> from time to time, during 
 ' the winter, been visited and relieved. Widow is a 
 ' word of sorrow in the best of circumstances ; but a 
 ' widow, left poor, destitute, friendless, surrounded with 
 ( a number of small children, shivering with cold, pale 
 ' with want, looking in her face with eyes pleading for 
 ' bread, which she has not to give, nor any probable 
 
 * prospect of procuring, is in a situation that calls for 
 ' the deepest sympathy. Many such' scenes were wit- 
 ' nessed during the last winter ; and, though none 
 ' could restore the father, and the husband, the hearts of 
 ' the mourners were soothed by the managers, while 
 ' they dispensed the relief provided for them by their 
 ' Father, and their Husband, GOD.' 
 
 In her address for the year 1804, she says, ' In April 
 ' last, it was reported that there were on the managers' 
 ' books, two hundred and one widows, with numerous 
 ' families of small children. Of this number, five had 
 ' been ill aD winter, several had had severe fits of ill- 
 ' ness, and forty-six were women of broken constitu- 
 ' tions, who, could it be afforded, would requiie assist - 
 ' ance all summer. At the last anniversary, we reported, 
 that Mrs. Hoffman and myself had visited twenty- 
 ' seven new made widows ; previously to the meeting, 
 ' all in the enjoyment of health and prosj>erity. Of 
 
 * these women few had been accustomed to do more 
 ' than make, mend, wash, and cook, for their husbands 
 
 * and families. Oh, how changed the scene ! Ye blessed 
 ' agents of their Father, God ; ye managers, who have 
 ' supplied their wants, and soothed their spirits, ye can 
 ' tell and their pale visages and dejected countenances 
 ' attest, to the truth of your report. That such evils 
 ' exist, is painful to humanity ; but, since they do 
 ' exist, can there be a more delicate pleasure than to 
 ' be instrumental in alleviating them ? Seven years has 
 ' this Society been the darling of Providence. From 
 ' a feeble plant it is become a large tree, with spread- 
 ' ing branches, under which many find shelter and 
 ' sustenance.' * 
 
 The winter of ISO! o, was unusually -severe ; the 
 river Hudson was shut by frost as early as November : 
 fuel was, consequently, scarce and dear ; and the poor 
 suffered greatly. Mrs. Graham visited those parts of
 
 36 LIFE AND WRITINGS 0* 
 
 the city where the poorer classes of sufferers dwelt ;* \n 
 upwards of two hundred families, she either found a 
 Bible their property, or gave them one ; praying with, 
 them in their affliction. She requested a friend to write, 
 first one Religious Tract, and then another, suited to 
 
 * The following notice of these scenes appeared in one of the 
 psriodical publications of the day : 
 
 WHEN sorrow shrunk before the piercing wind, 
 And famine, shelterless, in suff'ring pin'd, 
 When sickness droop'd in solitary pain, 
 'Mid varying misery's relentless reign ; 
 Oh then, tumultuous rose the plaints of grief, 
 And loud and strong the clamours for relief! 
 Theu active Charity, with bounteous care, 
 From gloomy faces chas'd the fiend, Despair ; 
 Dispelled the horrors of the wintry day, 
 And none that ask'd went unreliev'd away. 
 
 Yet there are some who sorrow's vigils keep, 
 Unknown that languish undistinguish'd weep J 
 Behold yon ruin'd building's shatter'd walls, 
 Where drifting snow through many a crevice falls j 
 Whose smokeless vent no blazing fuel knows 
 But drear, and cold, the widow's mimsion shows, 
 Her fragile form, by sickness deeply riven, 
 Too weak to face the driving blasts of heaven, 
 Her voice too faint to reach some pitying ear, 
 Her shivering babes command her anguish' d tear ; 
 Their feeble cries in vain assistance crave, 
 And expectation ' points but to the grave.' 
 But lo, with hasty step, a female form 
 Glides through the wind, and braves the chilling storm ; 
 With eager hand now shakes the tott'ring door, 
 Now rushes breathless o'er the snow-clad floor, 
 Her tongut- soft comfort to the mourner speaks, 
 Her silver voice with soft emotion breaks ; 
 Round the drear hovel her moistened eve, 
 Her graceful bosom heaves the lengthen'd sigh. 
 I know thee now I know that angel frame 
 O that the muse might dare to breathe thy name ! 
 Nor thine alone, but all that sister-band, 
 Who scatter gladness o'er a weeping land : 
 Who comfort to the infant sufferer bring, 
 And ' teach with joy the widow's heart to sing.' 
 
 For this no noisy honours fame snail give 
 In your own breasts jour gentle virtues live : 
 No sounding numbers shall your names reveal, 
 JJut your own hearts the rich reward shall feel. 
 
 ALBBHT.
 
 was. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 3f 
 
 the peculiar situation of those afflicted people. One 
 was called ' A Donation to Poor Widows with Small 
 Children j' the other, ' A Second Visit to Poor Widows 
 with Small Children.' And, lest it might be said, It 
 was cheap to give advice, she usually gave a small sum 
 of money along with the Tracts she distributed. There 
 was at this time neither a Bible nor Tract Society in 
 New York. Mrs. Hoffman accompanied her in maay 
 of her excursions. In the course of their visits, they 
 discovered a French family from St. Domingo, in such 
 extremity of distress, as made them judge it necessary 
 to report their case to the Honourable Dewitt Clinton, 
 then Mayor of the city. The situation of this family 
 being made public, three hundred dollars were volun- 
 tarily contributed for their relief. Roused by this in- 
 cident, a public meeting was called at the Tontine 
 Coffee-house, and committees from the different wards 
 were appointed to aid the Corporation, in ascertaining 
 and supplying the immediate wants of the suffering poor. 
 The zeal of Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Hoffman paved the 
 way for this public-spirited exertion, which, probably, 
 was the means of saving the lives of some of the desti- 
 tute and friendless. 
 
 In the month of August, 1805, Mrs. Graham paid 
 another visit to her friends in Boston, and spoke of them 
 with much affection and esteem. She used to mention 
 with peculiar approbation a Society of pious ladies there, 
 who met once in every week, for prayer and mutual 
 edification. 
 
 On the 15th of March, 1806', the female subscribers 
 to proposals for providing an asylum for orphan chil- 
 dren, met at the City Hotel ; Mrs. Graham was called 
 to the chair, a Society organized, and a Board of Direc- 
 tion chosen. Mrs. Hoffman was elected the First Direc- 
 tress of the Orphan Asylum Society. Mrs. Graham 
 continued in the office of First Directress of the Widows' 
 Society, but took a deep interest in the success of the 
 Orphan Asylum Society also ; she, or one of her family, 
 taught the orphans daily, until the funds of the Institu- 
 tion were sufficient to provide a teacher and superin- 
 tendent. She was a trustee at the time of her decease. 
 The wish to establish this new Society, was occasioned 
 by the pain which it gave the ladies of the Widows'
 
 3d LIFE AND WHITINGS OF 
 
 Society, to behold a family of orphans driven, ou the 
 decease of a widow, to seek refuge in the Alms House ; 
 no melting heart to feel, no redeeming hand to rescue 
 them from a situation so unpromising for mental and 
 moral improvement. 
 
 ' Among the afflicted of our suffering race,' (thus 
 speaks the Constitution of the Society,) ' none makes 
 a stronger, more impressive appeal to humanity, than 
 the destitute orphan. Crime has not been the cause of 
 its misery, and future usefulness may yet be the result 
 of its protection ; the reverse is often the case of more 
 aged objects. God himself has marked the fatherless 
 as the peculiar subjects of his divine compassion. A 
 Father of the fathe.less, is God i his holy habitation. 
 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the 
 Lord will take me up. To be the blessed instrument of 
 Divine providence in making good the promise of God, 
 is a privilege equally desirable and honourable to the 
 benevolent heart.' 
 
 And truly God has made good his promise towards 
 this benevolent Institution. He has crowned the un- 
 dertaking with his remarkable blessing. It was begun 
 by his disciples in faith, and he has acknowledged them 
 in it. Having for fourteen months occupied a hired 
 house for an Asylum, the ladies entertained the bold 
 idea of building an Asylum on account of the Society. 
 They had then about three hundred and fifty dollars., 
 as the commencement of a fund for the building : they 
 purchased four lots of around in the village of Green- 
 wich, on a healthful elevated scite, possessing a fine 
 prospect. The corner-stone was laid on the 7th of July, 
 1807- They erected a building fifty feet square, planned 
 for the accommodation of two hundred orphans. From 
 time to time they proceeded to finish the interior of the 
 building, and to purchase additional ground, as their 
 funds would permit ; and such has been the liberality 
 of the Legislature and of the Public, that the Society 
 now possess a handsome building, and nearly an acre 
 of ground, all of which must have cost them little short 
 . of twenty-five thousand dollars. This property is clear, 
 the last shilling due upon it having been lately paid off'. 
 Their success furnishes strong encouragement to attempt 
 great and good objects, even with slender means. God
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 3S> 
 
 in his providence will command a blessing on exertions 
 of this character. It is too common a mistake, arid one 
 fatal to the progress of improvement, that great mean* 
 should be in actual possession before great objects 
 should be attempted. Ah, were our dependanee sim- 
 ply on apparent instruments, how small must be our 
 hopes of success ! There is a mystery, yet a certainty, 
 in the manner by which God is pleased in his providence 
 to conduct feeble means to r. happy conclusion. Has 
 he not preserved, cherished, and, blessed his church 
 through many ages, amidst overwhelming persecutions, 
 and that often by means apparently inadequate to this 
 end ? We must work for, as well as pray for, the 
 blessings which God has promised to bestow on our 
 sinful race. We must put our shoulder to the wheel, 
 while we look up to heaven for assistance, and God 
 will always bless those who are found in ihe path of 
 duty. The Orphan Asylum Society is a striking proof 
 of this : they have now one hundred orphans under 
 their care, and have placed more than one hundred 
 children in eligible situations, after educating them ; 
 many of the latter promise to be useful to society. If 
 a child be fatherless, motherless, and of legitimate 
 birth, it is welcome to their Asylum. The children are 
 clothed, fed, instructed. There is a well-regulated 
 school on the Lanca^terian plan, in a room fifty feet 
 long, within the building : there are excellent printed 
 regulations establi-hed for Ihe management of the or- 
 phans : they enjoy religious instruction, and are under 
 the care of a man and his wife, both pious characters : 
 the latter are superintendents, under the direction of 
 the Board of Ladies, one of whom is appointed a weekly 
 visitor at each monthly meeting of the trustees. 
 
 Only" one death has occurred among the orphans, 
 since the commencement of the Institution, excepting 
 incases where they came into the Asylum sick ; and 
 of such there have been but few. The ladies have set 
 no limits to the number to be received : and it has 
 pleased God also not to set limits to the means neces- 
 sary for their support. The Institution is a great fa- 
 vourite with the public, and is usually visited by stran- 
 gers, who are delighted with the cleanliness, health, 
 and cheerful countenances of the orphans.
 
 40 LIFE AND WHITINGS OF 
 
 The Society have received a charter of incorpora- 
 tion from the Legislature ; and they have a handsome 
 seal, with this inscription : INASMUCH AS YE HAVE 
 
 DONE IT UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YE HAVE 
 DONE IT UNTO Mi;. 
 
 For several years it was customary with Mrs. Graham 
 to visit the Hospital. Before the erection of the very 
 valuable wing of that edifice, adapted to the reception 
 of deranged persons, and now called ' the Lunatic 
 Asylum,' she paid a particular attention to patients of 
 this description. 
 
 One instance is fresh in the recollection of the writer 
 of this sketch. A French gentleman of fortune in St. 
 Domingo, through the fidelity of one of his slaves, 
 escaped the general massacre of the white people in 
 his neighbourhood by the blacks in 1793. Warned by 
 this faithful informer, he fled with his mother, sister, 
 and young brother, on board of a French vessel, while 
 they were pursued to the beach. They had saved and 
 carried with them some of their jew els ; but on their 
 voyage the vessel was captured by a British Privateer, 
 and carried to Bermuda. From thence they sailed in 
 an American vessel for New York ; but on their pas- 
 sage they were plundered by a French Privateer. 
 From these cruel depredations they saved but a slender 
 amount of property for their support in a strange land. 
 This gentleman now improved those accomplishments 
 which his education had bestowed, as the means of 
 providing a subsistence for himself and his dependant 
 relatives. He, became a teacher of dancing. In the 
 year 1797, he returned to St. Domingo, and received 
 a commission in the British army, then masters of the 
 place. Having recovered a part of his property, he 
 sold his commission, and prepared to return to New 
 York, with a prospect of rendering his family comfort- 
 able. On the day previous to embarking, he fell among 
 thieves, and received a wound which no Samaritan 
 could cure. A set of gamblers robbed him, by card- 
 playing, of all the money in his possession ; his distress 
 and remorse of conscience were too strong for his mind 
 to be. .-, and he became a maniac. In this state he 
 reached New York. He refused to go to the Hospital, 
 until Mrs, Graham led him thither. She had long be-
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. - 41 
 
 friended him and his family : he always listened res 
 spectfully to her requests, and she visited him often?* 
 Let the rest of his tale be told. He escaped from the 
 Hospital, wandered to the southward, and was heard 
 of no more. The remaining part of his family, after 
 the peace of Amiens, returned to St. Domingo, where 
 General Le Clerc had led a French army, and after- 
 wards, there is every reason to fear, were destroyed by 
 Christophe, along witli many more unhappy victims of 
 the same description. 
 
 Oh slavery, thou bitter draught, the oppressor's 
 chain becomes at length the murderous steel, sharply 
 and secretly "whetted by the oppressed ! Thence arise 
 confusion and every evil w5rk. And what shall be said 
 of gambling.? There cunning, malice, rage, and mad- 
 ness, mingle their horrible expressions. 
 
 To the apartments appropriated to sick female con- 
 victs in the State Prison, Mrs. Graham made many 
 visits. She met with some affecting circumstances 
 among this class. 
 
 In the winter 18O7-8, when the suspension of com- 
 merce by the embargo, rendered the situation of the 
 poor more destitute than ever, Mrs. Graham adopted a 
 plan best calculated in her view to detect the idle ap- 
 plicant for charity, and at the same time to furnish 
 employment for the more worthy among the female 
 poor. She purchased flax, and lent wheels, where ap- 
 plicants had none. Such as were industrious, took the 
 work with thankfulness, and were paid foK it : those 
 who were beggars by profession, never kept their word 
 by returning for the flax or the wheel. The flax thus 
 spun, was afterwards woven, bleached, and made into 
 table-cloths and towels for family use. 
 
 Mrs. Graham used to remark, that, until some Insti- 
 tution should be formed to furnish, employment for in- 
 dustrious poor women, the work of charity would be 
 incomplete. It was about this time, that, deeming the 
 duties too laborious for her health, she resigned the 
 office of First Directress of the Widows' Society, and 
 took the place of a manager. She afterwards declined 
 this also, and became a trustee of the Orphan Asylum 
 Society, as more suited to her advanced period of life. 
 
 The delicate state of health to which one of her
 
 42 LIFE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 grand-daughters was reduced in 1808, made it neces- 
 sary for her to spend the summer season, for five suc- 
 cessive years, at Rockaway, for the advantage of sea- 
 bathing. Mrs. Graham went with her, it being bene- 
 ficial to her own health also. In this place she met 
 with many strangers : the company residing there, 
 treated her with much affection and respect:- She 
 always attended to the worship of God, morning and 
 evening, in her room, and was usually accompanied by 
 some of the ladies who boarded in the house. Her 
 fund of information, vivacity of manner, and the inte- 
 rest which she felt in the happiness of all around her, 
 made her society highly valued and pleasing. Few of 
 those ladies who stayed with her at Kockaway for any 
 length of time, failed to express, at parting, their esteem 
 for her : and they generally added a pressing invita- 
 tion for a visit from her, if ever she should travel near 
 where they dwelt. 
 
 In the year 181O, while bathing, she was carried by 
 the surf, beyond her depth, and for some time there 
 was scarcely a hope of her regaining the shore. Her 
 grand-children were weeping on the beach, and the 
 company assembled there were afflicted but hopeless 
 spectators of her danger. At that moment of peril, she 
 prayed to tiie Lord for deliverance, but acquiesced in 
 his will, if he should see fit to. take her to himself in 
 this manner. Able to swim a little, she kept herself 
 afloat for some time ; she became at length very faint ; 
 and when her friends on the beach apprehended her 
 lost, the}' perceived that the wave had impelled her 
 somewhat nearer to them. A gentleman present, and 
 her female attendant, stepped into the surf, and, ex- 
 tending their arms for mutual support, one of them 
 was enabled to lay hold of Mrs. Graham's bathing 
 gown, and to pull her towards them. When they 
 brought her ashore, she was much exhausted, and had 
 swallowed a considerable quantity of water. It was 
 some hours before she revived, when she addressed the 
 company in a very serious and impressive manner, that 
 affected them to tears. Her health during the follow- 
 ing winter, was much impaired by the shock it had 
 received. 
 In the year 1811, some gentlemen of New York,
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 43 
 
 established a Magdalen Society ; they elected a Board 
 of ladies, requesting their aid to superintend the inter- 
 nal management of the Magdalen House. This Board 
 chose Mrs. Graham their presiding lady, which office 
 she held until her decease ;- the duties attendant on it 
 she discharged with fidelity and zeal. In 1812, the 
 trustees of the Lancasterian School solicited the attend- 
 ance of several pious ladies, to give catechetical in- 
 struction to their scholars, one afternoon in every 
 week : Mrs. Graham was one of those who attended 
 regularly to this duty. 
 
 During the last two years of her life, she found her 
 strength inadequate to so -extensive a course of visiting 
 the poor, as formerly ; there were some distressed fa- 
 milies, however, that experienced her kind attentions 
 to the last. She would occasionally accompany the 
 Rev. Mr. Stanford on his visits to the State Prison, 
 Hospital, and to the Magdalen House. This gentleman 
 is the stated preacher, employed by ' the Society for 
 the support of the Gospel among the Poor.' He de- 
 votes his time to preaching in the Alms House, Hospi- 
 tal, State Prison, Debtors' Prison, &c. with great assi- 
 duity and acceptance. Mrs. Graham now spent much 
 of her time in her room, devoted to meditation, prayer, 
 and reading the Scriptures ; she seemed to be weaning 
 from earth, and preparing for heaven. Prayer was 
 that sweet breath of her soul which brought stability 
 to her life. Genuine humility was obvious in all her 
 sentiments and deportment. Religious friends prized 
 her conversation, counsel , and friendship : sometimes 
 they would venture on a compliment to her superior 
 attainments, but always experienced a decided rebuke. 
 To her friend Colonel L , who expressed a wish to 
 be sxich a character as she was, she quickly replied, 
 with an air of mingled pleasantry and censure, ' Get 
 thee behind me Satan.' To a female friend who said, 
 ' If I were only sure at last of being admitted to a 
 place at your feet, I should feel happy.' ' Hush, hush,' 
 replied Mrs. Graham, ' there is ONE SAVIOUR.' 
 Thus she was always careful to give her Divine Re- 
 deemer the whole glory of her salvation. 
 
 This example of humility, self-denial, and sensibility 
 to the imperfection of her conduct, is the more to be
 
 44 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 valued, as it is so difficult to be followed. Flattery it 
 too commonly practised ; and there is no sufficient 
 guard against its dangerous consequences, except a 
 constant and humbling recognition of the spirituality 
 of the law of God : and our lamentable deficiency in 
 fulfilling it. Pride was not made for man ; 1 have seen 
 an end of all perfection, said the Psalmist, but thy com- 
 mandment is exceeding' broad. It was by cherishing 
 this sentiment, by studying her Bible, by searching 
 her heart and its motives, and, above all, by grace, ac- 
 corded of heaven, in answer to her prayers, that Mrs. 
 Graham was enabled to maintain such a meekness of 
 spirit, such a uniformity of Christian character through- 
 out her life. May all who read her history, be di- 
 rected to the same sources of true peace, and genuine 
 happiness ! 
 
 In the spring of 1814^ she was requested to unite 
 with some ladies in forming a Society for the promo- 
 tion of industry among the poor. As this was the last 
 act in which she appeared before the public, and be- 
 cause some acquaintance with the design of the Insti- 
 tution may prove useful in exciting- others to similar 
 exertions, the Petition sent to the Corporation of New 
 York will be given here at length, as it appeared in the 
 publications of the Society. 
 
 ' To the Honourable the Mayor and Common Council 
 
 of the City of New York. 
 
 ' We whose names are subscribed, beg leave respect- 
 fully to address you, on a subject which has engaged 
 our attention. Notwithstanding the large amount of 
 money expended by private benevolence for the relief 
 of the indigent, it is cause of regret that such relief is 
 of so limited a character : cast as it were into a troubled 
 sea, it sinks to rise no more. Could a fair proportion 
 of the money indefinitely expended on the poor, be 
 placed under the care of an Institution, x which should 
 use it to stimulate industry, by providing work for the 
 indigent, and paying them only for their labour ; that 
 proportion would be directed to the most beneficent 
 purpose. Such a course would encourage industrious 
 habits, do away the necessity of begging, and foster 
 self-respect in the honest poor.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 45 
 
 f Such an Institution, we trust, your Honourable 
 Body will deem worthy of public patronage ; we are 
 willing and desirous to support it by our personal ex- 
 ertions, according to a plan which we now respectfully 
 submit to your examination. A House of industry 
 forms a principal feature of this plan. Should your 
 Honourable Body so far patronize us as to assign us a 
 building for that purpose, we shall commence the work, 
 trusting to the benevolence and discernment of our 
 citizens. 
 
 ' The admonition of holy writ, Much food is in the 
 village of the poor, but there is that is destroyed for want 
 of judgment, we feel as a strong incitement to render 
 the industry of the poor useful to themselves, and to the 
 community.. Without the aid now respectfully soli- 
 cited, the attempt would on our part be hazardous and 
 inefficient. Our zeal -to promote an institution, having 
 this object in view, must be our excuse for addressing 
 ourselves to the guardians and rulers of the city.' 
 
 [This Petition was signed by about thirty ladies.'] 
 
 The Corporation having returned a favourable an- 
 swer, and provided a house, a meeting of the Society 
 was held, and Mrs. Graham once more was called to 
 the chair. It was the last time that she was .to preside 
 at the formation of a new Society. Her articulation, 
 once strong and clear, was now observed to have be- 
 come more feeble. The ladies present listened to her 
 with affectionate attention : her voice broke upon the 
 ear as a pleasant sound that was passing away. She 
 consented to have her name inserted in the list of ma- 
 nagers, and to give what assistance her age would per- 
 mit in forwarding so beneficent a work. Although it 
 pleased God to make her cease from her labours be- 
 fore the House of Industry was opened, yet the work 
 was carried on by others, and prospered. Between 
 four and five hundred women were employed, and paid 
 during the following winter. The Corporation de- 
 clared, in strong terms, their approbation of the result, 
 and enlarged their donation, with a view to promote 
 the same undertaking for the succeeding winter. 
 
 In the month of May, 1814, a Report was received 
 from Mr. S. P } of Bristol, in England, of the Society
 
 46 LIFE AXD WRITINGS OF 
 
 for establishing Adult Schools. Mrs. Graham was no 
 delighted with the perusal of it, as immediately to under- 
 take the formation of such a School in the village of 
 Greenwich. She called on the young- people who were 
 at work in some neighbouring manufactories, and re- 
 quested them to attend her for this purpose every Sab- 
 bath morning at eight o'clock. This was kept up after 
 her decease, as a Sunday School, and consisted of 
 nearly eighty scholars. She was translated from this 
 work of faith on earth, to engage in the sublimer Avork 
 of praise in heaven. 
 
 For some weeks previous to her last illness, she was 
 favoured with unusual health, and much enjoyment of 
 religion : she appeared to have sweet exercises and 
 communion in attending on all God's ordinances and 
 appointed means of grace. 
 
 She was greatly refreshed in spirit by the success of 
 Missionary and Bible Societies. She used to speak with 
 much affection of Mr. Gordon, Mr. Lee, and Mr. May, 
 with whom she had been acquainted when in New York, 
 on their way to missionary stations in India. For Mr. 
 Robert Morrison, whom she had seen in 1807, on his 
 way to China, she entertained a very high regard. 
 She was much pleased with the solid talents, ardent 
 piety, and persevering zeal, which she discerned in his 
 character. 
 
 Mrs. Graham was very partial to the words of Dr. 
 John Owen, the Rev. William Romaine, and the Rev. 
 John Newton, and read them with pleasure and profit. 
 One day she remarked to Mr. B , that she preferred 
 the ancient writers on theology to the modern, be- 
 cause they dealt more in italics. ' Dear mother,' he 
 replied, ' what religion can there be in italics?' ' You 
 know,' said she, ' that old writers expected credit for 
 the doctrines they taught, by proving them, from the 
 word of God, to be correct : they inserted the Scrip- 
 ture passages in italics, and their works have been 
 sometimes one half in italics. Modern writers on 
 theology, on the contrary, give us a long train of rea- 
 soning, to persuade us to their opinions, but very little 
 in italics.' This remark of her's has great force, and 
 deserves the serious attention of those who write, and 
 those who read, on theological subjects.
 
 MR 3. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 47 
 
 On the two Sabbath days preceding her illness, she 
 partook of the communion, and was, consequently, 
 much engaged in religious exercises. The last medi- 
 tation she ever wrote", was on Sabbath afternoon, the 
 17th of July, 1814 j it closes with the following lines : 
 I ate the bread, and drank the wine, in the faith that 
 I ate the flesh, and drank the blood, of the Son of 
 Man, and dwelt in him, and he in me ! took a close 
 view of my familiar friend, death, accompanied with 
 the presence of my Saviour j his sensible presence. I 
 cannot look at it without this. It is my only petition 
 concerning it. I have had desires relative to certain 
 circumstances, but they are nearly gone. It is my 
 sincere desire that God may be glorified ; and He 
 knows best how, and by what circumstances. I re- 
 tain my one petition : 
 
 ' Only to me thy count'nance show, 
 ' I ask no more the Jordan through.' 
 
 Thus she arose from her Master's table, was called 
 to gird on her armour for a combat with the King of 
 Terrors, and came off more than conqueror through 
 Him who loved her. 
 
 On Tuesday, the 19th of July, she complained cf 
 not feeling well, and kept her room ; on Thursday her 
 disorder proved to be a cholera-morbus, and her chil- 
 dren sent for a physician. She thought this attack 
 was slighter- than in former seasons. Ort Saturday, 
 however, she requested that Mrs. Chrystie might be 
 sent for ; this alarmed Mrs. B , knowing there existed 
 an understanding between those two friends, that one 
 should attend the dying-bed of the other ; Mrs. Chrys- 
 tie was a very dear friend of Mrs. Graham. For up- 
 wards of twenty-four years they had loved each other, 
 feeling reciprocal sympathy in their joys and their sor- 
 rows : the hope of faith was the consolation of both, 
 and oftentimes it had been their delightful employment 
 to interchange their expressions of affection towards 
 Him, whom, having not seen, they loved, and in whom, 
 though they saw him not, yet believing on him, they re- 
 joiced with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. On Mrs. 
 Chrystie's entering the chamber of her friend,, Mrs.
 
 43 LIFE AND WHITINGS OP 
 
 Graham welcomed her with a sweet expressive smile, 
 seeming to say, ' I am going to get the start of you, 
 I am called home before you ; it will be your office to 
 fulfil our engagement.' When she sat by her bed-side, 
 Mrs. Graham said, ' Your face is very pleasant to me, 
 my friend.' During Saturday night a lethargy ap- 
 peared to be overpowering her frame. On Sabbath 
 morning she was disposed to constant slumber ; ob- 
 serving Mr. B looking at her with agitation, she was 
 roused from her heaviness, and, stretching her arms 
 towards him, and embracing him, she said, ' My dear, 
 dear son, I am going to leave you, I am going to my 
 Saviour.' ' I know,' he replied, ' that, when you do 
 go from us, it will be to the Saviour : but, my dear 
 mother, it may not be the Lord's time now to call you 
 to himself.' ' Yes,' said she, ' now is the time ; and, 
 Oh ! I could weep for sin.' Her words were accom- 
 panied withvher tears. ' Have you any doubts then, 
 my dear friend ?' asked Mrs. Chrystie. ' Oh no, re- 
 plied Mrs. Graham ; and, looking at Mr. and Mrs. B , 
 as they wept : ' My dear children, 1 have no more 
 doubt of going to my Saviour, than if I were already 
 in his arms ; my guilt is all transferred : he has can- 
 celled all I owed. Yet I could weep for sins against 
 so good a God : it seems to me as if there must be 
 weeping even in heaven for sin.' After this, she en- 
 tered into conversation with her friends, mentioning 
 portions of Scripture, and favourite hymns, which had 
 been subjects of much comfortable exercise of mind to 
 her. Some of these she had transcribed into a little 
 book, calling them her victuals prepared for crossing 
 over Jordan : she committed them to memory, and 
 often called them to remembrance, as her songs in the 
 night, when sleep had deserted her. She then got Mr. 
 B to read to her some of these portions, especially 
 the eighty-second hymn of the third book of Newton's 
 Hymns, beginning thus : 
 
 Let us love, and sing, and wonder ; 
 Let us praise the Saviour's name ! 
 He lias hush'd the law's loud thunder ; 
 He has quench'd Mount Sinai's flame ; 
 lie has wash'd us with his blood ; 
 He has brought us nigh to God.
 
 MilS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 49 
 
 Mrs. Graham then fell asleep, nor did she awaken 
 until the voice of the Rev. Dr. Mason roused her. 
 They had a very affectionate interview, which he has 
 partly described in the excellent sermon he delivered 
 after her decease. She expressed to him her hope, as 
 founded altogether on the redemption that is in Jesus 
 Christ. Were she left to depend on the merits of the 
 best action she had ever performed, that would be only 
 a source of despair. She repeated to him, as her view 
 of salvation, the fourth verse of the hymn already 
 quoted : 
 
 Let us wonder, grace and justice 
 
 Join, and point at mercy's store ; 
 
 When thro' grace in Christ our trust is, 
 
 Justice smiles, and asks no more : 
 
 He who wash'd us with his blood, 
 Has secur'd our way to God. 
 
 Having asked Dr. Mason to pray with her, he in- 
 quired if there was any particular request she had to 
 make of God, by him ; she replied, that God will di- 
 rect : then, as he kneeled, she put up her hands, and, 
 raising her eyes towards heaven, breathed this short, 
 but expressive petition, ' Lord, lead thy servant in 
 prayer.' 
 
 After Dr. Mason had taken his leave, she again fell 
 into a deep sleep. Her physicians still expressed a 
 hope of her recovery, as her pulse was regular, and 
 the violence of her disease had abated. One of them, 
 however, declared his opinion, that his poor drugs 
 would prove of little avail against her own ardent 
 prayers to depart, and be with Christ, which was far 
 better for her than her return to a dying world. 
 
 On Monday the Rev. Mr. Rowan prayed with her, 
 and to him she expressed also the tranquillity of her 
 mind, and the stedfastness of her hope, through Christ, 
 of eternal felicity. 
 
 Her lethargy increased ; at intervals from sleep, she 
 would occasionally assure her daughter, Mrs. B , that 
 all was well : and when she could rouse herself only to 
 say one word at a time, that one word, accompanied 
 with a smile, was, ' Peace.' From her, there was a 
 peculiar emphasis in this expression of the state of her 
 mind ) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you,
 
 UFK AXD wlUTfXGS OP 
 
 had been a favourite portion of Scripture with her, 
 and a promise, tht- fumlraent of whicL was her r --110*1. 
 prayer to the God who made it. She also occasion- 
 ally asked Mr. B to pray wi h her, even \vhen she 
 could only articulate, as she looted at him, ' Pray.' 
 She was now surrounded by many of her dear Christian 
 friends, who watched her dying bed with affection and 
 solicitude. On Tuesday afternoon she slept with little 
 intermission. ' This,' said Dr. Mason, ' may be truly- 
 called ' falling asleep in Jesus.' It was remarked, by 
 those who attended her, that all terror was taken away, 
 and that death seemed here as an entrance into life. 
 Her countenance was placid, and looked younger than 
 before her illness. 
 
 At a quarter past twelve o'clock, being the morning 
 of the 2?th of July, 1814, without a struggle or a groan, 
 her spirit winged its flight from a mansion of clay to 
 the realms of glory, while around the precious remnant 
 of earth, her family and friends stood weeping 1 , yet 
 elevated by the scene they were witnessing. After a 
 silence of many minutes, they kneeled by her bed, 
 adored the goodness and grace of Gcrd towards his de- 
 parted child, and implored the divine blessing on both 
 the branches of her family, as well as on all the Israel 
 of God. 
 
 Thus she departed in peace, not trusting in her wis- 
 dom or virtue, like the philosophers of Greece and 
 Rome ; not even, like Addison, calling on the profli- 
 gate to see a good man die ; but, like Howard, afraid 
 that her good works might have a wrong place in the 
 estimate of ker hope, her chief glory was that of ' a 
 smner saved by grace.'* 
 
 After such examples, who will dare to charge the 
 doctrines of the cross of Christ with licentiousness } 
 Here were two instances of persons, to whose good 
 works the world have cheerfully borne testimony, who 
 lived and died in the profession of these doctrines. It 
 was faith that first purified their hearts, and so the 
 stream of action from these fountains became pure 
 also. Had not Christ died, and risen again, all the 
 powers of man could never have produced such lives 
 
 * This was Howard's Epitaph, dictated by hknself.
 
 MRS*. ISABELLA GRAHAM. ji 
 
 of benevolence, nor a death so full of contrition, yet 
 so embalmed with hope. Hallelujah: unto Him who 
 loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood ; 
 and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his 
 Father : to him be glory und dominion for ever and ecer. 
 
 Amen. 
 
 Mrs. Graham's death created a strong sensation in 
 the public mind. Several clergymen in New York 
 made this event the subject of their discourses ; and, 
 in the annual Reports of many charitable institutions^ 
 an affectionate tribute of respect was paid to her me- 
 mory. Two of the chief magistrates of the city said 
 to Mr. B , that they considered the death of Mrs. 
 Graham as a public loss. The Rev. Dr. Mason was 
 requested to preach a sermon on this occasion. How 
 ably he executed this trust, is well known to the public. 
 The hymn she quoted to him was sung after the ser- 
 mon.* 
 
 At the weekly Prayer Meeting which she usually 
 attended, the circumstances of her death were made 
 subjects of improvement. On the 16'th of July, she 
 was a worshipper with her brethren and sisters there, 
 and on the evening of the 30th, they were called to 
 consider her by faith as in the immediate presence of 
 her God, among the spirits of the just made perfect. 
 
 The services of that evening were closed with a 
 hymn from Dobell's collection, which, being descrip- 
 tive of her happy change, shall be given here at 
 length, as a proper conclusion of this imperfect sketch 
 of her life. 
 
 Tis finish'd ! the conflict is past, 
 
 The heav'n-born spirit is tied ; 
 Her wish is accoiuplish'd at last, 
 
 And now she's eutomb'd with the dead. 
 
 The months of affliction are o'er, 
 
 The days and the nights of distress ; 
 We see her in anguish no more 
 
 She's gained her happy release. 
 
 * The perusal of this sermon has already led to the establishment 
 of two respectable Orphan Societies, and of one Adult School, in the 
 United States. 
 
 D<2
 
 62 LIFE AND WHITINGS OF, &C* 
 
 No sickness, or sorrow, or pain, 
 Shall ever disquiet her now ; 
 
 for death to her spirit was gain, 
 
 Since Christ was her life when below. 
 
 Her soul has now taken its flight 
 To mansions o* glory above, 
 
 To mingle with angels of light, 
 And dwell in the kingdom of love. 
 
 The victory now is obtain'd ; 
 
 She's gone her dear Saviour to see ; 
 Her wishes she fully has gain'd 
 
 She's now where she longed to be. 
 
 The coffin, the shroud, and the grave, 
 To her were no objects of dread ; 
 
 On Him who is mighty to save, 
 Her soul was with confidence stay'd. 
 
 Then let us forbear to complain, 
 
 That she is now gone from our sight ; 
 
 We soon shall behold her again, 
 With new and redoubled delight. 
 

 
 DEVOTIONAL EXERCISES. 
 
 Edinburgh, Ularch, 1789. 
 
 , JEREMIAH Xllx. 11. 
 
 Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; 
 and let thy widows trust in me. 
 
 THE Lord's promise, which he made to me in the days 
 of my widowhood, and which 1 have made the subject 
 of my prayers from day to day taking the words in a 
 spiritual sense. The Lord has done wonders for me 
 and mine, since the day I was left a widow with three 
 orphans, and the fourth not born, in a strange land, 
 without money, at a distance from friends ; or, rather, 
 without friends. Hitherto he has supplied all my 
 wants, and laid to hand every necessary, and many 
 comforts ; supporting character and credit ; making a 
 way for me through the wilderness, pointing out my 
 path, and settling the bounds of my habitation. 
 
 For all these blessings I desire to be grateful to the 
 God of providence, whose is the earth, and the fulness 
 thereof; but these I cannot take as the substance of 
 the promise ; neither have they been the chief matter 
 of my prayers. The salvation and the life I have 
 wrestled for, is that which Christ died to purchase, 
 and lives to bestow, even spiritual life, and salvation 
 from sin. My God knows I have sought first the 
 kingdom of God for my children, leaving temporal 
 things to be given or withheld, as may best suit with 
 the conversion and sanctification of their souls. I have 
 not asked for them health, beauty, riches, honours, or 
 temporal life ; God knows what share of these consists 
 with their better interests : let Him give or withhold 
 accordingly. One thing I have asked of the Lord, 
 one thing only, and will persist in asking, trust in Him 
 for, and for which I think I have his promise, even the
 
 54 
 
 L1FB AND WRITIN6S F 
 
 life of their and my soul. My petition for myself and 
 mine is contained in J Thessalonians, v. 23 : and my 
 anchor of hope is found in the following verse, and in 
 Jeremiah xlbt. H. 
 
 Edinburgh, March 17, 1789. 
 
 THIS day, from the head of his own table, did the 
 Lord, by his servant, Mr. JR. , proclaim his name the 
 T AM, and call on me to write under what I would, 
 for time and eternity. My soul rejoices that God is, 
 and that he is what he is ; nothing less than himself 
 can content me, nothing more do I desire. 
 
 This great I AM is my portion what can I ask be- 
 side 1 lie has opened mine eyes to see his excellency ; 
 lie hath determined my will to choose him for my por- 
 tion. He has arranged, and set in order, a rich testa- 
 ment sealed by the blood of his own Son, containing 
 every blessing for time and for eternity. All my 
 heart's desire is. there promised, and faith given to be- 
 lieve there shall be a full performance. What have I 
 to say then, but Amen, do as thou hast said ? Father, 
 glorify thy name. Thou hast said, Then will I sprinkle 
 dean neater upon you, and ye shall be dean ; from 
 fill your Jilthin ess, and from fill your idols, will I cleanse 
 yon. A neic heart aho will I give you, and a new spirit 
 will I put within you ; and I icill take away the stony 
 heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of 
 flesh ; and I will put my spirit within you, and cause 
 you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judg- 
 ments and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land 
 that I gave to your fathers ; and ye shall be my people, 
 and I will be your God. Amen. Lord, do as thou 
 ha?t said. Behold I take hold of the covenant for 
 myself and for my children. It is well ordered in all 
 things, and it is sure. My heart accords to every part 
 of it. Wilt thou guide us by thy counsel while we 
 live, and afterwards receive us to thy glory ? Amen, 
 and Amen do as thou hast said. 
 
 If we forsake thy laws, and go astray 5 if we depart 
 from thec, and break thy commandments, wilt thou 
 visit our faults with rods, and our sins with chastise- 
 meats? Blessed promise, Amen, Lord, do as thow
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 55 
 
 hast said : seeing thy loving kindness is secured to us, 
 and thou wilt not cast us off from being thy p'eople, 
 nor alter that which thou hast spoken ; wilt thou keep 
 us as the apple of thine eye ? Wilt thou cover us witn 
 the shadow of thy wing ? Art thou my husband ? Art 
 thou the Father of my fatherless children ? Wilt thou 
 be the Stay of these orphans, and their and my Shield 
 in a strange land ? Wilt thou perfect what concerns 
 us ? Wilt thou care for us ? Wilt thou never -leave us, 
 ner-er forsake us ! In the valley of the shadow of death, 
 shall thy rod and staff support us ? What can thy 
 servant say, but Amen, do as thou hast said. 
 
 New York, August 26, 1790. 
 
 READING over my former experience, has a little 
 revived this cold heart. Strange things hast thou done 
 for me and mine. Thou hast said again and again, 
 Trust not in man ; yet, my idolatrous heart will cleave 
 inordinately to my friends. Thou hast seen it neces- 
 sary to let me see, how easy it is with thee to blast 
 the brightest hopes and fairest prospects : thou hast 
 shewed me that father and mother may forsake ; and 
 even friends in Christ stand aloof. Glory to thy name, 
 thou hast also confirmed a consequent hope ; the 
 Lord has taken me up. Thou knowest my castings 
 clown, and liftings up. The world would not believe 
 me, were I to tell them the stately steps thou hast taken 
 for my relief. 
 
 New York, May 20, 1791 . 
 
 THIS day my only son left me in bitter wringings of 
 heart : he is again launched on the ocean : God^s 
 ocean. The Lord saved him from shipwreck : brought 
 him to my home, and allowed me once more to indulge 
 my affections over him. He has been with me but a 
 short time, and ill have I improved it : he is gone from 
 my sight, and my heart bursts with tumultuous grief. 
 Lord have mercy on the widow's son the only son of 
 his mother. 
 
 I ask nothing in all this world for him : I repeat my 
 petition, Save his soul alive, give him salvation from
 
 <> LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 sin. It is not the danger of the seas that distresses 
 me : it is not the hardships he must undergo ; it is not 
 the dread of never seeing him more in this world : it 
 is, because I cannot discern the fulfilment of the pro- 
 mise in him. I cannot discern the new birth nor its 
 fruits, but every symptom of captivity to Satan, the 
 world, and self-will. This, this, is what distresses me 5 
 and, in connection with this, his be'ng shut out from 
 ordinances, at a distance from Christians ; shut up 
 with those who forget God, profane his name, and 
 break his Sabbaths, men, who often live and die like 
 beasts ; yet are accountable creatures, Avho must an- 
 swer for every moment of time, and every word, thought, 
 and action. O Lord, many wonders hast thou shown 
 me ; thy ways of dealing with me and mine have not 
 been common ones add this wonder to the rest. 
 Call, convert, regenerate, and establish a sailor in the 
 faith. Lord, all things are possible with thee : glorify 
 thy Son, and extend his kingdom by sea and land ; take 
 the prey from the strong. I roll him over upon thee. 
 Many friends try to comfort me ; miserable comforters 
 are they all. Thou art the God of consolation ; only 
 confirm to me thy gracious word, on which thou 
 causedst me to hope, in the day when thou saidst to 
 me, Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them 
 alive. Only let this life be a spiritual life, and I put a 
 blank in thy hand as to all temporal things. 
 I wait for thy salvation. Amen. 
 
 New York, August 18, 1791. 
 
 THUS far the Lord hath tried me, and kept me to 
 my choice. This night I have tidings through a let- 
 ter to Dr. M. that my son has been seized by the press- 
 gang. Through God's help, he escaped ; but all his 
 assortment of necessaries that his sisters and I made 
 up with so much care, labour, and expence, they have 
 carried off, and he is once more left naked. Satan, 
 and a corrupt heart, unite in tempting me to fret. 
 Dare I utter a word, or harbdur a murmuring thought ? 
 Would I withdraw the blank I have put into the Re- 
 deemer's hand ? Has he not hitherto done all things 
 well ? Have not my own afflictions been my greatest
 
 *IHS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 
 
 blessings ? Have npt I asked for my children their mo- 
 ther" s portion ? Has not God chiefly made use of af- 
 flictions as means of hedging me in, and shutting me 
 up to my choice, of this portion, as well as showing me, 
 that He is a sufficient Portion, without any other ? 
 When things have been at the worst with me, as to 
 this world, my triumphs in my God have been highest, 
 and prospects for eternity brightest. 
 
 Has the Lord given me, in some measure, victory 
 over the world ? Do its honours, riches, show, and 
 gaudy splendours, appear to me empty and vain, and 
 not worth an anxious thought ? Does provision of 
 food and raiment, by the way, through this wilderness, 
 seem all that is necessary ? And is it my wish, as well 
 as form of prayer, that the Lord may give that in kind 
 and degree, which he sees fittest for me ? And shall 
 I covet that for my child which I despise for myself ? 
 Alas ! Lord, he feeds not on better things, and some- 
 times I fear he has no better portion. Still, still, fool- 
 ish. Was it when I was full or in want, that I re- 
 turned to my heavenly Father ? Do I desire, have I 
 asked, and persisted in asking, for my children, salva- 
 tion from sin and self? Do I anxiously wish them to 
 reach and to surpass my present measure of submission 
 and resignation to thy will to enjoy God in all tilings, 
 and nothing without him? And shall I, dare I, fret 
 when I see the Lord making use of the same means 
 which first brought me to myself, and recovered me 
 also from numberless backslidings since I first tasted 
 the blessedness of his chosen ? 
 
 Lord, I renew my blank. I afresh roll all my cares 
 over upon thee. I will try to look on, in the faith that 
 all things shall work together for good to their souls j 
 and that I shall yet see the day, or, if I see it not, 
 that it will come, when they shall bow at thy footstool ; 
 sink into the open arms of thy mercy in Chris! : melted 
 down in holy, humble, acquiescing, .cordial submission 
 to thy severest dealings with them ; when thbu shalt 
 put a new song into their mouths, and they shall sing 
 as I do now, It hath been very good for me that I have 
 been afflicted. I wait for thy salvation. Amen.
 
 58 ilFB AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 New York, September, 1791. 
 
 MANY have been my burdens of late ; strangers laid 
 upon me to provide for, even when I thought 1 had not 
 sufficient to give to all their due, and provide for my 
 own family. But what is that to me ? The Lord in- 
 creases business, bears me and my burdens, provides 
 for me and strangers. Lord, it is all well ; give when 
 thou wilt, and call for it again, when and for what pur- 
 pose thou wilt ; it is thine own. I am thine, and all 
 that thou givest me is thine : the world calls it mine, 
 but I call it thine. If it be thy will, lead me in a plain 
 path, or, if thou lead me by a way which I know not, 
 hold up my goings, so shall I be in peace and safety 
 still. Amen. 
 
 New York, Oc*.10,1791. 
 
 THIS day did the Lord's servant, in a solemn man- 
 ner, take us all to witness, and call in the witness of 
 angels, that we had once more avouched ourselves to 
 be the Lord's ; and that once more Christ and his sal- 
 vation had been offered to all within the walls. This 
 same day, for the second time, have my two daughters 
 sat down at the Redeemer's table, among his profess- 
 ing people 5 and, I have reason to think, given their 
 hearty assent to his covenant. 
 
 Glory ! Glory ! Glory ! to the Hearer of prayer. I 
 have cast my fatherless children on the Lord, and he 
 has begun to make good my confidence. One thing, 
 one only thing, have I asked for them, leaving every 
 thing else to be bestowed or withheld, as consisting 
 with that j I seek for my four children and myself, first 
 of all, the kingdom of God. 
 
 My God, from day to day, adds many other com- 
 forts, and strengthens my hopes by promising appear- 
 ances, that the grain of mustard seed is sown in the 
 hearts of my three datighters. They have joined them- 
 selves to the people of God, and I have reason to think 
 the Lord has ratified their sxirrender of themselves to 
 him ; he has made them willing for the time, and he 
 will hedge them in to the choice they have made. 
 
 Saturday, September, 1/91. The Lord made me a 
 grandmother, assisted my poor weakly girl in child-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. fj, c ) 
 
 bearing 1 , and gave a son to her and my arms. Tliere 
 was joy, that a man child was born into the world; and, 
 according to thy word, she remembered no more her 
 pain. 
 
 Thanks be to God for this salvation ; but, Lord, 
 this is but a small thing with thee. Look, O look, on 
 this twig from a guilty stock ; poor, helpless, feeble 
 creature, it can do nothing for its body, and still less 
 for its soul. O God of the spirits of all flesh, give it a 
 plunge in the blood of Jesus cleanse, O cleanse him 
 from original sin; and now, even now, in thy own sove- 
 reign and mysterious way, sow the grain of mustard 
 seed in his soul. 
 
 New York, January 20, 1792. 
 
 THIS day our worthy pastor preached from Revela- 
 tions, xiv. 4 : These are they who follow the Lamb whi- 
 thersoever he goeth ; these are redeemed from among 
 men, being the first fruits unto God, and to the Lamb, 
 and in their mouth was found no guile, for they are with- 
 out fault before God. The one hundred and forty-four 
 thousand on mount Zion around the Lamb, having 
 their Father's name written on their foreheads a 
 goodly number: the people of God redeemed from 
 among men, and distinguished from the world by the 
 image of God stampt upon their souls, by the Spirit 
 of God dwelling in, and operating on, their hearts, and 
 this distinguishable by the effects it produces on their 
 lives and conversation. 
 
 They follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. The 
 Lamb is their leader, and they keep him ever in their 
 view : the world, the men of the world, live to and for 
 the world. 
 
 ' Some walk in honour's gaudy show, 
 
 Some dig for golden ore, 
 They toil for heirs, they know not who, 
 
 And straight are seen no more.' 
 
 These are the chief objects, which they hunt through 
 life, unmindful of the Gospel call, of the offered salva- 
 tion, of the remonstrances of God in his word., provi- 
 dences, and by his servants, till they drop oh where !
 
 6O LlfE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 into the pit of the beast, the prince of this world, 
 whose mark is in their foreheads, and whose image is 
 impress*! deeply on their souls. The followers of the 
 Lamb shall share with him in his glory ; the followers 
 of the beast shall share with him in the wine of God's 
 wrath, poured out without mixture into the cup of his 
 indignation, and be tormented day and night with fire, 
 in the presence of the Lamb and his holy angels ; and 
 the smoke of their torment ascendeth up day and 
 night, who worship the beast, and receive the mark of 
 his name. Why do I start, why do I stagger, at the 
 divine declaration ? The Judge of all the earth, yea, 
 of Heaven and Hell, and all worlds, shall do right : 
 yet shall he do this. Mercy as well as judgment is, 
 was, and ever shall be, around his throne, yet shall he 
 do this. Goodness and mercy are his darling attri- 
 butes. He is the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long 
 suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy: 
 for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. 
 Yet will he do this, for he will by no means clear the 
 guilty. Vengeance shall be taken on every sin, not 
 one shall pass unpunished ; yet these hundred and 
 forty-four thousand were sinners of Adam's race, with 
 corrupt hearts, breaking out into guilty words and 
 deeds, like mine, every one, the least of them justly 
 condemning the sinner to these dreadful torments. 
 Yet are they all around the Lamb, rejoicing in his 
 presence, and beautified with his likeness. Blessed 
 Lamb of God ! thou art worthy ; thou hast loosed the 
 seals ; and unravelled the mystery, how vengeance can 
 be taken on sin, and mercy embrace the sinner. Thou 
 wast caught in the thicket ! The Father, the Judge 
 called, Spare, I have found a ransom ; the Son called 
 Spare, lo, I come to lay down mine own life for the sheep Z 
 The blessed Spirit called, Spare, I will create a new 
 heart, and renew a right spirit within them ! Through 
 the mysterious incarnation, life, and death, of our 
 glorious Redeemer, Son of God, and Son of man, he 
 hath redeemed, sanctified, perfected, all around the 
 throne ; and there are now a goodly number who are 
 on the way, bearing their cross after him. 
 
 They have embraced his offered mercy ; they have 
 taken hold of God's covenant just as it stands, well or-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHA.M. 61 
 
 dered in all things, and sure. Christ himself the sum 
 and substance of it : he is their Wisdom, Righteous- 
 ness, Sanctification, and Redemption. Justifying" 
 righteousness he wrought out for them by his perfect 
 personal obedience : their sanctirication is going on by 
 means of his appointing, even by his word, by his ser- 
 vants, by the operations of his Spirit in their hearts, 
 and by his external providences, whereby he brings 
 about such a train of circumstances in their lot, as 
 breaks the force of corruption, mortifies pride, loosens 
 their attachment to the world, endears himself to them, 
 and by degrees wins their entire confidence, and con- 
 sent to let him do all for them, and all in them ; and 
 then, and not till then, he is all to them. 
 
 Oh ! what is this world and its empty baubles ! 
 Lord, Lift on me the li^ht of thy countenance ! Let me 
 never lose sight of thee ; set me as a seal upon thine 
 arm, and let me lean upon thy bosom. 
 
 What a mystery am I to myself ! I know all these 
 delights what it is to be in the banqueting house of 
 my Beloved, and to sit under his banner with delight, 
 to be satisfied, to be more than satisfied, to be almost 
 sick of love, so as to look down on all created enjoy- 
 ments with contempt : yea, I have wished to die, to be 
 delivered from them : and yet, when engaged in the 
 necessary business of the world, daily and hourly be- 
 come a prey to its anxieties. I am elated, disap- 
 pointed, fretted like those who have no other portion, 
 and neglect, shamefully neglect, the means by which 
 God conveys to my heart those dear cordials and 
 tastes of his love, which, when I enjoy, I would never 
 wish to part with, but which I lose through indolence, 
 unwatchfulness, or I know not what, and, when gone, 
 neglect the means to recover. Oh what a strange, 
 inconsistent, contradictory being, is a half-sanctified 
 Christian I. 
 
 New York, 1793. 
 
 BLESSED LORD, thou hast, to the praise of thy 
 grace, given me the heritage of them that fear thy 
 name ; thou hast prepared my heart to pray, and in- 
 clined thine ear to hear : thou hast drawn me into thy
 
 P LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 fold, und hast fed me in thy green pastures. I rejoice 
 in Israel's Shepherd, not one of his flock can be lost. 
 Often have I wandered from his presence, and sought 
 pasture among the swine : but my shepherd has ever 
 drawn or driven me back. He has a rod and I have 
 felt it ; but 1 bless the hand, and kiss the rod. 
 
 how wonderful, to look back and see all the way 
 by which he has led me, to prove, to try me, to show 
 me, what was in my he rt, that he might do me good at 
 my latter end. 
 
 Amen, my God, I leave myself in thy hands. 
 
 1 should lose myself; but thou wilt keep me from 
 foes without, and foes within. What then have I to 
 care for? My Shepherd cares for all: He slumbers 
 not, nor sleeps, and he w.ll perfect what concerns me ; 
 of this I am as sure as that I now write it. 
 
 But, O my God, wilt thou not take my orphans 
 also ? Lord, care not only for me, but mine : bring 
 them also within this door. Compel them to come in. 
 Let me see them hungering after these green pastures. 
 Let me see them brought off from husks, and brought 
 back to the Father's house. 
 
 The means are thine, the work thine, the glory be 
 thine. I leave my fatherless children on thee ; save 
 them aliv:-, as thou hast said. Amen. 
 
 The law of my mouth is better u to me than gold and 
 silver. O how I love thy law ! It is my meditation ail 
 the day. Thou, through thy commandments, (or the 
 whole of thy truth,) hast made me wiser than my 
 teachers. The law of God makes the simple wise. How 
 siL-eet are thy words unto my taste, yea, sweeter than 
 honey to my mouth ! Through thy precepts I get 
 understanding, therefore 1 hate every false way. Thy 
 word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 
 How safe, how happy, are they who are taught by the 
 word of God. Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah ; 
 for flesh and blood have not taught thee this, but my Fa- 
 ther who is in heaven. O my children ! enrich your 
 minds with a full acquaintance with the word of God, 
 lay it up in your memories, when you can do nothing 
 more ; be assured, if ever you are made wise unto sal- 
 vation, it must be by this word ; if ever you are taught 
 of God, he will teach you by the words contained in
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 63 
 
 the Bible. Search the Scriptures, for they are they: 
 which testify of me ; search the Scriptures, for in them 
 are contained the words of eternal life. Be follower* 
 of them, who through faith and patience now in/terit the 
 promises. Holy David went ibnvard, hea\ en-ward, 
 improving in the knowledge of God, of himself, and of 
 God's plan of salvation for ruined sinners, by studying 
 the word, the works, and the providences of God, but 
 chiefly the word of God ; praying for, watching for 
 the influences of God's Spirit on his judgment and 
 thinking powers ; it was thus that he became wiser 
 than his teachers. He was a king, and had the cares 
 of the nation to occupy his mind; he was a man of 
 war, and had that art to study. But, O the privilege 
 of the Christian ! He goes through every part, even 
 of his earthly way, leaning upon his God. David could 
 say, even of war, The Lord teaches my hands to war, 
 and my fingers to fight. The Lord subdues the people 
 under me. In temporals and in spirituals, He is my 
 Shield, my Strength, my Buckler, my Strong Tower. 
 I shall not fear what man can do unio me. In Judah's 
 land, God is well known : there l<e breaks the spear, the 
 bow, and the battle. He ascribes all to God. We hear 
 nothing of his own wisdom, his disciplined armies, his 
 order of battle, and warlike powers ; though attention 
 to all these was his duty, and not neglected by him. 
 He devoted all his natural talents to God ; he exer- 
 cised them diligently, but still he knew and acted un- 
 der the influence of that knowledge, that, unless the 
 Lord build the house, the builders lose their pains ; unless 
 the Lord keep the city, the watchmen watch in vain. He, 
 as well as worldly men, chose the means best adapted 
 to the end proposed. Let natural men assert, and let 
 it be admitted, that David knew better how to use a 
 sling and a stone, than mail, helmet, and sword ; there- 
 fore he chose them. But follow David until he meet 
 the hostile band. Do we hear a word of his art as a 
 slinger, as a marksman r Though we may suppose he 
 was expert at both. Thou comest to me with a sword, 
 a spear, and shield; but I come in the name of the Lord 
 of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom thou hast 
 defied; and this ^assembly shall know, that the Lord
 
 64 LIFE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 saceth not with sword and spear ; (these are not essen- 
 tial;) for the battle is the Lord's, and He will give it 
 into our hands. 
 
 How comfortably might Christians go through life, 
 did they walk with God in their daily business and oc- 
 cupations, carefully observing the leadings of provi- 
 dence, cautiously avoiding either running before, or 
 lagging behind ; but in all things making their requests 
 known to God ; at all times committing their way to 
 him, being careful about nothing, but to use with dili- 
 gence the means of grace, and also the means of ac- 
 quiring the good things of life, leaving the issue of 
 both to God, in the full assurance that what is good 
 the Lord will give ! Trust in the Lord, and do good ; 
 so shalt t/iou dwell in the land, and verily thou s'.alt be 
 fed. In spirituals and in temporals, the hand of the di- 
 ligent mnketli rich. Be ye diligent in business, fervent 
 in spirit, serving the Lord. 
 
 Lord, teach me thy law graciously, in all its perfec- 
 tion, its extent, order, beauty and harmony ; and grant 
 me all the assistance provided to enable a lost, de- 
 praved, corrupted child of Adam, to set out in thy 
 good ways, to go forward, and to finish in the same 
 course ; and all the consolation, joy, and peace, which 
 thou hast provided to be enjoyed in a measure even 
 here, and to be perfected in the world to come. Amen. 
 
 HOSEA, chap. xiv. O Israel, return unto the Lord, 
 for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Yes, fallen, O 
 how fallen from God the only Good, the Fountain of 
 happiness ! Lost his image, which was the glory of man 
 in Paradise ! Lost that sweet complacency and delight 
 in his perfections and attributes, which innocence en- 
 joyed. Lost all rectitude of reason and judgment ! 
 No longer can we judge of excellence, no longer love 
 what God loves. Our wills are no longer straight with 
 his will, but crooked, opposing God, and choosing evil 
 instead of good. 0/i Israel ! thou hast destroyed thy- 
 self, but in me is thy help. Amen, says my soul, in thee 
 is my help.
 
 JIRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 05 
 
 New York, October 3, 1793. 
 
 ISAIAH, xliv. 5. One shall say, I am the Lord's, and 
 another shall call himself by the name of Jacob ; and 
 another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and 
 surname himself by the name of Israel. 
 
 I, as one, subscribe to the truth of all that God has 
 said : I, as one, subscribe my assent to all that he has 
 done. I set my Amen to his well-ordered covenant, 
 well ordered in all things and sure. And this is the 
 covenant, even Christ, the sum and substance ; for he 
 hath given him to be a covenant of the people. The 
 whole and every part of it is God's covenant. To me 
 it must be a testament, the New Testament in Christ's 
 blood. To me it must be a covenant of gifts and pro- 
 mises. I can be of no party, having nothing to give j 
 nothing with which to covenant. He hath said, Thou 
 hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help. 
 
 Amen. ' Be my help, my deliverer ! 
 
 Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be saved; 
 for 1 am God, and there is none else. 1 dp look unto 
 thee alone for salvation. Thou art God, there is none 
 else ; besides thee there is no Saviour. * 
 
 I will pour water on the thirsty, and Jloods on the 
 parched ground. I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, 
 and my blessing upon thy offspring. Amen. I yield 
 my soul into thy hand, dry and parched, to receive thy 
 showers of reviving, quickening, fructifying grace; 
 
 New York, February 10, 1794. 
 
 THIS day I have a letter from my poor wanderer. 
 Jt is more than a year since I heard of him. Accept 
 of my thanks, my good and gracious Lord. I feared 
 that his cup had been full, and that he had been called 
 out of the world with all his sins on his own head ; for 
 I have no tidings of his turning from his sinful courses, 
 or fleeing from the wrath to come, by taking hold of 
 the hope set before him. 
 
 I bless thee, O I bless thee, for thy sparing mercy, 
 thy long suffering, thy patience, thy forbearance. Yea, 
 even to him, thou hast been more than all this. Thou 
 hast been his Preserver ? his Provider : thou hast watch-
 
 66 LIFE AND WRITINGS of 
 
 ed over him in many imminent dangers, in the great 
 deeps, in burning and in frozen climes. 
 
 Thou hast followed him with thy preserving mercy 
 and temporal bounty. He is still in the land of the 
 living, and among those who are called to look unto 
 thee and live. Still thou feedest my hopes of better 
 things for him. Thou sufferest my prayers to lie on 
 the table of thy covenant. I will trust, I will hope, I 
 will believe, that, in an accepted time, thou wilt hear 
 me, and in a day of thy power thou wilt bow his stub- 
 born will, and lay him an humble suppliant at thy feet, 
 I trust thou wilt bring this poor prodigal to himself, 
 and turn his steps towards his Father's house. See 
 how he feeds with the swine upon husks, and even 
 these not his own. O turn his thoughts to his father '$ 
 house, where there is bread enough, and to spare. 
 
 Lord, remember thy gracious word, on which thou hast 
 caused me to hope, and which has ever been my com- 
 fort in the time of my affliction, and in my straits my 
 only relief. 
 
 He is again launched into thy great ocean. Lord, 
 he is far from every friend, and from every means of 
 grace, and, for nny thing I know, far from thee by 
 wicked works ; under thy curse, and hateful in thy 
 sight ; but thou, God, seest him. Means are not ne- 
 cessary, if thou wiliest to work without. Thou canst 
 find an avenue'to his heart at once, dead as he is, vile 
 as he is, guilty as he is, far from the help of man, and 
 in the most unlikely situation to receive the help of God j 
 I know that all these hindrances, nil these mountains, 
 shall melt as wax at thy presence. 
 
 Lord, I believe, thou knowest I believe, that, if thou 
 but speak the word, this dead soul shall live ; this vile, 
 this guilty soul, shall be cleansed, shall be renewed, and 
 my son be changed to a humble, thankful, genuine child 
 of God, through the cleansing blood of atonement, 
 through the imputation of the Redeemer's righteous- 
 ness, and the implantation of thy Spirit. I can do 
 nothing for him, but thou canst do all this. I wait for 
 it, Lord, 1 wait for thy salvation. Lord, let there be 
 joy in Heaven over this one sinner repenting. I roll him 
 on thee, I trust in thy sovereign, free, unmerited, mercy 
 in Christ. Amen,
 
 WHS, ISABELLA fJRAHAM. t>7 
 
 New York, October 1, 1794. 
 
 Return unto thy rest, my soul, for the Lord hath 
 dealt bountifully with thee. 
 
 Blessed be the Lord, for he hath shewed me his mar- 
 i-ellous loving kindness in a strong city. Christ, the City 
 of Refuge. 
 
 Thou hast given me my heart's desire, and hast not 
 withholden the request of my lips. One thing have I 
 desired of the Lord, and through life sought after, for 
 myself, and the children whom thou hast given me ; 
 that all the days of our lives, we might dwell in the house 
 of the Lord, behold his beauty, and inquire in his holy 
 temple ; that in the time of trouble he would hide us 
 in his pavilion, in the secret of his tabernacle, and set 
 our feet upon a rock. 
 
 O thou incarnate God ; thou blessed Temple, not 
 made with hands ; thou blessed Pavilion, in which thy 
 people hide in the time of trouble, and are safe ; thou 
 Rock of ages, on which we build our hopes for time 
 and eternity, and defy the assaults of sin, Satan, and the 
 world ! Thou Jehovah Jesus, art all these to thy people. 
 Thou broughtest them from a fearful pit, and from the 
 miry clay .- thou settest their feet upon this spiritual rock, 
 and established their goings : thou puttest a new song in 
 their mouths, even praise unto their God. Many have 
 seen it, and sung it ; many now see and sing it : many 
 shall see and sing it, and trust in the Lord. They find 
 in thee all that is expressive of life ; all that is expres- 
 sive of safety ; all that is expressive of comfort ; all 
 that is expressive of happiness. 
 
 O how many are thy wonderful worJts which thou hast 
 done ; and thy thoughts which are to us ward, they cannot 
 be reckoned up in order unto thee ; if I would declare, 
 and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. 
 Thou thy blessed self, art the sum and substance of 
 every good to man. All this I know ; all this have I 
 at different times experienced ; and yet my heart is 
 heavy, my spirits depressed. There is no cause ; thy 
 very afflictive providences have me't my wishes, and 
 been so n\any answers to my prayers. 
 
 Thou Husband of the widow, thou Father of the 
 fatherless ; how fully, how manifestly, hast thou ful- 
 filled these relations to thy worthless servant !
 
 G8 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 Thou, in my early widowhood, calledst upon me to 
 leave my fatherless childre on thee, annexing the promise 
 that thou wouldst save them alive. 
 
 Thou didst put it into my heart to plead the promise 
 in a spiritual sense ; to ask, to hope, to wait for, the 
 new birth, the life which Christ died to purchase, and 
 lives to bestow. 
 
 In three of these fatherless, I have seen thy work. 
 Long did the grain of mustard-seed lie buried among 
 the weeds of worldly mindedness ; long were my hopes 
 and fears alternated ; but now the blessed discipline of 
 the covenant has been exercised : I have witnessed it, I 
 have felt it : suffered the rod with them and for them, 
 but waited for the fruits in hope ; and, glory to thee, 
 dear Husband and Father, I have not waitejl in vain. 
 Thou hast written vanity and opened our eyes to read 
 vanity, written on every earthly enjoyment, except so 
 far as thou art enjoyed in them. Thou hast enabled 
 not only thine aged servant, but thy young ones, to put 
 a blank into thy hand, and to say, Choose thou for us. 
 We take hold of thy covenant, and choose it for our 
 portion. Is not this, O Lord, the full amount of my 
 desires ? Thou wilt finish the work in thy own time, 
 and by means of thy appointing. Amen. Lord, do as 
 thou hast said. 
 
 October 4, 1795. 
 
 WHY, O why, is my spirit still depressed ? Why these 
 sobs ? Father, forgive. Jesus wept. I weep, but ac- 
 quiesce. This day two months, the Lord delivered my 
 Jessie, his Jessie, from a body of sin and death, finished 
 the good work he had begun, perfected what concerned* 
 her, trimmed her lamp, and carried her triumphing 
 through the valley of the shadow of death. She overcame 
 through the blood of the Lamb. 
 
 I rejoiced in the Lord's work, and was thankful that 
 the one, the only thing, I had asked for her, was now 
 completed. I saw her delivered from much corruption 
 within, from strong and peculiar temptation without. I 
 had seen her often staggering, sometimes falling, under 
 the rod ; I had heard her earnestly wish for deliverance 
 from sin ; and, when death approached, she was more
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 69 
 
 than satisfied : said she had been a great sinner, but she 
 had a great Saviour ; praised him, and thanked him, 
 for all his dealings with her : for hedging her in, for 
 chastising her ; and even prayed that sin and corruption 
 might be destroyed, if the body should be dissolved to 
 effect it. The Lord fulfilled her desire, and, I may add, 
 mine. He lifted upon her the light of his countenance j 
 revived her languid graces ; increased her faith and hope ; 
 loosed her from earthly conceinsj and made her re- 
 joice in the stability of his covenant, and to sing, ' All 
 is well, all is well, good is the will of the Lord.' 1 did 
 rejoice, I do rejoice ; but O Lord, thou knowest my 
 frame ; she was my companion, my affectionate child } 
 my soul feels a want. O fill it up with more of thy pre- 
 sence, give yet more communications of thyself. 
 
 We are yet one in Christ our Head ; united in him ; 
 and, although she shall not return unto me, I shall go to 
 her, and then our communion will be more full, more 
 delightful, as it will be perfectly free from sin. Christ 
 shall be our bond of union, and we shall be fully under 
 the influence of it. 
 
 Let me then gird up the loins of my mind, and set 
 forward to serve my day and generation, to finish my 
 course. The Lord will perfect what concerns me ; and, 
 when it shall please him, he will unclothe me, break 
 down these prison walls, and admit me into the happy 
 society of his redeemed and glorified members : then 
 shall he wipe away all tears from my eyes, and I shall 
 taste the joys which are at his right hand, and be satis- 
 fied for evermore. 
 
 January 3, 1796. 
 
 PHILIPPIANS iv. 4. Rejoice In the Lord alizay, and 
 again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto 
 all men, the Lord is at hand. 
 
 Be careful for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer 
 and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be 
 made known unto God. And the peace of God, which 
 passeth all understanding, siiall keep your hearts and 
 minds through Christ Jesus. 
 
 Christ Jesus ! What does not this name comprehend ! 
 He is mine, and all is mine. I do rejoice in the Lord,
 
 70 L1FB AND WHITINGS OF 
 
 yea, more or less I rejoice always. This heart of mine ia 
 sensible to every human affliction ; my tears flow often 
 and fast : 1 weep for myself, and still more for others ; 
 but in these very moments of heart- wringing bitterness,, 
 there is a secret joy that Jesus is near ; that he sees, 
 knows, and pities. He is Jehovah as well as Jesus, and 
 therefore could have prevented the affliction under which 
 I groan ; but, for my good, and for the good of those 
 near and dear to me, he suffered it, or prepared it. 
 The good of his people is connected with his glory, 
 they cannot be separated : therefore, Father, glorify 
 thy name ; I rejoice, and will rejoice. The Lord can 
 remove, and will remove, the affliction, the moment it 
 has answered the gracious purpose for which it was 
 sent. 1 would not wish it one moment sooner. While 
 it lies heavy, he is my Almighty Friend, my Rest, 
 my Staff of support. 
 
 In time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion ; in 
 the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me: he shall set 
 me upon a rock, PSALM xxvii. 5. 
 
 The Lord is my Strength and my Shield; my heart 
 trusted in him, and I am helped, therefore my heart 
 greatly rejoiceth, with my song I will praise him, and in 
 his strength, and by his grace, let my moderation be 
 known unto all men. My Lord is at hand, at hand to 
 support, at hand to overrule, at hand to deliver. 
 Therefore I rejoice always. 
 
 Blessed be God for the heart-easing, heart-soothing 
 privilege, of casting all my cares upon him, and for the 
 blessed assurance that he carethfor we and mine; that 
 he allows, invites, yea, commands me to be careful for 
 nothing, but in all things, by prayer and supplication 
 with thanksgiving, to let my request be made known unto 
 him, who is man, and touched with the feeling of our in- 
 firmities; (Jesus wept 5) and God, the Almighty God, 
 to support, overrule, deliver. Therefore, my heart re- 
 joiceth always. 
 
 May 28, 1796. 
 
 THIS is the anniversary of my dear Jessie's birth, no 
 more to call us together here ; but J yet remember it, 
 as a day in which our God was merciful to me, and
 
 MftS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 71 
 
 made me the mother of an heir of salvation. I bless, 
 I praise, my covenant God, who enabled me to dedi- 
 cate her to him before she was born, and to ask only 
 one thin* for her, as for myself, even an interest in his 
 great salvation ; leaving it to him to order the means, 
 time, and manner, as of her natural birth, and ripening 
 age, so of her spiritual birth, and ripening for glory ; 
 he accepted the charge, and he has finished the work, 
 to his own glory, to her eternal happiness, and to my 
 joy and comfort. I have witnessetl remaining corrup- 
 tion fighting hard against her, and bringing her again 
 and again into captivity to the law of sin and death, 
 warring against her. I have seen the rod of God lie 
 heavy upon her, according to the tenor of the cove- 
 nant, when she forsook his laws and went astray : when 
 she walked not in his judgments, but wandered from 
 his way, he visited her faults with rods, and her sins 
 with chastisements, but his loving kindness he never took 
 from her, (though he often hid it,) nor altered the word 
 which he had spoken, that he never would leave her, 
 never forsake her ; that in due time he would deliver 
 her from all her enemies. 1 perceived her desires to 
 be delivered from the world, and the body, and taken 
 home to the bosom of her God ; since that appeared, 
 at times, the only way she could be delivered from sin. 
 I heard her lament her unfruitfulness, her unsteadi- 
 ness : I heard her exclaim, ' Oh, what a sinner ! what 
 a great sinner !' and 'Oh! what a Saviour! Oh the 
 goodness of God in hedging me in, and saving me from 
 myself j his covenant stands fast, it is established, it is 
 sure.' I beheld a God pardoning sin, yet taking ven- 
 geance on inventions. I saw the sinner, after being six- 
 teen years in the school of Christ, (taught by his mi- 
 nisters, and most effectually by his rod,) taking shelter 
 in the city of refuge, in the atonement of God's provid- 
 ing, and in a surety righteousness, and finishing her 
 struggles with ' All is well !' my heart echoed and does 
 echo, and will to all eternity, ' All is well.' Glory to 
 God ; sing not unto her, not unto me, not unto any 
 creature, but to God be the glory, that she is now deli- 
 vered from a body of sin and death, and made meet to 
 be a partaker with the saints in light. HALLELUJAH.
 
 ?$ LIFK AN1> WRITINGS OF 
 
 June, 1796. 
 
 PSALM cxxii. I was glad when they said unto me, 
 Let us go into the house of the Lord. 
 
 The home of the Lord whither the tribes go up, the 
 tribes of the Lord unto the testimony of Israel, to give 
 thanks unto the name of the Lord, to seek his face, to 
 learn his will, to taste his love, to behold his glory, to 
 enjoy God as their own God, and reconciled Father. 
 
 Lord ! let my heart be warmed more towards thy 
 house ; I have sought and found thee in thy sanctuary, 
 read thy providences, and been taught thy will : I 
 have tasted thy love, and beheld thy glory ; I have en- 
 joyed thy presence as my own reconciled Father in 
 Christ Jesus ; I have been satisfied with thy goodness, 
 as with marrow and fatness ; and yet how cold and 
 languid, at times, how little desire to return, how small 
 my expectations, how wandering my imagination ! 
 How do I sit before thee as thy people, and my heart 
 with the fool's eyes at the ends of the earth ! Lord, I 
 should blush and be ashamed, were a fellow mortal to 
 see my heart at times. 1 may hide my eyes from 
 viewing vanity, but the evil lies within. O Lord, thou 
 knowest the cause j after all I have heard, seen, tasted, 
 and handled of the word of life, 1 am still of myself an 
 empty vessel, unable to speak a good word, or think a 
 good thought. Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord. 
 Quicken me according to thy word , tjttrn thou away mine 
 eyes from beholding vanity, and quteken me in thy way ; 
 then shall I run in the way of thy commandments, when 
 thou hast enlarged my heart. 
 
 The house of God the Owner, the Builder, and 
 Maker is God, and it is his peculiar treasure. Christ 
 is the foundation, and chief corner stone , and his house 
 are we, built upon him, cemented together a spiritual 
 building ; the foundation cannot fail, the corner stone 
 can never give way ; neither can we fall to pieces, or 
 be separated from him. 
 
 The house of God Jerusalem, Zion, the rest of God, 
 where he delights to dwell, where he will for ever stay 5 
 the house of God, the church, yea, the body of Christ ; 
 Christ the Head, his people the church, his members, 
 whose life is in him, and derived from him ; and be-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GKAHAM. 73 
 
 cause he lives, we shall live also. Lord, enlarge my 
 understanding, to comprehend more and more of the 
 height, and depth, length and breadth of the love of 
 Christ, which passeth all understanding. Open mine 
 eyes to behold wondrous things in thy law, and Gospel. 
 1 am as yet but a babe. Glory to God, that I am what 
 I am ; a babe in Christ. I shall be nourished with life 
 and strength from my divine Head ; educated and nur- 
 tured by the blessings of the new covenant. 1 shall 
 arrive at the perfection of stature appointed ; and stand 
 in my lot at the latter day. Amen. 
 
 May 16, 1796- 
 
 PSALM Ixxxix. 30. If his children forsake my laics, 
 and walk not in my judgments ; if they break my statutes, 
 and keep not my commandments : then will I visit their 
 transgression with the rod, and their iniouity ivith stripes : 
 nevertheless my loving kindness will I not utterly take 
 from them, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail ; my cove- 
 nant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone 
 out of my lips. Amen. Blessed promise ! It is a 
 well ordered covenant, and it is sure. Of all the provi- 
 sion of the covenant, that has been to my soul among 
 the most comfortable. Thanks be to God for the dis- 
 cipline of the covenant ; often has it been admini- 
 stered. Thou knowest, and I know in part, how ne- 
 cessarily : although I shall not know, nor understand 
 all, until that blessed rod shall have perfected its cor- 
 rection, and shall never more be lifted up. 
 
 Many ups and downs has thy servant experienced 
 in this vale of tears ; many tears have watered these now 
 aged cheeks ; in a variety of ways hast thou stricken, 
 and at times stripe has followed stripe, but mercy and 
 love accompanied every one of them. I bless thee, I 
 praise thee, and I have seldom received a stripe but I 
 had with it a token of love. Sin was imbittered, a Sa- 
 viour endeared, and grace given to kiss the rod, and 
 cleave to him that had appointed it. And now I can 
 read in legible characters, where in many instances thy 
 checks met my wandering steps, stopt me short of huge 
 precipices, and preserved me from destroying even 
 my worldly comfort. In some instances (I thank thee 
 
 E
 
 74 LIFE AND WHITINGS Or 
 
 they have not been many,) thou hast been pleased to 
 let me alone, to let me pursue my own ways : ways so 
 wise in my own eyes, that I have either not sought 
 counsel at all, or sought it, as Balaam did, v\ ith my 
 heart set on my own will. 
 
 In some cases, thou hast let me eat of the fruit of 
 my own doings, and let me weary myself in my own 
 way, until I found it not only vanity and vexation of 
 spirit, but sometimes a labyrinth from which 1 could- 
 find no escape : then did I cry unto the Lord ; then 
 did I remember my backslidings : then did I seek unto 
 the cleansing fountain, and to the appointed Mediator, 
 the Maker up of the breach ; then did I experience 
 afresh the Lord's power to save. 
 
 In how many instances has he given a sudden turn 
 to providences, which have been made means of my 
 deliverance j not only so, but brought good out of my 
 evil, so that I have been made to wonder, and to say, 
 Surely this is the finger of God. 
 
 I destroyed myself, but in thee is my help found. 
 O let these wanderings end : fix it deep on my mind, 
 that in the Lord only have I wisdom as well as strength : 
 that it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. 
 When shall I learn to > live simply on Christ, by the light 
 of his pure unerring word, and the Spirit coinciding ; 
 and have done with these carnal reasonings, the wis- 
 dom of men ! Search me, Lord, and know my heart; 
 try me and know my thoughts ; and see if there be any 
 wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting, 
 Amen. 
 
 August 4, 1796. 
 A DAY TO RE REMEMBERED ! 
 
 ROSE at four, not to mourn : no, but to repeat my 
 grateful thanks to my covenant God, for the work he 
 finished this day, last year, in delivering my weak, 
 feeble, tossed, and tried Jessie from a body of sin and 
 death, and giving her the victory through Jesus Christ, 
 who loved her, and gave himself for her. To thee she 
 was dedicated ere she saw the light ; to thee a thou- 
 sand times 1 repeated the dedication, begging that 
 thou mightest bring her within the bond of thy cot-e-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA- GRAHAM. 
 
 nant: this was the sum and substance of all my ask- 
 ings for her, and all of them. I witnessed the time of 
 her second birth, saw the tears of conviction and re- 
 morse. 1 witnessed thy loosing of her bands, and 
 tuning of her heart and tongue to praise redeeming 
 love. I witnessed the teaching of thy Spirit, and the 
 enlightening of her eyes, and the taste thou gavest her 
 of thy salvation ; I thought her mountain stood strong, 
 and she would not be easily moved : but who can tell 
 the deceitfulness of the human heart ? Too soon did 
 we all turn aside like a deceitful bow, forsook the foun- 
 tain of living waters, and hewed out broken cisterns that 
 could hold no water. Glory to God for the discipline 
 of the covenant, that he did not cast us off, but chas- 
 tised and corrected. He repeated the discipline, stripe 
 upon stripe ; I stood by and saw it : and though my 
 heart melted at times, 1 said, ' She is in her Father's 
 hand, let him do his pleasure.' I too was unfaithful 
 to her, thou knowest, and often entered into the same 
 vanity of mind which stifled the love of God in our 
 hearts, instead of guarding her, and warning her : still, 
 still, the Shepherd of Israel followed both, and with 
 the precious rod restored both, time after time, till it 
 pleased thee to finish her warfare, and deliver her 
 from the body, and from sin. Lord, I thank thee for 
 all the circumstances, for the privilege of attending 
 her in her warfare, for the cheerfulness of her spirits, 
 for the rich support we all experienced, for the view 
 we all had of thy faithfulness and fatherly dealing, and 
 for her last words, ' All is well.' Every thing thou 
 doest, is well, and this was peculiarly well. I resigned 
 her to thee with joy and thankfulness, and I still ac- 
 quiesce. Her thou hast taken, me thou hast left, to 
 be yet exercised with further discipline. It is well 
 thy will be done. Help me to profit by every pang- ! 
 Let sin be mortified, and my soul purified ; enlarge 
 my heart, to run the ways of thy commandments. 
 Now may / lay aside every weight, and that vanity of 
 mind which doth so easily beset me, and hath been the 
 secret spring of much backsliding both to myself and 
 to my children. Lord, destroy it. O let me now live 
 to God, closely and consistently : down with my will, 
 with self in every form ! Purify my motives, and let 
 E 2
 
 76 LIFE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 my whole heart, soul, body, substance, and influence 
 in the world, be devoted to thee ! Empty me of every 
 thing that is mine own, and let Christ live in me, the 
 hope of glory ; and let the glory of thy workmanship 
 in my soul redound to thee, and thee alone ! Amen. 
 
 August 13, 1736. 
 
 COLOSSIA.NS ii. 6. As ye have received Christ Jesus 
 the Lord, so walk ye in him, rooted and built up in him, 
 and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, 
 abounding therein with thanksgiving. 
 
 O Lord, this is what I pant after ! I would fain 
 have done with wandering. Lord, thou knowest ; for 
 -the work is thine. I have received the Lord Jesus as 
 thy gift to a lost world, as thy gift to me, an individual 
 of that world ; as having made peace by the blood of 
 the cross ; 1 account it a faithful saying, worthy of. all 
 acceptation, that, Christ c<ime into the world to save 
 sinners, of whom I am chief. I have received thee as 
 the Lord my righteousness, crediting thine own word, 
 Christ is the end of the law for righteousness, and that 
 there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. 
 I have received thee us the covenant given of the people. 
 In all the relations by which thou art held out to me 
 in this Bible, so far as I know, or understand, I have 
 received thee. I have no hope in myself, no trust in 
 myself, nor any views of communication from God of 
 any kind, but through the one Mediator between God 
 and man, the man Christ Jesus. 
 
 O my God, what is my life, what is my happiness, 
 but a continual receiving ! Thou art the Bread of Life, 
 that must keep alive the living principle in my soul. 
 In thee dicclleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 
 Thy people are complete in thee ; thou art their Head, 
 they are thy body, and by joints and bands have nou- 
 rishment ministered to them, arid are knit together, 
 and increase with the increase of God. 
 
 This, O this, is what my soul pants after, closer 
 and more intimate union and communion. I would be 
 transformed into thine image ; I would be thy temple ; 
 I would have thee live in me ; walk in me ; make me 
 one with thee ; I would be delivered from self- will,.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 77 
 
 self-wisdom, self-seeking ; I would be delivered from 
 that philosophy, and that vain deceit, which spoil 
 souls and lead them off from their Head. Lord, ena- 
 ble me continually to receive ; then, and not till then, 
 shall I cease to wander, shall run and not be weary, 
 walk and not faint ; then shall / run in the way of thy 
 commandments, and no longer turn aside to crooked 
 ways. Then shall I eat and drink, work and recreate 
 myself, all to thy glory. Lord, send thy Spirit into 
 my heart, that he may continually take of the things of 
 Christ, and shew them unto me ; that I may grow, and 
 be no longer a babe, but arrive at the fulness of stature, 
 in Christ Jesus, and more steadily, more purely, more 
 zealously, and more humbly, live to God, and glorify 
 him in t4ie world. Amen. 
 
 April 14, 1797. 
 
 ETERNITY seems very near. I have often thought 
 so, without any visible cause. Well, it will come ; a 
 few more rolling years, months, weeks, or days, will 
 assuredly land me on Canaan's happy shore. Then 
 shall 1 know and enjoy, what ear hath not heard, eye 
 seen, nor heart conceived, even the blessedness that is 
 at God's right hand. I have desired, although I know 
 not that I have asked, to glorify God on my death- 
 bed,- and to leave my testimony at the threshold of 
 eternity, that not one word of all that my God has pro- 
 mised, has failed. He has been, O what has he not 
 been! In all my trials, temptations, and wanderings, 
 he has been all that the well-ordered covenant has said. 
 Let this Bible tell, what God in Christ, by his Spirit 
 and his providence, ha% been to me ; and let the same 
 Bible say, what he will be to me, when flesh and heart 
 fail; yea, when the place that now knows me, shall know 
 me no more. Perhaps, when the messenger does come, 
 I shall not know him, but depart in silence. Well, as 
 the Lord wills, he knows best how to glorify himself. 
 Jesus shall trim my lamp, and perfect his image on 
 my soul, sensible or insensible. I shall enter into his 
 presence, washed in his blood, clothed in his righteous- 
 ness, and my sanctification perfected, / shall see him 
 as he is, and be like him.
 
 AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 Mourn not, my children, but rejoice j gird up the 
 loins of your mind, and set forward on your heavenly 
 journey through this wilderness. So far as I have fol- 
 lowed Christ, so far follow my example j still living on 
 Christ, depending on him for all that is promised in 
 the well-ordered covenant. Stumble not into the 
 world, except when duty calls ; at best, it is a deadly- 
 weight, a great hinderance to spiritual-mindedness, 
 and, as far as it gets footing in your heart, it will mar 
 both your progress and your comfort. Lord, feed my 
 children constantly with thy flesh and thy blood, that 
 they may never hunger nor thirst for this world, but 
 grow in the divine life, and in the joy and comfort of 
 the Holy Ghost. Amen. 
 
 October 20, 1797. 
 
 How condescending is our covenant God ! All we 
 have, or enjoy, is from his hand ; he gave us our being ; 
 our lives, although forfeited a thousand times, have 
 been preserved. Our bread has been given us, and our 
 water has been sure : and not only these necessaries, 
 but many comforts, and good temporal things, have 
 fallen to our lot ; thou hast furnished our table ; thou 
 hast provided medicines an^i cordials when sick. Lord, 
 1 thank thee for all these mercies ; but, above all, that 
 \vc can call, thee our reconciled Father ; that we have 
 them not as the worW have them, who are far from 
 thee, and have no portion among thy children, nor in- 
 terest in thy well-ordered covenant ; but that we have 
 ^them as thy redeemed, as part of covenant provision, 
 and with a covenant blessing, and among the all things 
 that work together for our good. Lord, enable us to 
 be rich in good works. How condescending, that 
 thou acceptest a part of thine own as free-will offerings, 
 and hast annexed promised blessings to those who con- 
 sider the poor i hast said, He who giveth to the poor, 
 tendeth to the Lord ! 
 
 I thank thee, that thou hast laid to hand a suffi- 
 ciency to enable me and mine to eat our own bread ,- 
 even that, which, according to the regulations of so- 
 ciety', men call our own. Thou only hast a right to 
 eftll it not so, for we are thine, and all that them
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 79 
 
 given us ; but, of thy free bounty and kind providence, 
 thou hast enabled us to provide things honest and of 
 good report in the sight of all men, and to give a portion 
 to them who need. 
 
 I trust, thy Spirit has directed my judgment in the 
 determination I have taken, to set apart from time to 
 time, this portion, according as thou prosperest us in 
 business, and preserves! us in health and ability to 
 pursue it. I bless thee for indulgent, encouraging 
 appearances, that, since I began the practice, thou 
 hast added to my stock, and that which 1 have given, 
 has never straitened, but thou hast prospered more 
 and more. My poor purse has never been empty when 
 called for, neither has my family purse. Of thine 
 own I give thee, and bless thy name for the privilege. 
 
 Grant direction with respect to whom, and how 
 much, to give. 
 
 1797. 
 
 As ye have received the Lord Jesus, so walk in him, 
 rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, 
 as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanks- 
 giving. 
 
 Just so, and no other way, shall any poor corrupted 
 creature attain holiness, in the very same manner that 
 he received the Lord Jesus at first. He is the Alpha 
 and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and 
 the Ending. 
 
 O Lord, my Saviour, my complete Saviour, and in 
 whom I am complete ; I received thee as my expiatory 
 sacrifice, by whom atonement was made for my sins ; 
 by whom I am reconciled to God, and God to rne. I 
 was then delivered from the power of darkness, and 
 translated into the kingdom of God's- dear Son, and 
 have redemption through his blood, even the forgive- 
 ness of sins. This same blood must cleanse my daily 
 spots, my very best services: this same blood must 
 cleanse my conscience daily, and give me confidence 
 in God, as my reconciled Father. By this same peace- 
 speaking blood, I daily present myself in his presence 
 and know that he sees no iniquity in me, so as to con- 
 demn me,
 
 80 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 O Lord, I received thee as my justifying righteous- 
 ness, disclaiming all confidence in my own works. I 
 placed my sole dependance upon an imputed righte- 
 ousness ; that righteousness, wrought out by thee as 
 my Surety, in thy holy meritorious life and death ; be- , 
 iieving thy testimony, that the ivages of sin is death, 
 but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. Just so must I go on, trusting in, resting 
 upon, rejoicing in, the Lord, my Righteousness. By 
 one mans offence many were made sinners, so by the obe- 
 dience of one shall many (and I among others) be 
 made righteous. Christ is the end of the law for righte- 
 ousness ; therefore I walk at liberty, free from all 
 dread of condemnation : not as a slave 5 not as a ser- 
 vant ; not as a hireling ; not as a probationer ; but as 
 a son and heir of God, to whom the inheritance is made 
 sure. I have received the seal of the testament, rati- 
 fied and made sure by the death of the testator. All 
 the blessings contained in this Bible, the records of 
 the well-ordered covenant, are mine : and (O glorious 
 truth !) the Testator died to ratify and insure this tes- 
 tament 5 but he lives again the glorious Executor. 
 
 Lord, 1 received thee as my King : depending 
 upon promised strength, I swore allegiance to thee, 
 and to thy government. Just so, my dear sovereign 
 Master, must I go on ; rejoicing in its privileges, sub- 
 jecting myself cheerfully to its restrictions ; studying 
 with care its positive commands, and setting myself to 
 obey, submitting with meekness to its discipline ; 
 claiming thy kingly power to subdue the corruptions of 
 my heart, to defend from foes within and foes without ; 
 and, when thou callest me to fight, to arm me for 
 battle, and lead me on to victory. 
 
 1 received thee as my divine Saviour, as the Cove- 
 nant of the people^ the Covenant arranged, ratified, 
 and fulfilled ; to me a Covenant of free gift. Receiv- 
 ing thee, I received all the promises in their fullest ex- 
 tent, as legally made over, and confirmed to me, by 
 the irrevocable gift of Deity ; and in thee, as my Sa- 
 viour, dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 
 In him it dwelleth for his people, his ransomed ; dwel- 
 leth in him as our Head : we are united to him, one 
 with him, as he and the Father are one ; and being one
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 81 
 
 with him, we are complete in him. He is the Head, 
 we the members ; he is the Vine, we the branches ; he 
 is the foundation and Chief Corner Stone, we the 
 building. Thus let us walk in him ; rooted and built- 
 up in him : filled with the knowledge of his will, in all 
 wisdom and spiritual understanding ; walking worthy 
 of the Lord, unto all pleasing being fruitful in every 
 good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God ; 
 strengthened with all might, according to his glorious 
 power : unto all patience, and long-suffering, with joy- 
 fulness ; for it is he who worketh in us, both to will and 
 to do of his good pleasure; and, although of ourselves 
 we can do nothing, yet we can do all things through 
 Christ strengthening us ; and he has promised, that, as 
 our day, so shall our strength be. 
 
 It is well, Lord, it is well. Thou art mine, and I 
 am thine : thou art mine with all thy fulness ; what can 
 I want besides ? Nothing, Lord. Thou hast given me 
 the heritage of those that fear thy name: I am satisfied, 
 with my portion. Amen. 
 
 Be my God, and the God of my seed, and glorify 
 thy name in us. 
 
 179?-. 
 
 PSALAI cxix. Remove far from me vanity and lies. 
 
 Every deviation from rectitude and truth, is sin. 
 Who that knows any thing of the corruption of the 
 human heart, and its strange tendency to stray, to err ; 
 yea, even to pervert the plainest, simplest, and most 
 obvious truths but must see the propriety of his join- 
 ing the Psalmist, and crying out, '' Lord, remove far 
 from me the way of lies }' 
 
 The way of lies respects our judgment and senti- 
 ments ; it respects our motives of action 5 and it re- 
 spects our conduct. 
 
 As it respects our judgment : how does every species 
 of error abound ! Even the serious and earnest seekers 
 of truth differ in many things, which, although they 
 may not mar their final salvation, mar their progress in 
 knowledge, in holiness, and in comfoii. ' Lord, re* 
 move far from us the way of lies.' Lead us to the 
 pure, unmixed, unerring word of truth, as it respects 
 B 3
 
 82 MFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 our sentiments, and as it respects our conduct. O 
 how many deceive themselves by resting on a specula- 
 tive knowledge of the truth, or what they esteem such, 
 while their hearts remain unaffected, their tempers un- 
 sanctified, and their lives unfruitful ! Passionate, stub- 
 horn, relentless, unmerciful, implacable tempers, in- 
 dulged and unmortified, must be a way of lies. Learn 
 of me, says the Saviour, for I am meek and lowly ; and 
 ye shall find rest to your souls. The meek will he teach 
 his way, the meek will he guide in judgment. 
 
 Remove far from me the way of lies, and teach me thy 
 law graciously. 
 
 Teach me thy law graciously, not the ceremonial and 
 the moral law alone, but the whole of God's revealed 
 will. The Psalmist knew the law ceremonial and mo- 
 ral, but he wants more and more of the teaching of 
 the Spirit of God. He, the Spirit of truth, shall take 
 of mine and shew it unto you. The word of God is 
 ever the same ; it contains the whole truth, and no- 
 thing but the truth ; every thing necessary to safety, 
 to holiness, and happiness. But O the difference be- 
 tween him who reads with a mind enlightened by the 
 Spirit of God, and him who reads with no other assist- 
 ance than his own poor, blinded, darkened reason. 
 Teach me then thy law graciously. I will praise thee 
 with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy 
 judgments. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold 
 wondrous things out of thy law. The Psalmist thirsted 
 after more and more extensive views of the word of 
 God : and, still as his views were enlarged, he desired 
 more. Verse 64, The earth is full of thy mercy: this 
 was one lesson ; but still he cries, Teach me thy sta- 
 tutes ; thou hast dealt bountifully with me, O Lord, ac- 
 cording to thy word : still he cries, Teach me good 
 judgment and knowledge. It is good for me that I have 
 been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes. 
 
 1797. 
 
 I LOVE to feel the kindlings of repentance, self loath- 
 ing under a sense of ingratitude ; a heart melting with 
 the view of pardoning grace. Hove to feel the sprink- 
 ling of my Redeemer's blood on my conscience, draw-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. , 83 
 
 ing forth the tears of joy and gratitude in the view of 
 a free pardon. I love to dwell on the seal of reconcilia- 
 tion ; while my heart, glowing with gratitude, sinks into 
 the arms of my redeeming Lord, in full confidence of 
 his love and my safety for ever. I love to feel long-- 
 ings after closer communion, after more conformity to 
 his image, and more usefulness to my fellow members 
 of the body of Christ, and to all his creatures. I love 
 to feel deeply interested in the success of the Gospel, 
 in the declarative glory of Jehovah, as manifested ia 
 his works of creation and providence, but chiefly in 
 the super-excellent work of redemption : for thou hast 
 hy word above all thy great name. 
 
 1798. 
 
 ' GLOWS in the stars, and blossoms in the trees.' 
 There the poet nmst stop : thus far the natural mind, 
 richly endowed with human powers, can go, and trace 
 a God of power, wisdom, and beneficence : O that thou 
 hadst had eyes to discern what flesh and blood could 
 never reach; that all these glories dwindle into tapers, 
 when compared with Jehovah manifested in the face of 
 Jesus Christ. Every star, every tree, all vegetating, 
 bursting, blooming life, answer the end of their crea- 
 tion, manifesting his glory as thou sayest ; but can 
 they tell thee, how this God can be just, and yet jus- 
 tify those who have rebelled against all his attributes ; 
 torturing even his fair and beautiful creation, and 
 bringing it into subjection to their lusts, as thou hast 
 well sung : murmuring at his dispensations in provi- 
 dence ; hardening themselves against his government ; 
 perverting every good to their own misery, and imbib- 
 ing wretchedness from the means of blessedness ? Can 
 all that thou hast sung, bring into congeniality, perfec- 
 tion of wickedness, and perfection of holiness ; perfec- 
 tion of wretchedness, and perfection of happiness, per- 
 fect opposition in nature and principle ? Here thy 
 song stops short. Thou seest the evils and the misery"; 
 thou hast a glimpse of an opposite good; but all means 
 proposed by thee, ever have proved, and ever will 
 prove, inadequate to the attainment of it ; heaven and 
 earth must stand amazed at the declaration that Go<| 
 would justify the ungodly !
 
 84 LIFE AND WRITINGS OK 
 
 1800. 
 
 O MY God, I account it an honourable office that 
 thou hast given me. I have received it from thee. 
 Enable me to execute it to thee. 
 
 Father of the fatherless ; Husband of the widow ; 
 make me a fit instrument in thy hand of distributing 
 thy bounty. Give discernment and judgment, tender- 
 ness, gentleness, humility, and love ; let love to thee 
 be the principle of my every action ; lead me in the 
 straight path of duty ; on the matter, the manner, the 
 time, let holiness to the Lord be written. I thank thee 
 for this sum, towards the relief of thy creatures ; be 
 with us this evening, and direct our determination as 
 to the division of it. Amen. 
 
 1800. 
 
 I HAVE entered into my closet j I have shut my door ; 
 I would pray to my Father, who is in secret ; I would 
 be shut up with my indwelling God : but see the crowds 
 that follow j see my treacherous heart that gives them 
 admission ; see my unsanctified imagination going off 
 with them, leaving nothing before thee but a lifeless 
 lump of clay. Help, Lord ! Hast thou not redeemed 
 me from vain imaginations ? Lord, fill all thy temple : 
 Cast out the buyers and sellers ; thyself prepare room 
 for close, undisturbed holy conference. Grant that, 
 according to the riches of thy glory, I may be strength- 
 ened with might, by thy Spirit, in the inner man : dwell 
 in my heart by faith, that, rooted and grounded in love, 
 I may be able to comprehend, with all saints, what is the 
 breadth, and length, and height, and depth, and to know 
 the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, and bejilled 
 with all the fulness of God. Give unto thy redeemed 
 servant the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Reveal 
 thyself more and more in my soul ; enlighten the eyes 
 of my understanding. Lord, improve, enlarge the 
 powers of the new man. Spirit of the Father, and of 
 the Son, do thine office ; take of the things of Christ, 
 and shew them unto me ; that 1 may know what is the 
 hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of 
 his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding 
 greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GKAHA5I. S-T 
 
 to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in 
 Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at 
 the Father's right hand, in the heavenly places, far above 
 all principalities, and powers, and might, and dominion, 
 and every name that is named, not only in this world, 
 but also in that which is to come ; and hath put all things 
 under his fee/, and given him to be the head over all 
 things, to the church, which is his body, the fulness of 
 him thatfillelh all in all. Filled with all the fulness of 
 God! The fulness of Him who Jilleth all in all! O 
 what things are these ! My soul stretches to compre- 
 hend ; but, weak and feeble, cannot climb those glorious 
 heighths, nor dig into these, to me, unsearchable depths. 
 I can only spell after the language of the Holy Ghost ; 
 lisp out his own words. I dare not trust my powers of 
 comprehension to vary even the mode of expression. 
 
 Well, it may be best for me ; the valley of humility 
 may be safest for me. Father, glorify thy name ! Thou 
 hast quickened me ; I am not what 1 was. Thou hast 
 wrought in me a measure of faith and love ; thou hast 
 sealed me with the Holy Spirit of promise ; thou hast 
 given me the earnest of my inheritance : the full pos- 
 session shall come in thy appointed time. Wherefore, 
 I will sing unto Him that is able, and will do exceeding 
 abundantly above all I can ask, think or comprehend, 
 according to that same mighty power that worketh in 
 us. Unto Him be glory in the church, by Christ Je- 
 sus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen, 
 
 My covenant God, and the God of my house ! Thy 
 Spirit saith, If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of GocL 
 Thou knowest the difficulty and danger of the present 
 case. We are ignorant of hidden motions and princi- 
 ples ; of Satan's suggestions, of corresponding or dis- 
 cordant circumstances : of future providences and 
 events. Lord, give counsel. 
 
 If information and advice be duty on the part of thy 
 servant, determine on the side of duty, be the danger 
 what it may ; and, O ! search, try, and deliver from 
 every selfish, or hidden impure motive. Give prudence 
 in the choice of words, in the time and manner, as well 
 as purity in the matter. Save from injuring any of the 
 individuals concerned. And, O ! prepare the heart of 
 thy other servant to receive this office of friendship,
 
 36 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 with a proper degree of confidence. Save from unjust 
 suspicions, that it may be taken as meant in love, iu 
 Christian love and friendship. 
 
 thou, who knowest all hearts, all motives, all cir- 
 cumstances, past, present, and future ! Over-rule for 
 the manifestation of truth j for the safety and good of 
 thy servant, and for the closer union of all concerned 
 in the bands of Christian love, confidence, and affec- 
 tion j and, as our covenant God, in whom we trust for 
 guidance in every path of duty, glorify thy name. 
 
 1 offer this prayer in faith, and wait an answer of 
 peace, from thy inward teaching, and manifestation in 
 the course of thy providence. Amen. 
 
 1800. 
 
 PSALM Ixxii. 17- His name shall endure for ever ; 
 His name shall be continued: as long as the sun, and men 
 only shall be blessed in him. All nations shall call him 
 blessed. Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, 
 who alone doth wondrous things, and blessed be his glo- 
 rious namefo- ever ; and let the whole earth b'jilied with 
 his glory. Amen and Amen. 
 
 Agaift, have I and my children been fed with 
 Christ's flesh and his blood, at his table. Glorious 
 tilings are said of thee, thou city of our God; and rich 
 the provision of the house of our God ; wonderful the 
 scheme, that hath made sinful, guilty, rebel sinners, 
 the citizens of this holy city, inhabitants of this holy 
 house. Mysterious truth ! The city itself, the house 
 of God ; the temple of the Lord, in which he delight- 
 eth to dwell ! Closer, yet more mysterious, yet equally 
 true, his body, his flesh, and his bones ! Closer still ; one 
 Spirit with him ! As Mediator Emmanuel, he is the 
 bond of union, whereby the guilty sons and daughters 
 of Adam are made one with the Father, the Son, and 
 the Holy Ghost. Wonderfully and fearfully are we 
 made as creatures ; as a rational creature, who can un- 
 derstand and comprehend himself ? How these mem- 
 bers were fashioned ! How this spark of vital flame was 
 breathed into the lifeless lump or atom ! Wonder work- 
 ing Lord ! Thou only knowest ; ^wonderful are all the 
 v/orks of creation : but O } what are they to thy work
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GBAMAM. 8? 
 
 of redemption ! To bring worlds out of nothing,, to 
 bring light out of darkness, was thy easy work : but, 
 to bring good out of evil ; this, this was the wonder ! 
 Thousands and ten thousands of worlds were, and may 
 yet be, created, without cost ! God says, let it be, and 
 it is : but redemption ! O, who can tell the cost ! 
 Blessed Jesus ! God manifested in the flesh 1 Christ ! 
 Babe of Bethlehem ! Man of Sorrows ! Victim on the 
 Cross ! Thou only canst tell Blessed be the Lord God 
 of Israel, who alone doeth wondrous things, ad blessed 
 be his glorious name for ever ; whatever the cost, it is 
 finished. He bowed his head, and said, It is finished ! 
 This finished'work is the New Testament, which he 
 bequeathed to his disciples the same night in which he 
 was betrayed. When he took bread, blessed it, brake if, 
 gave it to his disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is my 
 body broken for you; and took the cup, and gave thanks, 
 and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye nil of it; for this 
 is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for 
 many for the remission of sins. 
 
 The New Testament ! O, who can tell the blessings 
 and benefits contained in this testament, this dying 
 legacy of our dear Emmanuel, purchased and sealed 
 with his blood ! What is the amount of it? What the 
 sum of blessings contained in it ? Behold, God is be- 
 come our salvation. This is the amount. God him- 
 self, God in Christ, reconciling us unto himself ; by 
 his mighty power, subduing the enmity that is in us 
 melting our flinty hearts ; drawing us with the cords of 
 love ; creating us anew after his own image, which we 
 had totally lost : uniting us to himself, even us, who 
 were enmity itself, but now are become one with God, 
 who is Love. This is the work we have this day been 
 celebrating. A given, a born, a living, a suffering, 
 dying, risen, ascended, glorified, reigning, Saviour ! 
 The Lord of Hosts, the King of kings, the Almighty 
 God, dwelling with men, dwelling in men, and feeding 
 them with his own body and blood ! Behold, God is 
 become our salvation ; u-e will trust, and not be afraid, 
 for the Lord Jehovah is our strength and our song, he also 
 is become our salvation ; therefore with joy will we draw 
 water out of the wells of salvation. His attributes are 
 the never-failing source ; his ordinances, the wells of
 
 88 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 salvation. God himself is ours ; all that he is, is ours, 
 to bless and to make us happy. Ten thousand springs 
 issue from this blessed source, specified and particu- 
 larised in his Bible, experienced and celebrated by his 
 saints. Let us drink and be refreshed, rejoice and 
 praise ; for O, who can tell the amount of our riches, 
 in having God for our portion ! All things are ours ; 
 we are Christ's, and Christ is God's. 
 
 May 3, 1801. 
 
 Sing unto the Lord, for he hath done excellent things ; 
 this is knoivn in all the'earth. 
 
 Nearly six weeks have elapsed, since my children 
 launched into God's ocean.* The Sabbath after, I re- 
 quested the prayers of the churches for them, according 
 to their own desire. The Lord is a prayer-hearing 
 God j he answered, and will answer. 
 
 The weather has been uncommonly tempestuous ; I 
 read of many disasters, in consequence. How it has 
 fared, or does fare, with, my children, He, who loves 
 them, knows. Their Saviour, and their God, sitteth on 
 the clouds, and dircctcth the storm ; they are his ser- 
 vants, shall accomplish his purposes, which all termi- 
 nate in salvation to his people. My children are his ; 
 the blessings of the everlasting Gospel shall preserve 
 their souls in peace. Their God shall conduct them to 
 their destined port, but that port may be heaven : and 
 if it should, my soul, wilt thou grieve ? Darest thou 
 grieve ? No, my God ; if grace be in exercise when the 
 news reaches me, I will say, as in former times, All is 
 well ; He hath done all things well. I renew my blank, 
 noted in my exercise of January 1, 1796. 
 
 July 14, 1801. 
 
 I HAVE received letters from my children. What 
 shall I render to the Lord for all his mercies, mercies 
 temporal, mercies spiritual, mercies eternal, multiplied 
 
 * Mr. and Mrs. Bethune, and one of their children, sailed for 
 Liverpool, in March, 1801.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 89 
 
 mercy ! God himself is become my salvation ; how 
 unspeakable the blessing ! Though chastisement arid 
 affliction were the mean's of my correction, and sancti- 
 tication, or the very vengeance taken on my inventions $ 
 for I have been like treacherous Judah, and backsliding 
 Israel. His name changeth not. The Lord God is 
 merciful arid gracious, slow to anger, forgiving iniquity, 
 transgression, and sin. O how has he magnified this 
 name to me a backslider in heart and life ! How has he 
 multiplied pardons, healed rny backslidings, restored 
 my soul, and filled me with joy and peace in believing ! 
 Not only so, but in this vale of tears ; this land of 
 drought, this waste howling wilderness ; where man is 
 born to trouble, as the sparks jly upward. My cup runs 
 over with temporal blessings and enjoyments, all his 
 creatures minister to my comfort, his daily providence 
 adds much more. 
 
 It is fifteen weeks since my children launched into 
 God's ocean : many anxious hours of suspense have 
 agitated my breast. The Lord knows that I tried to wait 
 the manifestation of his will, with patience and resigna- 
 tion ; and to his praise I record it, even in the view of 
 parting, I was not without comfort. 
 
 Surely, surely, God is enough for me ; and, while he 
 is my portion, and the portion of my children, I cannot 
 be comfortless ; goodness and mercy will follow us : 
 whatever aspect providence may wear, the end shall be 
 goodness and mercy. 
 
 July 28, 1801. 
 
 MY dear Pastor, Mr. M , sailed for Britain. I thank 
 thee, good and kind Shepherd of Israel, for all those 
 providences which seemed small things at the time, that 
 hedged me into that congregation ; for all the benefits 
 and comforts I enjoyed under the ministry of thy aged 
 servant, now before thy throne, and that thou preparedst 
 thy young servant to fill his place, when the time of his 
 departure came. 
 
 I thank thee for all the endowments of our young 
 pastor, of nature and grace. I thank thee, that thou hast 
 kept him faithful to Him who has called him, and for the 
 precious treasure thou hast put in that earthen vessel
 
 DO LIFE AND waixiNGS OP 
 
 Now, Lord, that thou hast called him to leave his 
 family, and his flock, to travel to a foreign land, in the 
 service which thou requirest ; go with him, prosper 
 him, over-rule all his concerns, for thy glory, the good 
 of his soul, of the church in general, and his own little 
 flock in particular. Amen. Glorify thy name. 
 
 November 22, 1301. 
 
 ISABELLA S is very ill, she appears to be in a stu- 
 por. Two physicians are attending, hut my eyes are 
 to the Lord. She is his own, dedicated to him in 
 baptism, in which we took hold of his covenant, a God 
 in Christ for her, in particular, for ourselves and our 
 children. 
 
 I desire not to draw back, but the Lord strengthening 
 me, to give up at his call. If it be his will to spare her, 
 she is still his own to be done by, with, and for, as his 
 infinite wisdom may see fit, for his own glory, and her 
 eternal interest. If he is about to remove her out of 
 the world, she is his own ; out of the mouth of this 
 babe will he perfect praise ; with that company of little 
 children, of whom is the kingdom of heaven, she 
 shall join in the song of Moses and the Lamb, ' to 
 him that redeemed us and washed us from our sins in 
 his own blood, to him be glory, honour, dominion, and 
 power ' 
 
 O Lord, one petition I prefer if it be thy will to 
 take her out of the world, take her in thine arms, and 
 carry her through the dark valley ; grant to her a gentle 
 and easy passage, and an abundant entrance into thy 
 kingdom, and tune our hearts to sing The Lord gave, 
 and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the 
 Lord. Amen. 
 
 November 23, 1801. 
 
 Tins day, the dear Isabella joined the church tri- 
 umphant took her place among that company of little 
 children which Christ has pronounced blSssed, and ' of 
 the kingdom of Heaven.' I yesterday asked of the 
 .Lord, that he would take her in his arms, and carry her 
 through the dark valley, thai he would give her a gentle
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 91 
 
 find an easy passage;, and an abtmdant entrance into his 
 kingdom. He heard my prayer ; it was indeed soft and 
 gentle ; not a struggle, not a groan and the affliction 
 which brought down the frame was moderate through- 
 out. I was enabled to resign the Lord's own into his 
 own hand, in the faith that he did receive, and would 
 keep, that which I committed to him. 
 
 My soul is satisfied ; more than satisfied : I rejoice, 
 and congratulate the lovely babe on her early escape 
 from a world of sin and sorrow, to the arms of her dear 
 Redeemer, and to perfect blessedness with him. 
 
 Nffvember 24, 1801. 
 
 THE beautiful clay of our Isabella is now consigned 
 to the tomb. Never but once did I behold such a lovely 
 object. It seemed to say, ' Weep not for Bella, she is 
 happy.' Weep we did, though grieve we did not. It 
 was a strange, delightful melting of heart over a sweet 
 child, gone home to her own Father and God, to be con- 
 summately happy. 
 
 In the morning, the Rev. Mr. P. and Mr. A. came in. 
 Mr. P. prayed. The parents and I spent much time 
 musing over, and feasting our eyes with, the lovely 
 relic, which seemed to brighten in beauty as it lay, 
 waiting the company to convey it to its parent earth. 
 
 It is done finished the soul with God, the body in 
 the tomb. It is all well Yes, our Covenant God, thou 
 doest all things well. I firmly believe thy mercy is over 
 all thy works. Goodness, mercy, yea, loving kindness, 
 has marked thy every step. I believe it now, I shall 
 see it soon. 
 
 Now, our God, follow this bereavement with thy pu- 
 rifying, sanctifying grace. Enable us all to search and 
 try our ways. Lead our souls into a knowledge of the 
 secret corruptions of our hearts, that we may confess 
 and mourn over them, wash in the blood of Christ, be 
 pardoned, restored, and get a great victory. Enable 
 us, through life, to abide in Christ ; to keep close to 
 thee, transacting all our affairs with thee, before they 
 come into the view of the world. Let thy wisdom and 
 thy Spirit, in connection with thy providences, be our 
 counsellors. O keep us in a dependant frame of mind.
 
 92 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 humble, and watchful. Strip us of all self-confidence. 
 May we at the same time be strong in the Lord, and 
 the power of thy might : rejoicing in thee, the God of 
 our salvation, the strength of our heart, and our portion 
 for ever. Glory, glory, glory to Father, Son, and blessed 
 Spirit. Amen, and Amen. 
 
 December fl, 1801. 
 
 IT is my earnest desire to grow in grace, and in the 
 knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is 
 my desire to love the Lord my God with all my heart, 
 with all my soul, with all my strength, and with all my 
 mind ; and to love my neighbour as myself, so as to do to 
 him whatever I could expect from Christian principles 
 in him on an exchange of circumstances. 
 
 It is my desire to give all diligence to add to my faith 
 virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knorcledge temperance, to 
 temperance patience, to patience godliness, to godliness, 
 brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness charity ; that, 
 these things being in me, and abounding, I may be nei- 
 ther barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
 
 I desire to grow in grace day by day, to profit by 
 every ordinance of God's appointing, and by every 
 providence ; and I pray, Lord, I pray, that thou 
 wouldst grant me my desire, so that I may become 
 more spiritual, more discerning in the Scriptures, more 
 fruitful in good works ; that thou mayst increase also 
 my humility. Open to my view more of the extent 
 and spirituality of thy divine law ; the majesty, purity, 
 holiness of thy nature ; the exceeding sinfulness of 
 sin ; the hidden corruptions of my own heart, and my 
 inability to search them out, and to crucify them ; 
 give me also more just views of my past life, that I 
 may ever be convinced that 1 am what I really am, 
 the very chief of sinners, and the least of all saints ; 
 and that it is entirely of grace, that I am what I am. 
 O make out this promise to me ; I will record it in 
 thine own words j Ezekiel xvi. 62. / will establish my 
 Covenant with thce : and thou shalt know that I am the 
 Lord. I confess myself the character described in the 
 two foregoing chapters ; and, though thou hast chast-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 93 
 
 ened me ten thousand times less than my iniquities de- 
 serve, even by the constitution of the New Covenant, 
 thou hast chastened me. Now, O Lord, most merci- 
 ful, and gracious, who pardonest iniquity, transgression, 
 and sin, for thy name's sake, do to and for me as thou 
 hast said / will establish my Covenant with thee : and 
 thou shalt know that I am the Lord. That thou mayst 
 remember, a id be confounded, and never open thy mouth 
 any more, because of thy shame, when 1 am pacified to- 
 wards thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord 
 God. Amen. 
 
 August, 1802. 
 
 EZEKIEL xx. 32. And thft 'which cometh into ijour 
 mind shall not be at all that you say, We will be as the 
 heathen, as the families of the countries to serve wood 
 and stone; verse 35, And I will bring you into the 
 wilderness, and there will I plead with you fate to face : 
 36, Like as I pleaded with yoi.tr fathers in the wilderness 
 of the land ofEyi/pt, so will I plead with you, saith the 
 Lord God; and I will cause you to pass under*the rod, 
 and I will bring you into the bond, of the Covenant. 
 verse 43, And ye shall remember your ways, and all 
 your doings, wherein ye have been defiled ; and shall 
 loathe yourselves in your own sight, for all your evil 
 that ye have committed ; and ye shall know that I 
 am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my 
 name's sake ; not according to your wicked ways, nor ac- 
 cording to your corrupt doings, ye house of Israel, 
 saith the Lord God. It is good, yes, Lord, it is all 
 good 5 too often have we said, W-e will be as the hea-> 
 then to serve wood and stone. Often hast thou chast- 
 ened, often have we confessed, often resolved, that we 
 would walk more softly, more tenderly, more circum- 
 spectly before thee^ But alas ! when thy hand is re- 
 moved, when thou healest us, and restorest to us health, 
 comfort, arid our pleasant things, we wax fat and kick, 
 nestle in our comfort, abuse thy gifts, and lose sight of 
 the giver. Alas, Lord : thus it must ever be with us, 
 when we keep not near to thee ; we cannot walk one 
 step alone without stumbling. Thou knowest these 
 naturally wicked hearts, that they are deceitful above
 
 94 LIFti AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 all things, they betray us before we are aware. Blessed, 
 ever blessed ! be our God for his well-ordered Cove- 
 nant ! Blessed be God for the discipline of it ! 
 
 O Lord, we are again in the wilderness, and under 
 thy chastening rod ; for weeks past, we have eaten no 
 pleasant bread; thy rod is still suspended over .our 
 pleasant, our dear child ; the streams of life ebb, he 
 sickens, he dies, if thou interfere not. But the issues 
 from death are in thy hand, and our eyes are towards 
 thee. In vain are all means, all medicines, if thou in- 
 fuse not the healing virtue. Thy weeping servants 
 seek the healing virtue from thy waters, thy seas, thy 
 purer air. All nature is in thy hand, and ministers 
 thy pleasure ; to some conveying health, to some dis- 
 ease. An herb from our mother earth, to be boiled 
 in simple milk, as the figs for Hezekiah's boils, has 
 been proposed by a weak woman : O let this prove the 
 appointed mean, or direct and point out that which 
 thou wilt bless, and let our hearts and tongues give 
 the glory to thee. We deserve this bereavement ; but, 
 Lord, what do we not deserve ? Even according to the 
 constitution of the Covenant of Grace, and consistently 
 with thy pardoning, saving mercy, and all thy long 
 suffering ; wert thou to take vengeance on our inven- 
 tions, by exercising all thy threatened chastisements ; 
 should we ever be out of the furnace ? But even in 
 this view, thou never hast dealt with us as our ini- 
 quities deserved. He will not always chide, neither 
 will he keep his anger for ever. Thou hast, in thou- 
 sands of instances, cast out our sins behind thy back, into 
 the midst of the sea : blotted them out, to remember them 
 no more for ever. Thy ways are not as our ways, nor 
 thy thoughts as our thoughts. We may plead, Deal 
 not with us as we sin : but according to the multitude 
 of thy mercies, blot out our transgressions. Pardon our 
 iniquity for it is very great. Affliction is appointed, 
 but it is m measure ; when it shooteth forth, O debate 
 with it, and, according to thy promise, Stay thy rough 
 wind, in the day of thine east wind. Lord, say, It is 
 enough ; give the blessing, and by this measure shall 
 iniquity be purged, and the fruit be to take away sin. 
 All means are alike in thy hand, and any measure. 
 In holy sovereignty and consummate wisdom., thou af-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 95 
 
 fHctest, aud in thy hand afflictions yield the peaceable 
 fruits of righteousness : the hearts of thy people are 
 melted, and they sing of mercy and of judgment, and 
 glorify thy name. But, O Lord, a look such as thou 
 gavest to Peter, will melt our hearts, and restore our 
 backsliding souls. The anouncing of our pardon by 
 the same power, will make them overflow with love. 
 If thou but call us by name, as thou didst an anxious 
 disciple at thy sepulchre, with the same pow r er we 
 shall recognise our Saviour, and worship him. 
 ' O Lord, our God, ever faithful to thy promise ; thou 
 hast said, Whatsoever ye ask in my name, belieei-ig that 
 ye receive, I ivill do it. O Lord, I ask not the life of 
 this child, on this ground. 1 have through life asked 
 one thing of thee, and that will I seek to obtain ; while 
 life and breath remain, and reason and grace, I will 
 seek it ; seek it with importunity, holdirv.v fast by thy 
 promise to do it, and believing that it shah be accord- 
 ing to my petition. Make good to me this thy pro- 
 mise, in a spiritual and eternal sense. Be my God, 
 and the God of my seed, and of my seed's seed, to the 
 latest generation. Let my seed, according to the 
 flesh, be thine by regeneration of the Holy Ghost ; it 
 is a great boon ; but hast thou not said, Open thy mouth 
 wide, I will fill it. Father, do as thou bust said : this 
 is my one petition, and I cannot be sai:l nay. I ask 
 for myself, my children, and my children's children, to 
 the latest generation, the life which Christ died to purr 
 chase, and lives to bestow, that we may be made one 
 with him, and our life hid with him in God. Amen 
 and Amen. . 
 
 But, O my Father ! thou hast said, Be careful for 
 nothing ; but in etery thing, by prayer and supplica- 
 tion, with thanksgiving, let )~our requests be made 
 known unto God. I ask, with submission to thy holy- 
 will, if consistent with thy glory, his good, and the good 
 of the parents, the life of this child ; that thou mayst 
 spare him for our comfort, but first for thine own 
 glory ; that thou mayst give the different branches of 
 this family a joyful meeting, a full feast of grateful 
 thanks to thee for all thy mercies ; and our hearts may 
 rejoice before thee for the abundance of comfort. 
 Shouldst thou, in thy adorable wisdom, otherwise de-
 
 96 LIKE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 termine, thy blessed and thy holy will be done. Wash 
 the soul of this child in the blood of Jesus, clothe him 
 with thy righteousness, sanctify him by thy Spirit, and 
 fit him in every respect for thy kingdom. And, O my 
 divine Redeemer, 1 renew my petition, which thou 
 did so evidently grant in the case of our dear Isabella ; 
 take him in thine arms of mercy j soften and shorten 
 the parting pangs, and carry him gently through the 
 dark valley, and give him an abundant entrance into 
 thy heavenlv kingdom, to join the Hosannas of thy 
 little children, of whom thy kingdom is in so large a 
 measure made up ; and O sanctify the affliction to all 
 concerned ; direct our exercise according as thine all- 
 seeing, heart-searching eye, sees we need j that it may 
 bring forth, the peaceable fruits of righteousness, and 
 this fruit of affliction may be to take away sin, and the 
 glory of all redound to thee, Father, Son, and blessed 
 Spirit ! Amen and Amen. 
 
 August 20, ia02. 
 
 A LETTER from S informs me, that my children 
 have landed there, after much fatigue, and that Thomas 
 is considerably better. What shall I say, O Lord ! Art 
 thou indeed going to spare ? Wilt thou by this mea- 
 sure purge iniquity, bring sin to remembrance, and give 
 repentance, and yet spare our comforts ? O for hearts, 
 and tongues, and lives, to praise our God. O Lord 
 give suitable exercise, and let not this affliction pass 
 without fruit. 1 thank thee for mitigation of trouble, 
 and for respite : may it be thy blessed will to complete 
 his cure, and write gratitude and praise on all our 
 hearts ; and let the influence be seen on our after walk, 
 for Christ's sake. So we thy people, and sheep of thy 
 pasture, will give thee thanks for ever ; we will, shew 
 forth thy praise to all generations, Psal. Ixxix. 13. We 
 will run in the way of thy commandments, when thou hast 
 enlarged our hearts, Psal. cxix. 32. 
 
 ~*~~ "~ 
 
 September, 1802. 
 
 What manner of persons ought we to be in all manner 
 of holy 'conversations ?
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 9? 
 
 O give thanks unto God, for he is good, and his mercy 
 endureth for ever . 
 
 How precious are thy thoughts unto us, God ; how 
 great is the sum of them ! 
 
 Were we to count them, they are more in number than 
 the sand. When we awake, we are still with thee. 
 
 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slote to 
 anger, and of great mercy. 
 
 The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies are 
 over all his works. 
 
 All thy works shall praise thee, Lord, and thy saints 
 shall bless thee. 
 
 Never hast thou dealt with us as our iniquities deserve, 
 nor rewarded vs according to our transgressions. 
 
 Who is a God like unto thee, who pardoneth iniquity, 
 and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of the 
 heritage. He retaineth not his anger for ever, because 
 he delighteth in mercy. 
 
 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us, 
 he will subdue our . iniquities, and thou wilt cast all our 
 sins into the depths of the sea. 
 
 Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there 
 is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. 
 
 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. 
 
 Thomas is restored to perfect health, and the whole 
 family enjoy a measure of that blessing. 
 
 The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we 
 are glad. The Lord hath turned our captivity, he hath 
 filled our mouth with laughter, and our tongue with 
 melody. 
 
 Thou hast heard our petitions, restored our pleasant 
 plant, and continuest with us all our pleasant things. 
 
 It is a time of prosperity ; thou givest us the upper 
 and the nether springs thou blessest my children in 
 their basket and in their store ; and, while the riches of 
 many are making to themselves wings, and flying away ; 
 while many are sinking- from affluence to poverty, fall- 
 ing on the right hand and on the left ; by the most 
 manifest providence thou hast preserved them from the 
 wreck. O teach them to acknowledge thy hand in all 
 this, and to say and feel, Not uuto us, O Lord, not 
 unto us, but to thy name be the glory. It t* God that 
 giveth j>awer to get riches. O enable them to honour
 
 9f LIFE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 thee with their substance, and with the first fruits of all 
 their increase. 
 
 In the day of prosperity let them rejoice, but let this 
 joy be in the Lord. O let thy gifts, ever, ever, lead 
 them to the Giver, and fill their hearts with gratitude, 
 their mouths with praise j and Jet their very actions be 
 worship, while they acknowledge thee in all their ways, 
 and thou directest their steps. May they be as a city 
 set on a hill, which cannot be hid, and their light shine be- 
 fore men, that they, seeing their good works, may glorify 
 their Father who is in Heaven. 
 
 And now, O Lord, we wait for thy blessing in the 
 restoration of our dear D. and I. B. and J. Thou hast 
 shewn them great and sere adversities, and thou hast 
 manifested thy power to save. Whev they passed 
 through the waters, thou wast with them ; and through 
 the rivers, they did not overflow them. When they 
 walked through the fire, they were not burnt, neither did 
 the Jinnies kindle upon them. For thou art the Lord 
 their God, the Holy One of Israel, their Saviour. 
 
 Thou didst stay thy rough wind in the day of thine 
 east wind, and in the multitude of their thoughts within 
 them, did thy comforts delight their soul. Thou humb- 
 ledst them undeHthy mighty hand, and thou hast, in the 
 multitude of thy mercy, exalted them in due time. 
 
 In ;ill their sojourning thou hast been with them ; 
 ant} in fellowship with thy church greatly hast thou 
 comforted them. Thou hast given them favour in the 
 hearts of thy people, and made the stones of the field to 
 be at peace with them. And now, O Lord, restore them 
 to their friends and Christian society, and to their place 
 which thou hast in thy goodness given and preserved 
 to them. Here may they be thy witness, that thou 
 art the Lord, and besides thee there is no Saviour. 
 
 t 130;?, 
 
 DEAR brother Pero*, happy brother Pero ! Thy Je- 
 sus, in whom thou trustedst, has loosed thy bonds, has 
 
 * Pero was an elderly man of colour, whom Mr. Andrew Srnit h 
 had purchased, and made free. 
 
 Pero bad previously been a freed man of Christ. He had "been 
 foe some time in ill health; Mrs. Graham kindly attended on him,
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 9$ 
 
 brought thee to that rest which remain eth for the 
 people of God ; thou drinkest of the pure river that 
 maketh glad the city of our God ; of that blessed foun- 
 tain from which isaue all the streams which refresh and 
 revive HS weary pilgrims. But a little while ago, and 
 thou wast weary, dark, and solitary; thy flesh fettering 
 and clogging thy spirit ; thy God trying thy faith, hope, 
 and patience, which he had previously implanted, wa- 
 tered, and made vigorous, to stand that trial more pre- 
 cious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried by 
 fire, and was made manifest to the glory of that Savi- 
 our who leaveth not his people in any case. If need 
 be, they are in heaviness, through manifold tempta- 
 tions j but he knoweth how to deliver them, having 
 himself been tempted. Thou hadst a taste of his cup j 
 like him thou didst endure the contradiction of sinners j 
 like him thou didst experience the dissertion of friends, 
 even thine old mistress, whom thou lately didst esteem 
 as a sister in Christ, and to whom thou didst look for 
 fresh communications from and through that written 
 word, which she could read and thou couldst not. 
 Oh ! how did she prove as a broken reed unto thee ! 
 How did she neglect thy necessity, and her own oppor- 
 tunity, of bringing forth fruit in its season ! Thou hast 
 been no loser. The Lord turned aside the slothful 
 servant, the unfaithful steward, who neglected to give 
 thee thy meat in due season, and himself stept into her 
 place j taken thee from that household which was not 
 worthy of thee, and led thee to those mansions of bliss 
 which himself purchased and prepared ; set thee at 
 that table where thou shalt feast on all the fulness of 
 God, and drink of those pleasures which are at his right 
 hand for evermore. No need of thine old mistress 
 now ; no need of an earthly vessel now, nor of that 
 written word which thou didst so highly prize. The 
 word, made flesh, has removed the veil that shaded the 
 glory of the God-man from thine eyes : flesh and blood 
 could not behold it ; of this he has unclothed thee ; 
 
 and read the -Scriptures to him: he died, by the bursting of a blood- 
 vessel, at an hour when none of the family were with him. 31r>. 
 Graham, in humility of spirit, reproaches herself in this exercise, 
 fc>r having been abseat from him, without inquiring into his situation, 
 lor one hour. 
 
 F 3
 
 100 LIFE AND WHITINGS OF 
 
 and left it with us to look upon and mourn our sitl, 
 Thee he has introduced into the full vision of eternal 
 day, where thou knowest as thou art known, and seest 
 as thou art seen. O that full communion enjoyed be- 
 tween a holy soul and the perfection of holiness ! O 
 that Light of life, that Ocean of Love, that incon- 
 ceivable blessedness ! How hast thou out-run us, bro- 
 ther Pero ! How distanced us in a moment ! Could I 
 not watch with thee one hour ! O that 1 had received 
 thy last blessing, instead of which, conscious oflence, 
 deserved rebuke, painful compunction, wring my heart ; 
 and perhaps the rod of correction, may be suspended, 
 and now ready to fall on my guilty head. 
 Father ! O my Father ! Am I not still thy child, 
 still thy adopted ? Have not 1 an Advocate with thee, 
 Jesus Christ, the righteous, whom thou hearest always ? 
 Does not the blood of Christ cleanse from all sin ? 
 Yes. This is my universal remedy ; thousands and 
 ten thousands of times have I experienced its efficacy. 
 Father, I again apply ; blessed spirit do thine office ! 
 Wash me, and I shall be clean ; purge me, and I shall 
 be whiter than the snow. J confess my sin, 1 acknow- 
 ledge mine iniquity. Thou didst bring to me an old 
 disciple, near and dear to his and my Saviour ; thou 
 didst require me to minister unto him all that he 
 needed : the honour was great, the opportunity valu- 
 able. Thou didst empty thy servant tor a time, thou 
 didst hide his comfort, that I might, through thy 
 written word, draw living waters for him, and give him 
 to drink. O the honour ! O the negligence ! Thou 
 didst send the call for thy disciple to come up to thee : 
 in thy providence thou didst make it first known to 
 me, that I might be instrumental in conveying to him, 
 through the same channel, oil and trimming for his 
 lamp. Great was the honour ! Dignified the service ! 
 But lost to me for ever. J passed by on the other side. 
 Blessed, blessed Jesus ! Thou good Samaritan, who 
 pouredst the oil and wine into his wounds,, and tookest 
 him not to an inn, but to those mansions in the skies, 
 which thou with thine own blood purchasedst for him ; 
 sanctify, O sanctify to me this thy providence ; pardon 
 my sinful part in it. Saviour, wash me in thy blood, 
 and sanctify me, bring good out of even my trans- 

 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 
 
 101 
 
 gression. By thy grace, let it be a mean of stirring 
 me up to more watchfulness, that I may meet the op* 
 portunities afforded me in thy providence, to occupy till 
 thou come. 
 
 September, 1802. 
 
 THIS day has the L'ord our God answered all our 
 prayers, and enriched us beyond the ordinary lot of 
 humanity. D. and I. B. and J. are restored to their 
 preserved places, and to the bosom of their family. 
 We are as men who dream ; our mouths are filled with 
 laughter, our tongues with melody ; The Lord hath done 
 great things for us, whereof we are glad. Thou hast 
 turned our captivity as streams in the south. We sowed 
 in tears, we hate reaped in joy. Bless the Lord, our 
 souls; ever true and faithful is his word. They that go 
 forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come 
 again rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them. 
 
 Lord from thee is our fruit found ; may our 
 sheaves be many and weighty ; thou working all our 
 works in us, to thine own glory and our blessedness. 
 Amen. 
 
 December, 1802. 
 
 THE lovely plant which the Lord had blasted, which 
 brought down our hearts with grief, which he had re- 
 stored and clothed with smiling health and comfort, 
 again sickened, declined, "wasted ; every mean proved 
 ineffectual ; the Lord refused the healing virtue. He 
 was brought to town, to be near the physicians ; but the 
 physician of Israel aided them not. Disease increased ; 
 with pain, sickness, convulsion, much he suffered, and 
 long ; he had a taste of the Redeemer's cup, and of the 
 bitterness of sin, but, no part of the curse : that the 
 Redeemer drank and expended ; and having, by his 
 atoning blood, purged this little one from his sins, 
 and perfected all his redeeming work in his soul, he 
 received him into his own heavenly abode. It is well, 
 all is well. Amen. 
 
 March, 1803. 
 
 I READ this day the thirty-sixth chapter of Ezekiel, 
 d pleaded God's promises from the "22d verse, to the
 
 102 LIFE AND WAITINGS OP 
 
 cud, for myself, for ray children, and for my children's 
 children ; for the church of God throughout the world, 
 in particular for this country, for Britain and Ireland, 
 France and Germany, where his name was once known, 
 and his gospel flourished : that the Lord would build 
 the waste places, and repair the breaches ; that he would 
 purify lite sons of Levi, fill all pulpits with able faithful 
 ministers of the New Testament, who shall declare the 
 whole counsel of God ; and that, wherever his name is 
 recorded, the Holy Ghost might fill the place, and con- 
 vince the hearts of preachers and hearers, of sin, of 
 righteousness, and of judgment ; might take of the 
 things of Christ and shew them unto them ; and that 
 the great Head of the church might regulate and over- 
 rule all these breaches, differences, and shakings, in his 
 churches. 
 
 O Lord, I am ignorant ; I know not the mind of th 
 Spirit of promise as thou knowest it. The promise of 
 the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the earth, of 
 the corn, the wine, and the oil, is thine, as are all others. 
 I am ignorant how far this refers to spiritual prosperity, 
 how far to temporal. I ask, O Lord, covenant provi- 
 sion, the fruit of the seed sown in the hearts of men by 
 thine own Spirit ; and that thou mayest build the ruined 
 cities of thy churches, and fill them with men like a 
 flock, as the flock of Jerusalem, in her solemn feasts; so 
 shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of me, and they 
 shall know that thou art the Lord. Thy fair, thy rich, 
 thy beautiful creation, is also the fruit of grace. The 
 wicked possess it, but they enjoy it not. Thy people 
 are the heirs, but thou, as a wise and merciful Father, 
 givest them to possess according as thy wisdom sees 
 safe- and good for them. When with the things of this 
 world they imbibe the spirit of the men of the world 3 
 when they nestle in thy gifts, and' forget the Giver ; 
 when they enjoy with a carnal spirit, and not with 
 thankfulness, and a due sense of their dependence on 
 thee, as the God of providence, as well as of grace : 
 thou, in mercy, as in sovereignty, Hastest their pleasant 
 things, mixest their cup of prosperity with wormwood 
 and gall, or sweepest all away with a turn of thine hand ; 
 that thou mayest teach them that man doth not live by 
 bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out fifths.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA RAHAM. 103 
 
 mouth of God ; that thou mayest withdraw them from 
 sinful purposes, and hide pride from them 5 that thou 
 mayest open their ears to instruction, and seal it on 
 their hearts ; thou dashest to pieces their broken cis- 
 terns, that thou mayest lead them back to the fountain 
 of living waters. 
 
 It is good, O Lord, all good 5 I lay hold upon it ; be 
 thou the Provider of me and mine ; feed us with food 
 convenient for us. Thine own word testifies that every 
 creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it 
 be received with thanksgiving, for it is sanctified by the 
 word of God and prayer. I and the children, for whom 
 I pray, possess many, yea, an abundance of temporal 
 good things. O Lord, give suitable grace, grace for 
 grace ; keep us humble, dependant, spiritual ; enable 
 us to receive all through a covenant channel, as the 
 provision of our Father, by the way through this wil- 
 derness. O may all be sanctified by thy word and 
 prayer, and we enabled to eat and drink to thy glory. 
 Amen. 
 
 Read the 138th Psalm. Though the Lord be high, 
 yet hath he respect unto the lowly ; though I wulk in the 
 midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me. The Lord will 
 perfect that which concerneth me ; thy mercy , Lord, 
 endureth for ever ; forsake thou not the works of thine 
 hands. 
 
 Redeeming work is thy work : regenerating work is 
 thy work ; sanctifying work is also thine. 
 
 The first is finished, the second begun, to be perfected 
 in- the third. O Lord, 1 hang on thy promises, which, 
 with Christ, are all mine, though I have not at all times 
 the savour of them ; this is mine infirmity, and often 
 my sin. O keep me looking unto Jesus ! 
 
 March 25, 1803. 
 
 SACRAMENT Sabbath, Dr. M preached from Ro- 
 mans vi. 17 : But God be thanked that ye were (were in 
 the past time, not now) the servants of sin, but ye have 
 obeyed from the lieart, thbt form of doctrine which was 
 delivered you. 
 
 O Lord, I believe the doctrines of thy Gospel ; I 
 know that J am delivered from sin as a master - } it hath
 
 104 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 not dominion over my will, nor entire dominion over 
 my affections : I would be thine, thy servant, thy child, 
 thine in all obedience. I feel this new .principle in the 
 desires of my soul. I would do all things to thee, in 
 act, and in principle. But, O Lord, the old man is 
 still here, harassing and hindering my new will, (whirh 
 I have received from thee,) from acting with freedom 
 and energy. Unhallowed motives steal in, by-ends 
 present themselves ; and when outward duty is attained 
 to, there is more of sin than of righteousness ; though 
 entered upon with some measure of purity, yet, before 
 it is finished, I am at a loss to discern the true principle 
 by which I am actuated. Lord, help me. Hast thou 
 not promised to work in me both to w.ill and to do of 
 thy good pleasure ? Is it not the grand end of thy 
 death, that thou mightest purify to thyself a glorious 
 church, not having spot, nor wrinkle, nor any such thing ; 
 and shall not I be a partaker ? Art thou not made of 
 God unto thy people, wisdom, righteousness, sanctifica- 
 tion, and complete redemption ? O Lord, my heart pants 
 for redemption from indwelling sin this depravity of 
 my nature, this opposition, this evil, that is ever present 
 with me, when I would do good, this indolence, this 
 listlessness, this want of zeal, or else self-will, keenness 
 of temper, impatience, haste ; O Lord ! there is a 
 host of enemies ; gird me, arm me, shield me, lead me 
 forth under thy banner : be my victorious King. I 
 will go in thy name, trusting in thy promised strength 
 and grace to help in every time of need. Glory be to 
 God, Father, Son, and Blessed Spirit, for the grace in 
 which I stand. But for grace, I had been a willing 
 slave to sin to this hour. By that same grace I shall 
 one day attain to victory. I cast my burden on the 
 Lord, he will sustain until he deliver; I will go up 
 through the wilderness, trusting in the promises, and 
 continue fighting in his strength. My soul waits for thy 
 salvation. Lord, enable me, to keep looking unto Jesus, 
 the Author and Finisher of -Faith. O give faith in every 
 part of his mediatorial character ! May I feed upon 
 him and be strong for this sore fight. Give courage, O 
 Lord ; press me forward : may 1 resolve, and keep the 
 resolution, to resist unto blood, striving against sin. 
 I have been a slothful servant in thy family, an idle
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 105 
 
 labourer in thy vineyard, an unfruitful branch, a poor 
 dwarfish member in thy body. Grant, O grant, a little 
 fruit on the topmost Lough. At the eleventh hour may 
 I begin to work, to bear some fruit, to the glory of that 
 grace by which my soul is saved from the wages of sin, 
 death ami hell, and made an heir, by free gift, of the 
 wages of righteousness, eternal life and glory. 
 I wait for thy salvation ! 
 
 February, 1804. 
 
 A NEW thing is on the wheel in the city of New 
 York. A Society of ladies organized for the purpose of 
 relieving widows with small children, was new in this 
 country. It is now, by the blessing of God apparently 
 established. It was entered upon with prayer: it has 
 been conducted thus far with prayer. The blessing of 
 God has rested upon it, and much good has been done 
 by it. Some of us have looked long, and requested of 
 God to open a way by which the children of these 
 widows might be instructed and taught to read his 
 word, and, by his blessing on it, come to the knowledge 
 of the way of salvation. One mean has been attempted, 
 of an ordinary kind : twelve children were last week 
 placed at school with Mrs. L , to be taught to read, 
 and some more are to be placed with another of our 
 widows, for the same purpose. But this indeed is new ; 
 a Society of young ladies, the first in rank in the 
 city, in the very bloom of life, and full of its prospects, 
 engaged in those pleasures and amusements which tend 
 to engross the mind, and shut out every idea uncon- 
 nected with them '; coming forward and offering, (not 
 to contribute towards a school, but) their own personal 
 attendance, to instruct the ignorant. O Lord, prosper 
 their work. If this be of thee, it shall prosper, and be 
 productive of much good ; but, if thou bless it not, it 
 will come to nothing but shame. No good can be done 
 but by thee, for there is none good but God ; and Avhat 
 are all thy creatures, but instruments in thy hand, by 
 which thou bringest to pass the purposes of thy will? 
 Christians, redeemed, enlightened, sanctified, are no 
 more; thou workest all their works in them ; they them- 
 selves are thy workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto 
 F 5
 
 JOfl LIFB AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 good works, which thou hast prepared, that they should 
 walk in them. Worldlings also, are thy instruments : 
 by them, also, thou workest and bringest to pass the 
 counsels of thy will ; thou puttest into their heart the 
 good thing which thou workeet, and girdest them for 
 the purpose ; though not the children of thy covenant, 
 they are the instruments of thy providence. 
 
 O Lord, take up this matter ; gird these young wo- 
 men to this very purpose, and prosper them in the art 
 of "teaching these orphans of thy Providence. And, O 
 Lord, hear my more important petition. I am not 
 worthy to be heard. O Lord, I am not worthy to be 
 named in connection with any good done by thee. / 
 am the chief of sinners, the chief of backsliders ; every 
 thing in me, of me, or by me, is vile, as far as it is mine. 
 All that is otherwise, all good implanted in me, or done 
 by me, is thine own ; it is grace, free grace, the pur- 
 chase of thine own anointed, my dear Redeemer, my 
 dying, risen, ascended Saviour, and the fruit of the 
 Holy Ghost, the sent of the Father and of the Son, to 
 set up a kingdom of righteousness in the hearts of the 
 redeemed. Let me, then, a sinner saved by grace, to 
 whom thou hast been pleased to give the exceeding 
 great and precious promises ; let me, under the sprink- 
 ling of the blood of the covenant, and in entire depend- 
 ance on my surety-righteousness, let me draw near, 
 and present my petition, in the name., and for the sake 
 of Him whom thou hearest always. O Lord God Al- 
 mighty, by this very thing build up thy Zion ! Lay 
 hold of these young creatures ; and, while they are in 
 the way of thy providence, bring them to the house of 
 our Master's brethren / O, thou great Teacher, teach 
 thou the teachers and those that are taught ! Be found 
 of them who seek thee not, and say, with power, Be- 
 hold me, behold me, to a, people not yet called by thy 
 name ; and out of this small thing, in thy providence, 
 bring revenues of praise to thy name as the God of 
 grace. Amen. 
 
 And now, O Lord, for myself, I pray for deep hu- 
 mility ; I ask for his sake who was meek and lowly, to 
 be kept where my place really is, at the feet of all thy 
 servants 5 and if it be thy pleasure to make me a use- 
 ful instrument make me humble in proportion. Let
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 107 
 
 me ever remember my ways, and be ashamed, and never 
 open my mouth any more, because of my shame, when 
 thou art pacified towards me for all that I have done. 
 Keep me in this contrite frame of mind. In all that 
 to which thou callest me, give me a willing heart, and 
 furnish me with every necessary to thy glory. And 
 now prepare me to speak to these young women good 
 and acceptable words. Save me from sacrificing truth, 
 or departing in any respect from Christian duty : give 
 me such wisdom as may be suited to the occasion ; in 
 all things mine eyes are to the Lord, from thee let my 
 fruit be found. 
 
 February 17, 1804, 
 
 SATURDAY the llth. Twenty-nine young ladies met 
 with Mrs. Hoffman and myself, at Mr. (). Hoffman's, 
 Wall-street, on purpose to receive instructions respect- 
 ing the school. I delivered what I had prepared for 
 them ; they all seemed hearty in their engagements j 
 and, on Monday, the 13th instant, Miss L t and Miss 
 L n, attended at the school-room, and commenced 
 teaching thirteen children ; four have been added since. 
 
 Again, O Lord, let me request thy blessing on this 
 Institution ; put thy seal upon it, and mark it for thine 
 own. Gird the teachers for their work, and open the 
 minds of the scholars to instruction. And, O Lord, 
 in thine own time, and by means of thy own devising, 
 provide spiritual instruction for the teachers, and those 
 that are taught. Is it thy pleasure, Lord, that I attend 
 the children on a day appointed for the purpose ? 
 Wilt thou accept of me as an instrument, by which 
 thou wilt do good to the souls of these children ; and 
 wilt thou keep me humble and contrite in my own 
 soul ? Bless also Mrs. L's school there, too, let thy 
 work appear : deal with her soul as thou dealest with 
 thy chosen; teach her the way of salvation, and make 
 her a teacher by thine own Spirit. If it be my dear 
 Master's pleasure to use me, I would also attend that 
 school as his instrument. Search me, Lord, and 
 know my heart ; try me, and know my thoughts ; and see 
 if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way 
 everlasting.
 
 lOtf LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 February 21, 1804* 
 
 O thou who art Alpha and Omega, the First and the 
 Last, who holdest the seven stars in thy right hand, and 
 walkest in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, who 
 livest and was dead, and art alive for evermore ; and 
 hast the keys of hell and of death; out of thy mouth 
 goeth a sharp two-edged sword, by which thou readiest 
 the hearts of the most hardened. O write with power, 
 speak with power, in the heart of the angel of this 
 church. Hast thou not, in former days, had thy 
 dwelling among them ; in days of trouble didst thou 
 not work in them the fruits of labour and patience, so 
 that for thy name's sake they laboured and fainted not ? 
 Thou blessedst them, and gave them peace, and they 
 rejoiced in the light of thy countenance ; thou multi- 
 pliedst them also, so that from a handful they became 
 two bands. Alas, Lord, we have, Ephraim like, waxed 
 fat, and kicked; we have left our first love ; we have 
 not watched and prayed, and thou givest command- 
 ment, and thou hast left us to enter into temptation j 
 we have forsaken the counsel of our old men, and 
 given heed to flatterers ; we have forgotten our depend- 
 ance on thee, and said, Ashur shall save us, we will ride 
 upon homes: We have set up our idols in our hearts, 
 and put the stumbling-block of our iniquity before our 
 eyes ; we have taken counsel, but not of thee, and co- 
 vered ourselves with a covering, but not of thy Spirit; 
 we have gloried in our own wisdom, and strengthened 
 ourselves in our own strength. 
 
 We are poor, and blind, and miserable, and naked ; 
 rich at the same" time, in our fancied wisdom, seeing 
 by our own light, and compassing ourselves about 
 with our own sparks j we feed on ashes, a deceived heart 
 has turned us aside. 
 
 O Lord, the hope of Israel, and the Saviour thereof. 
 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. 
 To us belong shame and confusion of face, (O cover 
 us with thejm,) but to thee belongs mercy. Humble 
 us, O Lord, and we shall be humbled ; turn us, and we 
 shall be turned. 
 
 It is in our nature to backslide for ever ; thou, and 
 thou only, knowest the deceitf ulness of the heart ; thou,. 
 and thou only, canst search it. search us, and try
 
 5IKS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 10$ 
 
 ut, and shew us what wicked ways there are in us, and 
 lead us in the tva>/ everljuti'ig. Deal not with its accord- 
 ing to ovr sins, but according to the multitude of thine 
 own mercies. We have no other plea ; our sins ; ill for 
 judgment, and until them, thine own blessed sdr', turn 
 us, we are in no situation to receive mercy. Work with 
 us for thy name's sake , establish with us thine own 
 covenant of free, unmerited, undeserved mercy. Then 
 shall we know that thou art the Lord ; thf.n shall toe re- 
 meml-ei , and be lonfoun'ied, and ricvsr open our mouth 
 any ir.or t \ /-ccaine c/ ' uur *huine t when thou- art pacified 
 with H\I ,r nil that we have done. 
 
 Make us thine by thy own covenant, established in 
 Christ, thine own Anointed ; the blessed Surety by 
 thine own appointment : our Substitute, on whom it 
 hath pleased thee to lay ike iniquities of us all ; in whose 
 sacred person thou tookest vengeance for all our sins ; 
 by whom thy Liw is fulfilled, magnified, and made ho- 
 nourable ; whose doing and suffering in our stead, are 
 accepted by Jehovah. Tin- Lar-t ix i.v<:il pleased for his 
 righteousness' sukr. No covenant short of one fulfilled 
 in every jot and tittle, could benefit us. 
 
 Thy covenant is well-ordered id all things, and it is 
 sure. 
 
 Here, O Lord, I take my stand ; here I lay my 
 foundation, and on this thy covenant I build ; or, ra- 
 ther, here thou thyself hast laid my foundation, and on 
 this rock hast thou set my soul, and built my hopes ; 
 thou subduing my enmity. I acquiesce, I will now 
 remember the years of thy ri^ht hand, and look back to 
 thy dealings with thine own nation, whom thou didst 
 choose, and set apart from all other nations, though of 
 the same blood with all those that dwell on, the face of 
 the whole earth. 
 
 They, like us, destroyed themselves ; but in thee was 
 their help. They also sinned, committed iniquity, and 
 did wickedly ; they remembered not thy mercy ; but 
 provoked thee at the Red Sea, after the great deliver- 
 ance thou hadst wrought for them, and the wonders 
 thou madest to pass before them in the land of Egypt. 
 Nevertheless, thou savedst them for thy name's sake, 
 that thou mightest make thy mighty power known : 
 thou didst repeat thy wonders, and didst dry up the
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 sea before them. He fed them with corn from heaven; 
 they did eat angels' food. He clave the rock in the wil- 
 derness, and caused waters to run down like a river. 
 After all, they forsook the God of their mercies ; they 
 believed not his promises, nor trusted in his salvation j 
 they lusled, and they murmured, and desired to turn back 
 to Egypt. Thou d'uist chaste i them sore for their sin, 
 and didst bring 1 down their heart with grief. 
 
 When thou didsl sluy them, they sought thee, and re- 
 membered that Gua w. s their Rock, and the most high 
 God their Redeemer. Nevertheless, they did flatter with 
 their mouth, and lied unto thee with their tongue ; for 
 their heart u-as not right with thee, i, either were ( hey sted- 
 fast in thy covenant. But thou, being full of compassion, 
 forgavest their iniquity, and destroy fdst them not ; yea, 
 many a time turnedst thou away thine anger, and didst 
 not stir up all thy wrath. 
 
 O how many times did they turnback, tempt God, and 
 limit the Holy One of Israel! Yet did he fulfil all his 
 promises, and by wonders in the sea, wonders in the de- 
 sert, wonders i.-i Zoar's field, and in the camps of their 
 enemies he led them safely to the border of his sanctuary, 
 to the mountain whic/i his right hand had purchased. He 
 cast out the Heathen before them, and gave them rest in 
 the Land of Promise. Even there they provoked the 
 Most High, provoked him to jealousy with their graven 
 images. 
 
 Again thou didst chasten them sore ; thou didst let 
 loose the corruptions of men upon them, and suffer 
 them to fall before their enemies. Thou deliver edst thy 
 strength into captivity, and thy glory in the hands of 
 their enemies. 
 
 Yet, O Lord, again didst thou deliver them, and 
 sentest provision for them by thine own covenant : thou, 
 didst choose David thy servant, and took him from the 
 sheep-folds, from following the ewes great with young: 
 Thou brought est him to feed Jacob thy people, and Israel 
 thine inheritance.. So he fed them according to the inte- 
 grity of his heart, and guided them by the skiJfu'.ness of 
 his hands. 
 
 Such are the people with whom thou hast still to do. 
 Such, O God of infinite mercy, such the God with 
 whom we sinners have to do; even the Lord God, mer-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. ill 
 
 clful and gracious, long suffering;, slotv to anger, forgiv- 
 ing iniquity, transgression, and sin ; U'ho will by no means 
 clear the guilty, O what could man or angel have done 
 with this last character of thy name r Thy covenant 
 makes provision. In Christ Jesus, our blessed Substi- 
 tute, all is reconciled. Thy name is> one; the just God 
 and the Justifier of the ungodly, who believe in Jesus. 
 This God is our God- we will make mention of his righ- 
 teousness, and his only. By his own covenant, in his 
 own time, and by means of his own providing, he will 
 revive us. Amen. 
 
 April, 1804. 
 
 All my desire is before thee, and it is all contained in 
 thy well-ordered Covenant. Many years of vanity, of 
 idolatry, of backsliding, wandering, and folly, have 
 passed over my head, since 1 first took hold of thy co- 
 venant. How tickle, false, and deceitful, have I 
 proved ! Yet, thou knowest, thine own Spirit, through 
 all my wanderings, testified in my heart, that out of the 
 channel of this covenant, there could be neither safetv 
 nor comfort ; and never, so far as I can remember, 
 have 1 deliberately chosen to be dealt with by any 
 other. Its corrections and chastisements have reached 
 the deepest sensibilities of my heart. Thine arrows 
 stuck fast in me, thy hand pressed me sore ; there tvas no 
 soundness in my flesh, neither rest in my bones, because 
 of my sin ; mine ini quit its went over my head, irere a 
 burden too hcary to bear. I was feeble, and sore broken, 
 and roared by reason of the disquiet of my heart. My 
 lover sand friends stand aloof from my sore, and my kins- 
 men stood afar (iff. I Y/S ready to halt, and my sorrow 
 was continvally before me; yet, even in my darkest, 
 deepest afflictions, when deep tailed to dtep, and thy 
 waves and billows were pass-ing over me ; when my soul 
 seemed sinking in the mire, where there was no standing, 
 I groped in the dark : my heart panted, my strength 
 failed and the light of mine eyes seemed gone out. I was 
 weak with my gronnin^, in the night I made my bed to 
 swim with my tears ; yet even then, by that same cove- 
 nant by which I was suffering, light sprung out ofdark- 
 iiesSj glimmering hope in the midst of despair. I re-
 
 11$ LIFE AMD WHITINGS OF 
 
 membered the years of thy right hand ,- in the multitude 
 of my thoughts within me, (the provision made in this 
 covenant,) thy comforts delighted my soul. 
 
 I WPS furnished with a plea which would condemn, 
 by every covenant but thine, P> rdon mine inanities, 
 for they are <jreat. Tho-i, even t/iou, art he who blottest 
 out tru impressions as a cloud, and iniquity as a thick 
 cloud. Verily, thou art a God that pardoneth, though 
 thou tiike^t vengeance on the i ventions of thy rebellious 
 children vengeance, not the vengeance that implies 
 the curse ; no, that, O thou blessed Covenant, thou 
 blessed Surety, that fell on thy devoted head ! Thou 
 by this covenant was mode a curse for us. Thou 
 didst tread the wine press alone, and of the people there 
 was none 10 help ihee. Thou didst expend the last drop 
 of that cup of vengeance. Every cup put into our 
 hand though a cup of trembling, is a cup of blessing. 
 I, this day, rake a fresh hold of thy covenant, for 
 myself, for my children, and for my children's children 
 to the idlest generation : for my brothtr and sister, 
 for their children, and children's children ; for the 
 near concerns of our dear D. B. ; and for all whom I 
 carry on my mind to thy throne of grace. This is the 
 sum and subsfance of my prayers. Bring them into 
 the bond of this covenant : and deal with them ac- 
 cording to the order of it, and the provision made for 
 them in it, iaall possible circumstances. Amen. 
 
 God, in the multitude of thy mercies hear me, in 
 the truth of thy salvation Truth of thy salvation ! 
 Thou only knowest the truth of thy salvation. How 
 little do we know of thy work ! many of those provi- 
 dences which appear to us dark and dismal, are wheels 
 turning round tiie truth of thy salvation ; opening our 
 blinded eyes to the issues of sin, and also delivering 
 from the snares of the devil. Deal not, Lord, with 
 me, and mine, as our iniquities deserve : this has never 
 been thy way with us, but, according to thy former 
 loving kindness, and to all the long-suffering, patience., 
 and pardoning mercy, which thine figed servant has 
 experienced, through her sinful guilty pilgrimage. 
 Thou hast forgiven me, all the way from Egypt.
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 113> 
 
 Leai-e me not now, when I am old and gray headed - f 
 but, when strength and heart fail, be thou the strength 
 of my heart and portion for ever. Amen. 
 
 Rockaway, August, 1809. 
 
 SWEET health again returns, which, considering the 
 agitation of my mind, surprises me ; but it is the 
 Lord's pleasure. I did not wish to recover. I was in 
 hopes that the Lord was about to deliver me from. 
 ' this body of sin and death.' Lord, reconcile me to 
 thy most holy will. Health is certainly a great bless- 
 ing. I feel its sweetness. O make me thankful I 
 Great and numerous are my mercies. Every thing 
 pleasant, and every thing necessary, to life, to godli- 
 ness, is mine : food and raiment to the utmost desires 
 of nature ; and the beauties of thy fair creation sur- 
 round my ordinary dwelling. My dear little room, my 
 Bible, and books of every virtuous kind ; (by grace, 
 thy chief mercy, I desire no other;) and, by the kind- 
 ness of my children, I possess all as if they were my 
 own personal property. By thy wonderful loving 
 kindness, thou hast given me, instead of the contempt 
 which I have merited, the love and esteem of thy 
 people, and thou hast made the very stones of the field 
 to be at peace with me, so that, wherever 1 go, I meet 
 with kindness. 
 
 January, 1810. 
 
 Come and let us return unto- the Lord ; for he hath 
 torn and he will heal us ; he hath smitten and he will 
 bind us up. After two days will he revive us, in the third 
 he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sijht. 
 
 O Lord, turn us and we shall le turned ; draw us and 
 we will run after thee. Revive us, and we shall live in 
 thy sight. Thou must ever be first. It is in our 
 nature to backslide ; and, whenever we see a back- 
 slider restored, or a rebel lay down the weapons of re- 
 bellion, there we may trace thy footsteps, O God of 
 grace. ' 
 
 No external Providence will touch our hard, our 
 deceitful hearts. All that goes under the name of
 
 114 LIFE AND WRITINGS OT? 
 
 misfortune, will but drive us from thee, never to 
 till thou teach us to profit, and lead us by the way 
 that we should go. Thou callest, Return ye backsliding 
 children, and I will heal your backslidings : but we 
 have been foolish, sottish children, without under- 
 standing, wise to do evil, but to do good having no 
 knowledge. 
 
 Let the days come, when the children of America 
 (the earth is the Lord's) shall come with weeping, and 
 seek the Lord their God, when they shall ask the way to 
 Zion, u'itli their faces thitherward; when they shall 
 eoflne, saying, Let us join ourselves to the Lord in a per- 
 petual covenant, never to be forgotten. O the hope of 
 Israel, and the Saviour thereof: is not that day come? 
 Hast thou not been working on on the right hand arid' on 
 the left ? Thou hast given us pastors according to 
 thine own heart, who feed us with knowledge and un- 
 derstanding 5 and thou art here and there proving thy 
 Gospel to be thy power, and thy wisdom, to the salva- 
 tion of sinners ; casting down the imaginations of pride, 
 and bringing all into subjection to thy Son Jesus. 
 
 Pour out the spirit of grace and supplication upon 
 thy living members, that they may wrestle with thee, 
 and not Let thee go until thou bless us, until thou make 
 this cloud, like a man's hand, cover our heavens with 
 blackness, and issue in a plentiful rain. pour water 
 upon him that is thirsty, and floods on the dry g ound, 
 thy Spi.it upon our seed, and thy blessing upon our off- 
 spring. O Lord, hast thou not said that thou wilt do 
 it, and that they shall spring up as among the grass, and 
 as wutb'i's by the water courses ? One shall say, 1 am the 
 Lord's, a 10 '>er shall call himself by the name of Jacob, 
 and anothe, t,fiall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, 
 and surname himself by the God of Israel. Amen, O 
 our God. Amen. 
 
 Last week the Lord's young servant, Mr. R n, 
 baptized seven adults, Mrs. B and her two daughters, 
 Dr. H and sister, Mr. C , and a black woman, ser- 
 vant to Mr. H . It was a glorious sight, and revived 
 the hearts of God's people who witnessed it. O God of 
 grace, grant that the fruits of righteousness, may prove.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA ORA1IAM. 115 
 
 Uiat while thy young servant was baptizing with water, 
 thou didst baptize with, the Holy Ghost, and with pu- 
 rifying fire. O grant full proof that they are broken 
 off from the wild olive tree, and grafted into thee, thou 
 living and life-giving olive-tree ; from thee must their 
 fruit be found. O cause them to bring forth much 
 fruit. Herein is the Father glorified, that they bear 
 much fruit, so shall they be Christ's disciples, and attain 
 to the assurance of that happy state. Father, glorify 
 thy name. Amen. 
 
 1810. 
 
 IN December, 18O9, a Bible Society was organized 
 in New York, and about the same time twenty respect- 
 able persons united in a Society, to wait on the Lord, 
 to know what their hands could find to do, to promote 
 his glory, to advance his kingdom, to spread the sa- 
 vour of the Redeemer's name, or in any way to benefit 
 the souls ot their fellow sinners. 
 
 On Monday, a meeting for prayer was instituted in 
 Hetty Street, and another in Mulberry Street, with 
 which the Presbyterian ministers have agreed to meet 
 in rotation. It is the Lord ! We have heard of revi- 
 vals all around, but feared lest the aggravated sins of 
 New York, might provoke the Lord to pass by, leaving 
 our Jleece dry, white the deiv wet all around. Great 
 has been our privileges ; the Gospel trumpet has 
 sounded in every corner of our city. The Lord's ser- 
 vants has set before us life and death, assuring us, 
 from God's word, that, though hand join in hand, the 
 tvicketl shall not go unpunished ; beseeching us to flee 
 from the wrath to come, and Lay hold on the hope set be- 
 fore us. God in his providence has visited us with 
 mercies and with judgments ; stricken us, and healed 
 us ; scattered us, and gathered us : but alas ! alas ! we 
 kept eating a d drinking, marrying and giving in mar- 
 riage ; many, very many, wasting their time, health, 
 and substance, in all manner of immorality, and our 
 rulers caring for none of these things : yea, many of 
 them practising the same things ; and, God's own saved 
 people sitting still, restraining testimony before men, 
 and prayer before God. What were we to expect but
 
 116 LIFE AND WRITINGS tit 
 
 that God should say, Why should they be stricken am) 
 more : They ivill revolt more and more ; they are joined 
 to their idols, let them alone. Such, O Lord, would be 
 the case, didst thou not deliver us out of our own self- 
 destroying snares. If -thou turn us no,t, we shall never 
 turn ; it is in our nature to backslide for ever. 
 
 Bxit is not the time come to pass, when, before thy 
 people call, thou ansicerest, and while they are yet speak- 
 ing, thou hearest ? Art thou not calling, with power, 
 Return ye backsliding children, and I will heal your 
 backstidings ?- And hast thou not prepared their hearts 
 to answer, Behold, we come unto thee, for thou art the 
 Lord our God : truly, in vain is salvation looked for 
 from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains ; 
 truly, from (he Lord cur God is the salvation of 
 Israel ? Hast thou not, O God, prepared the hearts 
 of thy people to pray, and thine ear to hear? Is 
 not this Bible Society, and are not these associations 
 for prayer, tokens from thee, for good ? More and 
 more, Lord, may thy people give thee no rest, until thou 
 make Zion a praise in the earth. the hope of Israel, 
 and the Saviour thereof, be not as a way faring man, that 
 tur.neth aside for a night. May thy people constrain 
 thee to abide with us for ever, to form us a people for 
 thyself, to shew forth thy praise. 
 
 I have just conveyed dear Mrs. A le to the confines 
 of the eternal world. I trust that the dear Redeemer 
 received her spirit. I have a good hope that she is 
 now in possession of the mansion purchased and pre- 
 pared for her, by thai dear Saviour whose name she 
 professed, and, I think, in an humble, steady, quiet 
 way, faithfully followed. She loved the word of God, 
 the house of God, the people of God. She spoke little, 
 but said that she had a good hope $ asked me to read 
 the Bible different times, and also to pray; said, that 
 the invitations of the Gospel were sweet to her : ob- 
 served, that the Lord had been very merciful to her in 
 her affliction. 
 
 A few hours before her death, she desired me to read 
 that hymn, ' To him that loved the souls of men,' &c. 
 Also, ' Come let us join our cheerful songs,' &c. She 
 asked me if I thought she would be long ; I said, ' No, 
 my dear ; you will be very soon with Jesus j' and en-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 117 
 
 ecuraged her as the Lord enabl-d me. She repeated 
 the question some time alter, and I gave, the same an- 
 swer. She then said, ' This night.' I answered, 'Yes, 
 my love, this night.' She bowed her head with a sweet 
 smile, laid it in a reclining- posture, and evidently set 
 herself to wait with patience the Lord's time. She was 
 very much oppressed, and breathed with much difficulty. 
 Some time* after she asked me to pray, which 1 did, 
 and begged that the Lord would increase her faith and 
 patience, and, if according to his will, give her a gentle 
 passage, and an abundant entrance. Jn a short time 
 her breathing became short and low j she shut her 
 eyes, and gently breathed weaker and weaker, till her 
 God delivered her without motion or groan. I was 
 on my knees, praying. I then thanked God for his 
 goodness, in this sweet dismission ; prayed for the 
 husband, the children, the two young men present, 
 and us all ; gave glory to God, and rose to discharge 
 further duty. 
 
 O, my God, is not my owa death at hand ? It is a 
 hard battle. My Jesus ; Thou knowest the struggle, 
 I too must drink of the cup ; mix it for me, my Re- 
 deemer. O let a full sense of free pardon, the recollec- 
 tion of the great and precious promises, a bright view 
 of the joys at God's right hand, as the fruit of thy death, 
 be applied to my soul in that awful hour ! Spirit of the 
 Father and of the Son, pour in the oil and wine of thy 
 consolations in that trying hour. O let me not be 
 straitened ? Open wide to my sou! the leaves of that welt- 
 ordered c:>rcnant, of which Christ himself is the sum 
 and substance. Redeeming God, may 1 experience 
 proof in that solemn hour, that thy flesh is meat indeed, 
 and thy blood is drink indeed ! O feed me with this living- 
 food ! May 1 feel life spring up in my s-oul, and be 
 assured that ] shall never die ! O, my God, grant one 
 more request Open my lips, and let them, as well as 
 my heart, be filled with the high praises of my redeem- 
 ing God. 
 
 1 know I am unworthy, the vilest of the vile ; bxit 
 magnify thy grace. I have much forgiven ! O let my 
 heart burn with love and gratitude in that hour, and my 
 lips utter its effusions in songs of praise ! Amen. 
 
 When the short thick breathing comes, and the slow
 
 118 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 fetches, sealing up speech, and expelling- the spirit from 
 its abode, let me hear or understand thee, saying unto 
 me It is I, be not afraid. 
 
 Rockaway, June 15, 1810. 
 
 CAME hither the 1st of the month, with the children 
 in the hooping-cough. No ' church-going bell' here, 
 but the Lord is every where ; and 1 have found him 
 here, warming my heart with gratitude and contrition, 
 and drawing it out in prayer, for his people met to wor- 
 ship in his sanctuary. 
 
 When at a distance from my own people, it has been 
 my practice to join with whatever class of professing 
 Christians might be near me. Here it has been with 
 the Methodists, who, I believe, enjoy communion with 
 God. Yesterday I went to a meeting of Friends, a 
 people whose works praise them, and bespeak the tree 
 good which bears such fruits ; but, O my God, what 
 could I do, shut vip with either r Without the finished 
 work of my Saviour, I could have no hope ; without 
 his law-fulfilling righteousness, I must stand a law- 
 con'demned sinner. The preacher yesterday took no 
 text 5 in the course of his sermon, he said that the 
 Scriptures were only secondary guides, that the Spirit 
 in the heart was the first. He began with the import- 
 ance of thinking of death, said that he thought it im- 
 possible for a rational being to live carelessly, with 
 thoughts of death and eternity in view. Is it so ? No 
 we sinners die under the full conviction that they are 
 dying, as thoughtless as they have lived. He said that 
 by constantly attending to the motions of the Spirit, 
 and complying with them, Christians arrived at a state 
 of perfection even here ,- and brought in that text, He 
 that is born of God, ca.inot sin. He spoke highly of 
 watchfulness, and avoiding connection with the world ; 
 and said that a real Christian could not hold any office 
 of power among men. Paul held one, but he was con- 
 strained to give it up when he became an apostle. 
 Christ's kingdom was not of this world. Law and 
 officers were necessary among the men of the world, 
 but not among Christians. He spoke of the cross of 
 Christ as consisting in suffering and self-denial. His
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GKAKAM. 110 
 
 blood was the Spirit which cleansed from all sin, by 
 delivering all who obeyed him from its power. He 
 named not my blessed Saviour, except when he had 
 Occasion to mention some of his moral sayings. He 
 said indeed that He was the Light that lightened every 
 man that came into the world, and the condemnation 
 was, that men would not receive it ; but one word of 
 his blessed priesthood he spoke not but said th-it we 
 were in a state of probation, and every one would be 
 judged according to his works, taking into view the 
 advantages he had enjoyed ; recommended the reading 
 of the scriptures, especially the inspired bi.oks, the New 
 Testament, and the Prophets ; for it needed no inspira- 
 tion to write the national history of the Jews, more 
 than that of any other nation. He said that the Scrip- 
 tures were good secondary guides, and contained excel- 
 lent lessons and truths. \Vhen I was coming away, he 
 offered me his hand, and said, ' Thou art not a resident 
 here.' I answered, ' No, I am separated from my own 
 people, but wish to unite with any class of Christians 
 who meet professedly to worship God ;' adding, ' I could 
 not live upon what you have this day delivered.' He 
 asked what was wrong. I stated, that he had given 
 some good exhortations ; that 3 agreed with him in 
 many things respecting conduct ; but that I missed the 
 foundation : he repeated the Scripture ' Other foun- 
 dation can no man lay,' &c. 1 said, ' Tme : off this 
 foundation there is no salvation on this foundation 
 there may be loss, but no condemnation. We have a 
 great and a merciful High Priest, who can have com- 
 passion on the ignorant, and them who are out of the 
 way j and there may be straw, hay, stubble, which wiU 
 be burnt up, but the soul itself, being on the founda- 
 tion, is safe.' He said with firmness, ' That will be 
 burnt up in this world ; without holiness no man shall 
 see the Lord.' I said, ' True, but why avoid the tenor 
 of Scripture j read all the Epistles the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, the Gift of God, the Propitiatory Sacrifice, the 
 meritorious law-fulfilling righteousness, is set forth in 
 every one of them, as that which saves from wrath, and 
 entitles to eternal life.' He said, that they were all 
 emblems of our being made holy in heart and life that 
 Christians were baptized u*to the death of Christ, and
 
 120 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 rise with him to newness of life, being buried with him, 
 &c. I granted that, as one reading of these words. He 
 said, that every other liew was shadow. I said, 'No 
 the blood of bulls and goats is shadow. Christ himself, 
 his person, his offices, his life, his sufferings, his death, 
 his burial, resurrection, ascension and intercession within 
 the veil, are all substance the sole foundation of my 
 hope, and my only plea at a throne of grace.' 
 
 Dear Name, the rock on which I build, 
 
 My shield and hiding place, 
 My never i'ailing treas'ry filled 
 
 With boundless stores of grace. 
 
 Jesus ! my Husband, Shepherd, Friend, 
 
 My Prophet, Priest, and King, 
 My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, 
 
 Accept the praise I bring. 
 
 Rockaway, August, 1810- 
 
 Epistle to the Hebrews is my usual study, when 
 no other passage of Scripture attracts my particular 
 attention. This is the third morning that I have 
 opened the New Testament on the fourteenth chapter 
 of John, and have fed delightfully on the first three 
 verses. There is at all times a thorn in my heart, keep- 
 ing me in continual remembrance of my vile, ungrate- 
 ful backslidings, so that I eat my sweetest morsels with 
 bitter herbs. It was particularly painful to me this 
 morning ; nevertheless, the Lord God, merciful and 
 gracious, repeated on my heart, Let not your heart be 
 troubled, neither let it be Afraid. I was arrested at the 
 4th verse, tt'Liiher I go ye know, and the way ye know. 
 I have had many comfortable exercises on the Sth verse, 
 the Redeemer's answer to Philip's inquiry. But, this 
 morning, ray mind was led to a different view" of that 
 saying, and which, 1 think, was literally included. The 
 Redeemer was going to his Father j and his waylay 
 through deat.h, the death of the cross. The hour was 
 at hand, when he was to make his holy and righteous 
 soul an offering for sin, that he might become the Au- 
 thor of salvation to all who obey him. All the sins 
 confessed, and pardoned by the sacrifices under the
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 121 
 
 Law, were laid on this blessed Surety they were only 
 the shadows. He was the substance ; the real Lamb of 
 God, which taketh away the sin of the world, was now 
 to be offered up. This was He, who said, Sacrifice and 
 offering thou wouldst not, but a body hast thou prepared 
 me: in burnt -otferings and offerings for sin thou hast 
 had no pleasure ; then said I, ' Lo, I come to do thy 
 will, O God. By which will we are sanctified through 
 the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.' 
 
 He was going to the garden O that garden ! 
 Peter had said that he was able to drink of that cup, 
 and to be baptized with that baptism. Ah no, Peter, 
 that exceeding sorrow in the garden, when no visible 
 hand was upon him, was a cup, the least drop of which 
 would have overwhelmed the strongest angel. No 
 strength short of omnipotent could have sustained that 
 hour and power of darkness. It was not the scourge, 
 the thorns, the nails, nor the last pangs of dissolution ; 
 through all these he was as a lamb led to the slaugh- 
 ter, and as a sheep before her shearers, dumb. It was 
 a mysterious horror, of which no created being can 
 have any conception. It was this that wrung the great 
 drops of blood through every pore of his sacred body ; 
 this that extorted the agonizing prayer, Father, if it 
 be possible, let this cup pass from me. And again, in 
 his last moments on the cross, My God, my God, why 
 hast thou forsaken me ? Blessed, for ever blessed, be 
 our Jehovah Jesus, who said, Not my will, but thine 
 be done ! The will of God was done, and he said, It is 
 finished, and gave up the ghost. 
 
 All his people must follow him by the way of death, 
 nearly all his disciples followed by the death of the 
 cross, and many others, after them, supported by his 
 almighty grace, rejoiced that they were counted wor- 
 thy to suffer for his sake : but they drank not of that 
 cup. 
 
 Some of his people, for holy and wise purposes, have 
 had a taste in the hiding of God's face, but no curse ; 
 that he. himself drank to the last drop ; He trod the 
 wine press alone, and of the people there was none to 
 help him. By his own death he destroyed him that had 
 the power of death, and secured victory to all his fol- 
 lowers ; he changed its aspect from that of the king of
 
 r22 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 terrors to that of a welcome messenger from their re- 
 deeming God, to conduct them to those blessed man- 
 sions which he has purchased and prepared for them j 
 neither will he leave them alone with that messenger : 
 And if I go, I will come again, and receive you to my- 
 self, tliai ti-liere I am, there ye may be also. I irill not 
 leave you comfortless. I will come to you. The world 
 seeth me no more, but ye see me ; because I live, ye shall 
 live also. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it 
 be afraid. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 
 
 Psalm xl. 6'. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not 
 desire; mine ears thou hast opened ; burin offering, and 
 sin offering, hast thou not required ; then said I, Lo 1 
 come, in the volume of the book it is written of me ; I 
 delight to do tin/ will, O my God : yea, thy I w is in my 
 heart. Jleb. x. 8. A ore, when he said, Sacrifice and 
 offering, and burnt offerings, and offering for sin, thou 
 wouldst not, neither hadst pleasure therein, which are 
 offered by the law ; then said he, Lo I come, to do thy 
 will, O God. Hetaketh away the first, that he may 
 establish (he second. By which it-ill we are sanctified 
 through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for 
 all. This man, after he hud offered one sacrifice for sins? 
 for ever sat down on the right hand of God. For by one 
 offering he hath perfected for ever them that a/re sancti- 
 fied ; whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us ; 
 for after that he hath said before, (chap viii. 10, now 
 repeated chap. x. 16.) This is my covenant that I will 
 make with them after those days, (in consequence of 
 Christ's doing the will of God, fulfilling all righteous- 
 ness,) I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their 
 minds will 1 write them ; and their sins and their ini- 
 quities will I remember no more. Now, where remission 
 of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having, 
 therefore, boldness to enter into the holiest' by the blood 
 of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath conse- 
 crated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh ; 
 and, having a High Priest over the house of God, let us 
 draw near n-ith a true heart, in full assurance of faith, 
 having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and 
 our bodies washed with pure water. Let us holdfast the 
 profession of our faith, without icavcring ; for he is 
 faithful that promised. Again, the Lord sicare, and will
 
 MRS. ISABELLA. GRAHAM. 123 
 
 not repent ; Thou art a priest for ever, after the order 
 of Melchisedec. By so much was Jesus made a Surety 
 of a better testament ; because he continueth ever, and 
 hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able 
 to save to the uttermost those that come unto God by him, 
 seeing he ever livetli to make intercession for them. Christ 
 glorified not himself to be made a High Priest ; but He 
 that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I be- 
 gotten thee, saith also in another place, Thou art a 
 Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Again, 
 chap. vii. 28, For the law maketh men high priests 
 which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which 
 was since the 'law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for 
 evermore. Acts x. 36. 'Jhe word which God sent unto 
 the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ : 
 He is Lord of all, Houc God anointed Jesus of Nazareth 
 with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about 
 doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the 
 devil, for God was with him. To him give all the pro- 
 phets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth 
 on him shall receive remission of sins. 
 
 Rockaway, September 10, 1811. 
 
 I HAVE been here four Sabbaths. The first I spent 
 at home, the weather not permitting; our going abroad j 
 the second I spent at a Prayer Meeting with the Me- 
 thodists ; the third we rode to Hemstead, where I 
 heard two plain gospel sermons, from Mr. C , Pres- 
 byterian minister ; and the last, I attended at the Epis- 
 copal Church, same place ; heard a good plain gospel 
 sermon from Mr. H , and witnessed the dispensation 
 of the Lord's supper. 
 
 To sing the praises of our redeeming God, and to 
 lift up my heart in prayer with thy fellow sinners, in 
 the comfortable hope, that there are other living souls 
 praising and praying with me, refreshes me : to hear 
 the word of God read, and to be led to meditate upon 
 it, however simple and common the exposition, also re- 
 freshes me. I am generally led to pray much, for mi- 
 nister and people, to consider myself as one with them 
 in Christ, especially if the minister be regularly bred, 
 and ordained by the laying on of the hands of the Pres-*
 
 124 JLIPE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 bytery. Howevever weak his natural powers ; however 
 few or small his talents ; if I have reason to think that 
 he is taught of God, that which flesh and blood cannot 
 teach, I desire to esteem him highly for his v:ork's sake. 
 I thank God for the meanest and weakest of such : 1 
 believe they never labour in vain. Out of the mouths 
 of babes and sucklings, in talents as "well as- in years, 
 God will perfect praise. 
 
 In this new world, thickly settled in many places 
 with natural men, eating and drinking, marrying and 
 giving in marriage, while the flood of wrath is hasten- 
 ing to overwhelm them, and none to warn them of their 
 danger, or point out the ark of safety ; shall such men 
 be reckoned of no account, and their labours of no 
 value ? No, the wealth of both Indies cannot balance 
 their work ; nor all the talents ever possessed by fallen 
 man, with all the orthodoxy which mere talents are ca- 
 pable of acquiring, without that divine teaching which 
 many of those, thus contemned, possess. That same 
 small discourse, those few plain points, these same 
 things repeated in the same way, contain truths by 
 which sinners may be saved, by which sinners shall be 
 saved. 
 
 Suppose, (for it is but supposition,) that these men 
 have made a mistake. They are the Lord's, and in 
 their place by his providence. He will be forthcoming 
 for them, and without miracle. From him shall their 
 fruit be found, and his power be manifested by their weak- 
 ness. Exert your energies, ye gifted doctor of Divi- 
 nity ; and may the Lord prosper the mesns used to 
 produce a ministry which shall render the attendance 
 of hearers beneficial both to the understanding and the 
 heart. Persuade men who are adding field to field, house 
 to house, thousand to thousand, to provide a competent 
 maintenance for them. If these last remain obstinate, 
 and it be idle to hope that youths of talents without 
 fortune, whatever be their piety, will serve the church 
 of God at the expence of devoting themselves to infal- 
 lible penury, and all the wretchedness which belongs 
 to it is it wise to weaken the hands and discourage 
 the hearts of those ministers, already settled pastors, 
 or to furnish their people with arguments in their own 
 vindication, for leaving them in want and penury }
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 1*2 5 
 
 SACRAMENT SABBAT^I, May 17, 1812. 
 I WAS nmch melted under sense of indwelling sin, 
 ^nd the deceitfulness of the human heart, and of my 
 own heart in particular. I have been, I think, much 
 in the exercise of contrition,, for the sins of my past 
 life, and exercised in watching over my words, thoughts, 
 and actions ; now that the Lord has delivered me from 
 all worldly care, having provided for me every thing 
 necessary to life and godliness ; pleasant food and cloth- 
 ing both for body and mind ; my dear room, retirement, 
 lire, candle, attendance ; my precious Bible, and spi- 
 rituul ordinances ; a faithful and beloved pastor, who 
 feeds me with truth ; I taste it, and I am fed. I am, 
 as the Lord God, merciful and gracious, has awarded, 
 under the constant influence of shame and confusion 
 for my highly aggravated transgressions : but I also en- 
 jay the full sense of pardon ; being justified by faith, I 
 have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ ; 
 and, knowing that I have a great High Priest that is 
 passed into the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, I am 
 enabled to hold fast my profession, comforted by this, 
 that I have not a high priest who cannot be touched with 
 the feeling of my injirmities, but one who was in all points 
 tempted as we are, yet without sin. I dare come (not 
 very boldly, for I am under much depression) to the 
 throne of grace, that I may obtain mercy, and find grace 
 to help in time of need. Every time is a time of need 
 with me, for sin still dwelleth in me. I have peace with 
 God, through my dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 3 
 but am at constant war with myself. I plead thy pro- 
 mise, that thou wilt subdue my iniquities ; that sin shall 
 not have dominion over me. And now, Captain of Sal- 
 vation, I renew the fight, hut it is depending upon thee 
 to fight for me, with me, and in me. I will set myself 
 to watch ; but I shall watch in vain, if thou keep not 
 the avenues of my heart, and the door of my lips. O 
 clothe me with thy meek and lowly Spirit ! 
 
 Sabbath, July 26, iai2. 
 
 TIRED of the bustle of Rockaway, and having some 
 subordinate motives for returning home for a time, 1 
 embraced this season in particular ; having in the com-
 
 126 JLIPE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 pass of one week, the Sabbath ; Wednesday, my birth- 
 day ; and the day set apart both by the General As- 
 sembly of our Church, and the Governor of our State, 
 for fasting, prayer, and humiliation, besides lecture on 
 the same evening. I returned, therefore, on Friday, 
 the 24th- 
 
 This day, Dr. R n preached from the 1st verse of 
 the 27 th Psalm, The Lord is my light and my salvation ; 
 whom shall I fear ? The Lord is the strength of my life ; 
 of whom shall I be afraid ? He spoke of the nature and 
 causes of fear, the perfections of God, and the security 
 of believers in those perfections. He spoke of the 
 faith which unites to Christ, and secures the true in- 
 terest of believers in every possible cage. His chief 
 design seemed to be to strengthen the weak, and con- 
 firm the fearful and the doubting, who had, neverthe- 
 less, both from former and present experience, a good 
 right to the consolations of the text. 
 
 O my God, my merciful and gracious God, what 
 can I say of thy amazing, distinguishing mercy to me ? 
 Delivered from all these fears, I yet know of none who 
 might more justly have been surrendered to their do- 
 minion. My transgressions have been of crimson and 
 scarlet hue. O my God, thou knowest them, words 
 cannot paint them ! My Saviour, thou knowest them, 
 for thou bearest them ! Every jot and tittle was put 
 to thy account, and thou didst cancel all ! O that 
 garden ! that cry on the cross ! The effects were seen 
 on thy sacred body ; but who can conceive the myste- 
 rious horror which filled thy sacred soul ! But thou 
 saidst, It is finished ; and finished it is. Lamb of God, 
 which taketh away the sins of the .world, on thy conse- 
 crated head I lay the hand of faith, confess my sins, 
 prav for forgiveness, and believe that I am forgiven. 
 
 July 29th, my birth-day, and the last day of the 
 threescore years and ten of my sinful life. What an 
 exhibition will that day produce, when the secrets of 
 all hearts will be laid open, all my actions, and all the 
 springs of them ! Among all the myriads which shall 
 appear at the bar of God, will there be such a sinner, 
 taking into view the early grace manifested ? 
 
 'Born again, I think, about the seventeenth year of 
 my natural life ; previously instructed in th doctrines
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 127 
 
 and precepts of the Scriptures, as far as the natural 
 mind can conceive, by pious parents and a faithful 
 pastor ; with milk provided for my spiritual infancy, 
 and richer food set before me for my growth : the 
 leaves of the New Covenant were opened to my view, 
 and the fulness treasured in Christ, for my supply j to 
 be delighted in and delighted I was, and satisfied. 
 But I/o sook the fountain of living waters, and hewed 
 out broken cisterns that could hold no wafer. Where 
 can language be found to depict my ingratitude, my 
 madness, my folly ? and where to describe the long- 
 suffering 1 , the compassionate remonstrances, the kindly, 
 fatherly chastisements, the repeated pardons, and the 
 restoring grace of God in the days of youth ? how ag- 
 gravated have been my backslidings, and what ven- 
 geance might have been taken on mine inventions. 
 What were the sins of Israel and J udah to mine ? 
 When mine were committed, the great atonement was 
 made, the adorable High Priest, Jesus, had with his 
 own blood entered within the vail, and was sat down 
 on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty of the 
 heavens: the minister of the sanctuary, and of the true 
 tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and not man. 
 
 The new Covenant was established on better pro- 
 mises, himself the Mediator. Th<> new and living way 
 was consecrated to the holiest of all by the blood of Jesus ; 
 a throne of grace was established ; Jesus himself our 
 Advocate and Intercessor. We are now privileged to 
 come boldly to a throne of grace, that we may Jind grace 
 to kelp in the time of need. O how aggravated my sin 
 above theirs, having such great and precious privileges 
 and promises, and a High Priest who can be touched 
 with the feeling of our infirmities, who was in all points 
 tempter/ as (re are ; who owns us as his brethren and 
 sisters, yea, the very members of his body, and whose 
 Spirit dwelleth in us ! 
 
 I set apart the day for fasting and deep humiliation, 
 took another survey of my past sinful life, confessed 
 particulars on my knees, and made a fresh application 
 to the blood of sprinkling, which cleanseth from all 
 sin ; took a fresh hold of his new covenant of promise. 
 This is the covenant that 1 will make with them after 
 those days, saith the Lord ; I will put my laws in their
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and their 
 sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Lord, 
 do as thou hast said. 
 
 I rest my immortal soul on thy promise. 
 
 July 30 , 1812- 
 
 THK day was set apart by the General Assembly and 
 State Legislature for fasting and humiliation, confession 
 
 sin, and prayer. 
 
 Dr. R read the second chapter of Jeremiah, a great 
 portion 'of which belongs to my own character, as an 
 individual : and is laid up as part of that provision 
 which is to support me through the last stage in the 
 wilderness, and through Jordan, over which I must 
 shortly pass : it is also laid in as a proof of the amazing 
 long-suffering of God, and his readiness to forgive, even 
 the vile backslider, in heart and -life, as proclaimed in 
 the third chapter. 
 
 Sabbath, December 8, 1812. 
 
 Da. R preached from Psal. cxxxviii. 7, 8. Though 
 I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me : thou 
 thalt stretch forth, thi.e hand against mine enemies, and 
 thy right hand shall save me. Text, The Lord will 
 perfect that which concerns me : thy mercy, O Lord, 
 endureth for ever .- forsake i. ot the work of thine own 
 hands. 
 
 I will no longer mourn over loss of memory ; I think 
 the Lord has more than made it up to me by his sensi- 
 ble presence, while hearing and applying the sermon to 
 my heart at the time : not only so, he enlightens my 
 uhderstanding : it is more opened to the elucidation^ 
 of my Pastor ; and though I forget the words and the 
 order of his discourses, I am instructed in the knowledge 
 of the subject, and the Scriptures in general. Shall I 
 oeny the grace of God, through fear of .pride ? I see it 
 not to be my duty. Can I attribute any thing to my- 
 self? No j shame and confusion of face belong to me for 
 my carelessness and idleness in the use of means, during 
 health and strength of body and mind. Never has 
 God dealt with me as I sinned, but according to his
 
 HRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 129 
 
 own mercy, and in a way. of great sovereignty. Let 
 me record his great goodness, his tender mercies, and 
 bless his name. 
 
 Old age is upon me, and some of its infirmities ; my 
 memory is much impaired, and my mind, in temporal 
 things and subjects, becomes very desultory. Not so 
 in spirituals : I not only hear and read with more in- 
 tense attention, and prompt application ; but my mind 
 is more disposed to meditation ; and though I cannot 
 remember much of the sermons I hear, yet my mind 
 is often furnished with happy and profitable thoughts 
 on the same subjects ; and I find myself instructed, 
 without remembering the instructions. This is evidently 
 from the Lord. It appears to me also that I have not 
 lost the sensibility of youth. I often shed tears, not 
 only of compunction, but of gratitude. I seldom com- 
 mune without tears. 1 think much of death ; am so- 
 lemnized, but not afraid. 
 
 As far as I know, my confidence rests upon a surety- 
 righteousness, exclusive of every thing in myself. I 
 am not conscious of self- righteousness ; I have no com- 
 placency in any thing ever done by me. I not only 
 believe, that in all things I come short, and that sin is 
 mixed in all I do, because God hath said so ; but I am 
 sensible of particular depravity. It is my sincere de- 
 sire to be stript of every thing that is mine ; (sins and 
 duties laid in one heap;) and to be clothed in the 
 surety-righteousness of my Redeemer ; all that is mine 
 being put to his account, and all that he did and suf- 
 fered, as the Mediator and Surety of the Covenant, to 
 mine. 
 
 I am afflicted with rheumatism, but God gives me 
 patience, and disposes me to enumerate my many re- 
 maining mercies ; eyes to read his word, and ears to 
 hear it preached ,- thus far, also, such moderation of 
 pain as very often to be able to attend with fixedness. 
 I have my room at my own command, candle, fire, and 
 attendance ; and, O bless the Lord my soul ! much of 
 his sensible presence. In the night when my aches pre- 
 vent me from sleeping, he gives me some sweet hymn ; 
 I sing, my pain is diverted, while my heart is melted 
 and warmed under the expressions, and I often drop 
 asleep with the words on my tongue.
 
 130 - LIFE AND WRITINGS Or 
 
 I am convinced that the provision I have laid in for 
 my last journey in the wilderness, and through Jordan, 
 is selected by the influence of the Holy Ghost. He 
 takes of the things of Christ, and shews them unto me ; 
 and while he keeps upon my mind my meanness, my 
 vileness, wringing my heart with the retrospect of my 
 backslidings and highly aggravated transgressions, he 
 opens at the same time the leaves of the New Testa- 
 ment, and shews me my deliverance from punishment, 
 the redemption of my soul, and my translation into the 
 kingdom of God's dear Son, as in the text : I weep and 
 rejoice ; 1 loathe myself, and, clasping my Saviour to 
 my heart, am at a loss for words to express how pre- 
 cious he is to my saved soul ! 
 
 ' JESUS, I love thy charming name, 
 
 5 Tis music to mine ear ; 
 Fain would I sound it out so loud, 
 
 That heaven and earth should hear. 
 
 ' Yes, thou art precious to my soul, 
 
 My Transport and my Trust ; 
 My Saviour, Shepherd, Husband, Friend, 
 * No other good I boast. 
 
 ' All my capacious powers can wish, 
 
 la thee do richly meet ; 
 Not to mine eyes is light so dear, 
 
 Nor friendship half so sweet. 
 
 ' Thy grace still dwells upon' my heart, 
 
 And sheds its fragrance there ; 
 The noblest balm of all my wounds, 
 
 And cordial of my care. 
 
 ' I'll speak the honour of thy name, 
 
 With my last fault'ring breath ; 
 Then, speechless, clasp thee in my arms, 
 
 The antidote of death.' 
 
 Dr. M. preached in the evening from Eph. iii. 30. 
 For we are members of his body, of his Jlesh, and of his 
 bones. It was a rich sermon ; I enjoyed it at the time, 
 but cannot recall it. Blessed Spirit, keep it for me, 
 and feed me with the substance of it, as I stand in 
 need. 
 
 Accept of my thanks, blessed Jesus, that through 
 tny meritorious life and death, I have an interest in the
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 131 
 
 great whole. Accept of my thanks, blessed Spirit, for 
 thus taking of the things of Christ, and showing them 
 unto me. And accept of my thanks, Father of mer- 
 cies, for the gift of thy Son, and all these blessings in 
 him. 
 
 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly 
 places, in Christ Jesus. Amen. 
 
 Greenwich, Sabbath. 
 
 HEARD Dr. M r preach in the State Prison to the 
 convicts, from Luke xix. 1O. For the Son of man is 
 come to seek and to save that which was lost. 
 
 He addressed them as fellow-sinners, all being by 
 nature lost, and dependant on the same means of re- 
 covery. 
 
 True, my heart accords. O Lord, thou knowest I 
 stand, in my own estimation, a sinner, the chief of sin- 
 ners. These have added to their sin against thee, of- 
 fences against men, and are suffering the penalty. 
 
 My sins have been chiefly, though far from exclusive- 
 ly, against God and with many aggravations. That 
 I was born in -a Christian land, of pious parents, who 
 gave me religious instructions ; brought up under faith- 
 ful, lively ministers, and in religious society ; exposed 
 to few temptations but what arose from the corruptions 
 of my own heart are aggravations, which I mourn 
 over, as heightening the sin of unbelief in my ujirege- 
 nerated state. But, the aggravations, the painful re- 
 memb'rance of which mars my comfort, and covers me 
 with shame and confusion, even now, though I know 
 that God is p-icijied with me, are as far above these, as 
 the heavens are above the earth. For in that Christian 
 land, under those Christian parents and faithful pastors, 
 while yet young and tender, I was enlightened, tasted 
 of the heave. >lij gift, was made a partaker of the Holy 
 Ghost, and tasted of the good u'ordof God, and tiie power 
 of the world to come. I was taken from the fearful pit 
 and miry clay ; my feet were set upon the rock, and a 
 new song was put into my mouth, even to the amount of, 
 O death ! where is thy sting ? I say of redeeming love, 
 pardoning grace, new covenant mercy ; I had jay an$
 
 13* LIFE AXD WRITINGS OF 
 
 peace in believing. But, forgetting my natural charac- 
 ter, the extreme volatility of my spirits, my taste for 
 gaiety ; forgetting the danger of smothering the hea- 
 venly spark, by indulging to the utmost bound of law- 
 ful pleasure ; forgetting my continual need of fresh 
 supplies of grace, to preserve and feed that new life 
 which could not live on earthly food ; forgetting the 
 deceitfulness of my heart, and the injunctions of my 
 Bible 5 I became cold, negligent in the use of means, 
 and distant in prayer : I lost enjoyment ; and my heart, 
 naturally carnal, and madly fond of pleasure, got en- 
 tangled. The lust of the eye, the lust of the Jlesfi, and 
 the pride of life, regained their power ; other loves 
 usurped the place of that Beloved who had bought me 
 with his blood, and betrothed me to himself. That 
 which came into my mind, was, that I ivould be as the 
 families of the countries serve wood and stone. Blessed 
 be his name, he said, If shall not be. He brought me 
 into the wilderness, and pleaded with me ; caused me 
 to pass under the rod ; brought me again into the bond 
 of the covenant. O how often hast thou wrought with, 
 me for thy name's sake ! One self-willed step brought 
 with it a train of consequences dangerous to spiritual 
 life ; filling even the path of duty with pits and snares ; 
 cutting me off from ordinances, pastor, parents, church, 
 country, and Christian society ; placing me, at the same 
 time, in the midst of carnal delights ; and every thing 
 in my natural temper and disposition was congenial to 
 them. What saved me ? What in heaven or earth could 
 save me, but thy covenant ! Truly thy covenant standcth 
 fast ; therefore I was not lost in the vortex. The Lord 
 God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in 
 goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression and 
 sin, kept his eye upon me : many a time- did he stop up 
 my path. From how many delusions of my own seek- 
 ing ; how many snares and nets of my own weaving ; 
 how many pits of my own digging, hast thou delivered 
 me, when wandering, bewildered on temptation's 
 ground, in the cloudy dark day ! How often hast 
 thou sought me out ; how often bound me up when 
 broken ; strengthened me when sick, and fed me with 
 judgment, and very, very often, made thyself known to 
 me ! I -knew thy hand when it shook the rod, when it
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 133 
 
 arrested me in some mad career. I knew thy hedge, thy 
 bar ; saw not only escapes, but my Deliverer : often 
 paused, turned, and took fast hold of thy covenant, 1 
 had no afflictions in those days, but every pleasure law- 
 ful to be enjoyed ; but no pastor, no church, no Chris- 
 tian society : yet God was there, my Bible, and the 
 writings of Doddridge, and other good authors. To 
 my shame and confusion this day, God was not, in the 
 midst of all my idolatry, a barren wilderness, nor a land 
 of drought to me. I had many Sabbaths : literally the 
 Sabbath was a sign between my covenant God and me ; 
 ill-spent it often was, but not with company : it was 
 spent in retirement. The Lord did not leave me so far 
 as to give up the Sabbath to the world. Though my 
 heart was incrusted, and spiritual life scarcely discern- 
 ible, sometimes the Lord met me, and, strange to tell, 
 not with threatenings, causing terror, but with ingenu- 
 ous compunction, and ere the day was over, manifesta- 
 tions, of pardon, though not joy 5. for I was grieved at 
 my ingratitude. 
 
 I expected affliction long before it ca-rne, and my 
 presumptuous heart calculated upon the fruit being 
 the peaceable fruit of righteousness, and the taking away 
 of sin ; but still I held on my way, gadding about, drink- 
 ing the waters of Sihor, and the rivers of Syria and eating 
 the worldlings dainties. At last it came : yes, it came, 
 Thou didst cut off the desire of mine eyes with a stroke, 
 and with that made the world a blank to me. But, 
 oh ! the stately steps of thy providential mercy, pre- 
 viously to that trying hour ! I must ever stand amazed 
 at thy exuberant grace ! agreeably to thy covenant, 
 thou mightest have struck me among worldlings, in 
 that dry and barren land, where not one tongue could 
 speak the language of Canaan, nor bring forth from 
 thy precious Bible the words of consolation to my 
 wounded and bereaved spirit ; richly had I merited 
 this, but never, no never, hast thou dealt with me as I 
 sinned ! Through the whole of my life, from the time 
 that the Lord called me out oj darkness into his marvel- 
 lous light, from tiie time that he first led me to the Sa- 
 viour, and enabled me to take hold of his covenant , 
 wanderer, backslider, transgressor, rebel, idolator -and 
 if there be any name more expressively vile and abomi-
 
 134 Llfrfc AKD WHITINGS Of 
 
 Halle, that is mine. And from the hour of my birth; 
 through the whole of this refractory perverse life, the 
 Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long suffer- 
 ing, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, 
 transgression, and sin, has been, and now is, thy name 
 to me. 
 
 No, ye strong-built walls, ye grated windows, ye 
 gloomy cells, ye confine no such sinner as I. And did 
 the Lord take vengeance on my inventions r No. 
 Mercy preceded, mercy accompanied judgment : yea, it 
 was all mercy, not vengeance. He brought me and my 
 idol out of that barren land, placed us under the breath 
 of prayer among a dear little society of Methodists, he 
 laid us upon their spirits, and, when the messenger 
 Death was sent for my beloved, the breath of prayer 
 ascended from his bedside, from their little meeting, 
 and I believe from their families and closets. The God 
 of mercy prepared their hearts to pray, and his ear to 
 hear, and the answer did not tarry. Behold my husband 
 praye-h ; confesseth sin; applieth to the Saviour; 
 pleadeth for forgiveness for his sake ; receiveth com- 
 fort ; blesseth God for Je.-us Christ, and dieth with 
 these words on his tongue, ' 1 hold fast bv the Saviour !' 
 Behold another wonder ! The idolatress in an extacy of 
 joy ! One who never could realize a separation for one 
 single minute during his life, now resigns her heart's 
 treasure, with praise and thanksgiving ! 
 
 O the joy of that hour ! its savour remains on my 
 heart to this moment. For five days and nights I had 
 been little off my knees ; it was my ordinary posture at 
 his bedside, and in all that time, I had but once re- 
 quested life. Surely, the spirit of prayer and supplication 
 was poured out. The spirit helped mine infirmities with 
 groanings which could not be uttered, leading me to pray 
 for that which God had determined to bestow ; making 
 intercession for my husband, according to the will of 
 God. 
 
 sing unto the Lord a new song, for he h<th done mar- 
 vellous things . His right hand, and Ins holy arm have 
 gotten him the victory. The Lord hath made known his 
 salvation. His righteousness hath he openly shewn in 
 the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy 
 and his truth toward the house of Israel. All the
 
 MRS, ISABELLA GRAHAM. 135 
 
 end* of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 
 Psalm xcviii. 
 
 fruiay, December. 
 
 DR. R , on John iv. 10. If thou knewest the gift 
 of God, and u-lio it is that saith, Give me to drink ; thou 
 wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given thee 
 living water. 
 
 This is part of my provision laid in for my passage 
 through Jordan. Christ is the gift of God. Christ is 
 the Water of life : he is this living Water, and the Bread 
 of life given ; given by God, received by the sinner. 
 Life and comfort are experienced, and fruit produced is 
 the evidence ; but, first of all, this gift must be known, 
 and the soul's need must be known : Christ, the anointed 
 Prophet, taught this woman both ; and no other could. 
 Search me, O Lord, and try me. Hast thou not taught 
 my soul its miserable and ruined state by nature ; its 
 helplessness as well as misery ? Hast thou not also 
 brought me to this living, life-giving water ? Hast thou 
 not given me faith to come faith to drink ? And 
 have not I experienced its solacing quality? Has it not 
 satisfied my soul, and in some degree, allayed my thirst 
 for carnal delights ? Blessed Spirit, the gift of the 
 Father, and of the Son ; pour into my soul repeated 
 draughts of this living water ; yea, be in me, according 
 to my Redeemer's promise, a well of water springing 
 up to eternal life, and cause me to bring forth fruit to 
 the glory of the Father. 
 
 Other foundation can no man lay than that which is 
 laid, Christ Jesus. 
 
 Do I, O my God, seek for, or desire, any other foun- 
 dation ? Are not all my hopes for time and eternity, 
 built on this foundation r Is not Christ all my salvation, 
 and all my desire ? Do I not embrace thy Covenant just 
 as it is, believing that thou givest unto me eternal life, 
 and that this life is in thy Son, whom thou hast given 
 to be a Covenant of the people ? Iniquities prevail against 
 me ; but thou wilt not only purge them away, but thou 
 wilt subdue them : sin shall not have dominion over me, 
 for I am tot under the law, but under grace.
 
 136 UFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 Sabbath, January 18. 
 
 DR. R . By grace ye are saved, through faith ; and 
 that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. 
 
 All is of grace, all is free gift : or we wicked, wretched 
 sinners, could have no interest in it. Thanks be unto 
 God for his unspeakable gift of Jesus Christ, given for 
 a Covenant of the people. Thanks be unto God for the 
 gift of faith, by which we apprehend this Covenant, and 
 become interested in him, as the salvation of our souls. 
 Thanks be unto God for life to work ; for new princi- 
 ples and new motives, new desires, new hopes, new 
 fears, and, in some measure, new conduct. All of grace, 
 and to the God of grace, be all the glory. 
 
 Afternoon, Dr. R . Jeremiah ix.^3. Let not the 
 wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man 
 glory in his might; let not the rich man glory in his 
 riches : but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he 
 understandeth and knoweth me; that I am the Lord 
 which exercise righteousness, loving-kindness, and judg- 
 ment in the earth : for in these filings I delight, saith the 
 Lord. 
 
 Lord, hast thou not taught me by thy word, by 
 observation, and by experience, that all Jlesh is grass, 
 and all the glory of man as the flower of grass ? Alas ! 
 how much have I gloried, in even more worthless and 
 transient things ; but thou hast put a worm in them., 
 which, I hope, has fed on the roots, and they are in a 
 dying state. Let me now glory only in ihee, and thy 
 blessed, gracious, and well-ordered Covenant. Do I 
 understand and know thee, that thou art the Lord which 
 exerciseth righteousness, loving-kindness, and judgment 
 in the earth ? Dare I say that I, worm as I am, and a 
 sinful worm, am the subject of this loving-kindness, 
 through the righteousness of Christ ? Yes, I dare, by 
 the constitution of thine own covenant ; by the Mediator 
 and the Guarantee of the covenant of grace, which is 
 all summed up in him. 
 
 When thou givest Christ, thou givest freely all the 
 blessings of the new covenant. 
 
 This is the record, That thou hast given unto us eter- 
 nal life, and this life is in thy Son. 
 
 1 believe the record, and do understand and know, 
 that thou art the Lord.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 137 
 
 February 8. 
 
 HEBREWS xi. 24. By faith, Moses, when he loas come 
 to years, refused to be culled the son of Pharaoh's daugh- 
 ter, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than 
 the treasures of Egypt -, for he had respect unto the recom- 
 pence of the reward ; choosing rather to suffer affliction 
 with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin 
 for a season. 
 
 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer 
 persecution ; the natural heart is enmity against God, 
 and hales his image wherever found. If individual 
 Christians have the favour of individual worldlings, it 
 never is for their piety, that is rather borne with than 
 loved ; and too often Christians save themselves from 
 reproach by unfaithfulness : that, alas ! has been my 
 sin and shame. In all my friendships with worldlings, 
 some of which have been tender, how unfaithful have 
 I been in friendship's highest office ! How seldom have 
 I endeavoured to rescue my friend from sin and Satan, 
 by leading her to the Friend of sinners, the Source of 
 happiness ! I have contented my vile, selfish heart, 
 with things pertaining to this life, unconnected with 
 that to come ; leaving her under the influence of the 
 lust of the eye, the lust ofthejlesh, and the pride of life ; 
 without eyes to see her danger, or friend to warn her 
 of it ; and while she communicated with me in things 
 common to both, in all the good she knew, keeping back 
 nothing from me of all that she possessed ; how often 
 have I concealed my richest treasure, without inviting 
 her to to the participation. Surely I am both ungrate- 
 ful and unfaithful ! 
 
 I am ungrateful to that gracious God who opened 
 mine own eyes, arrested mine attention, stopped up 
 my path, and turned me to the way of life ; and I am 
 unfaithful to my friend, whom I left to pursue that 
 same way of death, without attempting to lead her to 
 this same sovereign, merciful, gracious Deliverer. And 
 what withheld me ? shame belongs to the heart go- 
 verned by such motives fear of contempt, reproach, 
 or, at most, the loss of carnal friendship. Of three 
 such friends, now gone to their place, two continued 
 their worldly course to the last, so far as I know ; for 
 the third, the Lord provided a more faithful friend,
 
 138 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 who became a worker together with the Spirit of God, 
 and led her to the Friend of sinners, who hath compas- 
 sion on the ignorant, and them that are out of the way. 
 By Him she was received, and in Him she found life., 
 light, and peace. 
 
 She soon out-ran faithless me in the heavenly race ; 
 gently chid me for my remissriess, but continued my 
 friend and helper. Ever foremost in the race, humble 
 and steady in faith, she looked not back, nor halted. 
 She has long since finished her course, received her 
 crown, and reward of grace, and become fruit to the 
 account of that friend who supplied what was wanting 
 in me. I rejoice with them both ; give glory to God, 
 Jrom whom their fruit was found ; and take shame and 
 confusion for my part. 
 
 How many opportunities have I lost, and from the 
 same sinful, shameful cause ! O my Redeemer, Avhat 
 can I say to thee ? Words are wanting to express my 
 loathing of that vile, selfish cowardice. 
 
 Didst thou, who art the Creator of heaven and earth, 
 the Brightness of the glory of God, the express image 
 of his person, and Upholder of all things, suffer shame, 
 contempt, anguish, death, for my sake ; that thou 
 mightest redeem me from the second death, and pur- 
 chase for me eternal life ! And do I shrink from the 
 least taste of thy cup ; though the curse is extracted, 
 and a blessing infused ! 
 
 And after all this, art thou pacified towards me ? I 
 search in vain for words to express the amazing grace. 
 As the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his 
 mercy toward them that fear him ; and toward vile me, 
 who can lay small claim to that character ; yet, as far 
 as the east is from the west, so far has he removed my 
 transgressions from him. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, 
 who excel in strength, that do his commandments, heark- 
 ening to the voice of his word. Bless the Lord, all ye 
 his hosts, ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure ; ye 
 ministering spirits sent forth to watch over, and minister 
 to them, who shall be heirs of salvation ; ye have wit- 
 nessed my ingratitude, my folly. 
 
 Sabbuth, February 7. 
 
 J>B, R preached one half of the day from Acta
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 139 
 
 xvii. 22. It was a supplement to a set of lectures on 
 God is a Spirit, John iv. 14. 
 
 All is now gone, the faculty of retention is gone : it 
 is the Lord's doing. There is no sin in this so far ; 
 my duty is resignation. Shame and confusion belong 
 to me, because of misimprovement in youth. Alas ! 
 alas ! for the precious hours mis-spent, squandered in 
 folly, or in idleness. For the time, I ought to have 
 been of full age ; whereas, I am but a babe. Glory to 
 God for even that, and for the many precious oppor- 
 tunities of daily nourishment, and some measure ap- 
 petite ; for conscious life, and some growth, though 
 scarcely perceptible. I have deserved to be banished 
 from every Christian society and place of Gospel wor- 
 ship ; to be left to stray without a shepherd or pasture 
 in a land of drought, where there is no water 5 and this 
 in perfect consistency with the stability of thy covenant, 
 for vengeance belongeth to thee, though thou art a God 
 that pardoneth ; for, alas ! such circumstances were of 
 my own seeking, being closely connected with the 
 choice I made of some other circumstances, which were 
 right hands, and right eyes, that I refused to sacrifice. 
 How often wouldst thou have gathered me, as a hen 
 gathereth her chickens under her wings 9 But I would not. 
 I entered into temptation, drank the waters of Sihor, 
 and the rivers of Syria, and forsook the living fountain. 
 Sin, folly, madness, crowd upon my remembrance, in 
 that foreign, barren land ; without pastor or teacher, 
 or Christian friend. I was in want, but without appe- 
 tite ; poor and needy, but insensible of it. I knew that 
 this was my situation, but 1 did not feel it. I said of 
 the Lord, ' He is my God,' even then, while my heart 
 was far from him. I was at ease, satisfied with husks, 
 for husks my pleasures were, if not poison to the spiri- 
 tual life. But I had, by grace given at the time, taken 
 hold of God's covenant, particularly of its discipline. 
 1 did at times repeat the grasp, but held not fast. My 
 goodness was as the morning dew, which soon drieth up t 
 tmd is gone. 
 
 Satan his purpose did pursue, 
 
 Detain' d me far abroad, 
 Feeding on husks, although I knew 
 
 My Father's house and God,
 
 140 LIFE ANt) WRITINGS OF 
 
 But Jesus stronger far than he, 
 In his appointed hour, 
 
 The wanderer sought, and set her free, 
 By purchase, and by power. 
 
 April, Sabbath. 
 
 1 Peter, chap. ii. 1st and 2d verses. Wherefore, 
 laying aside all malice, and all guile and hypocrisies, 
 and envyings, and all evil speakings, as new-born babes 
 desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow 
 thereby. 
 
 Blessed, Spirit, tliou hast convinced me of the in- 
 dwelling of every one of these, and also of mine inabi- 
 lity to make successful war against them. But, ha&'t 
 thou not led me to the Captain of Salvation for armour 
 for strength, for wisdom, for power ; and is riot my de- 
 pendance for success on thy promise, that sin shall not 
 have dominion over me ; that thy grace is sufficient for 
 me ; that as my days, so shall my strength be ? 
 
 May, 5. 
 
 ROM. v. 1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have 
 peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Blessed, blessed, blessed, doctrine! By no other 
 doctrine can I be justified and saved. Christ, the 
 Gift of God, and faith the gift of God. All, all, is 
 of grace. 
 
 I have shut my door, desiring to commune with God ; 
 but, feeling dull and lifeless, Jisk, What shall I read ? 
 My Bible lies just at hand ; where shall I read ? Every 
 part is good. I open, and find it marked, Psalm Ixix. 
 13. My prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable 
 time ; O Go-d, in the multitude of thy mercy, hear me, in 
 the truth. of thy salvation, in unacceptable time. I am 
 continually with thee ; tltou holdest me by thy right hand, 
 and in the time of need especially. In the multitude of 
 ihy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. What 
 is the truth of God's salvation ? To be the property of 
 Christ by purchase, to have Christ made our property 
 by the Father's gift ; to have the Holy Spirit sent into 
 our hearts, to enlighten our understandings, to govcrv
 
 MRS. ISABELLA 6RAHAM. 141 
 
 aur wills, to regulate our affections and tempers, and to 
 be in us a well of water springing up to eternal life. 
 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, ours by gift and by power ! 
 This, this, contains all my asking, for myself, for my 
 children, and my children's children, for my friends, arid 
 for all dear to me. Take us, O Lord ; and, in the truth 
 of thy salvation, give thyself to us ; do all that is need- 
 ful for us ; and glorify thy name. 
 
 Sabbatk. 
 
 LUKE xiv. 16. A certain man made a great supper, 
 and. bade many, and sent his servants at supper-time to 
 ay to them that were bidden, Come, for all things are 
 ready. And they all, with one consent began to make 
 excuse. 
 
 Such are our hearts, that we make idols even of the 
 blessings and bounties of Providence ; no room is left 
 for Christ, though without him every temporal good is 
 under a curse, and our own persons also. 
 
 O Lord, bless the gracious invitations given to pe- 
 rishing sinners this day : the pathetic and tender re- 
 monstrances of thy faithful servant. May many of the 
 poor, the maimed, the halt the blind, from the streets 
 and lanes of the city, and may many from the highways 
 and hedges, be compelled to come, that thy house may 
 be filled. And, O my gracious Father, let these care- 
 les ones, who are of my flesh and blood, be among the 
 number ! Hear, O hear the prayers offered this day, 
 for poor self-deluded, self-destroying sinners : awaken 
 them, O Lord, and sweep away all lying refuges ; and 
 gracious God, settle and establish these halters ; give 
 life, and love, and zeal, to make a full profession, to 
 the glory of thy powerful grace, and to the joy and 
 comfort of fellow members. Let thy kingdom come. 
 
 February, 1812. 
 
 DR. M . John i. Behold the Lamb of God, which 
 taketh away the sin of the world ! 
 
 He dwelt chiefly on the substitution of the victim in 
 the room of the transgressor ; and proved, from the 
 Levitical law, that the substitution was particular.
 
 142 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 When a victim was offered for an individual, he was to 
 lay his hand on the head of the animal, (by the ap- 
 pointment of God,) as a token of his faith, that his 
 sins should he transferred to the victim which suffered 
 death in his stead, and that his sins were forgiven, 
 and his person accepted. If the victim was for the 
 whole congregation, then the elders, as their represen- 
 tatives, were to lay their hands upo/i the head of the 
 victim, signifying the same faith. Great was the sub- 
 ject of the plan of redemption. The Son of God was 
 clothed with our nature, given, and set apart as a pro- 
 pitiatory Sacrifice, the Victim upon whom the sins of 
 his elect were laid, while he was sacrificed ^ in their 
 stead. 
 
 He is the Lamb of God, which took away the sinS, 
 not only of the Jewish transgressors, but the sins of 
 the elect out of every nation, *kindred, and tongue, 
 throughout the world. On this Lamb of God rests my 
 own individual hope for pardon, and for acceptance. 
 1 lay my own individual hand of faith on his dear 
 head, confess my sin, and rely upon his sacrifice for 
 pardon and acceptance, through the atonement made 
 by himself, God's anointed Priest. 
 
 March, 1812. Sabbath. 
 
 DR. R . Jer. xxxi. 8. And they shall come with 
 weeping, and. with supplication will Head them. 
 
 This may refer, chiefly, to the latter day. But the 
 Lord leads every sinner to the Saviour with weeping ; 
 and through after-life, when reconciled, by supplica- 
 tion. What testimony do my heart and conscience 
 give ? He found me about the age of seventeen ; with 
 weeping and supplication he led me to the Saviour, 
 gave me lively faith, and much joy and peace in believ- 
 ing ; but, alas ! no claim can I lay to the description 
 in after-life. The subjugation of the will, devotedness 
 of heart, deliverance from the love of the world, peace 
 with God, and with conscience, delight, calm, serene, 
 and steady, in communion with God ; these I see in 
 others 5 a lovely groupe of my own intimate friends 
 now surround the throne, who answered to this, de- 
 scription, and some are now on the way, abstracted
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 143 
 
 from the world, God's people their chosen companions j 
 his ordinancesj public and private, their delight ; they 
 walk with God. But far different is the race I ran 
 formany years! I became careless and reru .'>.-> j the 
 world again got hold of my heart ; love waxed cold, 
 creatures became idols ; early instruction deepi) laid in, 
 and recollection of former experiences, dread of self- 
 deception, and touches of the rod, were tiie means by 
 which the Lord again led me with weeping and sup- 
 plication. But no sooner was pardon manifested, and 
 the rod removed, than my vile, .abominable, unstable, 
 guilty heart, was again caught in pleasure's net, seek- 
 ing to reconcile God and mammon, ever forsaking the 
 fountain oj ' itr.iitj waters, and hen: ing out broken cisterns ; 
 now drinking ti.e u:ut. rs of Sihor, then the rivers of 
 Syria. Yet never amazing ! O how amazing ! never 
 altogether forsaken! Repenting and sinning; sinning 
 and repenting, was my business ; the Lord God still 
 manifesting as many pardons. And how is it now ? 
 The Lord leads me again with weeping. He has par- 
 doned j he has freely pardoned ail, and he has manifested 
 and does manifest, that pardon so fully, that I scarcely 
 ever feel a doubt : but shame and confusion, self-loath- 
 ing, painful remembrance and self-reproach, mar my 
 comfort. 1 have communion with God. He is my re- 
 conciled Tather. He has given to me eternal life in the 
 gift of his Son. I am a saved sinner, by the anlazing 
 plan of redemption, which comprehends even me. God's 
 covenant stands fast ; the covenant which he gave me 
 in my youth, by which Jesus was Surety to God for 
 righteousness, and Surety to me for covenant grace, 
 the one only Mediator between God and man. 
 
 April. Sabbath, 
 
 DR. R . 2 Timothy iii. 1*2. Yea, and all that 
 live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution. The 
 subject came home to my heart. I have not suffered 
 persecution ; and why ? becaust my life has not testi- 
 fied sufficiently against a sinful world. Alas! alas! 
 the world loves its own, and 1 have been so accomo- 
 dating (to say the least) as not to disturb it. Tfre 
 rarnal mind is enmity against God, is not subject to the
 
 144 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 law of God, neither indeed can be : but the world saw 
 little in me of that image which they hate, and enough 
 of assimilation to balance that little. O my God, my 
 long-suffering, sin-pardoning God ; thou knowest my 
 vile cowardice ; with professors a professor of thy 
 name, with worldlings a seeming worldling. And now 
 the season is past, the opportunity lost ; the time of 
 life is arrived, when the world itself expects to be aban- 
 doned. No line of conduct in me will now reprove 
 them ; they account it wise to defer looking out for a 
 better portion, till the world can no longer be enjoyed ; 
 and thus, through the deceitfulness of their own hearts, 
 arid the suggestions of the ever- vigilant enemy of souls, 
 they may be hardened in sin, by hoping to become re- 
 ligious in old age. Oh ! let thy grace prevent it. 
 
 The sinfulness, and especially the ingratitude, of my 
 past life, rise in magnitude at every review I take of 
 it ! And what i .in 1 say ? Father, forgive \ Yes, I dare 
 say, Father, forgive. ! I dare say more ; Thou hast for- 
 given ! This grief of heart proves that thoii hast not 
 sealed me up under impenitence. Thou rememberest 
 thy covenant with me in the days of my youth, when 
 thoxi didst draw me with the cords of love, and with the 
 lands of a man ; and though no language can express 
 my baseness and my ingratitude, through all my back- 
 sliding life, thy covenant stands fast. 
 
 I remember, and am confounded., and will never open 
 my mouth any more, because of my shame, now that thou 
 art pacified toward me for all that I have done. And 1 
 know that thou art the Lord. 
 
 Contrition dwell within this breast, 
 
 That God within this heart may rest; 
 
 Shame and confusion flush this face, 
 
 And magnify this glorious grace. 
 
 Grace be my theme while I have breath, 
 
 And on my quivering lips in death. 
 
 Angels and iellow-sinneis say, ^ 
 
 Will you not jcln me in the lay, 
 
 Now, and through Heav'n's eternal day ? 
 
 Blessed Comforter,, thou seest old age upon me, loss 
 cf memory, and a desultory mind ; I cannot retain even 
 the substance of my dear pastor's sermons. I thank 
 thee for the food and refreshment at the time, and often
 
 MR8. ISABELLA 6RAHAM, 145 
 
 jfer refreshing meditations on the same subjects. I 
 commit all to thee ; keep them for me, and feed me 
 with these truths as thou seest I need. Be to me me- 
 mory, judgment, presence of mind ; for, order and re- 
 gularity, and the vigour of my natural powers are 
 gone. I rejoice in my dear Saviour, who of God is 
 made unto me wisdom, righteousness, tanctification, and 
 complete redemption. He shall perfect that which con- 
 cerneth me, and finish the work he has begun. There- 
 fore I say, All is well. 
 
 Sabbath, November 29. 
 
 DR. R . Zech. ix. 12. Turn ye to the strong hold, 
 ye prisoners of hope ; even to-day do I declare that I will 
 render double unto you. 
 
 Since our first parents' transgression, all men are 
 prisoners ; every faculty of their minds in bondage to 
 sin,, Satan, and the world. They are also prisoners 
 under the curse of the broken law, the penalty of which 
 hangs over their heads, suspended by the thread of 
 life. They are unconscious of their situation, and sa- 
 tisfied with their slavery ; yet, certainly, far from being 
 happy. Conscience often disturbs their quiet, and 
 {jreates an awful foreboding. These prisoners cannot 
 help themselves 5 but God proclaims mercy ; help must 
 come from him. There is a hope set before them ; 
 yea, a strong hold, to which they are called to flee and 
 be safe. Jesus is my hope, my strong hold, my safety, 
 my Saviour, my portion, my life, my happiness yea 
 my happiness ; for safe I am, and happy, though some- 
 times in heaviness, for yet sin dwelleth in me, and in 
 others, dear as my oxvn soul ; and though I know it is 
 pardoned, and provision made for pardon to the end, 
 yet it is bitter ; and bitter let it be I would not have 
 it otherwise. Heal my depravity, O God ! Take sin 
 out of this heart; fill it with love to thee, and to all 
 my fellow-sinners. My dear High Priest, it can be 
 but a little further to Jordan. My seventy years are 
 run. Does not the Ark of the covenant appear going 
 before me } Am I not called to decamp and follow 
 after ? O my blessed, blessed High Priest, keep mine 
 eye fixed on thy person, and let me follow thee step by
 
 146 tlFE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 step, foot after foot, without losing one mark all the 
 way to Jordan ; and there let me see the'e. Blessed 
 Ark of the covenant, roll back the waters of terror, 
 stand firm in Jordan, and bid me come unto thee, and 
 set up the stones of memorial, in a song of praise, in 
 the midst of Jordan. 
 
 O then thy glory let me see, 
 Then cause thy t'ace to shine on me ; 
 And tune my la-art, and tune my voice, 
 And language furnish to rejoice, 
 That all around nit.y lend their tougue, 
 And sweetly join my dying song. 
 
 February 4, 1813. 
 
 MY dear grand-children, J. and I. B. waited on their 
 beloved pastor Dr. R , and professed their faith in the 
 Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour of sinners, and their 
 Saviour ; signifying also their desire to give themselves 
 to the Lord, and to his church, and to be in all things 
 governed by it ; to receive the seal of the covenant of 
 grace, commemorate the dying love of their Redeemer 
 the next opportunity, and swear allegiance to him over 
 the symbols of his body and blood. 
 
 Glory to God for this fresh manifestation of his 
 mercy and grace to sinners ! Not unto us, O Lord God, 
 but to thy name be the glory. Thou hast made a co- 
 venant with thy chosen, and with believers in him ; 
 and thou hast, by thy Holy Spirit, drawn them to take 
 hold of this thine own covenant, and to give themselves 
 to thee, to be made the subjects of it. And now, O 
 Lord, remember thine own covenant, and do as thou 
 hast said. Put thy lutes in their minds, and write them 
 in their hearts, and be unto them a God, and they shall 
 be unto thee a people ; be merciful to their unrighteous- 
 ness, and their sins and iniquities remember no more. 
 Give them understanding to know and believe thy 
 laws, memories to etaiu them, hearts to love them, 
 consciences to recognize them, courage to profess 
 them, and power to put them in practice. O grant 
 that the whole habit and frame of their souls may be a 
 table and transcript of thy law. Blessed Redeemer, 
 gather these lambs in thine arms, and carry them in
 
 MK. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 147 
 
 thy bosom. O seal them with the Holy Spirit of pro- 
 mise. They look forward to that feast of love which 
 thou didst institute in that same night in which thou 
 wast betrayed into the hands of sinners. If it may 
 please thee, manifest thyself to them as thou dost not 
 unto the world. Blessed Shepherd call these lambs by 
 name ; may they know thy voice, rejoice to hear it, 
 and follow th'ee. In jail the preparatory exercises, 
 speak to their hearts, and commune with them in se- 
 cret. O give them some love tokens which they may 
 never forget ; and make thyself known to them in the 
 breaking of bread. Exercise their parents with thank- 
 fulness and gratitude, and thine aged servant, to whom, 
 in an especial manner, belong shame and confusion, of 
 face, while she stands amazed at the stately steps of 
 thy free sovereign, mercy and grace to her, and to her 
 seed according to the flesh. Husband of the widow, 
 Father of the fatherless, Shield of the stranger, (all 
 these thou hast been to me,) glorify thy name, mag- 
 nify thy grace. Exercise these parents with deep hu- 
 mility : if they have received grace to be more faithful 
 than I ; yet thine holy eye has seen much short com- 
 ing in them also. Glory to thy name for the grace 
 in which they stand, and that thou hast enabled them 
 to keep these lambs out of the world. Let this be a 
 heart-searching time with us all ; humble us and exalt 
 thy name, and magnify thy grace. 
 
 O Lord, my covenant God, all my desire is before 
 thee ; is it not that thou magnify thy grace in me and 
 in my family ? There are others, Lord, and the resi- 
 due of the Spirit is with thee. Put forth thy power in 
 the heart of I. G. S. and compel him to come in. 
 And, O my dear J. S. and her family j thou biddest 
 me open my mouth wide. Lord, see there is much 
 for thee to do. I praise thy name for what thou hast 
 done, and lay me at thy feet, waiting for further mani- 
 festations of thy mercy, thy sovereign mercy ; I have 
 no other plea. 
 
 Work with us for thy name's sake, and with J. M- =-, 
 for whom my worthless prayers have been presented 
 to thee, as ako a member of this family. O Lord, he 
 is now gone out into the world ! he is no longer under, 
 the control of man; bring him under thy gracious con-
 
 148 LIFE AWD WRITINGS OP 
 
 trol j call him into thy kingdom of grace, and make 
 him a willing subject in the day of thy power. 
 Father, glorify thy name ! 
 
 'Greenwich, June 1 1, 1813. 
 
 IN my large light closet, and in my airy comfortable 
 room ; the prospect from my windows, such as I have 
 ever delighted in ; woods and water, flower garden, and 
 fruit trees, and beautiful shrubs of various kinds, all as 
 much mine, as if my own individual property, by the 
 laws of the land in which I live ; surrounded with 
 books, and my children's rich library, at my command ; 
 enjoying rich Gospel ordinances, under a ,holy and 
 able pastor, with pious, affectionate, sensible church 
 members 5 a carriage to convey me, Sabbath, and 
 week days, to places of worship ; children whose de- 
 sire is that I may enjoy all these, to the full, without 
 care or trouble, they caring for me : with all these a 
 large measure of health, why then these tears ? Are 
 they all for sin r Lord, search and see. Does no 
 wounded pride, no selfish hurt, mingle with that bet- 
 ter feeling ? Ah ! Lord, thou knowest. I have de- 
 tected much, and mourn and weep on that account ; 
 but, I fear there is yet much concealed and working, 
 that I know not. I have set apart the remainder of 
 this day for fasting and humiliation on account of past 
 sins, which I already know, and for yet further search 
 into what I know not of at present. Lord, give me 
 heart-searching exercises. Glory, glory, glory, to Fa- 
 ther, Son, and blessed Comforter, that 1 am forgiven - y 
 thy Spirit witnesseth with my spirit, that I am for- 
 given. Thou hast given me faith in the truth of thy 
 testimony, that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all 
 s i n that this is thine own provision for sinners that 
 Christ died for the ungodly that while we were yet 
 sinners, Christ died for us that Christ hath loved us, 
 and given himself for us that God so loved the world, 
 that he g<>ve his only-begotten Son, that whosoever be- 
 lieveth on him, should not perish, but have everlasting 
 life. These last words came from thine own lips of 
 flesh. Thou Gift of God to a perishing world, and to 
 me, one of the most guilty in it. Thou also saidst. He
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM, 149 
 
 that leiieveth on the Son, hath everlasting life. Thy 
 Spirit witnesseth with my spirit, that to me it i given, 
 on the behalf of Christ, to believe in htm. Philippi- 
 ans i. 29. Therefore I have everlasting life* Him who 
 was slaiu and hanged on a tree, Him hath God exalted 
 to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and re- 
 mission of sins ; from this exalted Prince I have repent- 
 .ance and forgiveness of sin, and therefore I dare look 
 at my sins : I look with grief, but not with terror. 
 Though forgiven, and though provision is made for 
 forgiveness, 1 still find sin to be an evil and a bitter 
 thing. 
 
 This day is set apart for mourning. I desire to 
 search, to know more of my vileness, that I may mourn 
 yet more ; that, while my heart is wrung for mine 
 ingratitude, the Lord may make it the means of cruci-r 
 fying my sins, especially that which so easily besets me ; 
 I would pour forth the prayer of faith, that they may 
 be forgiven, and also that I may be delivered from 
 their power in my heart ; that I may be clothed with 
 humility, being made so humble, that nothing can hurt 
 me, wearing my Redeemer's yoke, leaning upon him 
 who was meek and lowly, that I may find rest to my 
 soul. Now Lord, exercise me for the rest of the day, 
 and let to-morrow be the beginning of days. 
 
 Ten o'clock at night. 
 
 THE day is spent, and I look for the blessing. It 
 has not been spent so much in my usual way of re- 
 tracing, confessing and bewailing, but with Owen, on 
 the subject of depravity, of purification, and the 
 means appointed by God. The blood of Christ is the 
 only effectual mean, not only as atonement for sin, 
 setting us free from condemnation ; but also for cleans? 
 ing, as sprinkled on the conscience by the Holy Ghost, 
 and purging it from dead works. There are means in 
 which we are to exercise ourselves, depending on the 
 Spirit for benefit. We are to work in the faith that 
 God works in us. Mortification is one mean ; and, 
 though the mortification of the body is, perhaps, one 
 of the lowest, I think it is of divine appointment, 
 therefore not to be neglected. I hare been also study/-
 
 i.IFK AN1> WRITINGS Ol* 
 
 ing the death of Christ, and his previous sufferings 5 
 the unbelief, the opposition, contradiction, contempt, 
 and cruel mocking, which he endured ; and his meek- 
 ness, patience, and submission, under them ; healing 
 Malchus's ear, praying for his murderers ; my desire 
 being, that, as the children of Israel were healed by 
 looking to the brazen serpent, I may be healed by 
 looking to the uplifted Jesus ; the Spirit producing 
 the effect ; and as the woman with the bloody issue was 
 healed by a touch, exercising faith in the power of 
 Christ, so I may be healed by a look, exercising the 
 same faith : the Spirit producing the effect of confor- 
 mity to his example : working in me that meek and 
 lowly spirit for which 1 have been praying. And now, 
 by grace communicated, I hope to watch over my 
 spirit with more success than formerly. 
 I wait for thy salvation. 
 
 1814. 
 
 JOEL ii. 2. A day of darkness and of gloominess, a 
 day of cloud and of thick darkness, as the morning spread 
 upon the mountains. 
 
 Not in temporals, nor in the means of grace ; every 
 thing that earth can afford is gathered into my present 
 cup : it is full, and runs over with earthly good, and a 
 large measure of health to enjoy it : moral temporals 
 are also mine in no common degree ; friendship, so- 
 ciety at my choice, and respectability in it : rich means 
 of grace within my reach ; my Bible, and books of 
 every kind, and great variety, at my hand, of instruc- 
 tion and of devotion. Mine eyes see my teachers, and 
 my judgment approves of their doctrine, as correspond- 
 ing with that sure word of testimony, f given me as 
 the test of all human writings.' Yet it is a day of 
 darkness and of gloom. 
 
 Isaiah i. 10. Who is among you thatfeareth the Lord, 
 that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in dark- 
 ness and hath no Light? Let him trust in the nnme of 
 the Lord, and stay himself upon his God. 
 
 To trust in the name of the Lord, and to stay myself 
 upon my God, is still my privilege and (though with 
 little life and little comfort) my experience ; my mind
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. . 151 
 
 is so desultory, that my Bible, and the helps derived 
 from men's deductions and experiences, seem useless 3 
 they are not blessed as means to fix my heart ; trifles 
 of every sort pass and repass often : while mine eyes 
 read the words, my mind is gone in a dream on some 
 other subject ; my heart remains unimpressed, my 
 mind uninformed ; the same in prayer, especially in 
 secret, and in the family ; less so in the sanctuary. 
 
 1 seem, as to apprehension, left to my own dark, 
 dismal, carnal life ; naked faith on the finished work of 
 my Redeemer is all that supports me ; and that is a 
 bare preventive of fear, and source of a hope that J 
 shall yet praise him who is the Health of my countenance 
 and my God. I know that his covenant stands fast, I 
 have taken hold of it ; I do, at this cold and stupid mo- 
 ment, place my confidence in it. Christ is God's Co- 
 venant ; God's Gift to sinners j I believe it : he is the 
 Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world j 
 I believe it : 1 believe on the Son for all the purposes 
 for which God has sent him into the world ; therefore 
 I have everlasting life : I believe the record that God 
 gave of his Son that God hath given to me eternal 
 life, and this life is in his Son, not in me, but in union 
 with him. He that hath the Son, hath life , he that 
 hath not the Son, hath not life, John v, 
 
 I thank thee, my God, that thou hast not left me to 
 cast away my confidence in Christ. I have life in him, 
 and no life but as I haA r e it from him. Thou seest how 
 it is with me ; thou art my reconciled Father in Christ, 
 but thou hast shut me out from thy presence. I do 
 not enjoy thee ; my poor heart is tossed from trifle to 
 trifle. It has been my way through life to destroy my- 
 self, and thy way to deliver me. Thou hast been very 
 gracious to me in my old age. I have enjoyed much 
 of thy presence in thy sanctuary, and in my private 
 hours ; and, although sin has dwelt, and does dwell, in 
 me, I have enjoyed thy forgiving grace, and have tasted 
 thy love, far beyond what 1 have for weeks past. 
 Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and 
 know my thoughts ; and see if there be any wicifed way 
 in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Shew me 
 wherefore thou contended with me. Am 1 living in 
 the indulgence of any known wilful sin, or in the ha-
 
 bitual neglect of any known duty ! Lord, it is not in 
 man that walketh to direct his steps. I know I have 
 been unthankful, unwatchful, idle j alas ! this my 
 ordinary course -, meanwhile, my Lord God continues 
 merciful and gracious, not marking iniquity against me, 
 but forgiving me daily, leading me to the blood of 
 sprinkling, giving me contrition and restoring me to 
 his favour by giving me joy and peace in believing. 
 Help, Lord, give me heart-searching exercises. I read 
 thy word ; 1 set about that to which thou callest me. 
 I set apart this day for fasting, but the gracious exer- 
 cises are not in me. Come, O come, and exercise me. 
 Exalted Prince ! give repentance and remission : in 
 thy light let me see light. 
 
 Joel ii. 12. Therefore now turn ye unto me with all 
 your heart, with fasting , with weeping, and mourning, 
 rend your heart and not your garments; turn unto the 
 JLord your God, for he is gracious and merciful) slow to 
 anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the 
 evil. Do I not know thee by this name ? Has it not 
 been thy name to me throughout this wide wilderness, 
 pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin? Thou hast 
 prepared a prayer for nae Turn me, and I shall be 
 turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Jer. xxxi. 18. 
 I look to thy new covenant in the same chapter ; it is 
 all promise, I can do nothing in it. Christ, by thine own 
 appointment, answers for my part, or rather 1 have no 
 part. I can render nothing to the Lord for all his be- 
 nefits to me. I will put forth the withered hand to 
 take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the 
 Lord. 
 
 Ten o'clock. The day is spent T have confessed, 
 and endeavoured to, turn to the Lord with mourning, 
 but with little sensibility. 
 
 I attended meeting in the evening, heard two excel- 
 lent discourses on the priesthood of Christ, and joined 
 in two prayers and three hymns with more fixed atten- 
 tion than has been my attainment lately j for this, I 
 thank thee, my God. Many have been the beginnings 
 of days, and of months, which thou hast afforded after 
 backsliding. Add this to the number ! Psalm cxliii. 
 Hear my prayer^ O Lord ; give ear to my supplication ; 
 m t hy faithf'i. Inest answer me, and in thy righteousness.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA ORAHAM. 153 
 
 Enter not Into judgment with thy servant, for in thy sight 
 shall no flesh living be justified. 
 
 My spirit is overwhelmed within me, my heart within 
 me is desolate. I stretch out my hands unto thee ; my 
 soul thirsteth after thee, in a thirsty land. Hear me 
 speedily, Lord: my spirit fuileth ; hide not thy face 
 from me, lest I be like unto those that go down into the 
 pit. Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morn- 
 ing, for in thee do 1 trust : cause me to know the way 
 wherein I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto thee. 
 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies : I flee unto 
 thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will, for thou art 
 my God. Thy Spirit is good, lead me into the land of 
 uprightness. Quicken me, Lord, for thy name's sake ; 
 for thy righteousness' sake, bring my soul out of trouble. 
 
 I wait, for thy salvation. 
 
 This heart my Jesus bought with blood, 
 
 It is his honest claim ; 
 O seize it, fix it, Saviour God ; 
 
 To give it is n>y aim. 
 
 Take full possession of this heart, 
 
 And here set up thy throne ; 
 Command each idol to depart, 
 
 And make it all thine own. 
 
 O dare I not to thee appeal, 
 
 That 'tis my first desire, , 
 
 That on this heart thou stamp thy seal, 
 
 And grave it with love's fire ? 
 
 To fix this heart to stray no more, 
 
 I ev'n would quit the clay : 
 Would hasten on to Jordan's shore, 
 
 And plough the wat'ry way. 
 
 No chilling fear my soul should move, 
 
 With Jesus in my heart ; 
 Each passion swallow'd up'in love, 
 
 I'd court the friendly dart. 
 
 The resurrection and the life, 
 
 In death kself he'll prove, 
 And, while he closes mortal strife, 
 
 Breathe his own life of love. 
 
 Then boast not, monster, of thy sting, 
 
 Nor of thy vict'ry, grave ;, 
 In th' arms of God's anointed King, 
 
 I dare thy fiercest brave. 
 H5
 
 AJM> WRITINGS OP, &C. 
 
 July 17, 1814. 
 
 Sacrament Sabbath. Mr. R. preached from 1 Peter 
 i. 8, 9. Whom having not seen ye love ; in whom, 
 though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with 
 joy unspeakable and full of glory receiving the end of 
 your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 
 
 I had requested to be brought into my Lord's ban- 
 queting house, and to be feasted with love this day. I 
 ate the bread and drank the wine in the faith, that I 
 ate the flesh and drank the blood of the Son of man, 
 and dwelt in him and he in me. I took a close view of 
 my familiar friend Death, accompanied with the pre- 
 sence of my Saviour, his sensible presence. 1 cannot 
 look at it without this : it is my only petition concern- 
 ing it. I have had desires relative to certain circum- 
 stances, but they are nearly gone. It is my sincere 
 desire that God may be glorified, and he knows best 
 how and by what circumstances. I retain my one 
 petition, 
 
 ' Only to me thy count'nance show, 
 I ask no more the Jordan through.' 

 
 ,TOR 
 
 rt)rouc$ tfje 
 
 PASSAGE OVER JORDAN.* 
 
 JOSHUA i. 11, and chap. iii. 'Prepare your victuals ; 
 for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to 
 go in to possess the land which the Lord your God 
 giveth you to possess it. When ye see the Ark of the 
 Covenant of the Lord your God, and the priest bear- ' 
 ing it, then ye shall remove, and go after it : that ye 
 may know the way by which ye must go, for ye have 
 not passed this way heretofore. 
 
 ' Sanctify yourselves, for to-morrow the Lord will 
 do wonders among you. 
 
 ' Behold, the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all 
 the earth, passeth over before you into Jordan : and it 
 shall come to pass, that as soon as the soles of the feet 
 of the priests that bear the ark of the Lord the Lord 
 of all the earth shall rest in the waters, that the waters 
 of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come 
 down from above : and they shall stand upon a heap. 
 
 ' And it came to pass, when the people removed 
 from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests 
 bearing the Ark of the Covenant before the people, 
 that, as they that bear the Ark were come into Jordan, 
 and the feet of the priests were dipped in the brim of 
 the water, that the waters that came down from above, 
 
 * Found in Mrs. Graham's pocket after her decease.
 
 156 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 stood and rose up upon a heap ; and the priests that 
 bare the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, stood firm 
 on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the 
 Israelites passed over on dry ground. 
 
 ' And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of 
 Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that 
 bare the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood ; and 
 they are there unto this day. 
 
 ' When your children shall ask their fathers in time 
 to come, saying, What mean these stones ? Ye shall 
 let your children know, saying, Israel came over this 
 Jordan on dry land : for the Lord your God dried up 
 the waters from before you until ye were passed over, 
 as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he 
 dried up until we were passed over. That all people 
 of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it 
 is mighty : that ye might fear the Lord your God for 
 ever.' Amen. 
 
 Oh ! Thou Jehovah ! Israel's God, and, by thy new 
 covenant, my God ; thus far hast thou brought me 
 through the wilderness ; bearing, chastising, forgiving, 
 restoring. Well hast thou made out thy wilderness 
 name to me, ' The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and 
 gracious, long suffering, abundant in goodness and 
 truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, 
 transgression, and sin.' Great have been my provo- 
 cations, but greater still thy covenant mercy. I have 
 not perished with them that believed not ; sore bitten 
 I am, but thou hast fixed mine eyes on the liftecl-up 
 Healer, and I am in his hand for further cure. My 
 journey has been long, and my way devious ; but my 
 blessed Joshua is still in view. I must be near to Jor- 
 dan's flood ; I have been preparing victuals from thine 
 own repository of truth. And now, my blessed High 
 Priest, and Ark of the Covenant, lead on my stagger- 
 ing steps a little further. I have not gone this way 
 heretofore, but thou hast measured these waters while 
 they overflowed all their banks. Thou hast passed 
 through, and made the passage safe for thy people. 
 At thy command, the waters stand up upon a heap, 
 and they pass through, in thy presence, on Faith's firm 
 ground. Keep then mine eye upon thee, and I shall 
 fear nO'evil. And, oh ! my blessed Leader, if it might
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 157 
 
 please thee, I would ask a boon, yet with submission,, 
 that thy sensible presence might be with me all the 
 way through ; and that thou wouldst bring from my 
 quivering lips a testimony to the glory of thy grace, 
 that my children may know that thou iiast pardoned, 
 restored, and perfected me ; that thou hast dried up 
 the waters of terror, carried me triumphantly through, 
 and put me in possession of the purchased inheritance. 
 Amen. 
 
 1 Timothy i. 15. ' This is a faithful saying, and 
 worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into 
 the world' to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' 
 
 I have often inquired, What is there within us, or 
 without us, on which a sinner can rest in peace in a 
 dying hour ? If it be a holy life, there can be no peace 
 for me taking the law of God for my standard ; 
 backslider is my name ; yet I think in this sacred \Q- 
 lume I find a hope even for me, the chief of sinners. 
 
 John iii. 14. 'As Moses lifted up the serpent in 
 the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted 
 up, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, 
 but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, 
 that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever 
 believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal 
 life. For God sent not his Son into the world, to 
 condemn the world, but that the world through him 
 might be saved. Verse 31. He that cometh from 
 heaven is above all, and what he'hath seen and heard, 
 that lie testifieth. Verse 33. He that receiveth his 
 testimony, hath set to his seal, that God is true. Verse 
 35. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all 
 things into his hand : he that believeth on the Son hath 
 everlasting life,' Here is a hope for me ; the world 
 is made up of sinners, I am one of them, and, though 
 the chief, am not excluded. Matthew xviii. 11. ' The 
 Son of man came to save that which was lost ;' 1 am 
 of that description. Matthew ix. 13. ' The Pharisees 
 said, Why eateth your master with publicans and sin- 
 ners ? Jesus said, The whole need not a physician, but 
 they that are sick.' I am a sinner and sick. ' I will 
 have mercy and not sacrifice, for I am not come to 
 call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' I am 
 a sinner, and need repentance. ' Him hath God ex-
 
 158 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 alted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, 
 to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 
 Acts iii. 31.<2 Peter iii. 9. The Lord is long-suffer- 
 ing, not willing that any should perish ; but that all 
 should come to repentance.' 
 
 Christ said to the woman of Samaria, a notorious 
 sinner, John iv. 1<). ' If thou knewest the gift of God, 
 and who it is that saith to thee, give me to drink ; thou 
 wouldst have asked of him, and he would have given 
 thee living water. Whosoever drinketh of this water, 
 shall thirst again ; but whosoever drinketh of the wa- 
 ter that I shall give him, shall never thirst, but the 
 water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of 
 water, springing up into everlasting life. Yes, my Re- 
 deemer, a dratight of this water, received in faith from 
 the hand of the Spirit, will give life in death. O pom- 
 it into my thirsty soul, in that searching hour ! Jesus 
 said to a mixed multitude of sinners like me, John vi. 
 27- ' Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but 
 for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, 
 which the Son of man shall give unto you ; for him 
 hath God the Father sealed.' These sinners said 
 unto him, ' What shall we do, that we might work 
 the works of God ? He replied, Believe on him whom 
 he hath sent. My Father giveth you the true Bread 
 from heaven, for the Bread of God is he which cometh 
 down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world : I 
 am the Bread of life ; he that cometh unto me, shall 
 never hunger ; and he that believeth on me, shall never 
 thirst. I am the living Bread which came down from 
 heaven ; if any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for 
 ever. And the Bread which I shall give, is my flesh, 
 which 1 will give for the life of the world. Jesus said 
 unto them, Except ye eat the flesh, and drink the 
 blood of the Son of man, ye have no life in you : 
 whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth 
 in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent 
 me, and I live by the Father ; so he that eatetji me, 
 even he shall live by me.' The Father giveth this 
 Bread, the Son giveth this Bread ; whosoever will, may 
 take of this Bread, and the promise with it. Father, 
 J take this Bread ; I take, and believe that I have in 
 thee eternal life, according to thy word. O holy and
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. l&d 
 
 blessed Comforter, Spirit of the Father and of the Son, 
 whose office it is to take of the things of Christ, and 
 shew them unto his redeemed ; when the bread and 
 the water that perish, can no longer refresh this dying 
 body, apply this living Bread and living Water to my 
 soul, that life may spring up in the midst of death ; 
 and, in that trying hour, bear witness with my spirit 
 that I dwell in Christ, and Christ in me, and that I 
 shall never die. 
 
 John vii. 37- ' In the last day, that great day of 
 the feast, Jesus stood and cried, If any man thirst, let 
 him come unto me and drink : he that believeth on me, 
 as the Scripture hath said, Out of his belly shall flow 
 rivers of living water. This spake he of the Spirit, 
 which they that believe on him should receive.' This 
 he proclaimed to a mixed multitude of sinners like my- 
 self. Lord, I believe, and am sure, that thou art that 
 Christ, the Son of the living God. Be it unto me ac- 
 cording to thy word. John xi. 25. ' I am the resur- 
 rection and the life : he that believeth on me, though 
 he were dead, yet shall he live : and whosoever liveth 
 and believeth on me, shall never die. Believest thou 
 this ?' I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of 
 the living God, which should come into the world ; the 
 promised Messiah : the Gift of the Father : the Cove- 
 nant given to the people : the anointed Prophet and 
 King, and consecrated High Priest ; who, through 1 the 
 eternal Spirit, offeredst thyself, without spot, unto 
 God ; who earnest to do that most perfect will of God, 
 by which we are sanctified through the offering of the 
 body of Christ once for all. Lamb of God which 
 takest away the sins of the world ; on thee I lay my 
 precious never-dying soul ; wash me in thy blood ; 
 clothe me inthy righteousness ; sanctify me, soul, spirit, 
 and body, to thy service. I have no other foundation 
 of hope, nothing within me ; nothing without me ; my 
 entire dependance is on thy finished work ; into thy 
 hands I commit my spirit. 
 
 Let me hear thy consoling voice, compassionate Sa- 
 viour. John xiv. 1. ' Let not your heart be troubled ; 
 ye believe in God, believe also in me ; in my Father's 
 house are many mansions; if it were not -so, I would 
 have told you ; I go, to prepare a place for you. I
 
 160 LIFE AND WRITINGS 01' 
 
 will come again, and receive yo unto myself, that 
 where I am, there ye may be also.' Seal this upon 
 my heart, and it is enough. To be where thou art, is 
 heaven enough for me. To be where thou art, to see 
 thee as thou art, and to be made like thee, the last sin- 
 ful motion for ever past : no more opposition, no more 
 weariness, listlessness, dryness, deadnegs ; but con- 
 formed to my blessed Head, every way capacitated to 
 serve him, and to enjoy him this is heaven. ' Jesus 
 said, I am the way, the truth, and the life 5 no man 
 cometh to the Father, but by me.' Blessed Com- 
 forter, do thine office ; take these things of Christ, and 
 shew them unto me ; lead me in this way, feed me 
 with this truth, and animate me with this life : ' What- 
 soever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, that will 
 I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If 
 ye ask any thing in my name, I will do it.' Blessed 
 Comforter, here also do thine office. I know not what 
 to ask for as I ought ; help mine infirmities, as thou 
 hast said : suggest the prayer, be in me the Spirit of 
 prayer and supplication, and especially in that hour of 
 need, when sickness saps the clay tabernacle, discom- 
 posing the spirit, and confusing perhaps the ideas : 
 still, still, let my thoughts rise to my God. Let no 
 unhallowed subject get hold of me in that hour ; but 
 keep my Saviour's name in my heart, and on my lips. 
 Js not this according to thy Will ? Watch over it then 5 
 and keep the avenues of my soul from every vain idea. 
 ' If ye love me, keep my commandments ; and I will 
 pray the Father, and he shall give you another Com- 
 forter, that he may abide with you for ever : even the 
 Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because 
 it seeth him not, neither knoweth him ; but ye know 
 him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 
 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he 
 it is that loveth me : -and he that loveth me, shall be 
 loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will mani- 
 fest myself unto him : and we will come, and make our 
 abode with him. The Comforter, which is the Holy 
 Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall 
 teach you all things, and bring all things to your re- 
 membrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace 
 I leave with you ; my peace T give unto you : not as
 
 iiBS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 161 
 
 tlie world giveth, give I unto you : let not your heart 
 be troubled, neither let it be afraid.' In that last war- 
 fare, when nothing on earth can give peace ; when the 
 world recedes, and disappears ; when friends must stand 
 iiloof, and leave me to the combat alone : O blessed 
 and promised Comforter, bring to my remembrance, 
 and impress on my weary spirit, these sweet words of 
 my Saviour. But it has often occurred to me, and 
 may in that hour, that, though Jesus received sinners, 
 they were ignorant sinners. The Jews understood not 
 the Gospel contained in their types and sacrifices ; they 
 were unenlightened and unconverted. The Gentiles 
 were totally blind, serving dumb idols ; neither had 
 known the Gospel ; neither had tasted the grace of 
 God ; neither backslided like me. I have known the 
 truth, been enlightened, have tasted of the heavenly 
 gift, been made a partaker of the Holy Ghost, and 
 have tasted of the good word of God, and of the power 
 of the world to come. 
 
 Fifty years ago, the Lord convinced me of my sin, my 
 misery, and my total helplessness. I was also, 1 think, 
 enabled to lay hold on the hope set before me. 
 
 I have, in numerous exercises and acts, accepted of 
 God's gift of Jesus Christ to me a condemned sinner ; 
 taking hold of the Scripture words of invitation and 
 promise held out for my acceptance. I have pleaded 
 his own covenant provision, in the substitution of his 
 own Son in my room and stead, c making him to be 
 sin, who knew no sin, that sinners might be made the 
 righteousness of God in him.' I put in my claim as a- 
 sinner, among the ungodly for whom Christ died. I 
 believed his testimony, and set to my seal that God is 
 true. I rested on this foundation I yet have no other 
 I know there is 410 other. The foundation standeth 
 sure. But what am I to think of the fruits ? I have 
 again and again turned back into the world : grieved 
 the Spirit, crucified the Son of God afresh, and put 
 him to open shame. No wonder that I stand alarmed 
 at the Apostle's assertion ; my conscience testifies that 
 my character is nearly, if not altogether, such us the 
 Apostle, by the Holy Spirit, says : it is impossible to 
 renew it to repentance, Hebrews vi. 4, 5. But thou 
 hast renewed to repentance ! Thy name is, ' The
 
 162 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suf- 
 fering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping 
 mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, 
 and sin. Thou wilt by no means clear the guilty ?' but 
 thou hast provided a substitute, and laid my guilt, and 
 guilty person, on thine own Son. 
 
 By this gracious name thou wast known to thy back- 
 sliding Israel in the wilderness ; whose heart, like mine, 
 was not right with God : neither were they stedfast in 
 his covenant ; but he, ' being full of compassion, for- 
 gave their iniquity, and destroyed them not.' Many a 
 time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all 
 his wrath. They forgot God their Saviour who had 
 done great things for them : they transgressed his com- 
 mandment, and in their heart turned back again to 
 Egypt ; they brought upon themselves many afflictions, 
 and many times did he deliver them ; they provoked 
 him with their counsel ; and were brought low for their 
 iniquity : nevertheless, he heard their cry, and repented, 
 according to the multitude of his mercies ; while the 
 blood of bulls and of goats typified the great propitia- 
 tory Sacrifice, by which ' God can be just, and justify 
 the ungodly.' By this name (merciful and gracious) 
 was the Lord God known in the pleasant land : and by 
 the same sacrifice, the blood of Christ, which cleanseth 
 from all sin, was typified, Psalms cxiii. and li. The 
 prophets prophesied in his name. ' All we like sheep 
 have gone astray, and the Lord hath laid on him the 
 iniquity of us all. He was wounded for our transgres- 
 sions, and bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement 
 of our peace was laid on him, and by his stripes we are 
 healed. DeliA'er them from going down to the pit; I 
 have found a ransom.' Even backsliders (among whom 
 I stand chief,) have been recalled. Jeremiah ii. ' My 
 people have committed two great evils ; they have for- 
 saken the fountain of living waters, and have hewn out 
 to themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold 
 no water. Is Israel a servant ; is he a home-born slave ; 
 wherefore is he spoiled ? Hast thou not procured this 
 to thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, 
 when he led thee by the way ? And now, what hast thou 
 to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor ? 
 What hast thou to do in the way of Syria, to drink the
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 163 
 
 waters of the river ? Thine own wickedness shall correct 
 thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee. Know 
 therefore, and see, that it is an evil and bitter thing, 
 that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God ; and that my 
 fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts. For 
 of old, I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands : 
 and thou saidst, I will not transgress ; when upon every 
 high hill, and under every green tree, thou wanderest, 
 playing the harlot. Yet I had planted thee a noble 
 vine, wholly a right seed : how art thou turned into the 
 degenerate plant, of a strange vine unto me ? Why 
 gaddest thou about so much, to change thy way ? Thou 
 also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou Avast ashamed 
 of Assyria. Have I been a barren wilderness, or a land 
 of darkness unto thee ? Wherefore say my people, We 
 are lords, and will come no more unto thee ? Can a 
 maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire ? Yet 
 my people have forgotten me, days without number.' 
 Jeremiah iii. ' They say, If a man put away his wife, 
 and she go from him, and become another man's, shall 
 he return to her again ? Shall not that land be greatly 
 polluted ? But thou hast played the harlot with many 
 lovers 5 yet return again unto me, saith the Lord ; wilt 
 thou not from this time cry unto me, My Father, thou 
 art the guide of my youth :' What can I say to such 
 grace ? Thou art infinite in thy mercy to pardon, and 
 in thy power to save ! Sinful indeed has been my cha- 
 racter, and amazing the mercy of my offended God ! 
 Often, often has he pardoned, restored, bles-sed, and 
 made me happy. But, just is the renewed charge against 
 me : ' For the house of Israel, and the house of Judah 
 have dealt very treacherously with me, saith the Lord. 
 They have belied the Lord, and said, It is not he, nei- 
 ther shall evil come upon us.' Verse 12. Go, and pro- 
 claim these words, and say, Return, thou backsliding 
 Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger 
 to fall upon you : for I am merciful, saith the Lord, I 
 will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine 
 iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord 
 thy God ; and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the 
 Lord. Turn, O backsliding children, for I am married 
 unto you.' What can I say to such grace ! Truly, ' thy 
 ways are not as our ways, nor thy thoughts as our
 
 164 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 thoughts ! For, as the heavens are higher than the 
 earth, so ara thy ways higher than our ways, and thy 
 thoughts than our thoughts ! ' How is my guilt aggra- 
 vated by all this grace ? And yet thou callest, Return ! 
 And thou thyself turnest me : 1 do, O Lord God, mer- 
 ciful and gracious, 1 do acknowledge mine iniquity ; 
 every time I turn back mine eyes upon my past life, my 
 sins rise in magnitude, heightened by more enlarged 
 views of thy goodness. At every age, in every place, 
 in whatever situation and circumstances? my conscience 
 testifies to this spiritual adultery. ' Surely as a wife 
 treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye 
 dealt treacherously with me, saith the Lord.' I ac- 
 knowledge the justice of the charge : and it is of the 
 Lord's mercies that I am not consumed ; because his 
 compassions fail not. ' A voice was heard upon the 
 high places, weeping and supplication of the children 
 of Israel, for they have perverted their ways, and they 
 have forgotten the Lord their God. Yes, thou hast, 
 my gracious God, granted repentance. Thine eye has 
 seen the tears I have shed ; thou hast given me a con- 
 trite heart. I have looked upon him whom I have 
 pierced, and been in bitterness, as for a first-born. I 
 feel it now, and must feel it, while the body of sin exists. 
 But, O Lord God, merciful and gracious, the cause is 
 in thyself, that I hear thy voice, and that I answer. 
 ' Return ye backsliding children, and I will heal your 
 backslidings ! Behold, I come unto thee, for thou art 
 the Lord our God ! Truly, in vain is salvation hoped 
 for from the hills, and the multitude of mountains. 
 Truly in the Lord God is the salvation of Israel 3 we lie 
 down in our shame, our confusion covere.th us : for we 
 have sinned against the Lord our God ; we and our 
 fathers, even from our youth ; and have not obeyed the 
 voice of the Lord God. Thus saith the Lord God, I 
 will even deal with thee as thou hast done, who hast 
 despised the oath, in breaking the covenant. Neverthe- 
 theless, I will remember my covenant with thee in the 
 days of thy youth ; and I will establish unto thee an 
 everlasting covenant, and thou shalt know that I am 
 the Lord ; that thou mayest remember and be con- 
 founded, and never open thy mouth any more, because 
 of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee, saiUi
 
 MR. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 165 
 
 the Lord God.' Amen, Lord God, merciful and gra- 
 cious ! Be it so. It is so now, it must, it will be so, 
 until death shall open mine eyes on that mystery the 
 glory of God arising out of the abounding of sin, 
 through the super- abounding of grace, and grace reign- 
 ing through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus 
 Christ our Lord ! Till then, while sin dwelleth in me, 
 let me enjoy the blessedness of a contrite heart ; yea, 
 even shame and confusion, since it is the sign that thou 
 art pacified with me. Thou hast dealt with me, thou 
 hast chastened, and, in some instances taken vengeance 
 on my inventions. But thou art pacified with me, and 
 I dare look again to thy holy temple ; to the temple 
 not made with hands ; to the Minister of the sanctuary, 
 and the ' true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and 
 not man ; to the blessed High Priest, who, through the 
 Eternal Spirit, offeree,! himself a sacrifice, without spot, 
 unto God ; and, by his own blood, entered in once into 
 the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for 
 us j and, when he had purged our sins, sat down on 
 the right hand of the Majesty on high. I dare look to 
 the blessed Mediator of the new and better covenant 
 established on better promises ; to the Surety of the 
 New Testament, which is sealed with his own blood.' 
 I will look unto Jesus, the Object, the Author, and the 
 Finisher of that faith which interests in himself, and 
 the whole of his purchase. He bids me look unto him 
 and be saved. I do look unto him, and I am saved. 
 Who dares condemn the sinner whom Christ acquits ? 
 Who shall lay any thing to his charge ? ' It is Christ 
 that died ; yea, rather who is risen again ; who is even 
 at the right hand of God ; who also maketh intercession 
 for us !' 
 
 ISAIAH xliv. 22. Return unto me, 
 
 (A Scripture Paraphrase, by D. B.) 
 
 RETURN to thee, my God ! Dost tliou 
 The invitation yet renew ? 
 Return to thee ! my chiefest Joy, 
 Till sin did all my peace destroy !
 
 166 t,IFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 And yet, to hear thy pard'ning voice, 
 Must make my trembling heart rejoice ; 
 Though sin is there, thou well dost know, 
 It is my burden and my foe. 
 
 O let me hear those gracious words : 
 Be still my soul, they are the Lord's ; 
 That God, who once on thee did shine, 
 And fill'd thee with a hope divine. 
 
 ' Thy black transgressions, trembling soul, 
 Thy sin so heinous and so foul 
 Which like a cloud obscure thy day, 
 I've blotted out, I've wash'd away. 
 
 ' Return to me, thou'rt mine ; I own 
 Thee for my servant, and my son ; 
 I have redeem'd thy precious soul : 
 And none my purchase shall control.' 
 
 I hear, I come, my cov'nant God ! 
 Thy love's my life, my raiment, food ; 
 Thy favour, through my Jesus given, 
 Is to my soul the bliss of heaven. 
 
 I come, my Jesus, hold me fast, 
 'Till life and Jordan's journey past ; 
 My faith to vision yit-ld her place, 
 And I shall see thy imveil'd face. 
 
 Then, with the lour.cst of the throng, 
 Of sins forgiv'n I'll raise the song : 
 Of pardon bought with Jesus' blood, 
 Sinners made Kings and Priests to God. 
 
 ciii. Fifty years ago. 
 
 1 Oh ! thou, my soul, bless God the Lord, 
 
 And alt that in me is 
 Be stirred up, his holy name 
 To magnify and bless.' 
 
 Bless, O my soul, the Lord thy God, 
 
 And not forgetful be, 
 Of all his gracious .benefits, 
 
 He bath bes^ow'd on thee. 
 
 AH thine iniquities, who doth 
 
 Mt*t graciously forgive ; 
 Who thy diseases all, and pains, 
 
 Doth heal, and thee relieve.
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GRAHAJ*. 167 
 
 Who doth redeem thy life, that thou 
 
 To death may'st not go down ; 
 Who thee with loving- kindness doth 
 And tender iuercie crown. 
 
 Who, with abundance of good things, 
 
 Doth satisly thy mouth: 
 So that, even as the eagle's age, 
 
 Renewed is thy youth. 
 
 God righteous judgment executes 
 
 For all oppressed ones ; 
 His way to Aloises, he his acts, 
 
 Made known to Israel's son*. 
 
 The Lord our God is merciful, 
 
 And lie is gracious ; 
 Long-su Bering, and slow to wrath : 
 
 In mercy plenteous. 
 
 He will not chide continually : 
 
 Nor keep his anger still; 
 With us he dealt not as we siun'd, 
 
 Nor did requite our ill. 
 
 For as the heaven in iis height 
 
 The earth suriuounteth far : 
 So great, to those that do him fear, 
 
 His tender mercies are. 
 
 As far as east is distant from 
 
 The west ; so far hath he 
 From us removed in his love 
 
 All our iniquity. 
 
 Such pity as a father bath 
 
 Unto his children dear 
 Like pity shows the Lord to such 
 
 As worship him in fear. 
 
 For he remembers we are dust, 
 
 And he our frame well knows : 
 Frail man ! his days are like the grass, 
 
 As fiow'r in Held he grows. 
 
 \ 
 For over it the wind doth pass, 
 
 Arid it away is gone ; 
 And, of the place where once it wai, 
 
 It shall noint.ri be known. 
 
 But unto them thai do him fear, 
 
 God's mercy never ends ; 
 And, to his children's children, still 
 
 His righteousness extends.
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 To such as keep his covenant, 
 
 And mindful are alwa}' 
 Of his most just commaudements, 
 
 That they may them obey ; 
 
 The Lord prepared hath his throne 
 
 In heaven firm to stand ; 
 And ev'ry thing that being hath 
 
 His kingdom doth command. 
 
 O ye his angels, that excel 
 In strength, bless ye the Lord, 
 Ye who obey what he commands, 
 And hearken to his word. 
 
 O bless and magnify the Lord, 
 
 Ye glorious host of his : 
 Ye ministers, that do fulfil 
 
 Whate'er his pleasure is. 
 
 O bless the Lord, all ye his work* 
 Wherewith the world is stor'd, 
 
 lu his dominions every where, 
 My soul bless thou the Lord. 
 
 John xiv. ' I will not leave you comfortless ; I will 
 come unto you ; yet a little while, and the world seeth 
 me no more 3 but ye see me ; because I live, ye shall 
 live also. At that <lay ye shall know, that I am in the 
 Father, and you in me, and I in you ! Believest thou 
 not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me ? 
 He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father. How- 
 beit when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you 
 into all truth. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive 
 of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that 
 the Father hath are mine : therefore, said I, He shall 
 take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John xvii. 
 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which 
 shall believe on me through their word : that they all 
 may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, 
 that they may be one in us ; that the world may be- 
 lieve that thou hast sent me : and the glory which thou 
 gavest me, I have given them, that they may be one, 
 even as we are one. I in them, and thou in me, that 
 they may be made perfect in one ; that the world may 
 know that thou hast sent me : and hast loved them, as 
 as thou hast loved me : Father, I will,, that they also 
 whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am,
 
 MK.S. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 169 
 
 that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given 
 ine -. for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the 
 world. 1 Cor. iii. 22. All are your's, and ye are 
 Christ's, and Christ is God's. Col, iii. 3. Ye are dead, 
 aud your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, 
 who is our Life, shall appear, then shall we appear with 
 him in glory. Col. ii. 9. For in him dwelleth all the 
 fulness of the Godhead bodily ; and ye are complete 
 in him, who is the head of all principality and power. 
 Eph. iv. 4. There is one body, and one spirit, even as 
 ye are called in one hope of your calling : one Lord, 
 one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who 
 is above all, and through all, and in you all : and unto 
 every one of us is given grace, according to the mea- 
 sure of the gift of Christ.' 
 
 Gal. ii. 20. f I am crucified with Christ : neverthe- 
 less, I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me : and the 
 life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of 
 the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself 
 for me.' 
 
 John i. 20. ' Behold the Lamb of God, which tak- 
 eth away the sins of the world ! And looking upon Jesus 
 as he walked, John said, Behold the Lamb of God ! ' 
 
 1 Cor. iii. 21. ' Therefore let no man glory in mau ; 
 for all tilings are your's : whether, Paul, or Apollos, or 
 Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, 
 or things to come : all are your's, and ye are Christ's, 
 and Christ is God's !' 
 
 Lam. iii. 27. It is good for a man that he bear the 
 yoke in his youth ; he sitteth alone, and keepeth silence ; 
 he putteth his mouth in the dust, if so be there may 
 be hope ; he giveth his cheek to them that smiteth him ; 
 he is filled with reproach.' 
 
 Ezek. xvi. 6'3. ' That thou niayst remember, and 
 be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, 
 because of thy shame, when 1 am pacified toward thee 
 for ail that thou hast done, saith the Lord.' Amen. 
 
 Joel ii. 2. ' A day of darkness and of glooniiaees, 
 a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning 
 spread upon the mountains. Therefore also now, saith 
 the Lord, turn ye unto me with all your heart, with 
 fasting with weeping and with mourning. Rend your 
 heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord
 
 1/0 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 v >our God : for he is gracious and merciful, slow to 
 ^nger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the 
 evil.' 
 
 Hosea. ii. ' I will visit upon her the clays of Baalim ; 
 she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the 
 Lord. I will allure her, and bring her into the wil- 
 derness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will 
 betroth thee unto me for ever : yea, I will betroth thec 
 unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in 
 loving-kindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth 
 thee unto me in faithfulness : and thou shalt know the 
 Lord.' 
 
 Hosea xiii. ' O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself, 
 but in me is thine help. Chap. xiv. Return unto the 
 Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquities. 
 Take with you words and return to the Lord ; say 
 unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us gra- 
 ciously : so will we render the calves of our lips. 
 Ashur shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses, 
 neither will we say any more to -the works of our 
 hand, Ye are our gods : for in thee the fatherless 
 findeth mercy. 
 
 ' I will heal their backsliding ; I will love them 
 freely, for mine anger is turned away from him. I will 
 be as the dew unto Israel ; he shall grow as the lily, 
 and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. Ephraim shall 
 say, What have I to do any more with idols ? I have 
 heard him, and observed him. I am like a green fir- 
 tree, from me' is thy fruit found.' 
 
 Daniel ix. ' O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of 
 face, because we have sinned against thee. To the 
 Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though 
 we have rebelled against him.' 
 
 Isaiah xl. 11. ' He shall feed his flock like a shep- 
 herd ; he shall gather the lambs in his arms, and carry 
 them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are 
 with young. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, 
 O Israel ! My way is hid from the Lord, and my judg- 
 ment passed over from my God. Hast thou not known, 
 hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God fainteth 
 not, neither is weary ! There is no searching of his 
 understanding. He giveth poAver to the faint ; and to 
 him that hath no might, he increaseth strength. Even
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 171 
 
 the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young 
 men shall utterly fall : but they that wait on the Lord 
 shall renew their strength ; they shall mount up with 
 wings as eagles : they shall run, and not be weary ; 
 they shall walk, and not faint. 
 
 Isaiah xlii. L 24. ' Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and 
 Israel to the robbers ? Did not the Lord ? He, against 
 whom we have sinned ? For they would not walk in his 
 way, neither were they obedient to this law : therefore 
 he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and 
 the strength of battle : and it hath set him on fire round 
 about, and he knew it not ; and it burned him, yet he 
 laid it not to heart. But now, thus saith the Lord, 
 that created thee, O Jacob, and that formed thee, O 
 Israel, Fear not, for I have redeemed thee ; I have 
 called thee by thy name, thou art mine. When thou 
 passest through the waters, I will be with thee ; and 
 through the rivers they shall not overflow thee. When 
 thou walkest through the fire thou shall not be burnt, 
 neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the 
 Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour. 
 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been 
 honourable and I have loved thee.' Yes, My God : I 
 remember, and am confounded ; amazed at my ingra- 
 titude, amazed at thy grace ! What can I say ? Thou 
 hast wrought with me for thy name's sake. I am dumb 
 before thee. I am vile and yet I am thine. Thou 
 hast redeemed me. It is thy good pleasure to save me. 
 Glorify thy name. ' I have blotted out as a thick 
 cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins. Re- 
 turti unto me, for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye 
 heavens, for the Lord hath done it. Shout, ye lower 
 parts of the earth. Break forth into singing ye moun- 
 tains : O forest, and every green tree therein : for the 
 Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in 
 Israel.' 
 
 ' For if, by one man's offence, death reigned by one j 
 much more they which receive abundance of grace, 
 and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by 
 one, Christ Jesus. Where sin abounded, grace did 
 much more abound ; that as sin hath reigned unto 
 death, so might grace reign, through righteousness, 
 unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ, our Lord.' 
 i 2
 
 172 . LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 Isaiah xlv. 22. f Look unto me, and be ye saved, all 
 the ends of the earth ; for I am God, and there is none 
 else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of 
 my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return : that 
 unto me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall 
 swear. Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righ- 
 teousness and strength ; even to him shall men come, 
 and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 
 In the Lord shall all the house of Israel be justified, 
 and shall glory. Chap. xlvi. 3. Hearken unto me, O 
 house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of 
 Israel. Even to your old age, I am he ; and even to 
 hoar hairs will I carry you. I have made, and I will 
 bear, even I will carry, and I will deliver you.' 
 
 Ezek. xxxiv. 11. ' Thus saith the Lord God, I, even 
 I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As 
 a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is 
 among his sheep that are scattered ; so will I see'k out 
 my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places 
 where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark 
 day. And I will bring them out from the people, and 
 gather them to their own land, and feed them upon the 
 mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the inha- 
 bited places of the country. And I will feed them in 
 a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel 
 shall their fold be : there shall they lie in a good fold, 
 and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains 
 of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them 
 to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that 
 which -was lost, and bring again that which was driven 
 away ; and will bind up that which was broken, and 
 will strengthen that which was sick.' He hath done 
 it, I am his witness : I the poor wanderer, the happy 
 subject of this grace. ' And I will raise up for them a 
 plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed 
 with hunger in the land ; neither bear the shame of 
 the heathen any more. Thus shall they know that I, 
 the Lord their God, arn with them ; and that they, even 
 the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God, 
 and ye my flock, the flock of my pasture are men : 
 and I am your God, saith the Lord God. As the moun- 
 tains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round 
 about his people, from henceforth and for ever.' Ps. cxxv.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 173 
 
 Ezek. xxxvi. ' When the house of Israel dwelt in 
 (heir own land,, they defiled it by their own way, and 
 by their doings. And I scattered them among the 
 heathen, and they were dispersed through the coun- 
 tries ; according to their ways, and according to their 
 doings, I judged them. And when they entered unto 
 the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy 
 name, when they said to them, These are the people of 
 the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land. But I 
 had pity for my holy name, which the house of Israel 
 had profaned among the heathen whither they went. 
 Therefore, say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the 
 Lord God, I do not this for your sakes, O house of 
 Israel, but for my holy name's sake, which ye have pro- 
 faned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I 
 will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among 
 the heathen, which ye had profaned in the midst of 
 them. And the heathen shall know that I am the 
 Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified 
 in you before their eyes. For I will take you from 
 among the heathen, and gather you out of all coun- 
 tries, and will bring you into your own land. Then 
 will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be 
 clean : from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, 
 will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, 
 and a new spirit will put within you ; and I will take 
 away the stony heart out of your flesh, and 1 will give 
 you an heart of flesh. And I wilt put my spirit within 
 you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall 
 keep my judgments, and do them. I will also save you 
 from all your uncleannesses, and I will call for the 
 corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you ; 
 and I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase 
 of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of 
 famine among the heathen. Then shall ye remember 
 your own evil ways, and your doings, which were not 
 good ; and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, 
 for your iniquities, and for your abominations. Not 
 for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God : be it 
 known unto you. Be ashamed and confounded for 
 your own ways, O house of Israel.'
 
 174 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 EZEKIEL xvi. 63, and xxxvi. 32. 
 (A Scripture Paraphrase, by D. B .) 
 
 Notfor your sakes ; for, born unclean. 
 
 The slaves of Satan and of sin ; 
 
 I saw no comeliness in you, 
 
 To bid my grace such wonders dc. 
 
 Notfor your sakes ; for, when my love 
 And grace should your affections move, 
 The workings of an evil heart, 
 Still make you from my truth depart. 
 
 Not for your sakes ; for, bold and blind, 
 To lust and avarice inclin'd ; 
 Each shadowy idol you obey, 
 Disowning my paternal sway. 
 
 Notfor your sakes ; with beav'n in view. 
 For sin you sell your souls anew ; 
 You barter for a gilded bait, 
 The joys of an eternal state. 
 
 Notfor your sakes ; for though you ey'd 
 The cross of Christ, on which he died ; 
 You scorn his love for worldly ends, 
 And wound him in the house of friends. 
 
 Notfor your sakes ; with Jesus' name, 
 You put him to an open shame ; 
 And, by your sins, consent again 
 To have the dear Redeemer slain. 
 
 Notfor your sakes ; 'tis my free grace 
 That grants you pardon, life, and peace : 
 And works a change on all your frame, 
 And binds you to adore my name. 
 
 Not for my sake ! I hail the sound ! 
 And fain would publish it around ; 
 Salvation is a work divine j 
 Confusion, and the shame, be mine. 
 
 Not for my sake ! Did I but trust 
 To weakness, vanity, and dust; 
 I ne'er could reach theheav'nly prize. 
 Nor hope a mansion in the skies. 
 
 Not for my sake ! Yet save and call) 
 
 Let Jesus be my all in all : 
 
 When glory comes, I'll self disown, 
 
 And grace, free grace, shall wear the crowu
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAUAM. 175 
 
 Psalm civ. ' Praise ye the Lord ; O give thanks 
 unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endureth 
 for ever.' 
 
 Psalm cvi. ' Remember me, O Lord, with the favour 
 that thou bearest unto thy people ; O visit me with thy 
 salvation : that I may see the good of thy chosen ; that 
 I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation ; that I may 
 glory with thine inheritance.' 
 
 Eph. ii. ' At that time, ye were without Christ, 
 being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and 
 strangers to the covenant of promise ; having no hope 
 and without God in the world ; but now in Christ Jesus, 
 ye who sometimes were afar off, are made nigh by the 
 blood of his cross.' 
 
 Psalm x. 17- ' Lord, thou hast keard the desire of 
 the humble ; thou wilt prepare their heart ; thou wilt 
 cause thine ear to hear ; to judge the fatherless and 
 the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more 
 oppress/ 
 
 Deut. viii. ' Thou shalt remember all the way that 
 the Lord thy God led thee this forty years in the wil- 
 derness, to humble thee, to prove thee, to know what 
 was in thy heart ; whether thou wouldst keep my com- 
 mandments or no. And he humbled thee, aud suf- 
 fered thee to hunger, and feed thee with manna, which 
 thou knewest not, neither did your fathers know, that 
 he might make thee know that man doth not live by 
 bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of 
 the mouth of the Lord, doth man live. Thy raiment 
 waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell 
 these forty years.' 
 
 c Thou shalt also consider in thy heart, that as a 
 man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasten- 
 eth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the command- 
 ments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and 
 to fear him.' 
 
 Thou, God, seest me. 
 
 Eph. i. ' Blessed be the God and Father of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiri- 
 tual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according 
 as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of 
 the world, that we should be holy and without blame 
 pefore him in love : having predestinated us to the
 
 176 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 adoption of sons, by Jesus Christ, to himself, according 
 to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the 
 glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted 
 in the Beloved ; in whom we have redemption, through 
 his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the 
 riches of his grace, wherein he hath abounded towards 
 us in all wisdom and prudence : having made known 
 unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good 
 pleasure which he purposed in himself, that in the dis- 
 pensation of the fulness of time, he might gather toge- 
 ther in one, all things in Christ, both which are in 
 heaven, and which are on earth, even in him, in whom 
 also we have obtained an inheritance, being predesti- 
 nated according to the .purpose of him who worketh 
 all things after the counsel of his own will, that we 
 should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted 
 in Christ.' 
 
 Chap. ii. and iv. ' God who is rich in mercy, for 
 his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we 
 were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with 
 Christ, (by grace ye are saved,) and hath raised us up 
 together, and made us sit together in heavenly places 
 in Christ Jesus, that, in the ages to come, he might 
 shew the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kindness 
 towards us through Christ Jesus : for by grace are ye 
 saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is 
 the gift of God : not of works, lest any man should 
 boast 3 for we are his workmanship created in Christ 
 Jesus unto good works, which God hath before or- 
 dained, that we should walk in them. Now, therefore^ 
 ye Gentiles are no more strangers and foreigners, but 
 fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of 
 God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles 
 and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief 
 corner-stone : in whom all the building fitly framed 
 together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord ; in 
 whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of 
 God, through the Spirit. Chap. iii. I, Paul, bow my 
 knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of 
 whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 
 that he would grant you, aceording to the riches of his 
 glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in 
 the inner man : that Christ may dwell in your hearts
 
 MKS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 1/7 
 
 by faith ; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 
 may be able to comprehend, with all saints, what is the 
 breadth, and length, and height, and depth, and to 
 know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that 
 ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now 
 unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly 
 above all that we can ask or think, according to the 
 power that worketh in us : unto him be glory in the 
 church by Jesus Christ, throughout all ages, world 
 without end. Amen.' 
 
 Chapter iv. ' I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, 
 beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation 
 wherewith ye are called : with all lowliness and meek- 
 ness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in 
 love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in 
 the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, 
 even as ye are called 4n one hope of your calling. One 
 Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of 
 all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 
 But unto every one of us is given grace, according to 
 the measure of the gift of Christ. That we may grow 
 up into him in all things, which is the Head, even 
 Christ: from whom the -whole body, fitly joined toge- 
 ther, and compacted by that which every joint suppli- 
 eth, (ministers and people in the use of all appointed 
 means,) according to the effectual working in the 
 measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, to 
 the edifying of itself in love.' 
 
 John xv. ' 1 am the Vine, ye are the branches : he 
 that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth 
 forth much fruit ; for without me ye can do nothing.' 
 
 Exodus xvi. ' And Moses said, The Lord heareth 
 your murmurings that ye murmur against him ; and 
 what are we ? Your murmurings are not against us, 
 but against the Lord. And Moses said, This is the 
 bread which the Lord giveth you to eat. And the 
 children of Israel did eat manna until they came unto 
 the borders of the land of Canaan.' 
 
 John vi. ' I am the living Bread, which came down 
 from heaven : if any man eat of this bread, he shall 
 live for ever ; and the bread that I will give, is my 
 flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. He 
 that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth
 
 178 LIFE AND WRITIN6S OF 
 
 in me, and I in him. The words which I speak unto 
 you, they are spirit and they are life. 
 
 1 Cor. i. For of him ye are in Christ Jesus, who of 
 God is made unto us Wisdom, and Righteousness, and 
 Sanctification, and Redemption.' 
 
 Heb. iv. ' Seeing then that we have a great High 
 Priest, who is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son 
 of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have 
 not a High Priest who cannot be touched with the 
 feeling of our infirmities ; but was in all points tempted 
 like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come 
 boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain 
 mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.' Chap- 
 ter viii. For this is the covenant that I will make with 
 the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord ; I 
 will put my laws into their mind, and write them on 
 their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they 
 shall be to me a people : and they shall not teach every 
 man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, 
 Know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least 
 to the greatest ; for I will be merciful to their unrigh- 
 teousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I re- 
 member no more. In that he saith, a new covenant, 
 he hath made the first old : now that which decayeth, 
 and waxeth old, is ready to vanish away.' . 
 
 1 John v. ' This is the record, that God has given 
 to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that 
 hath the Son, hath life, and he that hath not the Son, 
 hath not life. Thanks be to God for his unspeakable 
 gift.' 
 
 Psalm Ixii. ' Truly my soul waiteth upon God, from 
 nim cometh my salvation ; he is my Defence, I shall 
 not be greatly moved. My soul, wait thou only upon 
 God, my expectation is from him ; he only is my Rock 
 and my Salvation j he is my Defence, I shall not be 
 moved. In God is my salvation and my glory : the 
 rock of my strength, and my refuge is in my God."
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. \~t ( J 
 
 REST. 
 
 GENESIS ii. ' Thus the heavens and the earth were 
 finished, and on the seventh day God ended his work 
 which he had made, and he rested the seventh day 
 from all his work which he had made ; and God blessed 
 the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it 
 he had rested from all his work that he had created 
 and made.' 
 
 Exodus xvi. ' And Moses said, To-morrow is the 
 rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord. So the peo- 
 ple rested on the seventh day.' 
 
 Luke xxiii. ' And the women followed after and 
 beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid ; and 
 they returned, and prepared spice and ointments, and 
 rested the Sabbath day, according to the command- 
 ment.' 
 
 Christ rested in the tomb of Joseph, the last Sabbath 
 under the law : but the evening and the morning were 
 the first day. On that morning he closed his work of 
 humiliation, manifested his victory over death the 
 curse denounced, by rising from the tomb, and rested 
 on the first day of the week from all his humiliation 
 work ; his death, burial, and rest in the grave on the 
 seventh day, being the last part of that work. 
 
 ' MY God, thy service well demands 
 
 The remnant of my days ; 
 Why is this feeble life preserv'd, 
 
 But to repeat thy praise ; 
 
 a 
 ' Thine arms of everlasting love 
 
 Do this weak frame sustain ; 
 While life is hov'ring o'er the grave, 
 
 And nature sinks with pain. 
 
 ' Thou when the pains of death assail, 
 Wilt chase the fears of hell : 
 
 And teach my pale and quiv'ring lips 
 Thy matchless grace to tell. 
 
 ' Calmly I'll lay my fainting head 
 On thy dear faithftil breast ; 
 
 Pleas'd to obey mv Father's call, 
 To his eternal rest.
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 ' Into thy hands, my Saviour God, 
 
 Do I my soul resign, 
 In firm dupcadance on that truth 
 
 That made salvation mine.' 
 
 THE INWARD WARFARE. 
 
 ' STRANGE and mysterious is my life ! 
 
 What opposites I feel within : 
 A stable peace, a constant strife, 
 The rule of grace, the pow'r of sin! 
 Too often I am captive led, 
 Yet daily triumph in my Head. 
 
 ' I prize the privilege of prayer : 
 
 But oh ! what backwardness to pray ! 
 Though on the Lord, I cast my care, 
 I feel its burden erery day. 
 I seek his will in all I do, 
 Yet find my own is working too. 
 
 ' I call the promises mine own, 
 
 And prize them more than mines of gold ; 
 Yet, though their sweetness I have known, 
 They leave me unimpress'd and cold. 
 One hour upon the truth I feed ; 
 The next, I know not what I read. 
 
 ' I love the holy day of rest, 
 
 When Jesus meets his gathered saints: 
 Sweet day of all the week the best, 
 For its return my spirit pants : 
 Yet often through my unbelief, 
 It proves a day of guilt and grief. 
 
 ' While on my Saviour I rely, 
 
 I know my foes shall lose their aim : 
 And therefore dare their power defy, 
 Assur'd of conquest through his name. 
 But soon my confidence is slain, ~ 
 And all ray fears return again. 
 
 ' Thus difFrent powers within me strive, 
 And death, and sin, by turns prevail : 
 I grieve, rejoice, decline, revive, 
 And viet'ry hangs in doubtful scale : 
 But Jesus has his promise past, 
 That grace shall overcome at last.' 
 
 FLESH AND SPIRIT. 
 
 * WHAT diff'rent powers of grace and sin 
 
 Attend our mortal state ! 
 I hate the thoughts that work within ; 
 
 Yet do the works I hate.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 
 
 ' Now I complain, and groan, and die, 
 While sin, and Satan reign ; 
 
 Now raise my songs of triumph high, 
 For grace prevails again. 
 
 ' So darkness struggles with the light, 
 
 Till perfect day arise ; 
 Water and fire maintain the fight, 
 
 Until the weaker dies. 
 
 ' Thus will the flesh and spirit strive 
 And vex and break my peace ; 
 
 But I shall quit this mortal life, 
 And sin lor ever cease.' 
 
 'Joix all the names of love and pow'r 
 That ever men or angels bore ; 
 All are too mean to speak his worth, 
 Or set Emmanuel's g\ory forth. 
 
 1 But, oh ! what condescending wa3 - s 
 He takes to teach his heavenly grace! 
 Mine eyes, with joy and wonder, see 
 What form of love he bears to me. 
 
 ' The angel of the covenant stands, 
 With Ills commission in his hands ; 
 Sent from his Father's milder throne, 
 To make his great salvation known. 
 
 ' Great Prophet ! let me bless thy name ; 
 By thee the joyful tidings came, 
 Of wrath appeas'd, and sins forgiv'n, 
 Of hell subdu'd, and peace with heav'n. 
 
 ' My bright Example, and my Guide, 
 I would be walking by thy side; 
 Oh ! let me never run astrav, 
 Nor follow the forbidden way. 
 
 ' I iove my Shepherd, he shall keep 
 My wand'ring soul among his sheep ; 
 He feeds his flock, he tells their names, 
 And in his bosom bears the lambs. 
 
 ' My Surety undertakes my cause, 
 Answ'ring his Father's broken laws ; 
 Behold my soul at freedom set ; 
 My Surety paid the dreadful debt. 
 
 ' Jesus, my great High Priest, has died, 
 I seek no sacrifice beside ; 
 His blood did once for all atone, 
 And now it pleads before the throne.
 
 182 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 ' My Advocate appears on high ; 
 The Father lays his thunder by ; 
 Not all that earth or hell can say, 
 Shall turn my Father's heart away. 
 
 ' My Lord, my Conqu'ror, and my King, 
 Thy sceptre and thy sword I sing ; 
 Thine is the vict'ry, and I sit 
 A joyful subject at thy feet. 
 
 ' Aspire, my soul, to glorious deeds : 
 The Captain of salvation leads ; 
 March on, nor fear to win the day, 
 Though death and hell obstruct thy way. 
 
 ' Though death, and hell, and powers unknown, 
 Put all their forms of mischief on ; 
 I shall be safe, for Christ displays 
 Salvation in more sov'reign ways.' 
 
 ' BE this my one great business here 
 With holy trembling, holy fear, 
 
 To make my calling sure ; 
 Thine utmost counsel to fulfil, 
 And suffer all thy righteous will, 
 
 And to the end endure. 
 ' Then, Saviour, then my soul receive, 
 Transported from this vale, to live, 
 
 And reign with thee. above : 
 Where faith is sweetly lost in sight, 
 And hope in full supreme delight, 
 
 And everlasting love.' 
 
 ' HUSH, my distrustful heart, 
 
 And cease to flow my tears ; 
 For greater, Lord, thou art 
 
 Than all my doubts and fears. 
 Did Jesus once upon me shine, 
 Then Jesus is for ever mine. 
 
 ' Unchangeable his will, 
 
 Whatever be my frame ; 
 My Saviour's heart is still 
 
 Eternally the same. 
 My soul through many changes goe, 
 His love no variation knows. 
 
 ' Thou, Lord, wilt carry on, 
 
 And perfectly perform, 
 
 The work thou hast begun 
 
 In me, vile sinful worm. 
 
 tyline own self-will brings grief and wi;e, 
 
 But Jesus will not let nw "<>.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 
 
 ' The bowels of thy grace, 
 At first did freely move ; 
 And still I see thy lace, 
 
 And feel that God is love. 
 Into thine arms my soul I cast ; 
 By sov'reign mercy sav'd at last. 
 
 ' The Priests and Ark now move 
 
 To Jordan's gulphy strand : 
 Come now thy cov'nant love, 
 
 Take firm thy promis'd stand : 
 Only to me thy count'nance shew, 
 I ask no more the Jordan through,' 
 
 183 
 
 ' COME, let us join our cheerful songs 
 
 With angels round the throne ; 
 Ten thousand thousand are their tongues, 
 
 But all their joys are one. 
 ' Worthy the Lamb that died they cry, 
 
 To be exalted thus ; 
 Worthy the Lamb, our souls reply* 
 
 For he was slain for us. 
 
 ' Jesus is worthy to receive 
 
 Honour and pow'r divine ; 
 And blessings, more than we can give, 
 
 Be, Lord, for ever thine. 
 
 ' The whole creation join in one, 
 
 To bless the sacred name 
 Of him that sits upon the throne, 
 
 And to adore the Lamb.' 
 
 ' GIVE me the wings of faith, to rise 
 
 Within the veil, and see 
 The saints above, how great then- joys, 
 
 How bright their glories be. 
 
 ' Once tJhey were mourners here below, 
 And wet their couch with tears ; 
 
 They wrestled hard, as we do now. 
 With sins, and doubts, and fears. 
 
 ' I ask them, whence their rict'ry came : 
 
 They, with united breath, 
 Ascribe the conquest to the Lamb, 
 
 Their triumph to his death. 
 
 ' Thev mark'd the footsteps that he trod 
 His zeal inspir'd their breast , 
 
 And following the incarnate God, 
 Possess' d the promis'd rest.
 
 184 LIFE AND WRITINGS OS 1 
 
 ' Our glorious Leader claims our praise, 
 For his own pattern given ; 
 
 While the long cloud \>f witnesses 
 Show the same path to heav'n.' 
 
 WITH heart, and hands, and lifted eyes, 
 I'll praise thee while I've life and breath ; 
 
 And, while my looscn'd spirit flies, 
 I'll gasp thy praise in very death. 
 
 Faith fain would say, In cheerful mood, 
 
 Thy name be glorified : 
 By leading through the swelling flood) 
 
 Or through the channel dried. 
 
 If grace in time of need I have, 
 
 And strength as is my day : 
 I'll triumph through the foaming wave, 
 
 As through the side-wall'd way. 
 
 ' I'LL praise my Maker while I've breath; 
 And, when my voice is lost in death, 
 
 Praise shall employ my noblest powers; 
 My days of praise shall ne'er be past, 
 While life and breath and being last, 
 
 And immortality endures.' 
 
 ' MY God, indulge my humble claim ; 
 
 Thou art my Hope, my Joy, my Rest 
 The glories that compose thy name, 
 
 Stand all engag'd to make me blest. ' 
 
 ' Thou Great and Good, thou Just and Wise, 
 Thou art my father and my God ; 
 
 And I am thine by sacred ties, 
 
 Thy child, thy servant, bought with blood. 
 
 ' With heart, and eyes, and lifted hands, 
 For thee I long, to thee I look : 
 
 As travellers in thirsty lands 
 
 Pant for the cooling water brook.' 
 
 ' JESUS, the weary wanderer's rest, 
 Give grace thy sov'reign will to boar : 
 
 With stedfast patience arm my breast, 
 With holy love and lowly fear.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 185 
 
 ' Thankful, I take the cop from thee, 
 
 Prepar'd and mingled by thy skill ; 
 Though bitter to the taste it be, 
 
 It has a sov'reign power to heal. 
 
 ' Be thou a Rock of ages nigh ; 
 
 My saved soul on thee alone 
 Shall safely rest, and fears shall fly, 
 
 As clouds before the mid-day sun. 
 
 ' Speak to my troubled conscience peace, 
 
 Say to my trembling heart, Be still : 
 My power thy strength and fortress is : 
 
 Amen ! to all thy sov'reign will. 
 
 ' O Death, where is thy sting, where no\r 
 
 Thy boasted victory, O grave ? 
 Who shall contend with God^or wiio 
 
 Condemn whom he delights to save.' 
 
 ' How sweet the name of Jesus sounds 
 
 In a believer's ear ! 
 It sooths his sorrows, heals his wounds, 
 
 And drives awav his fear. 
 
 ' It makes the wounded spirit whole, 
 And calms the troubled breast; 
 
 Tis manna to the hungry soul, 
 And to the weary, rest. 
 
 ' Dear Name! the Rock on which I build, 
 My Shield and Hiding Place ; 
 
 My never failing Treas'ry, filled 
 With boundless stores of grace. 
 
 ' Jesus, my Shepherd, Husband, Friend, 
 My Prophet, Priest, and King, 
 
 My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, 
 Accept the praise I bring. 
 
 ' Weak is die effort of my heart, 
 And cold my warmest thought ; 
 
 But, when I see thee as thou art, 
 I'll praise thee as I ought. 
 
 ' Till then I would thy love proclaim, 
 
 With every fleeting breath ; 
 And may the music of thy name 
 
 Refresh my soul in death.' 
 
 ' AMAZING grace, how sweet the sound 
 That saved a wretch like me ! 
 
 I once was lost, but now am found ; 
 Was blind, but now I see.
 
 186 JAfE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 ' 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, 
 And grace my fears reliev'd : 
 
 How precious did that grace appear 
 The hour I first believ'd ! 
 
 ' Through many dangers, toils, and snares, 
 
 Already I have come; 
 'Twas grace that brought me safe thus far, 
 
 And grace will lead me home. 
 
 ' Yes, when this heart and flesh shall fail, 
 
 And mortal life shall cease, 
 I shall possess, within the vail, 
 
 A life of joy and peace.' 
 
 A swelling Jordan rolls between, 
 
 A timid pilgrim, I ;' 
 But grace shall order all the scene, 
 
 And Christ himself be nigh. 
 
 He shall roll back the foaming wave, 
 Command the channel dry ; 
 
 No sting has death, no vic'try grave, 
 With Jesus in my eye. 
 
 ' COME, thou Fount of ev'ry blessiag, 
 Tune my heart to sing thy grace ; 
 
 Streams of mercy never ceasing, 
 Call for songs of endless praise. 
 
 ' Teach me some melodious sonnet, 
 Sung by flaming tongues above ; 
 
 Praise the mount, I'm fix'd upon it, 
 Mount of God's unchanging love. 
 
 'Here I raise mine Ebeuezer, 
 Hither by thy help I'm come, 
 
 And I hope, by thy good pleasure, 
 Safely to arrive at home. 
 
 ' Jesus sought me when a stranger, 
 Wand'ring from the fold of God ; 
 
 He, to save my soul from danger, 
 Interpos'd with precious blood. 
 
 * Oh, to grace how great a debtor, 
 Daily I'm constrain'd to be ; 
 
 Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter, 
 Bind my wand'ring heart to thee. 
 
 ' Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, 
 Prone to 'leave the God I love : 
 
 Jlere's my heart, O take and seal it, 
 Seal it from thy courts above,'
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 187 
 
 ' ETERNAL God, I bless thy name, 
 The same thy power, thy grace the same : 
 The tokens of thy friendly care, 
 Open, and crown, and close, the year. 
 
 ' I, 'midst ten thousand dangers stand, 
 Supported by thy gracious hand ; 
 And see, when I survey thy ways, 
 Ten thousand monuments of grace. 
 
 ' Thus far thine arm has led me on, 
 Thus far I make thy mercy known ; 
 And, while I tread this desert land, 
 New mercies shall new songs demand. 
 
 ' My grateful soul on Jordan's shore, 
 Shall raise one sacred pillar more ; 
 Then bear, in thy bright courts above, 
 Inscriptions of immortal love.' 
 
 ' No works to rest upon have I, 
 No boast of moral dignity ; 
 If e'er I lisp a song of praise, 
 Grace is the note my soul shall raise. 
 
 ' 'Twas grace that quicken'd me when dead, 
 'Twas grace my soul to Jesus led, 
 Grace brings me pardon for my sin, 
 And grace subdues my lusts within. 
 
 ' 'Tis grace that sweetens ev'ry cross, 
 'Tis grace supports in ev'ry loss : 
 In Jesus' grace my soul is strong, 
 Grace is my hope, and Christ my song. 
 
 'Thus, 'tis alone of grace I boast, 
 And 'tis alone in grace I trust, 
 For all that's past, grace is my theme. 
 For what's to come 'tis still the same.' 
 
 And when I come to Jordan's shore, 
 I'll raise one Ebenezer more ; 
 Th' Ark of the Cov'nant in my view, 
 I'll sing of grace the Jordan through. 
 
 ' Is this the kind return ? 
 
 And these the thanks we owe ? 
 Thus to abuse eternal love 
 
 Whence all our blessings flow ? 
 
 ' To what a stubborn frame, 
 Has sin reduc'd our mind! 
 
 What strange rebellious wretches we, 
 And God, as strangely kind !
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 ' Turn us again, O God ! 
 
 And mould our souls afresh ; 
 Break, sov'reign grace, these hearts of stcoe, 
 
 And give us hearts of flesh. 
 
 ' Let past ingratitude 
 
 Provoke our weeping eyes : 
 And hourly, as new mercies fall, 
 
 Let hourly thanks arise.' 
 
 ' O THE sweet wonders of that cross, 
 
 Where Christ my Saviour lov'd and died 
 Her noblest life my spirit draws 
 
 From his dear wounds and bleeding side. 
 ' I would for ever speak his name, 
 
 In sounds to mortal ears unknown ; 
 With angels join to praise the Lamb, 
 
 And worship at his Father's tlirone.' 
 
 ' JESUS, the vision of thy face, 
 Hath overpowering charms ; 
 
 Scarce shall I feel death's cold embrace, 
 If Christ be in my arms.' 
 
 ' O GLORIOUS hour ! O blest abode ! 
 I shall be near and like my God ; 
 And flesh and sin no more control 
 The sacred pleasures of my soul.' 
 
 ' WHEN in death's gloomy vale I tread, 
 With joy ev'n there I'll lift my head ; 
 From fear and dread he'll keep me fre-c, 
 His rod and staff shall comfort me.' 
 
 'JESUS, to thy dear faithful hand, 
 
 My naked soul I trust ; 
 My flesh but waits for thy command, 
 
 To drop into the dust.' 
 
 'BEFORE we quite forsake our clay, 
 Or leave this dark abode, 
 
 The wings of love bear us away, 
 To see our Miiiling God.' 
 
 O MAKE it true, my Saviour God ; 
 
 Raise me all fears above ; 
 And, when I think on Jesu's blood, 
 
 Let my last pulse beat love.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 1 > 
 
 ' O FOR an overcoming faith, 
 
 To cheer my d ying hours ; 
 To triumph o'er the monster death, 
 
 And all his frightful powers ! 
 
 ' Joyful, with all the strength I have, 
 
 My quiv'ring lips should sing ; 
 Where is thy boasted vict'ry, Grave, 
 
 And where the monster's sting ? 
 
 ' If sin be pardon'd, I'm secure ; 
 
 Death hath 110 sting beside ; 
 The law gives sin its damning power, 
 
 But Christ, my Ransom, died. 
 
 ' Now to the God of victory, 
 
 Immortal thanks be paid : 
 Who makes us conq'rors while we die, 
 
 Through Christ our living Head.' 
 
 ALL mortal vanities be gone, 
 
 Nor tempt mine eyes, nor tire mine cars ; 
 Behold ! amidst the eternal throne, 
 
 A vision of the Lamb appears. 
 
 All the assembling saints around, 
 Fall worshipping before the Lamb ; 
 
 And, in new son.t's of gospel sound, 
 Address their honours to his name. 
 
 Our voices join the heavenly strain, 
 And with transporting pleasure sing, 
 
 Worthy the Lamb that "once was slain, 
 Our blessed Prophet, Priest, and King. 
 
 Thou hast redeem'd our souls from hell, 
 
 With thine invaluable blood ; 
 And wretches, that did once rebel, 
 
 Are now made fav'rites of their God. 
 
 Worthy, for ever, is the Lord, 
 
 That died for treasons not his own, 
 
 By every tongue to be ador'd, 
 
 And dwell upon his Father's throne. 
 
 TH NEW TESTAMENT IN THE BLOOD OF CUEIST. 
 
 ' THE promise of my Father's love, 
 
 Shall stand for ever good ; 
 He said, and gave his soul to death, 
 
 And seal'd it with his bleed.
 
 LIFE AXD WRITINGS OP 
 
 ' To this dear cov'nant of thy word, 
 
 I set my worthless name ; 
 I seal th' engagement of the Lord, 
 
 And make my humble claim. 
 
 ' The light, and strength, and pard'ning grace, 
 
 And glory, shall be mine : 
 My life and soul, my heart and flesh, 
 
 And all my powers, are thine. 
 
 ' I call that legacy mine own, 
 
 Which Jesus did bequeath : 
 'Twas purchas'd with a dying groan, 
 
 And ratified in death. 
 
 ' Sweet is the mem'ry of his name, 
 
 Who bless'd us in his will ; 
 And to his testament of love, 
 
 Made his own life the seal. 
 
 'To him that wash'd me in his blood, 
 
 Be everlasting praise : 
 Salvation, honour, glory, power, 
 
 Eternal as his days.' 
 
 ' Blest be the Father and his love, 
 To which celestial source we owe 
 
 Rivers of endless joys above, 
 And rills of comfort here below. 
 
 ' Glory to the great Son of God ; 
 
 From his dear wounded body rolls 
 A precious stream of vital blood, 
 
 Pardon and life for dying souls. 
 
 ' We give thee, sacred Sprit, praise, 
 Who, in our hearts oi' sin and woe, 
 
 Mak'st living springs of grace arise, 
 And into boundless glory flow. 
 
 4 Thus God the Father, God the Son, 
 And God the Spirit we adore ; 
 
 The Sea of life and love unknown, 
 Without a bottom or a shore." 
 
 ' LET me but hear my Saviour say, 
 Strength shall be equal to thy day : 
 Then I rejoice in deep distress, 
 Leaning on all-sufficient grace. 
 
 * I glory in infirmity, 
 
 That Christ's own power may rest on me ', 
 When I am weak, then am I strong ; 
 Grace is my shield, and Christ my song.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 191 
 
 ' I can do all things, or can bear 
 All sufferings, if my Lord be there ; 
 Sweet pleasures mingle with the pains, 
 While his strong hand my head sustains. 
 
 ' Faith hath an overcoming power, 
 Can triumph in the dying hour ; 
 Christ is my Life, my Joy, my Hope, 
 I cannot sink with -such a prop.' 
 
 JESUS, I love thy charming name, 
 
 'Tis music to mine ear ; 
 Fain would I sound it out so loud, 
 
 That heaven and earth should hear. 
 
 ' Yes, thou art precious to my soul, 
 My Transport and my Trust ; 
 
 My Saviour, Shepherd, Husband, Friend, 
 No other good I boast . 
 
 ' All my capacious powers can wish, 
 
 In thee do richly meet ; 
 Not to mine eyes is light so dear, 
 
 Nor friendship half so sweet. 
 
 ' Thy grace still dwells upon my heart, 
 And sheds its fragrance there ; 
 
 The noblest balm of all my wounds, 
 And cordial of my care. 
 
 ' I'll speak the honour of thy name, 
 With my last fault'ring breath ; 
 
 Then, speechless, clasp thee in my arms, 
 The antidote of death.' 
 
 ' GRACE, 'tis a charming sound, 
 
 Harmonious to my ear ; 
 Heaven with the echo shall resound, 
 
 And all the earth shall hear. 
 
 ' Grace first contriv'd the way, 
 
 To save rebellious man ; 
 And all the steps that grace display, 
 
 Which drew the wond'rous plan, 
 
 ' Grace taught my wand'ring feet 
 To tread the heav'nly road : 
 
 And new supplies each hour I meet, 
 While pressing on to God. 
 
 ' Grace all the work shall crown, 
 Through everlasting days : 
 
 It lays in heaven the topmost stone, 
 And well de<cn us the praise.'
 
 ,192 LIFE AN>D WRITINGS OF 
 
 ' MY God, the Spring of all my joys, 
 The Life of my delights, 
 
 The Glory of my brightest days, 
 And Comfort of my nights : 
 
 ' In darkest shades if thou appear, 
 
 My dawning is begun ; 
 Thou art my soul's sweet Morning Slav, 
 
 And thou my Rising Sun. 
 
 ' The op'ning heav'ns around me shine, 
 With beams of sacred bliss ; 
 
 While Jesus shews his heart is mine, 
 And whispers, I am his. 
 
 ' My soul would leave this heavy clay, 
 At that transporting word ; 
 
 Run up with joy tl;e shining way, 
 T' embrace my dearest Lord. 
 
 ' Fearless of hell and ghastly death, 
 I'd break through every foe ; 
 
 The wings of love, and arms of faith, 
 Should bear me conqueror through.' 
 
 ' BACKWARD, with humble shame, I look 
 
 On my original 
 How is my nature dash'd and broke, 
 
 In our first father's fall. 
 
 ' To all that's good , averse and blind, 
 
 But prone to all that's ill ; 
 What dreadful darkness veils my mind ! 
 
 How obstinate my will ! 
 
 ' Conceiv'd in sin ; O wretched sate ! 
 
 Before I drew my breath, 
 My first youns pulse began to beat 
 
 Iniquity and death. 
 
 f How strong in my degen'rate blood 
 
 The old corruption reigns ! 
 And, mingling with the crooked flood, 
 
 Wanders through ail my veins. 
 
 ' Yet, mighty God, thy wond'rous love, 
 Can make my nature clean : 
 While Christ and grace prevail above 
 The tempter, death, and sin. 
 
 ' The second Adam shall restore 
 
 The ruins of the first ; 
 llosanna to that sov'reign power 
 
 That new-creates our dust.'
 
 POETRY. 
 
 The three following Poems were not found till after Mrs. 
 Graham's Funeral Sermon was Preached. 
 
 JORDAN. 
 
 Joshua chap. i. 11, and chap. iii. Psalm xxiii. 4. Uiifi. 24. 
 
 TH E solemn hour, my soul, draws near, 
 The holy Ark and Priests appear ; 
 They forward move to Jordan's flood, 
 The type, thou knowest, thy cor'nant God. 
 
 The signal, too, to thee is known ; 
 Obey, remove, and follow on : 
 The Ark appears, thy hallow'd guide, 
 Shrink not, but face the rolling tide. 
 
 The waves toss high their foaming heads, 
 But canst thou perish ? Jesus leads. 
 This way before I ne'er did pass, 
 But Jesus, thy Forerunner, has. 
 
 When all its banks it overflow'd, 
 All nature rapt in midnight cloud ; 
 While darkness held its awfial pow'r, 
 And all God's billows pass'd him o'er. 
 
 The waves for him must not divide, 
 Deep calls to deep on every side ; 
 Around his head the surges roll, 
 And rush into his inmost soul. 
 
 HE was the sufFrer in my stead, 
 The curse for sin lay on his head ; 
 The law's demands came like a flood, 
 My Surety met them with his blood ! 
 
 Till ev'ry tittle had been paid, 
 Till due atonement had been made, 
 No beam appear'd of heav'nly grace, 
 A cloud conceal'd lu's Father's face. 
 
 From brim to bottom he drank^up, 
 Of wrath, the deep mysterious cup; 
 This Jordan pass'd, then rose on high, 
 And captive led captivity. 
 K
 
 194 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 Justice now fully satisfied, 
 
 The law now honour'd, magnified ; 
 
 At God's right hand he takes his place, 
 
 Executor of cov'nant grace. , 
 
 Crown'd, by Jehovah's firm decree, 
 With universal sov'reignty ; 
 All nature owns his powerful sway, 
 He speaks, the elements obey. 
 
 The emblem, then, thou raayst pursue, 
 And safely pass this Jordan through : 
 The priests but touch the wat'ry space, 
 When, lo ! the floods desert their place. 
 
 They gather up, upon a heap, 
 Leave dry the channel of the deep ; 
 The ark and priests there take their stand, 
 And beckon thee to leave the land. 
 
 I come, my best Belov'd, I come ; 
 Now lead me to our Father's home ; 
 On thy dear person fix mine eye, 
 And faith firm footing shall supply. 
 
 I fear no ill while thou art near, 
 
 But let thy voice salute my ear, 
 
 (Should spirits faint, and 'scape the sigh,) 
 
 With these sweet words,' Fear not, 'tis I.' 
 
 With courage fresh my soul shall tread 
 On faith's firm ground where thou dost lead ; 
 While still upon thy gracious face 
 My steady eye maintains its place. 
 
 And now my Joshua, choose and lay, 
 The stones in Jordan's middle way ; 
 Let them o'ertop the flowing wave, 
 Memorial of thy power to save. 
 
 For, once a suit I did prefer, 
 With feeble hope, and trembling fear : 
 That I might have a Pisgah view, 
 In Jordan's swells, of Canaan new. 
 
 Thy soften'd glory let me see, 
 Then cause thy face to shine on me ; 
 And tune ray heart, and tune my voice, 
 And language furnish to rejoice ; 
 
 That all around may lend their tongue 
 And sweetly join fuy dying song. 
 Then, Newton, sav'd by grace, like me, 
 We'll sing of sov'reign grace with thee.
 
 MR . ISABELLA GRAHAM. 
 
 NEWTON.* 
 
 * Let us love, and sing, and wonder ; 
 
 Let us praise the Saviour's name ! 
 He has hush'd the law's loud thunder; 
 He has quench'd Mount Sinai's flame ; 
 He has wash'd us with his blood ; 
 He has brought us nigh to God. 
 
 * Let us love the Lord who bought us, 
 
 Pitied us when enemies ; 
 Call'd us by his grace, and taught us ; 
 Gave us ears, and gave us eyes : 
 He has wash'd us in his blood, 
 He presents our souls to God. 
 
 ' Let us sing, though strong temptation 
 
 Threaten hard to bear us down ; 
 Tor the Lord our strong Salvation, 
 Holds in view the conqu'ror's crown. 
 He who wash'd us in his blood, 
 Soon shall bring us home to God. 
 
 1 Let us wonder, grace and justice 
 
 Join, and point to mercy's store ; 
 
 When thro' grace in Christ our trust is, 
 
 Justice smiles, and asks no more : 
 
 He who wash'd us in his blood, 
 
 Has secur'd our way to God. 
 
 ' Let us praise, and join the chorus, 
 Of the saints enthron'don high ; 
 Here they trusted him before us, 
 Now their praises fill the sky. 
 
 Thou hast wash'd us in thy blood, 
 Thou art worthy, Lamb of God. 
 
 ' Hark the name of JESUS sounded 
 Loud from golden harps above ; 
 On that Rock our hopes are founded : 
 Sov' reign grace, and sov'reign love. 
 We shall conquer .through his blood, 
 Kings and Priests be made to God.' 
 
 HEAVEN. 
 
 To be where thou, my Saviour, art, 
 To see, and be conform'd to thee : 
 
 Perfect in holiness this heart, 
 
 This this, is heaven itself to me. 
 
 It is remarkable, that this liymu was selected by Dr. Mason and 
 sung after Mrs. Graham's funeral Sennou. 
 
 K 2
 
 196 LIFE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 To see thee in thy glory, Lord, 
 Thy Father's glory, and thy own ; 
 
 Th' eternal, the incarnate Word, 
 Ador'd upon his Father's throne. 
 
 To see as seen, to know as known, 
 My Saviour in niy flesh and blood ; 
 
 To be made like him, with him one, 
 I in him, and he in God. 
 
 The holy, holy, holy, One, 
 
 Who was, and is, and is to come, 
 
 The earth his footstool, heaven his throne, 
 The Church his Bride, he her Bridegroom, 
 
 Angels and Elders, earth and heav'ii, 
 Are summon'd to unseal the book ; 
 
 But silent all, no answer giv'n, 
 
 None worthy found therein to look. 
 
 But Judah's Lion, David's Son, 
 
 And David's Root, the great I AM, 
 
 Appears upon his Father's throne, 
 As slain for sacrifice, the Lamb. 
 
 He takes the Book, he can unseal : 
 He worthy is, and he has power 
 
 God's secret counsels to reveal, 
 And to fulfil each in its hour. 
 
 The heav'nly host united fall 
 In humble worship at his feet, 
 
 One glorious theme inspires them all, 
 The joy is full, the concert sweet. 
 
 New odours to the throne ascend, 
 In accents new, their praises soar ; 
 
 Each finds in each a glowing friend, 
 And all the God of all adore. 
 
 And shall I join that prostrate throng, 
 In love's extatic heav'n-taught lays, 
 
 With pow'rs expanded, that new song, 
 Hymn to the Lamb's exalted praise ! 
 
 Worthy art tliou to take the book, 
 And loose the seals, and read therein, 
 
 God's holy mysteries to unlock ; 
 
 Worthy art thou for thou wast slain. 
 
 Thou hast redeem'd us with thy blood, 
 From ev'ry nation of the earth ; 
 
 And made us Kings and Priests to God, 
 Aad sharers of a heav'nly birth.
 
 MS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 197 
 
 Mjriads of ajigels staiid around, 
 
 Uniting in the loud acclaim ; 
 And fill the temple with the sound, 
 
 Of our Redeemer's gentle name. 
 
 I 
 
 Worthy the Lamb that once was slain, 
 
 A Sacrifice for ev'ry sin, 
 All pow'r and glory to obtain, ,. 
 
 And universal empire win. 
 
 Heav'n, earth, and sea, shall swell the tone, 
 
 Of fervent, universal praise ; 
 And grateful joy around the throne, 
 
 Its voice from age to age shall raise. 
 
 In all these myriads is there one, 
 
 Who had on earth so much forgiven ? 
 And shall I reach their liighest tone 
 
 Of love to Jesus ? THIS is HEA VEN ! ! ! 
 
 AND when this breast to heave shall cease, 
 And heart and lungs are hush'd to peace, 
 Some friendly hand the eye-lids close, 
 And leave the clay to short repose ;* 
 
 Still on your knees be thanks exprest, 
 According as the Lord has blest ; 
 This tongue, then mute, can now foretell, 
 Jesus shall have done all tilings well. 
 
 Should the great Sov'reign will it so, 
 That I in secret with him go, 
 'Twill be enough, that He stands by, 
 He all my wants doth well supply. 
 
 Upon his dear, his faithful breast, 
 My heart, and head, shall safely rest ; 
 The flutt'ting pulse and bursting sigh, 
 He'll soothe with ' Fear not, it is L' 
 
 Into his hands my sp'rit I'll breathe, 
 Inhaling life from him, in death : 
 Though none should see, faith can foretel, 
 My Jesus shall do all things well. 
 
 Though he deny my half-form'd pray'r, 
 Well may I cast on Him my care ; 
 All things are mine, or life, or death, 
 In praise of Him I'll spend my breath. 
 
 These circumstances took place, as here described, although sur- 
 vjving friend" had not nny knowledge of this poem,
 
 198 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 Be this my only wish beside, 
 That God's great name be glorified. 
 What me concerns faith can foretell, 
 My Jesus shall do all things well. 
 
 The following Poems were found among some old papers, 
 and are supposed to be original they were written in 
 the Island of Antigua, shortly after Doctor Graham's 
 death. 
 
 HAIL! thou state of widowhood, 
 State of those that mourn to God ; 
 Who, from earthly comforts torn, 
 Only live to pray and mourn. 
 
 Meanest of the number, I 
 For my dear companion sigh ; 
 Patiently my loss deplore, 
 Mourn for one, that mourns no more.. 
 
 Me my consort hath outrun, 
 Out of sight he quite is gone ; 
 He his course has finish'd here, 
 First come to the sepulchre. 
 
 Following on with earnest haste, 
 'Till my mourning days are past, 
 I my partner's steps pursue, 
 I shall soon be happy too ; 
 
 Find the ease for which I pant, 
 Gain the only good I want ; 
 Quietly lay down my head, 
 Sink into my earthly bed. 
 
 There my flesh shall rest in hope, 
 'Till the quicken'd dust mount up ; 
 When to glorious life I'll rise, 
 To meet my husband in the skies. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 Happy they who trust in Jesus, 
 Jesus turns our loss to gain ; 
 
 Still his balmy mercies ease us, 
 Sweeten all our grief and pain. 
 
 When he calls our friends t' inherit, 
 All the glories of the blest ; 
 
 He assures the widow'd spirit, 
 1 Thou shalt quickly be at rest.'
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 
 
 Though my flesh and spirit languish, 
 Let me not too much complain ; 
 
 Sure at last t' outlive my anguish, 
 Sure to find my friend again. 
 
 Ransom'd from a world of sorrow, 
 
 He to-day is taken home ; 
 I shall be releas'd to morrow ; 
 
 Come, my dear Redeemer, come. 
 
 From my sanctified distresses, 
 
 Now, or when thou wilt, receive, 
 
 Grant with him in thine embraces, 
 After all my deaths, to live. 
 
 Hail ! holy, holy, holy, Lord ! 
 
 Mysterions Three in One ; 
 For ever be thy name ador'd, 
 
 Thy will for ever done. 
 
 For this alone on earth I wait, 
 
 To glorify my God ; 
 And suffer, since thou will'st, the state 
 
 Of sacred widowhood. 
 
 And may I, in thy strength, fulfil 
 
 My awful character ; 
 And prove thine acceptable will, 
 
 And do thy pleasure here : 
 
 The children to ihyself restore, 
 Whom thou to me hast giv'n ; 
 
 And rule my house with all my pow'r, 
 And train them up for heav'n. 
 
 Be this my hospitable care. 
 
 The stranger to receive ; 
 The burthen of thy Church to bear, 
 
 And all their wants relieve. 
 
 My labour of unwearied love, 
 
 With pleasure to repeat ; 
 My faith unto thy saints to prove, 
 
 And gladly wash their feet. 
 
 The servant of thy servants bless, 
 
 With active earnest zeal ; 
 And every work of righteousness 
 
 I shall with joy fulfil. 
 
 199 
 
 WOND'RING, I ask, where is the breast ; 
 
 Struggling so late and rack'd with pain, 
 The eyes that upward look'd for rest, 
 
 And dropt their weary lids again ?
 
 200 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 The recent horrors still appear ; 
 
 O may they never cease to awe ! 
 Still is the king of terrors near, 
 
 Whom late in all his pomp I saw. 
 
 Torture and sin prepar'd his way, 
 And pointed to tjie yawning grave ; 
 
 Darkness was spread o'er all the day, 
 No hand was seen stretch'd forth to save. 
 
 'Twas not the searching pain within, 
 That fill'd the coward flesh with fear ; 
 
 Nor consciousness of outward sin, 
 Nor sense of dissolution near. 
 
 In vain for hope he sought around, 
 (The fruit of righteousness alone,) 
 
 His soul afar from Christ was found, 
 And started from a God unknown. 
 
 His feeble flesh refus'd to bear, 
 Its strong redoubled agonies ; 
 
 When mercy heard his feeble prayer, 
 And saw him faintly gasp for ease. 
 
 SINKING underneath my load, 
 
 Darkly feeling after thee ; 
 Let me ask, ' My God, my God, 
 Why hast thou forsaken me ?' 
 Why, O why, am I forgot ? 
 Lord, I seek, bnt find thee not. 
 
 Still I ask, nor yet receive, 
 
 Knock at the unopen'd door ; 
 Still I struggle to believe, 
 
 Hope, though urg'd to hope no more. 
 Bearing what I cannot bear, 
 yielding, fighting, with despair. 
 
 Hear in mercy my complaint, 
 
 Hear, and hasten to my aid : 
 Help, or utterly I faint : 
 
 Fails the spirit thou hast made : 
 Still, I at thy footstool keep, 
 Pray and hope, despair and weep, 
 
 Struggling in temptation's snare, 
 
 Lo ! I ever look thee ; 
 Tempted more than I can besrj 
 No, my soul, it cannot be ; 
 True and faithful is his word, 
 And thy sure support, the Lord,
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM, 201 
 
 t^ome, then, O my Saviour, come ! 
 
 God of truth, no longer stay, 
 God of love, dispel the gloom, 
 Point me out the promis'd way ; 
 Let me from the trial fly, 
 Sink into thy arms, and die. 
 
 Waft me to that happy shore, 
 
 Port of ease, and end of eare. 
 All my storms shall there be o'er, 
 Grief shall never reach me there ; 
 Surely of my God possest, 
 Safe in my Redeemer's breast. 
 
 RISE, my soul, the dawn appears 
 
 Of that eternal day ; 
 Quit, in hope, the vale of tears, 
 
 And mount, and soar away.: 
 
 Darting through this lower sphere, 
 Quick as a seraphic flame : 
 
 Rise, the marriage feast to share, 
 Of Moses and the Lamb. 
 
 In the wedding garb of love, 
 
 By heav'nly pity drest ; 
 I shall soon sit down above, 
 
 At the celestial feast. 
 
 To mine elder brother joined, 
 I shall there 103- partner see ; 
 
 In the arms of Jesus find 
 
 The soul that twin'd with me. 
 
 There we shall with transport meet, 
 And see our Saviour's face ; 
 
 There the heav'nly song repeat, 
 In ecstasy of praise. 
 
 Bright as his, our bodies are, 
 
 Like the head, the members shine ; 
 
 All our open foreheads bear, 
 The glorious stamp divine. 
 
 With the high and lofty One, 
 We dwell in bliss supreme ; 
 
 Share the pleasures of his throne, 
 And taste the chrystal stream ; 
 
 Banquet on angelic food, 
 
 Father, Son, and Spirit know ; 
 
 Drink the joys that flow from God, 
 And shall for ever flow. 
 K 5
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 A FRAGMENT. 
 
 MIXT with wish the guardian angels, bentJ 
 
 The heirs of glorious grace : 
 And stil), like them, to heaven ascend, 
 And still behold thy face. 
 
 Happy, might I the grace receive. 
 Which thy true widow's share ; 
 
 With God in close communion live 
 A life of faith and prayer. 
 
 In thee, my only Friend, confide 
 
 Delightfully alone ; 
 And desolate with thee abide, 
 k 'Till all my course be run. 
 
 Surely, I now rely on thee, 
 
 Within thine arms I am ; 
 And trust the glorious face to see 
 
 Of my triumphant Lamb. 
 
 I know the prayer of faith is heard, 
 
 I feel the answer given ; 
 And haste, by holiness prepar'd, 
 
 To meet my Lord in heaven. 
 
 
 IKw 
 
 bfi v! 
 
 d'ff bor) JfijfiJ 
 
 rarfjfll xfrw.-,
 
 LETTERS. 
 
 TO MRS. GRANDIDIER. 
 
 St. John't, Antigua, 1775. 
 MY DEAR MRS. G , 
 
 THE long and steady friendship which has sub- 
 sisted between us, in sickness and in health, in prospe- 
 rity and adversity, ever the same without change or 
 diminution, leaves me no room to doubt that it will ex- 
 tend to my little family, and that you will be as ready, 
 to the utmost of your power, to befriend them, as you 
 have been the dear father already gone, and your friend, 
 who is, perhaps, about to follow. 
 
 If it should please God to take me away in my ap- 
 proaching confinement, 1 leave you and Captain G. 
 full power to dispose of every thing in this house, and 
 belonging to me in this island, as you shall think most 
 for the advantage of my little family. You know that 
 my extreme tenderness for their dear father made me 
 unable to part with any of his clothes ; but these can 
 be of no consequence to me when I shall again have 
 joined him for whose sake I kept them ; you may, 
 therefore, dispose of them, and also of my own, if you 
 think that what they will fetch will be of more service 
 to the children. But I do not chuse to leave any par- 
 ticular directions about my trifling effects ; you will 
 consult with other friends, and I am certain that you 
 will act for them to the best of your judgment. It is 
 a great relief to my mind, that I have such steady and 
 tried frends to leave the charge of them upon. Miss 
 G B. has promised to take J , and it is my desire, 
 that the others, and the infant yet unborn, if it survive, 
 be sent to my father, where I will leave them to be 
 disposed of, and provided for, by that God who has 
 fed me all my life ; their heavenly Father, who has
 
 204 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 commanded me to leave my fatherless children upon 
 him, who will preserve them alive, and whose promise 
 I have, that he will never leave them, nor forsake 
 them. 
 
 Mr. Reid will not be less kind to the offspring of his 
 friend, whom they have lost, than when they were under 
 a mother's protection. May the blessing of the widow 
 and the fatherless follow him wherever he goes, and 
 may God recompense him a thousand fold in blessings 
 spiritual and temporal. Let Diana* be sent with my 
 children ; if there be an infant you know a nurse must 
 be found for it, whatever it cost. As for Susan,* I am 
 at a loss what to do with her : my heart tells me that I 
 have no right to entail slavery upon her and her off- 
 spring ; I know that I shall be blamed, but I am about 
 to be called to account by a higher power than any in 
 this world for my conduct, and I dare not allow her to 
 be sold. I therefore leave it to herself, either to remain 
 here, or if it be her desire, to accompany the children. 
 I beg Mr. Reid will be kind enough to allow her a pas- 
 sage with the rest. 
 
 And now, my dear friend, as the greatest happiness 
 I can wish you, may that God whom I have chosen as 
 my own portion, be your'-s also ; may he, by his outward 
 providence, and by the inward operations of his Spirit 
 on your heart, lead you to himself, and convince you of 
 the truth. But, O my dear friend, shut not your eyes 
 and ears against conviction : you are not satisfied that 
 the Bible is indeed the word of God. Is it not worth 
 inquiring into ? What would you think of a man who 
 had a large fortune, and the whole depending on prov- 
 ing some certain facts, who yet would not be at the 
 pains to inform himself? Are the interests of this world 
 of such importance, which in a few fleeting years we 
 must leave, and have done with for ever ? And is our 
 final state in the next^which is to fix us in happiness or 
 misery through the endless days of eternity, not worth 
 a thought ! Think, then, and seriously ask, What, if it 
 be so ! What, if this be, indeed, the word of God, given 
 by inspiration for the rule of both our faith and man- 
 ners, by which we are to be judged ! What, if this 
 
 * The two Indian girls, mentioned in the Life of Mrs. Graham,
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 205 
 
 same God, who so kindly reveals his will to men, has, 
 with it, given the clearest evidences and strongest 
 proofs that it is his own word ! Think, I say, my dear 
 friend, if it should he so, what they x deserve, who either 
 reject or neglect it, without taking the trouble to inform 
 themselves, so as to be convinced, that it either is, or is 
 not, of divine authority ! How many great, learned, 
 and wise men, have sifted these evidences with the 
 greatest care, and the deeper they entered into the 
 search, the more clear they appeared, even those whose 
 lives are entirely contrary to it, and whose interest it is 
 to wish it false, cannot deny. As to the various expla- 
 nations of it it is every one's duty to read for himself ; 
 and, although there may be some parts of it too deep 
 for our capacity, and many parts which cannot be un- 
 derstood without an exact knowledge of ancient history; 
 yet the simple truths of the gospel, what we are to be- 
 lieve concerning God, and what duties he requires of 
 us, and what he forbids, are equally plain and easy. If 
 we can only once be satisfied, that it is indeed the word 
 of God, set ourselves to study it with an unprejudiced 
 mind, with a sincere desire to know the truth, and be 
 led by it, with earnest prayer, that the same Spirit 
 which inspired the writer*, would make it plain to our 
 hearts and understandings, that God himself would 
 teach us its true meaning, and save us from error ! we 
 shall, I venture to say, be taught all necessary know- 
 ledge, and be led in the way to eternal life ; we have 
 God's promise that it shall be so. "'-If any man will do 
 my will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be 
 of God 
 
 Forgive me, my dear friend ; the subject appears to 
 me so important, that I know not how to have done. 
 I love you with a sincere friendship ; I love your soul, 
 and am deeply interested in its eternal happiness. Once 
 more, I commit you to that God who only can lead 
 you to himself and to true happiness ; and that you 
 may know the truth of this, from deep experience, 
 to the eternal joy, peace, and safety of your immortal 
 soul, is the last prayer of your affectionate friend, who 
 hopes to meet and rejoice with. you in our Redeemer's 
 kingdom. 
 
 ISABELLA GRAHAM.
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 EXTRACTS OF LETTERS TO P 
 
 Chiefly written when she was in Affliction. 
 
 February 10, 1797. 
 MY EVER DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 THE desire of writing you a long letter has oc- 
 casioned a shameful delay on my part. One thing I 
 can assure you of you have been much on my mind, 
 and the subject of all our prayers. 
 
 Tears of joy, ran down my cheeks, when J - told 
 me the state of your mind ; and I thank our good and 
 gracious God for opening your eyes to see the vanity 
 of this world, the corruption of your own heart, your 
 need of the atoning blood, and a betler righteousness 
 than your own. Hail, my sister in Jesus ! Flesh and 
 blood have not taught you this, but your Father, who 
 is in heaven ; the work is his, evidently his j and being 
 begun, he will carry it on, and finish it too. Commit 
 your soul, then, into his hands : he came not to call the 
 righteous, but sinners to repentance ; his errand to our 
 world was to seek and to save the lost. Trusting in 
 his mercy, through Christ, your soul is as safe as his 
 word is true ; for none perish that trust in him. Trust 
 in the Lord wi/h all thy heart, and lean not to thine own 
 understanding ; be not discouraged, beqause of deadness, 
 darkness, wandering, want of love, want of spirituality, 
 want of any kind ; who told you of these evils and 
 wants ? The Sun of Righteousness, shining into your 
 soul, has shewn you many of the evils there ; bui the 
 half you know not yet. The more you learn of the holi- 
 ness and purity of the divine nature, and spirituality of 
 the divine law, the more you will be dissatisfied with 
 every thing your's. Even a holy Apostle said In me, 
 '' (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing. The flesh 
 lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh , 
 so that the things that I would, I do not, and the things 
 that I would not, that I do. Yet it it not I, (not my new 
 nature,) but sin that dwelleth in me; for, to will is pre- 
 sent with me, but hew to perform that which is. good, I 
 
 </ not. 

 
 
 MRK. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 207 
 
 T f '^Ijj^^^H^B 
 
 If this was the case with the Apostle, who sealed his 
 testimony with his life, is it strange that you and I 
 should have hearts full of all abominable things ? These 
 realities are cause of deep humility before God, but 
 none of despair or doubt ; all are guilty and vile alike, 
 the whole head is sick, and the whole heart unsound j 
 therefore we need Christ to atone for our sin, to cover 
 our naked souls with his imputed righteousness, and to 
 be Surety for us ; to sanctify us by his Spirit, and pre- 
 pare us for the purchased inheritance. O try to rest in 
 him : believe it, you are complete in him : give over, 
 my dear friend, poring and diving into into your own 
 heart and frames, and try to trust in an Almighty Sa- 
 viour, to save you from foes without, and foes within. 
 Read Romaine's Walk and Life of Faith : he himself 
 attained to a high degree of holiness, by getting out of 
 himself, and trusting, resting, believing, from day to 
 day, for grace, for every duty, as it occurred. The pro- 
 mise runs, As thy day, so shall thy strength be. 
 
 I cannot, at this distance, and knowing nothing of 
 the state of things in your neighbourhood, offer you 
 any advice with respect to outward means ; but, if you 
 know any truly pious, spiritual minister, I should think 
 it your duty to lay open you mind to him. You may 
 find in books matter as good as any man living can 
 speak ; but it is the Lord's appointed way, and lie often 
 honours his servants, his ministers, by making them 
 messengers of peace and comfort to his children. Are 
 any sick ? Let them call for the elders of the church, and 
 let them pray over them. See how the Christians of old 
 associated with one another ! 
 
 I am, now, doubly your's, &c. 
 
 LG. 
 
 March, 1799. 
 MY EVER DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 I HAVE just read your letter : you are now in 
 heaviness ; but the day will soon break, and the sha- 
 dows flee away ; and the dear Saviour whom you seek, 
 will again comfort his returning prodigal. 
 
 I will do what you desire me ; and, though I have the 
 highest opinion of our young Timothy I. M. I will pass
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 by him, in this case, and lay it before one of the aged 
 Christians, Dr. R rs, or Dr. L n j at the same time, 
 my friend, J am as sure of their answer, as if I were 
 already in possession of it. Who told my friend, that 
 she was blind, and miserable, and wretched, and naked? 
 Flesh and blood never yet taught proud man of woman 
 this lesson. 
 
 My dear friend, there is nothing new, or strange, in 
 all you have told me : there is scarcely one heaven- 
 taught soul, that has made any advances in the spiri- 
 tual warfare but could sympathize with you, from ex- 
 perience. What have you experienced more than the 
 Scriptures tell us that the heart is deceitful above all 
 things, and desperately wicked ? Only the Lord can 
 search it, only he can cleanse it. He takes the prero- 
 gative to himself, and he calls it his covenant that he 
 will make with sinners in gospel times. You may 
 strive and fight, and resolve and vow all will not do : 
 you lie at his mercy for holiness, as well as pardon. 
 He is exalted as a Prince, to give repentance ; and he 
 is the Author and Finisher of faith. He woj-ks all our 
 works in us, and without him we are no equal to one 
 good thought. We are his workmanship, created anew 
 in Christ Jesus. My dear friend, put the work into his 
 hand, and try to wait in hope ; hope in every situation ; 
 do more, trust. 
 
 You entirely mistake the situation of others ; none 
 of us have our heaven here : no, sin dwelleth in us ; 
 the very best have their tips and downs. Do you think 
 that your friend is always on the mount ? Very far from 
 it. I am, at times, so cold, so dead, so stupid, that I 
 can neither pray, read, nor hear. I have begun the 
 same chapter over and over, still trying to fix my 
 thoughts ; and, as often, they wander towards every 
 trifle : but my peace lies where you \vill soon learn to 
 place your's, in the merits of my almighty Saviour ; my 
 safety depends not on my frames, but his promise ; 
 and I am equally safe when tossed and tempted ; and, 
 when buffeted, like you, with abominable thoughts, the 
 fiery darts of Satan, as when basking in the sunshine of 
 his love, and tasting what you have tasted : for you 
 have tasted, and you shall yet taste, the joys of his sal- 
 vation. I, top, have proved false to his covenant, have
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 209 
 
 gone off with the world, and been intoxicated with it^ 
 vanities, and empty delights, and have laid up for 
 myself seasons of deep remorse ; my sins have often 
 separated between my God and me, especially in my 
 younger days. The Lord calls to watchfulness and 
 diligence in the use of means, and he generally honours 
 these means, of his own appointing, with his blessing. 
 When we either trust to these means, and fancy merit 
 in them, or neglect to use them as his appointment, 
 he generally makes us to feel our error ; but he does 
 not cast us out of his family : he chastens us, and 
 restores us. 
 
 I write hastily, just to say that you have my sympa- 
 thy and my love ; for well I know, the almighty Lord 
 alone can loose your bonds, and give you joy and peace 
 in believing. All my advice may be summed up in this 
 Trust in the Lord with all your heart ; at least aim 
 at this ; I say, aim at it, for this too must be given you. 
 Roll yourself, your doubts, your fears, your sins, your 
 duties, all, all on him j say, Lord, I believe ; help thou my 
 unbelief. He is an almighty Saviour, to deliver sinners 
 from sin as well as from punishment. I leave you on 
 the Father of mercies, and will, when the Lord enables, 
 pray for you. 
 
 Your's, &c. 
 
 AT last, my dear friend, the Lord appears ; appears 
 the Bible-God ; the Lord God, merciful and gracious, 
 long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping 
 mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, 
 and sin. 
 
 When was it that the Lord proclaimed this, and took 
 unto himself this name ? After Israel, his chosen, had 
 been guilty of that awful sin in the wilderness, of 
 making the golden calf, and proclaiming, These be thy 
 gods, O Israel. David takes it up in the 103d Psalm ; 
 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and 
 plenteous in mercy Read on, my dear ; then turn to 
 the 130th ; this God is your God, and has long been 
 your God ; his work was upon your heart, though you 
 could not discern it. In bondage you have long been, 
 but aot a willing captive ; unbelief kept you in bond"
 
 LIFE AMD WRITINGS OF 
 
 age long, long after your eyes were opened to see your 
 bondage 3 and even to'discern, in some feeble measure, 
 your remedy. The Lord has wise reasons for all you 
 have suffered : if not now, you shall, in some after time, 
 know and consider all the way by which he has led you, 
 to prove you, to try you, and shew you what was in your 
 heart, that he might do you good in your latter end. You 
 did not wait patiently for the Lord your God ; you did 
 not, in general, say, Though he slay me, I will trust in 
 him No ; my friend has been a great unbeliever, yet 
 hath the Lord, the sovereign Lord, whose ways are not 
 09 our v;ays, nor his thoughts as our thoughts, brought 
 you out of a fearful pit, and out of the miry clay ; set 
 your feet upon a rock, and established your goings ; put 
 a new song into your mouth, even praise unto our God. 
 Now you sing the 34th Psalm. I rejoice with my 
 friend : I bless the Lord with her ; let us exalt his 
 name together. It is establishing to my own soul. 
 I have long prayed, and long looked for this : I lived 
 in the faith of it ; assured that he who had begun the 
 good work would perfect it in his own time. 
 
 I cannot but regret your want of pastoral food ; yet 
 ought I to regret any thing ? The Lord himself is your 
 Shepherd. My Bible lies on my lap ; I had turned to 
 the 34th Psalm, to know if it contained what I would 
 point out to you ; on finishing the last verse, I uncon- 
 sciously turned mine eye on the Bible ; the words that 
 met it, were in the 32d Psalm, 8th verse ; I will instruct 
 thee, and teach thee in the way that thou shalt go : I will 
 guide thee with mine eye. And so it shall be. Amen, 
 my God, Amen. Do as thou hast said. 
 
 Perhaps, my friend, by this time, your notes are 
 lowered. It has pleased the Lord to give you a strange 
 sight Mary Magdalene, a great sinner, at .the feet of 
 Jesus, pardoned, comforted, and highly honoured in 
 after life. This history, accompanied by the Spirit of 
 God, has consoled, strengthened, and raised up many 
 bowed down since that day ; many now around the 
 throne, who sing of pardoning love. 
 
 I now wish to say, Hold fast the beginning of your 
 confidence. Your exercise is that of God's people. 
 To rejoice in the Lord at all times is your privilege, 
 but will not be always your attainment. The Lord has
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. -ill 
 
 done great things for you, whereof I am glad : hut, my 
 dear friend, the warfare is not over ; you must endure 
 trials as others ; you must engage with principalities 
 and powers, and with \spiritual wickedness in high places, 
 and, worst of all, a treacherous heart within ; which, 
 after all that it has seen and tasted, is jet corrupt and 
 deceitful ; the new life which Christ gives to the soul, 
 evidences itself in the desires of the heart and affections. 
 As certainly as the new-born babe desires the breast, 
 as certainly, and as evidently, does the new-born soul 
 desire union to God, communion with him, and con- 
 formity to him, in heart, life, and conversation. This 
 principle is, in its own nature, perfectly pure ; but the 
 old nature, the law in the spiritual members, is as per- 
 fectly corrupt ; in myjlesh dwelleth no good thing. 
 
 In the order of God's covenant, it has not- pleased 
 him to deliver even believers, all at once, from sinful 
 inclinations and passions ; he has provided for their 
 final complete deliverance, and sin shall not have do- 
 minion over them even here ; but it is still in them 
 while in the body, and a dying body ; and the remains 
 of sin in the soul, make the believer's life a warfare, and 
 this world a wilderness ; soul and body are diseased : 
 both are redeemed, and provision made for the entire 
 deliverance of both ; for the soul at death, for the body 
 at the resurrection ; but, while in the body, (1 John i. 8.) 
 if any man say that he hath no sin, he deceiveth himself, 
 and the truth is not in him. Look at Paul's experience 
 what does he say of the believer's state ? He calls it 
 a warfare, a fight, a captivity for a time : see 1 Timothy 
 vi. 12. 1 Corinthians ix. 26. 
 
 I write not thus to dishearten you, but, as a friend, 
 I warn you, lest you fall again into unbelief. Look not 
 within for comfort, for consolation, for confidence. 
 Christ is the End of the law for righteousness, his blood 
 the atonement, and you are complete in him : his grace 
 is sufficient for you, his strength shall be perfected in 
 your weakness, and you shall go on. Grieve for sin 
 you will, grieve you ought ; but keep ever in your re- 
 membrance, 1 John ii. 1. v. 11. 
 
 Your's, &c<
 
 212 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 December 22, 1801. 
 
 I DEDICATE the first of my temporal labours, on re- 
 turning health, to my dear P. Our Father's rod has 
 been upon your friend and her family. I suppose by 
 this time, through Miss P. to whom I mentioned the 
 circumstance, you have heard that it has pleased God to 
 remove our dear I. S. The stroke has been severely 
 felt 5 she was one of those fascinating children that lay 
 hold of every heart at first sight ; and, having been 
 long sickly, was become a woman in sense ; pity and 
 compassion for her sufferings, alternate hopes and fears 
 for the issue, all tended to endear the little syren, and 
 tighten the cord of affection. The stroke, after all, 
 came unexpected. She had a gentle passage, and is 
 now a member of that kingdom of little children, whom 
 Christ pronounced blessed. 
 
 I was reading this day some of the first chapters of 
 Matthew. John the Baptist made his appearance in 
 the wilderness ; he was clothed with skins ; his meat 
 was locusts and wild honey. When he had delivered 
 his message for an appointed time, he was cast into 
 prison, and then beheaded. This led my mind to think 
 how few, of all God's favourites, had any comfort on 
 earth. 
 
 What a trying life Moses had ! Aaron had little 
 better ; David, though a king, was a man of deep af- 
 fliction. Jeremiah was cast into a dungeon ; and for 
 many days sunk deep in mire : his whole life, a life of 
 contest. All Cfmst's Apostles were driven from city 
 to city, often in want of the necessaries of life, and all 
 but one were put to death for their testimony. 
 
 Jesus himself was a man of sorrows, his visage 
 marred with grief. He, even He, was made perfect 
 by suffering. We are apt to think that we could have 
 suffered any thing but this. Of all crosses, this is the 
 heaviest, for one of my temper, strength, and former 
 habits of life. It may be so, and yet exactly that which 
 is calculated to promote our best interest. O for faith 
 in the wisdom and the love of God, and for patience to 
 endure unto the end ! To suffer the will of God, is yet 
 more honourable than to do the will of God in prosper- 
 ous circumstances. 
 
 When I was with my friend, she was wont to say,
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 213 
 
 ' I must just lie at the fountain, I make no progress.' 
 My dear, I must ever, ever, return to that fountain. 
 I desire to be found there at the moment when his 
 word shall command my soul into his presence. Every 
 review I take of my past life, I find more and more to 
 repent of; and every day furnishes fresh matter for 
 that exercise. I feel, like Noah's dove, no rest for the 
 sole of my foot, out of that ark. I have been blessed 
 with thousands and ten thousands of mercies, which 
 have been marked with as many millions of marks of 
 ingratitude. J have backslidden, and been restored 
 times without number ; and still my heart turns aside 
 like a deceitful bow. Great and numerous have been 
 my opportunities of serving my God in my day and 
 generation : but woeful has been my misimprovement ! 
 Many of my friends think I have done well ; but they 
 see not as God sees ; they see not as God has made 
 myself to see, and I see not the thousandth part of the 
 heinousness and the aggravation of my transgressions ; 
 and yet, after all, I dare look up. I can be but the 
 chief of sinners, and for such Christ died. He died for 
 the ungodly. All, without exception, are invited to 
 take refuge in his atoning sacrifice and meritorious life. 
 In all my life, I have not done one single deed that will 
 bear being weighed in the balance of the sanctuary. 
 But in God's gift, Christ Jesus, I have a complete 
 righteousness ; here is my whole dependance ; in this 
 dependance I dare face my Judge, and no other. 
 
 Here is the same dependance for you, my friend ; 
 and, although your faith be but a trembling hope, if 
 you have no other, it is a safe hope. I know it is your 
 desire, as it is mine, to live to Him who died for us ; 
 to be delivered from indwelling sin and corruption ; 
 and to be conformed to the image of our dear Lord. 
 This is done in part, it will go on, and in due time 
 shall be perfected ; but it is God's way, that, the more 
 we advance in conformity to God's law, the more he 
 enlightens us in the nature, extent, and spirituality of 
 it ; and the more he opens to view the deceitfulness of 
 the heart, so as to keep his children humble, and press- 
 ing forward. 
 
 I desire neA er to be satisfied with myself, but ever 
 to see so much of God's law in my own heart, as to
 
 214 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 reckon myself the chief of sinners, and the least of 
 saints ; but I desire to be full of confidence in Christ : 
 here I cannot err 5 all the promises are free to every 
 one trusting in Christ. Eternal life is a free gift 
 comfort, stedfastness, and high degrees of sanctifica- 
 tion, it hath pleased God to make dependant on our 
 faith, and diligence in the use of means. When I say 
 faith, 1 mean faith in exercise, watchfulness, prayer, 
 and reading ; but the gift of eternal life is free, the 
 sole purchase of another ; and, when we take hold of 
 God's covenant, he will keep hold of us, by discipline, 
 if need be. 
 
 January 14, 1800. 
 
 MY dear friend says, ' O that I could have the so- 
 ciety of some aged pious Clergyman or Christian, who 
 had gone through his warfare.' O that you could, in 
 the Lord's hand ! I hope it might do you good ; yet, 
 after all, the Lord himself must loose your bonds ; and 
 he will, and also appoint the means. 
 
 There are two kinds of rest awaiting you, the one in 
 this life, the other will not be attained until mortal 
 shall put on immortality. When was it that Paul, the 
 great Apostle, could say that he had fought the good 
 fight ? Not till he could also say that he had finished 
 his course, and was ready to be offered up ; till then, 
 he, like others, had to continue the warfare between 
 grace and corruption ; like others, he found a law in 
 his members, warring against the law of his mind, so 
 that the thing he would, he did not, and that which he 
 would not, that he did. Notwithstanding there is a 
 blessed rest attainable here, rest from the fear of wrath 
 and hell 3 a rest in Christ as our Atonement, our 
 Surety, our Complete Righteousness, our Title to eter- 
 nal life, and all the grace necessary to fit us for it. 
 This is the work of faith, or rather this is faith itself. 
 The soul, established in this, can rest in all possible 
 circumstances ; it depends not on its frames; in dark- 
 ness, when it is tossed, tempted, wandering, conscious 
 of unhallowed tempers, perhaps of the actual commis- 
 sion of sin, though, at such times, the warfare between 
 grace and corruption is so strong, as to make the
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GBAHAM. 215 
 
 Christian exclaim, ' O wretched man that I am, who 
 shall deliver me from this body of sin and death"?' he 
 can still say, ' The Lord lives, blessed be my Rock ;' 
 see the 42d and 43d Psalms. The Christian can still 
 say, My Lord and my God ; he is sure that the con- 
 flict will end, and that his God will bring good out of 
 it j he enjoys hope ; he feels his state as 'safe as in the 
 most enlarged frame of mind, when he can pray, praise, 
 love, rejoice. This is a riddle which only Christians 
 can understand ; and even they require many lessons to 
 comprehend it, many more to practise. 
 
 Have you Newton's letters ? See his second letter in 
 Cardiphonia. O try to fix your anchor of hope on that 
 sure foundation which God has laid in Zion r-Christ 
 himself. Trust him to save you from every evil with- 
 out you, and within you. When your own weakness 
 sinks you, try to be strong in his strength ; when guilt 
 disturbs, wash in the open fountain. But hold fast the 
 beginning of your confidence unto the end. 
 
 Be comforted, fight on, aim at trusting, and you 
 shall in the Lord's time also cease from your own works, 
 and rest with more advanced Christians on the faithful- 
 ness of your own God in Christ. See Hebrews iv. 9, 
 also chap. xii. throughout. I finish with chap. xiii. 
 20, 21, my earnest prayer, and sure hope, for you my 
 precious friend 1 
 
 November 28, 1 804. 
 
 MY dear friend's letter is truly in the Pilgrim's Style. 
 O that slough of despond, to the end of which you have 
 not got ! It is hard for you to believe that your com- 
 passionate Saviour stands by, and sees, .with power to 
 relieve, but does not ; and yet loves you better than 
 you love yourself. Alas, poor pilgrim ! Yet .pilgrim 
 you are, and shall have a pilgrim's portion. The Lord 
 knows all your troubles and perplexities ; you are 
 bound to believe that the very hairs of your head are 
 numbered. Often, my dear, think on the suffering life 
 your Redeemer led on earth, and all the apostles and 
 prophets. You are not to have your portion in this 
 world ; and you are to be tried and purified in the school 
 of affliction. Say, would you exchange with those who 
 are at ease ? I hope not,
 
 216 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 CHRISTIAN left a jovial company behind him in the 
 Valley of Destruction : but, oh, the difference in the 
 end ! And, my dear friend, the end will soon come. 
 Try to cast your soul, your body, your temporal and 
 your spiritual concerns, your husband, your children, 
 your all, on a God of rich grace. It will soon be over, 
 even at the worst. As to your children, it may be in 
 great mercy, that the Lord keeps from them the means 
 of being fitted for gay life; sure am I, happiness does 
 not depend on any style of living. Ask for them the 
 provision of the new covenant, and that lot in life 
 which God sees to be most conducive to their eternal 
 interest. 
 
 Gladly would I spend part of the winter with you ; 
 and could, with pleasure, and without suffering, sleep 
 in a room without fire, and share in all your troubles ; 
 but I dare not leave my post : I desire to trudge along, 
 by the king's highway of duty, to the habitation which 
 the Lord my God has provided for me. I am not my 
 own. I too am under trial ; few days pass over my 
 head, which do not witness many tears. I look not for 
 comfort in this world,, but I have comfort in the pros- 
 pect of another. 
 
 I long to hear from you, if you enjoy health, if the 
 children do ; above all, if you attain to any measure of 
 resignation, any measure of confidence and hope through 
 faith in the Redeemer's righteousness. Aim at it, my 
 dear friend ; call him your Lord, and your God, your 
 Husband, your Friend ; pour all your complaints into 
 his bosom ; groan, sigh, on your knees, and plead for 
 patience and resignation, strength and fortitude, under 
 the cross, to carry it all the length he has appointed. 
 Cast your burden on the Lord, and try to leave it there. 
 Essay to go forth to the laborious duty he has been 
 pleased to call you to, with cheerfulness and alacrity. 
 Go, depending on strength being communicated from 
 hour to hour ; look for it, and go forward in the faith 
 
 of it. 
 
 'ii t'~ ji 
 
 ; sfaflnoa Oj rtiorlj Greenwich, September 26, 1805. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 I ARRIVED here on Monday. I found my children 
 in health, but much affected with the death of the
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 
 
 amiable youth M , and the melancholy situation of 
 his bereaved parents. 
 
 The epidemic spreads over the city in every direc- 
 tion, among the few remaining in it : all the public 
 offices are here ; crowds of the citizens ; and houses 
 and stores spring up in a day : all is bustle and confu- 
 sion, and all seem mad on business. 
 
 Parting with my dear friend, was most painful ; so 
 painful, that nothing could alleviate it, but the presence 
 of my own children ; who, could there have been room 
 from deeper sorrows, would have shared it with me. 
 O that I could put my God, in my place, in your heart ! 
 What are earthly friends ? How few are steady against 
 all change of circumstances ? Of these, fewer still 
 have it in their power to supply every link of friend- 
 ship's chain ; a thousand unforeseen incidents dis- 
 appoint their wishes, and frustrate their hopes, render- 
 ing abortive their greatest exertions. But there is a 
 Friend, every where present, thoroughly acquainted 
 with every circumstance of the heart, and of the life ; 
 all powerful to relieve ; whose life is invariable, and 
 ever the most tender, when every other friend stands 
 aloof ; a Friend in adversity ; a Friend who sticketh 
 eloser than a brother, whose love surpasseth the love of 
 women. This Friend receiveth sinners casts out none 
 who come to him. He was never known to disappoint 
 the hopes of any poor sinner. He receives them into 
 his heart ; he takes all their burthens and cares on him- 
 self, pays all their debts, answers all demands against 
 them, and is every way Surety for them : they become 
 his own, no one has any thing to say to them, but him- 
 self. He knows them how apt to err, to wander, yea, 
 to forget him, and prove ungrateful ; all this he knows, 
 but he has made provision for all. He has a- rod, and 
 he will subdue their iniquities. He will heal their 
 backslidings, he will bring back and restore his wan- 
 derers. He will in due time perfect what concerns 
 them, and present them to his Father, purified, without 
 spot or wrinkle. 
 
 In the mean time, he requires them to confide in 
 him ; to go up through this wilderness, leaning upon 
 him ; to tell him all their complaints and griefs, and to 
 comfort themselves -. and he will impress the comfort.
 
 318 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 by means of his great and precious promises, scattered 
 like so many pearls through his sacred Bible, tabled 
 there, on purpose for us to ground our prayers upon, 
 and delight ourselves in. This is your friend's Friend, 
 and of ten thousand beside. This was Magdalene's 
 Friend ; this, the persecuting Paul's Friend ; wicked 
 Manasseh's Friend ; the adulterous murderous David's 
 Friend. And he is your Friend, though your eyes are 
 holden, that you see him not. He is leading you by 
 a way that you know not. This is one of his charac- 
 ters, I will bring the blind by a way that they know not. 
 
 I was happy to find your niece was to return with 
 Mr. P j but, my dear, a painful dread has assaulted 
 my peace, lest Satan get the advantage by means of a 
 stranger in the family, and undo what has been begun. 
 The world may have peace without God ; but you shall 
 not. You have, however, feebly taken hold of his co- 
 venant ; and he will keep you to your choice. Psalm 
 Ixxix. 30. 
 
 November, 180&. 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 THIS is not our rest ; through much tribulation 
 all Christ's disciples must follow him. There is a resi 
 prepared for the people of God, as far as tasted in this 
 world ; (and in this world it is tasted :) it consists in a 
 mind resigned to the will of God, in proportion as it 
 can say, Thy trill be done on earth as it is done in hea- 
 ven. Christ himself was made perfect through suffer- 
 ing, and all his followers shall be so in their appointed 
 measure. What is our cup to his ? O my dear friend, 
 we are ransomed, we are redeemed ; and we are fitting 
 and preparing for the purchased inheritance, that per- 
 fect rest for the people of God, when their warfare is 
 finished.. Let him do all his pleasure with us here; let 
 him subdue our iniquities in his own way ; let him glo- 
 rify his name by our sufferings his glory is connected 
 with his people's best interests. We shall one day ac- 
 knowledge that he has done all things well, and that 
 not one w6rd of all that he has promised has failed. 
 
 It has pleased the Lord to take from us our dear 
 sweet Rebecca ; young as she was, through much tri
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 219 
 
 bulation she entered in ; I have scarcely seen severer 
 suffering, or a harder dismission. It is well ; the Lord 
 will answer his own ends by it, for the good of all con- 
 cerned, as well as for his own glory. Our dear G. wa 
 ill at the same time, and all hope was lost as to him 
 also ; for a whole week we looked upon him as dying. 
 A bold measure was taken with him, which succeeded ; 
 the Lord had commanded life : it was not thought of 
 for her. God had appointed to her an entrance into 
 life eternal. It is all well. Blessed, blessed, be his 
 name ; for her he has taken, and him he has restored, 
 both equally ! I. G. S. was confined at the same time 
 with a broken arm ; N. B with the fever and pleu- 
 risy. Deep have been the wounds in this aged heart, 
 not yet weaned from earth, but tremblingly alive to 
 every thing that concerns my children. Yet I do give 
 up. I have asked but one thing with importunity, and 
 by that I abide. I did not ask for temporal life, but 
 the life which Christ died to purchase, and lives to be- 
 stow : let him answer rny petition by means of his own 
 appointing ; by health or by sickness, by riches or by 
 poverty, by long life or by early death only let all 
 mine, by the ties of nature, be his by regeneration of 
 his Spirit. 
 
 August 24, 1810. 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 I BLESS and praise our gracious God for his late 
 manifestations to you in the midst of so many tumul- 
 tuating circumstances, calculated to stir up corruption, 
 and prevent that rest which you so much needed. For 
 this manifestation I have earnestly prayed ; and I have 
 expected it, not because I prayed for it, but because it 
 is often the Lord's way, when his poor, erring, wan- 
 dering creatures, are at their wit's end, saying, There 
 is no hope, to manifest himself a God at hand, the Al- 
 mighty Saviour, saying, O ye of little faith, wherefore 
 did ye doubt? Ye have destroyed yourselves ; but in ;e 
 is your help ; let not your heart be troubled, neither let 
 it be a/raid. 
 
 I will answer all your queries in one. Were you aa 
 Wt-cast, the Lord would never have dealt with you M 
 
 L *
 
 MFE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 he has done ; not only now that you feel his love in 
 some measure shed abroad in your heart, but years 
 ago, when you felt only enmity there, the last feeling 
 was as certain an evidence of the Lord's gracious deal- 
 ings with you as the first. It is the Spirit that con- 
 vinceth of sin. It was the Spirit that convinced you 
 years ago, not only of your sin, but of your helpless- 
 ness. It was the Spirit that produced that self- con- 
 demnation, self-loathing, which you experienced ; it 
 was the Spirit that opened your eyes, to discern the 
 holiness, the spirituality, and the perfection of that law 
 by which you stood condemned in yourself. O my 
 friend, the dead in trespasses and sins have no such 
 views. The same Spirit pointed out the Saviour many 
 a time ; and, however feebly, you did sigh after him ; 
 you did desire to love him and to serve him. But, my 
 dear, there was a stumbling-block in your way, to pre- 
 sent peace and rest. Your language was, ' O that I 
 were worthy : but I am such a sinner, so unworthy, 
 my corruptions are so strong, my heart so hard, I can- 
 not believe. It was all true, it is true at this hour 
 but it appeared to me that you kept back you did not 
 lay hold on the hope set before you, so as to obtain 
 peace and qomfort ; you did not account it a faithful 
 toying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus. Christ 
 came into the world to save sinners, even the chief ; you 
 did not realize the invitation, Look unto me, all the 
 ends of the earth, and be ye saved, for I am God, and 
 there is none else. And Jesus stood and cried, If any 
 man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink Whosoever 
 will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely. 
 Him ih'it cometh vnto me I will in no wise cast out. 
 Again, This is the record, that God giveth to you eternal 
 life, and this life is in his Son. The wages of sin is 
 death, but the gift of God is eternal life. Now what is 
 the plain simple meaning of all this ? In the plan of 
 redemption, in the counsels of Jehovah, Jesus Christ, 
 the second person of the incomprehensible Trinity, is 
 sanctified, set apart, substitu ed in the room of con- 
 demned sinners, to take their nature upon him, their 
 sins upon him, their duties upon him ; to become a com - 
 plete Surety in every respect, to sustain the penally in hit 
 own person ; to yield a complete perfect obedience to
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 221 
 
 very demand of the law in his own life and death : in 
 a word, to work out a perfect, complete, justifying 
 righteousness for us in his own person. It was not 
 wrought in us, it is a finished work without us to this 
 nothing of ours is to be added ; with this nothing of 
 ours is to be mixt : it is the sinner's by pure imputa- 
 tion, and perfectly distinct from that holiness of heart 
 and life which is wrought in us, in consequence of this 
 imputed righteousness. The Holy Ghost says, by the 
 mouth of the Apostle, Christ is the end of the law for 
 righteousness, and ye are complete in him He was made 
 sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of 
 God in him. This is the righteousness, the dean linen, 
 pure and white, the wedding garment ; all the types 
 of the law of Moses, pointed out this. In this, God 
 beholds no iniquity of Jacob nor transgression in Israel. 
 Christ himself, his Person, as well as his work, is the 
 Gift of God to sinners, to be their Head, their Hus- 
 band, their Life, as well as their Prophet, Priest, 
 and King. By the same plan, all is put in the sin- 
 ner's offer, and secured to him, simply upon his ac- 
 cepting. It is the divine appointment, that to as 
 many as receive him, to them gives he power to become 
 the sons of God. But the gift must first be received 
 by the sinner, as a sinner then the promise follows, 
 or rather goes with it, ' power to become his child.' 
 It is in the first act of simple faith, that I think my 
 friend has come short ; not of eternal life no faith 
 she has long had to be saved ; but has not entered into 
 present rest. He that hath entered into rest, hath 
 ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 
 You have kept looking for evidences in yourself, in- 
 stead of crediting the invitation and the promise. It 
 is not God's ordinary way to give such evidences. 
 The man with the withered hand might as reasonably 
 have said, ' Lord, let me first feel strength, and then 
 I will believe that I shall be able to stretch it out.' 
 The Lord has dealt, in great mercy with you. There 
 is much faith expressed in your letter j but it is, 
 through the great condescension of your merciful Fa- 
 ther, accompanied and strengthened by a sensible ma- 
 nifes^ation. He has allowed you to see fruit, to feel 
 Jus love as well as to believe ; to be strong in faith for
 
 922 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 the time. These are evidences, undoubted evidences, 
 that you have passed from death unto life, and are safe 
 in his covenant mercy. They are certain evidences 
 of the reality of your being in Christ : but, my dear 
 friend, these feelings may not be evidences to your ap- 
 prehension three days. Try now to rest on the pro- 
 mise 5 keep to it : Though he slay me, yet will I trust 
 in him ; and take the Gift of God for the foundation 
 of your rest. 1 John v. 10, 11, 12, 13. This record 
 was as true, under all the tumult expressed in your 
 last melancholy epistle, as during the consoling exer- 
 cise of this. You change, but God never. Satan de- 
 sired to have you, that he might sift you as wheat ; 
 but Christ prayed for you. Temptation may return, 
 but hold fast the promise. God giveth to you eternal 
 life. Be assured, the more firmly and steadily you can 
 believe this, the more you will grow in love to God, 
 and all holy obedience ; watch against doubts, they 
 come from the enemy ; and, listened to, they give him 
 great advantage over you, for faith is your shield. 
 
 March, 1811. 
 
 I AM daily on the look-out ; one year and three 
 months will complete my threescore and ten. I do 
 not know one individual alive, whom I knew in my 
 school days ; it has been the case for many years. I 
 do not long for my dismission, neither am I tired of 
 life ; but nothing in this world, unless closely connected 
 with another, interests me ; and I am tired of sin ; still 
 it cleaves to me ; in all things I come short, and many 
 duties I neglect altogether j for I still have a consider- 
 able share of health, and might do some good, had I 
 will equal to my opportunities : as to the power, it is 
 not in me, but I know that I have it in my blessed 
 Head, and for the asking. I cannot but long to be de- 
 livered from sin and sinful apathy in particular ; for 
 really my heart must be wickedly fertile, to find out 
 opportunities of moral transgression. Food and rai- 
 ment are mine, without care ; my children, under God, 
 care for me. I have my dear little room : my Bible, 
 and books founded on it. I have a dear Pastor, and 
 Christian friends, lively ordinances, and also much of
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 233 
 
 the Lord's presence at times ; my cup runs over with 
 blessings, but my gratitude bears no proportion ; my 
 zeal for the glory of God, and the good of my fellow - 
 sinners, seem buried under self-indulgence and apathy. 
 O that the goodness of the Lord may lead me to re- 
 pentance. 
 
 And now, my dear friend, let me know how it is with 
 you and your dear family. The severe winter is past ; 
 how have you got along ? With what temporal, com- 
 fort ? And how has the Lord dealt with your soul ? 
 Has the barrel of meal, or the cruise of oil, failed ? 
 Does the opening spring cheer your spirits, and fur- 
 nish a song of praise ? Does it find you in a situation 
 to dig your garden, sow your seeds, and make provi- 
 sion for future comfort ? Has the Lord turned your 
 captivity, and dried up the bitter waters that flowed 
 against you ! How are your eyes, after all the briny 
 tears that have steeped tbem ? How are your poor 
 nerves, after all the shocks that have agitated them ? 
 Ah 1 these things have been on my mind ; but, from my 
 long silence, you cannot believe it. What are we all, 
 but broken reeds which pierce the hand when laid 
 hold of, for support ? There is but one friend to poor, 
 fallen, miserable man, in the universe. He is Mercy ; 
 He is Goodness ; He is Truth ; He is Wisdom ; He is 
 unchangeable, and never will fail you ; take him to 
 your heart ; give it all to him : he only is worthy, no 
 other is. 
 
 
 June 27, 1811. 
 
 I RECEIVED my dear friend's letter this day week, 
 and have been answering it ever since. Never was I 
 in such a strait. It contains the effusions of disap- 
 pointed hopes and anticipations of sore evils ; indicates 
 a Soul deeply wounded, and taking in Christian princi- 
 ples, under temptation. Where shall I beigin ? I have 
 laid it before our compassionate High Priest ; I have 
 requested direction. Assist me, O thou blessed Com- 
 forter, whose office it is to convince of sin, as well as 
 to minister consolation ! Do both, from the heart, and 
 by the pen, of thy handmaid. 
 
 Jt appears to me salutary, to call your attention, first,
 
 S24 LIFE AttD WRITINGS Of 
 
 to the sovereignty of God. The silver and the gold 
 are his, and the cattle on a thousand hills ; he giveth 
 them to whomsoever he pleaseth : he setteth up one 
 and putteth down another, doing whatsoever pleaseth 
 him in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants 
 of this earth ; none can stay his hand, or say unto 
 him, What doest thou? He attributes to himself all 
 events : men, and other creatures, are but instru- 
 ments. Men's wicked hearts impel them to commit 
 evil ; but the events are of the Lord, which he over- 
 rules for his own glory, and for the good of his people. 
 Him being delivered for the foreknowledge and counsel of 
 God, he have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified 
 him. Joseph said, Ye meant it for evil, but God for 
 good, to save much people alive, as at this day. The 
 Lord does not often, at the time, give his people rea- 
 sons for afflicting them, though they can often read 
 them at an after period. 
 
 Job was a holy man : his afflictions from God's own 
 hand were very deep ; the teazing unkindness and in- 
 justice of his friends made great part of the temptation, 
 and he spake unadvisedly with his lips. When God 
 did appear, he did not answer his cavils, or give him 
 one reason why he had dealt with him thus ; but si- 
 lenced him with views of his majesty, power, and wis- 
 dom 5 and of his own meanness and vileness, though 
 correct in his conduct, beyond most others. I believe 
 he spake truth, when he said, I delivered the poor that 
 cried, the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. 
 The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came upon 
 me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I 
 was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. I u-as a fa- 
 ther to the pi or, and the cause that I knew not, I searched 
 out. God allowed the weight of the trial to be upon 
 his spirit, with the conviction of his presumption, till 
 he brought him to his feet. Behold I am vile; what 
 shall I answer thee? I u'ill lay my hand upon my mouth. 
 1 abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes. These 
 things we -e written for our example and profit. 
 SflThis afflictive providence is now finished, at least so 
 far. What you now possess is the allotment of your 
 God. Set all instruments aside, and listen to the Holy 
 Ghotv ii. m.le yourself vnder the mighty hand of God,
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 224 
 
 wd he shall exalt you in due time. In order to this, I 
 would recommend you to take a close retrospective 
 view of your past life, with earnest prayer that God 
 would search you and try you, and shew you what 
 wicked ways have been, or now are, in you. Go back 
 to the . days of your youth ; take a close view of the 
 use you made of affluence and influence, not compar- 
 ing 1 yourself with others ; but judging yourself by the 
 law of God, the only standard of right and wrong, truth 
 and error. Seek for humbling views of yourself in 
 yourself. If the Holy Ghost enlighten, you will find 
 sufficient grounds. Seek for consolation in the free 
 promises of God, through Jesus Christ, of which there 
 are also abundance, even to the chief of sinners. What 
 I recommend to you has been my own practice, espe- 
 cially in times of trial. If health will admit of it, add 
 fasting, because I think it is the Lord's ordinance. 
 The days shall come when the Bridegroom shall be taken, 
 from them, then shall they fast in those days. 
 
 Read the third chapter of Jeremiah's Lamentations ; 
 endeavour to come under the feelings of contrition, on 
 account of your sins, and derive consolation from faith 
 in God's great mercy ; ever keeping in view the 
 only channel through which mercy can flow to sin- 
 ners of Adam's race. Take also a view of God's deal- 
 ings with his elect nation, in the wilderness ; they had 
 nothing but marwia, and were punished for murmuring 5 
 while, at that very time, the nations in Canaan, the 
 Egyptians and Assyrians, were living in all manner of 
 luxury. What was their whole history but backslid- 
 ing, threatening upon threatening, then chastisement, 
 turning, repenting, pardon, reconciliation, and the same 
 round again, every chastisement severer than the last ; 
 while worldlings in general, have their day to the end ; 
 Then, says David, they are cast down suddenly to de- 
 struction. I wish you to take a particular view of God's 
 dealings with them, before Nebuchadnezzar sacked the 
 city of Jerusalem. The decree was passed, after many 
 warnings, and much long suffering. How many pauses, 
 as it were, did the merciful Lord God make, before he 
 gave them finally up to their enemies ; and when the 
 decree was irrevocable, and the chastisement to take 
 place, still he followed them with mercy. See Jere- 
 i, 5
 
 336 LIFE AND WRITINGS 6* 
 
 miah xxvii. 12. and chap. xxix. ; the letter which God 
 commanded Jeremiah to write to those who had been 
 carried away captive with Jehoiakim, advising them to 
 build houses and plant vineyards, and to make the 
 most of their situation. Those at Jerusalem were 
 commanded to submit to the King of Babylon, as in 
 that case he would not destroy the city ; but no, they 
 stood it out, and the threatened vengeance overtook 
 them. 
 
 The poor were left to take care of the vineyards ; 
 Jeremiah remained with them in preference to going 
 with the king of Babylon to be promoted to honour. 
 God offered to take them under his protection, and be 
 their God : but no, they would go to Egypt, and put 
 themselves under the king of Egypt's protection. Je- 
 remiah told them from the Lord, that Egypt itself 
 should soon go into captivity. But to Egypt they 
 went, and carried Jeremiah with them. See Isaiah's 
 prophecy on this occasion, chap. xxxv. 31.' Now look 
 at chap. Ixii. < 24. ; there you see God's judgment and 
 chastening ; follow him in the beginning of chapter 
 Ixiii. and view his mercy ; in the end of the same chap- 
 er, again, see his charge against them ; yet it is fol- 
 owed with mercy, not judgment. Thus we learn the 
 character of God. Thus we learn his dealings with his 
 people. They are not called to earthly comfort and 
 prosperity. They ever have been, and still are, a suf- 
 fering people : they are all sinners sin brings suffer- 
 ings, and God over- rules suffering, so as to make it 
 profitable to them. Through redeemed by the life and 
 death of Christ, being justified by f>ith, they have peace 
 with Gjd ; yet the Lord has not pleased all at once to 
 qualify them for the purchased possession. They re- 
 ceive a new birth, a new life, and are called to work 
 Out their own salvation with fear and trembling, with 
 this consolation, that God worketh in them both to 
 will, and to do, of his good pleasure. This is not their 
 home, here they have no continuing city ; they are tra- 
 velling, through the wilderness, to the city and mansions 
 purchased and prepared for them by their Saviour, and 
 must be made koly before they can enter. They have 
 many corruptions to be mortified ; and many errors, hi 
 their estimation of men and things', to be corrected.
 
 MES. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 227 
 
 Their hearts require to be made more spiritual, hum- 
 ble, tender, resigned, and grateful. Then shalt thou 
 remember all the way by which I led thee , to prove thee, 
 and try thee ; to shew thee what was in thy heart, that 
 I might do thee good in thy latter end : Besides, all 
 suffering is not the immediate punishment of sin in the 
 individual sufferer, nor for his exclusive profit : it is 
 evident from Scripture, that suffering takes place for 
 the benefit of the body of Christ his Church; of 
 which (I think) all have some share. God has wise 
 ends to answer by all the suffering of his creatures, and 
 especially of the members of his body. The apostles 
 rejoiced in this, and so ought we. If we suffer with 
 him, we shall also reign with him. Paul says, 1 Jill up, 
 in my flesh, that which is behind, of the sufferings of 
 Christ, for his body's sake, which is the church. Now, 
 my dear friend, let us take a look at your real indivi- 
 dual situation, as a suffering member of a suffering 
 body. Take a view of the saints of God in history, sa- 
 cred or profane j compare your own individual suffer- 
 ing with theirs : I am apt to think that, great as it is, 
 it will not rise to mediocrity. I could Expatiate on this 
 subject, from what comes every day within my own 
 knowledge. The Lord is working in this way all 
 around me ; but of that another time. Io your own 
 case, try for a moment to shut out of view, every thing 
 without your own family ; what you once were, what 
 you once possessed and enjoyed ; also, what your 
 friends possess and enjoy at this present time : detach 
 yourself from all. What was your's, is gone ; what 
 you calculated upon, is also gone : set all aside, and 
 consider yourself a sinner, saved from destruction by 
 grace ; in a state of purgation, and preparation for hap- 
 piness, on a pilgrimage with thousands of others, your 
 fellow-saved sinners, through the wilderness, to that in- 
 heritance which was purchased for you at such a price. 
 Your Saviour is your Leader, Protector, Provider/, also 
 your Physician, and the Physician of the whole body, 
 perfectly acquainted with the constitution, disposition, 
 and temper of every individual. He has made provi- 
 sion for each, all the journey through; and given se- 
 curity that none shall suffer real want. Bread and 
 water are promised ; nothing beyond these, though in
 
 928 LIFE AND WRITINGS 
 
 general he gives more : to each he gives a portion in 
 hand, to some for a day, some for a week, some for a 
 year, which they calculate upon with more, or less pro- 
 bability ; none with certainty. Your portion is for a 
 year ; take a view of those whom you know, one with 
 another ; for I am apt to think that the Lord has still 
 given you your full share of privilege. Look at the 
 ordinary provision he makes for the ministers of his 
 Gospel j most of them with large families : many of 
 those in the country have five hundred dollars, some 
 four hundred, some three hundred , generally ill paid. 
 The Lord puts a blessing in it, he makes it go far ; 
 they do what their hands find to do, and contrive to 
 subsist, with a measure of comfort ; so will he do with 
 you. He will put you upon methods of industry and 
 economy : your humble morsel, with the fruit of God's 
 blessing on your industry in the garden, shall both 
 taste sweet, and satisfy for the time. Try to be thank- 
 ful 3 Moses said of the manna, This is the bread which 
 the Lord your God giveth you. Pray and watch against 
 dwelling on the plentiful tables of others ; and, when 
 bidden to a feast, take your portion, and say, This is 
 from the Lord for the time. Do not let a thought of 
 misery or wretchedness dwell upon your mind. O no, 
 God is good 5 you shall not want. O what sweet meals 
 have I and my children made on mere potatoes and 
 salt. There are peculiar pleasures in a life of that 
 kind. You shall yet sing of it. 
 
 Now, my dear friend, I have done with what I had 
 to say on this head. I have had great fears, lest you 
 should reckon me among Job's friends : but you call 
 me mother ; and it is required of a mother to be faith- 
 ful. I now leave it with the Lord. We are delighted 
 to find you girding up the loins of your mind, and 
 setting about active duty. Let us meet at a throne 
 of grace, and look to the course the Lord marks out 
 for us. 
 
 TO MRS. G Y. 
 
 MY DEAR MADAM, 
 
 I HAVE just parted with my dear afflicted friend 
 P. ; she left it in charge to me, that I should write to
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 
 
 you in the time of your affliction. Surely, I would do 
 any thing, whatever, that I thought might alleviate 
 either her, or your distress. But there are cases to 
 which God alone can speak ; afflictions under which 
 he alone can give consolation. Such are those under 
 which the sufferer is commanded to be still, and know 
 that he is God. He never leaves his people in any 
 case ; but sometimes shuts them up from human aid. 
 Their grief is too great to be consoled by human 
 tongue or pen. 
 
 Such I have experienced. I lost my only son ; I 
 neither know when, nor where ; and, for any thing 1 
 know, in a state of rebellion against God. Here, at 
 my heart, it lies still ; who can speak to me of it ? 
 Neither can \ reason upon it. Aaron held his peace. 
 Old Eli said, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth 
 good in his sight. Samuel, in his turn, had his heart 
 wrung by his ungodly son. David lamented over his 
 beloved Absalom ; but it availed him nothing. Job's 
 sons and daughters were all cut off in one day ; he 
 himself was visited with severe bodily affliction ; his 
 friends sat, seven days and seven nights, without open- 
 ing their mouths, because they saw his affliction was 
 very great ; and, if they spake, it was to aggravate it : 
 when God himself spake, he gave him no reason for 
 his dealings, but charged him with folly and madness : 
 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty, instruct 
 him ? He that reproieth God let him answer it. Then 
 he called his attention to his own meanness and imbe- 
 cility: then Job laid his hand on his mouth, and his 
 mouth in the dust, confessed himself vile, and became 
 dumb before God ; abhorring himself, and repenting 
 in dust and ashes, instead of bringing forward the 
 splendid catalogue of virtues enumerated in chapter 
 xxix. and complaints in chapter x. which' I make not 
 the least doubt were true, as far as human virtue can 
 reach : but if God charge even his angels with folly, 
 shall man, corrupt, self-destroying man, plead merit be- 
 fore God. 
 
 But, my dear friend, I do not find in all God's Bible, 
 any thing requiring us to anticipate the final destruc- 
 tion of any, for whem we have prayed, pleaded, and 
 committed to him ; least of all our offspring, whom he
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 has commanded us to train up for him. Children are 
 God's heritage. I do not say that he has given us any 
 promise for the obstinately wicked ; but when cut off, 
 he only requires us to be slill, to hold our peace. I 
 do not think that he takes hope from us. God has set 
 limits to our faith for others ; our faith must not rest 
 m opposition to his threatenings. We must believe 
 that the wicked shalt be turned into hell, and all that 
 forget God ; but he has set no bounds to his qwn 
 mercy : in that glorious plan of redemption, by which 
 he substitutes his own Son, in the room and stead of 
 sinners, he has made provision for the chief of sinners ; 
 and can now be just and consistent, while he justifies 
 the ungodly who believe in Jesus. Short was the time 
 between the thief s petition, and the promise of salva- 
 tion : nay, the petition was the earnest of it. The 
 same was the case with the jailor ; I think, too, that 
 the publican had the earnest in his petition. Now, in- 
 stead of labouring to bring my mind to acquiesce in 
 the condemnation of my child, on the supposition of 
 its being for God's glory, (which I no where find re- 
 required, but from some of your New England divines,) 
 I try to be still, as he has commanded ; not to follow 
 my child to the yet invisible world ; but, turning my 
 eyes to that character which God has revealed of him- 
 self to the plan of redemption to the sovereignty of 
 God in the execution of that plan to his names of 
 grace, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, 
 tlow to anger, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving 
 iniquity, and transgression, and sin ; while he adds, and 
 that will by no means clear the guilty, I meet it with his 
 own declaration, He hath made him to be sin for us, who 
 knew no sin, that ice might be made the righteousness of 
 God in him. I read also that mercy rejoiceth against 
 judgment, and many other like Scriptures, which al- 
 though I dare not ground a belief of his salvation on 
 them, seems to afford one ray of hope after another, 
 that God may have made him a monument of mercy, 
 to the glory of his grace. Thus God himself consoles 
 his own praying people, while man ought to be very 
 cautious, if not silent, where the Scriptures are silent, 
 as it respects the final state of another, whose heart we 
 cannot know, nor what God may have wrought in it.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 931 
 
 God has set bounds to our faith, which can no where 
 find solid ground to fix upon, but on his own written 
 promise. Yet, as I said above, he has set no bounds to 
 his own mercy, and he has made provision for iti 
 boundless flow, as far as he shall please to extend k, 
 through the atonement and merits of his own Son, who 
 is able to save to the uttermost, all who come unto God- by 
 him. Now, my dear friend, you have my ideas of our 
 situation ; if they be correct, I pray that our compas- 
 sionate Father may comfort you by them : if otherwise, 
 may he pardon what is amiss, and lead you, my dear 
 friend P , and myself, to such consolation as he him- 
 self will own as the work of his Spirit, and save us from 
 the enemy, and our own spirit. 
 
 Since writing- the foregoing, I feel afraid of what I 
 have said : it is dangerous to seek comfort where the 
 Scriptures are silent ; yet, while we plead with God to 
 be preserved from error, and try to be still before him, 
 he will save us from the subtilty of the serpent, as well 
 as from the rage of the lion. 
 
 I am, with love, your sympathising friend, 
 
 ISABELLA GRAHAM. 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS WRITTEN TO MR. AND 
 
 JMRS. B 
 
 
 IWiile in Britain, far the Benefit of Mrs. B.'s Health, 
 
 in 1801 and 1802. 
 
 March 23, 1801. 
 MY DEAR CHILDREN, 
 
 THIS is mortifying to both, to be anchored half 
 a mile from us, and there to lie for hours but even 
 this, trifling as it may appear, 'has its end to answer in 
 His scheme, without whom not a sparrow falls. I hare 
 retired, with my Bible, to commit you, and all my 
 cares and concerns, afresh to that God whose goodness 
 and mercy have followed us through life ; who is my 
 God, your God, and the God of our seed ; who answer-
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 ed my prayers, in the face of all my inconsistent con- 
 duct ; and took you out of my idolatrous management, 
 into his own more merciful guidance. He has done all 
 things well, and He will perfect his own work. 
 
 Now, may the Angel that redeemed you, be with you, 
 keep you in the hollow of his hand, and as the apple of 
 his eye ; be with you on his own ocean, and command 
 the billows not to touch you ; carry you to the bosom 
 of your dear native country, where a large proportion 
 of his body live in Him and by Him : bless you, and 
 make you a blessing, wherever his providence shall 
 carry you, and restore you with blessings to us, in bis- 
 own time. Amen. 
 
 Sabbath after Morning Sen-ice. 
 March 29. 
 
 THIS, my dear children, is a day of storm, wind, and 
 rain ; O that the prayer of our dear Pastor, and I hope 
 of many present, may be with you, and be answered to 
 and for you it was thus expressed : 
 
 ( Lord, be with that family, who, now, on the mighty 
 ocean, desire an interest in our prayers. May He, 
 whom winds and waves obey, preserve them in this 
 tempestuous season ; may they see, and improve his 
 wonders in the great deep ; may the blessings of the 
 everlasting Gospel preserve their souls in peace : con- 
 duct them in safety to their destined port, and restore 
 them to us, enriched with the blessings of thy well- 
 ordered covenant.' 
 
 I sent two notes for the Dutch churches, inclosed to 
 Mr. B. one for Wall-street, to Mr. A. and one for the 
 Brick Church, to Mr. M. I watered all with my tears. 
 
 Five o'clock. 
 
 On ! how it blows and rains ! O my children, how 
 my poor heart aches for you ; if not in danger, yet sick 
 and in much discomfort ! I gave a note in the old 
 church, in the afternoon, supposing the congregation, 
 on this dreadful day, to be different. Mr. M. prayed : 
 ' The Angel of thy presence be with them, give them 
 much of the consolations of thy Spirit. Conduct them 
 in safety to the place of their destination, and restore
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 233 
 
 them, enriched with thy blessing, to worship with us 
 again, in this thy house of prayer.' I write, on this 
 day, merely to record, for your perusal, the prayers of 
 your Church. I think you ought, if the Lord conduct 
 you safe, to propose public thanks to that God, who 
 heard and answered ; if agreeable to Mr. M. Write me 
 how it was with you on this day. Now I will go to a 
 throne of grace for you, and all of us. O keep close to 
 the Lord ; may he save you from a dissipated, trifling, 
 carnal spirit ; may he sanctify all your comforts, and 
 give you a just estimation of all you see and hear; may 
 the Christian's portion rise more and more ; and the 
 world, and its vanities, sink in your view. 
 
 April 4. 
 
 A VESSEL which sails for London to-morrow, will, 
 I hope, convey this to you, if the Lord spare you to 
 be there ; I cannot help being very anxious since that 
 storm ; by the arrival of several vessels in twenty-four 
 and twenty-three days, we find the winds have been all 
 easterly and strong ; all contrary to you : but they are 
 God's winds, and 1 hope his presence will make all up, 
 and cause you to profit by all his providences. 
 
 Mr. W. W lost this week three sons, which makes 
 four in all, of the scarlet fever, and sore throat all 
 very suddenly ; one in twenty-four hours ; he has two 
 of six left ; what can we say to these things ? The 
 Lord does what pleases him in the armies of heaven, 
 and among the inhabitants of the earth. Blessed are 
 they to whom all things shall work together for good. 
 It is my great consolation, that you are, through grace, 
 among that happy number, and in no possible way can 
 be a loser at his hand ; death itself will be your gain. 
 The society met here last Monday, where you were 
 again, in the prayer of faith, brought to a throne of 
 grace. 
 
 I am, with love, your Mother. 
 
 April 10. 
 
 WHAT the Lord is going to do with his, and my chil- 
 dren, I know not ; but the Samuel Elam has returned
 
 234 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 to port, with a leak, after being out nineteen days. On 
 the day of storm, she had seven feet water in her hold. 
 I hope that the Lord, in mercy to you, to his church, 
 and to me, his unworthy servant, has guided you in 
 safety, and that the prayers of his church were an- 
 swered in your behalf. O my children, what would be 
 the situation of my heart, had I not confidence of your 
 being within the ark ! I desire to rejoice over all my 
 tears, for this unspeakable consolation j nothing can 
 hurt you. 1 experience for you, what I did in my own 
 case, when darkness and tempest added to the horrors 
 of many, while our vessel kept dashing on the rock ;* 
 I, too, expected her to go to pieces every moment j but 
 the idea was ever with me, In the bosom of God's ocean, 
 I shall find the bosom of my Saviour. On the night of 
 the 29th of March, I dreamt my dear J y fell over- 
 board, and I saw her floating on the billows, support- 
 ing herself by her little chair : this is the state of my 
 mind ; yet I am thankful, and enjoy much peace. The 
 Lord has given me all I asked the salvation of your 
 souls. In a little time we shall all be gathered around 
 his throne. Well may I leave to him all intervening 
 circumstances, as well as who goes first, and how. O 
 hovr he blesses my latter end, how he soothes and com- 
 forts my old age ! Far other things have I merited, that 
 my soul knows ; but he has riot only pardoned, but 
 comforts, and draws a veil over my transgressions, 
 covering them from the world's observation. What 
 can I say ? He is God, and mercy is his darling attri- 
 bute. 
 
 April 17, 1801. 
 
 I WROTE to my dear children by the Draper, by the 
 British Packet, and by I know not whom j but this is 
 the fourth. I will now begin to number my letters; 
 for I prepare them to go by the first opportunity, with- 
 out being able to know, at the time of writing, which 
 will be the first. 
 
 The weather has been tremendous. It is not my 
 
 , , 
 
 * On the coast of Ayr, as stated in her Life,
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. '235 
 
 anxiety that makes the observation. Others allow it, 
 and the winds are all easterly. Were not my God 
 your God, did I not know and believe that all his pro- 
 vidences shall be over-ruled for your true interest, did 
 I not enter more into your eternal state than your tem- 
 poral, I should be very miserable. 
 
 I have brought the reality near me, that mine eyes 
 may never behold you again on earth. I can say, even 
 of that, It is well; but the idea of the horrors of a 
 tempest, a leaky vessel, racked by the storm, and sink- 
 ing by inches ; sickness, nervous timidity, and the suf- 
 ferings to be undergone, before the entrance to the 
 haven of rest be attained, is my chief disquietment, I 
 will not say distress ; because, when these horrors 
 (horrors they are to mese nature) dart across my mind, 
 filling my soul with momentary anguish, Satan too, 
 seeking to distract my mind, the Spirit of the Lord lifts 
 up a standard against him, and comforts me with his 
 own word, the everlasting promises suited to every pos- 
 sible circumstance in the believer's lot. Thousands of 
 times have I grasped that promise, Leave thy fatherless 
 children to me, I will preserve them alive. 1 pleaded it 
 for the life of their souls ; he answered my prayers ; 
 he has given them life, and they live to him. Yes, I 
 see the fruit : and though iniquities still prevail against 
 them, he still purges away their transgressions ; kindles 
 their repentance ; humbles their souls ; lays them pros- 
 trate in penitential confession ; washes them afresh in 
 the open fountain ; restores to them the joys of his sal- 
 vation 5 seals their pardon by shedding abroad his love 
 in their hearts, and making them walk in the path of 
 righteousness for his own name's sake. 
 
 Thus he carries them on from strength to strength, 
 by various means of his own appointing, and some ter- 
 rible things in righteousness, in the course of his pro- 
 videnae ; in all which he is sovereign, but ever consist- 
 ent with his new covenant name, as proclaimed to 
 Moses on the mount : as manifested in the character 
 of God, dwelling with us in our own nature, in whom 
 mercy shone prominent, his darling attribute ; by which 
 mercy, they shall appear in Zion, before God, in due 
 time. 
 
 Is it so ? Ts this God my God, and the God of my
 
 336 Lira AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 seed ? Is he himself become our salvation ? Are we 
 heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ ? Is our life 
 hid with Christ in God ? When he appears, shall We 
 (I and the children which he hath given me) in very 
 deed, appear with him in glory? Is all this so? Shall 
 I believe it ? Yet I tremble at the approach of any of 
 his providences. Shall I not say, when it has taken 
 place, The will of the Lord be done, especially when 
 clothed with love ? I trust that, as my day, so shall my 
 strength be ; and in the interim, I have the same con- 
 fidence for you. For he giveth power to the faint, and to 
 them that have no might he increaseth strength. 
 
 April 25, 1801. 
 MY DEAB CHILDREN, 
 
 THE storms and tempests that have almost un- 
 remittingly succeeded each other, ever since you left 
 us, have kept my mind in constant exercise about you : 
 the wind roars and howls in my windows, though not 
 facing the storm, and the white waves in the river pic- 
 ture in my mind the foaming billows of the ocean. Thq 
 name of our God is my consolation ; though the waters 
 roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with 
 the swelling thereof, there is a river, the streams whereof 
 shall make glad the city of God. God shall help her, 
 and that right early. When I walk about Zion, and go 
 round about her, when I tell the towers thereof, mark her 
 bulwarks, and consider her palaces, my heart rejoices, 
 that this God is our God ; he will be our guide even unto 
 death ; and O the joy, that my children are the citizens 
 of this Zion, and the heirs of all the promises by virtue 
 of the New Testament in Christ's blood ! A covenant 
 of works it was to our Surety, and his heart's blood 
 finished the requisites of it. It is now a Testament to 
 you, sealed by the same blood. Wherever in his word 
 I meet the character, the providence, the work of God, 
 I read my own and my children's interest. I hope your 
 experience will be in Psalm cvii. 23. If not wholly, it 
 terminate in Psalm xxiii. 4. Though you walk through 
 the valley of the shadow of death, you shall fear no evil ; 
 for this God, who is your Guide, even unto death, shall 
 be with you; his rod and his staff shall comfort /-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 2* 
 
 and our darling J y, he shall carry as a lamb in his 
 arms, and hide her from the horrors, in his bosom. I 
 dwell much on these subjects, and 1 feel comforted, 
 whatever be the event. 
 
 If the Lord has carried you safely through, and you 
 live to read this in the body, know that our God con- 
 tinues to bless us abundantly, in health, peace, and 
 plenty, as to temporals ; we also experience the peace 
 of his covenant, and have tastes of the bread and of the 
 water of life. Thanks, all thanks, to our new covenant 
 Head, for the stability of the covenant ; we change, but 
 he changes not. He himself is the covenant given to 
 the people, and because he lives, his people shall livo- 
 also, in spite of Satan, and his colleague sin, in our 
 heart, sin may, and does, bring his people into capti- 
 vity, but it shall not keep them in bondage for ever. 
 The time of deliverance shall come, when they shall re- 
 vive as the corn, &c. Is it not a well-ordered covenant., 
 and sure ! 
 
 May 10, 1801. 
 MY DEAR CHILDREN, 
 
 LAST evening was preparation sermon. Mr. 
 
 Y preached a very excellent Sermon from the Song 
 
 of Solomon, Who is this that cometh up from the wilder- 
 ness, leaning on her beloved ? He considered first, the 
 wilderness of this world ; next the church coming up j 
 then the attitude leaning, and on whom. I thought the 
 simile well supported, and practical, as he went on, 
 His application was rich on the Christian's support, 
 where he brought into view many of the names of 
 Christ. , 
 
 After sermon, we witnessed a most affecting scene ; 
 two female members rebuked, and restored to the com- 
 munion of the church. Never, never did our dear Mr. 
 M shine so bright in my eyes ; many tears were 
 shed. I knew nothing of it, and wondered to what he 
 was leading, when he addressed the congregation after 
 sermon, upon Christian walk, watchfulness, and temp- 
 tation, and the distress occasioned in Christian society, 
 when any of the members were left to fall into opea 
 and aggravated sin. Such was the case in our own
 
 t39 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 congregation ; two (naming the offenders) had been so 
 far left ; but while deeply wounded by the sin and 
 scandal, he was consoled by their penitence ; he as- 
 sured the congregation that they had given great evi- 
 dence of deep contrition, and were now come forward 
 to acknowledge their crime before their offended and 
 grieved brethren, and to give all the satisfaction in 
 their power, by submitting to the censure of the church 
 in this public manner, which, although painful to him, 
 he must pronounce according to God's appointment. 
 . Them who sin before all, rebuke before all. He then 
 made them stand up ; scarcely an individual turned to 
 look ; many were weeping while he laid before them 
 their guilt in strong, yet tender, terms ; and finished, 
 by expressing his approbation of their thus submitting 
 to the rod ; pronounced their absolution, and gave them 
 an exhortation to humility, and redoubled watchful- 
 ness. Then, again, he addressed the members, re- 
 questing them to receive into their Christian love and 
 affection their repenting, returning sisters ; that they 
 would treat them with tenderness, and restore them in 
 the spirit of meekness, considering themselves as also 
 in the body, and subject to temptation." ' Let no one 
 put them in remembrance of the sin which the Father 
 of mercies has blotted out, nor open those wounds 
 which he has closed. He doth not chide continually, 
 nor retain his anger for ever.' But I can do no justice 
 to the melting tenderness of his address. Afterwards, 
 the youngest brought her babe to the font of baptism ; 
 and here, and in prayer, Mr. M was very particular. 
 She appeared to be weeping all the time. 
 
 May the Lord bless the discipline of his church j 
 may he meet us to-morrow with multiplied pnpdons ; 
 may he melt our hearts to contrition, heal our back- 
 slidings, and manifest himself as married unto us j may 
 he bring us into his banqueting house ! may his banner 
 over us be love ; may his grace be magnified, and his 
 name glorified : and may he send a portion to my dear 
 children yea, a Benjamin s portion ; may he open wide 
 the leaves of that New Testament, and let them read 
 their rich inheritance, and rejoice in their portion. 
 
 Two days more will fill up seven weeks since you 
 sailed ; but, from every account of the winds, you have 
 aot reached port, at least a port on earth.
 
 MRfl. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 239 
 
 Farewell, my dear children. The Lord bless you. 
 keep you, guide you, and cause his face to shine on 
 you ; so prays your affectionate mother. 
 
 Mail 21, 1801. 
 
 I WOWLD fain begin to hope, that my dear childreu 
 are now on, or near, the green fields of Albion. Many 
 a severe gale has agitated them, and tried their faith 
 and confidence, before this day. But as he who sitteth 
 on the clouds, commanding and governing the elements, 
 is their own God in covenant, who ipves them, care* 
 for them, and perfects what concerns them $ I hope 
 that they have had much of his presence ; and have 
 found, even on the boisterous ocean, amidst the horrors 
 of the swelling deep, agitated with winds and tempests, 
 all things necessary to life and godliness in these great 
 and precious promises, accompanied by divine power, 
 by which they are made partakers of divine life, and 
 escape the pollution that is in the world through lust. 
 I hope that they are enriched in experience, and ad- 
 vanced in the divine life, by all they have suffered, and 
 all they have tasted of divine support in their sufferings ; 
 that Christ is still more precious, his word more tried, 
 and their confidence in him more established : if so, 
 great is their gain. And our darling J. being a sharer 
 in the suffering, shall, at her God's hand, he also a 
 gainer, though it be not evident to our perception. O 
 how rich is the Christian ! How inexhaustible his por- 
 tion ! His table is ever furnished, his cup ever full ; all 
 is blessing, no curse mingled ; that our Surety took to 
 himself : prosperity and adversity, sickness and health, 
 light and darkness, all, all shall bless us, work for our 
 good, turn to our profit, and end. in the glory of God, 
 and our unspeakable, inconceivable happiness. 
 
 I have been here a week yesterday ; all vegetable 
 nature glows and shines in the perfection of beauty ; 
 flowers, shrubs, trees, grain, grass, falling waters turn- 
 ing the busy mill, the brook murmuring on its way to 
 the ocean, fit emblem of eternity ; all glorify their 
 Creator ; and, although no such birds as in Britain, 
 charm the listening ear, we have some sweet chirpers
 
 240 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 of his praise ; and what is wanting to the ear, is made 
 up to the eye, for in beauty they excel. 
 
 These I may enjoy ; with these hold communion ; 
 for, spiritual death holds all within these walls in dis- 
 mal bondage ; not one symptom of life appears, but 
 death as the dry bones in the valley of vision. Why do 
 I not wrestle more for the Spirit to breathe on them ! 
 I do pray : but oh ! how formally ! 
 
 June 17, 180L, 
 MY DEAR CHILDREN, 
 
 DIFFICULT it is for me to exercise patience ; 
 the 23d of this month will make three months since 
 you waved the handkerchief on board the Mars, off the 
 Battery. I had made up my mind not to give way to 
 expectation, short of three months ; they are nearly 
 past ; how many events took place in that space of time ! 
 How many duties ought to be performed ! How many 
 sins are really committed ! How guilty to wish to an- 
 nihilate the time, that a certain event may come round ! 
 For every moment of time we must account, and not 
 one moment of it can we recal. Much you have seen ; 
 much you have suffered 5 much, perhaps, also enjoyed : 
 for the Lord can give songs in the night, and in a 
 dungeon. Surely, his salvation is near to them that fear 
 him to them there is no want. The Lord is their 
 Shepherd ; he feedeth them in green pastures, beside 
 the gently flowing waters ; if they wander, he restoreth 
 them, perhaps with the rod, but it is the rod of love ; 
 they need not be afraid to enter even the valley of the 
 shadow of death : their Shepherd is with them, and hi 
 rod (rod of support) and staff shall comfort them. 1 
 hope that this has been a profitable time to you both ; 
 that you have seen more of the evil of sin, and of your 
 own hearts, their deceitful, double turnings and wind- 
 ings, to cover and conceal the enemy of God and your 
 own souls j more of the extent and spirituality of the 
 divine law, fulfilled in every jot and tittle by your 
 Surety j but still doubly binding on you as a rule of 
 life, in the hand of your Redeemer, who hath bought 
 you to himself, and taken you into his own hands, that 
 you might be a holy people to himself, delivered not
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GRAftAM. 24 1 
 
 ft 
 
 merely from the penalty and curse, but from the power 
 and indwelling of sin. I hope that you have seen more 
 of the unsearchable riches of Christ in all he has done, 
 and is now doing, for your, and h;s church's happiness ; 
 and of those exceeding great and precious promises by 
 which you are made partakers of the divine life, and 
 privileged to escape the pollution that is in the world 
 through lust ; more of the faithfulness of God, as a 
 God in Christ, pardoning sin, and reconciling you to 
 himself ; and, day by day, teaching you by his Word, 
 Spirit, and Providences. I am but just beginning to 
 see that I am blind ; my own character, opening upon 
 me as a sinner, in heart, tongue, and conduct, against 
 my God, my neighbour, and my own soul. How comes, 
 it, then, that I am at ease in God's world ; in health, 
 in peace, and comfort, and all in an extraordinary de- 
 gree, as to temporals : and, as to spirituals, though 
 grieved with self, my joy in Christ also abounds. Can 
 I believe it ? What can I say ? What can I render to 
 the Lord for all his gifts to me ? Nothing can I do, 
 but just take the cup of salvation, calling upon the 
 name of the Lord, and remain an eternal debtor to his 
 grace for every thing. 
 
 There is great news from Tennessee, of a remarkable 
 concern there. There is a camp half a mile in length, 
 where people have gathered with their families, and 
 provision in waggons, to hear the word of life : minis- 
 ters have also assembled from all quarters, and of 
 different denominations. One of the missionaries, be- 
 longing to the General Assembly, writes this, and that 
 the number of ministers had increased from one to 
 nineteen ; that, when lie passed, they had begun upon 
 the Sabbath, and continued, without separating, night 
 and day, until Tuesday ; but say little of this until I write 
 again. There is another of less importance, or rather 
 less conspicuous, at Bloomfield, New Jersey : O pray 
 
 the Lord of the harvest to thrust out labourers. 
 
 . . .-, 
 
 June<?6, 1801. 
 
 UY DEAR CHILDREN, 
 
 I NOW begin to be very anxious j friends tell me, 
 that, considering the quick passages of vessels coining
 
 542 LIFE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 hither, while you were going, I ought not to look for 
 letters so soon : it may be so, but still my mind works 
 However, by this time the Lord's will is done ; you are 
 already in port, on earth, or in heaven. Blessed alter- 
 native ! Ought 1 to be sad, who can say, or in heaven > 
 Oh no, I trust grace will be given to acquiesce in his 
 most blessed will, a most gracious will it has been to 
 me and mine. 
 
 I wrote you in my last, that our dear Mr. M 
 
 leaves us next month for Britain ; his errand is to state 
 the situation of this country, as greatly in want of. mi- 
 nisters, and the means of educating ministers. Many 
 of his people are dissatisfied, as he has two congrega- 
 tions to supply, and a large family of his own. Why 
 should he be the man ? For my own part, I think he 
 is the very man ; and I am thankful to feel a degree of 
 disinterestedness. Though I love my minister, value 
 his ministry and his person, I hope the general interest 
 of Christ's body is more dear to me, and of infinitely 
 more importance than my private comfort, which, after 
 all, I do not believe can suffer, by parting cheerfully 
 with its apparent food to Christ, who himself is the 
 Sum and Substance of all that any minister can be in- 
 strumental in conveying. All means are alike to him, 
 or no means. I therefore rejoice in his will, and pray 
 that the Lord may prosper him, give him a double por- 
 tion of his Spirit, and favour in the eyes of all whose 
 influence is necessary to advance the Redeemer's king- 
 dom in America. 
 
 Our friend, Mrs. K , is gone : she died suddenly : 
 both Mr. and Mrs. T died at their country seat ; he 
 first she fancied she was getting better. The physi- 
 cian advised her not to ride, as she could not stand the 
 fatigue ; she had more faith in air and exercise ; the 
 last day she went out, she fainted, getting into the car- 
 riage, and again coming out ; and died in the afternoon. 
 She lived near us, yet I never saw her, nor offered one 
 kind office towards the salvation of her soul, which, if 
 lost, leaves me not innocent of her blood ; and, if saved, 
 as I hope it may be, my sinful neglect is not the less. 
 What a picture in them of the vanity of all under the 
 sun ; and in me, of the evil of procrastination ! I meant 
 to visit her. O my Saviour, is this the return I make
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM, 243 
 
 for the millions of pardons which thou hast past on my 
 account ; sparing even the rod, and blessing me with 
 health, restored limbs, and mercy on mercy, comfort 
 on comfort ! I want words to paint my abominable 
 ingratitude, indolence, and cruelty : and yet, O yet, I 
 am spared, and my mercies are spared, as far as I know 
 but trial may be at hand. Perhaps I write what my 
 children may never read. Well, even then, mercy, 
 mercy, shall be my song ; for if so, I sing the song on 
 earth, which they sing in heaven. I am just going to 
 town, to attend preparation sermon. Our feast is on 
 Sabbath. 
 
 July 17, 180i. 
 
 WHAT shail I render to the Lord for all his mercies ; 
 mercies temporal, mercies spiritual, mercies eternal, 
 multiplied mercies ! The one thing that I asked of 
 the Lord has been answered in full ; and O, how much 
 added ! God himself become my Salvation, and the 
 Salvation of my house ; how unspeakable the blessing ! 
 Although chastisement and affliction were the means 
 of correction and sanctification, or even the vengeance 
 taken on my inventions, yet. as a God, he at the same 
 time pardons. For my character is ever the same with 
 backsliding Judah, and treacherous Israel. Glory to 
 the name which is ever the same, and changes not. 
 The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long- 
 suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving ini~ 
 quitij, transgression, and sin. This was his name among 
 a stitf-necked people, an idolatrous, ungrateful people ; 
 this is his name to me, alike in character. O how he 
 has magnified this name to me, a backslider in heart 
 and life ; multiplying pardons while 1 have multiplied 
 transgressions ! Still he has been with me ; healing my 
 backsliding, restoring my soul, leading me to the open 
 fountain, giving faith, and joy, and peace in believing 
 not only so, but in this land of drought, this vast howl- 
 ing wilderness, this vale of tears, where man is born to 
 trouble as the sparks Jly upwards, my cup is full, and 
 running over, with temporal comfort. All his creatures 
 minister to my comfort ; and as days and nights roll 
 on, his daily providence adds, and diminishes not, 
 M 2
 
 344 LIFE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 I had hardly hoped to see the faces of my children 
 again ; for he commanded, and raised the stormy winds, 
 and lifted up the waves of the sea; they mounted to 
 heaven, and sunk again to the deep ; death, with all its 
 natural horrors, surroimded them ; the deep yawned to 
 devour them ; but God, their own God, was at hand, 
 their Anchor of Hope ; their Ark of safety ; their Hiding 
 Place, till the calamity was past ; they cried to lum, and 
 he saved them out of their d stresses ; he made the storm a 
 calm, and the wares thereof still, and brought them to the 
 desired haven. This trouble was not unto death, but 
 for the glory of God, and the exercisiEg of your faith, 
 for the manifestation of his power and goodness, and 
 the enriching of your experience. 
 
 O then, let > s praise the Lord for his goodness, and 
 for his wonderful works to the children of men. Let tit 
 exalt him i >i the congregation of his people, and praise 
 him in the assembly of the elders. 
 
 MY DEAR CHILDREN, 
 
 YOURS of July 3d, from Glasgow, is to me like 
 cold water to the thirsty soul. I thank my dear J , 
 that, tired and. fatigued as she was, she sacrificed her 
 necessary rest to the relief of her anxious mother. I 
 hope that my God did not allow her to be a sufferer j 
 yet, my dear, two sheets were not necessary to my re- 
 lief, though every line of them was interesting. To 
 hear of the attentions of our dear countrymen, must 
 be gratifying : to learn that your health permits yow 
 to accept of these, more so ; to hear of your attention, 
 and that of others, to my lonely sister, is soothing. 
 But words are wanting, to express the delight of my 
 soul, on reading of the Lord's goodness to your soul ; 
 in dispensing to yoii so liberally the bread and the water 
 of life 5 yea, feasting you on the dainties of his house, 
 along with his choice favourites, giving you to see the 
 good of his chosen, and to rejoice in their joy. O my 
 dear J , what hath God done for us in spirituals, and 
 in temporals ! His dealings with us have not been or- 
 dinary. How stately have been his steps in almost aH 
 his providences ! I bless my God, with my whole soul, 
 and all that is- within me : I desire to bless him, that,
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 245 
 
 while he gave you favour with all, he attached you 
 most closely to his own, the'exeellent ones of the earth ; 
 to them he conducted you, with them he fed you, giv- 
 ing you credit with them, and a name, and a place in 
 his house. O Lord, what can thy servant say ? Thou 
 art thyself, I AM THAT I AM, is thy name : wisdom, 
 power, justice, goodness, and truth, are thine essential 
 qualities. But O thy long-suffering, thy patience, thine 
 unspeakable mercy, thy pardoning, thy restoring, thy 
 healing, thy consoling mercy, is the wonder of won- 
 Uers ! How is the wonder increased, when I consider 
 the objects of it ! O now my dear children, let us live 
 to bis glory : surely mercy is his darling attribute, and 
 judgment his strange work ! Eternity wiU prove too 
 ^hort to sing of his mercy j and who ought to sing as 
 loud as we ? 
 
 October 23, 1801. 
 
 SURELY, surely, my heart feels grateful for the time, 
 though this, like every other good motion, will, like the 
 morning dew, soon pass away. 
 
 My child en have not only been preserved through 
 the tempestuous storms that threatened death, witli 
 circumstances shocking to nature ; but my poor sick 
 child has borne a long fatiguing journey : that journey 
 has been made comfortable, by the warm reception of 
 many kind frienus, clear to nature, and many doubly 
 endeared by grace ; among the last, the mother and 
 dsters of the kindest and best of husbands ; they re- 
 ceiving her as their own flesh and blood, as well as their 
 fellow member in Christ ; blest with a measure of 
 health to enjoy all, and a measure of grace to profit by 
 all j eyeing by faith the dear invisible hand of a cove- 
 nant God preserving, leading, guiding through every 
 step* his love the marrow of the whole, and their 
 charter for safety, even amidst the dangers of prospe- 
 rity. Is not godliness gain ; profitable for this life, as 
 well as that whioh is to come ? What is the portion of 
 She worldling ? Even in this life, ' shadowy joy or solid 
 woe,' without a balance to the first, or consolation in 
 the last ; no sure footing in the one, nor support in the 
 other ; distant from the fountain of happiness by nature,
 
 246 LIFE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 prosperity incrusts their hearts, and increases their car- 
 nality ; nestling in their worldly comforts, they forget 
 that they are the creatures of^ a day, that eternity lies 
 before them, and only the feeble, uncertain thread of 
 life between them and that curse under which they were 
 born. Not so the child of God ; all things work toge- 
 ther for his good, all things; his standing is not in 
 himself; his footsteps are directed by Infinite Wisdom ; 
 he is kept by the power of God, through faith unto 
 salvation. Nothing can separate him him from the 
 love of God. His life is hid with Christ in God : there 
 is cause to rejoice always ; his privileges are boundless, 
 infinite ; for God himself is become his Salvation. Have 
 we then any cause' for fear ? Yes, my children, yes ; 
 though nothing can rob us of our charter, there is 
 another side to be beheld. In Christ we have all things 
 richly to enjoy, but we have not all in possession ; what 
 we have is by faith. All is secured by our Surety for 
 eternity ; we shall overcome by the blood of the Lamb ; 
 but by the constitution of the covenant, we must enter 
 , into that rest, that perfect rest, through great tribula- 
 tion. While our eternal salvation is secured by our 
 Surety, it hath pleased Infinite Wisdom to appoint 
 another connexion which shall exist while we remain in 
 these clay tabernacles ; even the connexion between our 
 stedfastness, consequently our comfort, and the means 
 of grace, which he hath appointed ; making the first to 
 depend in a great a measure on our diligent use of the 
 last, insomuch that a great number of the promises are 
 proposed conditionally. Many exhortations are given 
 in this view, and also many threatenings. They that 
 wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength. Seek, and 
 ye shall find ; ask, and ye shall receive ; knock, and it 
 shall be opened unto you. Abide in me ; as the branch 
 cannot bear fruit of itself, no more can ye, except ye abide 
 in me. Close, intimate, near communion with God, is 
 to be sought by means of prayer, meditation, and read- 
 ing. If the Christian be careful to husband time, and 
 set apart a portion for God, and set about these duties, 
 he will not always miss communion ; and this prepares 
 him for other duties, and arms him against temptation ; 
 as the promise is concerned fo keep him in perfect 
 peace, whose mind is stayed on him. If ye, being evil,
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 24? 
 
 know how to give good gifts to your children, how much 
 more will your heavenly Father give his holy Spirit to 
 them that ask him ? So shall ye know the Lord, if ye 
 follow on to know him. Delight thyself in God; he will 
 give thee the desire of thine heart. Nevertheless, I ivill 
 be inquired of by the house of Israel. If his children for- 
 sake my laws and go astray, I will visit their faults. 
 Watch and pray, that ye enter not' into temptation. But 
 thou, when thouprayest, enter into thy closet ; thy Father, 
 who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. All is laid 
 before us in the Scriptures, in the view of comfort, 
 during our pilgrimage, as well as the certainty of our 
 inheritance in the end ; the ground whereon we stand, 
 our danger, and the means of safety. See Ephesians 
 vi. 11. There is provision made in the covenant for 
 great comfort, consistent with human frailty and imper- 
 fection, but not with carelessness and negligence. While, 
 therefore, we rejoice in the Lord, we have good reason 
 to join trembling with our mirth ; while standing high 
 in comfort, to take heed lest we fall, through the de- 
 ceitfulness of sin. We carry about with us a body of 
 sin and death ; the devil, like a roaring lion, goeth about 
 seeking whom he may devour. We wrestle not with flesh 
 and blood, but with principalities and powers. We live 
 in a world lying in wickedness ; the captives of sin and 
 Satan, exerting every faculty to banish all thoughts of 
 God, death, and eternity ; contriving, with unwearied 
 industry, and amazing ingenuity, new gratifications for 
 body and mind in endless variety, suited to all consti- 
 tutions, all tempers and dispositions, and to those in 
 all circumstances. Of these, the most rational, are the 
 most subtle, and, in the hand of the enemy, the most 
 calculated to keep men ignorant of themselves, their 
 misery and the great salvation : and, alas ! by these he 
 often spoils unwary Christians, who, though heirs of 
 heaven, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, are, 
 during their minority, subject to like passions with 
 them, and ever in danger of being spoiled of their com- 
 forts when off their guard. 
 
 With the people of the world Christians have much 
 to do : they are fellow-members of society with them ; 
 they have many duties to perform to them, with them, 
 and by them : many of the things of the world are ne-
 
 $48 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 cessary to them, many of its pleasures lawful ; for </tf 
 earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof, and he gives 
 them of it,, as his wisdom sees good for them. That 
 which he gives them they gather in the same manner 
 as with the world by diligence in their lawful calling. 
 Keeping near the Captain of salvation, and armed in 
 his whole armour, they are safe. When off their guard, 
 the vigilant enemy gains some advantage, and they get 
 into trouble. O how many gracious names our dear 
 Redeemer has assumed in his word, for our comfort, 
 our meditation, our spiritual exercise ! How pleasant 
 and delightful in the light of his countenance to analyze 
 them ! Beside the names peculiar to himself as God- 
 man ; how many has he condescended to take from 
 among men, and the natural comforts and safe-guards 
 of men ! Our Shepherd, our Rock, our Ark, all the re- 
 lations in life, and ends with our All in all ! But I 
 must have done, that I may tell you that goodness and 
 mercy follow us in this family also. 
 
 December 7, 1801. 
 
 I HAVE received my dear J 's three letters from 
 Dingwall : fresh matter of praise to our covenant God. 
 You have had your season of affliction ; and now you 
 have a season of refreshing, a resting time. The cup 
 of the Christian is always- more or less mixed. Your 
 afflictions have ever been mixed with much mercy, and 
 now your season of rest is also mixed. I well know 
 that no temporal comfort can compensate the absence 
 of your justly beloved D , nor can any object but 
 your God render it supportable. He, however, who is 
 the God of both, who goes with him, and stays with 
 you, can, not only support, but comfort you. The 
 omniscient, the omnipresent, the omnipotent God, is 
 our God, and the God of our house 5 all that he is, is 
 ou/s to bless us. Behold, God is become our Salvation. 
 Every endearing name known among men, he takes to 
 himself, to inspire us with pleasing confidential love ; 
 every name that connects the idea of protection, to 
 keep our minds in quiet peace, in the assurance of 
 safety Father, Husband, Brother, Friend, Prophet, 
 Priest, King, Phijsician, Help, Health, Light, Li/ 1
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 349 
 
 Counsellor, Guide, Sanctuary, Anchor. But I should 
 fill my sheet. I said it all at first : God is ours, and 
 ours with the knowledge of all our backslidings, which 
 lie heals j our wanderings, from which he restores us ; 
 and our sins, which he forgives : one of his names is 
 the God of pardons. Mercy is his darling attribute, 
 that in which he delights. Are we not his witnesses ; 
 What has our whole life been, but sin, backslidings, 
 and wanderings ? What have his dealings with us 
 been, but pardons, healings, restorations ? Therefore 
 we remain, as at this day, with our desires towards 
 him, and our faces Zion-wards. What he hath begun 
 he will perfect, and in a little while our eyes shall be- 
 hold him, our hearts shall enjoy him, we shall be like 
 him, and see him as he is. 
 
 December 26, 1301. 
 
 " I REJOICE over my dear children, and bless our 
 gracious God that he has led them a sweet and most 
 delightful sojourning among his churches, animating 
 their spirits by their mutual communion : blessing 
 them, and I hope making them blessings. I pray that 
 the Lord may make our dear D. an instrument, among 
 others, of spreading his gospel, building up his church, 
 and pulling down the strong holds of Satan : and that 
 you may be, in your place, a help meet for him, in 
 this, as in^every thing else. May the Lord choose his 
 path, and direct his steps, and your's with him. Wo- 
 men were helpers of the apostles and others in Paul's 
 days : at the same time, care must ever be taken not 
 to obtrude in any respect. I pray that you may be 
 kept spiritual and humble : eminence in God's service 
 is truly desirable, if the heart be found in a right i : rame. 
 If the Lord open the eyes to behold more of ihe ex- 
 tent and spirituality of his law, the holiness and purity 
 of his nature, the evil of sin, and its contrariety to ail 
 that is in God ; ami if he turn the eyes inward to the 
 hidden corruptions of the heart, when it is evident to 
 the soul that all is of grace, then may eminent services 
 be safe. 
 
 I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes, was the 
 exercise of Job, and justly so Job was eyes to the 
 blind, and feet to the lame, . father to the poor, and
 
 25O LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 the cause which he knew not, he searched it out : 
 when the ear heard him, it blessed him ; when the eye 
 saw him, it gave witness to him ; who withheld not the 
 poor from his desire, nor caused the eye of the widow 
 to fail j the stranger did riot lodge in the street, but 
 he opened his door unto the traveller : all this was 
 connected with benevolent feelings. Job could justify 
 himself before his fellow-sinners, blind like himself : 
 but, when God comes to deal with him, how different 
 his views ! Then it was, Behold I am vile ; what shall 
 I answer thee ? I will lay my hand on my mouth, and 
 my mouth in the dust. Even with the very best there 
 is cause for this exercise, could we see in the same 
 light. How deceitful is the human heart ! How un- 
 faithful the conscience ! Hew little do we know of the 
 sins of our daily walk ! We ar called to watch and 
 pray, that we enter not into temptation ; to walk with 
 God in close intimate communion ; whether we eat or 
 drink, to do all to his glory ; to consult him in all the 
 affairs of life, narrowly observing his providence, in 
 connexion with our circumstances : weighing all in his 
 presence, requesting him to determine our wills, and 
 direct our steps. We ought not to say, We will go 
 into such a city, and do this or that j but, If the Lord 
 will. How inconsistent our conduct with these rules ! 
 How often do rashness, precipitation, and self-will, 
 accompany our determinations and movements ! And 
 how often do his goodness and wisdom overrule our 
 folly, save us from our own pits, and prevent the evil 
 that might be expected ! At no time does he deal 
 with us as we sin, though sometimes he stands by, and 
 allows us a taste of our folly : then we are in trouble ; 
 we dig our pits, and fall into them ; but we cannot de- 
 liver ourselves. O what a God ! who, even at such a 
 time, says, Call on me in the time of trouble, I will de- 
 liver thee, and thou slialt glorify my name ; thou hast 
 destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help. Blessed help ! 
 Mercy to pardon, goodness to restore, wisdom to 
 guide, faithfulness to carry through and perfect what 
 concerns us ; overruling our very follies, and causing 
 them to teach us to profit ! This is God's way, ac- 
 cording to many declarations of himself in his word, 
 and the experience of all his redeemed.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 
 
 251 
 
 Blessed > then, is the man that Jrusteth in the Lord j 
 they, truly, are a blessed people whose God Jeho- 
 vah is. 
 
 February, 1802, 
 MY DEAR, MY BELOVED CHILDREN, 
 
 I TRUST that the Lord is your Support ; I know 
 that you are in trouble ; it cannot be, that opportunities 
 have been wanting all this time ; nor can it be, that my 
 children have been negligent ; no, no; I cannot sup- 
 pose it. My children are in trouble ; they could not 
 write that they were otherwise, and therefore remain 
 silent, until they can write the issue. It is proper, and 
 surely the Lord feeds me with comfort. O the com- 
 fort of knowing that the almighty God is their own re- 
 conciled Father by an everlasting Covenant ; Christ 
 the Mediator and Surety, their Advocate, Brother, 
 and Friend ; the Holy Ghost, their Teacher, Guide, 
 and Comforter ! It cannot be ill with my dear chil- 
 dren, who are also God's dear children. My Father, 
 I know it. Thou chastenest for their profit. I know 
 not where they are, nor how they fare. I know not 
 what to ask for them ; but thou art every where pre- 
 sent, thine eye is upon them, and thou knowest all 
 their wants, "and all their burdens, all their bereave- 
 ments, or whatever ties them. O let thy sensible pre- 
 sence be with them ? Open wide the leaves of that New 
 Testament in Christ's blood, and let them read their 
 rich legacy, their unsearchable riches in Christ ? Give 
 them confidence in thy wisdom and goodness, and sweet 
 acquiescence in all thy dealings with them. Thou hast 
 spared in mercy, perhaps now thou hast taken in 
 mercy : thy tender mercies are over all thy works, and 
 a large ingredient in every cup thou puttest into the 
 hand of thy children. It is well, it is well ! 
 
 Since writing the above, I have received my dear D.'s 
 letter, second copy, by the way of London. The 
 Lord is your God, and the God of your seed. John 
 the Baptist leaped in the womb, when the salutation 
 of Mary sounded in his mother's ears ; he was then a 
 living soul, and an heir of salvation at that moment. If
 
 352 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 your babe AVSS conceived in sin by the first covenant, he 
 is an heir of grace by the second. Think it not hard : 
 no, you do not think it hard, that you have conceived 
 him in sickness, carried him in sickness, and suffered 
 the pangs of birth without the succeeding joy, to make 
 you forget your anguish. All this shall be for the 
 glory of God, and that is what you seek ; believe it 
 now, you shall see it soon. I do sympathize ; my fond 
 heart had embraced a sweet babe addded to the family, 
 for one taken. The Lord has taken this also ; it is his 
 due ; I shall soon leave the mortal, and join the im- 
 mortal : five have joined the Head, six remain ; and 
 one 1 know nothing of, more than that I cast him on 
 the Lord, and look for mercy. 1 thank my God that 
 he gave you the grace of resignation, and supported 
 you in the solitary confinement. Alas ! my child, did 
 you listen for the voice of your babe ? O, what a sus- 
 pense ! But let me stop he had reached maturity ere 
 that time ; without the fight, he obtained the victory ; 
 he is of the travail of the Redeemer's soul ; children 
 are God's heritage, the fruit of the womb his reward. 
 Rest then in the Lord ! this is to his glory, both with- 
 out and within your soul. 
 
 May 26, 1802. 
 MY DEAK CHILDREN, 
 
 HKKK am I in my little room, surrounded with 
 every comfort, and as the provision of my God, 1 va- 
 lue all ; but there lies my chief, my Bible, the Testa- 
 ment of my dying, risen, ascended, reigning Saviour, 
 bequeathing to me eternal life, executed in full, and 
 made as ?ure as the promise and oath of God can make 
 it. My mind feels also the influences of the Holy 
 Ghost taking of the things of Christ, and shewing them 
 unto me ; opening wide t^e leaves of that New Testa- 
 ment in which I had unsearchable riches, and my title 
 to them sure ; yes, sure ; sure, even to me, a base ido- 
 latrous Gentile, a rebel against the eternal King, my 
 Creator, Preserver, Provider; , a backslider in heart 
 and in life. What has such a one to do with a holf 
 God ? He hath said, Only return ; and he himself hath 
 turned me, chastened, convinced, restored, and com-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 253 
 
 fortetl me. His ways are not as our ways, nor his thoughts 
 as our thoughts ; but, as the heavens are above tlie earth, 
 so are his ways above our ways, and liis tlw gltts high above 
 our thoughts, and his plans above our conception. For, 
 although it is for ever true, that he is of purer eyes than 
 to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity ; that his law 
 has denounced a curse upon the transgressor who 
 keepeth it not in every jot and tittle : it is for ever 
 true,, that this God is unchangeable in his nature and 
 purposes. What he hath said, that will he do. It is 
 for ever true, that I am all that I have said, and worse, 
 a sinner in heart, tongue, practice. Yet am I a be- 
 loved child, a justified one, an heir of God. He :e is 
 the testament, here is my charter with the seal of God 
 upon it JESUS, thou art the Secret of the Lerd ; thou 
 art the Lion of the tribe of Judah ; the Root and Off- 
 spring of David : Thou hast prevailed to open this book 
 of secrets, to loose the seven seals, and lay open its 
 mysteries ; thou Lamb of God, appointed to the great 
 work ! In our room, and in our nature, thou hast susr 
 taitied the curse. Thou hast obeyed the law ; tliou 
 hast drunk the last drop of the last vial of that v. rath 
 which would have sunk my soul in the endle.ss depths 
 of misery : and I never could have expended one drop, 
 but must have sunk deeper and deeper under it. Not 
 unto me, nor unto ministers, nor unto any creature, be 
 the praise. As for me, I am, in a word, all that is vile 
 in myself; ministers, providences, afflictions, are just 
 what God makes them; without his blessing they will 
 not only pass without profiting, but Satan and corrup- 
 tion will make them ministers to themselves. Worthy 
 is the Lamb that was slain ; for he has redeemed me 
 with his blood. Worthy is. the Lamb to receive power, 
 and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and 
 glory, and blessing. To him, to him alone, be the 
 praise : who, of an heir of hell, hath made an heir of 
 heaven, by a substitutional righteousness wrought out 
 in his own person : mine by free gift, unshackled with 
 the shadow of a condition, in which I am completely 
 justified. To this work let nothing be added, with thi 
 work let nothing be mixed. 
 
 There is another work going on by the same Spirit 
 of truth ; also his purchase and gift Sanctiticatioj.
 
 "264 LIFE AMD WRITINGS OP 
 
 Jn this I am called to occupy, watch, strive, fight. 
 Life is given ; means of support and growth provided : 
 weapons of warfare all things necessary to life and 
 godliness : these are promised to the diligent use of 
 means ; and poverty, stagnation, discomfort, threatened 
 to the indolent. O how sovereign and gracious has my 
 God been in his dealings with me in this respect also ! 
 I was a sluggard in the days of youth, and the prime 
 of life ; yet to me hath he given the comforts promised 
 only to the diligent. Here I sit on the verge of three- 
 score j my heart in some good measure loosened from 
 the world, although in full possession of it. Health, 
 ease, plenty, elegance, friendship, respectability ; old 
 age welcome, death unstrung, become a familiar friend ; 
 the messenger of my Father, to fetch me home to those 
 mansions which .my Redeemer has taken possession of 
 in my name. My hope is strong for my offspring, now 
 my only care. I leave my fatherless children on the 
 Lord ; he has promised to save them alive. Stately 
 have been his steps of mercy towards them already, 
 and he saved them from their mother's snares ; he 
 heard and answered my prayers, for his name's sake, 
 and overruled my practices ; he is my God, and the 
 God of my seed, the God of my seed's seed to the 
 latest generation ; my cup is full of comfort, temporal 
 and spiritual. O praise him, praise him, for he is your 
 God, and the God of your seed also. 
 
 June 4, 1 80?. 
 
 THIS is his majesty's birth day : you have, no doubt, 
 drinking his health, and are, at this moment, per- 
 haps, set in some social company, by invitation, to 
 honour the anniversary, to repeat the wish of long life, 
 health, and comfort to the lawful sovereign of Britain. 
 
 Here T sit in my dear little room, with a lovely land- 
 scape in view ; B M's park in velvet verdure ; the 
 full grown trees scattered thin, to display the carpet, 
 and full foilage ; the clump of willows weeping to 
 the very ground, with a gentle wave, agitated by the 
 zephyr j while the other trees keep their firm majestic 
 posture : the Hudson river covered with vessels crowded 
 with sail, to catch the scanty breeze 5 some sweet lit-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM, 265 
 
 tie chirpers regaling the ear with its share of pleasure. 
 I think, I never heard any little warblers in this land 
 sing so sweet as those which now salute my ear ! 
 
 ' These are thy glorious works, Parent of good.' 
 
 Can all the philosophic ingenuity of London, this even- 
 ing, produce such a scene ? The gardens, no doubt, 
 will be glorious ; but the ground work is also God's : 
 but why say I that in particular : All is his ; the very 
 notes that warble through so many guilty throats, are 
 his creation ; all the art of man cannot add to their 
 number. Sweet birds, thy notes are innocent. O how 
 sweet ! Lovely trees, ye who stands erect, and ye who 
 weep and wave : 1 wish no brighter scene. The 
 shadows lengthen fast, so do your's and mine, my So- 
 vereign* : a few, a very few anniversaries, and we must 
 change the scene ; change to where no courtiers flat- 
 ter ; no false meteors blaze ; where shadows flee away, 
 realities appear, and nothing but realities will stand in 
 any stead. 
 
 O may we meet ! For me, I nothing have, I nothing 
 am. But one there is, who was, and is, all that the 
 mind of saint or angel can conceive of glory and of 
 happiness ; and he is mine and I am most blessed. 
 Lengthen on, ye shadows, until all is shadow on these 
 orbs of flesh. Then, O then, 
 
 ' My captive soul set free 
 
 From doggish earth, which oft has made me sigh, 
 Ascends the eternal hills, as seen to see, 
 As known to know, and grasp the Deity.' 
 
 1802. 
 
 Oua friend B has now proved how far it is safe to 
 leave the fate of eternity unsettled. He is gone to the 
 state of the dead ; with whom his soul is gathered, He 
 only knows, whose mercy none ought to limit : he is 
 gone to his own place ; if without a surety-righteous- 
 ness, which he sought not after in health, we know 
 where that place is : but, after reading of a thief on the 
 cross, nothing with God is impossible. My mind i 
 much impressed, that sentence wrings in my ears, so 
 
 * Mrs. Graham received a pension, as a British officer's widow, 
 ntil her death.
 
 LIFE AND WHITINGS OF 
 
 often repeated ' I am determined to do all the good 
 I can, and leave the rest to God. I have no time to 
 search.' One thing is needful. 
 
 ' Life's a folly, age a dream, 
 Borne along the common stream ; 
 Earth's a bubble light as air, 
 If my rest be ccnler'd there, 
 How can that be solid joy 
 Which a moment may destroy !' 
 
 Mr. B was seized with the fever in its most malig- 
 nant form ; for him every genius was exerted ; and the 
 medical store ransacked for the healing balsam ; but in 
 vain. The Judge calls for the soul, and the body must 
 at his command, dislodge its tenant ; how awful, if no 
 Surety was at hand, if he must stand naked we know 
 the rest ; did I say, We know ? Far otherwise ; what 
 can we know of that wrath which in the garden of 
 Gethsemane, when no murderous hand was near, no 
 High Priest, no Council, no Cross, wrung the blood 
 through every pore of the pure, the innocent Lamb of 
 God, supported by Godhead. If such t kings were <lwc 
 in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry. 
 
 TO THE SAME, IN NEW YORK. 
 
 Boston, August, 1809. 
 
 I YESTERDAY received my dear J 's letter, which 
 gives fresh cause for thankfulness. The more my ab- 
 sence is lengthened, the less I am able to support the 
 want of intelligence. Let us bless God together for aH 
 his mercies ; among those which are temporal, health 
 is the chief; and I believe to most others it is more 
 valued in their children that in their own persons. 1 
 rejoice with you over our restored J y. O that our 
 covenant God may give the more important blessing 
 of divine life ! You had need to be importunate for 
 this, after the importunity exercised for natural life. 
 I thank God also for the alleviation of your own dis- 
 tress, for our dear D 's restoration from complaints, 
 less alarming so far as they existed, but which might 
 have been the seeds of a .serious affliction. 1 could go 
 on enumerating j for, causes of thankfulness ciowii
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 267 
 
 into my mind : but all are swallowed up in the grand 
 mercy, the distinguishing mercy of redeeming love to 
 our souls ; salvation, not only to me, but to my house ! 
 All words fail here. Read over with me, sing with 
 me, in your heart, the 103d Psalm. O my God, dare 
 I even sigh in thy presence, under any temporary 
 pain, or hurt of body or mind, with such a Father, 
 such a Christ, such a Comforter, such a richly-fur- 
 nished well-ordered covenant, such a constitution of 
 Grace and Providence, such an AIL in all,, even at the 
 fulness of God ! My God, and the God of my seed, 
 the God of my house ; yea, and the God of my prodi- 
 gal, who shall in heaven, if never on earth, join the 
 song : To him that loved us, and washed us from our 
 sins iiu his own blood, i:e glory, honour, dominion, power, 
 and praise, for ever and ever. Amen. Shall a murmur 
 ever pass these lips ? shall this unthankful heart indulge 
 even a sigh over any object but sin ? shall I shrink 
 from any cross with such a crowu ? 
 
 Father, glorify thy name. 
 
 1 have been to church ; the subject, Be not weary in 
 well doin^. It] any arguments were adduced for exer- 
 tion ; all just : but the substance of the Gospel was not 
 there. O that my friends could hear our shepherd j 
 he would spe'ak of his Muster more in unison with their 
 own heart's experience, and views of new covenant 
 provision and Gospel motives. Except in the Baptist 
 congregations, the Gospel is much mutilated here, and 
 kept out of sight even by the few who are supposed to 
 build upon it. It appears to me, only Dr. M declares 
 boldly, according to his views, without keeping back ; 
 he is estee^med their only champion ; I love him dearly, 
 though he uses the word probation, and one or two 
 others, which, my dear, and first in my heart, as a pas- 
 tor, J. M , likes not. 
 
 Sabbath next brings round your I will add, my 
 Gospel-feast. I will endeavour to meet you to-morrow 
 evening, and to have you all on my heart, then and on 
 the Sabbath, in that one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 
 one Spirit, one God and Father of all, who is above 
 all, through all, and in all those that are redeemed by 
 Jesus Christ, and sanctified by that one Spirit uniting- 
 till. What subjects ! I cannot attain to the compre*
 
 258 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 hension ; but I experience their truth,, and enjoy the 
 comfort of them. 
 
 Belleville, September 2, 1808. 
 MY DEAR J , 
 
 You have indeed had a trying time. If ever 
 you needed a friend, it was at such a time. I trust 
 that the day is not very distant, when you shall be 
 blessed with your own dear husband, who will soothe 
 your pains, and sweeten your cares, and lead you to 
 cast them on the Lord, and lean where he himself leans. 
 There is a rest prepared for the people of God even 
 here, could we only enter in. No affliction for the 
 present is joyous, but grievous ; nevertheless, it yields 
 the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them who are 
 duly exercised by it. Every affliction has a language, 
 and ought to produce great searchings of heart, that it 
 may not pass without profit. This has a particular 
 language to me as well as to you. Your husband's 
 long absence drawing to a hopeful end ; the days of 
 anxious expectation arrived., when every hour will 
 seem a day, and hope deferred maketh the heart sick. 
 If ever a mother could be of use, it must be in the time 
 of severe illness ; yet is she absent from you in provi- 
 dence. You have, however, a Friend that sticketh 
 closer than a brother : though father and mother might 
 forsake you, the Lord will take you up. That Friend is 
 ever near ; no circumstance embarrass him, or pre- 
 vent his attentions ; his eye is on you every moment 
 he knows and feels every pang. There is a need-be 
 at times, that we be in heaviness, through manifold 
 temptations ; but the Lord knows how to work with 
 us and them. O for the steady, abiding belief of this 
 in my own soul ! Much I need the consolation which 
 I offer. I do believe that he will work, and none shall 
 let. I do believe that the very hairs of our head are 
 numbered, and a sparrow cannot fall without him ; that 
 he will work according to the counsel of his will, that 
 none can turn aside his purpose, and that very fruitless 
 is my anxiety. O to be able to say, in the full sense 
 of the words, as given by our divine Teacher, Thy 
 will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. This is en-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 259 
 
 i 
 
 tering into rest ; rest in the will of God. While I 
 groan, I ought to sing : for my own particular soul, I 
 have all and abound ; a throne of grace : and Advocate 
 with the Father ; no inconsiderable share of the spirit 
 of prayer : the Spirit helping my infirmities with groan- 
 ings which cannot be uttered ; a sense of pardoning 
 love ; some evidences of success in my spiritual war- 
 fare j assurance of final victory ; my mansions in view 
 often very near ; my blessed High Priest waiting me 
 iu Jordan, who will divide the waters, support my head 
 and heart, and carry me safely through. 
 * ******** 
 
 O world, world, much have I suffered >,r the court I 
 have paid to thee ! Let my children take warning ; 
 let them keep a jealous eye over their hearts. All 
 without may .be fair, may bring praise from men, yea, 
 even from Christians ; yet may the spouse of Jesus be 
 living in adultery. O let them watch the lust of the 
 eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Let 
 them watch in respect to lawful things idols were 
 made of the very trees of Lebanon. If our purest 
 blessings occupy that place in our affections or that 
 portion of our time which should be devoted to spiri- 
 tual exercises, great must be our loss ! Our husband 
 expects our company, (has he not wooed us with his 
 very heart's blood ?) confidential communion, with 
 bolted doors, all other objects excluded ; his own gifts 
 not excepted. He expects spiritual love, a whole 
 heart. At such time he brings his spouse into the 
 banqueting house, and his banner over her is love; he 
 stays her with flagons, and comforts her apples, while 
 she is sick of love. 
 
 I suffer my pen to run, because I know I write not 
 mystery to you. You have tasted, you have felt, you 
 have enjoyed all, and more than I can put in words. 
 O my dear J , I think the fault is ours, that we enjoy 
 not oftener such seasons ; we leave neither room nor 
 time, nor do we use the means ; neither do we follow 
 our melting seasons. Read in this view the 5th of the 
 Song ; see also the invitation in the 2d and 9th, to the 
 end. O my J , let not youthful prime, sensibility^ 
 and ardour, be all expended on the very best of hii 
 creatures.
 
 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 TO MR. A. D , EDINBURGH. 
 
 New York, 1793. 
 
 I HAVE just been reading over my dear friend's pre- 
 cious letters, and am refreshed anew by the same 
 truths, and uniform experience of every Christian ; 
 which all amounts to this that the Lord is the Por- 
 tion of his people, and that whom he loves, he loves to 
 the end. My soul melts with tenderness, when I re- 
 collect my fellow-travellers in the wilderness ; those 
 dear associates with whom I have so often taken sweet 
 counsel ; wh/Vee*> often comforted me with the same 
 comforts with which they themselves were comforted. 
 I am also led to recollect some who have finished their 
 warfare ; some whose trials were sharp and long ; but 
 who, through the same grace in which we trust, were 
 stedfast to the end ; and now inherit a crown of life 
 the reward of grace, not of debt. I feel strength- 
 ened and comforted. My dear G , 1 could have 
 thought it an honour to have dressed that clay out of 
 what the Lord gave me, and with my own hands. O 
 how/oright does the soul now shine in that fine linen, 
 clean and white ! Many, many, were the tears she 
 shed in the wilderness. She had a deep draught of 
 the , Redeemer's cup, because she was to be made 
 vei-y like him : and she is now like him, for she sees 
 him as he is, and shares in his glory. Her lot here 
 was humble, but her place now is not so ; the Lord 
 will honour her humble sufferings, patience, and love, 
 as highly as those of saints who move in a higher sphere. 
 I have often wished to Le near her at her departure, 
 but that honour was reserved for you. I rejoice to hear 
 that your children are promising ; 1 think it is the great- 
 est comfort a parent can enjoy in this world. 1 have 
 a large share of it in my three daughters ; but my 
 prodigal is not come to himself j he still feeds on husks, 
 nor thinks of the plenty in his Father's house. I had 
 great hopes last winter : I heard he had been very Ul, 
 in consequence of very severe treatment from his cap- 
 tain. The Lord has been emptying him from vessel 
 to vessel, and I have been waiting the issue : but mine 
 eyes almost fail, and rny spirit frets, because I know th*
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 261 
 
 Lord can, and no other can. I have great hopes too, 
 that God's time will come. I am also satisfied that it. 
 will be the best time ; but still I cry, O how long ! 
 My dear friends 1 think I would recommend it to you 
 to keep your children about you. No other had ever 
 -.the influence over him that I had ; and 1 regret that I 
 did not bring him with me. Mrs. Stevenson, (Jessy,) 
 who was so very delicate, is much under the rod ; but 
 she kisses it, and turns to him who appoints it. My 
 two young ones are sweet, obedient, diligent gins : my 
 word is as much a law, as when they were seven years 
 of age. This also is of God ; and to him I look for 
 their continuing, and for my prodigal's return. Our 
 young Timothy, J. M , is a perfect champion for the 
 Gospel of Jesus : the Lord has well girded him, and 
 largely endowed him : he walks closely with God, and 
 speaks and preaches like a Christian of long experi- 
 ence : fre was ordained about two months ago in his 
 father's church, and a few weeks after married a lady 
 of eminent piety, and preached all the day, both the 
 Sabbath before and after : no levity appeared in word 
 or gesture ; which is not always the case with the best 
 at such times. There is not a church in New York 
 whose discipline is as strict, nor one which has so many 
 communicants. He is reckoned a youth of great t;ilents, 
 and an orator ; and many, of even the idle and careless, 
 go to hear him. A few Sabbaths ago, he preached 
 from these words I am determined to know nothing 
 among you, but Jesus Christ, nnd liim crucified. After 
 proving that all the Scriptures, from the beginning of 
 Genesis to the end of Revelations, pointed to Christ 
 and his great work of redemption ; and, asserting, 
 that the sermon could not be called the Gospel, of 
 which He was not the Subject> he spoke home to 
 his audience, and told thorn that this, through the aid 
 of Divine Grace,^was his firm purpose to dwell on 
 redeeming love. lie was sure no subject would be 
 welcome to any Christian, where Christ was not to be 
 found ; nor Avould any such subject ever convert a 
 sinner; and, therefore, if any were about to take their 
 place there, expecting to hear any new or strange 
 thing, let them not disappoint themselves ! Oh ! for a 
 thankful heart ! The Lord has indeed done wonders
 
 262 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 for me and mine ; and, blessed be his name for this 
 mercy also, that in a remarkable manner, by a strange 
 concurrence of circumstances, he hedged me in, to 
 become a member of this congregation, where I am fed 
 with the same truths which nourished my soul in Zion's 
 gates, at Edinburgh ; and I am enabled to sing the 
 Lord's song in a foreign land. Often have I been 
 tempted to hang my harp upon the willow, when I 
 thought on Zion : but this was, and sometimes still is, 
 my sin and ingratitude : for I ought to build houses, and 
 plant vineyards, and seek the good of the land ; for he 
 has a small vineyard here, which he waters and culti- 
 vates, and I ought to labour therein, and do whatsoever 
 my hand findeth to do, -with diligence ; and say, The 
 earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; heaven is 
 his throne, the earth his footstool, and he fills all things, 
 and all places. What aileth thee, Hagar ? O what 3 
 God of mercy is our God ! Often has he hailed me in 
 some such language : What aileth thee ? why is thy 
 countenance sad ? Am not I better to thee than ten 
 friends ? Then has he turned my heart 1o him, made 
 me feel myself close to him : he has suffered me to 
 lean on his bosom, hang on his arm, and lisp out, Abba. 
 At such blest moments, I have thought the whole 
 earth but one point, and from that to heaven but one 
 step, and the time between but as one moment ; and 
 my company here sufficient to satisfy me by the way. 
 At such blest moments, I have felt entire satisfaction 
 with all that God is, all that he does ; and could trust 
 him fully with all my concerns, spiritual, temporal, and 
 eternal. But, alas ! by and by, like a peevish child, 
 I begin to fret ; wish this, wish that ; grieve for this, 
 grieve for that ; fear this, fear that ; stagger, stumble, 
 fall. O what a God of patience and long-suffering ! 
 And O how rich that well-ordered covenant, that pro- 
 vides suitable grace for all these unsteady seasons ! It 
 is my greatest consolation, that the Lord knows it all. 
 There are times when 1 cannot see him ; but every 
 moment he sees me. I should fall off, and leave him ; 
 but he holds me fast, and never leaves me. O blessed 
 plan, where God secures us, in safety, even from our- 
 selves ! We have not only destroyed ourseleves, and
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 263 
 
 he has been our Help ; but we are ever destroying 
 ourselves, and still he renews this help. 
 
 Well, what shall we say ? Father, glorify thy name, 
 and let us lie in thy hand, as clay in the potter'-s, till 
 thou finish thy workmanship, and fit us vessels of 
 mercy, to be filled with happiness, when thou shalt 
 have done thy good pleasure in us, and by us, in this 
 world, through the grace that is in Christ Jesus, who 
 loved us, and gave himself for us ; to whom be glory, 
 honour, and praise, in the church below, and in the 
 general assembly above, now and ever. Amen. 
 
 My love, my heart's love, to my dear Mrs. D . 
 I am ever your affectionate friend, 
 In the bonds of the Gospel, 
 
 ISABELLA GRAHAM, 
 
 TO MRS. O , EDINBURGH. 
 
 New York, 1793. 
 
 I RECEIVED both my dear friend's letters, and I 
 thank you for remembering me. You cannot but 
 know, that any thing, however trifling, from a friend at 
 a distance is pleasant : but it is no trifle to learn, not 
 only that you are well, but that you are still of the 
 same mind with regard to your heavenly course and 
 prospects. 
 
 My dear friend, you and I have advanced a great 
 way through the wilderness, since we parted, and I 
 know, and am persuaded, that we are both, in exact 
 proportion, near the haven of our hopes. This per- 
 suasion is not founded upon any confidence I have in 
 myself, or in my purposes of holding on. No, my 
 friend, the longer I live, the more I am convinced that 
 I stand by grace ; and, could I believe that the Lord 
 would ever let go his hold of me, and let loose my own 
 corruptions, and' the enemy to traffic wilh them, ami 
 deceive me by them, I believe that I could lie, steal, 
 commit murder, and do all that human wickedness 
 ever practised ; but, blessed, ever blessed, be our di- 
 vine Shepherd ! He is our Keeper, who has promised 
 that sin shall not have dominion over us : and for this 
 very reason, that we are not under the law, but under
 
 2<34 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 grace. Here is the ground of our confidence, that we 
 shall persevere, and finish our course safely, and, per- 
 haps honourably too, before the world ; though this is 
 not always the case. My dear friend, let us ever keep 
 sight of our Keeper and Leader, and fear nothing. I 
 will tell you something for your comfort, and for your 
 encouragement; it may also serve for your confirma- 
 tion ; I tell it you in confidence. It is now, 1 think, 
 thirty-five years since I .simply, but solemnly accepted 
 of the Lord's Christ, as God's gift to a lost world. I 
 rolled my condemned, perishing, corrupted soul upon 
 this Jesus, exhibited in the Gospel as a Saviour from 
 sin. My views then were dark, compared with what 
 they now are ; but this 1 remember, that, at the time, 
 I felt heart-satisfying trust in the mercy of God, as the 
 purchase of Christ; and, for a time, rejoiced with joy 
 scarcely supportable, singing almost continually, the 
 103d Psalm. I, took a view of the promises of God, 
 and wrote out many of them, and called them mine , 
 and among the foremost, was that in the 8.9th Psalm, 
 and 30th verse ; and well has the Lord kept me to it, 
 and made it good : for, my dear friend, never was 
 there a more unsteady, unwatchful Christian ; never 
 did the children of Israel's conduct in the wilderness 
 depict any Christian's heart and conduct, in gospel 
 times, better than mine: and just so has the Lord 
 dealt with me. When he slew me, then I trusted in 
 him ; when he gave me carnal ease and comfort, 1 for- 
 got my Rock, and rebelled. Often did I stumble too, 
 from legality, instead of looking at my own weakness 
 and impotence, and trusting wholly in my Redeemer's 
 strength. 1 was wroth with myself, wondered at my- 
 -self, and thought it impossible I could be as I had 
 been. I made strong resolutions, yea, vows, and be- 
 came a slave in the endeavour to hedge in this wander- 
 ing, worldly, vain, flighty heart ; but, alas ! a few 
 months found me where I was, Avith scarcely a thought 
 of God from morning to night, prayer huddled over in 
 words that had no effect on my heart ; and the fear of 
 hell, the chief restraint from sin, or spur to duty. 
 Then, in general, the Lord had some affliction for me. 
 which laid me afresh at his feet, and made me take a 
 fresh grasp of Christ, and a fresh view of his covenant ;
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 265 
 
 then, again, 1 felt safety, joy, peace, and happiness j 
 thus, by line upon line, by precept upon precept, and 
 by stripe upon stripe, he taught me, that I could not 
 walk a moment alone. This is now my fixed faith ; 
 and, in proportion as I keep it in sight, I walk safely j 
 but j still forget, and still stumble, and still fall ; but 
 I am lifted up, and taught lesson after lesson ; and I 
 shall stumble, and fall, while sin is in me ; but I am 
 as sure that I shall be lifted up, and be restored, as I 
 am sure I now breathe, and write these things ; and the 
 last stumble shall come, and the last stripe shall be laid 
 on, and the last lesson taught, and that which concerns 
 me shall be perfected. Then shall I look back, and 
 see all the way by which he has led me, to prove me, and 
 try me, and shew me what was in my heart, that he might 
 do me good in my latter end. I am often, even in this 
 valley of darkness and ignorance, allowed this retro- 
 spective view ; and am led to say, Not one word of all 
 that he promised, has failed. Hitherto the Lord hath 
 helped ; he has been the Guide of my youth, and even unto 
 hoar hairs will he lead me ; and, when he calls me to pass 
 through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall even 
 then fear no evil, for his rod and staff shall support 
 me ; and I shall enter the presence of my Redeemer, 
 white and clean, dressed in his most perfect righteous- 
 ness ; angels and saints shall know me in this glorious 
 robe ; my Redeemer will acknowledge me as one of 
 his ransomed people, and I shall finally be for ever 
 with the Lord. 
 
 September 11, 1800. 
 
 THERE was, my dear Miss M , something in your 
 countenance and manner at our last interview, which 
 has dwelt on my mind ever since. Your former atten- 
 tions, which I also marked, I attributed to the natural 
 benevolence of your heart ; but your following a 
 stranger, an old woman, of whom you knew so little, 
 and you were likely never to see again to solicit her 
 friendship, and an interest in her prayers, spoke a lan- 
 guage beyond nature. Either my sweet friend has al- 
 ready chosen a God in Christ to be her Portion, and 
 
 N
 
 266 JL1FE AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 his love in her heart powerfully draws her to every 
 one in whom she thinks she discerns his image ; or she 
 conceives that this world cannot give her happiness, 
 even in this life $ and, impressed with the importance 
 of that which' is to come, she wishes to cast hi her lot 
 among God's people, that she may ' know the good of 
 his chosen, and rejoice in their joy,' and become a 
 partaker of that peace which the Saviour bequeathed 
 to his disciples, when about to leave them : Peace I 
 leave with you. My peace I give unto you ; not as the 
 world giveth, give I unto you ; let not your heart be 
 troubled, neither let it be afraid. Let me congratulate 
 my friend, which ever of these be the Case. If the 
 first, you have (or will soon have) a peace which the 
 world can neither give, nor take away ; if the last, the 
 Saviour stands at the door of your heart, and knocks, 
 soliciting that heart which has too long been hunting 
 shadows and vanity. If your soul is dissatisfied with 
 the things of the world, and tired with disappointment, 
 cast a longing eye to the Fountain of happiness. This 
 is the claim of that God, whose name is Love, My son, 
 give me thy heart. Come unto me all ye that labour and 
 are heavy laden; and I will give you rest. In the 
 world ye shall have tribulation ,- but in me ye shall have 
 peace. Be assured, my dear friend, if you could ob- 
 tain all of this world that your heart could wish for, 
 you would find vanity written on the possession. No- 
 thing short of God himself can give happiness to the 
 soul of man ; and exactly in proportion as man be- 
 comes weaned from the world, and his affections centre 
 in God, is he in possession of happiness. But how is 
 this to be attained r By God's own plan, and no other. 
 As many weary themselves in vain, hunting the sha- 
 dows of time ; so many great philosophers, sensible of 
 this great truth, that God alone can satisfy the rational 
 soul, also weary themselves in vain, because they will 
 not seek the blessing in God's own way. H'lien the 
 world, by wisdom, knew not God, it pleased him by the 
 foolishness of preaching, (what was esteemed so,) to 
 save them that believe. J thank thee, Father, that 
 thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and 
 hast revealed them unto babes. The Saviour said, Ye 
 will not come to me, that ye might have life. No man 
 can come to the Father but by me. I am the Way, the
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 26? 
 
 Truth and the Life. Search the Scriptures, for in them 
 ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which tes- 
 tify f me - The Scripture testifies what our own hearts 
 must assent to, that human nature is depraved, and 
 corrupt ; broken off from God ; at a distance from him 
 by sin ; enmity against him in his true character ; op- 
 posed to his holy law, in its extent and spirituality ; 
 we are also helpless, dead in trespasses and sins. O 
 Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; (blessed be God for 
 what follows ;) but in me is thy help. The same Scrip- 
 ture which testifies the misery of man, reveals also his 
 remedy ; a remedy of God's own providing, by which 
 man may be restored to the image and favour of God, 
 and to that communion with him which is life and 
 bliss. God so loved the world, that he gave his only -be- 
 gotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him might not 
 perish, but hare everlasting life : for God sent not hit 
 Son into the world, to condemn the world, but that the 
 world through him might be saved. And this is life eter- 
 nal, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. When 
 man becomes convinced that he is lost, helpless, 
 wretched, lying at mercy, and submits to the method 
 of God's own providing ; casts himself on the mercy of 
 God in Christ, and, coming to him, rests on his free 
 promise, Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast 
 out ; disclaiming all confidence in himself, or in his 
 own works, he accepts of God's offered grace, in God's 
 own way, a FREE and FINISHED salvation. This is the 
 record of God, that he giveth unto us eternal life, and this 
 life is in his Son : who, of God, is made unto us, Wis- 
 dom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and com- 
 plete Redemption. Believing this, according to his 
 faith, it shall be. Christ shall be in him, a well of wa- 
 ter springing up to eternal life. He will shed abroad 
 his love in his heart, and, according to his promise, 
 given him power to become a child of God. The Holy 
 Ghost, the Comforter, shall be given unto him, to teach 
 him the knowledge of the Scriptures, and to become a 
 principle of holiness in his heart. Then shall he find, 
 that wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all 
 her paths peace ; then shall he experience the blessed- 
 ness of that man whose God is the Lord ; then is the 
 way open for communion and converse with God the 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
 
 268 LIFE AND VVRItlKGS OF 
 
 If, my dear Miss M / I have made myself under- 
 stood, you have my view of God's method of making 
 his creatures happy ; and I believe he will make us to 
 know that he is a sovereign God, and that there is no 
 other name by which men can be saved, but the name 
 of Christ Jesus. But take nothing on my word, nor 
 the word of any creature ; search the Scriptures ; read 
 the first eight chapters of the Romans, the whole of 
 the Ephesians ; stumble not at mysteries pass them 
 over, and take the milk for babes ; pray for the teaching 
 of the Spirit ; and let me recommend to you the advice 
 of Mr. Newton, in his Omicron's Letters, a book well 
 worth your reading, ' Lay not too much stress on 
 detached texts, but seek for the sense which is most 
 agreeable to the general strain of Scripture.' 
 
 My dear Miss M , I air now old, and I hope have 
 done with the world ; but I have been young, and I 
 once drank deeply of youth's choicest pleasures. I was 
 blest with the most excellent and most indulgent of 
 parents j I was the wife of a man of sense, sentiment, 
 and sensibility, who was my very first love and lover : 
 and that love ripened and improved with years. My 
 children were good and healthy ; love/ health, peace, 
 and competency, blessed our dwelling. I had also, in 
 early life, taken hold of God's covenant, and tasted his 
 covenant love, and devoted myself to his service ; but 
 very far was I from that non-conformity which the 
 precept of the Gospel requires ; hail I kept close to my 
 covenant God, enjoyed his bounty with thankfulness, 
 occupied my talents, devoted my time to usefulness 
 and communion with him 5 had I prayed against cor- 
 ruption within, and temptation without, the Lord 
 would have directed my steps, and held up my goings, 
 and I should have continued to inherit the earth, and 
 should not have been diminished. But this was very 
 far from being my conduct ; the bent of the natural, 
 unrenewed heart, is still opposed to God ; and the best 
 are sanctified only in part, while in this life ; the law 
 in the members still wars against the law of the spirit 
 of life in the mind. The goodness of Gcd, which ought 
 to have been a powerful motive to gratitude, love, and 
 diligence, was mis-improved : I enjoyed the gifts, and 
 forgot the Giver ; ' hugged my comforts to death.' 
 Many, many light chastisements my dear, my kind,
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 269 
 
 v 
 
 my indulgent heavenly Father exercised me with} I 
 had many repenting seasons under his strokes ; I re- 
 ceived many manifestations of pardon ; and many fresh 
 and solemn dedications of my heart, life, and substance,, 
 did I make : but no sooner were ease and comfort re- 
 stored, than my heart turned aside like a deceitful bow ; 
 my whole life, from fifteen to the thirtieth year of my 
 age, was ene continued succession of departure and 
 backsliding on my part ; of chastening, forgiving, re- 
 storing, and comforting, on the part of my God. 
 
 He did not cast me off, but dealt with me according 
 to the constitution of his well-ordered covenant Psal. 
 Lxxxix. SO ; If Jus children (Christ's) forsake my lax, 
 and walk not in my judgments if they break my statutes, 
 and keep not my commandments, then will I visit their 
 transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 
 Nevertheless, my loving-kindness will. I not utterly take 
 from him, nor. suffer my faithfulness to fail ; my covenant 
 will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my 
 lips. 'This is the covenant (made with Christ as the 
 federal Head of all who believe) of which I took hold 
 in early life ; my God kept me to my choice, and mani- 
 fested his own faithfulness, and the stability of his cove- 
 nant. When lighter afflictions proved ineffectual, He 
 at last, at one blow, took from me all that made life 
 dear, the very kernel of all my earthly joys, my idol, rny 
 beloved husband. Then 1 no longer halted between 
 two opinions ; my God became my all. I leave it as 
 my testimony, that He has been a father to the father- 
 less, a Husband to the widow, the stranger's Shield, and 
 the orphans Stay. Even to hoar hairs and to old age 
 he has carried me, and not one good word has failed of 
 all that he has promised. ' He has done all things well,' 
 and at this day I am richer and happier than ever I was 
 in my life. Not that I am yet made free from sin, that 
 is still my burden ; want of love and gratitude, indo- 
 lence in commanded duty, self-will, and nestling in the 
 creature. But my heart's wish and earnest desire, is, 
 conformity. The bent of my will is for God ; and, if 
 my heart deceive me not, my God is the centre of my 
 best affections. It is by grace that I am what I am, and 
 the same grace engages to perfect the work begun. 
 
 This God is my God ; he will guide me even unto 
 death, through death, and be my portion through eter-
 
 270 
 
 nity. This God I recommend to my friend j and this 
 well-ordered covenant, this all-sufficient Saviour, for 
 your acceptance ; and the Bible for your guide : pray 
 to God for his Holy Spirit to lead you to the know- 
 ledge of the very truth, as it is in Jesus. Accept this as a 
 testimony of friendship, and believe me your's in love, 
 
 1. GRAHAM. 
 
 v 
 
 November 2, 1800. 
 
 You have, 1 find, been the child of affliction ; she is 
 a stern, rugged nurse ; but blessed often are the lessons 
 she teaches. ' I have,' (says God) ' chosen thee in the 
 furnace of affliction.' It is God's ordinary way of draw- 
 ing sinners to himself, either to dry up, or imbitter, the 
 streams of worldly comfort, that he may shut them up 
 to seek that comfort that depends not on any transitory 
 source. 
 
 I have not a doubt but you shall yet sing with the 
 royal Psalmist, It is good for me that I have been afflict- 
 ed ; for, before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I 
 have kept thy word. Blessed is the man thou chastenest, 
 Lord, and makest to learn thy ways. Many are the texts 
 to the same purport ; take them for your consolation as 
 a part of God's well-ordered covenant. 
 
 You have met with a late bereavement, which has 
 entered deep into your soul. We are not called to 
 stoicism, but to tenderness of heart and spirit. Jesus 
 wept with the two sisters over a brother's grave. But 
 still the Christian's spirit must be resigned, and say, 
 and try to say, with cheerfulness, Not my will, but thine 
 be done. And, O my friend, great will be the wisdom, 
 and happy the acquisition, if every new bereavement 
 enlarge the room for divine love in the heart, and be 
 tilled up with that most noble, most blessed of princi- 
 ples. Seek not, my friend, to replace friendship with 
 any mere worldling ; beg of God to fill up the vacuum, 
 then will you be a great gainer. 
 
 Why hesitate to join the church ? Let not a sense 
 of unworthiness keep you back. A deep sense of un- 
 worthiness is one grand part of due preparation ; and 
 no worthiness of your's can give you any title to that 
 New Testament in Christ's blood, whicli was shed for the 
 remission of sins. Worthless, vile, empty, helpless, in 
 every son and daughter of Adam's race ; but it was for
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 4? I 
 
 the ungodly that Christ died : it was while we were 
 without strength ; his name was called Jesus, because 
 he should save his people from their sins. In that day, 
 that great day of the feast, Jesus stood among a mixed 
 multitude, and cried, If any man thirst, let him come to 
 me and drink whosoever will, let him come and take of 
 the water of life freely. 
 
 If conscious at the time that it is the supreme desire 
 of your soul to be washed in his blood, clothed with his 
 righteousness, sanctified by his Spirit go and take 
 this water of life freely ; go as a sinner to a Saviour 
 go at his command, put honour on his appointment, 
 and repeat the dedication of all that you are, have, or 
 t:an have, over the symbols of his body broken for you, 
 his blood shed for you ; go, trusting in his mercy, and 
 leave all to his management, believing that he will shed 
 abroad his love in your heart, order your footsteps- in 
 his ways, and in due time perfect his image in your 
 soul. Keep close to him in the use of means, but look 
 beyond the means for life and power. I commit you 
 to our God and Saviour, and pray that he may be to 
 you, Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and Re- 
 demption . 
 
 I am, my dear Miss M. vour ever affectionate, 
 
 I. G 
 
 January 4, 1801. 
 
 WELL ! let us bless the Lord together for 
 
 what he has done for you, for me, and for many dear 
 to us. None ever sought him in vain, or found him 
 worse than his promise. If any man will do his will, ht' 
 shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God. Then 
 shall ye know, if ye follow on to know the Lord. If yc 
 then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your 
 hildren, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give 
 the Holy Spirit to them that ask him ! Ask, and ye siiail 
 receive-, seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall bf> 
 opened to you. Ho ! every one that thirsteth, -come ye to 
 the waters. 
 
 My friend, did I say too much of this kind, compas- 
 sionate, life-giving Saviour, or of the fulness and free- 
 ness of the gift of God ? You have tasted it, you have 
 witnessed it, you havn seen a recent proof of it you 
 may trace mercy through all this dispensation ; the
 
 272 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 lengthening out of his illness, the preservation of his 
 judgment and strength of mind to the last, concurred 
 to manifest to himself, to you, and to all who would 
 look on, the reality of the joy and peace which are the 
 fruit of believing and acquiescing in that remedy of 
 God's own providing for poor, wandering, miserable 
 sinners. He had wandered from the Fountain of living 
 waters ; his broken. cisterns could yield him no refresh- 
 ment like the poor starving prodigal, he desired to 
 return to his father, and asked the way to Zion with his 
 face thitherwards. Was not the sequel realized to him ? 
 His father met him, embraced him, brought him home, 
 and filled his heart with peace and gladness. Is it not 
 all of a piece with what he has revealed of his own 
 name and character ? 
 
 He has declared himself to be the Lord, the Lord 
 God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, slow to anger, 
 of great kindness, shewing mercy to thousands, pardoning 
 iniquity, transgression, and sin who will by no means 
 clear the guilty ; seeing he has found a method of mag- 
 nifying his own law, and justifying the ungodly, by 
 substituting another in their room. God is merciful, 
 to all the extent he has said ; but still it is by his own 
 method ; for he has declared, that there is no other 
 name given, by which men must be saved, but the name of 
 Christ Jesus. But men, even such as are moral, bene- 
 volent, (good in the common acceptation of the word,) 
 going about to establish their own righteousness, will 
 not submit to the righteoueness of God's own providing : 
 this is the madness, this is the folly, this I fear, is the 
 ruin of thousands. Did I say, I fear ? Dare I doubt r 
 No, I dare not, for God has said it. O my friend, let 
 us cleave to the only Mediator between God and man, 
 the Man Christ Jesus ; and let us be jealous among 
 those whom we love, and over whom we have influence, 
 to bring them off from every sandy foundation, to the 
 Rock, Christ. You say true, that I was interested, 
 personally, iu this dear brother : and never did mother 
 watch over the darling of her heart, with more unwea- 
 ried attention, than he did over my Jessy. He, by the 
 blessing of God, restored her for a time now they are 
 met ; soon shall we follow ; many friends have gone 
 before. O that every bereavement may be blessed to 
 us, that we may be weaned from the things of time
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 
 
 and made familiar with the prospects held out to us 
 beyond the grave ! 
 
 
 
 TO MRS. JULIET S , NEW YORK. 
 
 Belleville, September 16, 1808. 
 MY DEAR JULIET, 
 
 SINCE the hour I received your letter, you have 
 been little out of my mind. You call upon me as mother, 
 friend, counsellor. Shall conscious unworthiness, or 
 weakness, or ignorance, prevent me from answering ? 
 No ; for, God often choses weak instruments to bring 
 to pass great ends. 1 have been once and again at a 
 throne of grace, for wisdom to direct me, and grace to 
 be faithful. If your desire after spiritual knowledge be 
 sincere, and from the spirit of God operating on your 
 heart, you will bear searching. 
 
 You are a communicant, my Juliet : this pre-sup- 
 poses that a very great, and an important change has 
 taken place in your mind, that you have been made 
 deeply sensible of what the word of God testifies of 
 every son and daughter of Adam's race. Romans iii. 9. 
 As it is written, There is pone righteous, no, not one. 
 Man is born as the wild ass's colt, going astray from the 
 womb. Job. The heart is deceitful above all things, 
 and desperately wicked ; I the Lord search it. Having 
 the understanding darkened, alienated from the life of 
 God, through the ignorance that is in us, because of the 
 blindness of our hearts. Ephesians iv. 18. Dead in 
 trespasses and sins. Chap. ii. 1. This chapter may be 
 addressed to you, Juliet, by name. You hath he quick- 
 ened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. Wherein in 
 time past ye walked, according to the course of this world, 
 according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit 
 that now worketh in the children of disobedience ; among 
 whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in 
 the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and 
 of the mind ; and were by nature the children of wrath, 
 even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his 
 great love, wherewith he hath loved us, even when we were 
 dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By 
 grace are ye saved, through faith ; not of works, lt$t any 
 man should boast. Works there are, my Juliet, most 
 N 5
 
 274 LIFE AND WHITINGS OV 
 
 assuredly j every quickened soul will live, and bring 
 forth fruits of righteousness ; but these works are not 
 attainable, except in God's way and order. It follows, 
 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto 
 good works, which God hath before ordained, that we 
 should walk in them. My Juliet says, ' To you, then, I 
 look up to teach me.' Let me then bring you to the 
 great Teacher and Prophet of the church, without 
 whose teaching all human instruction will be ineffec- 
 tual. We read of two amiable persons coming to 
 Christ, professedly for instruction. The first you will 
 find in Matthew xix. 16. The young man asks him, 
 What good thing shall I do, that I may inherit eternal 
 life ? Jesus answers him, by referring him to the moral 
 law ; the young man, not made acquainted, by the 
 Spirit of God, either with the extent or with the spiri- 
 tuality of that law, or of the depravity of his own na- 
 ture, answers, as many in like circumstances still do 
 All these things have 1 kept from my youth up. I do 
 not suppose any one could contradict him. It is added, 
 that Jesus loved him, and he was a person of attractive 
 character ; but Jesus knew that the true principle was not 
 there supreme love to God, with all the heart, with all 
 the soul, with all the strengUi, and with all the mind : 
 therefore he gave him a test, which proved that the 
 world was uppermost in his heart. He went away 
 sorrowful, and we hear no more of him. Of the other 
 person, you read in that remarkable chapter, the third 
 of John's Gospel his name was. Nicodemus, a ruler of 
 the Jews, and also a teacher. Well knew he the law, 
 as to the letter of it, both moral and ceremonial ; he 
 must also have been acquainted with all the Old Testa- 
 ment Scripture, types, and prophecies, it being his 
 office to expound ; and, no doubt, among others, he 
 was looking for the promised Messiah. Jesus does not 
 send him to either the law or the prophets. This ruler 
 comes with a conviction and an acknowledgment, that 
 Jesus himself was a Teacher immediately from God ; 
 and Jesus immediately takes upon himself his great 
 office, and begins with urging that which is a sinner's 
 first business : to know himself, what he is by nature, 
 and the necessity of the new birth. Nicodemus, with 
 all his learning, was a stranger to this doctrine : How 
 <ari a man be born when he is old ? Jesus repeats his
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 2" 5 
 
 doctrine : He must be born of water and the Spirit. That 
 which is born of the flesh, is flesh ; and that which is born 
 of the Spirit, is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, 
 Ye must be born again. Humble that proud reason, 
 which will believe nothing but what it can understand. 
 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the 
 sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it corneth or ichi- 
 ther it goeth : so is every one that is born of the Spirit 
 a mystery it is ; nevertheless it is true. Follow out the 
 chapter, my dear. Jesus preaches his own gospel, and 
 brings in that beautiful type, the serpent, which He had 
 commanded to be raised on a pole, that those who had 
 been bitten with fiery serpents, whose bite was death, 
 should look unto it, and be healed. Read it in the 21st 
 of Numbers. In reference to this, he himself says, 
 Look unto me, all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved. 
 Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom 
 of God. As it regards him that is quickened, renewed 
 in the spirit of his mind, old things pass away, and all 
 things become new : new principles, new desires, new 
 pleasures, new ends. The work is God's. The whole 
 plan of redemption is his, from first to last. It is clearly 
 revealed in Scripture, and there is no dispute among 
 Christians concerning it. The fall of man, his corrup- 
 tion and depravity, his state under the curse of a broken 
 covenant, and his exposure to eternal misery, his help- 
 lessness, and total inability to return to God, his igno- 
 rance of his situation dead in trespasses and sins, with- 
 out God, and without hope in the world : these are 
 affecting subjects. But there is'good news proclaimed : 
 God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten 
 Son, to become the Surety of lost sinners. He took our 
 nature upon him, our sins upon him, our duties upon 
 him ; he was placed in our room and stead ; he sus- 
 tained the penalty of the broken law ; fulfilled its ut- 
 most demands ; redeemed us ; gave us a new covenant, 
 of which himself is the Surety and there is no con- 
 demnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. The 
 merits of Christ, exclusively of any thing of ours, are 
 the sole foundation of our hope. Christ is set forth, in 
 Scripture, as the Atonement, the Propitiation for sins, 
 the one Sacrifice for sin ; Christ is the End of the law 
 for righteousness : all is made ours by free gift. 1 John 
 v. 11. .All is ready : justice satisfied, God reconciled,
 
 2/6 LIFK AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 peace proclaimed. But what is all this, to a thoughtless 
 world, insensible of their situation, danger, and need ? 
 It is an awful saying, but it is of the Holy Ghost If 
 our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom 
 the god of this world hath blinded their minds, and dark- 
 ened their understandings, and hardened their hearts. 
 Therefore the application of this grace is also of God ; 
 it is all within his plan. He has appointed means, and 
 commanded our diligence in the use of them. We 
 have his Bible in our hands ; and his ministers in our 
 churches, who are also pastors and teachers, if we ap- 
 ply for their aid in private : we have a throne of grace 
 to go to, and many great and precious promises held 
 up in God's word for us to embrace and plead for 
 Christ's sake : we have many prayers in the Scrip- 
 tures, which we may adopt with the confidence of being 
 heard. 
 
 I acknowledge that we are still dependant for the 
 effect : that must be from God himself. But he honours 
 his own ordinances. He puts forth his power, and 
 convinces of sin : this is his first work. The soul is 
 awakened, aroused, convinced of sin and misery ; sins 
 of the heart, sins of the tongue, sins of the life, press 
 upon the conscience, which never disturbed before 
 mis-spent time, wasted talents, lost opportunities, neg- 
 lect of God's word and ordinances, so that the soul 
 cannot rest. O, my Juliet, this is a hopeful case. I 
 hope you have experienced something of it. It is one 
 of the surest marks of the operation of the Spirit of 
 God, and a prelude to the new-birth. It never takes 
 place without it ; for the whole need not a physician, but 
 they that are sick. Only the weary and heavy laden 
 will prize rest ; and Christ is the rest they need ; only 
 a convinced sinner will or can prize the Saviour ; and 
 now the Lord opens his mind to understand the Scrip- 
 tures ! He sees the provision which God has made for 
 ruined sinners, by sending a Substitute to stand in his 
 room : he perceives how God can be just, and yet jus- 
 tify the sinner who takes shelter in Jesus ; he falls in 
 with God's gracious plan ; receives the Lord Jesus as 
 God's gift to sinners ; trusts entirely in his merit for 
 pardon, peace, reconciliation, and eternal life ; resigns 
 his soul into the hands of his Saviour, in the faith tha 
 be will save it ; and devotes himself unreservedly to his
 
 MBS. ISABELLA. GBAHAM. 277 
 
 service, in the faith that he will give him grace to live 
 to him in all holy obedience. Now, and not till now, 
 according to God's promise, he receives power to be- 
 come his child : this is God's order. John i. 12. Now 
 he receives life, and begins to live ; but there is yet a 
 great work before him. It has pleased God, in his plan, 
 to finish at once a justifying righteousness ; it is his 
 own work, and was finished in that awful hour when he 
 announced it in his last words on the cross. John xix. 
 31. To this nothing of ours is to be added with this 
 nothing of ours mixt ; it is for ever perfect it is God's 
 gift, made ours by imputation in the hour when we 
 first believe, receive it, and rest our souls upon it. But 
 it has not pleased God, in this plan, to deliver the be- 
 liever at once from indwelling sin. This is the subject 
 of the Christian warfare, the race, the good fight. Now 
 the believer receives life, and is called to work : Work 
 out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is 
 God that ivorketh in you, both to will and to do. All 
 the promises in this blessed Bible are his they are 
 Yea and Amen in Christ ; Christ himself is his ; his 
 Spirit dwells in him. The believer is united to Jesus 
 by as real an union as the branch to the vine, the mem- 
 bers to the head, the building to the foundation. Yet 
 sin dwells in him, and is to be subdued by constant ap- 
 plications to Christ in prayer by means of watching, 
 striving, fighting ; fighting under his banners. In his 
 blessed word we are informed where our strength lies, 
 what are our weapons, what our armour. But what 
 can I say on those subjects ? The whole word of God 
 is on the subject of redemption ; to this refer the whole 
 labours of Christ's minister, and the whole dispensation 
 of God's providence. Are these these things so ? My 
 Juliet, this is not the doctrine of any one church. About 
 these subjects there is no dispute : Presbyterians, Epis- 
 copalians, Baptists, Independents, all agree in these 
 great things. And are these things so indeed ? O, my 
 Juliet, where is the time to be spared for plays, assem- 
 blies, and such numerous idle parties of various descrip- 
 tions ? I must stop : the subject is great, and we have 
 many excellent treatises on the various parts of it, 
 written by able pious men. It would be improper to 
 crowd it thus into a letter, unless to instigate to further 
 investigation.
 
 278 LIFE AND WRITINGS or 
 
 Farewell ! I ever am, my dear Juliet, your's affec- 
 tionately, - I. GRAHAM. 
 
 TO MISS VAN WYCK, NEW YORK. 
 
 Rockaway, 1810.' 
 MY DEAR, MY BELOVED ELIZA, 
 
 MR. and Mrs. B. are here on a visit for one 
 night. T did not expect to see them so soon, or I 
 would have had a letter ready. I expect another op- 
 portunity in the course of a few days, when I will send 
 you a long letter, from my heart, and I hope, dictated 
 by your and my Teacher. 
 
 I learn, by my children, that you continue much in 
 the same way in which I left you. It is your own 
 God who mixes your cup, and it is to you a cup of 
 blessing ; there is no curse in it. Your Jesus drank 
 that cup to the very dregs, that bitter as well as swoct 
 might be to> you a cup of blessing. O, then, my dar- 
 ling, hold fast by your Redeemer. He is the Lord 
 your Righteousness, and the Lord your Strength. He 
 connects your profit with his own glory. You shall, in 
 this protracted affliction, manifest it, and hold out the 
 word of life to those around you.* You shall witness 
 for him, that He is the Lord, and besides him there is 
 no Saviour that he gathers the lambs in his arms, and 
 carries them in his bosom that he is to them a Hiding- 
 Place from the wind, and a Covert from the tempest 
 as rivers of water in a dry place, and as the shadow of a 
 great rock in a weary land > that it is he that teaches 
 them to profit, and leads them by the way that they 
 should go j arid that in due time he will perfect all that 
 concerns them. Farewell! Your's with affection, 
 
 I. GRAHAM. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 Rockaway, Sabbath, 1810. 
 MY DEAR, MY BELOVED ELIZA, 
 
 I WROTE you a few lines yesterday by Mr.' B. 
 I now propose to fulfil my promise. I expect an op- 
 
 * This prediction was remarkably fulfilled in the experience ut' 
 llMit dear young saint : an interesting account of whose illness and 
 <ieath has oeen published in the Christian's Maga/ine.
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 2/9 
 
 . 
 
 portunity to-morrow, or next day, for I saw a great 
 many carriages pass this way to the tavern, as 1 sup- 
 pose, from New York. It is a common thing with some 
 to come hither on Saturday, and return on Monday, 
 to spend this blessed day in pastime. You would not, 
 I know, exchange situations with them ; you would ra- 
 ther be suffering than sinning. 
 
 It is your own observation, that God does all in wis- 
 dom ; in his wisdom he is pleased to lengthen your 
 day of affliction. Sin, my darling, is the cause of all 
 suffering ; but it is not always the immediate cause. 
 Beside particular chastisement for particular sins, there 
 are afflictions to be filled up in the body of Christ, (his 
 church,) a measure of which, in kind and degree, is 
 appointed, by unerring wisdom, to each individual 
 member. Col. i. 24. These sufferings bear no part in 
 atoning for sin, nor in redeeming our forfeited inherit- 
 ance. Christ trod the wine-press alone, and of the 
 people there was none to help him. He was made Sin for 
 us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righte- 
 ousness of God in him ; who, when he had by himself 
 purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Ma- 
 jesty on high. Heb.-i. 3. Again, chapter x. 11. And 
 every Priest (in the Levitical law) standing daily mi- 
 nistering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which 
 can never take away sins. But this man, after he had 
 offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right 
 hand of God ; for, by one offering, he hath perfected for 
 ever them that are sanctified, whereof the Holy Ghost is 
 also a Witness to us ; for, after he had said before, (see 
 from verse 5.) This is the covenant which I will make with 
 them after those days, saith the Lord I will put my laws 
 into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and 
 their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 
 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offer- 
 ing for sin. Paul says, the Holy Ghost is a Witness, 
 because he copies from the ancient Scriptures the pro- 
 phecies of Jeremiah, chap. xxxi. 31, and Ezek. xxxvi 
 95, and from the Psalms, Ix. 7. Your mother will 
 read to you also the 8th chapter of Hebrews, contain- 
 ing the same things, the new covenant, in consequence 
 of Christ, as the Surety of sinners, having made full 
 atonement, magnified the low, and made it honourable ; 
 therefore, there is now no condemnation to them who
 
 280 UFB AND WRITINGS Of 
 
 are in Christ Jesus. It has pleased God, my darling, 
 in the adorable plan of reconciling sinners to himself 
 by Jesus Christ, to perfect at once a justifying righte- 
 ousness for them, and to bestow it upon them as a free 
 gift. This is the record, that God hath given to us eter- 
 nal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John v. 11. But 
 it has not pleased him to deliver us at once from de- 
 pravity : provision is made for final deliverance by the 
 same covenant, and is effected by the same power, but 
 in this believers are called to work. It is evident, from 
 Scripture, and the experience of Christians answers to 
 it, that, in the hour of believing, they pass from death 
 to life, considered as a state. This is the hour of the new 
 birth they then receive life for the time, and it is their 
 privilege, by the constitution of the new covenant, to 
 ask and receive, from day to day, grace to help in every 
 time of need. To them, and not to the unregenerate, 
 the exhortation is addressed : Work out your own salva- 
 tion with fear and trembling} for it is God who worketh 
 in you, both to will and to do, of his good pleasure. The 
 means are of God's appointing, in the diligent use of 
 which they go from strength to strength. The grand 
 mean is faith in God's promises, of which there are 
 very many in the Scripture. Believers are to put 
 forth their own exertions, as the children of Israel were 
 called to go out against their enemies, in the faith that 
 God would give them victory, and lead them to the 
 promised rest. The battle was the Lord's, and he 
 fought for them ; but the means were, their exertions. 
 Believers are God's workmanship ; but this work he 
 carries on by exercising their natural powers, which he 
 sanctifies to a different end from that to which they 
 were formerly by their own spirit directed. Still the 
 Scripture testifies, that if any man say he has no sin, 
 he deceives himself, and the truth is not in him ; and, 
 while sin remains, its consequence, that is, suffering 
 must. The judgments of God, as the moral Governor 
 of the world, are denounced against, and executed 
 upon, the workers of iniquity. The children of God 
 experience personal chastisements for personal sins, as 
 a provision of the covenant. Psalm Ixxxix. 30. And, 
 if I mistake not, there are afflictions experienced by 
 individuals, as members of Christ's body, in which God 
 does not bring into view the personal sins of the uf-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA. GRAHAM. 281 
 
 Ferer. In this sense I read Paul's Epistle to the Co- 
 lossians, i. 24. Who now rejoice in my sufferings, and 
 Jill up that which is behind of the sufferings of Christ in 
 my Jtesh, for his body's sake, which is the church. 
 Thess. iii. 3. / sent Timothens, to establish you, and 
 to comfort you, concerning your faith, that no man should 
 be moved by these afflictions, for yourselves know that we 
 are appointed thereunto. Phil. ii. 7- Yea, if I be of- 
 fered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy 
 and rejoice with yon all ; for the same cause do ye joy 
 and rejoice ii'ith me. 2 Cor. i. 6. And whether we be 
 afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation ; and 
 ti'hether we be comforted, it is for your salvation and con- 
 solation. There is no conscious personal sin expressed 
 in these sufferings ; on the contrary, Paul says, (verse 
 12,) For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our con- 
 science, that in simpiicty and godly sincerity, not with 
 fleshly wisdom, but (,y the grace of God, we have had our 
 conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you- 
 u;ard. 
 
 Most of the prophets and the apostles suffered mar- 
 tyrdom. They, indeed, sustained public characters j 
 but the beggar Lazarus, who, in addition to poverty, 
 was full of sores, was carried by the angels from the 
 rich man's gate to Abraham's bosom. And thousand 
 and tens of thousands of redeemed and sanctified men 
 have suffered lengthened martyrdom, and perished with 
 hunger, in holes and caves of the earth, unknown in 
 history, except in groups unseen at the time, except 
 by the eye of the omniscient Jehovah, by whom the 
 hairs of their head are numbered ; their tears are in his 
 bottle ; nor shall one sigh nor one groan perish with- 
 out its result. 
 
 O, my EHea, what delightful wonders shall open to 
 our view, when delivered from these prison-holds of 
 earth ! 
 
 I have finished one sheet, my dear Eliza ; I fear it 
 is too much, and may prove too fatiguing, especially as 
 there are many references requiring a stretch of atten- 
 tion: I have been reading the Epistle to the Hebrews, 
 and you have naturally got my thoughts on part of it. 
 
 I once heard yoii complain that you had made small 
 progress in knowledge, in comparison of a young per- 
 son that had just left you; but you checked yourself.
 
 *2S2 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 rind said, ' The Lord has given me faith, let me be 
 thankful.' I at that time considered your departure 
 as very near, and advised you to keep yonr eye fixed 
 on Christ, .as your Redeemer and Saviour, who had 
 performed all things for you, and would perfect all that 
 concerned you ; and added, One hour in heaven will 
 make you wiser than the most enlightened saint on 
 earth. Since that, it has pleased your Lord to add 
 many days to your life. Pie has mitigated your pain, 
 and given you some intervals of ease and composure, 
 nnd our dear Eliza has grown in that time. Should it 
 please God to spare you for a yet longer season, and 
 continue your intervals of ease, no subject can be so 
 profitable ; and I hope your Lord will make it pleasant 
 as that of the contents of the New Testament which 
 your Saviour bequeathed to you, sealed and ratified in 
 his blood. There is a vast variety of precious promises 
 contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- 
 ment, which are all your's with Christ ; for as a mem- 
 ber of his body, you are built upon the foundation of the 
 apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the 
 Chief Corner Stone. And now I commend you to your 
 own covenant God, who does and will support you, 
 through life and through death, to that happy land, 
 %vhere we shall all meet ; and remember, Eye hath not 
 seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart 
 of man to conceive the things he hath prepared for them 
 that love him. 
 
 I am, with much love and affection, your's, 
 
 I. GRAHAM. 
 
 TO MR. JAMES TODD, NEW YORK. 
 
 Rockaway, L. I. 
 MY DEAR JAMES, 
 
 THIS will probably be handed you by our mu- 
 tual friend, Mrs. C . The thought of her being with 
 you, makes me part with her with less reluctance. 
 You have not been forgotten by either ; we have talked 
 much of you, and have united in prayer to your and 
 our God, that he may manifest himself unto you as 
 your reconciled Father in Christ Jesus ; and give you 
 joy and peace in believing- that he may give you pa- 
 tience in suffering, and entire resignation to his most
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 283 
 
 holy will. It has, my dear young friend, been ray ear- 
 nest inquiry, especially of late years, standing on the 
 brink of eternity, What is there within us, or without 
 us, on which a sinner can rest in a dying hour Y If it 
 be a holy life, there is no peace for me. Taking the 
 law of God for my rule, I find that backslider is my 
 name ; yet peace I have found, and on the best secu- 
 rity j this blessed Bible is my charter. 1 have searched 
 it with diligence and prayer, and my mind is confirmed 
 in the following truths : That the whole world is be- 
 come guilty before God, and is under his wrath and 
 curse ,on that account. This is our state 5 a miserable 
 state it is, and as hopeless as miserable, for any thing 
 we can do for ourselves. But I read in this Bible to 
 the full amount of the following conclusions that in 
 the counsel of the mysterious triune Jehovah, Jesus 
 Christ, the second person of the incomprehensible 
 Trinity, was sanctified, or set apart to become the Sa- 
 viour of law-condemned sinners, to take their nature 
 upon him, and to comply with the whole of the requi- 
 sitions of the eternal immutable law of God, to become 
 in every sense their Surety. Man is a rebel ; it is put 
 to his account a penalty is incurred ; he, as their 
 Surety, is made liable. Are they again to be made 
 heirs of eternal life ? Perfect obedience is the condi- 
 tion, and of him, as their Surety, it is demanded. All 
 this being fulfilled, sinners are become his property 
 he has paid their debts, fulfilled their duties, and me- 
 rited for them eternal life, all in their own nature as 
 their Head and Representative : so that believers are 
 complete in him. This is the righteousness of God, 
 wrought out by Jesus Christ, in his own person, God- 
 man, as their Surety. To this nothing of the believer's 
 is to be added with this nothing of his mixed ; it is 
 for ever perfect ; entirely distinct from that holiness of 
 heart and life which is wrought in him, in consequence 
 of this. It is the believer's by pure imputation. God 
 lias declared himself well pleased with this righteous- 
 ness, and that, being himself reconciled, he is in Christ 
 Jesus reconciling sinners to him. Hence all the invi- 
 tations scattered thick in the Old and New Testament, 
 not only to the penitent, weary, and heavy laden, but 
 to the stout-hearted, the backslider, to them that are 
 wearying themselves in their own way. Ho f every one
 
 ?84 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 thqt thirsteth whosoever will) let him come, and take of 
 the waters of life freely. Hence all the promises an- 
 nexed to believing, accepting, receiving, trusting, rest- 
 ing : Christ the Saviour is the Object the gift of God 
 to sinners for all the above purposes. The Lord has 
 convinced me that I have nothing in myself, on which I 
 can rest j my conscience echoes to his word in all that 
 it asserts of my nature and my state : but this Saviour 
 is provided for sinners exactly of this description. I 
 am invited to put in my claim, I believe the record, 1 
 rest my salvation on his word ; God giveth to me eter- 
 nal life, and this life is in his Son. Jesus calls me to 
 look unto him, and be saved ; 1 do look unto him, and 
 1 am saved. He assures me that those who come unto 
 him shall never be cast out ; I do go to him, and com- 
 mit my sinful soul to his keeping ; I shall not be cast 
 out. As many as receive the gift of his Son, receive 
 at the same time, power to become the children of God ; 
 1 do receive his gift, and lay claim to his promise. He 
 is my reconciled Father, and I am his adopted child ; 
 and he hath eent his Spirit into my heart, by which I 
 can say, Abba, Father. J have, my dear James, taken 
 this method of laying before you the grounds of my 
 own hope, because I think it the most simple method, 
 and containing at the same time my counsel to you to 
 lay hold on the same hope. The warrant is given us 
 in God's own word, as sinners, without respect to fruit 
 or any works of ours. I can, if necessary, give you 
 chapter and verse, to the full amount ; but you have 
 those about you who can give it you by little and little, 
 as your weak state can bear it. This Gift is held out 
 to the sinners acceptance in many places of the word 
 of God, and becomes the sinner's in the moment of be- 
 lieving. Provision is made by the same covenant for 
 his sanctification ; but that makes no part of justifying 
 righteousness. Christ is made of God unto him Wis- 
 dom, Righteousness, Sanctification, and complete Re- 
 demption. Try, my precious young friend, to lay hold 
 on this hope, and enter into the rest provided for the 
 believer here. Stretch forth the withered hand, the 
 Lord himself will give you strength. Commit your 
 precious soul into his hands, and rest assured that he 
 will perfect all that concerns you work all his work in 
 you carry you safely through the Jordan of death
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 285 
 
 and put you in possession of the inheritance he ha* 
 purchased for you. That all this shall be, is the prayer 
 and firm hope of 
 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 ISABELLA GRAHAM 
 
 TO MRS. J. W . 
 
 Greenwich, 1814. 
 
 J , Did not the dove, my dear, get into the Ark ? 
 Yes, Noah put out his hand, and pulled her in : both 
 are types of Christ. He is the Ark of safety from the 
 flood of wrath that must overwhelm unbelievers. 
 
 I know not, my dear, the amount of that over which 
 you mourn with so much agony; I know not even if if 
 be sinful, except in the circumstances ; you are con- 
 scious of sincerity, and you do not now wish to draw 
 back. We can, my dear, do nothing in our own 
 strength ; no, not so much as think a good thought. 
 To make any resolution without dependance on God 
 for strength to perform, is sinful . to make any vow 
 without a consciousness of our weakness and depend- 
 ance on God for strength to perform, is an aggravation 
 of the evil. I suppose my J has sinned : what then ? 
 If any man say he has no sin, he deceives himself, and 
 the truth is not in him. And if you suppose that your 
 sin in this, is greater than many other sins, with their 
 aggravations, you judge wrong. 1 think that any one 
 deliberate sin, wilfully committed, with the knowledge 
 that it is sin, is greater than your's in such circum- 
 stances. You are bound by your vow, and God will 
 enable you to perform it. Turn, my dear, to the 2d 
 chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, where Peter 
 preaches to the very murderers of ovir blessed Saviour, 
 and charges the guilt upon them ; verse 2 c 2d and 
 again in verse C 26'th, Therefore, let all the house of Israel 
 know assuredly, that this same Jesus whom ye crucified, 
 God hath made both Lord and Christ: and when they 
 heard this, they were pricked in their hearts. Read on, 
 my dear: Peter exhorts even them to repent,- and be 
 baptized in the name of Christ, for the remission of 
 sins. 1 make no doubt but many have made vows in a 
 rash manner; but, so far as I know, you have vowed 
 only to serve the Lord : this you are bound to do, with
 
 286 LIFE ANU WRITINGS OF 
 
 or without a vow ; and if the Lord make this vow the 
 means of keeping you watchful, and humble, and firm, 
 in avoiding what you have vowed against, it will, by 
 his over-ruling Spirit, prove a blessing. ' You do not 
 know where to look for comfort!' To Jesus, my 
 dear ; not to yourself, not to any creature. Look unto 
 me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth : for I am God 
 and there is none else. Isaiah xlv. 22. O Israel, thoti 
 hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help. Hosea xiii. 
 9. and chapter xiv. Take a view, my dear, of the cha- 
 racter of God in his dealings with his perverse Israel, 
 after they had made the molten calf, and otherwise 
 sinned grievously against God. He at the intercession 
 of Moses, forgave their sin, and proclaimed that won- 
 derful name which to this day is the encouragement ot 
 convinced sinners, and mine in particular. Exodus 
 xxxiv. 5. And the Lord passed by him, (Moses,) 
 and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and 
 gracious, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, 
 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, trans- 
 gression, and sin. And how can God do this, whose 
 law is, as himself, immutable, and who adds, that he 
 will by no means clear the guilty ? Look now to the 53d 
 chapter of Isaiah, where you will find your Redeemer 
 standing in your room and stead. In the 30th chapter 
 is another amazing display of God's forgiveness. The 
 prophet begins the chapter with, Woe to the rebellious 
 children; and lays grievous things to their charge, till 
 you come to the 18th verse, where he says, Therefore 
 will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious to you; 
 therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon 
 you : for the Lord is a God of judgment ; blessed are all 
 they that wait for him. Once more look at the procla- 
 mation, Jeremiah iii. 12. God has provided a Sacri- 
 fice of sufficient value to atone for our most aggravated 
 transgressions ; and a righteousness answerable to the 
 utmost extent of his holy law. Both are made over 
 to the sinner by free gift. 2 Cor. v. 21, He hath 
 made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we 
 might be made the righteousness of God in him; he, our 
 Surety, having fulfilled all righteousness for us, at our 
 Surety and Representative. 
 
 You fear that it is not the hand of the Lord that is 
 upon you. I do think that it is, my J . It is the
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 287 
 
 peculiar office of the Spirit to convince of sin : and I 
 do think that he is at this time dealing with your soul. 
 But why look so much at your vow ? You have sinned, 
 my J , in heart, lip, and life. Thou shalt love the Lord 
 thy God, with all thy heart. O my J , what prosti- 
 tuted affections, what mis-spent time ! While God 
 says, Whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, 
 do all to the glory of God. What self-indulgence, and 
 self-will, instead of self-denial ! Listen to the voice of 
 convictions ; listen to it as the voice of mercy, leading 
 you to Christ, the great propitiatory Sacrifice, the 
 Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world. 
 Go to Christ, my dear, as a sinner ; tell him that you 
 commit jour sinful soul into his hands. Say, ' Thou 
 hast bid me look unto thee, and be saved ? Saviour, I 
 do look unto thee for salvation. Wash me in thy 
 blood, clothe me in thy righteousness ; sanctify me 
 by thy grace ; accept of me as thy pardoned, saved 
 child ; and be Surety for me for good : that, having 
 vowed to thee that I would be thy servant, I may per- 
 form my vow ; furnish me with both will and power to 
 devote myself to thee every day of my life.' Try, my 
 dear, to rest on Christ ; put your trust in him : if you 
 do, he will not disappoint you : as your faith, so shall 
 it be unto you. Now, faith is a saving grace ; thereby 
 we receive, and rest upon Christ for salvation, as he is 
 offered to us in the Gospel. Do as you have said ; 
 wait . his appointed time, in the use of means, till he 
 manifest himself to you. I am hurried for time to get 
 this to town. Farewell. I will pray for you. I. G. 
 
 TO DR. H. M , ROTHSAY, BUTE. 
 
 MY DE\R BROTHER, November 11, 1799. 
 
 BEFORE this reaches you, the public papers will 
 have informed you of the desolation of New -York, by 
 the yellow-fever. We are among the escaped ; and 
 there are no breaches in the family. My health, and 
 that of the family, made the country necessary to us at 
 any rate, and we had left town previously to its becom- 
 ing general : but Mr. B kept in the city, only sleep- 
 ing in the country, till 45 were carried off in a night. 
 The inhabitants abandoned the city in crowds, spread-
 
 288 LtFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 ing over the adjacent countries ; in Long-Island, Jersey, 
 and New York, for sixty miles round. In the most 
 busy trading streets, a person might have walked half 
 a mile without meeting an individual/ or seeing an open 
 house, or shop. Eleven physicians and surgeons fell 
 sacrifices to it 5 five of them men of eminence ; several 
 were confined by mere fatigue, and had to retire to rest, 
 relieving others when recruited. Dr. B , one of our 
 oldest, and most eminent physicians, who had retired 
 from business two years ago, and lived on his estate in 
 the country, hearing of the distress of his brethren, 
 and the impossibility of. their answering all the calls of 
 the sick and dying, left his retreat, returned to town, 
 and slaved to the last. His affectionate wife- would not 
 be left behind, but determined to share or witness his 
 fate. It has pleased God to preserve them both. 
 Notwithstanding the general flight, the mortality among 
 those that remained was so great, that for three weeks 
 from 48 to 54 died every 14 hours : this was no vague 
 report, but that of the physicians, and published in the 
 daily newspapers. The churches were shut up, ex- 
 cept those which stood out of danger. Great numbers 
 carried the infection with them to the country, as far 
 as 60 and 80 miles, and died there ; almost every one 
 that took it in the country died, having no proper me- 
 dical assistance ; I do not remember of one that reco- 
 vered ; many did in the city and in the hospitals. 
 Some died without getting sight of a doctor ; some, 
 alone, deserted by every creature. The coffins were 
 ready made, the graves ready dug, and the minute the 
 last breath was fetched, they were buried with the ut- 
 most dispatch. Many widows had to put their own 
 husbands in the coffin, with the assistance of the maker ; 
 and often, very often, there was not a creature at the 
 burial, but the man that drove the hearse, who assisted 
 the sexton to put the body under the ground. I my- 
 self met a hearse, followed by three well dressed-fe- 
 males, not a man but the driver. Long before this, 
 your heart has asked, What became of the poor ? 
 Wonders were done for them ; yet many suffered for 
 want of nursing. A number of humane men formed 
 themselves into a Society, sought them out, and minis- 
 tered relief from the public funds. Two cooks' shops 
 in different quarters of the city prepared soup, meat,
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 389 
 
 vegetables, and bread. A committee sat in tbe alms 
 house every day, from nine to one o'clock, to receive 
 such reports or applications as might be made to them, 
 either by, or in behalf of, the sick or poor ; and they 
 were visited, and nurses and medical attendance pro- 
 vided by the public, as well as eveiy species of neces- 
 saries ; but alas ! nurses were not to be had ; doctors 
 could be at only one place .at a time. When speaking 
 of the poor, I omitted mentioning the large donations 
 which were sent from both town and country, to the 
 committee : flour, meal, fowls, sheep, vegetables, mo- 
 ney, and clothes. One of the members of this Society 
 told me that there was a plentiful supply ; and tem- 
 porary hospitals, and other buildings, were erected for 
 the reception of the sick and recovering ; every thing 
 that could be done was done to soften the calamity. 
 I am obliged to stop abruptly. Love to all with you. 
 
 Your's, ever, 
 I. GRAHAM. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 New York, March 3, 1800. 
 
 HERE conies a letter of woe from my dear brother, 
 on a subject almost already forgotten in New York, 
 the yellow-fever. Strange as it may seem, the disease, 
 and all that it carried off, seem entirely out of mind. 
 No mention made of the past, no apprehensions are 
 entertained for the future. Country retreats are mul- 
 tiplying around, and people appear as if they had made 
 a covenant with death. Potter's field is filled with our 
 principal citizens ; the prison the prison-limits, with 
 many of the survivors. The rest are feasting, dancing, 
 and revelling, or weeping over feigned woe in the 
 theatre. A few escaped, who have fled for refuge to 
 the hope set before them ; whose eyes have been 
 opened to discern the danger, and accept the offered 
 Saviour j among which number, I dare, through grace, 
 reckon your sister and her children. Bless the Lord, 
 my soul, and forget not all his benefits. The city 
 (indeed, the United States,) have been swallowed up- 
 in the loss of Washington. The utmost stretch of hu- 
 man eloquence has been called forth in panegyric. His 
 eulogium has been sounded in every possible mode
 
 290 LIFE AND WHITINGS Of 
 
 not excepting our pulpits. The 22d of February, his 
 birth-day, was set apart to his memory. Two of our 
 ministers were appointed to pronounce an eulogium on 
 his character ; one of whom was Dr. Mason, the other 
 Dr. Linn. The last I admired ; it had its due influence 
 over me ; but of my own minister, I could form no 
 judgment ; the church, the pulpit, the man, the words, 
 seemed so connected with the Lord Jesus Christ, his 
 favourite theme, I could not realize the mere orator. 
 Great things were said of Washington, and they were 
 due. The Lord himself called him by name, girded 
 him, subdued great armies before him, with handfula, 
 like Gideon. He gave him wisdom in council, and 
 prudence in executing justice. A nation blessed him 
 while he lived, and with all the power of language la- 
 mented his death. Ah, human depravity, how strik- 
 ing j busting with gratitude to a creature with en- 
 mity to a Saviour God ; to God, ivho so loved the world, 
 that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believ- 
 eth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 
 And to as many as receive him, to them gives he power 
 to become the sons of God, by putting his Spirit within 
 them, and causing them to love, and walk in, his sta- 
 tutes. But, alas ! the carnal, unrenewed mind is en- 
 mity against God and his Christ. O that men were 
 wise, and could see their disease, and the remedy ! 
 What misery is in the world at 'this day ! It is only 
 equalled by the wickedness. How does potsherd dash 
 against potsherd, mutually destroying each other ! 
 How consoling to the Christian, that the Lord reigns ! 
 The Lord sits King among the nations, even our own 
 Jesus, Head over all principalities and powers, and do- 
 minions, and every name that is named in heave.-i and in 
 earth : all these shakings, turnings, and overturnings, 
 shall prove subservient to the real prosperity of his 
 church. Great things are on the wheel ! Soon shall 
 the righteous shine forth as the sun in the firmament. 
 There appears also to be a shaking in the church. I 
 hear strange things from Edinburgh, of which I can 
 form no judgment men going to reverse the Scripture 
 order of the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery ; 
 yet preaching with purity, with zeal, the faith once d^. 
 livered unto the Saints, and the Lord working by them 
 in turning many to himself the regular-bred, licensed,
 
 MBS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 291 
 
 and ordained ministers, leaving their flocks, and going 
 with these others. What can this be ? Where can it 
 end ? Can the Redeemer's kingdom be divided against 
 itself? It may seem so for a time, through indwelling 
 corruption, and outward temptation suited to the times : 
 still the kingdom of Christ is one one body ; the Lord 
 shall chasten, purge, heal, and unite, till all shall be one 
 stick in his hand. Amen. Lord, do as thou hast promised . 
 I wrote you a sketch of our Widow's Society. I send 
 you a Constitution. We are all on foot; the mothers 
 healthy, the children thriving. I hope you can give the 
 same account of your's. Love to all your dear friends. 
 
 Your's ever, 
 I. GRAHAM. 
 
 TO DR. MARSHALL. 
 
 Neic York, April 24, 1802. 
 
 AFTER a year's silence I have a letter from my dear 
 brother. What I have suffered, He only knows, who 
 knoweth all things. I am too happy to know that you 
 live, and that your dear family are in a measure of 
 health. The sweet Isabella has disappointed your 
 fears, and lives. My dear brother seems the most af- 
 flicted for the present, and adds to present suffering, 
 cares for futurity, to which he is not entitled. O, my 
 brother, has God given his Son to be a suffering Sub- 
 stitute in the room of sinners, and shall he not with him 
 give all things necessary for life and godliness ? O, my 
 dear brother, you have, 1^ think, taken hold of God < 
 covenant : the style of your last, and of several of youv 
 former letters, seems to intimate this to be your desire. 
 God is by Christ reconciling the world to himself. 
 By the constitution of that covenant, transacted ia 
 heaven and executed in our world, the purchase-price 
 is paid, a finished salvation provided, and ready to be 
 bestowed, upon no harder terms than the sinner's ac- 
 ceptance its blessings are free. This is the record, 
 that God giveth to us eternal life, and this life is in his 
 Son. God so loved a lost world, that he gave his only 
 begotten Son. that whosoever believetli on him should not 
 perish, but have everlasting, life. Now, my brother, if 
 God has inclined your heart to seek an interest in that 
 salvation which he himself has provided for sinners, 
 o 2
 
 292 LIFE AND WRITINGS 07 
 
 you have received in part; for the subduing of the 
 heart is God's work. God has appointed means by 
 which we are called to be engaged 3 but the success 
 of these depends on his blessing. T^ hat we can do no- 
 thing of ourselves is no discouragement, while he has 
 not only promised,, but commanded and promised ; 
 ' Ask, that ye may receive seek, that ye may find 
 and knock that it may be opened unto you ; for every 
 one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, 
 and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.' This 
 salvation is all of God's providing. The subjects of it 
 are ruined, lost, rebellious, ungodly sinners, under the 
 sentence of condemnation. The substance of it is a 
 perfect complete surety-righteousness wrought out in 
 the person of Christ, and transferred to, imputed to, 
 made over to the sinner as his own, as fully, as 
 completely, as if he had wrought it out in his own 
 person. When the sinner accepts of this as the gift 
 of God to him rests his soul upon God's promise 
 that he shall have eternal life, he becomes, accord- 
 ing to the order of God's covenant, an adopted 
 son. It is no presumption to call God his reconciled 
 Father, and to lay claim to all the promises in the Old 
 and New Testament, as his own. It is his duty to cul- 
 tivate confidence in God, to call him his Father, his 
 own reconciled Father in Christ Jesus ; who, is accord- 
 ing to his ow r n appointment, Mediator, Peace-Maker, 
 Redeemer ; and the Holy Ghost, by the same appoint- 
 ment and order the Lord, the Sanctifier. Whenever 
 the sinner considers himself as reconciled, by dwelling 
 upon his happy deliverance, his escape, his blessed si- 
 tuation, and prospects ; by viewing the grace by which 
 he is delivered, and his obligations to his deliverer, he 
 becomes grateful : according to the order of this saine 
 well-ordered covenant, he receives favour to become 
 the child of God. John, 1st chapter, To as ma/ <?/ ax 
 received him, gave he power to become the sons of God ; 
 even to them who believe on his name. It is the finished 
 righteousness of our blessed Surety that redeems us 
 from hell and death, and gives us title to eternal life ; 
 but our comfortable views of this, our stedfast hopes, 
 our higher or lower attainments in the divine life, our 
 God has made, in some measure, conditional. If we 
 make a bold, full profession if we are diligent in the
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 293 
 
 use of means if we cultivate communion with God, 
 by reading, meditation, and prayer, we are likely to 
 become rich in faith, and holy in heart, life, and con- 
 versation. But if we, through shame, and the fear of 
 contempt, conform too much to the world be timid, 
 sneaking Christians, ashamed of God's method of salva- 
 tion, and covering our Christian motives under the cloke 
 of philosophy, and benevolence, &c. we need not be 
 surprised, if the Lord deny us the testimony of his 
 Spirit, witnessing with our own heart that we are born 
 of God ; or if, through indolence or love of the world, 
 we neglect prayer, reading, meditation tlie means of 
 conversing with God, we need not be surprised, if we 
 are cold and languid, afraid of death, afraid of a thou- 
 sand evils which the Lord may permit to haunt us : if 
 we have little enjoyment in religion, and much chas- 
 tisement and affliction. Some Christians are saved, so 
 as by fire ; some reach the haven through mists, storms, 
 tempests, without the cheerful sun, and arrive safe, 
 through the merits of that Redeemer, who never failed 
 one that hung upon him ; but they arrive like a poor 
 shattered bark, that has hardly escaped shipwreck : 
 others go through this world doing the will of God,- 
 and suffering the will of God righting against corrup- 
 tion within, and temptation without, in faith and full 
 confidence that they have grace to help in every time 
 of need. They ask, and they receive : they fall often 
 when unwatchful, but they rise again, and renew the 
 fight, having an Advocate with the Father, and a mer- 
 ciful High Priest, who is touched with the feeling of 
 their infirmities. They confess, ask forgiveness, be- 
 lieve that they are forgiven, still hold fast thejr confi- 
 dence ; the Lord, whose prerogative it is to bring good 
 out of evil, making their very failures the means of 
 more stedfast walking, by making them more humble, 
 more dependant, more watchful, more prayerful. At 
 length, they pvercome, and have an abundant entrance 
 into the kingdom of their Lord and Saviour. Like a. 
 stately ship in full sail, with wind and tide, they enter 
 the haven of eternal rest. 
 
 O, my brother, be not a Christian by halves be- 
 lieve confidently, join the Lord's people fully and 
 openly watch, pray, fight against corruption within, 
 and temptation without j ask., and believe, and you
 
 594 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 shall receive needful grace go up through the wilder- 
 ness, leaning on your Beloved ; casting all your care 
 on him, who hath promised to care for you, and to 
 make all things work together for your good. He has 
 said, Leave your fatherless children ; 1 will preserve 
 them alive, and let your widows trust in me. He is the 
 Father, of the fatherless, the Husband of the widow, 
 the stranger's Shield, and the orphan's Stay ; take hold 
 of this promise, insure it by trusting in it ; for, wherr 
 ever there is promise held up to our faith, according 
 to our faith shall it be. I think I mentioned, in a for- 
 mer letter, "that it had pleased the Lord to take to 
 himself dear little Isabella Smith, one of the loveliest, 
 sweetest babes I ever beheld. The stroke was severely 
 felt, but resignation was given. She is not lost, but 
 gone before, with many others dear to us. It will be 
 but a little while, my brother, till we shall all have 
 done with every thing here. O, let us dwell upon the 
 purchased inheritance, and get above this vain, empty, 
 insnaring world. Let us try to lay aside every weight ; 
 and, as every one has some besetting sin, and that often 
 the least known to himself, let us search it out, and 
 pray that it may be realized, that we may put a mark 
 upon our besetting sin, and a double watch, that we 
 may be able to lay it aside, and to tun with patience the 
 race that, is set before us, looking unto Jesus, ivho for the 
 joy set before him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and 
 is now sat down at the right hand of God, where he rules 
 over all, for the good of his people, who shall soon fol- 
 low him, and be made partakers of his blessedness. 
 
 Give my love to my dear sister, and Agnes, and all 
 the yorng ones. 
 
 Farewell ! I am ever your affectionate sister, 
 
 I. GRAHAM. 
 
 TO MRS. MARSHALL. 
 
 MY DEAR SISTER, Mount Harmony, May 21, 180?. 
 
 I HAVE just received my brother's letter and 
 your's. Sorry, sorry am I to find my dear brother in 
 such a broken state of health. I say, I am sorry flesh 
 and blood are so: for no affliction for the present is 
 joyous, but grievous ; and I love my dear brother with 
 a very tender affection. But there is a better principle
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 295 
 
 which says, The will of the Lord be done Good is the 
 will of the Lord. The Lord hath said, I will bring you 
 into the wilderness, and there will I plead with you 1 
 will bring ye within the bond of my covenant, and ye 
 shall be mine, saith the Lord. O how good ! I desire 
 to bless God for all my mercies ; but, in my present 
 view, (next to the gift of his Son, and eternal life,) 
 my afflictions have proved the greatest. So it may 
 prove with my dear brother. You have seen a good 
 deal of affliction in your family : but a little time will 
 shew you that you could not have been well without 
 it. I have had my share appointed me by my own 
 Father, I felt it at the time bitter ; yet even then not 
 altogether so, for my mourning days have been my 
 best days through life ; even they are most comfortable 
 proofs of our Father's love ; ' Of all my blessings, 
 stands this the highest, that my heart has bled.' I. 
 bless God that my dear children are all in his covenant ; 
 that all comes to them from a Father's hand, through 
 the channel of the covenant. 1 experience the same 
 kind of exercise with regard to your family ; you are 
 both of the seed of the righteous the children of many 
 prayers. Rest in the Lord, my dear sister and brother : 
 receive all as coming directly from him. 
 
 Love to your dear children. May the Lord himself 
 educate them for his own kingdom. Your's ever, 
 
 I. GRAHAM. 
 
 A Letter from Viscountess Glenorchy to Mrs. Graham, 
 alluded to in her Life, page 20. 
 
 DEAR MADAM, Barnton, Dec. 27, 1781. 
 
 I RECEIVED your letter last week, and also one 
 some time ago from Mrs. Walker, in which she desired 
 me to send you my sentiments upon the alteration you 
 had made, and still thought of making, upon your plan. 
 
 I have since endeavoured to consider, with all the 
 attention of which I am at present capable, the argu 
 ments that may be brought on both sides of the ques- 
 tion ; and with regard to the first point, viz. the prac- 
 tisings ; I will frankly own, that, could you send your 
 young ladies to one where girls only are admitted, I 
 should more readily yield my opinion of the matter, to
 
 296 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 those Christians who have advised you to it. But, as 
 I learn that it is a promiscuous dance of boys and 
 girls, I must, in conscience, say, that I look upon such 
 a meeting as equally pernicious -in its effects upon the 
 minds of young people, as balls and public assemblies 
 on persons of riper years. When you mentioned the 
 subject to me first, I thought it had been a practising 
 of girls only ; else should then have given you my sen- 
 timents fully upon the head. 
 
 As to the reading of plays, or any part of them, to 
 your young people, I must own, it does not appear to 
 me to be expedient: it may be productive of bad con- 
 sequences, and the good arising from it, is (at most,) 
 uncertain. It is, no doubt, very desirable to enlarge 
 young people's minds., and improve their taste, as well 
 as their persons : but such is the state of things in this 
 world, that, to attain this to the degree wished for by 
 every person of refined taste, some things must be sa- 
 crificed of much greater value for example, a girl 
 cannot acquire the smart, polished air of a person of 
 fashion, without imbibing too much of the spirit of the 
 world. Vanity and emulation must be awakened and 
 cultivated in the heart, before she will apply herself 
 with diligence to outward accomplishments ; neither can 
 her mind and taste be much improved in polite litera- 
 ture, without losing its relish for simple truth. I 
 grant you, there are a few Christians in the world, who 
 have acquired the outward accomplishments of itj 
 and have, by grace, been enabled to turn these to good 
 account 3 who, like the Israelites, having spoiled the 
 Egyptians, have made use of their jewels in adorning 
 the tabernacle : but this can never serve as an argu- 
 ment on your side of the question. If the Lord sees 
 fit to manifest his power and grace, by plucking a 
 brand from the burning ; this is no reason why chil- 
 dren should be initiated into the ways of sin and folly, 
 in hopes that some time or other He will bring them 
 out. We are never to do evil, that good may come : 
 and this brings the question to a short issue. 
 
 Do you think it lawful for Christians to attend pub- 
 lic places, or to spend their time in reading plays ? Do 
 you think these things tend, either immediately or re- 
 motely, to promote the glory of God ? If you do not, 1 
 cannot see, how you, as a Christian can have any hand
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 297 
 
 in introducing young ladies to the one, or in giving 
 them a taste for the other. 
 
 This, dear Madam, is my view of the matter : but I 
 do not wish you to walk by my light. I believe that 
 all the children of God are taught by him, and ought to 
 follow the dictates of their own consciences ; 1 there- 
 fore pretend not to advise you, but shall endeavour to 
 pray that the great unerring Counsellor may give you 
 divine wisdom to be your teacher, to lead you into all 
 truth, and to keep you from every thing inconsistent 
 with his holy will. 
 
 I have met with so many interruptions since I began 
 this letter, that I fear it is hardly intelligible. I shall 
 be sorry if I have said any thing that gives you uneasi- 
 ness ; your spirits seem low, and your business not 
 going on so well as could be wished : perhaps I ought 
 rather to have employed my pen in the way of consola- 
 tion and encouragement, than by throwing in fresh 
 matter of perplexity. Sure I am, I do not mean to add 
 affliction to the afflicted : but rather have been im- 
 pelled, from a regard to truth, to write my real senti- 
 ments, as you desired. Your friend and humble servant, 
 
 W. GLENORCHY. 
 
 ADDRESSES. 
 
 To the Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children, in 
 
 April, 1800. 
 LADIES, 
 
 WITH pleasure we, your Board, again meet 
 this benevolent Society. With pleasure we announce 
 the success of the Institution its funds, its usefulness, 
 and its respectability increase, We have on the books 
 two hundred and seventy-four annual subscribers, 
 thirty-nine more than at last meeting. 
 
 The Treasurer has received three hundred and thirty 
 dollars from ladies, in donations, and from gentlemen, 
 six hundred and seventeen dollars, nearly double what 
 they gave us last year. Your managers have expended 
 eight hundred and twenty dollars since the last meet- 
 ing not quite five months. Perhaps this may surprise 
 you, but there was no avoiding it. Though the winter 
 has been mild, and the price of wood moderate, the
 
 '^93 LlfB AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 wants of the poor have been more pressing than in for- 
 mer years. We have on our books one hundred and 
 forty-two widows, with four hundred and six children 
 below twelve years of age, by far the greater part be- 
 low six ; besides many boys bound apprentices, for 
 whom their mothers must wash, mend, and provide, in 
 part, clothing. Though the sum expended appears 
 great, you will find, on calculation, that it is not quite 
 six dollars to each family: yet, by prudent manage- 
 ment, giving it to them by little and little, and in things 
 nourishing, yet cheap, it went further than twice the 
 sum given in money, and at > once. Besides, in cordials 
 for the sick, and exigences of different kinds, your 
 Managers have begged, and contributed, (1 speak 
 within bounds when I say,) to the amount of two hun- 
 dred dollars more. Most of our widows have to learn 
 economy from necessity ; in the days of their husbands 
 they lived not only plentifully, but luxuriously. Every 
 class of mechanics in New York could live well, and 
 lay up for their families, were they frugal ; but the re- 
 verse of this is the case the evil is general, and, I fear, 
 not to be cured. The change to their widows greatly 
 aggravates their misery ; well may they read their sin 
 in their punishment, when meagre want overtakes them. 
 But God forgives, and so ought we. We, who have so 
 much to be forgiven, have yet our necessaries, our 
 comforts, and even our luxuries spared. To us, our 
 comfortable dwellings, cheerful fires, and convivial 
 partievS, give to winter its charms. Alas ! for her, the 
 new-made widow, to whom all these are lost for ever 
 to her, the approach of winter is as the approach of 
 death. Accustomed to spread the board by a cheer- 
 ful fireside, to welcome the companion of her heart 
 from the labours of the day, to bless and share the so- 
 cial meal, provided by his industry, drest with neatness 
 and ingenuity, rendered agreeable by health and appe- 
 tite, and heightened in its relish by mutual love ! The 
 witty sayings of the prattlers are repeated, and the 
 news of the household exchanged for the news of the 
 city. The little ones too have their share ; they 
 tell the father the exploits of the day; he forgets 
 his fatigue, and dandles them by turns on his knee, 
 while the mother's moistened eyes glisten with pleasure. 
 Alas ! the change ! Husband, father, support, pro-
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 299 
 
 vider, gone for ever ! The setting sun, the succeeding 
 twilight, the rattling cars, the train of labourers, an- 
 nounce the approach of evening, when many boards 
 are spread, many husbands return to bless their fami- 
 lies ; scarcely can she believe that he is not in the 
 crowd ; fain would she persuade herself that she has 
 been in a dream ; fain would she fancy that yonder is 
 he. Darkness pervades the earth ; the neighbouring 
 doors shut in the happy families ; the beaming fires il- 
 lumine the windows. Back she staggers to her dreary 
 dwelling, and wakes to all the realities of her widowed 
 state. The once cheerful chimney scarcely emits a 
 taper blaze. Her children cry for bread, but her 
 empty pantry affords it not. Tired nature soon brings 
 them relief they sleep they forget. Not so the wi- 
 dowed heart : busy, cruel memory calls back, and 
 doubles her departed joys ; comparison doubles also 
 her present misery ; every avenue to hope is shut. Her 
 big swollen heart would burst its narrow bounds, but 
 for a gush of tears, in mercy sent to give it vent. 
 The deep-fetched sobs wring out the big round drops 
 in blest profusion, till, glutted with grief, she sinks 
 among her babes. Time, that sorrow-healing balm, 
 softens at length the pungency of woe. The sympa- 
 thising neighbours, the unrestrained complaint and 
 tears, render her situation familiar ; the wants of her 
 children urge her to exertion for their support. Some 
 sister-widow, pensioner on your bounty, consoles her 
 with the news, that many benevolent hearts have united 
 their efforts to relieve wants like her's. Hope steals in 
 she listens is comforted, plans schemes of industry, 
 and exerts herself to become father and mother to her 
 orphans. 
 
 Many such, dear Ladies, have eaten of your bread, 
 been warmed from your wood-yard, clothed from your 
 web in sickness revived by your cordials, consoled 
 and soothec by your Managers. Blessed office ! They 
 are your agents, Ladies; they are also the agents of 
 your God, by whose ministration he is the Father of 
 the fatherless, the Husband of the widow, the stranger's 
 Shield, and orphan's Stay. Blessed, indeed, is he who 
 coasidereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time 
 of trouble; the Lord will preserve and keep him alive, 
 he shall be blessed upon the earth ; the Lord will
 
 300 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 strengthen him in the bed of languishing, and make all 
 his bed in sickness. Blessed are they who consider the 
 poor, who devise liberal things. But more blessed 
 still, ye, who like the good Samaritan, bind up their 
 wounds, pour the oil and wine of consolation into their 
 bursting hearts, bring them to your homes, and share 
 their griefs with them who are eyes to the blind, feet 
 to the lame, and make the widow's heart to sing for 
 joy ! May the blessing of them who are ready to perish 
 come upon you ; may your person be accepted in Christ ; 
 then shall a reward of grace accompany and follow your 
 labours of love. May you be blessed in your basket, 
 and blessed in your store blessed in your going out, 
 and blessed in your coming in blessed in life blessed 
 in death j and, through Christ the Purchaser, blessed 
 with the inheritance of his saints, through eternity. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 April, 1806- 
 
 IT is with increasing pleasure, Ladies, that we come 
 forward, year after year, and report that the Society 
 prospers. In funds, in respectability, and, most of all, 
 in usefulness, it continues to advance, spreading wider 
 and wider its salutary influence. Could we only re- 
 peat this year, as formerly, that the hungry are fed, 
 the naked clothed, the sick nursed, provided with me- 
 dicine and cordials, it were great, considering that the 
 late epidemic has nearly doubled the objects of the So- 
 ciety's bounty ; greatly embarrassed their circum- 
 stances, and left many of them in a debilitated state, 
 little able for labour. There are now on the Society's 
 book two hundred and one widows, with numerous 
 families. 
 
 The Managers have provided meal, wood, flannel, 
 shoes j giving nothing to those in health but neces- 
 saries : to the sick, meat, fuel, tea, sugar, and choco- 
 late, wine and porter, by order of the attending physi- 
 cian, two thousand four hundred and fifty-eight dollars, 
 thirty cents ; besides very much for the sick from their 
 own pantries, having it cooked in their own kitchens, 
 and, in many instances, giving daily personal attendance. 
 
 In the months of January and February, employ- 
 ment entirely failed them ; many came forward at
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 301 
 
 that time, who had not asked that in charity, which 
 labour could procure. 
 
 The Secretrary has informed you what was then done 
 for their relief. Quanties of flax were given out, at 
 the same time, that the Ladies exerted themselves to 
 procure work ; yet, in little more than a month, all 
 was cut and made up ; the Committee were obliged to 
 extend the sum considerably. 
 
 The winter is now past ; their humble dwellings, 
 though long threatened, are not dismantled ; their few 
 necessaries, and some remnants of happier days, bright 
 and clean, are still in their possession ; cheerful spring 
 opens upon them ; trade begins to stir ; and a gleam 
 of hope breaks through the gloom, that they and their 
 infants may yet eat their morsel at their own fire-sides. 
 HOME ! Who can tell the full import of that word ! , 
 Will not the recollection, that you have been instru- 
 mental in preserving a home to these, sweeten your 
 every comfort, and sooth your heavy hours. 
 
 Besides the general and particular good, done in the 
 dispensation of the Society's bounty, much misery has 
 been softened through the medium of its members, 
 where, by its constitution, there could be no claim on 
 its funds : a few facts will prove my assertion. An 
 unfortunate French lady, who, with one infant, had 
 escaped the last massacre at St. Domingo, was brought 
 to New York, and placed by the captain of the vessel, 
 ia a low boarding house. - She had been nine \veeks 
 in this city, unknown and unknowing ; had sold some 
 valuable trinkets, and pawned her watch, to pay her 
 board ; when she was found by one of the Managers 
 of this Society. Mrs. Hoffman visited her, and, by 
 means of her numerous acquaintance, sought out her 
 countrymen, ascertained her history, character, and 
 circumstances, and raised by subscription two hundred 
 dollars ; furnished her with decent clothing suitable to 
 the climate, and she is now in a comfortable situation. 
 
 On every hand, and all around, groans human mi- 
 sery ; and Hope, the last to desert the wretched, points 
 from every quarter her votaries to this Society. 
 
 Mrs. C , a person of most interesting character, 
 and of superior mind, not only an unfortunate, but an 
 injured, person, without hopes of redress, broken in 
 .spirits., and broken in health was reduced, with her
 
 302 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 only child, to seek an asylum in the Aims-House j her 
 story was related to this Society. Mrs. Hammond, one 
 of the Managers, took her into her own family, and 
 nursed her with the greatest tenderness for many weeks ; 
 but health did not return. Her only chance for life was 
 her native air, (Ireland,) and she had there relations ca- 
 pable of supporting her. Mrs. R , another of the So- 
 ciety's Managers, set her face to the arduous taskx>f 
 raising a subscription to defray her expences home. She 
 succeeded, not only to procure a passage for her and her 
 child, but in the cabin, furnished with every necessary, 
 and even with delicacies. 
 
 Mrs. R , one of the Society's widows, and her 
 daughter, were ill of the yellow fever at the same time, 
 in the same room, and in the same bed ; the girl died, 
 and, by the rude hands of the hearse driver, was put 
 in a coffin before the mother's eye, and carried out. 
 The mother became distracted, to that degree, that she 
 was obliged to be carried to the hospital, and confined 
 in one of the cells. While in her own house, every 
 effort had been made to alleviate her distress, and re- 
 store her. She was now given up to another Benevo- 
 lent Society, where, to intrude, might be deemed im- 
 proper. Was she then deserted ? did no friendly voice 
 salute her ear in her solitary cell ? Was no attempt 
 made to ttirn her visionary flights of despair into the 
 soothing channel of hope ? Yes, Ladies, yes ; Mrs. S , 
 ucr neighbour, acted in concert with Mrs. Mills, her 
 Manager, and visited her often ; both exerted their ut- 
 most ingenuity to prepare for her clothing of such a 
 texture and make, as should, elude her attempts to tear 
 them. The last time I saw her, was in the month of 
 December ; the ground was covered with snow, and the 
 air was piercing cold. When the keeper opened the 
 door of her cell, 1 held out my hand but such a hand 
 grasped mine that clay will not be colder, when laid 
 in its last bed. She new past me to the fire ; urged by 
 instinct, though deserted by reason. She asked Mrs. 
 S , for her dead child, and begged she would take her 
 home to live in her yard. But it is not necessary thus 
 to harrow up your feelings. 1 left her, convinced that 
 ghe could never recover there ; and without a hope of 
 bettering her situation. Not so, the dear Ladies 1 have 
 pamed - f they rested not until they had provided a place.,
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GKAHAil. 303 
 
 a nurse to attend her, and every comfort her situation 
 could admit of. She had been five weeks in the Hos- 
 pital, when she was removed ; fifteen weeks she was at 
 private board ; during which time she recovered daily, 
 She is now at her own home, in the bosom of her family, 
 perfectly restored to reason, and recovering health daily. 
 
 Let us now turn to a brighter scene ; for the God of 
 providence has not withheld from us our pleasant things. 
 Even' year he opens some new channel of usefulness, 
 and hearts expand to embrace the opportunity. The 
 Society has always been industrious in filling up every 
 vacancy in the different Charity Schools, and has a great 
 number provided among them, whose parents were mem- 
 bers of no church ; still a very great number remained 
 without the means of education. Idleness is the mother 
 of vice, and the Society had reason to apprehend, and 
 indeed to observe, that many were already initiated, and 
 to fear that many more would, before its funds were in 
 a situation to prevent it. But our gracious God, who 
 has well verified his promise, Ask, and ye shall receive, 
 appeared in this also ; and our dear Mrs. Hoffilian, whose 
 labours, this winter, have been indefatigable, was made 
 the honoured instrument. She collected seventy dollars 
 for the express purpose of supporting a school ; and, em- 
 boldened by this unremitting success, and presuming 
 Oil the continued benefaction of the public, the Society 
 placed twenty-two children at school, fourteen TVirh 
 Mrs. L , and eight with Mrs. C . They are both 
 the Society's widows, so that a double end is gained. 
 
 Some Members of the Society, conversing on the 
 subject, were expressing their thankfulness for this 
 provision, indulging their hopes, and sometimes their 
 fears, respecting those still unprovided for, when a 
 young Lady in the company made the following pro- 
 posal : That herself, and as many more as should find 
 their hearts so disposed, should associate for the pur- 
 pose of teaching a select number of little girls, a cer- 
 tain number of hours every forenoon. The patroness 
 of the school was fired with zeal, and remitted not her 
 exertions till she had obtained the end. On Saturday, 
 the l?th of February, thirty young Ladies had given 
 in their names, and met Mrs. Hoffman and myself at 
 Mr. Ogden Hoffman's, Wall-street, for the purpose of 
 being organized.
 
 304 LIFE AND WRITINGS OF 
 
 What a sight ! From families, in rank the first in the 
 city, in the very bloom of life, and full of its prospects, 
 engaged in those amusements which fascinate and in- 
 gross the mind, tending in general to shut out every 
 idea unconnected with self ! A society of young Ladies 
 in these circumstances, coming forward, and offering 
 their own personal services to snatch these little inno- 
 cents from idleness, ignorance, and vice to teach them 
 to know their Father, God ; to tell them of a Saviour's 
 love ; to point out the example he set, the precepts he 
 recorded for their observance, and his promises for 
 their comfort : and, by teaching them to read, to en- 
 able them to retrace all their instructions when their 
 eyes should see them no more : this indeed is a la- 
 bour of love, as superior to the institution which gave it 
 birth, as the interest of the soul is to that of the body. 
 
 Let us, Ladies, yield the palm of excellence, and 
 give them the praise. Many daughters have done vir- 
 tuously, but these have excelled them all. Favour is de- 
 ceitful, and beauty is vain ; but a woman that feareth 
 the Lord, she shall be praised. 
 
 Mrs. Hoffman and myself have visited the school every 
 Saturday, with the two^who finish their week's attend- 
 ance, and the two to commence the week following. 
 We can assure you that the children make rapid im- 
 provement. We also visit the other schools, and can re- 
 j;crt that tucy also give us satisfaction. 
 
 Years and seasons roll on the wheel of Providence 
 keeps turning, bringing round great revolutions in the 
 world, and smaller in narrower societies and among 
 individuals ; all equally under the direction of the great 
 Maker and Governor of the universe, who rules in 
 the armies of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of this 
 world. 
 
 On opening a School for Poor Children; addressed to the 
 Teachers who volunteered their services. 
 
 Mi* DEAR VOUNG LADIES, 
 
 EVERY thing new becomes matter of specula- 
 tion, and variety of opinion. 
 
 An association of- ladies for the relief of destitute 
 yvidows and orphans, was a new thing in this country. 
 It was feeble in its origin ; many treated it with ridi ,
 
 MfeS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 305 
 
 cule ; many raised against it the standard of opposition. 
 The men could not allow our sex the steadiness and 
 perseverance necessary to establish such an undertak- 
 ing. But God put his seal upon it ; and, under his 
 fostering care, it has prospered beyond the most san- 
 guine expectations of its projectors. Its fame is spread 
 over the United States, and celebrated in foreign coun- 
 tries. It has been a precedent to many cities, who have 
 followed the laudable example. This fame is not more 
 brilliant than just. The hungry are fed, the naked are 
 clothed, shelter is provided for the outcasts, and medi- 
 cine for the sick ; and the soothing voice of sympathy 
 cheers the disconsolate. Who are the authors of all 
 these blessings ? Your mothers, Ladies, the benevolent 
 members of this so-justly-famed Society. Bat, who 
 are these children, that idly ramble through the streets, 
 a prey to growing depravity and vicious example ? 
 They quarrel, they swear ; and such, no doubt, will lie 
 and steal. And that group of dear little creatures 
 running about in the most imminent danger, appa- 
 rently without protection : are they under the care 
 of this so-justly-famed Society ? They are. They are 
 fed, they are clothed, their mothers' fire-side is made 
 warm for them ; but, no culture is provided for their 
 minds, nor protection from baneful example. These 
 will in time follow that of the older ones, and grqw up 
 the slaves of idleness, and vice, in the certain road to 
 ruin. - 
 
 Alas ! alas ! and is there no help, no preventive ? 
 Yes, there is ! Behold the angelic band ! Hail, ye 
 virtuous daughters, worthy of your virtuous mothers ! 
 Come forward, and tread in their steps ! Snatch their 
 little innocents from the whirling vortex ; bring them 
 to a place of safety ; teach them to know their Father, 
 God : tell them of their Saviour's love : lead them 
 through the history of his life : mark to them the ex- 
 ample he set, the precepts he recorded for their ob- 
 servance, and the promises for their comfort : and by 
 teaching them to read, enable them to retrace all your 
 instructions, when their eyes see you no more. 
 
 My dear young Ladies, the sacrifice you have made 
 to virtue, shall most assuredly meet its reward : but, 
 like your mothers, you will experience much painful 
 banter. Let it pass suffer it quietly. When your
 
 306 LIFE AND WRITINGS OP 
 
 scheme begins to ripen, and the fruits appear, who shall 
 be able to withhold their praise ? Only be stedfaat, 
 draw not back, and justify the prophecies of many- 
 
 A great general, in ancient times, in search of giory, 
 landed his troops on the hostile coast, and then burnt 
 all his ships ; thus it became necessary for them to 
 conquer or die. You have, Ladies, already embarked in 
 this design ; there is no remaining neuter now ; your 
 names and undertaking are in every mouth : you must 
 press forward, and justify your cause j and justified it 
 shall be, if you persevere : it cannot be otherwise. The 
 benevolence you contemplate, is as superior to that 
 already in circulation, as the interest of the soul is to 
 that of the body : and it is your own : the very scheme 
 originated in a young mind in this company. The So- 
 ciety were contemplating mercenary agents, schools for 
 pay ; and one is already established. 
 
 But this labour of love, who could have hoped for 
 it ? A Society of young ladies, in rank the first in the 
 city, in the very bloom of life, and full of its prospects, 
 engaged in those pleasures and amusements, which 
 generally ingross the mind, and shut out every idea 
 unconnected with self coming forward and offering 
 what ? Not their purses, that were trash : but, their 
 own personal services to instruct the ignorant, and be- 
 come the saviours of many of their sex. It is indeed a 
 new thing, and more strange, in this age of dissipation, 
 than that institution from which it sprang. May this too 
 become the darling of Providence ! May God put his 
 seal upon this also ! May he bless and prosper you in 
 this undertaking ; bless you, and make you a blessing ! 
 
 Extract from the concluding part of Mrs. Graham's last 
 Will and Testament. 
 
 ' My children and my grand-children I leave to my 
 covenant God ; the God who has fed me, all my life, with 
 the bread that perishes, and the bread that never perish- 
 es j who has been a Father to my fatherless children, 
 and a Husband to their widowed mother thus far. And 
 now, receiviving my Redeemer's testimony, (John iii. 
 33) I set to my seal, that God is true ; believing the 
 record in John's Epistle, that God hath given to me 
 eternal life, and that this life is in his Son, who, through
 
 MRS. ISABELLA GRAHAM. 30?' 
 
 the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot unto God, 
 and, being consecrated a Priest for ever, hath, with his 
 own blood, entered into the holy place, having obtained 
 eternal redemption for me ! I also believe that he will 
 perfect what concerns me, support, and carry me safely 
 through death, and present me to his Father, complete, 
 in his own righteousness, without spot or wrinkle. Into 
 the hands of this redeeming God Father, Son, and 
 Holy Ghost, 1 commit my redeeming spirit.' 
 
 LINES 
 
 ON THE DECEASE OF MRS. GRAHAM. 
 
 HARK ! did I hear the tolling bcil 
 
 Emit a sound of woe ? 
 It sighs along the wind, to tell 
 
 That Death has struck a blow. 
 
 And could it sound the valu'd name 
 
 Of her, who low is laid : 
 And say, Tis ISABELLA GRAHAM, 
 
 The poor would feel dismay'd. 
 
 Her love was ardent to her God, 
 
 His precepts touch'd her heart. 
 And tlu-nce the stream of mercy flow'd, 
 
 Rich blessings to impart. 
 
 Struck with the grace that Jesns shcw'd, / 
 
 For guilty man to die ; 
 She felt the weight of debt she ow'd. 
 
 His name to glorify. 
 
 Her ardent step was wont to seek. 
 
 Affliction's narrow door ; 
 And, entering there, she loved to speak 
 
 In mercy to the poor : 
 
 i 
 With sympathy she heard their tale. 
 
 And brought her comforts nigh ; 
 But, most of all, would never tail 
 
 To lead their thoughts on high.
 
 308 LIFE AND WRITINGS, &C. 
 
 The orphan's innocence would melt 
 Her feeling heart to tears ; 
 
 And even those defiled with guilt, 
 Had int'rest iu her pray Vs. 
 
 Her active mind with wisdom stor'd, 
 Beheld the widow's grief, 
 
 And form'd such plans as might afford, 
 The destitute relief". 
 
 The thoughtful habits of her soul 
 Had o'er her face prevail'd ; 
 
 Her features wore the soft control 
 Of charity conceal'd. 
 
 From early youth, to good old age, 
 She liv'd a life of faith : 
 
 The comforts of the sacred page 
 Upheld her soul in death. 
 
 And is that form to move no more, 
 That cloth'd a soul of love '. 
 
 The wings of faith that spirit bore 
 To realms of bliss above. 
 
 She's gone, who fiJl.'d the admiring eye 
 And gain'd the throbbing heart ; 
 
 The daughter of Philanthropy 
 Was summon'd lo depart. 
 
 But she has left a right behind, 
 To gild i he -waste of woe, 
 
 'And lead the efforts of mankind, 
 New blessings to bestow. 
 
 . FINIS. 
 
 M 
 
 
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 Grant Court, Fleet Strett, Latvian.
 
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