The Baptist Magazine, Vol. 27, January, 1835Various
Religion
The Baptist Magazine, Vol. 27, January, 1835
Various
Baptists -- Periodicals
By those who enjoyed her friendship, her pious conversation and
correspondence were highly valued. She was no stranger in the habitation
of the widow and the fatherless, or beside the dying bed. Her sympathy
in such scenes was a mitigation of sorrow, and her offices of Christian
love endeared her in the hour of distress. She gratified the benevolence
of her heart by relieving the distresses of many; and some of her poor
neighbours were pensioners on her bounty as long as they lived. Her
attendance on public ordinances, it need scarcely be said, was regular
and devout; and by her consistent and blameless life, combined with her
affectionate and peaceful walk among her fellow-members, she was a
comfort to her pastor, and an honour to the church. Thus for many years
she moved in her orbit, as the celestial luminaries move in theirs; with
a regular, uniform, and constant progression; deriving all their
radiance from the sun, and reflecting his beams without noise or
ostentation.
But a severe trial awaited her. The conjugal relation was at length
broken. By the death of Mr. Waugh she was deprived of the staff of her
age, and left to travel alone through the last stages of her pilgrimage.
She had however the unspeakable satisfaction of reflecting that he had
walked with her in the ways of righteousness, and that although he had
outstripped her in the course, and arrived first at the sepulchre, she
should follow him into the world of reunion and eternal love. His
decease was also eminently happy. He was favoured during his illness
with much spirituality and elevation of mind, and departed in the "full
assurance of hope." On being asked by one of his daughters, whether, if
it were the will of God, he would like to return again into the world?
"What," he exclaimed, "when Christ bids me 'come up hither!'" It was the
privilege of his faithful wife (for such she deemed it) to be with him
through all his illness, and to witness the final scene. She would not
delegate to other hands the discharge of any duty which she could
perform herself; but the conflict being over, she retired from the
chamber of death, and was found some time after, by her children, who
had missed her, in her closet, and on her knees. The throne of grace was
her refuge. To that hiding-place she was accustomed to flee, in every
"cloudy and dark day;" and sweetly was the promise fulfilled in her
experience, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed
on thee." She felt deeply the stroke which had made her a widow; but,
possessing an uncommon degree of self-command, it was a comfort to her
children to observe her great calmness of spirit, and to hear the
expressions of her confidence in God. Her natural fortitude was
sustained by divine grace, and her whole carriage under this
bereavement afforded an edifying instance of the manner in which a
Christian both bends before the storm, and rises above it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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