The Power of Faith: Exemplified In The Life And Writings Of The Late Mrs. Isabella Graham.Graham, Isabella
Religion
The Power of Faith: Exemplified In The Life And Writings Of The Late Mrs. Isabella Graham.
Graham, Isabella
Christian biography; Graham, Isabella, 1742-1814
Her determination was accordingly made. She resolved to undertake
the education of youth, trusting that her Lord would make her an
humble instrument of training some for his service on earth, and his
praises in heaven. Here was exhibited an instance of simple yet
powerful faith in a believer surrounded by temporal perplexities, and
of condescension and mercy 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 providence exercised by the God of
heaven towards all his creatures. She felt the pressure of her
affliction; but, like the Psalmist, _gave herself unto prayer_:
"Prayer ardent opens heaven, lets down a stream
Of glory on the consecrated hour
Of man in audience with the Deity."
Though her faith was strong, yet her mind was under such
agitation, from her total want of funds to carry her plan into effect,
and from other conflicting exercises, as to throw her into a nervous
fever, which kept her confined to her bed for some weeks. On her
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 Paisley for
Edinburgh on a Monday, in the year 1779.
On the Saturday previous she sat by her fire musing 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, enclosing a sum of
money which he had recovered from the underwriters, on account of Mrs.
Graham's muslins captured on their passage to the West Indies. Mrs.
Graham had considered them as totally lost, but her friend had taken
the precaution 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 occurred at Paisley in 1782, when she was attending
the communion. She bequeathed her daughter Mary to Mrs. Graham's care.
But in 1785 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 family 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 1802.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account