When the Reverend Mr. Page called, it being Ascension Day, he read the collect for that day, so peculiarly suitable to the situation of a dying christian. When I went to see Adelaide, on the evening of Thursday, I read a passage in the second chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, where our Saviour's sympathy with his afflicted disciples is expressed in the following language: "We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage...Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." This consolatory passage I had read between three and four years before, during a former illness; and as she was now enabled, on the border of the grave, to weigh impartially, as in balances, life and its trials, against that life eternal and its joys to which she aspired, I referred to the following passage in St. Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians: "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." There was now every appearance that Adelaide's last struggle was fast approaching; I therefore reminded her of our Saviour's patience in suffering, by reading, in the twenty-second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, the account of his agony in the garden of Gethsemane : 66 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray, that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." To friends who were present, I remarked, that in the prayer which our Saviour taught his disciples to use, the words, "Thy will be done," refer to activity in fulfilling the Divine commands, so that our obedience on earth may resemble that of angels in heaven; but that our Lord's words in his agony, "Not my will, but thine, be done," refer to passive submission to the Divine purposes, and meek resignation under the sufferings which our Heavenly Father is pleased to appoint. Miss Forster observed that Adelaide slept two hours on Thursday night; which she had not done for a week; and that her placid and serene countenance indicated an undisturbed tranquillity. SECTION IX. ADELAIDE'S HAPPY DEATH. THE weary pilgrim was now near the gates of the holy City-the heavenly Jerusalem. On Friday, the 25th of May, the day on which she expired, I read from the twenty-third chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, the last solemn scene of our crucified Lord's sufferings, from the 33rd verse, I think, to the 46th; and then recited the deeply-devotional hymn on the Crucifixion, composed by Dr. Watts: When I survey the wond'rous cross Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, |