| 2. DIED suddenly, July 2nd, 1848, at Brighton, Mrs. ELIZABETH SCRASE, aged 80 years. Mrs. Scrase had been a member of the Bible Christian Society nearly 23 years. Respecting the early part of her life, I have obtained but little information, only that she lived ignorant of religion until she attended the preaching of the Bible Christian Missionaries in the town of Brighton. Under the preaching of Br. Win. Bailey she was awakened to a sense of her state, and sought and obtained the forgiveness of sins, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The period when she obtained this blessing was a memorable season to herself and others; a period she has often referred to with very great delight. During her christian pilgrimage, she manifested a great attachment to the ministers of Christ, "esteeming them very highly in love for their work's sake." Notwithstanding she had much opposition, she patiently held on her way, and adorned her christian profession. Her attachment to the house of God was another trait in her character; with the Psalmist, she loved the habitation of God's house; and when so infirm as not to be able to walk alone, she would always contrive to get some one to lead her to the sanctuary. On Sunday, July 2nd, she left home and dined at the house of one of her sons. In the afternoon, Mrs. Short, her sister-in-law, called to assist her to chapel, but she was not quite ready. While Mrs. Short stepped aside she got ready, left, and walked to chapel without any assistance: she got as far as the chapel dour, when she fell, and in five minutes breathed her last. I had just entered the chapel, and hearing a bustle at the door, I hastened out, but was too late to get a word from my old friend. I was just in time to see her breathe her last, and all was over. While memory lasts I shall never forget the solemn scene. 1 took tea, and spent an hour in conversation with her the evening before her death. She then stated how happy she had felt on the previous evening, while engaged in prayer before she retired to rest, having received such a blessing as she had not enjoyed for many months; to use her own words, "I was obliged to shout aloud for joy." We believe death was to her a sudden and happy removal from earth to heaven. May it teach us to be always ready, JAMES ROBERTS. |