| SARAH MORRISH, whose maiden name, I think, was BUTLER, was twice married. Her first husband, whose name was STEVENS, was killed by a horse, and she was left with a family of children; but she was subsequently married to THOMAS MORRISH, then of the parish of Bradworthy, County of Devon, England. She was a stranger to God and experimental religion, until about thirteen years ago; when she became awakened to a sense of her state as a lost sinner, "without God and without hope in the world," but was led by faith to the "Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world." I do not know how long our sister laboured under conviction of sin, or by what means she was brought into the liberty of the children of God, but she united with the society at Attworthy Chapel, about the time above-mentioned, and maintained a conduct becoming her profession, while they remained in their native country. About five years ago last spring, she with her husband and some part of the family, left their native shores and sailed for America. They settled in the township of Colborne, Huron District, Canada West, where some of her children by her first husband had settled some years before. Here she was deprived of the means of grace, and greatly lamented the want of preaching on the Sabbath day; and especially her class-meetings. Under such circumstances, as might be expected, she did not continue to enjoy that comfort and peace of mind, that she did in England, Her mind too was greatly pained when she saw that the people were living like heathens, although brought up in a Christian land. Some that were closely allied to her by nature's ties, had too much conformed to the customs that had so awfully prevailed from the commencement of the settlement. Such was the state of things when I was first providentially brought into Colborne. I ought here to acknowledge, that the people had been occasionally visited by the Wesleyans; but, as one observed, it was like the visits of angels, "few, and far between." In my first visit to Colborne, I was directed to call upon our sister and her husband, who shewed every mark of kindness, both to me and my beast; for we both stood in need of refreshment. Many times has she been heard to express her gratitude to God, that ever the Bible Christians came into Colborne. She was one of five, who composed the first Society formed by the Bible Christians in that township. She loved the house of God, and profited under his word, "more than many." Her class-meetings, she valued greatly, and only sickness suffered by herself, or by those on whom she was called to attend, prevented her from enjoying the benefit of that means of grace. Her conduct was exemplary, and her piety unquestionable. By many years' experience she obtained a considerable degree of skill in prescribing for the sick, on which account she was much esteemed in the neighbourhood, and frequently called to leave her home; which she did not hesitate to do, even to the last. In this manner she caught the disease that terminated in her death. Being called to see a child, she felt she had taken the disease, of which it shortly after died, and was helped to her house, and to her bed, from which she never rose any more. She was sensibly impressed that it would terminate in death, when she was first seized, and quietly and cheerfully gave up herself unto the Lord, with her husband and children. She wanted to hear nothing about the world; her mind was wholly taken up with eternity. I heard of her illness on the Friday evening, at her daughter's, in Goderich, and on Saturday, as soon as my engagements would admit, I hastened away to Colborne, and went straight to her house, that, if possible, I might see her alive. I found her on the verge of eternity; quite sensible; but death depicted in her countenance. I asked the state of her mind; she said, she was quite resigned to the will of the Lord." She "felt all was well, the Lord was precious; she had no fear of death; all was peace within." "If I had left the work of salvation till now," she remarked, " I should be in a miserable state, for my pain is as much as I can bear." When we were about to engage in prayer, she said, "They were afraid to sing last night, lest it should hurt me." "Do you wish us to sing now?" I enquired. She answered, "Yes." I gave out the lines, "My God the spring of all my joys," &c., and she set the tune, and sang three verses with us. While we were engaged in prayer, she was seized with a fit of sickness, as was frequently the case, so that she had but little comfort from the worship at that time. I commended her to God, and left her for the night. The next morning I visited her again, but when I came into the room, I saw death was very near. She did not at first know me, but was still sensible. I asked if all were well? She replied, "Yes," "Is Christ precious now?" "Yes." "Do you wish us to pray?" "Oh, yes!" While we were praying, she appeared earnestly engaged with the Lord, and at the close of the exercise, I heard her distinctly say "Amen." I took my leave of her, commending her to God, and went to my morning appointment; but before I returned, her spirit had taken its flight to an eternal world. Thus died Sarah Morrish, in peace with God, and all mankind, in the 64th year of her age, about half past eleven o'clock, in the morning of August 6th, 1848, The following day, it being thought unwise to keep the corpse longer, her remains were taken into the school-house, where I endeavoured to improve the solemn dispensation of a wise and good Providence, to a goodly number, who came to pay the last tribute of respect to our departed sister. It was a solemn season. Many tears were shed, not only by her relatives, but other acquaintances, and especially her classmates, by whom she was much esteemed, even as a "mother in Israel." Her remains were taken to Goderich burial-ground; I accompanied the mourning-friends, and performed the last and solemn ceremony at the grave. "May my last end be like hers," is the prayer of, PHILIP JAMES. |