網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

RICHARD BOWLES ATMORE, 81 7 3 mo. 1874

East Harling, Norfolk. MARY BACKHOUSE,

Chapel Allerton, Leeds.

Backhouse.

MARY ANN BACKHOUSE,

A Minister.

90 22 3 mo. 1874

Widow of William

82 28. 3 mo. 1874

Gainford. Widow of Joseph Backhouse.

MARY ELEANOR BAKER, 10 30 3 mo. 1874 Scarbro'. Daughter of James and Elizabeth

Baker.

ANN BALKWILL,

Plymouth.

67 2 4 mo. 1874

Ann Balkwill, widow of the late Joseph Hancock Balkwill of Plymouth, and daughter of Peter and Ann Payne of Wellington, was born Fifth mo., 9th, 1806. Her childhood was one of much enjoyment, connected with a country life; and during her last long illness a picture of her early home and a likeness of her mother were constantly by her bedside; and the flowers which that mother had loved were always welcomed with double brightness and pleasure, for her memory was embalmed with thoughts of a pure and gentle life, wholly devoted to brighten that of others.

Under her watchful religious training those striking and delicate traits of character were

developed, which made Ann Balkwill so valued in the different relationships of life by those who knew her worth; while from her father she received those impressions of profound reverence for serious things which marked her whole career, and made her perhaps out of harmony with anything superficial (though it might be sincere) in religious writings and conversation.

She was married at the age of twenty-six, and her life afterwards was chiefly passed at or near Plymouth, where her husband's family were residents. After twelve years of great happiness she was left a widow with six children, and experienced the loneliness and sorrow belonging to that lot, together with many cares and vicissitudes incidental to heavy business anxieties, which necessarily pressed upon her till within a few years of the close. Through these cares and trials, however, her faith in God and in His love was preserved; and from time to time, both in private and public, she was constrained to bear her testimony to His everlasting goodness, or to approach His footstool in vocal prayer. A few extracts from letters written at different periods may appropriately exemplify the tenour of her mind, and perhaps be found instructive and helpful to the reader.

To a daughter at school she writes:-"Dear child, don't despise little things, nor think that it is of small account to quench the Spirit when it teaches of little things, or calls for small sacrifices. The practical application of the Cross is of far more avail, than ever so large an abundance of religious sentiment, either spoken, written or agreed to, how good soever these may be in their places. Oh, these wayward, impulsive ones, how much trouble they bring upon themselves and others, by not bringing their wilfulness into subjection; and oh, how little do young people anticipate the blessedness that they procure to themselves, when they bow their necks to the yoke, and seek to do the Divine Will instead of their own."

On the subject of the ministry she says:"Hidden ones are, I have no doubt, essential to every well-ordered Church of Christ, but none the less are the messengers required, I believe, to do His bidding, and convey His messages according to His will. To do this, must they not know His voice to speak to them? and oh, if we could not hope for Divine guidance, and more especially so in our more public acts in the Saviour's name, how could we believe our Bible, or where could we turn? But though not to be

discerned in the whirlwind or in the fire, yet the still small voice we may hopefully believe will yet teach

'The lowly will, in solemn silence bow'd,

When self, impetuous self, is prostrate laid.'"

She describes one out of many solemn times of evening worship, which she had with one or another of her children while the rest of the family were at meeting, in these words:-" We have just risen from our seats opposite the window, where we have been talking of sweet and holy things, watching the western sky with its varied cloudy exhibitions and stilly radiance. Then the evening star appeared, and we held our little meeting; where, with the two gathered in His name, He, the blessed one, was, as I believe, with us. We sat for awhile in silent enjoyment, the words passing through my mind'Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! which was, and is, and is to come;' and it seemed to me that the whole earth was filled with His glory, only that our eyes are mostly holden, that they do not see it."

Her personal experience and inner life she confided from time to time to a beloved cousin, the sister-friend of early and later years, and from very many similar expressions of faith and

hope we extract the following:

"No; the God of my fathers has never yet forsaken me, although at times I have had to be still and patient, lest I should lose the faith; and it is given me to believe that He will enable me to endure to the end,-will never forsake me, and will eventually permit me to join the blessed inhabitants of an eternity of light and life and love, having redeemed me, even me !'

66

[ocr errors]

*

*

'How gloriously the future sometimes opens before me, when we shall know even as we are known, with no more perplexing anxieties or fears or uncertainties! The text, And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent,' is often with me; and as His might and majesty and wonderfulness (if I may coin a word) are unveiled to the mind, with a participation of His love, some sense also seems to accompany it of what the eternal life must be when entered on in its fulness, and freed from these poor bodies of ours, and the belongings of time."

After a severe attack of hemorrhage from the lungs, she was able to bear a testimony very precious to survivors, now that her trembling hope has been fully realized.

« 上一頁繼續 »