DURING the spring of 1880 Mrs. G. could not write much, but kind friends wrote for her to those dearest to her. She was unable to sit up, but, as her weakness and suffering increased, her joy in the Lord abounded, so that those near her thought she must be very near home. She needed not comfort from then as one of them, expressed it, but she, through grace, comforted those who were in trouble with the comfort wherewith she herself was “comforted of God.” A friend, writing of her says, “She lay there a perfect wreck, in dreadful suffering of body, but, when able to speak talking only of the goodness of her God and Father, and of the preciousness of Christ.”
As her disease progressed, Mrs. G. became anxious to see her only sister, who was in England, and waited in the calm assurance that the Lord would give them the joy of meeting once more on earth, while, as to the other beloved sister, who was in a far-off land, she knew she should greet her in the resurrection body at the coming of the Lord.
Towards the end of May, the Lord gave the long-desired meeting, and the sisters could talk to each other of the past, and anticipate together the blessed future. The dear invalid said she had been reviewing the past. She could not speak of herself, but of the Lord she could say with all her heart, “He hath done all things well.” She was perfectly satisfied, and could praise Him for all. She spoke with solemn joy of her expected departure, though feeling deeply the prospect of her dear husband’s loneliness and sorrow; and, although longing to be with the Lord, she was willing to stay for his sake, and also for any service the Lord might give her.
As the summer advanced, it was evident that the end was not se, near as had been anticipated, though her sufferings were such as deeply to affect those who witnessed them. She could take no nourishment without its producing the most exquisite pain, so that she dreaded to take anything, though greatly feeling the need of it―yet she did not murmur. The Lord in His great grace enabled her to say, “Thy will be done.”
Towards the end of June her sister returned home. The sorrow of the parting was mitigated by the assurance that in “a little while they would meet in the presence of the Lord to sing the never-ending song of praise,” Unto Him who loves us, and has washed us from our sins in His own blood”―in that bright home of glory where” they shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore, “where” God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.”
We will now present what Mrs. G. says of herself and of her Lord in letters to her friend D., whose affectionate inquiries after her health and comfort induced her to reply though with great pain to herself.
After speaking of great weakness and suffering, she says, “But it is only for ‘a little while,’ and then no more pain, no more weakness, no long nights of weariness. All will be passed, and I shall be with Him ‘whom not having seen we love,’ and with Him forever. Dearest D., for years back, through grace, I have taken God at His word―believed that He meant what He said in the gospel of His grace, and He gave to me eternal life, made me His own―and I know that for me to be absent from the body will be to be present with the Lord, He sustains, and will sustain unto the end. Blessed be His name! And now I say farewell. There is the same Saviour for you as for me; the same God and Father, if you are only willing to bow to God’s word without reserve. Depend not on the prayers or letters of those who love you. I fear this is a snare to your soul. You must have to do with the Lord Jesus Christ personally and alone. I think God will remove all your props, one after another, if you continue to lean upon them. You must betake yourself: to Christ; none other can help you. I have always striven to lead you alone to Him. Now my work is done, and my rest is near. Farewell, dearest. Yours in faithful love.”
In another letter, after making a brief reference to the “poor body, worn down and exhausted,” to the impossibility of taking the smallest nourishment without suffering intense pain, and to having lain day and night upon her side for many months, she adds “So much for present sufferings; my prospects are bright with eternal glory; Jesus Himself is with me, so I am almost always full of joy and praise-never unhappy nor depressed. I air just waiting for the word, ‘Come up higher, and then my spirit with a bound will burst its encumbering clay,’ and I shall be forever with the Lord, whom having not seen I love, and in whom I rejoice with inv unspeakable and full of glory. His love is my precious treasure, His word my unfailing support.... Farewell, dear; I commend you to God my God, and to the word of His grace, to the truth of which I set my seal. Not one of His words fail to those who believe in Him