“On the Lamb my soul is resting,
What His love no words can say:
All my sins, so great, so many,
In His blood are washed away.
Sweetest rest and peace have filled me,
Sweeter peace than tongue can tell;
God is satisfied with Jesus,
I am satisfied as well.
Now my heart no more condemns me;
For His own most precious blood
Once for all has washed and cleansed me,
Cleansed me in the eyes of God.
Filled with this sweet peace forever,
On I go through strife and care;
Till I find that peace around me,
In the Lamb’s high glory there.”
The time at length drew near when the Lord was about to remote all anxiety from my mind respecting this beloved child; and though I cannot speak of her removal withe many a pang, yet I bless God for the sweet and happy assurance that she will be among that countless throng who will dwell forever with the Lamb. (Rev. 5). Her illness, though short, was most painful and distressing to those who witnessed her sufferings. Seven weeks from the day on which she was taken ill, her little form lay in the silent tomb, there awaiting the morning of the resurrection. Word was brought to me one morning that deal Florry was not well, having had much pain in her left leg; and on the day following she entered the school, supported by her little sister. She remained until we closed at noon, though with great difficulty; and several times during the morning she cried out with pain, and seemed quite faint from exhaustion; yet notwithstanding all this, she was there again in the afternoon. Her parents, perceiving her unwillingness to remain at home, and not apprehending any danger, had her carried to and from the school for near!), a week, during which time she was scarcely heard to complain. The Monday following she appeared much weaker, and the leg at times was perfectly useless. A physician was at once consulted, who pronounced her case a serious one, as it proceeded chiefly from the spine. He also gave it as his opinion that grief and sorrow had been preying upon the child’s mind for some time; which opinion, considering the physician’s utter ignorance of the child’s history, so exactly corresponding with our knowledge of the facts, proved beyond a doubt his remarkable skill and experience in matters connected with his profession. He gave strict orders that she should be kept perfectly quiet and undisturbed. Often, when in health, had she expressed her great desire that I might be permitted to be much with her whenever it should please the Lord to call her hence; and in this her request was fully granted; but He, who sees not as man sees, in His infinite wisdom saw fit to withhold all intercourse between us during the last three weeks of her life.
“God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.”
I visited her many times during her illness, and each time found her in much pain of body, and evidently sinking fast. On one occasion I found her lying upon the sofa with her lap full of little books. I sat down beside her, took from my satchel a little book entitled, “The White Robe,” and placed it in her hand. She thanked me with a sweet smile, and begged I would read it to her. I did so, she holding my hand in hers, and every now and then interrupting me to ask some question, or make some sweet remark. When I had concluded, she again thanked me, requesting me to come and read to her again as soon as possible. On my next visit I found her unable to converse, being in great pain. I spoke a few words to her of the love of Jesus, of His tender care over the little lambs of His fold, and of the glories that awaited her in heaven. I then left her, committing her to the care of Him who carries the lambs in His bosom (Isa. 40:1111He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11)). She was visited by her schoolfellows, and nothing seemed to give them greater pleasure than to take her some little delicacy which they thought she might fancy, in token of their great love for her.
The next time I saw her she was confined to her bed. She had been in a state of unconsciousness for several days, and continued so until her death. Day after day I sat at that bedside, gazing on that lovely form—the eyes closed as if in sleep, and the tongue powerless—waiting with intense eagerness to catch one word or look of recognition before she passed away—to hear those lips once more breathe forth the precious name of Jesus, as was her wont;—but ah! even this could not be permitted.
One afternoon, a day or two before her death, while in a state of delirium, surrounded by her weeping relatives and friends, she made an effort to raise herself in bed, fixed her eyes upon her mother, and with a look of intense earnestness, exclaimed, “Mother, my dear mother, look after those two dear little ones, and teach them that there is a God, and teach them to know Him.” These were, I believe, about the last words she uttered. Her mission here, though short, was now fully accomplished, her work on earth done, and she now seemed to have nothing further to do. The day before her death, which took place on the Sunday, I visited her for the last time; but, oh, what a change had taken place! Death was indeed stamped upon her features. The blue lips, the cold, clammy sweat upon her fair brow, her short but heavy breathing were strong indications that her end was very near. Many times during the day I strove to soothe her by breathing into her ear words of consolation, but she heeded them not. Several times she suddenly opened her eyes, fixed them upon the ceiling, and appeared to be gazing intently upon some object, then as quickly closed them. I remained with her until eleven o’clock at night, when I was compelled to leave. I shall not attempt to describe the last farewell. Early the following morning I received the joyful intelligence that this dear lamb was “Gone home.” |iI| hastened to the house to learn the particulars of her last moments, and found that she continued much the same as when I left her until about three o’clock in the morning, when she calmly and peacefully fell asleep in Jesus, without a struggle or a sigh. So gently did the Lord remove her, that for some moments her friends sat watching for the last breath. “Absent from the body, present with the Lord.”
Shortly after her death, while looking over all her little treasures, I found locked up in her workbox several precious little books and tickets which she received at the Sunday school; also a little pocketbook, on the first leaf of which, in her own handwriting, were these words, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” and also, “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger and plenteous in mercy.” Precious relic of the dear departed one, indicating the firm and solid rock, “the Rock of ages,” on which she had builded!
Dear young reader, pause a moment ere you close this little book, and ask yourself these heart-searching questions: “Am I, like this dear child, trusting simply in the Lord Jesus for my everlasting salvation? Am I building all my hopes upon Him? Has He my whole heart? or am I still in my sins, careless and indifferent, going on to destruction?” Oh, let me warn you. “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” Oh, delay not a moment, tomorrow may be too late. Trust in the Lord while He may be found. Then, should death come unexpectedly, as in the case of this little one before us, you will only the sooner be with Christ (Phil. 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23)). May the Lord open your eyes and make you see your condition as a lost sinner; may He draw your young heart towards Himself, and may you know while in youth what a blessed thing it is to have Him for your Saviour, and the strength of your heart and your portion forever (Psa. 73:2626My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. (Psalm 73:26)). “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6).