248 THE JESSAMINE. 



a covert vaunt of our patience and faith ? I have 

 seen some dear sufferers, writhing under the most 

 excruciating torments of acute disease, or pining 

 in lengthened confinement to a sick room, or weep- 

 ing, in the bitterness of their souls, a sudden be- 

 reavment, which has left them comparativery alone 

 upon earth : — I have seen them compelled to listen, 

 while others, in the full enjoyment of health and 

 prosperity, lectured them upon the enviableness of 

 their lot : and required of them songs of mirth in 

 their heaviness. God can, and does, give songs in 

 the night of sorrow, heard by himself alone ; and 

 undoubtedly, he also enables his people to rejoice, 

 even outwardly, at the abundant consolations with 

 which he outnumbers their light and momentary 

 afflictions ; but I do not love to see a wounded 

 spirit, lodged in a weak body, crammed, as it were, 

 with the crude notions of others, who but know theo 

 retically what their friend is sensibly experiencing. 

 I am very sure that Mrs. C. was one of the 

 most heavenly-minded persons I ever met with. 

 Her rank in life did not bring her into what is 

 called polite society, except among those who re 

 cognized the tie of membership under one glori 

 ous Head. Her education had not been of a supe 

 rior order ; but alike in mind, manners and conver 

 sation, the indwelling Spirit shed a lustre around 

 her, which commanded respect from every one 

 There was an humble dignity in her deportment 



