,2IO MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. IX. 



fourteen, dying of consumption, has asked me to write to 

 her, and I have been trying to tell her how the grave may 

 be robbed of victory, and death of his sting. She is in 

 the country, and has got to expect a letter every week. I 

 don't like to disappoint her, for she is a singularly ami- 

 able, gentle person, to whom heaven, I believe, has already 

 held out a welcome ; and so I have been stopped in the 

 hymns." 



The young lady died about a month later than the date 

 of this letter. A series addressed to her are full of the 

 tenderest counsels and consolations. 1 They gave great 

 pleasure and comfort to her in the prospect of quitting 

 this world, and to many besides have they been the means 

 of spiritual good. A valentine sent to this invalid testifies 

 to the kindly thoughts he cherished of her temporal as 

 well as her eternal happiness. The acceptability of his 

 religious letters, written in his most winning style, became 

 so well known, that abundant scope was afforded for 

 work in this direction. Of these several series remain, 

 affording evidence of his deep earnestness and affectionate 

 solicitude. The simplicity of the plan of salvation, the 

 glorious character of the Saviour, and the privileges of 

 prayer, constitute the prevailing themes. Even to irreli- 

 gious people his letters of this kind were welcome, while 

 similar appeals from others roused their indignation. 



In 1848 we find him saying, "I long for work in the 

 service of Christ. I have found the means of doing a 

 little good by writing to invalids; but I may do that 

 and much more. The Medical Missionary Society are to 

 have some lectures to students of medicine this winter. 

 I am to give one, I believe; that is so much." "The 



i Both the series of Letters alluded to, have been published under 

 the title, " Counsels of an Invalid." Macmillan and Co. London. 



