Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

Last Monday I resumed my pen as I purposed, and wrote a little, but it fatigued me greatly, and I was unable to pursue the employment.

Dec. 14. I am this day going to London, in order to make a solemn affidavit, that to the best of my knowledge and belief, the bonds I am claiming under were never paid. This I can do with a safe conscience, but I wish to go with a heart so properly disposed in respect to this business, that when I take a solemn oath, God may regard it, and approve the act.

O most great and glorious God, the Creator and Governor of all things, I adore thy divine Majesty, and acknowledge that thou art Lord of all things, and that thy Providence governs all events. What infinite condescension it is in such a Being, to concern himself even in the trifling affairs of sinful men! Lord, I know and confess that I am not worthy of the least of thy mercies; but encouraged by thy gracious promises, I have presumed to commit my cause to thee, and thou hast hitherto appeared to guide and to direct the steps of those who are the instruments of thy good Providence in this matter. This day am I to make a solemn appeal to thee for the truth of my dealings. O vouchsafe to hear me from heaven, thy dwelling-place, and bless and direct me. Lord, I would not dare to utter falsehood before thee; I pray and beseech thee of thy goodness to grant

me thy grace, that I may in all things obey thy blessed will; and, O most inerciful God, I earnestly beseech thee to dispose my heart, to receive as becomes thy creature, whatever thy Providence in this matter shall decree me. Lord, it is not on the counsels of men that I depend; my trust is in thee alone. May thy blessed will be done by me and mine on earth, and hereafter in heaven to endless ages.

Dec. 31. I am now come to the conclusion of another year, and will close it with thankful acknowledgment of the great and manifold mercies and favours, which have been bestowed upon me by the Giver of all goodness. It has been, in many respects, a year of great cares and difficulties, but the cares have in general been removed, and the difficulties overcome, through the merciful goodness of an over-ruling Providence. I have at this time an accumulation of similar cares and difficulties, but I think of former mercies, and put my trust in God, and my soul is at peace.

The most signal personal mercies I recollect have been the preservation of my life in my late illness; my escaping almost unhurt when I fell down stairs; and the prospect of a speedy and favourable termination to my law-suit. I have received numberless mercies besides, which have left a deep impression of gratitude upon my mind. I have also cause to be thankful for innumerable mercies to the various branches of my family, for

these mercies have reflected on me through that strong affection for my dear children, which will ever make me a partaker of their joys and sorrows.

O Lord, I beseech thee to accept from thy faithful, though weak servant, the tribute of sincere and humble thanksgiving, for all thy known and unknown favours, mercies, blessings, and deliverances, which thou hast abundantly bestowed upon me, and my dear family, in the course of the last year. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and let all that is within me bless his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his mercies. O who can sufficiently declare the goodness of the Lord? and what am I, that the Lord should so regard me?

Divine and adorable Saviour, to thee am I indebted for every thing; without thy mediation, I could not hope for pardon and peace, for life and felicity, in the regions of bliss. To thee, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, he all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Another portion of that time which serves to measure human life is now come to a period. Fifty-seven years have I passed upon earth, and almost thirty of them did I pass in matrimonial union. with the best and tenderest of husbands.

Then it pleased God to separate us; but I look forward to a world in which we shall, I hope, again meet, and in which our lives will not be measured by days, weeks, months, and years, but when thousands and thousands of ages have been passed in uninterrupted felicity, we may still expect an endless succession. O what a vast idea is that of eternity-too big for human comprehension !

THE END.

Printed by Law and Gilbert, St. John's Square, London,

BOOKS

WRITTEN BY

MRS. TRIMMER.

SACRED HISTORY,

Selected from the Scriptures, with ANNOTATIONS and REFLECTIONS; in six Volumes.

COMPANION TO THE BOOK OF
COMMON PRAYER,

Containing a PRACTICAL COMMENT upon the Daily Service, and the Collects, Epistles, and Gospels; in ene Volume.

An ATTEMPT to familiarize the CATECHISM of the CHURCH of ENGLAND.

An EXPLANATION of the Office for the PUBLIC BAPTISM of INFANTS, and the ORDER for CONFIRMATION in the Common Prayer Book,

« ElőzőTovább »