Ellen’s Conversion, Illness, and Peaceful Departure.
ELLEN LOUISA J., the subject of this brief memoir was the child of Christian parents, who, up to the age of eleven years gave no evidence of any real concern for her soul. At this time she was taken to hear a lecture on the Lord’s coming; in connection with other striking remarks, it was observed that the seed bag may be nearly empty, when the word, the Gospel of Grace would no longer be presented; hence the importance of accepting Christ without delay. This produced no apparent effect at the time, and on the following Lord’s-day after she had retired to rest, her mamma (who had been praying earnestly for her conversion) asked her if she remembered what had been said in reference to the seed bag, and dwelt upon the solemnity of her position, if the seed were not received into her heart ere the Lord came, to be left behind for judgment! She then prayed with her, and in the confidence of faith looked up to him who alone can bless his own Word, to make it effectual in the salvation of our soul.
A few days elapsed, when her mamma again asked her if she had thought any more on the subject, and prayed that she might not find peace till she had found it in Jesus. Dear Ellen (who wept bitterly) replied, “I have been very unhappy through the night, those words, ‘Prepare to meet thy God,’ were continually sounding in my ears.” The next morning she arose early, having had but little sleep through the deep exercise of her soul, and calling the servant (who, knowing her unhappiness the previous night, was struck with her altered appearance and manner), she exclaimed, “O Fanny, I am so happy! My sins are all washed away through the blood of Jesus.” She then went to her parents’ room. “O mamma, my sins are all gone,” she said; “I do believe in Jesus.”
On asking her how she knew this, she replied, “The Scriptures say that ‘whosoever believeth in Jesus hath everlasting life,’ and I do believe.” The good seed had fallen into soil prepared by him through whose power alone it can be made to germinate, she saw herself by nature hopelessly ruined; hence, knew, upon the authority of God’s word, that, not only her sins were blotted out, but that she had “passed from death unto life.” Shortly after this she expressed a desire to “Break bread,” in remembrance of him who had saved her. She was baptized, and received into fellowship with the saints gathered together in the Lord’s name.
There was nothing remarkable in her Christian life, she was very retiring, but her quiet, exemplary walk, combined with her genial disposition and sweet amiability of character, won the affection of all who knew her. In the autumn of last year, unfavorable symptoms appeared as to her health, but nothing to awaken apprehension of danger: however, a few weeks only elapsed when disease of the lungs discovered itself, which being intimated to her, did not create any anxiety or alarm; she was kept calm and peaceful, and as her strength abated., her soul became more bright and joyous, while her confidence in God’s love and the foundation on which she rested were unshaken. The disease made rapid progress during the last few weeks of her stay in the body, but her peace remained unbroken. To her relatives, as well as to those who visited her, she expressed her joy and satisfaction in having Christ as her eternal portion, with the unclouded assurance that her exit from the frail, suffering tabernacle would be her entrance into his presence. To her mamma, who asked her if she had any doubts, she replied, “Not a doubt or a fear, the weaker I am the happier I am, and the deeper my joy.” Her nights were often disturbed through want of sleep; on one occasion, her mamma prayed that she might in a very special way realize the Lord’s presence as her companion through the night; and the next morning she said, “I never knew him so precious.” At another time when prayer was made that she might get sleep, “I have not had a dream tonight.” Her deep interest for those of the family who were still unsaved was very striking, and her desire and prayer was for their conversion. She spoke with delight as to the reality of the meetings which it had been her privilege to attend; and also of the preciousness of the truth to which she had listened, expressing more especially her enjoyment of a paper which was read to her from “Things New and Old,” entitled, “Christian life, what is it?”
Having expressed a desire to see me, I went some few hours previous to her departure. On entering the room where she lay, I observed her eyes (which were fastened upon me) with the pallor of her cheeks, indicating that the end of her pilgrim course was near. To her sorrowing papa who was standing near, I mentioned it and inquired in a low tone of voice, if she was conscious, when to my surprise, she herself replied, “Oh yes, I am perfectly conscious.” I remarked, “You are going home?” “Yes,” she said, “going home.” “We shall all soon meet there — all is bright there.” To which she again responded, “All is bright there;” at the same time giving utterance to the ground of her confidence before God: “Resting on Jesus, not the shadow of a doubt.” After repeating those words to her, “Fear not, I am thy God, I will be with thee;” adding, “He will be with you to the end,” she asked me to pray with her, which I did, commending her especially to the Lord’s tender care, and asking him that she might have a peaceful, joyous translation from the suffering body into his presence. She then pressed my hand as well as her feeble strength would admit, and I bade her good-bye. The deep joy, the unruffled peace, the unwavering confidence, to which she gave expression, and which shone so brightly in her countenance, are indelibly engraved upon my memory.
The same evening she became somewhat restless, but no immediate danger was apprehended. About eleven o’clock she asked her papa (who had arranged to remain with her the first part of the night) to change her position, and having done so, she gently and peacefully “fell asleep,” in the twentieth year of her age.
“Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” On the following Tuesday, her remains were interred in the Newport Cemetery, there “waiting the adoption, the redemption of the body.”
“Lord Jesus, come!
Earth’s shadows chase away;
Haste the bright, cloudless day:
Wake from the grave thine own;
Receive thy pilgrims home;
Lord Jesus, come!”
In closing this brief history of our beloved young sister, let me ask the reader whether or not he has the same blessed certainty as to the future which she had? Christ, in all the perfectness of his work, was the resting-place of her faith, hence her peace and joy. Are you satisfied with him? have you accepted him? if this be true of you, happy are you; but if otherwise, how sad your condition! It may be you are attempting by your own exertions, to fit yourself for God’s presence; if so, how self-deluded — how infatuated! What saith the Scripture? “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:66But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)). “By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight” (Rom. 3:2020Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)). Let me then urge you with all earnestness and affection to look away from self as incapable of doing anything to merit his favor. God in his word presents his own perfect remedy. “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). Nothing but faith in that blood can cleanse you, and bring you without spot to God; any other basis must prove insecure and worthless. May your eyes be opened to the discovery of where you are, and what you are; all here is uncertainty. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). May God in the riches of his grace give you at once to accept of Christ, who still says, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). He is of God, to all who believe, “made wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)).
J. M. D.