Half a Century

er relaxed her discipline which forbade fellowship with slave-holders-so I was brought up an abolitionist. I was still a child

and these points I argued from house to house, occasionally for three years, and made that acquaintance which led to my being sent for in cases of sickness and de

distrustful people as I have found in that faith. Mother, whose life was full of wisdom and good works, doubted, even to the last, her own acceptance with God. She and I believed that "a jealous God," who can brook no rivals, had taken away our lovi

ng of 1831, mot

ion, and I thought you migh

and without l

old en

vior, 'do this in remembrance of me' was addr

s given to me, but how could I obey it without eating and drinking damnation to myself? Was mine a saving faith, or did I, like

t any one was enduring endless torments in some other place! I must leave and go to their relief. It was dreadful that Abraham did not even try to go to poor Dives, or to send some one. My whole soul flew into open revolt; then oh! the total depravity which could question "the ways of God to man." I hated Milton. I despised his devils; had a supreme contempt for the "P

and mercy in that region of despair. Then I preferred my petition, that God would write his name upon my forehead, and give me that "new name" which should mark me as his; that he would bring William into the fold, and do with me as he would. I w

I had not dared to ask, assurance of present acceptance. I should have all the work and privation for which I had bargained-should be a thistle-digger in t

eing altogether between God and the soul, were not considered fit subjects for conversation, and when I came before

the table at which I sat in

se emblems, do solemnly vow that you will never turn your back upon Christ, but that you will follow him whithersoever he goeth. Let others do as they wil

of my life has been so solemn or far-reaching in its consequences, as

Jonathan Edwards, and settled back into the old Sabbath-keeping rut. Resolving to do my best, I prayed all week, for grace to keep the next Sabbath. I rose early that trial-morning, prayed as soon as my eyes were open, read a chapter, looked out into the beautiful morning, thought about God and prayed-spent so much time

o let Elizabeth

Had I been taught that he who does any honest work serves God an