It will prevent a due and acceptable acknowledgement of the rich bleffings daily received from the beneficent hand of the bountiful benefactor of the univerfe. Indeed a good acquaintance with our own make and temper is neceffary in order to know what bleffings are fuitable, as well as feafonable for us, or to be affectionately grateful under the receipt of them. For how can we be duly thankful to God, as long as we are ignorant of ourselves. These are some of the unhappy confequences flowing from ignorance of ourselves: of not knowing what manner of Spirit we are of. There are many more, but what have now been stated, though briefly, are fufficient to excite us to the needful work of STUDYING OURSELVES. about; to whom we pray, and for | the mother, and was a very rewhat we pray. markable instance of early piety. Prior to this afflictive event, both Eufebia and her husband had profeffed the Chriftian religion, and fupported a fair unblemished character. But from this period, Eufebia's piety began to fhine with a more diftinguished luftre, and continued to increase to the closing fcene of life. Her laft ficknefs was a flow confumption, and her decline commenced more than two years before her death. From the beginning of her fickness, I often vifited her, and had very frequent opportunities to obferve her tem per of mind, and the exercifes of her heart. At first her diforder did not, in the view of her phyfician, put on any dangerous fymptoms. After fome months its nature, and probable termination were more clearly perceived. On the first appearance of danger, I noticed in her ftrong defires of longer life; but not without evidences of fubmiffion to the will of God. The motives of these defires feemed all to have been drawn from the tendernefs of her maternal affection; not from an attachment to the world, nor a dread of She often meeting her God. expreffed herfelf in nearly the following language, "My children are all young--they ftand in eminent need of the counfel, infruction and guidance of a motherI long, if heaven would permit, to be the happy inftrument of training them up for God." But fhe was foon convinced that even thefe defires, innocent and rational as they at first appeared, did not juf tify the fmalleft reluctance to an entire, and unreserved fubmiffion to the divine will. She was foon taught, that should her health be reftored, and her life continued— fhould her endeavours be ever fe TO THE EDITORS OF THE CON- AZINE. GENTLEMEN, THE particulars, contained in the following account of Eufebia, are real facts. Although it is a number of years, fince they took place, yet they made fo deep an impreffion on my mind, that I am confident every material circumftance has been faithfully narrated. You will publish them, or not, as fhall think will best promote the important objects of your ufeful Magazine. you B Yours, &c. PHILOTES. EFORE I had the pleasure of an acquaintance with Eufebia, fhe had entered the marriage ftate, and had become the mother of feveral promifing children. The oldeft, a daughter, died before anwearied and ever so faithful, yet | a description of the joys of heaven. He reprefented it as a place of the molt intimate communion with God and Chrift, with angels and faints-as free from all pain and for that the could be nothing more than a feeble inftrument of good, to her children. That if they were faved from fin, and interested in the great Redeemer, it must be al-row, and from all fin, where no together the work of divine grace. remaining depravity would interThat separate from natural affec-rupt the glorified faint, in the endtion and felfifhnefs, fhe had no lefs exercife of holinefs, nor pregreater reafon to defire their falva- vent his constant communion with tion, than the falvation of others. the great fource of moral excellenAnd that if God defigned them cy. To the whole of this degood, he could, and would raife fcription fhe gave a close attention, up inftruments to effect his own but when the fpeaker came to enpurposes, and provide means for large on the lait particular, an exaccomplishing his own defigns. tacy of delight feemed fuddenly to feize her foul, joy fparkled in her eyes, and fhe interrupted him with the following exclamation, "I hat, fir, is the heaven that I am longing to enjoy. The fingle circumftance that fin is there inadmiffible, in my view is the crowning perfection of its joys. If I know my own heart, I defire no heaven, but a heaven of finlefs holiness. And could I conceive it poffible that fin would accompany me to that world, that thought would mar the glory of that inheritance of faints. But bleffed be God for the indubitable affurance we have, that at death the body of fin will be completely deftroyed. To die, is a trifling facrifice for the obtainment of fuch an infinite good." In this temper of mind, the continued day after day. Holinefs was all her delight; and if at any time her views of its excellency, and defires of finlefs perfection were lefs fenfibly expe From the time that fhe obtained thefe convictions, her appearance was like one totally difengaged from this world. She became habitually, and fixedly difpofed to truit all concerns-her own life and death, together with the temporal, and fpiritual interefts of her family and friends, and the church of Chrift, for which the manifefted the strongest affection, in the hands of God. In health, fhe had been a moft prudent, and faithful overfeer of the domeftic concerns of her family. But as her weakness rendered the labor of that employment impoffible, fhe totally relinquifhed it without the leaft apparent regret. Her time, as far as the feeble remains of ftrength would permit, was now wholly devoted to the business of religion. In her daily converfation, the manifefted an increafing fenfe of the odious and deteftab e nature of fin and far greater defires to be intire-rienced, it excited more painful ly freed from it, than to be deliv- fenfations, than all the anguish ariered from her bodily pains, which fing from her great bodily pains. were extremely diftreffing. To footh her mind under fuch acute diftrefs, and to gratify the ardent breathings of her foul after communion with God, and Jefus Christ, a clergyman, on one of the vifits which he often made her, gave Her diforder now rapidly increafed, her ftrength diminished, and the concluding fcene evidently drew nigh. She had in the moft tender and affectionate manner," committed the whole concerns of the education of her children to her husband, in whom, under God, her heart confided. She had, as fhe thought, addreffed both to him and them her laft advice; in which all the wife, all the mother, and all the faint glowed in her heart, and flowed from her lips. She had committed the church of wh ch she was a member, and the general interest of religion, to her God and Saviour; firmly believing that all things in the universe would be ordered in the wifeft and best manner, and finally terminate in the moft perfect difplay of the divine perfections, and in the higheft poffible felicity of the redeemed family. Death was now at the door, and to human view fhe had nothing to do in time, but to breathe out her foul to him who gave it. For this event fhe waited with unreferved fubmiffion, expecting and hoping that every day, and every hour would be her last. wholly overcome the languishing But it pleafed a fovereign God to referve her for a new, unexpected and most diftreffing trial. Her husband, who, during the whole of her ficknefs, had enjoyed uninterrupted health, was inftantaneously seized with the moft excruciating pains. His whole frame, but more efpecially his bowels were in indefcribable agony. Large portions of laudanum, which were frequently administered, for a fhot fpace afforded him a fmall relief. But his pains foon return-intirely exhausted. Her eyes were ed with increasing violence, and in about twenty hours put a period to his life. A clergyman, who was prefent, was defired to give information of this awful event to Eu-lence on all the fpectators. febia, who lay in a different apartment of the house. He entered her room with thofe fenfations which such a scene could not fail to infpire, and with anxious fears left the diftrefling tidings fhould clofed, her refpiration fhort and difficult, but ftill her countenance calm and compofed. Refpect for her forrows, impofed profound fi In lefs than half an hour fhe revived. Prayer, at her requeft, was attended; in which she appeared to join with great devotion. It pleafed the God of all grace to gratify her wishes. She furvived her huf band about fourteen hours. Du-| TO ONE OF THE EDITORS OF THE ring a confiderable part of which, fhe had intervals of abatement of pain, great clearness of thought, and uncommon facility of expreffion. Thefe, to her, precious moments indeed, the improved with all poffible zeal, in addreffing her children on the all-important concerns of time, and eternity. She explained to them the leading and more important doctrines of Chriftianity-the depravity of the hu CONNECTICUT EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE. SIR, AGREEABLY to your re queft I tranfcribe from my JourRev. Mr. Patillo of the county of nal, the following account of the Grenville, in the ftate of NorthCarolina. It it fhall convey to the mind of one afflicted Christian, miffion to the will of God, your a leffon of patience, and of fubfeelings, as well as my own, will, I doubt not, be highly gratified. I am, fir, yours, &c. man heart-the nature and neceffity of regeneration, repentance and faith. She taught them their duty to God, their fellow-men and themfelves. She held up Chrift to their view, as the only feventy-four years of age. Mediator, and only Saviour; laid open his infinite ability to fave, and befought, and obtefted them, with all the authority of their only furviving parent, and with all the tender affection of a dying mother, to enter without delay on a life of ftrict religion, to give to God the morning of ther lives, and the dew of their youth. The knowledge, wisdom and piety apparent in thefe addreffes aftonifhed every perfon prefent, and at the time made deep impreffions on the minds of her children. Soon after this, death evidently began his work, and though by long ficknefs, and great pains fhe was extremely reduced and enfeebled, yet the agonies of death were prolonged for feveral hours; during which her mind remained compofed and perfectly rational, and the fervor of her holy affections, and the ftrength of her faith unabated. She expired at nine of the clock in the evening, and fhe and her husband were both buried in the fame grave. May her counfels be preferved as a precious treasure by her children, and her example inftruct furviving Chriftians! Z. LEWIS. HE Rev. Henry Patillo is His white, trembling, palfied head is filled with found and useful knowledge. He appears to be an eminently pious and faithful minifter of the gofpel; a kind and attentive hufband; an affectionate and indulgent father; a cheerful and pleafant companion; and a polite, noble and generous friend. Mrs. Patillo is an amiable and respectable woman. Long have this unfortunate pair travelled hand in hand the high road to heaven. Often, on their way, have they been called to ftruggle with adverfity. A long and tedious distance have they journied through the vale of extreme poverty. "Seven times, my fon," faid the good old man to me, "Seven times have we caten our last morfel; and where to look for more, but to heaven, we knew not. To heaven we looked; and before we were again hungry, we were furnished with fufficient and comfortable food. It feemed," continued he," it truly feemed as tho' a kind Providence had poured it down from above. Once has the Sheriff, (to fatisfy a demand against our poor unfortunate Harry*) ftript us of our little all, and fold to the highest · bidder. Again it pleafed a merciful providence to direct our friends to purchase the most useful parts of our furniture and present them to us. I hope and trust we fhall not forget the favors of our friends, nor the kindness of our divine benefactor. We are now, bleffed be God! in comfortable circumstances; and our future earthly wants will be few." Yes, grateful, happy pair! Your wants on earth will hence be few. You will foon come to the end of your journey. You will foon enter through the gates into the City, and arrive in fafety at your Father's house. With propriety may you adopt the language of the Chriftian poet: "We'll foon be wafted oe'r This life's tempestuous fea, Of bleft eternity." To the EditorS OF THE CONNECTICUT EVANGELICAL MAG AZINE. T your GENTLEMEN, HE people who receive Magazines among us, are much pleafed with the manner in which the inftructions are commu. nicated to them. They are pleafed with the whole, efpecially with the narratives given of the revivals of religion, and of the lives and deaths of individuals, which have been inferted. The country has long been favored with writings, in which the great doctrines of the * Rev. Mr. Patillo endorfed notes for his fon who was extenfively and profperously engaged in the mercantile employment. By the unexpected failure of his principal debtors, the fon was obliged to relinquith his business and the father, as well as the fon, was ript of his laft farthing. VOL. I. No. 6. gofpel have been well stated and ably defended. It is hoped this will continue. Your Magazines furnifh us with another kind of evidence of these doctrines, which was much needed in the country, and perhaps is equally conclufive. They fhow the effect of these doctrines on the hearts and lives of those who cordially embrace them, and that the Holy Ghost does accompany them with mighty power, and in this way bears teftimony to their truth and importance. They have this advantage too, they prefent the doctrines of the bible in a more moving light, and convey them ten-fold fafter to the mind, than could be done in a way of deep, argumentative difcuffion.Befides, this method of communicating instruction is more univerfally acceptable, and its evidence is more easily feen, and more powerfully felt by many who are difficulted to follow metaphyfical difcuffions. It realizes to our minds, that God is prefent with the power of his grace in the prefent age; it encourages Chriftians to hope for and feek after eminent attainments your book may in holiness, urges the truth and neceffity of religion upon impenitent finners, and adds to all, the force of prefent example. It is defired that able difcuffions of the doctrines of the gospel may always be encouraged, they are important, but it is wished that be very much taken up with the exemplification of religion, devotional and animating pieces, and familiar illuftrations of the doctrines and duties of Christianity; that it be a practical piece, which may follow as a moral or improvement to all fuch valuable difcuffions, and it will be acceptable and ufeful to thousands. |