Jenks' Portland gazette. Maine advertiser. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1802-1803, 1803-05-02
for this Gazette.
TIE REFoRM.--No. VII.

.g
IT comes within the views of this paper to
noIice the mon remarkable inlances of mortal
ny thar occur within my knowledge, making
iuch reflections upon them as fceni befi cal
cn'ated TO advance the czafc Of religion.
There are few lubjeGs better fui.ed TO gener-
al reading and Improvement 6nee all know
thcmieives TO be mortal, yet are TOO apt
to loie the imprchon amida the butle Of the
world
The late Mira Bacon Of Corhxm exhibited
lite and dcalh. the recollection Of which
Will long furpiih matter for Improvement 10
thois lev friends, who were ben acquainted
with her ffruggles, and her victories. The
infslicifies Which fell 10 her lot were OF the
wera kind, for they were domrftlc. Thefs
are funjsa too delicate 10 dwell upon !;
let i then fuficc 10 FAY. that Che bore them
With The c4imnefs and forbearance of a
Chrifian. III her laft fickncis &c ob.erved
10 afriend, with every emotion of linc-rity,
that fhe hsd been revolving in her mind the
moo unhappy. & trying fcenes Of her life. Her
eecisfed intention 10 this was 10 bring her con-
icience 10 the Taft and frvereR tea even that
of a desth-bed, /" the furea dcte9or of the
heart" The refalt Of this rxaminai ion was
equally Satisfactory with thar OF former iEouir-
&C, 10 as to straw forth the msf free yet humble
efuhons ofa h-arr conici1ls offs cwn Innocence
This iurey was no tmalI COMO alton amidf
the pains Ut iickneis, and the views D death
Ito retoliea the mott difficult, portion of her
life, even with higher ienfe Of rectitude than
the ret /; to teel and exprefs Ivy, proportion
cd 10 The llrrngth OF the temptation with
which lie had 10 contend.
There were, however. other fupports for
our departed friend, a, lime which required
iuppes from the tngheft fources of comfort.
She had embraced the doctrine, and ihe diff
played The ipirit Of Chriftanity. Through the
power OF religion Che became fuperloat to
ielhih dependence upon mere fenie, of NOR
al duty, and Propriery. How far fhc was in
de5teo for this 10 a regular education, In
place where great refpeef was paid to the
exterior Of plety, !: is inpofible 10 FAY. Yet
n appeared from her OWE gretaful acknow-
Judgements, that the uncommon fuferines 10
which ihr was called. had promoted in great
degree her ipirItual enjoyment. They were
iAnctIhed - heart ana therefore inltead Of be-
ing an Injury, they were really the greatelf
bcncits 1, il true they cut off her hopes from
the earth. yet, in the iamc proportion, carried
them toward heaven. This may fecm hard
truth to iome vet an intimate knowledge of
the golpel will lead to embrce il, as agree
ing alike with the lotions Of inlpiriation, & The
experience of good minds. But however deep
fuch a happy impretlion might have been
upon the fpuit Of Mrs. B. Che cid not ipeak Of
The lubject With frequency. mach Iels with
rA(h confidence. Perhaps Der timidity was
carried TO an cxrcme. and might have d-Priv-
ed her ct many opportunities for incrcaiug the
falisfa6tion of her friends, and recommending
he cauic Of true religion. Yet, at rhc fame
time, when The found companion whole fen
tmen,s were congeniaI with her own, fhe
would open her foul with the grcatse frse-
DON and fncersy.
BUT the iatisiaction Of thar lively faith, to
which the lorEows of our affi 6fed friend bad
70 largely contribute, were not coaiined to
the period Of her greateR health and lpirits |;
but were extended to the concluion OF her
days. Ia her atf confinement ihc expreaed
rho frr,eit truif in the mercy Of her favour,
and the promifcs Of his word. tis true the
force of dife4ie for,etimes interrupted the
tranquility Of hor mind yet her general ha5-
il was the joyful hope OF better world. 1t
was her earnelf de(lre aud prayer, that before
her death, Che might enjoy, through mi.tisa.
ton of her pain, that perfect peace which is
60 de6rabc amida the approaches of death.
How far her wiihes were anfwered is bsff
known to tholc who furrourded her dea,h.bed,
The Affections of Mrs. B. in the natural
and focal relations Of life, were warn and ten