Thomas's Massachusetts spy, or, Worcester gazette. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1811-1821, 1821-04-25
a)ieD.

In this town on the 18th inst. Mr.. Benjamin
Thaxter, aged SO.
/ Mr.. Thaxter was man of purity of mind
and stability of character, and he faithfully
sustained the relations of domestick life. By
his death the Christian community has lost an
exemplary member, and society an useful cit
izen.
1.-THE following notice of the late Mrs. Mary
Sutton, whose death was mentioned in our
paper of the 18th inst. was communicated
at that time, but necessarily deferred.
1t is often said of those who die, that they
were resigned to the will of God but in the
resignation of many, there is no convincing ev-
idence of an interest in Christ A long and
painful sickness often reconciles the sick to
death, as a release from their sufferings and
some are resigned to the will of God in their
distress merely because resistance would be
fruitless. Resignation, on either Of these
grounds, is no proof of Christian character, or
Of fitness for death But, in the case before us,
we have an instance of resignation from higher
motives, and not of resignation merely, but of
joy and peace in believing-that sspeace of
God which passeth understanding. The de-
ceased richly shared in the divine favour
self to her in an uncommon degree. In view
of the richness of the grace of God, and the
many wonderful tokens of his favour towards
her, she said, why should doubt" She en-
jnyed the presence and smiles of God to such
degree that she seemed often to have arrived
at heaven, and to have commenced partici-
patton of the joys there reserved for the people
Of God. Earthly objects had almost vanished
from her view, and her great desire was that
the hour of death might be fastened, that she
might be with Him whom her soul loved. No
murmur was heard to escape from her lips
Her sufferings she received as nothing: in COM
parison with those of Christ, and she was viii
ling to endure more, or to be released from all
her trials, as God saw best. When friend
approached, and offered to converse or pray
with her, she often exclaimed-ss am happy !:
cannot hear you now: my joy is so great that
my feeble body cannot support an increase. -
When the hour of her dissolution had arrived,
she said-"l have long been waiting for and
desiring this happy hour" Among her last
words, she exclaimed-"l feel the support of
Christ am happy 81 am willing to go !:
death to me has no terrours. Such great
and continued degree of joy has, probably,
rarely been witnessed: And we trust that she
has now gone where those joys will be greatly
Increased, and will never be interrupted. In
view of such death-bed scene, who can but
exclaim--" Let me de the death of the right
eOlLS.''
In London, Henry Harvey Aston, Esq.-sui-
eide. He had seduced the daughter of no.
BILE Earl, who had been pursued by her father,
recovered, and found to be in state of preg-
nancy. Mr.. A. followed her, and, in the pres
ence of his unhappy victim, swallowed poison,
as the only reparation Preparation q he could
make for the ruin he had brought upon her.
In Westborough, on the 14th inst. James
Hawess Esq. aged 82.-For several years a
Representative in the Legislature of Massachu-
setts.-He was an officiating deacon in the
church to which he belonged-was an acting
Magistrate for the County, and the principal
Physician in the town and vicinity, for many
years.-Few have lived and died more uni
versally respected, or with brighter hopes Of
blessed Immortality through the merits of
Redeemer.