Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-09-22

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his bones rest, hot they need rot, my
departed minister, have cut in stone
the remembrance Of thy virtues! II
had been enough that the monument
should have marked the spot where
thou lest THY record is on high on
the pillars that shall exist in the temple
Of my God to eternity, showing the
honour which thy great Master
put upon thee, in aIlnwing thee to con
duct mauy pilgrims to the celestial city,
What my feelings might nave been,
had been left to myself, know not,
but they suffered an interruption by
the appearance Of an elderly female,
with whom I was totally unacquaint
ed. She walked several times round
the grave, and then laying her hand
on The stoue. she placed her head upon
it and wept. Have you, my good
woman asked, 'lost friendf' No
SIR she replied. L have not lost him,
he has gone before me, and / hope to
see him again in the world of blessed
CESS. Al! tfou dear saint, she con.
tinued, looking or the tomb All, thou
dear saint. thou hastgonc to heaven
thou hast triumphed over all thy enc.
mes-arrived at the end of thy suffer
ings hast finished thy work--and
gone to receive thy reward And did
you know / asked, 'ihe COOL man
who lies here?' know him, yes sir, i
did, and loved him, and you would
have loved him too il you had known
him. That witness, thought [, is
true; it was impossible to know him
without giving him your esteem
Chow long did you know him?'
Twenty years, sir, he was the pastor
and the friend Of my fsmily; FIVE Of ms
children have hailed his entrance into
the heavenly world, for they were led
by him TO the throne of God They
have all been dead for several years;
he is now gone, and through grace |
hope to follow them all. But it is hard
work, sir, to part with friends that we
love, though they go to better place:
] always hoped that / should die first
-'It,nattefs> little,' remarked, who
among the crowd steps first into the
mansions OF peace, since each Of the
people Of God shall occupy his own
place, and spend an eternity in the
presence Of his Father 'Ah, sir, she
replied, that gives me pleasure 1
think, sic, | have seen you before
Perhaps so, I knew your worthy
pastor, / Logged him, and have often
occupied his pulpit 'Ah,' said the
good woman, whose countenance had
frightened as | spoke respectfully Of
her friend, Il remember now who you
are. '*#****~
Changing the subject, / asked did
my good friend enjoy his last moments
in the divine consultations ofthe gospel!'
'Thc tempter: sir, was permitted to
harass him at times for several weeks
before bis death, bot at some times,
the dear man was enabled to triumph
over all, and draw water with Joy out
of the wells of salvation. The last
night of his life was one of mingled
10Y and sorrow to all of US who were
permitted to surround his bed. We
saw he was rapidly fastening 10 his
end, and we could not help being
sorry, for you know sir, he was faith
full man, and feared God above many.
He had given us all good advice, and
held sweet counsel with US; | am
sure | never felt more at the death of
my childreo thnn | did when / saw
the good pastor lying and gasping for
breath. But then, o how heavenly
was his language. and how delightful
must have been his feelings! He had
taught us howio live, and now he had
to show US how the religion ofthe Cos,
pei would enable him to die on,
that my last end may be like hlsp AS
she uttered the last sentence she.wi.
ped the falling tear, and the feelings of
my own breast were almost ready to
give vent in a similar manner. 1T is
mercy 1 remarked, that though
ministers die, Jesus the Great Head
Of the Church still lives, and raises up
other servants to feed his people,
"True, SIR replied the old lady, but
eve cannot, somehow, like the new
ministers so we'll as the old one. -
How happy will it be- | observed, 'if
we are net slothfui, bit followers of
them, who through faith and patience
inherit the promises True, SIR was
her reply, hut come very short Of
them, and can only hope for salvation,
as a poor guilty sinner, through the
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