The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-05-08
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, ANDovER, /
September 9th, 1881.

OCptcNtUcf NtH, lOOls
To Mrs. Anne S. Rice
Dear Sister,-After hearing of the decease
of my beloved Brother Rice, | was waiting fol
the first hour could command to write to you.
Your letter then came; and 1 concluded it best
to postpone writing for few days longer ]
now sit down before our public exercises com
mence, unwilling to defer any longer what my
heart is SO much upon. But know not what
to say. My heart prompts me first of all, to
thank and praise the God of heaven, that be
has been pleased to raise up such a man, as
your beloved husband, to form him, by his in
finite grace for such eminent usefulness here,
and to prepare him for an eternity of holiness
and joy in heaven. I thank God that I have
had the happiness to know that excellent man,
to love him, and to be loved by him, and so
many times to join with him in conversation
and prayer. 1 loved him before I saw him.
And from the moment of my first interview
with him, he had my affection and my conf
dence in the highest degree. My memory
loves to pass over all the interviews had with
him, and all the interests about which
we have consulted. OIL my Brother Rice |
his name is precious to my heart. Blessed be
God that he gave him peace in dying hour.
He rests from his labors and his works will fol-
low him. The fruits of such life, filled with
pious, faithful efforts, and exhibiting lovely
and holy example, will be permanent. God
will bless the work which our dear departed
friend undertook, and which he so successfully
accomplished.
AS to you, my dear sister, my heart tenderly
sympathises with you; for l know how you
loved that excellent man, and / know how he
loved you. But yet you are happy woman
highly favored of the Lord in having such
husband, and in having him so long. And
now, blessed be our God and Saviour, he gives
YOU peace. He is the widows God; and
through his infinite mercy, you have the pre-
cious hope of an eternity of blessedness in his
holy presence, and in the loved society of your
dear husband. And now, during the remain
der of your life I seem to see you aspiring after
higher and higher degrees of heavenly mind
edness,-after greater and greater nearness to
Christ, and greater and greater fitness for heav-
en-, and at the same time taking a lively inter-
est in all that concerns Christs Kingdom on
earth, and having many foretastes of the time
when you will be filled with all the fulness of
God.
Dear Sister, Mrs. Woods and l shall ever
love you, and rejoice in your consultations, and
our hearts will ever share in your sorrows. 1t
will be delightful to us to have our correspon-
dence continue as often as may be.
Mrs. Woods is not very well, being recover
ing from heavy cold. We hope God is deal
ING kindly with our unworthy family, and turn
ing the hearts of our dear children to himself.
Whatever service 1 can render you in any
way, will give me great pleasure. Tell me
whatever you wish of me, with perfect free
dom. The peace of God be with you; and
blessed be the memory of your beloved hus-
band. With most hearty affection, and with
PRAYER to God that be would continue to afford
you his presence, 1 am your ever sincere and
brother.
LEONARD WOODS
ANDoyER, December End, lS4l.
Mrs. Anne s. Rice; My Dear Friend:
NJ The contents of your letter, and the
,or,, s;obt IF vour handwriting revive unnum-