Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-01-03

E z 0 R X
be able to comfort them which are in any trouble,
by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comfort
ed of God" IT'S also said, 'The Lord trieth the
righteous" MI. Russell had frequently been call
ed to pass through the deep waters of affliction;
but each fresh trial seemed but to brighten the pure
gold of his religious character, and bring him near
er to the cross of Christ, which he loved 80 WE'LL
In March, lS43, his wife, who had beenthe partner
of his joys, and the sharer of his sorows for nine
teen years, was separated from him by death. She
died in the triumphs of faith and with the visions
of glory bright in her soul This was crushing
stroke but grace triumphed, and he was enabled to
say, ''The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken a.
way, and blessed be the name Of the Lord. In
his Journal after having described minutely and af-
fectionately the progress of her disease, and the
CLOSING scene," he records the following: ooh!
Lord Jesusl resign my dear MARY unto thee !;
and as weep forherloss to me, tony children, and
to thy Church, I plead for grace to bear it with
Christian fortitude. Opy God! make up to thy
Door servant for this bereavement which has LETT
my heart to feel strange and painful loneliness,
by granting to me far more abundant and con-
slant indweling of the Holy Spirit by whose coun-
sci shall be constantly guided, by whose almighty
power shall be daily clothed and thoroughly arm
ed for the gospel field, and made douby successful
in edifying the Church, and winning souls to the
obedience of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ "
Then follows most impressive dedication Of him
self and his entire family to the Lord, commend
ing them to the covenant mercy and grace Of God
in Christ Jesus.
He remained in his Estate of loneliness" until
the 9th of December, 1856, when he was united in
marriage to Miss SARAH N. LEWIS, of Chester
District most excellent Christian lady, who
survives to feel his loss and cherish his memory.
In August 1854, Nh. RUssEL's second son, DR..
R. NJ. D. Russell died, of consumption. This was
truly pious young man, and bid fair to attain to
eminence in his profession. He was greatly be-
loved by his father. Then again, in November,
1860, his eldest son, WILLIAM B. Russell died, Of
Typhoid fever This was young man of brilliant
promise, who had just been admitted to the Bar,
after completing fine education in the South Caro-
lima College son of whom father might justly
feel proud.
These and other affective providences, had chas-
tened his spirit and thus he had learned to sympa
thise with the suffering weep with those that
weep" and often was it his privilege to "minis-
ter consolation to the afflicted, and to apply the
balm of spiritual comfort to the wounded spirit
And few, veryfew of Christ's Ministers, have been
more successful in the discharge Of this function
Of his Office.
His judgment was sound and discriminating, and
the community in which he had lived so long, had
learned to look to him for counsel in their perpexi
ties, as well as for comfort in their sorrows In all
the relations of life he was beloved, honored and
revered
After the Union of the Churches he was enabled
to attend only few of the meetings of the udica-
tories of the Church but these occasions he regard
ed as seasons of peculiar privilege. His brethren
of the Bethel Presbytey felt for him an earnest re-
spect, and warm affection; and at the meeting Of
this Presbytery in October last they adopted let
ter of coincidence, tenderly and touchingly affec-
tionate, which was signed by all the members Of
Presbytery, and forwarded to Brother Russell.
AS he had been able to bow in humble, adoring
submission to the will of God, when the tenderest
ties of his nature would be severed by the hand Of
death, and amid all the trials to which he had been
subjected, affecting his family circle or his social
feelings; and, however dark or mysterious the
providence of the Infinite Re could still say, 1t is
the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good
Thy will, o Lord, be done" So when it pleased
his heavenly Father to lay the hand Of disease up
on his person, and the voice which had for near
half a century proclaimed the unsearchable riches
of Christ, was hushed by protracted and wasting
sickness. his will seemed to be sweety and entirely
merged into that of the Master. During the win
ter of 1865 and 1866, he was attacked with bron-
chitis, and although he continued to minister regu
larly in the Sanctuary, it was with much and in
creasing suffering. His disease was making gradu,
al progress, until May, when he was compelled to
desst from preaching His congregations, Bullock
Greek and Salem, granted him respite of two
months, that he might, by rest and medicine, en,
deavor to recover his health again. On the second
Sabbath in May, he was with beloved brother,
Rev. A. A. JAMES, at Grindall Shoals, assisting
him on Sacramento occasion. He preached on
Saturday, from Coossians, j. 27: "Christ in you
the hope of glory" and again on Sabbath from
Hebrew ii, 3: 'How shall we escape if we neglect
so great salvation" This was his last Sermon
He was unusually animated and impressive on this
occasion; and friend who heard him, said he felt
that this was the last great effort of this great
man. As the fame of the lamp which had been
gradually sinking, is some times seen to fash out
with peculiar briliancy, and then die away, so at
this time, this gifted preacher exhibited something
of the fire and genius of his earlier days. He re.
marked himself, short time before he died, that
he did not remember any effort of his life, when he
was favored with clearer or more overwhelming
views of the divine Sovereignty, or of the greatness
and preciousness of the Salvation of Christ than on
the occasion referred to above
From this time forward he seemed to be rapidly
nearing his home As often as he could, he OBJ
tanned the services of ministerng brethren to sup
ply his now vacant pulpits; and so long as his
strength permitted he would be present to hear the
gospel he loved so well, in these hallowed places,
where he had been so long accustomed to labor to
recover lost souls, and to lead the flock of Christ
into green pastures and beside the still waters
He suffered great bodily pain, but his soul was
"kept in perfect peace" Many of the brethren
visited him from time to time, whilst he was i'm,
prisoned by disease and these visits were like pre-
cious feasts to his soul On one occasion we asked
him if he had been subjected to any severe mental
conflict during his long and painful confinement -