S. K. HOLTSINGER'S 
 
 ]Mo. 
 
 PRINCETON. N. J. ^ 
 
 BX 7260 .S5 S5x 
 
 Sherman, James, 1796-1862. 
 
 The pastor's wife 
 
Digitized by the Internet Arcliive 
 in 2014 
 
 https://archive.org/details/pastorswifemennoiOOsher_0 
 
THE PASTOR'S WIFE. 
 
 MEMOIE>i 
 
 UN 11 191P 
 LOGICAL StV^V^ 
 
 MRS. MARTHA SHERMAN 
 
 THE REV. JAMES SHERMAN, 
 
 SUCCESSOR OF THE REV. ROWLA^D HILL, 
 l.N' SURREY CHAPEL, LONDON. 
 
 ABRIDGED WITH THE SAXCTIO.N OF THE AUTHOR. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE 
 AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY 
 
 150 N ASS A U -ST REET , NEW YORK 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Birth — Her mother's judicious training — Contrast between 
 the two sisters — Sweetness of temper — Natural polite- 
 ness — Anecdote of Rev. Matthew Wilks — School — Musi- 
 cal talent — Power of imitation 9 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Illness and death of her sister — Instrumental in the con- 
 version of two persons — Her own decision for Christ — 
 Letter on union with the church — Death of her young 
 friend — Her own serious illness and recovery ... 24 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Marriage — First impressions on settlii;g at Reading — Difli- 
 culties in the Sunday-school — Maternal Society — Visit of 
 Dr. and Mrs. Codman — Visit to the poor — Providential 
 escape — Serious illness of herself and husband — Invita- 
 tion to Surrey chapel — Mixed feelings on leaving Read- 
 ing 42 
 
4 
 
 COJJTKNTS. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Removal to London — Sketch of the origin of Suney chapel 
 — Her interest in the societies already established there — 
 Commencement of Sabbath Bible-class — Young ladies re- 
 quest the formation of a similar class — Fears and hopes 
 respecting it — Letter to a young lady who had lost a sis- 
 ter — To two sisters on exalted piety — To one wishing to 
 become a Sunday-school teacher — To one at school — To 
 one whom God had chosen from a worldly family — To a 
 friend on her buthday — Joy that her efforts had been 
 blessed 67 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Farmation of Maternal Association — Birth of her eldest 
 daughter — Ditiiculties and anxieties respecting the asso- 
 ciation — Formation of a similar one for the poor — Journey 
 on the continent — Death of her daughter Selina — Her 
 anxiety that the event should be improved to her class — 
 Letter to a young friend, urging immediate decision — Mar- 
 riage of her eldest daughter — Birth of her youngest child 
 — Letter to her eldest child — To her mother — Illness of 
 he - babe Ill 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Death of her mother — Interest in the various religious insti- 
 tutions — Extracts from letters — On ascribing glory to man 
 rather than God — On tempering zeal with humility — On 
 the scriptural warrant for taking an oath — Consolation to 
 one of her class in the hospital — To one who wished to 
 become a missionary — On self-examination — On obedience 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 5 
 
 to parents only "in the Lord" — Formation of a mission- 
 ary working-party — Specimen of notes of invitation — For- 
 mation of another missionary working-party — Meeting to 
 consider objections — Letter to her class informing them of 
 the result . . 153 
 
 CHAPTEE. VII. 
 
 Commencement of illness — Winter residence at Brighton — 
 Letter to a young lady on the duty of taking care of her 
 health — Extracts from letters — Thanks to a friend for acts 
 of kindness — To the Maternal Association — To her father's 
 servant — To a young lady who had undertaken a class of 
 Jewish children — Believing hopes respecting her own chil- 
 dren — Extract from her memorandum-book — Establishes a 
 Maternal Society — Interest in a young widow — Persevering 
 and successful eflforts — Conversation with the servants — 
 Liquidates the debt of the chapel — State of her health — 
 Letter to a young friend in the North — Hopes of final re- 
 covery — Second tour on the continent — Return to Eng- 
 land 186 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 Resigns her Bible-classes — Letter to a lady on the unjust 
 prosecution of her husband — On the return of her wea- 
 ding-day — Thanks for a present — Visit to St. Leonard's — 
 Depression of mind — Extracts of letters — To her husband 
 — To her father — To a city missionary on the death of liis 
 wife — To a young friend, stirring her up to spiritual activ- 
 ity — On submission to the divine will — Extracts from let- 
 ■ ters — On judging uncharitably — Residence at Enfield — 
 Letter on being prevented from attending evening wor- 
 ship — Confid<>ncr' in G<.d — To a Sunday-sehool teacher — 
 
6 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 On the death of a young person — On the formation of a 
 select class for children — Residence at Hastings — Relief 
 from mental depression — Calinness with which she re- 
 ceived intimation of immediate danger — Return home 209 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Farewell interviews — Sabbath class — Poor maternal — La- 
 dies' maternal — Young ladies' Bible-class — Memoranda 
 of last illness — London missionary sermon — Interview 
 with Rev. J. A. James and others — Missionary commun- 
 ion — Last moments — Funeral — Funeral-sermons — Poetic 
 description of funeral scene 278 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Character — Industry — Firmness and perseverance — Punctu- 
 ality — Freedom from selfishness — Condescension — Humil- 
 ity — Love to all the people of God — Fervent piety — Un- 
 conscious influence 326 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 It is a difficult duty for one tenderly related 
 to a beloved saint, to draw the faithful linea- 
 ments of her character, and present a portrait 
 easily recognized by those who were favored 
 with her friendship. Ardent affection may 
 overlook defects which others would record, 
 and fear of exaggeration omit excellences 
 which desorve to be prominently exhibited. 
 A looker-on sees more of the battle, and can 
 better de.scribe the respective qualities of the 
 parties engaged in the conflict, than the com- 
 batants themselves; for, however each might 
 be disposed to do justice to the valor manifest- 
 ed by his fellow-soldier, the very nearness of 
 contact and limited range of view incapacitate 
 them from describing the whole operation in 
 the field of vision which a spectator enjoys. 
 And it would have been hailed as a great 
 blessing, if some friend who had known the 
 dear departed from early life could have been 
 found, to present her living likeness to those 
 who have earnestly solicited some memorials 
 of one whom they so ardently loved, and whose 
 faith they desire to follow. The materials for 
 a memoir, though scantily preserved, would 
 
8 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 have been quite sufficient, in a practised and 
 skilful hand, to make many sincere hearts long 
 to be like her, and to bring great glory to the 
 Lord for the abundant grace bestowed on his 
 devoted child. 
 
 Yet some advantages are possessed by a near 
 relative over others. If the spectator of a bat- 
 tle can describe better the general operations of 
 an army, the man who stands next to his com- 
 rade, and fights with him, can more minutely 
 recite his valiant deeds, his patience, and vic- 
 tory. So in the case of this precious saint: 
 her husband knew her best; had far greater 
 opportunities than any of her friends of ob- 
 serving her steady walk with God, her loving 
 and Christ-like spirit, her amiable deportment 
 to all her circle. of friends and dependents, and 
 her self-denying and useful efforts to win souls 
 to her Saviour. Therefore, though deeply sen- 
 sible that the sketch of her life here given will 
 be rough and unfinished, and in no degree 
 worthy of its subject, he believes it will pos- 
 sess greater advantages than if written by a 
 less intimate acquaintance. His hope, his ar- 
 dent prayer to God is, that he will give it his 
 rich blessing, and cause many to follow her as 
 she followed Christ her Lord. 
 
THE 
 
 PASTOR'S WIFE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. / 
 
 FKOII HER BIRTH TO HER CONVERSION. 
 
 Thh beloved subject of this Memoir was born 
 at Kentish Town, September 14, 1806. Her 
 father, Benjamin Tucker, Esq., long known as 
 the friend to ministers of Christ's holy gospel, 
 of all denominations, and to the establishment 
 of his kingdom on earth, had retired from ac- 
 tive business, and devoted himself chiefly to aid, 
 and carry on the woi'ship of God in the vicinity 
 in which he lived. Her mother was the daugh- 
 ter of Joseph Page, Esq., to whose munificence 
 the poor of the town of Basingstoke are much 
 indebted for the erection and endowment of 
 some almshouses for pious aged women. 
 
 Her parents had two daughters ; Mary, who 
 
10 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 died at the age of twenty-two, and Martha, 
 whose history we now record. It was her priv- 
 ilege to have a mother, to whose piety and 
 personal superintendence she was much indebt- 
 ed for the formation of habits which enriched 
 her character, and rendered her so useful and 
 acceptable to the church of Christ. Although 
 it is a fact unquestioned by all who revere the 
 word of truth, that the most efficient maternal 
 guidance cannot change the heart and renew 
 the nature for God, without the gracious in- 
 fluence of his Spirit; yet, where a mother 
 unites piety, wisdom, and perseverance, in the 
 training of her children, she seldom fails to 
 draw down that influence on her interesting 
 charge. 
 
 Education, especially in the formation of 
 character, does not consist merely in conveying 
 to the mind ethical maxims, useful knowledge, 
 and the higher branches of gospel lore ; but in 
 the living exhibition of personal graces, a rigid 
 love of truth, a spirit of prayer, a dependence 
 on divine aid, a delicate sense of purity, and 
 an indomitable perseverance in aiming t() win 
 the heart to Christ, 
 
EARLY LIFE. 
 
 11 
 
 These qualities eminently belonged to Mrs. 
 Tucker. She was a woman of quiet but fer- 
 vent piety; her regularity in retiring for pri- 
 vate devotion at stated times, notwithstanding 
 great personal indisposition, was sustained till 
 within a few days of her decease ; her love of 
 punctuality, neatness, and order, prevailed 
 throughout every arrangement for the church 
 and her family; her attention and liberality 
 to the poor were proverbial ; the delicacy of 
 holiness was maintained in her conversation 
 and habits ; and her constancy in training her 
 children for God, had its reward in their early 
 devotion to his service. Beyond this, she was 
 remarkable for her practical good sense, which, 
 while it did not reject the ornamental part of 
 education, was generally directed to the pro- 
 motion of some useful object of life. 
 
 The value of such a mother is not always 
 seen at the time. She may not be showy and 
 attractive in her talents, or insure the appro- 
 bation of the theorist ; but the patient labor of 
 a few years, spent in the cultivation of her 
 infant charge, passes not away unobserved by 
 those who watch for examples of the power of 
 
12 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 education, and certainly not unrecompensed hy 
 the God of the families of the earth. Let not 
 mothers, Conscious of many defects in the 
 education of their children, fear the result, if 
 they commit their way often to the Lord, and 
 strive to exhibit the practical influence of god- 
 liness before them. After-days will show the 
 effects of such training. 
 
 Perhaps few sisters, so nearly of an age, so 
 seldom separated, and so closely united in 
 affection, have exhibited so complete a contrast 
 in natural disposition and intellectual character, 
 as Mary and Martha Tucker. In early child- 
 hood, Mary was less engaging than her sister, 
 and when she felt the importance of self-dis- 
 cipline, had more difficulties to contend with, 
 being naturally of a less yielding temper ; con- 
 sequently, their temptations and pleasures, 
 their pursuits and amusements, were almost 
 entirely different. Abstruse reading and the 
 acquisition of knowledge were Mary's favorite 
 pursuits ; while to please and be pleased, to be 
 happy herself and to promote the happiness of 
 others, was Martha's highest aim, or rather 
 the spontaneous result of her light and buoy- 
 
EARLY LIFE. 
 
 13 
 
 ant spirit. It must be confessed, that her love 
 of play sometimes prevented her from applying 
 with sufficient diligence to her various studies; 
 but while the masters who attended them, 
 found their gravity sometimes overcome by the 
 irresistible and fascinating playfulness of their 
 younger pupil, the elder was steadily pursuing 
 her studies, in the acquisition of which she 
 needed rather a rein than a spur. 
 
 Mary's natural reserve, and perhaps con- 
 scious superiority of intellect, made her at 
 times appear distant to strangers ; though to 
 her chosen friends, her affection was warm, 
 strong, and lasting. Martha could repel none ; 
 an extended hand could never be refused, nor 
 a smile unreturned by her. "I love every 
 body, and every body loves me," seemed to be 
 the language of her confiding, happy temper. 
 The tremulous frame alone would betray the 
 inward agitation from which Mary was at any 
 time suffering; while Martha would pour forth 
 her childish sorrows into the first sympathiz- 
 ing bosom that presented itself. An act of 
 condescension performed by Mary was the re- 
 sult of principle, her first impulse being to 
 
14 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 receive rather than bestow homage ; while a 
 pin dropped by an inferior would be immediate- 
 ly picked up by Martha, who seemed impelled 
 intuitively to pay attention to another, neither 
 asking nor expecting a return. 
 
 Let it not, however, be supposed, that the 
 one was unamiable, or the other frivolous ; 
 whatever tendency there might be in either to 
 such dispositions, was effectually checked by 
 their judicious training ; and as they travelled 
 on side by side in their singularly happy and 
 joyous course, it was difficult to say which was 
 most loved or most admired, since though the 
 instruments upon which they played were so 
 different, no jarring sound was heard, but tones 
 of harmony and love, which cheered and de- 
 lighted a large circle of admiring friends. 
 Their difference of character produced on Mar- 
 tha's lowly mind that effect which difference 
 of years alone usually produces ; and she look- 
 ed up to her sister, only twenty months older 
 than herself, with as much deference as if she 
 had been her senior by so many years. 
 
 In childhood and early youth, Martha, or as 
 she was always called, Patty Tucker was not 
 
t 
 
 EARLY LIFE. 
 
 15 
 
 exempt from many' of the faults and foibles 
 usual at that age, nor free from that "foolish- 
 ness," which Scripture and experience show, 
 "is bound up in the heart of a child;" and 
 perhaps she did not materially differ from her 
 young companions, except in a more than usual 
 volatility of spirits, and in a remarkable sweet- 
 ness of temper. Her countenance was never 
 disfigured by the pout of ill-humor, or the 
 scowl of discontent, but was always smooth 
 and serene, as the placid temper of which it 
 was the faithful index. Those beautiful lines 
 of Cowper might with strict propriety be ap- 
 plied to her : 
 
 " Thy constant flow of love, which knew no fall j 
 Ne'er roughened by those cataraxjts and breaks, 
 Which humor interposed too often makes." 
 
 So completely and constantly was her smooth 
 and open brow thus unruffled, that she has 
 been asked playfully to frown, to show whether 
 such an expression was possible. Whenever 
 her eye met the eye of another, it was invari- 
 ably lighted up by a smile, and it was often 
 said, "I dare not look at Patty in a place of 
 worship, for she is sure to smile, look at her 
 
16 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 when and where you may." Nor was this the 
 smile of mere placidity or indifference. Her 
 good-humor was an active principle ; she was 
 ever the first to assist or do a kind office, ever 
 the first to yield precedence to another. "Well 
 can one who knew her from childhood remem- 
 ber, how she was at all times ready and will- 
 ing to he literally "the last of all and the ser- 
 vant of all." Many instances might be men- 
 tioned, trifling indeed in themselves, yet it is 
 the large aggregate of such little things that 
 makes up half the happiness of domestic life. 
 
 Being one of a party assembled for the pur- 
 pose of seeing several exhibitions, while all 
 ■were eagerly pressing forward anxious to ob- 
 tain the best place and the best view, Patty 
 might always be seen behind as they passed 
 from room to room, trying to get a peep when 
 and how she could, and showing by her patient 
 but persevering efTorts that she was not in the 
 background from indifference to the pleasure 
 the sight afforded, but from her readiness to 
 yield to the equally eager but more selfish 
 anxiety of her companions. 
 
 Another trait of her childhood should not be 
 
EARLY LIFE. 
 
 17 
 
 omitted — her natural politeness. While few 
 have exceeded, or perhaps equalled her, in her 
 •fondness for play and sports of every kind, yet 
 even in her most playful days, a stranger call- 
 ing, or a guest staying at her father's hospita- 
 ble house, was sure of receiving the most mi- 
 nute attentions from little Patty ; at the same 
 time these were the attentions of a child, as 
 far removed from the womanly forwardness of 
 some, as from the awkward shyness of others. 
 The Rev. Matthew Wilks happening to call 
 one day when Patty, then a very little child, 
 was alone in the dining-room, she placed a 
 chair for him, took his hat, and persuaded him 
 to take some refreshment, eJigaging him in 
 conversation till her mamma's return. When 
 Mrs. Tucker came in, the old gentleman told 
 her how much he had been indebted to the 
 kind attentions of her little daughter, adding, 
 as he patted her on the shoulder, "You are the 
 first young lady that has taken a fancy to my. 
 old face." 
 
 When she had attained thirteen years of age, 
 her parents determined to send her from home 
 for education ; and she was placed with a 
 
 Sherman 2 
 
18 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 friend at Hackney for a short time. It was 
 thought that intercourse with young ladies of 
 various dispositions and habits, would tend to 
 improve her character and test her temper ; 
 while she would gain such a knowledge of her 
 fellow-probationers for another world, as it was 
 impossible to attain under her father's roof 
 Her simple manners and amiable spirit gained 
 her the universal love of her school-fellows. 
 Some of the more selfish and less thoughtful 
 would experiment upon her generosity, by ask- 
 ing her to do something for them which they 
 did not really require, in order to see if she 
 could possibly refuse ; but at whatever sacrifice 
 of comfort or convenience, if it was represented 
 as an act that would save them trouble or 
 afford them pleasure, she was never known to 
 deny their request. It will easily be conceived, 
 that with an engaging person and manners 
 which led to her being always introduced on 
 the arrival of company, with spirits buoyant 
 and untiring, and with a temper so yielding 
 and kind, school was not the most likely place 
 to forward her education. The discovery was 
 made, that whatever knowledge she might gain 
 
EARLY LIFE. 
 
 19 
 
 in associating with larger numbers of her own 
 age and station, a loss was sustained of gen- 
 eral information, which a mother's watchful 
 attentions could alone supply, and even they 
 seemed insufficient to fix so playful a mind 
 upon useful and important lessons. 
 
 The fear that all the labor of education 
 would be lost upon her, often occasioned much 
 grief to her mother ; nothing seemed to remain 
 in the memory, and as to the correct repetition 
 of a task, carelessness and playfulness seemed 
 to render it a thing utterly impossible. Later 
 years, however, proved that the seed sown was 
 not lost : the substance of all that was taught 
 her was preserved, and the memory which was 
 thought to be so defective, became by exercise 
 one of the most retentive her husband ever 
 knew. Parents should not allow themselves 
 to grieve, if their children do not excel in such 
 branches of education as they fondly dream 
 may best adapt them for life. The playful- 
 ness and buoyancy which it is so difficult to 
 control, may be the necessary qualifications for 
 sustaining difficulties and performing duties 
 which God has designed for them in after- 
 
20 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 life — a part of the discipline and preparation of 
 an all- wise Mind who foresees all they shall be 
 and suffer. Rather let them be most anxious 
 about their moral and spiritual training, to 
 root in their hearts gospel maxims, and form 
 their characters after the model of Jesus Christ, 
 and in due season they shall reap, if they faint 
 not. 
 
 Considerable musical talent developed itself 
 in Martha fi-om her childhood. When not able 
 to reach the keys of the piano without stand- 
 ing on her toes, she picked out, untaught, the 
 tunes she heard in the streets, and often in- 
 terested her parents and friends by her con- 
 stant readiness to amuse them with her little 
 stock of musical knowledge. By tuition and 
 practice she became a great proficient, both in 
 taste and execution. Her musical memory 
 was prodigious ; after once learning a compo- 
 sition, she never used notes, and retained it 
 with accuracy as long as her fingers were able 
 to move the keys. How often has she calmed 
 the troubled spirit of her husband, when press- 
 ed with duty and care, by the plaintive and 
 joyous notes of her graceful hand, the very 
 
EARLY LIFE. 
 
 2i 
 
 remembrance of which qpcasions a thrill of 
 pleasure. 
 
 In addition to other peculiarities, Martha 
 could assume almost any character so natu- 
 rally, as to avoid detection by her most inti- 
 mate friends. Hearing that one of them — a 
 neighbor, who had said it was impossible she 
 could ever be deceived in Martha's face and 
 person — wanted a servant, she went to her in 
 that capacity, and after referring for her char- 
 acter to several persons whom they both knew, 
 she was dismissed, the lady telUng her that 
 she feared from her countenance she was not 
 good-tempered, but would inquire more about 
 her. She did so on the same day, and found, 
 to her astonishment, that her young friend with 
 the merry face had overmatched all her dis- 
 criminating powers. 
 
 Her voice too was wholly under her control ; 
 she could adapt it to the cry bf the infant, or 
 sing the deep-toned bass of a man ; and often 
 she laid it under contribution, to introduce at 
 pleasure the peculiar cries of animals and songs 
 of birds, so that it was difficult to believe they 
 were not present. Her innocent and sparkling 
 
22 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 wit, and powers of comparison, which seemed 
 to present themselves without effort, enlivened 
 her conversation and never permitted a gloomy 
 countenance long to remain in her presence. 
 Yet the universal testimony of all who knew 
 her in her youth and beauty would be, that a 
 modest and retiring demeanor was her special 
 grace. Though adorned with personal and 
 mental attractions which few possess, nothing 
 was obtruded or permitted to appear that 
 would not minister pleasure to all her asso- 
 ciates. 
 
 With two such daughters, of equal stature 
 and beautiful figure, of varied talents and en- 
 gaging manners, the home of the parents was 
 light with joy and gladness, and the promise of 
 years of future felicity. Perhaps no two young 
 persons, without the manifestation of decided 
 piety, ever contributed more to the comfort of 
 home and. the gratification of a select and val- 
 ued circle of friends. Grave theological pro- 
 fessors, as well as youthful admirers, found 
 the moments delightfully gUde away, while 
 listening to the dulcet notes and warbling 
 voices of these sweet sisters, and have left the 
 
EARLY LIFE. 
 
 ^3 
 
 peaceful habitation after a well-spent evening, 
 refreshed and better fitted for severer studies. 
 0, what is so attractive as a Christian home, 
 where intelligence, piety, cheerfulness, and 
 nospitality^ combine to render it an earthly 
 paradise ? 
 
24 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 FROM HER CONVERSION TO HER UNION 
 - "WITH THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 
 
 It might well be difficult for a person blessed 
 with such advantages to recollect the time 
 when serious impressions of eternal things first 
 took their rise in her mind. Habituated to a 
 reverence for G-od's word, to secret pi^yer, and 
 to regular attendance on a gospel ministry, 
 Martha generally felt that pious persons were 
 right, and that to be among them would be 
 her happiness ; but carelessness, rather than 
 opposition, nurtured indifference, and a direct 
 acceptance of Christ was deferred to a more 
 convenient opportunity. A regard for heavenly 
 things was evidently cherished, and the society 
 of the good preferred to those of a worldly 
 character, even in her days of indecision ; still, 
 lier heart was a stranger to that vital piety 
 which makes Christ the centre of happiness, 
 and communion with him the highest pleasure. 
 Yet He who designed her to hold a distin- 
 
HER CONVERSION. 
 
 guished place in his church, so ordered his 
 providence, that several events concurred to 
 make her conversion to himself singularly in- 
 terestino;. 
 
 The first cloud that darkened the hitherto 
 happy home of these two lovely sisters, was a 
 serious illness which befell Mary in the year 
 1826. She was one of a picnic party which 
 spent the day "in the neighborhood, of Totte- 
 ridge, where they then resided. It was a day 
 of uninterrupted pleasure, and all returned to 
 their homes delighted with the innocent recre- 
 ation they had enjoyed, little thinking that 
 death had cast his dart securely into the lungs 
 of one of their number. The next morning 
 Mary awoke with an entire loss of voice, which 
 was attributed to a slight cold taken while sit- 
 ting on the grass the previous evening, though 
 the weather was warm and unusually fine ; 
 and which, it was hoped, a little care and 
 medicine would soon remove. But the symp- 
 toms became every day more alarming ; all the 
 aids of the best medical advice, with change 
 of air and scene, were tried in vain ; she never 
 recovered her voice ; and early in 1827, at the 
 
26 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 age of twenty-two, she sunk under the influ- 
 ence of the same insidious disease which, 
 twenty-one years afterwards, took her sister, 
 then a matured Christian, to the world of 
 bUss into which she so early entered. 
 
 Mary's timid and retiring character had de- 
 terred her from making a public profession, 
 by union with a Christian church, which be- 
 fore her death she much regretted ; but she 
 had long " adorned the doctrine of God her 
 Saviour," by her consistent though hidden 
 walk, in the family and private circle, and 
 died " in sure and certain hope of the resur- 
 rection to eternal life;" and now the sisters 
 are reunited, and are singing together, in far 
 sweeter strains than those by which they so 
 often charmed their listening friends on earth, 
 the praises of " Him who loved them, and 
 washed them from their sins in his blood." 
 
 The death of Mary was the first link in the 
 chain of events to bring Martha's heart under 
 the dominion of Christ. It will easily be be- 
 lieved how tenderly she watched her sister 
 during her Jong illness, how hopefully she 
 cherished every symptom of amendment, and 
 
HER CONVERSION. 27 
 
 how acute was her sorrow when her precious 
 companion was taken from her ; but He who 
 dried up the chief source of her earthly com- 
 fort, turned her affections into a new channel, 
 which ran towards the heaven into which her 
 sister had entered. Her enlightened judgment 
 saw the vanity of health, pleasure, and talent — 
 the utter insufficiency of all human aid and 
 comfort in the hour of death, and the absolute 
 necessity of a conscious interest in Christ, to 
 prepare her for a useful life and a happy eter- 
 nity. Her impressions, however, went no fur- 
 ther, and it was reserved for another event to 
 deepen and mature them. 
 
 The daughter of an old and valued friend, 
 about her own age, to whom she was warmly 
 attached, came on a visit to her parents. Mar- 
 tha, though not valuing prayer as a spiritual 
 exercise, maintained with great punctuality 
 the hour of retirement for reading the Scrip- 
 tures and devotion, to which she had been 
 accustomed by her mother from her childhood, 
 and to which the recent death of her sister ha(f 
 given a new impulse. Her young friend ob- 
 served that this time was always kept sacred 
 
28 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 for the purpose, and as she did not think it 
 absolutely necessary, manifested an indiffer- 
 ence to the same scrupulous watchfulness. 
 Martha entreated that she would retire for the 
 same objects at the same time. She consented, 
 and not many months elapsed before she began 
 to feel the value of her soul and the importance 
 of its salvatiou ; her reading and prayer at- 
 tained a vitality and energy which Martha had 
 never reached, and these duties became the 
 most exquisite pleasures. She saw, felt, and 
 enjoyed the blessedness of the man whom G-od 
 causes to approach unto him. And now her 
 deepest concern was, that her friend who had 
 urged her to practise this heavenly exercise, 
 might enjoy its spiritual as well as formal ob- 
 servance. In her turn she became a pleader : 
 with Martha to seek Christ earnestly, and her 
 salvation immediately ; and with Grod for her, 
 that she might taste the blessing she had 
 instrumentally imparted to her friend. This, 
 Martha felt to be the one thing needful, and 
 the peace and comfort she witnessed in her 
 friend gave energy to her petitions that she 
 might fully possess the precious gift of justifi- 
 
HER CONVERSIO.V. • 29 
 
 cation. He who hears the sighing of the pris- 
 oner did not disdain her prayer. 
 
 Behold another link in the chain of events 
 which led to her conversion and decision for 
 God. A District Visiting Society was formed 
 about this time in Enfield, to supply the tem- 
 poral wants of the poor. One of the districts 
 was assigned to Martha, and at her mother's 
 request she began her responsible duty of visi- 
 tation. Before she undertook it, she felt her 
 utter incapacity to direct others to that foun- 
 tain of life of which she had not yet herself 
 tasted, and often and earnestly entreated God 
 to give her light and wisdom. 
 
 Little did she think how literally God was 
 about to answer that sincere desire. In the 
 district assigned her, lived a poor woman of 
 the name of Taylor, nearly ninety years of age, 
 exceedingly ignorant and prejudiced ; but like 
 Martha, she became earnestly desirous of un- 
 derstanding and enjoying the way of salvation, 
 and proposed numerous questions to her young 
 and interesting visitor about the atonement, 
 and especially how she could become inter- 
 ested in it. Her inquiries were made with 
 
30 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN 
 
 such evident sincerity and anxiety, as to send 
 Martha home ejaculating, " Oh, that I could 
 show this poor woman the salvation of Jesus 
 Christ. Teach me, 0 Lord, the way of thy 
 statutes;" and resolving that she would search 
 the Bible and other religious books till she 
 could understand this great doctrine herself 
 and explain it to her aged pupil. For two 
 months her visits were repeated nearly every 
 day ; she became more and more interested in 
 the increased anxiety of the old woman for ex- 
 planations, which, though through her reading 
 they were given with theological accuracy, 
 were not tasted and handled and felt by her- 
 self as the word of life. 
 
 One morning after earnest prayer to Grod to 
 prepare her for her intended visit, she remem- 
 bered that she had heard Dr. Burder deliver a 
 series of lectures on the "Essentials of Re- 
 hgion," in which she was much interested. 
 As she possessed them in a printed form, she 
 took up the book, hoping to find some eluci- 
 dation of the way of salvation, to assist her in 
 her conversation that day with Mrs. Taylor. 
 While reading, a flood of heavenly light seemed 
 
HER CONVERSION. 
 
 31 
 
 poured upon her mind ; the complete and fin- 
 ished atonement of the Saviour, the justifica- 
 tion of a sinner hy the righteousness of Christ 
 imputed to him, the fulness and freeness of 
 divine grace in the universal call to come and 
 partake of the gospel feast, appeared so clear, 
 so explicit, and so glorious, that she embraced 
 them by faith, and had literally the joy and 
 peace of believing. Now her emancipated 
 spirit became a new creature, and revelled in 
 the sunshine of divine love. New views of 
 truth, new principles of action, new motives 
 to serve Christ, new joys and pleasures, new 
 attachments to her Lord, and new hopes of 
 celestial glory, now found a place in that 
 heart, where only dimness and doubt, anxi- 
 ety and fear, existed before ; and she knelt 
 down to bedew with tears of joy the spot 
 where a broken heart had pleaded for mercy, 
 and to offer sacrifices of praise to her gracious 
 . Lord. 
 
 Better instructed now, she visited her charge 
 with renewed diligence, and carried with her 
 a precious balm — the finished and glorious 
 work of the Lord Jesus, the value and bless- 
 
32 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 edness of whicli she had realized ; commend- 
 ing and opening it to the eager mind of the 
 aged inquirer, with a zeal and love proportion- 
 ate to her own sense of its importance, and to 
 the hrief time her pupil had to live. Twice a 
 week for four years, except when interrupted 
 - by sickness or absence from home, poor Mrs. 
 Taylor saw her lovely young friend, and heard 
 her cheerful voice proclaim the glad tidings of 
 salvation. Her mind gradually opened to re- 
 ceive them, and she became a truly converted 
 woman. 
 
 A few weeks before Mrs. Sherman died she 
 remarked, " I never think of heaven without 
 an assurance that I shall meet Mrs. Taylor 
 there. She did indeed receive the word of 
 God as a little child. Though she expressed 
 herself iguorantly, yet her enjoyment of the 
 preciousness of Christ exceeded any thing 1 
 had ever seen. Her faith ripened into calm 
 and settled assurance. The influence on her 
 temper and habits were so remarkable, that 
 though her ignorant children could not under- 
 stand what had produced the change, yet they 
 observed to a friend who accompanied me, that 
 
HER CONVERSION. 
 
 33 
 
 they were very glad of Miss Tucker's visits, as 
 they had made their mother so kind and good- 
 tempered, and so thankful for every thing done 
 for her. A short time hefore she died, she 
 grasped my hand, while the tears flowed down 
 her furrowed cheeks, and thanked God that 
 she had ever seen me and heard of the way of 
 salvation from my lips ; concluding her speech, 
 which she had made with great effort, with 
 these words : ' There is hope for 7ne, miss,' and 
 in a few minutes entered into hliss, at the ad- 
 vanced age of ninety-three." 
 
 It is not a little remarkable that two pre- 
 cious souls should be given her, one before and 
 another soon after her conversion, as the re- 
 ward of effort to serve God and do good to 
 those who came within her reach. To these 
 instances she often referred, as reasons why 
 she should sow beside all waters, and in the 
 ■morning and evening, because she could not 
 tell which of her efforts would prosper. Happy 
 they who begin to work for God early, and 
 form the habit of aiming to win souls, before 
 senseless etiquette has quenched their first 
 love, or the butsiness and cares of life have 
 
 Sh'.rman. 3 
 
34 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 deprived them of opportunities which the " un 
 married" have of pleasing Christ. 
 
 During the continuance of her visits to Mrs 
 Taylor, and the freshness of her joy in her 
 Saviour, she resolved to consecrate herself to 
 his service more publicly by uniting with the 
 church of Christ assembling at Chase Side, 
 Enfield, then under the care of the Rev. S. A. 
 Davies. One of the most anxious periods of a 
 young Christian's life, is that in which duty 
 and privilege alike urge a public avowal ot 
 faith in the atonement of Christ, love to his 
 people, and separation from the world. Such 
 it was to Martha. That after all she had ex- 
 perienced she might be deluded, that in a short 
 time she would make shipwreck of faith and 
 disgrace her profession, and that her talents 
 and piety were so mean that the church could 
 not be benefited by her accession to its mem- 
 bers, were suggestions which Satan urged to 
 her great discouragement ; but the temptations 
 were overruled for good. In consequence o. 
 them the step was preceded by long and care- 
 ful self-examination, much prayer to God, and 
 consultation with her parents and Christian 
 
HER CONVERSION. 
 
 35 
 
 friends, who greatly encouraged her to more 
 direct association with the friends of the Re- 
 deemer ; the result of which was the following 
 interesting letter to her pastor : 
 
 "Clay Hill, July 28, 1829. 
 
 " Reverend Sir — In venturing to offer my- 
 self as a candidate for admission into the 
 visible church of Christ under your care, I 
 trust I am influenced by a deep conviction of 
 sin, and an abandonment of all hope of salva- 
 tion on any other ground than the all-sufficient 
 sacrifice of the blessed Redeemer, who died, 
 the just for the unju.st, to reconcile us to God ; 
 and as an adequate return for such infinite 
 love is wholly impossible, all I can do is to 
 give myself to him as my rightful owner. I 
 therefore solemnly dedicate myself to him, 
 resolving that whatever others do, I will serve 
 the Lord ; I renounce the world and its prof- 
 fered joys, and will seek my happiness in him 
 alone ; by his help and the influences of his 
 Holy Spirit, I resolve to forsake all sin, to do 
 his will, and strive after conformity to his 
 precepts and example. On his promises I 
 
36 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 rely, firmly convinced that not one of them 
 can fail, for He is faithful that hath promised. 
 
 " ' Though cisterns be broken, 
 And creatvires all fail, 
 The word he hath spoken 
 Shall surely prevail.' 
 
 " To his faithful hand I commit my im- 
 mortal soul, to he saved in his own appointed 
 way ; and though it may he hy severe trials, 
 I trust I shall he enahled to say, ' Thy will he 
 done.' By obedience to the divine command, 
 and partaking of the symbols of the body and 
 blood of Christ, broken and shed for the I'e- 
 mission of sins, I hope to keep up a memorial 
 deeply humbling, of his dying love, to feed 
 upon it for my spiritual nourishment and 
 growth in grace, holiness, and resemblance to 
 Him who first loved me. 
 
 "I hereby declare my entire dependence on 
 the merits of his death and righteousness 
 for my acceptance with God; my desire to 
 participate of his fulness : that I am not 
 ashamed to fight under his banner, and trust 
 the blessings resulting from a closer union to 
 Christ will be mine. I expect to be assailed 
 
HER CONVERSION. 
 
 37 
 
 by many temptations ; but though I hope they 
 will deeply humble and purify me, yet, trusting 
 to the great Captain of my salvation alone, I 
 shall finally overcome ; for it is written, ' He 
 will not suffer you to be tempted above that 
 ye are able, but will with the temptation also 
 make a way to escape.' ' We have not a High- 
 priest who cannot be touched with the feeling 
 of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted 
 like as we are:' 
 
 "' The desert his temptations knew, 
 His conflict, and his victory too.' 
 
 Though blessed from a child with every advan- 
 tage from the pious instruction, example, and 
 affectionate prayers of my beloved parents, it 
 was not until death visited our family in the 
 removal of my dear and only sister, that I felt 
 the emptiness of all worldly things, and their 
 inability to console and support in affliction. 
 To the free and unmerited grace of God I am 
 indebted, that I was thus led to seek Him in 
 whom alone true happiness is found. Weak 
 and cold as are my faith and love, if indeed I 
 have any, I would not part with that cheering 
 hope of immortality which he has inspired in 
 
38 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 me, for all this world can promise. 0, may 
 each day witness in me a growth in grace and 
 in the knowledge of G-od ; an increasing relish 
 for spiritual things ; greater love to the word, 
 ordinances, day, and people of God, and above 
 all, to Him who has washed my soul in the 
 fountain of his own precious blood. His be all 
 the glory of my salvation; and if indeed it be 
 my honor and felicity to leach that blessed 
 world where He is, with what joy shall I cast 
 my crown at his feet, ascribing all my deliver- 
 ance to his matchless love. 
 
 "I am, reverend sir, 
 
 "Yours respectfully, 
 
 "MARTHA TUCKER." 
 
 It will not create surprise that she was wel- 
 comed with joy by the pastor to the participa- 
 tion of Christian privileges; but it does not 
 say much for the liveliness or spirituality of 
 that church, that no one member of it took any 
 notice of the event, or gave her a word of 
 encouragement to pursue the course she had 
 begun. This possibly arose, not from want of 
 interest in her, or from iniiifference about the 
 
HER CONVERSION 
 
 39 
 
 prosperity of Christ's kingdom, but from a cold 
 carelessness, and from looking at the event 
 more as a matter of course, than as one in 
 which the whole hierarchy of heaven rejoice. 
 The members of a Christian church cannot 
 foresee what blessings God may give them, 
 through the addition of a youthful member to 
 their society: it may be one of the means of 
 eliciting talent, and engaging prayer on behalf 
 of that church, to give such a youth the im- 
 pression that they are interested in his growth 
 in piety, and the employment of his energies 
 for their Lord. A kind word for Christ and a 
 friendly shake of the hand cost nothing to the 
 giver, but often impart unspeakable encourage- 
 ment to the receiver, and awake the best feel- 
 ings of his heart. 
 
 In the visitation of her district and commun- 
 ion with Christian friends, Martha continued 
 her unostentatious course of usefulness, amidst 
 many mental conflicts and disappointments. 
 Some who have removed to various parts of the 
 country, remember her visits and efforts with 
 great affection, and attribute their first impres- 
 sions of love to the Saviour, or their more 
 
40 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 steadfast walk in. his paths, to her interesting 
 conversations. . 
 
 A new and heavy trial now awaited her. In 
 the year 1833, her young friend to whom she 
 had been useful by directing her attention to 
 punctual visits at the throne of grace, was 
 seized with fever while on a visit to Clay Hill, 
 and obliged to be removed home; where, in a 
 few days, its malignity terminated her life, and 
 ushered her into the presence of her Lord, with 
 whom she had learned to hold sweet commun- 
 ion on earth. 
 
 Martha was now not only deprived of a friend 
 whose piety and devotedness were likely to be 
 helpful to her in her Christian course, but from 
 having slept with her she caught the infectious 
 disease, and for some time her life hung on a 
 very slender thread. Many have had cause to 
 bless God for a sick-chamber, and it proved to 
 Martha a school in which she attained an en- 
 larged experience of God's love, and afforded a 
 tirial of those graces which the Spirit of God 
 had planted and nurtured. Her patience and 
 love amid great suffering were the admiration 
 of all who saw her, or had the privilege of min- 
 
HER COITVEIISION. 
 
 41 
 
 istering to her necessities. In the course of a 
 few months she recovered, and, by the blessing 
 of God, enjoyed renewed health and increased 
 devotedness to her best Friend, who, as other 
 friends were removed, became more precious to 
 her redeemed and sanctified spirit. 
 
42 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 HER MARRIAGE AND RESIDENCE AT 
 READING. 
 
 On the 3d of March, 1835, her union with 
 him who was to be the partner of her joys and 
 sorrows was solemnized at Enfield church. 
 Like all days of pleasure on earth, the cheer- 
 fulness of this day was occasionally interrupted 
 by the tears of parents who were resigning 
 their only child, and of a dutiful and affection- 
 ate dabghter who was separating herself from 
 the special care of those who had tenderly loved 
 her, and sought her interest with unfailing 
 kindness. Amid the hearty wishes and pray- 
 ers of her friends she left the parental roof, and 
 after a tour in the north, arrived at her new 
 home in Reading. 
 
 She must have known, that in marrying a 
 widower with three children, and commencing 
 life as a wife and a mother, she burdened her- 
 self with responsible cares and duties from 
 which she had the opportunity, had she so de- 
 
RESIDENCE AT READINW. 
 
 43 
 
 termined, of being free; but the sphere of use- 
 fulness in a large, united, and flourishing con- 
 gregation, situated in a lovely country town, 
 and among a people where vital religion abound- 
 ed, no doubt had great influence on her de- 
 cision. God had respect to that decision, and 
 honored it by making her extensively useful to 
 souls, which satisfied and delighted her more 
 than if wealth and titles had been added to her 
 name. Her epistolary correspondence prepara- 
 tory to her marriage, would for its piety and 
 prudence be suited to meet any eye, and fur- 
 nish a pattern for many young persons ; for 
 while the warm aftection of the heart to him 
 who had gained it was not wanting, aspirations 
 after spiritual blessings, and earnest desires 
 after qualification for the important sphere she 
 was about to occupy, formed the chief subjects 
 of her letters. The following extract is given 
 as a specimen only. 
 
 "I have often thought of your remark the 
 other day, on the importance of deep personal 
 piety, and its habitual manifestation at home 
 in order to usefulness abroad; it completely 
 coincides with my views, while it magnifies my 
 
44 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 feeling of unfitness for so lovely a situation as 
 it must be when its duties are indeed per- 
 formed. But my very own dear friend, he who 
 honors Grod and whom God has honored, has 
 no strength in himself — all is imparted; and 
 even holy Paul, when declaring that he -could 
 'do all things,' was equally obliged to add, 
 'through Christ who strengtheneth me.' And 
 may not your helpless Patty hope for the much- 
 needed aid of Him who surely has led her into 
 so responsible a post? "When heaven's win- 
 dows are opened for your supply, will she be 
 passed by whose necessities are so much great- 
 er, and when his name would be peculiarly 
 glorified, as the divine hand would be more 
 distinctly seen? 0 for the entire, unreserved 
 surrender of our all to the service of our Grod. 
 May our mutual affection be as oil to the wheels 
 of devotion and obedience. I am certain that 
 our happiness must depend on our devotedness 
 to G-od, and we would not have a happiness, 
 falsely so called, which could exist without a 
 life of communion with our redeeming God. 
 May but the promised Spirit be shed abundantly 
 upon us, and then we have nothing to fear." 
 
RESIDENCE AT READING. 45 
 
 First impressions of any place are allowed to 
 have great influence on our content and com- 
 fort. Let her describe hers herself. 
 
 " I have now arrived at my apparently 
 happy home. It is just what a minister's 
 should be — neat, genteel, and cheerful. The 
 house stands on a rising ground^ commanding 
 delightful views over the valley of the Kennet, 
 is very dry and healthy, and, as you would 
 expect, very nicely furnished. Think of your 
 poor Patty becoming a mother without any 
 suffering, and sitting down with three sweet 
 children, of ages to understand and appreciate 
 affection. I cannot tell what love a mother 
 feels to those she has borne, but I think it im- 
 possible that I could love Any children of my 
 own rriore than these whom I have adopted. 
 May I have grace given to train them all for 
 God, that if I should be removed from them, 
 as their dear mother has been, they may follow 
 .her useful life and enter into her unspeakable 
 joy. It is too early to say much about our 
 nmtual love, but it will comfort you to hear, 
 what I believe you never questioned, that I 
 find in my precious husband a devoted, sym- 
 
46 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 pathizing, forbearing heart. Much has he to 
 overlook in my ignorance and want of tact, 
 but by his persevering tuition I hope to be 
 somewhat qualified for the important station I 
 now fill. I can scarcely believe that I have 
 had the temerity to venture upon such an un- 
 tried life; and did I not know the fulness of 
 grace in my all-compassionate Saviour, and 
 that he is fully acquainted with the desires of 
 my heart, however feebly expressed to him, to 
 be the humble and honored instrument of win- 
 ning souls to himself, I must despair. 
 
 "Every one of the congregation whom I 
 have seen cheers me with hope; and I esteem 
 this especially kind, as I am the successor of 
 one who lives in their hearts and memories, 
 and by her prudence, piety, and superintend- 
 ence, has won golden opinions from this in- 
 teresting circle. 0, how unworthy do I feel 
 of such an honor, and how incapable of tread- 
 ing in her steps. Several of the members of 
 the church are persons of exalted piety, silch 
 as I have longed to see, but never yet had in- 
 tercourse with; particularly Mr. F. He seems 
 more like Enoch than any other person to 
 
RESIDENCE AT READlWa. 47 
 
 whom I can compare him — walking with God — 
 never meeting you without a heart like a foun- 
 tain, pouring out streams of love to Christ, and 
 desires that all might know and love him. The 
 church is active, having something to do, and 
 hearts to do it. 
 
 " In the villages around Reading, my dear 
 husband has built five chapels, and taken two 
 others under his charge. As objects in the 
 landscape they are exceedingly picturesque, 
 being built of Bath stone, with towers or stee- 
 ples, and placed in commanding situations. So 
 that at home and abroad there is plenty to 
 do. Pity your poor ignorant friend, who has 
 every thing to learn, and is very slow in re- 
 ceiving instruction ; and pray for her, that the 
 Holy Spirit may qualify her to pursue the 
 glorious enterprise which presents itself to her 
 eye, that Christ may be magnified in her, 
 whether it be by life or by death." 
 
 It is very difficult for persons of courageous 
 h^pirits, or for those whose lengthened labors in 
 spiritual services have rendered them almost a 
 habit, to understand the timidity and struggles 
 which a delicate and hitherto unpractised mind 
 
48 
 
 ilARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 experiences in its first effort in any public 
 work for God. They forget their former diffi- 
 culties ; or if the work became natural to them 
 from the first, they cannot sympathize with 
 any whose efforts have been useful, but quite 
 of another kind from those in which they have 
 been so long engaged. Hence, in their zeal 
 instead of leading the timid step by step, they 
 often deter and distress them by exclamation? 
 of astonishment at their backwardness or un- 
 fitness. Females, especially those of refined 
 habits and superior education, require the 
 most tender treatment to induce them to em- 
 ploy their talents in any public manner, and 
 have far more difficulties to overcome than 
 those of inferior knowledge and station. Oh, 
 what would many of them give for a kind and 
 sympathizing friend, who has been in similar 
 circumstances before her activity for Christ ' 
 commenced, and who would lead them on 
 gently as they were able to bear it. 
 
 Such was Mrs. Sherman's difficulty in her 
 new station. On the first Sunday after her 
 entrance into Reading, she went to the Sun- 
 day-school to see if she could be useful hy 
 
RESIDENCE AT READING. 49 
 
 taking a class of children to instruct. Cir- 
 cumstances had not permitted her to under- 
 take this duty at Enfield, and the labor was 
 therefore wholly new to her. A lady who had 
 generally superintended the female school, and 
 who united in her character, piety, zeal, and 
 perseverance, very heartily welcomed her, and 
 expressed her joy in finding the minister's 
 wife willing to assist m training the children 
 for heaven. Immediately in a great bustle, 
 she introduced the female teachers to her, one 
 after another, and assured them that now the 
 minister's wife was come to their help the 
 school must prosper. " I fear you miscalcu- 
 late my feeble help and influence," meekly 
 repHed Mrs. Sherman, heaving a deep sigh. 
 Before the teachers dispersed to their classes, 
 the zealous superintendent brought the books, 
 and described the modes of registering their 
 names, marking their attendance, and giving 
 rewards. " You see, by these books, we have 
 not been so orderly as we ought, but now you 
 are come among us every thing will be set to 
 rights ; and I merely show you these, in order 
 that you may speak to the teachers on the 
 s.,„„..„ 4 
 
50 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 necessity of punctuality and regularity in their 
 attendance and records of the school. You do 
 not know what good you may do." 
 
 With a heart palpitating from conscious 
 ignorance of these plans, and giving the as- 
 surance that she could introduce no improve- 
 ment, she ventured to say, "It is all new to 
 me, and I shall have to learn of you ; I have 
 never taught in a Sunday-school before." " In- 
 deed !" was the answer, witli a very signifi- 
 cant "/tew," which conveyed more than it 
 expressed. At this moment a small bell rang 
 for the opening of the school. "You will, of 
 course, open the school with prayer for us," 
 said the lady. "No, I am sorry that I can- 
 not possibly undertake that service ; I have 
 only prayed in private, with a female, and 
 should be quite confounded in the attempt to 
 pray before so many," was the answer. The 
 blush rose in her cheeks, and her spirit be- 
 came well-nigh overwhelmed at the evidences 
 of her incapacity, but she proceeded, " You 
 will be kind enough to conduct the school as 
 usual, and I will take a few children as a 
 class, and try to help you." " Oh, no," said 
 
RESIDENCE AT READING. 51 
 
 this zealous friend, " I cannot pray before you ; 
 we thought all our difficulties would be at an 
 end when you came. We heard of your use- 
 fulness and zeal, and expect you to be a great 
 blessing among us." 
 
 Concealing her feelings as much as possible, 
 and using her entreaties, Mrs. Sherman at last 
 won over the superintendent to open the school, 
 I after which she took a class. At its conclu- 
 I sion she returned home with a broken heart, 
 i gave vent to her sorrow in a flood of tears, and 
 I relating the circumstances of the afternoon, 
 t expressed her fear that her husband had made 
 a wretched choice, in introducing one so utterly 
 unqualified to lead as she was ; that everyone 
 was disappointed in her, and her Saviour's 
 cause would suffer from her inexperience. 
 This was not the effect of mortified pride at 
 the rough manner in which she had been 
 treated, not a complaint of which escaped her 
 lips — although no one felt more acutely tlie 
 want of courtesy and delicacy in a female 
 whenever they were manifested — but a deep 
 sense of her deficiency in those qualifications 
 which she thought the cause of Christ required 
 
52 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 from a minister's wife. Now, this lady was a 
 talented, useful, devoted person, "but lacked 
 the tact required to draw out talent in another, 
 and to treat v/ith a delicate mind. Her senti- 
 ments were uttered with all honesty and zeal 
 for her Master, and for the success of the 
 school, yet they had a repellent rather than 
 an attractive power to a timid but willing 
 mind, which instead of receiving the encour- 
 agement that was so peculiarly needed, was 
 thus made to feel more painfully helpless. Oh 
 how much wisdom, as well as zeal, is required 
 in dealing with souls. 
 
 A band, however, of holy women used influ- 
 ence of another and a better kind, more adapt- 
 ed to her difficulties and timidity. A Maternal 
 Society had for some time been formed at Read- 
 ing ; the object of which was, by prayer, read- 
 ing, and conversation, to awaken in the minds 
 of mothers a proper sense of their duties and 
 responsibilities, and to inform and direct them 
 in their performance. These pious and edu- 
 cated mothers were representatives from all 
 denominations of Christians in the town, and 
 were like working-bees, bringing the honey 
 
RESIDENCE AT READING. 
 
 53 
 
 they gathered from every source, and making 
 it the common property of the whole associa- 
 tion. Here social prayer was presented month 
 after month, suggestions were offered, and she 
 obtained the benefit of their more enlarged ex- 
 perience in training the young immortals she 
 had so lovingly and so prayerfully taken under 
 her wing. 
 
 Jn giving her opinion of these meetings a 
 little before her death, she said, "Although 
 some who assembled on those occasions were 
 a little too fast for me, I can never sufficiently 
 thank God for the benefit I derived from the 
 prayers and conversation of those holy women. 
 Though for a long time I could not be pre- 
 vailed upon to pray before them, my mind was 
 wonderfully awakened to more serious reflec- 
 tion on maternal responsibility, and led to at- 
 tempt in maternal discipline, what, without 
 these conversations, I should have deemed 
 impracticable. Of what little advantage my 
 precious children have derived from my im- 
 perfect endeavors for their salvation, much 
 must be attributed to this heavenly inter- 
 course ; and to my latest day, I .shall remem- 
 
54 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 ber with gratitude the patience, sympathy, and 
 affection of that group of mothers, for one so 
 inexperienced." 
 
 "While these meetings were in progress, and 
 a general desire prevailed for a revival in re- 
 ligion, the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Codman, from 
 America, visited Reading, and by their con- 
 versation tended greatly to increase the im- 
 pression of its necessity and attainahleneas. 
 After dinner one day, when Mrs. Codman and 
 Mrs. Sherman had retired, the latter entreated- 
 the former, as a parting kindness, to pray with 
 her that this revival which had been the sub- 
 ject of conversation, might come to her, her 
 children, her husband, and the church of Christ 
 over which he presided; to which she readily 
 consented ; and after pouring out her heart in 
 fervent supplication, which deeply affected Mrs. 
 Sherman, Mrs. Codman before they rose from 
 their knees turned to her timid friend and said, 
 "Can you allow me to go to America without 
 asking G-od to bless me and mine? Come, 
 thou blessed of the Lord, let G-od and me hear 
 your voice." The appeal was so well-timed, 
 so reasonable, so affectionately uttered, and 
 
RESIDENCE AT READING. 55 
 
 took her so entirely by surprise, that she had 
 . not time to summon her fears ; and with a sigh 
 for help which reached the divine ear she be- 
 gan, and in a strain of heavenly fervency and 
 devotional power poured out such petitions for 
 her friend and her family, as completely sur- 
 prised and delighted her. 
 
 Observing Mrs. Codman much affected, her 
 husband asked if any thing had troubled her. 
 " 0, no," said Dr. Codman ; your precious wife 
 has been praying with her, and she says she 
 has never heard a prayer like it for power and 
 gracious effect on the heart: she is sure that 
 no person can pray in that manner, who is not 
 in the habit of very intimate communion with 
 God." This was a great encouragement to 
 her ever afterwards, and though she shunned 
 the engagement, yet when pressed upon her 
 by duty, she felt the difficulty far less than 
 before. Thus does Grod by his providence often 
 appear for us, eliciting hidden talent, and giv- 
 ing power to the faint among his disciples, for 
 future efforts in his church. 
 
 In all towns there is usually a special local- 
 ity where the poorest and most wretched of the 
 
56 
 
 MARTHA SHEPaiAN. 
 
 inhabitants dwell. This locahty in Reading 
 was Hanover-square, in Coley-lane, very un- 
 hke the spot in London from which its aristo- 
 cratic name was taken; for its houses were 
 very filthy, and its residents the worst of the 
 population of that otherwise clean and respect- 
 able town. Here, however, Mrs. Sherman 
 commenced a sy.stematic and regular weekly 
 visitation of the families, instructing the poor 
 ignorant mothers in the training of their chil- 
 dren, and in the way to make domestic life 
 happy, as well as in the more important lessons 
 of evangelical truth. At first she was .coldly 
 received, but after a few visits became such a 
 favorite, that the children would run to wel- 
 come her, and every door in the district was 
 thrown open to receive their "friend," which 
 was the name by which they were accustomed 
 to designate their benefactress. After twelve 
 months' labor, the locality assumed an air of 
 greater cleanliness and comfort, many of its 
 inhabitants attended the preaching of the gos- 
 pel, every child capable of leaving home was 
 sent to a Sunday-school, and some few instances 
 of hopeful conversion were the high reward of 
 
RESIDENCE AT READING. 
 
 57 
 
 this disinterested labor of love. And, generally 
 speaking, wherever the effort is made in a right 
 spirit to help and comfort the poor and elevate 
 their condition, without attempting to interfere 
 with their independence and make them slaves 
 by charity, similar results will follow. 
 
 During her eighteen months' residence in 
 Reading, it pleased God to spare her life twice 
 by great deliverances. In the month of July 
 succeedinsr her marriage, her husband was 
 driving her and a Christian friend in a phaeton 
 to Henley, when, about half the distance from 
 that town, by some extraordinary neglect, the 
 linchpin of the forewheel came out, and let 
 the carriage down on one end of the fore-axle: 
 the friend who sat behind was thrown out first, 
 her husband next, and herself last ; but in fall- 
 ing out her foot became entangled in the rein, 
 which bound itself tightly round her ankle : the 
 horse took fright, and ran a distance of above 
 one hundred yards with Mrs. Sherman dragging 
 by the side of the wheel. Never can the sen- 
 sations of that moment be forgotten. Death in 
 one of its horrid forms seemed inevitable. In 
 an agony strengthened by despair of help from 
 
58 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 man — for no one was near at the moment — hei 
 husband screamed to the horse to stop, and 
 God made the animal obedient; for though 
 running at a rapid pace, the moment he heard 
 his master's voice, he stood still till he came 
 up to him and released his precious treasure, 
 whom he received again as alive from the dead. 
 0, none can tell the intense suffering of such a 
 moment to the spectator, but such as have 
 experienced it, and it is hoped their number is 
 small. Except her clothes being torn from her 
 person, and some few lacerations of the skin, 
 Mrs. Sherman sustained little injury, and after 
 a few days was as well as usual. This occur- 
 red on a Friday evening, the regular evening on 
 which the weekly concert for prayer was held ; 
 and arriving in Reading just at the time of 
 their assembling, an opportunity was afforded 
 for her husband to lead the people to unite with 
 him in thanksgivings to Grod for so signal a 
 deliverance. 
 
 The other affliction to which allusion has 
 been made, was an illness which at an early 
 stage was considered light, but which after a 
 short time assumed a very formidable charac- 
 
RESIDENCE AT READING. 59 
 
 ter, and threatened fatal consequences if not 
 speedily checked. That which peculiarly ag- 
 gravated her trial, was her husband's affliction 
 at the same time. He was engaged to preach 
 at the opening of a new chapel in the month 
 of January, and preparatory to preaching, as 
 the only place of retirement that could he had, 
 he was put into an unfinished vestry, the plas- 
 ter of which was streaming with water. It 
 
 I was a bitter, frosty night, and as he sat warm- 
 ing himself by a fire made of wood, in a grate 
 formed by a few bricks, he soon felt alternately 
 
 I shivering with cold and burning with heat. 
 
 &After the service, he mentioned to a friend who 
 drove him a distance of about fifteen miles in 
 a gig, to London, his fears that a severe cold 
 would be the result, the symptoms of which 
 clearly enough developed themselves soon after 
 his arrival in Reading. In a few days, brain- 
 fever began to appear, the head was shaved, 
 ice was applied, and copious bleeding resort- 
 ed to; and at length, though the symptoms 
 were subdued, fears were expressed that the 
 system would not rally. Grod, however, gra- 
 ciously heard prayer, and restored him to con- 
 
60 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 valescence; but the first time of going out to 
 the house of God, fresh cold was taken. The 
 symptoms returned in an aggravated form, and 
 for three weeks very slight hopes were enter- 
 tained by the medical attendant of ultimate 
 restoration. After another month of severe 
 distress, improvement began to manifest itself, 
 and again he was permitted to sing in the 
 sanctuary, "I was brought low, and He helped 
 me." 
 
 To be herself a prisoner during the greater 
 portion of her husband's illness, and to be un- 
 able to minister to him, was to that tender 
 heart an aggravation of suffering, which re- 
 quired all the courageous efforts of faith and 
 patience to bear meekly. And why was this 
 trial sent ? Not to awaken love — in that she 
 abounded ; but to make affection appear in 
 an ingenious method of ministration, which 
 1 ended much to calm the slightly disturbed in- 
 tellect of her fellow-sufferer. She wrote sen- 
 timents and portions of Scripture many times 
 during the day, and sent them to be read as 
 he could bear them. And truly they were like 
 drops of dew on the parched flower. Long con- 
 
RESIDENCE AT READING. 61 
 
 versations, or reading, or prayers, a head weak- 
 ened by suffering cannot endure ; but a golden 
 sentence, selected for you from the book of 
 God, when you cannot think for yourself, and 
 sent unexpectedly, when you most need help, 
 is a boon which a gracious heart appreciates. 
 
 When health was again mercifully vouch- 
 safed to her, the work of the Lord was her 
 chief delight. Though a dear lover of nature, 
 and with a refined taste capable of relishing its 
 beauties, all her drives round the country were 
 made subservient to the welfare of souls, and 
 were sure to have associated with them er- 
 rands of mercy to the villagers. It will sur- 
 prise none that she took the deepest interest 
 in the beautiful little chapels which had been 
 erected, and still more in the congregations 
 which assembled within them, to listen to the 
 glad tidings of salvation. 
 
 Some short time previous to her marriage, 
 her husband had received a pressing invitation 
 tc become the successor of the late Rev. Row- 
 land Hill, at Surrey chapel ; but as evangel- 
 ical religion did not flourish in the Church of 
 England at Reading, and the claims of the 
 
62 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 people of his charge upon his affections ahd 
 labors were preeminent, after conference and 
 prayer with the elders of the church, he be- 
 lieved it to be his duty to decline the honorable 
 and important post. In the spring of 1836, 
 the invitation was renewed, accompanied by a 
 letter from the church and congregation at 
 Surrey chapel, signed by above twelve hundred 
 persons. 
 
 A great alteration had, during the interval, 
 taken place in the town of Reading. The pul- 
 pit of every church but one was occupied by 
 an evangelical clergyman ; several of the prin- 
 cipal persons in the congregation, who were 
 attached members of the Church of England, 
 had wholly left, to worship with those of their 
 own communion, or were in the habit of onl) 
 partially attending at Castle-street chapel 
 and the consequence was, that the interest 
 such persons had previously felt in the pastor, 
 and the church of Christ which he served, was 
 divided, and it was difficult to maintain the 
 same communion with them, or carry out the 
 same designs of usefulness, in which formerly 
 they had mutually taken such deep interest. 
 
RESIDENCE AT READING. 63 
 
 And although many "clave unto him," yet it 
 seemed plain to his judgment, and to that of 
 his wife, that now the Lord said in his prov- 
 idence, "Arise ye, and depart, for this is not 
 your rest;" which was confirmed by confer- 
 ence with ministerial brethren, who knew the 
 claims of both congregations, and who gave 
 their unanimous verdict in favor of a removal 
 to Surrey chapel. 
 
 The following letter, on the receipt of a ret- 
 icule beautifully wrought by a dear friend in 
 London, and sent for the purpose of holding 
 her tracts for Hanover square, will show her 
 feelings in leaving, as she ever called it, "dear 
 Reading." 
 
 "April 8, 1836. 
 
 "I think, my sweet friend, you must have 
 been surprised at not having received from me, 
 before this time, some acknowledgment of your 
 very elegant and useful present ; doubly use- 
 ful, as containing two beautiful little volumes. 
 Many, many thanks for your great kindness to 
 so unworthy an individual ; I think it, at pres- 
 ent, too delicate to be appropriated as you jn- 
 
64 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 tended ; the filthy tracts I usually receive from 
 Hanover square, vi^ould soon decide the fate of 
 the reticule : when it has moved for a season 
 in a higher sphere, and its beauty begins to 
 fade, it will probably be applied as you pro- 
 pose ; but if I can divine at all, that will not 
 be in dear Reading. How true is the old adage, 
 'Blessings brighten as they take their flight.' 
 1 see charms in Hanover square, notwithstand- 
 ing the wretchedness of its inhabitants, which 
 I never saw before, when I think of what the 
 poor of London must be. 
 
 "But I would forget my comforts, which, in 
 case of our removal, must be parted with, and 
 lose my own will in that of Him who, I firmly 
 oelieve, will be our guide. What would we 
 live for, but to glorify God? and what are 
 outward comforts when compared with the 
 honor, the luxury of working for Grod. I some- 
 times look with selfish pleasure on my pretty 
 house and prospect, and grieve to exchange it 
 for smoke and confined air; but it is not al- 
 ways that self so frightfully predominates. If 
 we may but be made instruments of greater 
 usefulness, and of extending the kingdom of 
 
RESIDENCE AT READIKa. 
 
 65 
 
 Christ, no earthly loss or sJ^crifice will be 
 thought of in comparison." 
 
 After sixteen years of labor among a devoted 
 and affectionate people, it is no easy thing for 
 a minister to bid them farewell, especially if 
 they be the first sixteen years of pastoral effort, 
 when zeal is most fervent, when the affections 
 are warmest, and friendships are most easily 
 formed. Oh, the pangs occasioned by tearing 
 asunder the bands of union between his con- 
 verts and him who had begotten them in the 
 gospel ; ^ by leaving the frequented walk, and 
 the study, where the voice of prayer had se- 
 cretly ascended in fervent and constant sup- 
 plications, for the Spirit of God to fill their 
 hearts and his house ; by turning away from 
 the spot where his children had been reared,, 
 and the precious dust of one who had shared 
 his early joys and trials was deposited, and by 
 sacrificing promised wealth and independence, 
 to obey what he believed to be the will of 
 God! 
 
 In all these sensations the subject of this 
 memoir largely shared, and cheered her hus- 
 band with many gladdening hopes of bright 
 
 Shcrmas. 5 
 
66 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 days, of glorious conversions to Christ amid an 
 abundant population, and of occasions for more 
 errands to God's throne together, by reason of 
 more oppressive duties. Happy the man who, 
 in such circumstances, has such " a help meet 
 for him," 
 
LABORS FOE, THE YOUNG. 
 
 67 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HER REMOVAL TO SURREY CHAPEL, AND 
 LABORS AMONG THE YOUNG. 
 
 On Sabbath-day, August 27, 1836, her hus- 
 band preached his last sermon at Castle-street 
 chapel, Reading, to a vast and deeply affected 
 congregation ; and on the Tuesday following, 
 she bade farewell to those who had so kindly 
 and so tenderly assisted her in her new and 
 responsible duties. Crowds gathered round the 
 carriage to have the last shake of the hand, 
 and a smile from that loving countenance which 
 conveyed such inexpressible sweetness ; while 
 mutual good wishes and prayers were ex- 
 changed amid many tears. After three days' 
 sojourn at Enfield with her parents, she took 
 up her residence at the parsonage adjoining 
 Surrey chapel, built by Mr. Hill, and in which 
 he had lived for above fifty years. 
 
 It may not be uninteresting, and seems al- 
 most necessary, in order to estimate her labors 
 and devotedness, to give a brief sketch of the 
 
68 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 origin of Surrey chapel, and the state of the 
 church and congregation there at the time she 
 arrived. 
 
 About the middle of the eighteenth century 
 spiritual darkness prevailed over England, and 
 especially over the metropolis, to an extent of 
 which at present we have but little conception. 
 All denominations of Christians wei'e sunk into 
 a state of lukewarmness, and almost entirely 
 neglected the claims of a perishing population. 
 Vice and immorality abounded among all 
 classes of the community, the Sabbath-day was 
 awfully profaned, very few of the clergy knew 
 or preached the gospel, but a cold, heartless 
 system of morality was substituted for its soul- 
 saving doctrines ; and the few dissenting minis- 
 ters who did preach it, delivered its truths in a 
 formal, precise, unimpressive manner ; so that 
 the number of places of worship was compara- 
 tively small, and most were ill attended. 
 
 At this period, it pleased God to raise up a 
 few individuals who were as eminent for their 
 godliness as for their zeal. Careless of the 
 opinions of the world, and determined to exalt 
 the kingdom of their Saviour, they braved dan- 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNG. 
 
 69 
 
 ger and endured persecution, in their efforts to 
 awaken sinners to a concern for their eternal 
 interests. The Rev. Messrs. G. Whitfield, John 
 and Charles "Wesley, Jolin Berridge, W. Ro- 
 maine, John Newton, J. Jones, are names well 
 known in this religious reformation ; among the 
 laity, the Countess of Huntingdon, Sir Richard 
 Hill, and several of the nobility and gentry, 
 stood nobly forward to help in the good work. 
 To the honored names of these champions for 
 Christ, must be added that of the Rev. Row- 
 land Hill, who was the sixth son of Sir Row- 
 land Hill, Baronet, of Hawkstone, Shropshire. 
 He was educated at Eton, and after taking his 
 degree at Cambridge, on Sunday, June 6, 1773, 
 received deacon's orders from Dr. "Wills the 
 bishop of Bath and Wells. Yearning over the 
 .spiritual miseries of men, he could not confine 
 himself to the more regular and established 
 mode of preaching in a church, but gladly en- 
 gaged in that work wherever he could gather a 
 congregation, whether in the market-place or 
 in the cathedral, beneath the shade of a tree 
 or in the dissenting meeting-house ; his object 
 being to win souls to Christ, and ally them to 
 
70 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 his spiritual church, found in every visible con- 
 gregation of his worshippers. After having for 
 some years preached in most of the counties of 
 England, in many of the chui'ches, chapels, 
 and streets of the metropolis, and in the fields 
 and commons of its vicinity, to large and 
 deeply impressed audiences, he determined to 
 erect a chapel in the southern part of London. 
 
 A liberal subscription was commenced, to 
 which he was the chief contributor. A site in 
 St. George's Fields was obtained, and the first 
 stone of Surrey chapel was laid by its future 
 minister, on June 24, 1782. In the course of 
 a year it was erected, and opened for divine 
 worship June 8, 1783; on which occasion its 
 founder preached in the morning, from 1 Cor. 
 1 : 23, and the Rev. J. Piercy in the evening, 
 from Psalm 74 : 22. The building is octagonal, 
 and accommodates between two and three 
 thousand persons. 
 
 Mr. Hill continued the pastor during a period 
 of nearly fifty years, until his death, which 
 happened on April 11, 1833; and after that 
 event, for three years and a half, the congre- 
 gation was served by ministers from variou.s 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNG. 71 
 
 parts of the country, till September 4, 1836, 
 on which Sabbath the present minister began 
 his responsible labors by preaching from Psalm 
 71:16: "I will go in the strength of the 
 Lord God ; I will make mention" of thy right- 
 eousness, even of thine only." 
 
 From the foundation of Surrey chapel, Mr. 
 Hill had collected around him a number of holy 
 and liberal men, who by their labors and prop- 
 erty were ever ready to second and carry out 
 his designs of usefulness; so that the congre- 
 gation took part in originating some, and in 
 largely supporting most of the existing institu- 
 tions for evangelizing the population, and for 
 bettering their temporal condition. It was 
 therefore known as a focus of liberality and 
 activity, to which Mr. Hill, by his munificence 
 and devotedness, set a noble example. All its 
 original founders had finished their earthly 
 course, but a band of Christians of similar 
 devotedness, if not of equal wealth, had been 
 raised up to succeed them. From the infirm- 
 ities of Mr. Hill in the latter years of his life, 
 he was not able to pay the same attention to 
 its interests as in his prime and energy; and a 
 
72 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN 
 
 terra of three years and a half without a pastor 
 was not hkely to improve the order and inter- 
 ests of the church and congregation. Still, even 
 then it might be called a flourishing church. 
 It consisted of five hundred and fifty mem- 
 bers in actual attendance, and -above twenty- 
 five hundred children were under Sabbath 
 instruction by three hundred teachers. The 
 Benevolent, Missionary, Bible, Tract, and other 
 societies were prospering, and many believers 
 valuing Christian privileges were waiting until 
 the appointment of a pastor to be united to the 
 church. 
 
 The wisdom required in the newly appointed 
 minister and his wife was, to keep this vast 
 machinery in accelerated motion, to bring into 
 use these already prepared materials, to con- 
 firm the members in their acts of piety and 
 devotedness, and, though without the ample 
 means of Mr. Hill, to set such an example of 
 liberaUty as might advance, rather than check, 
 the generosity of the congregation. For such 
 purposes Mrs. Sherman was preeminently 
 adapted, as her future course gave the most 
 satisfactory evidence ; and her husband, on 
 
LABOE.S FOR THE YOUNG. 73 
 
 looking back, cannot but attribute, under the 
 divine blessing, much, of the harmony, piety, 
 and zeal evinced, to her prudence, love, exam- 
 ple, and unceasing devotedness to the interests 
 of the church and its institutions. 
 
 The first object to which she directed her 
 attention was the formation of a class of young 
 females, too old to attend the Sunday-school, 
 and too young and inexperienced to assist in 
 teaching; with the hope that by preparatory 
 instruction and discipline, they might hereafter 
 become intelligent and useful teachers in the 
 various schools belonging to the congregation. 
 The fact had often occasioned her considerable 
 anxiety, that too large a proportion of our Sun- 
 day-scholars, when they arrive at the age of 
 fourteen or fifteen, commence a system of Sab- 
 bath profanation, are lost to the congregations 
 who train them, and seldom attend a place of 
 worship; and she determined, if possible, to 
 arrest the evil, by giving the females an opportu- 
 nity of still obtaining instruction without going 
 into the school. The dining-room in the par- 
 sonage was appropriated to their use on the 
 Sabbath afternoon, and she commenced her first 
 
74 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 effort with fifty-three scholars, on December 1, 
 1836. 
 
 Her highest object was to awaken conviction 
 of their sinful state ; and by lovely exhibitions 
 of Christ and his salvation, to bring them to 
 decision for him. The subjects she chose were 
 plain and full of the gospel; the plenitude of 
 grace and the beauty of holiness were her fa- 
 vorite themes, illustrated with the biography 
 of the ancient saints of holy writ, or of modern 
 believers whose names and characters were 
 famiUar to the Chiistian world. She had a 
 peculiarly happy art of interspersing hints on 
 neatness in dress — on habits of domestic econ- 
 omy — on cleanliness, order, and punctuality — 
 on submission to parents, which told with great 
 effect on their minds; and many of the schol- 
 ars, now mothers of families, recollect and re- 
 peat those monitions with gratitude and joy. 
 It is remarkable how successful her efforts in 
 this class were, with respect to the decision of 
 the scholars : scarcely one who continued with 
 her any length of time remained unconnected 
 with the church; and though she had her dis- 
 appointments and trials in some, by far the 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNG. 75 
 
 greater number were ornaments to their pro- 
 fession, and zealous for the extension of the 
 Redeemer's kingdom. 
 
 After nearly twelve months of successful 
 tuition in this first class, the young ladies of 
 the congregation desired that similar advan- 
 tages might be extended to them, as the means 
 of bringing them to Grod and his church ; and 
 much to their honor, they wrote an interesting 
 letter of entreaty that they might share the 
 love and wisdom of her instructions, at such 
 times as she might feel consistent with Jaer 
 increasing engagements. 
 
 The following is the answer sent to their 
 solicitations: 
 
 "Surrey Parsonage, December 13, 1837. 
 
 "Permit me, my dear young friends, to ex- 
 press the gratification which your request has 
 afforded me, as it proves your desire after more 
 intimate acquaintance with those precious 
 truths which 'are able to make us wise unto 
 salvation.' Happy should I be, indeed, if my 
 own scriptural knowledge justified your flatter- 
 ing ^supposition that I can assist you; my ig- 
 norance is a source of daily, though I trust not 
 
76 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 quite idle lamentation ; but while I am endeav- 
 oring to remove the evil I mourn by reading 
 and prayer, conscience tells me I shall decline 
 one most effectual means of accomplishing my 
 object, and also incur guilt, if I refuse compli- 
 ance with the request to impart to others my 
 little store, as I obtain it. If, therefore, my 
 young friends will come, expecting very little 
 from me, but much from that heavenly Teacher 
 who will, I trust, ever come with them, it 
 will delight me to do what I can, not to make 
 them theologians — this is neither my ambition 
 nor my province — but to aid them, by the 
 scripture model alone, in the formation of that 
 Christian character to which they aspire. 
 
 "You will allow me to make two stipula- 
 tions : one, that perfect punctuality be invari- 
 ably observed in meeting and separating; it 
 will always afford me pleasure to converse with 
 any who may wish to see me, but not either 
 before or after these meetings, the time so oc- 
 cupied being the utmost I can spare ; in addition 
 to which, if Grod should deign to produce im- 
 pression on the mind, conversation of any kind 
 may remove it. Another stipulation is, that 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNG. 77 
 
 there be much prayer for the influences of the 
 Spirit of truth, that he may 'teach us all 
 things,' and smile upon the attempt from 
 which I shrink while I look at my own utter 
 insufficiency ; but when* my faith can rest upon 
 the promise, 'My grace is sufficient for thee, 
 for my strength is perfected in weakness,' I 
 can say with confidence, I welcome you; and 
 I believe we shall together pluck of the fruits 
 of the tree of life on this side of the river, and 
 eat, and live for ever. 
 
 "The first Tue.sday in the month, at twelve 
 o'clock, will suit my convenience: as our first 
 meeting, Tuesday, January 2, will necessarily 
 be rather introductory, any alteration that is 
 deemed desirable I will endeavor to make, if 
 then proposed. Let us all be earnest in prayer, 
 that we may be sanctified through the truth, 
 and thus be made meet for the inheritance of 
 the saints in light. 
 
 "Believe me, my dear young friends, 
 
 "Yours in much affection, 
 
 "M. SHERMAN." 
 
 Her notes which are preserved show that 
 preparation for these classes cost her much 
 
78 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 prayer and labor, in order to take to her 
 young friends something suitable to their age, 
 station, and circumstances. Each exercise 
 was written tvvice over, once roughly, as 
 thoughts occurred and treasure was supplied 
 by reading, then more correctly arranged and 
 enlarged ; and each class had its separate prep- 
 aration, for she argued that as the pupils were 
 dissimilar in station and education, they re- 
 quired to be addressed accordingly, and she 
 never would use the exercises of one for the 
 other. Her labor was therefore proportionately 
 increased, but a freshness and unction were 
 given to her addresses which could scarcely 
 have been preserved by repetition. It was 
 often a cause of astonishment to those who 
 were with her, that with engagements incident 
 to so large a congregation, which would have 
 crushed an ordinary mind, and with an ex- 
 ceedingly extensive and voluminous corre- 
 spondence, both foreign and domestic, which 
 she kept up with remarkable order and spirit, 
 she could find time for these weU-digested 
 preparations ; yet she was never known to fin- 
 ish one on the morning on which she delivered 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNG. 79 
 
 it; it was ready generally two or three daya 
 before it was required, and never later than 
 the previous evening. Scraps of time were sr 
 judiciously improved, that she seemed never to 
 want it. Every place too she could make her 
 study, and turn from one subject to another 
 with the greatest facility. 
 
 In this manner she prepared, and afterwards 
 delivered, a course of studies on the whole of 
 the book of Genesis, on the parables of our 
 Lord, on the addresses to the seven churches 
 of Asia, on the types of Christ, on part of the 
 epistle to the Romans, and on the person, 
 work, and graces of the Holy Spirit. In de- 
 scribing to one whom she loved the nature of 
 these preparations, she observed, "My responsi- 
 bility often overwhelmed me, but it compelled 
 me the more frequently to visit the throne of 
 grace; and could any one know the precious, 
 the indescribably precious communion I have 
 had with Grod under the lime-trees at Enfield 
 and in my chamber, they would envy me the 
 spiritual luxury. So unskilled a mind as mine 
 required more divine influence than others bet- 
 ter taught ; and my heavenly Father was gra- 
 
80 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 cious to his child, in stirring up my spirit to 
 seek him, and repaid the grace he gave by 
 granting, in answer to prayer, such assurance 
 of his love and help, as made me renew the 
 exercise with courage and hope, when most 
 ready to faint. In studying the Scriptures and 
 the writings of holy men to feed my classes, 
 my own mind became nourished with the milk 
 of the gospel. I saw the glory and grace of 
 Christ more clearly, and was the more firmly 
 assured of the things which I had previously 
 believed. 0, what a rich reward, and what 
 encouragement to others to use their talents in 
 the service of God and his church; for surely 
 none could have greater discouragements in 
 making the attempt than I experienced." 
 
 The monthly class of young ladies cost her 
 the more anxiety in consequence of their su- 
 perior training and advantages, and the greater 
 backwardness which educated persons generally 
 feel to reveal their religious impressions. She 
 thus writes to a friend who proposed a certain 
 day and hour for private prayer, in which they 
 might each engage in their separate rooms, for 
 a blessing on her labors in the class. " I should 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNQ. 
 
 81 
 
 rejoice to meet you at our Father's throne on 
 Saturday evening, if that time will suit you. 
 I meet my beloved mother and others most 
 dear to me at other times, and that is the time 
 I devote to prayer for my dear class. I never 
 suffered from despondency in any duty, as I 
 did in my new class on Tuesday. I felt it a 
 complete failure, and I believe the dear young 
 people must have felt so too. But I know Grod 
 can bless the attempt, and sometimes 1 feel 
 almost certain that he will. 0, my dear 
 friend, do wrestle for me with Grod, that it may 
 prove a great blessing. I want encouragement 
 in it, and am ashamed of my own fears." 
 
 The following letter shows that Grod granted 
 her heart's desire, and that few remained long 
 under her tuition who were not induced to 
 leave the world and join themselves to the 
 Lord, and in some way serve his church by 
 their labors. 
 
 "My very dear Friend — I return you the 
 letter with many thanks, and regret that a vio- 
 lent cold prevents me from doing so personally. 
 I am much interested in its contents, and think 
 
 Sherjiin. 6 
 
82 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 it should excite us to prayer for that reviving 
 influence wMch is promised. I am sometimes, 
 disposed to be much discouraged, that no more 
 fruit is produced in my class ; but God invari- 
 ably sends me some cheering news to disperse 
 my gloom, and stimulate me to more simplicity 
 in my faith and dependence on him. 
 
 "I was in one of my anxious moods yester- 
 day, when the good American, Mr. Dawes, con- 
 sented to take my class : he inquired how 
 many had decided for Clurist ; I told him it 
 was my distress that very day to think that 
 scarcely more than half a dozen out of the 
 thirty-eight were members of the church. My 
 dear husband doubted my statement, and we 
 began to reckon, when to my joy I found that 
 half the number at least are members, and all 
 but one have joined since they entered it. This 
 is great cause for gratitude ; and I have thought, 
 if we imitated the apostle in forgetting the 
 things which are behind, and reaching forth to 
 those which are before, how much wiser we 
 should be ; we must look at what God has 
 done, instead of looking at our own weakness, 
 and grumbling. 0, what an honor it is to be 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNG. 83 
 
 permitted to tell of a Saviour's love ; how 
 . much more to have that love in our own hearts, 
 where enmity once reigned ; and then to have 
 the sanction of heaven in our feeble efforts, by 
 the Spirit's influences accompanying them and 
 rendering them successful; this is happiness 
 indeed. "What must heaven be, where we 
 shall see Him of whom we loved to tell, and 
 where none but happy spirits can be ? May 
 we be there, and be permitted to have a long 
 train of children given to us, and cast our 
 crowns at the feet of Him ' who hath loved us, 
 and washed us from our sins in his own blood.' 
 May we swell the full choir of glorified ones in 
 the song of Moses and the Lamb. 
 
 "Ever yours in the best bonds, 
 
 "M. SHERMAN." 
 
 The success did not, however, wholly arise 
 from oral instruction; her letters were also a 
 means of great usefulness. Most of these 
 young persons had mementos of her care for 
 their souls in her own handwriting, and in not 
 a few instances their decision was attributed to 
 these utterances of her. heart. The following 
 specimens, out of a very large number, will be 
 
S4 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 read with great interest. The first is to a 
 young friend who had previously been deprived 
 of her mother by death, and had now lost her 
 eldest sister. 
 
 " Clay Hill, Enfield, October 25, 1839. 
 
 "My dear young Friend — The intelligence 
 of your dear sister's removal did not reach me 
 till half an hour before the post left Enfield, or 
 I should have written a few lines to you imme- 
 diately, to express my sympathy with you in 
 your very deep affliction. I think I may truly 
 say, I sympathize with you ; for when but a 
 few years older than yourself, I was called to 
 part with an only sister — one most tenderly 
 beloved, and for whose superior piety and judg- 
 ment I had the greatest reverence; we were 
 indeed like Jonathan and David, and I thought 
 it impossible to live without her. I can there- 
 fore feel for you, my beloved young friend, in 
 the loss of her who in some degree filled the 
 place of your lamented mother, and whose 
 counsel and care you can receive no more. 
 
 " But this is the dark side of the painful dis- 
 pensation: there is a bright and glorious side; 
 and happy indeed shall I be if we can sympa- 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNa. 85 
 
 thize with eacli other there. "When my own 
 Mary was taken from me, heaven, as the dwell- 
 ing-place of God, had no attractions for me; 
 my heart was unrenewed and unhumbled for 
 sin; but when that heaven was the ahode of 
 her happy spirit, my thoughts were constantly 
 there, and I longed to be with her; earth had 
 lost its great attraction ; nothing could fill the 
 dreadful blank which her removal occasioned. 
 It pleased God at last to convince me that it 
 was sin which made me so desolate, and that 
 that place in my heart he could more than fill : 
 this led me to seek that pardon which alone 
 could unite me to Jesus, and that 'holiness 
 without which no man can see the Lord;' and 
 my earnest prayer was, that I might prove my 
 love to her, not by fruitless repining at my loss, 
 but by following in her steps, by consecrating 
 myself wholly to the service of Him whom she 
 had loved and humbly sought to glorify. 
 
 "I would not thus write about myself, dear, 
 but to direct you to the same Source of com- 
 fort. To our finite minds it may seem myste- 
 rious, that one so beloved and useful should be 
 Taken from us in early youth; but remember 
 
86 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 how little we know what God designs hy his 
 providences. His thoughts are not our thoughts, 
 nor his ways our ways, happily for us. If ever 
 we reach yonder happy world, we shall under- 
 stand why these painful dispensations were per- 
 mitted ; till then, ever bear in mind that ' God 
 is love,' not only when he grants us that which 
 delights us, but when he sends deep afflic- 
 tion, bereavement, and pain : and God designs 
 your good and seeks your happiness in this 
 trial; do not lose the blessing. There is one 
 tie less to earth. Think of that pure world 
 where her happy spirit is now rejoicing in her 
 Saviour's love: that Saviour's precious blood 
 purchased heaven for her, and that blood and 
 that heaven he offers to you. 
 
 "Remember, dear, this world is but the 
 passage to that bright world ; keep that in 
 sight, and beware of any tiling that may shade 
 it from your view : sin only can do this — this 
 separates the soul from God. 0, never rest, 
 until sin is pardoned through that precious 
 blood which cleanseth from all sin, and that 
 righteousness which justifies the 'sinner that 
 believeth in Jesus.' Pant after holiness, that 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNG. 
 
 87 
 
 you may be fitted for that world where ' noth- 
 ing can enter that defileth.' Take up your 
 cross, and follow Jesus ; be satisfied with noth- 
 ing short of the entire consecration of yourself 
 to Him who invited you to come unto him, 
 that you may have life. Think of the joy that 
 will fill heaven, and the souls of your dear 
 sainted mother and sister, to hear the tidings 
 
 through some angelic messenger, that A 
 
 has 'chosen that good part that shall never be 
 taken from her.' And would there not be joy on 
 earth too ? Think of the tender heart of your 
 dear bereaved father ; how would his grief be 
 forgotten, in the joy of witnessing your decision 
 for Christ. And would not my heart rejoice 
 to receive the sweet answer to many a prayer, 
 in your conversion to Jesus? 
 
 "Be much in prayer, dear; you have need 
 of much wisdom in your doubly responsible 
 situation; seek it as a promised, as well as a 
 desired blessing, and never lean to your own 
 understanding. You have to comfort your 
 beloved father's heart, to study his happiness 
 to strive to lessen his anxieties in every way, 
 and as far as possible to fill the places of those 
 
88 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 who are gone. Let love be your motto in 
 every thing; strive to make every one happier 
 for your presence. This will draw your mind 
 away from your individual sorrow, and stimu- 
 late you to extract advantages from this trial. 
 
 "It is really presumption in me to utter a 
 word of advice to one so highly privileged as 
 you ; hut as one of the members of my little 
 humble Bible-class, I feel a double interest in 
 you, and my heartfelt prayer for you has long 
 been, that you might 'be blessed and made a 
 blessing.' Mamma and papa, whom you know 
 only by name, desire me to present to you and 
 your dear papa their kind regards and .sympa- 
 thy. Dear Selina feels much for you, and were 
 she here would unite in affectionate love with, 
 "My dear young friend, 
 
 "Yours most sincerely, 
 
 '^M. SHERMAN." 
 
 The following extract discovers her jealousy 
 over their piety, and her anxisty that it should 
 be of the most exalted kind. 
 
 " Surrey Parsonage, October 4, 1839. 
 
 "My dear young Friend — I often look at 
 you and your dear sister with intense interest, 
 
LABORS FOR, THE YOUNG. 89 
 
 and long to know your progress in your heav- 
 enly way ; for the truth and soundness of our 
 profession of devotedness to Christ are tested 
 by our growth in grace, and in the knowledge 
 of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Is this 
 the case with my dear young friend? Is your 
 spirit more meek and humble, and self-deny- 
 ing, and Christ-like ? Are you habitually 
 ' striving against sin ?' for remember, ' he that 
 is born of God cannot sin :' it must be a 
 sfjuggle, therefore, with the old nature, till it 
 is entirely brought into captivity, even every 
 thought to the obedience of Christ. Do you 
 shrink at the spirituality and extent of the law 
 of God, or wish it less strict, and that it would 
 allow more conformity to the world ? or do you 
 say with David, ' Oh, how love I thy law ; it 
 is my meditation all the day V How impor- 
 tant is this self-scrutiny : if we deceive our- 
 selves in the affairs of the soul, the delusion 
 may be fatal. If we are 'born again,' our will 
 agrees with the will of God ; what he com- 
 mands, it is our delight to fulfil : let us ask 
 ourselves. Have we thus the spirit of Christ, 
 without which we are none of his ? I long for 
 
90 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 all the dear young people of my class to be 
 patterns of holiness and devotedness ; separated 
 from the world both in its pleasures and spirit ; 
 but especially for those who, by their public 
 profession of Christ, have the eyes of the world 
 gazing at them, and have the vows of Grod 
 upon them. Be much in prayer, in communion 
 with God and your own heart, and in the 
 prayerful study of your Bible, and make Christ 
 your model for imitation, and you will ' grow 
 in grace.' Pardon these few hasty thoughts 
 from the heart of, my dear young friend, 
 "Yours most sincerely and affectionately, 
 "MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
 The next is to one who had expressed her 
 wish to become a teacher in the Surrey chapel 
 Sunday-schools. 
 
 " Surrey Parsonage, May 8, 1841. 
 
 "My dear young Friend — I saw Mr. H 
 
 yesterday, and named your wish to become a 
 teacher ; he says at present he has not a va- 
 cancy for a junior teacher, but he will remem- 
 ber you as a candidate ; this will prevent the 
 necessity of your leaving the class on Sunday. 
 Should we be spared to the day when the priv- 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNa. 91 
 
 ilege of Sunday-school teaching shall be yours, 
 I may probably be able to receive you into the 
 other class ; at present, you had better remain 
 as you are. But though this means of useful- 
 ness is for a time postponed, I hope it will not 
 prevent your usefulness in some other way. 
 We are born to be useful. God is always dis- 
 pensing happiness around this great universe 
 which he has created ; and as man was 
 created in the divine likeness, he is to do like- 
 wise. The eflfect of sin is to destroy God's 
 image in the soul, and consequently its use- 
 fulness : when, by the work of redemption by 
 Christ, and the regenerating influence of the 
 Holy Spirit, that image begins to be restored, 
 then we begin to be useful, and to seek the 
 glory of God and the promotion of his cause, 
 as our chief delight. Be sure, my dear child, 
 that this work of the Spirit is wrought in you. 
 Do not mistake a preference for good things, 
 for conversion to God ; education may effect 
 the one, but the Spirit of God must perform 
 the other. Seek that this Spirit may be abun- 
 dantly bestowed on you, and improve the in- 
 terval before you join the church of Christ in 
 
92 
 
 MARTHA S-HERMAN. 
 
 self-examination — whether your character will 
 bear the scriptural test — and in seeking to 
 know more of Christ and his salvation ; strive 
 to prepare yourself, by the prayerful and dili- 
 gent study of your Bible, to become a valuable 
 Sabbath-school teacher. May God sweetly 
 encourage and sanctify you, is the earnest 
 prayer of 
 
 "Your very sincere friend, 
 
 "MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
 A young lady had left her class for a situa- 
 tion in a school in the country ; but distance 
 or separation did not diminish the interest her 
 teacher felt in her decision for Christ, as the 
 following precious epistle to her will declare. 
 
 "Clay Hill, Enfield, July 1, 1841. 
 
 "My dear young Frienj) — I have often had 
 you in my thoughts since you left London, and 
 have very often wished to write to you, to 
 prove that I still feel a deep interest in you, 
 and by no means less so now that you are out 
 of sight. We are very apt to be too dependent 
 on our senses, and to forget that which is un- 
 associated with them. What we seldom hear, 
 the friends we seldom see, and the sweets we 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNG. 93 
 
 seldom taste, are easily forgotten, unless there 
 be something more than usually interesting in 
 them in our estimation. This is the reason 
 that you, dear, whom I have not seen for some 
 months, and whom I have seldom talked with 
 at all, are yet remembered by me with deep 
 interest. I feel that you have a precious soul, 
 capable of enjoying God, and powers of mind 
 for which you are responsible ; they were creat- 
 ed for God's glory, and when sin directed them 
 to dishonor and displease him, he gave up 
 his well-beloved Son to be your substitute, 
 that a way might be opened for your restora- 
 tion to the divine favor, by his obedience and 
 atonement; and to the divine likeness, by the 
 purchase of the Holy Spirit to sanctify your 
 soul. I believe you often desire that the bless- 
 ings which Jesus has thus procured for those 
 who will receive them, were yours ; but I want 
 you to come to a point, and resolve that you 
 will not rest until you are a child of God. 
 
 "If there could be a middle state, in which 
 you might be safe, still, I could not be happy 
 for you to remain there. I want you to share 
 the very highest enjoyments of heaven, to be 
 
94 
 
 MAE-IHA SHERMAN. 
 
 one of the brightest stars in glory, and to have 
 an abundant entrance ministered to you into 
 the everlasting kingdom of Christ ; and I could 
 never be contented for any one just to enter 
 heaven, just to be safe from hell : but if you 
 are not the friend of God, you are his enemy; 
 if you are not his child, you are Satan's. It 
 seems very difficult to believe that an amiable 
 character can be the enemy of any, but espe- 
 cially of God : but Christ himself says, ' He 
 that is not with me is against me.' So if you 
 are wavering and undecided for him, you are 
 among his enemies. Awful thought! My be- 
 loved child, do not hesitate another moment, 
 but, in the retirement of your closet, seek that 
 grace which shall enable you to give up your 
 whole heart to Christ, and resolve in his strength 
 that you will be his obedient child ; that you 
 will rest your whole salvation on his merits 
 alone, and strive to be what he would have 
 you. Let the desire to please him be your 
 ruling motive in every thought, word, and deed. 
 In all your studies, pursue them with the view 
 to have them make you a more valuable ser- 
 vant of Christ ; and to fit you to dwell with 
 
LABORS FOR. THE ^OUNG. 95 
 
 him in glory, and to enable you to bring others 
 to glory. Make the Bible your constant, pray- 
 erful study ; let it bo ' hid ' in your heart, that 
 you ' sin not against ' Him ; and when tempted 
 to sin, remember that you will grieve his Holy 
 Spirit if you do, and most ungratefully requite 
 his boundless love to you. 
 
 "Oh, my dear child, if we could view our 
 hearts as Grod sees them, how should we loathe 
 ourselves, and blush that he should behold in 
 us such deformity ; but it is only when we see, 
 by faith, the agonies which the Son of God has 
 endured for us, to procure our deliverance from 
 the curse and power and love of sin, that we 
 are led to mourn over it as that abominable 
 thing which God hates, and to repent in tears 
 of bitter sorrow ; this the Spirit of God alone 
 can show us. For this Spirit pray continually, 
 until the promise is fulfilled, and you are made 
 indeed a child of God ; and, if spared to re- 
 turn to school, try to be a little missionary 
 there, and to increase the number of those 
 happy beings who choose the pleasant path of 
 wisdom. ' Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 
 and all her paths are peace.' Every eflbrt for 
 
96 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 the good of others wiH bring blessuigs to your- 
 self. Be much in prayer, and do not yield to 
 the difficulties which school may present. 
 Keep in mind the privilege as well as the ne- 
 cessity of prayer, and try to persuade your 
 companions to the exercise ; so you will he 
 aiding to bring the answer to your own pe- 
 tition, 'Thy kingdom come.' AVe must all 
 unite our energies to make others happy, and 
 happiness is found only in obedience to the 
 happy commands of our Father in heaven. 
 Give joy in heaven and on earth, by the con- 
 secration of yourself wholly to his service, and 
 beheve me, 
 
 "Your very sincere and affectionate friend, 
 "MARTHA SHERMAN.-' 
 
 Sometimes, to display God's sovereignty and 
 grace, one is selected and brought to himself 
 from a family wholly consisting of worldly 
 minds, who discourage, if they do not persecute 
 and oppose. Her judicious advice to one of 
 the class in such circumstances, will commend 
 itself to every pious mind, and is worthy of 
 special attention from all who are simil^ly 
 placed. 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNG. 97 
 
 "July, 1841. 
 
 "My dear young Friend — My time has 
 been much engaged since I have been here, or 
 I should have written a few lines to you before 
 this ; but I have not forgotten you ; indeed, 
 you have been much in my thoughts. It is 
 very difficult to exhibit the Christian character 
 in any situation, surrounded and beset with 
 snares as we are, from evil hearts of sin and 
 unbelief within, and the world and Satan with- 
 out, even when all around us delight in our 
 decision for Christ. But what must it be to 
 maintain it amidst opposition and ridicule ; 
 and what must be the anguish of that mind 
 which witnesses opposition in hearts most ten- 
 derly beloved, and from which it feels there 
 must be eternal separation unless a miracle of 
 grace interfere ? I deeply feel for you on this 
 account : but He who placed you as a solitary 
 Christian in your family, knows what a large 
 measure of grace you need ; his strength is 
 perfected in weakness, and he can make all 
 grace to abound towards you. Your situation 
 is one that demands much watchfulness and 
 prayer ; your eminent consistency of Christian 
 
 Sherman. 7 
 
98 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 character will do far more to convince the gain- 
 sayers than a thousand exhortations ; not that 
 I would advise you to neglect to warn them, 
 for they can scarcely believe you think them 
 in danger of eternal misery if you make no vis- 
 isible effort to save them. But the judicious 
 prayerful effort of a Christian, whose charac- 
 ter stands out from those around her for purity 
 and benevolence of principle, and self-denial for 
 the glory of Grod and the good of others, can 
 scarcely fail of removing prejudice and produc- 
 ing a feeling in favor of religion itself; which 
 is at least one impediment removed, and so far 
 a preparation for their receiving the gospel. 
 
 "I am always more anxious for the develop- 
 ment of eminent piety in those who are situat- 
 ed as you are, than in others, on this account ; 
 though I feel assured that what we call emi- 
 nent piety is only what piety ought in every 
 instance to be, and I strongly question the gen- 
 uineness of that piety which is satisfied with 
 any thing short of the perfect likeness of Christ. 
 Though we know we shall never be without 
 sin, and consequently never perfectly like Christ 
 until we reach heaven — where indeed we shall 
 
LABORS FOE, THE YOUNa. 99 
 
 be like him, 'for we shall see him as he is' — 
 yet our aim must be there; we must have 
 some pattern for imitation, and none but a per- 
 fect one will avail. The most exalted Christian 
 is defiled with sin, even in his best estate; 
 therefore he will not do for a pattern : no, we 
 must press towards the mark, and lay aside 
 every impediment to our progress, ' looking un- 
 to Jesus.' Keep your eye there, my dear friend, 
 and never submit to lower motives or prin- 
 ciples than those which actuated the Son ol 
 God. There is much to chill and damp yoUr 
 piety and zeal, when none sympathize with 
 you ; but let this drive you nearer to the Sun 
 of righteousness, to gather faith and love and 
 vigor and every needed grace from the rich 
 treasury which he has provided for all who 
 apply to him. It is in this way trials prove 
 blessings, by driving us to Christ. When the 
 creature-stream fails, we are driven to the 
 Fountain, which can never be exhausted. Keep 
 close there, make your Bible your constant, 
 prayerful study. Seek to have your views of 
 the truth and of the plan of salvation very clear ; 
 frequently study the grand doctrines of the 
 
100 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 gospel, and do not depend on the knowledge 
 you have of them : an error here would be fa- 
 tal, as on incorrect views inconsistent conduct 
 is continually based. 
 
 " There must be growth 'in the knowledge 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ,' as well as ' in grace,' 
 and let that knowledge be drawn immediately 
 from the well-spring, the Bible. Search every 
 word, with prayer for that Spirit which alone 
 can truly enlighten, and ' let your light so shine 
 before men that they may see your good works, 
 and glorify your Father which is in heaven.' 
 Give God no rest, until every member of your 
 family is converted to Christ. Why were you 
 selected to be a recipient of his grace ? Not 
 for your own merits: then it must be of his 
 free and sovereign grace, and you are bound to 
 communicate to others what has been so freely 
 granted to you. Home is your little garden, 
 which you must diligently cultivate ; you must 
 seek to remove all the stones which would 
 check the progress of vegetation, all the im- 
 pediments to the existence of piety : perhaps 
 there may be, besides those in the heart, many 
 which are outward in family arrangements, 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNG. 101 
 
 which your influence may be able to remove. 
 If your piety is that which they cannot but 
 approve, you have more influence on that ac- 
 count, and your wishes would probably be law 
 to them. This is only the first step in the culti- 
 vation of your garden ; you have to dig, to 
 sow, to plant, to water, and to do every thing 
 which the gardener who cares for his garden 
 will attempt. And 0, what weeds you have 
 to destroy! Seek, my dear friend, that the 
 moral desert around you may become as 'the 
 garden of the Lord, that he may be glorified.' 
 I should be very glad to hear from you. 
 " Believe me, your very sincere, 
 
 "And affectionate friend, 
 
 "MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
 The inconsiderateness of friends, both young 
 and old, requesting those filling important sta- 
 tions, and whose time is much occupied with 
 paramount duties, to write to them at special 
 seasons of their history, is judiciously -treated 
 and improved in the following extract: 
 
 "SuEREY Parsonage, August 10, 1841. 
 
 "My dear Friend — I cannot refuse youi 
 request to give you a line of remembrance on, 
 
102 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 not your birthday, but the day after. My 
 dear friend must remember that such a step is 
 a precedent which might occasion not a little 
 difficulty. Many young friends ask for a letter 
 on their birthday, and if I could transmit my 
 wishes to paper by a magic touch, I would 
 never refuse ; but if one has her request grant- 
 ed, all have a claim ; and then, tell me, how 
 can I meet such a demand from so many kind 
 hearts, however quickly I may scrawl : for the 
 quantity of writing which is unavoidable takes 
 up so much time, that, contrary to my ap- 
 proval, I am obliged to scrawl. The time 
 which such an additional correspondence would 
 occupy, would require the neglect of many 
 important duties; therefor'i, I write not on 
 your birthday, that the circumstance of writ- 
 ing to you may not be used as an argument 
 with others. 
 
 "But why does my dear friend ask me to 
 write to her ? You have not to be urged to 
 decision on the return of the day which leads 
 most young people to think a little seriously. 
 Your heart was surrendered to Him who claims 
 it, years before mine, and your Christian prog- 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNa 103 
 
 ress must, therefore, have so far outstripped 
 mine, that I am too distant from you to urge 
 you onward ; unless, as you run your race, you 
 occasionally look back in humility and self- 
 abasement at the path you have trodden, and 
 mark the zigzag footmarks which tell you 
 how often you would have gone aside, but for 
 Him who directed and upheld you: and while 
 thus reviewing the past, you hear a voice cry- 
 ing to you, 'Go forward;' 'Press toward the 
 mark for the prize of the high calling of God 
 in Christ Jesus.' 'Lay aside every weight, 
 and the sin which doth so easily beset you, 
 and run with patience the race that is set be 
 fore you, looking unto Jesus.' Though far be- 
 hind you, my cry for myself and for others is, 
 ' Lord, urge us on ;' and perhaps you may over- 
 hear that cry. 
 
 "These are days which call for more than 
 ordinary devotedness to Christ. The day is 
 hastening when the Christian is to be sifted, 
 and 'he that endureth to the end shall be 
 saved.' That day will probably introduce the 
 millennial glory, for which we must all labor ; 
 when every heart shall yield to ' Him whose 
 
104 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 right it is to reign.' Then the despised, rejected 
 Jew shall be ' hronght in with the fulness of 
 the Gentiles,' and the blessing, according to 
 His promise, be given to him that favors his 
 Israel: 'Blessed is he that blesseth thee.' If 
 God still loves his ancient people, shall we not 
 love them too, and strive after the time when 
 the curse shall be removed, and ' Israel shall 
 turn to the Lord ?' My heart is ill at ease on 
 their account. I think I can respond to the 
 apostle's language, 'My heart's desire and 
 prayer for Israel is, that they might be saved.' 
 How glorious shall that day be, when the veil 
 shall be taken away, and thousands be born 
 unto God. May I urge you to more persever- 
 ing prayer on their behalf : you will reap the 
 benefit as well as they. My heart rejoices in 
 your usefulness, my dear friend ; and I pray 
 that you ' may abound therein more and more.' 
 May your birthdays be many, many times 
 renewed, and each one witness increasing de- 
 votedness to our blessed Redeemer, and more 
 of his likeness too — more humility and spirit- 
 uality of mind, with more entire consecration 
 to his service. 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNG. 105 
 
 "Forgive this hurried, ill- written epistle, 
 which bears with it, though unexpressed, the 
 fondest wishes of, 
 "My dear friend, 
 
 "Yours very affectionately, 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN.-' 
 
 It was very difficult to persuade her at any 
 time that her labors had been useful, or could 
 produce fruit to God ; but when the evidence 
 was complete and irresistible, her heart over- 
 flowed with angelic joy. To one of her class 
 she thus utters it, and shows that "we do not 
 answer the end of our existence, if our object 
 and effort be not to save and bless our race. 
 
 "Clay Hill, Enfield, June 10, 1841. 
 
 "My very dear Friend — If my inclinations 
 were the guide of my conduct, how' different 
 would that conduct be from what it is. In 
 some things, I fear, they would lead me to 
 much evil, though with an intention to do 
 good ; and in others, much benefit might result, 
 and much pleasure be communicated by in- 
 clination having its way. My inclination told 
 me to write to you as soon as I reached En- 
 field, and its sweet retirement; but my time 
 
106 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 is scarcely at my own disposal, and I feel that 
 I must snatch- opportunities like my sweet 
 friend. Stolen moments often afford us the 
 richest enjoyments, and we appreciate most 
 that which has cost us some little difficulty to 
 obtain, or to accomplish; and I do not think 
 you will spurn the broken, unconnected effusion 
 of a heart that dearly loves you, because it 
 does not bear the marks of study and arrange- 
 ment. Friendship prizes intentions, and Chris- 
 tian friendship never suspects : and I trust there 
 is a sacred bond uniting our hearts to each 
 other, though our mutual circumstances pre- 
 vent much exhibition of it. The love which 
 springs from the cross unites every heart that 
 has laid its burden beneath it ; the blood- 
 sprinkled soul recognizes its fellow, and even 
 Christian sympathy must unite them ; but there 
 is a still sweeter endearment when minds 
 have been associated as ours : you, as a lamb 
 in the flock over which my dear husband is 
 the under-shepherd, and both of us as mingling 
 our efforts to understand the sacred page. 
 
 "What joy and gratitude did you excite in 
 my oft-discouraged heart, by telling me that 
 
LABORS FOR THE yOUNCf. 107 
 
 my humble efforts had in any degree assisted 
 you with your charge. How often does God 
 'lead the blind by a way they know not.' I 
 have ever felt that if good in any form arose 
 from these feeble attempts, the praise must be 
 entirely His, whose blessing can give efficacy 
 t9 the weakest instrumentality. The anxiety 
 I have endured is amply repaid, if you are 
 assisted in your explanation of the sacred 
 volume, and I tru.st I shall 'go forward' with 
 more simplicity of faith and dependence on 
 that influence which must follow as well as 
 dictate these exercises. It may be that a soul 
 may be saved one day by this instrumentality. 
 I feel increasingly that we live only as we 
 answer the 'design for which 'man became a 
 living soul.' ' I have created him for my glory ;' 
 and if the end we have in view, and the ob- 
 jects we pursue are beneath this, we do not 
 answer the end of our being — we had bettef 
 never have been born. The soul was formed 
 with the capability to enjoy Grod, and to glorify 
 him ; and though it has sunk deep and low 
 in degradation from its noble original, yet so 
 much remains that the soul refuses satisfaction 
 
108 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 with any thing but himself. At first it seeks 
 it everywhere rather than there ; but when 
 drawn there by the attractions of the cross, 
 0, how full its satisfaction, how firm its 
 ground of hope and rejoicing. And when the 
 love of Christ has drawn us to himself, what 
 is so sweet and so binding on us, as to draw 
 other minds to the right source of enjoyment, 
 peace with God and reconciliation to him 
 'through the blood of the Lamb.' 
 
 "While I miss you much, I cannot but re- 
 joice in the double privileges you enjoy, of- 
 continually advancing in mental cultivation 
 and spiritual knowledge under the instrumen- 
 tality of your invaluable friend, and of im- 
 parting as continually to others, that you may 
 win and direct them to Jesus. How prone the 
 mind is to depend on its privileges, and how 
 God sometimes deprives us of them for a sea- 
 son, to bring us back to dependence upon him. 
 We do not need prayer less because of our 
 augmented privileges, but far more ; responsi- 
 bility increases with every such additional fa- 
 vor, and how can we meet that in our own 
 strength ? No, our necessities must always be 
 
LABORS FOR THE YOUNG. 109 " 
 
 supplied from his fulness, and our opportuni- 
 ties profit us only as they draw us nearer to 
 him. So may you, dear, find it, and as you 
 receive, put out to interest; let every fresh tal- 
 ent yield another at least; as you learn, apply 
 and practice ; this will be the best proof of 
 gratitude to your instructor, and to Him who 
 gave him to you. We are bound for heaven, 
 and we must take with us every creature whom 
 we can reach, nor must we rest while one to 
 whom our influence extends is bound to a 
 different clime. May the thought of the value 
 of an immortal soul, and the shortness of time, 
 stimulate us to watchfulness and prayer, that ' 
 we may leave no effort untried to win sinners 
 to Christ ; may we be so sanctified by the in- 
 dwelling of the Spirit of God, that no stum- 
 bling-block may exist in us ; but may our 
 Christian character be so eminently like Christ, 
 that we may glorify and exalt Him who made 
 us and remoulded us after that likeness. 
 
 " I love appointments at the throne of gi'ace; 
 half past eight is my time for evening retire- 
 ment when here, and when evening engage- 
 ments do not interpose, at Surrey too. Often 
 
110 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 there, however, I am compelled to defer the 
 sacred hour of devotion till after supper; but 
 it is alw^ays painful to me. I hope, however, 
 to meet my dear friend in spirit then, where 
 we may pour out our souls before Him ; and 
 where our poor prayers may find acceptance 
 through the merits of our great Intercessor, 
 who 'ever liveth to make intercession for us.' 
 We are expelled from Surrey for a season, and 
 have found a very agreeable dwelling at Clay 
 Hill ; but I feel out of my element, and long 
 to return. I trust the retirement of this sweet 
 place will be beneficial both to my dearest 
 husband and myself. Pray much for us, dear, 
 that the beloved flock may be benefited by our 
 tarrying here. I have a little oratory in the 
 garden, to which 1 love to retire : there I find 
 a mercy-seat ; and it is sweet to ' come bold- 
 ly,' there. I hope every cloud has long since 
 been dispersed from your mind, and that your 
 faith can cleave to Christ. 
 
 " Believe me, my sweet friend, 
 
 "Ever^ours most afiectionately, 
 
 "MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
MATERNAL ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 Ill 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 FORMATION OF MATERNAL ASSOCIATIONS- 
 JOURNEY ON THE CONTINENT. 
 
 Simultaneously with the formation of her 
 Sabbath-class, Mrs. Sherman commenced a 
 maternal association, composed of mothers 
 whose education, piety, and station, gave them 
 influence in the church and congregation. In 
 June, 1838, she became a mother. Besides 
 those to whom she had so faithfully and loving- 
 ly sustained the maternal relation, she had now 
 a child of her own, and with it all those pecul- 
 iar feelings and caves which an infant brings ; 
 and if maternal associations appeared to have 
 great advantages before, these would not be 
 lessened when she could present among her 
 coadjutors her own offspring, as an offering to 
 the Lord. 
 
 The following letter, one out of many which 
 she wrote at the same time, will exhibit the 
 intense anxiety Mrs. Sherman felt, that all the 
 
112 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 mothers in the church, especially such as had 
 influence, should in their meetings strive to- 
 gether for those spiritual blessings, and that 
 domestic bliss, which would make their fami- 
 lies the garden of the Lord. 
 
 '■Surrey Parsonage, September 23, 1838. 
 "My DEAR Friend — As I find our secretary, 
 Mrs. Field, will not have returned by Monday, 
 I think it will be better to defer the anticipated 
 prayer-meeting until after our maternal asso- 
 ciation. My heart is much cast down, to see 
 the want of interest generally in our little meet- 
 ing. If we desire our families to grow up to 
 labor for Christ, we must avail ourselves of 
 every means to secure the blessing while they 
 are young ; and while I supremely desire to 
 see multitudes of those dear laborers teeming 
 forth from the numerous families attending 
 Surrey, I can scarcely expect the blessing, 
 while so little concern is manifested for an as- 
 sociation which has this special object in view. 
 "Will my dear friend aid me by her special re- 
 membrance of it in her closet, and by striving 
 to bring mothers to the meeting. "We must 
 not remain in our present lifeless state ; there 
 
MATERNAL ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 113 
 
 must be a revival, and I look to the very few 
 ■ who really feel the importance of these meet- 
 ings, to seek it from His influence, which first 
 'moved on the face of the waters,' and brought 
 light out of darkness. If the majority of mothers 
 in the congregation think lightly of combined 
 prayer, let us seek the blessing for them, nor 
 rest till every family among us is consecrated 
 to the work of the Lord, and rising up to fill 
 our places in the church. I must see them 
 thus consecrated, and therefore would implore 
 that this blessing may be sought for all, by the 
 praying few. Try to induce those to attend 
 over whom you have any influence, and you 
 may be thus bringing blessings on many, and 
 glorifying your heavenly Father, while you re- 
 joice the heart of 
 
 "Your aflfectionate friend, 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
 The difficulties, however, did not end in pro- 
 curing the attendance of the mothers, for when 
 they came, only a few could be prevailed upon 
 to take part in the devotional exercises or con- 
 versation ; and thus the chief burden was often 
 thrown on the mind of the president, already 
 
114 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 too hea\dly pressed with anxiety for their wel- 
 fare. Let her speak for herself. 
 
 "July 14, 1840. 
 
 "My very dear Friend — The ad- 
 dress to children, whicli Mr. Sherman delivered 
 this morning, from Luke 2 : 51, was very simple 
 and practical. May a blessing indeed be given. 
 Our last maternal meeting disappointed me, as 
 it was a subject requiring conversation ; few 
 works appear to me to touch that very impor- 
 tant and common sin, equivocation ; the ladies 
 who usually speak — but few, alas — were ab- 
 sent from London ; and, with immense per- 
 suasion, Mrs. concluded, by presenting 
 
 our case to God. "When I commenced in prayer, 
 I was so excited by the prospect of no assist- 
 ance, that it was a very distressing effort to 
 myself, and must have been very unprofitable 
 
 to others. However, Mrs. engaged with 
 
 so much propriety, that I hope I was forgotten, 
 though I trust the few blessings I sought were 
 not. I deeply lament the prevailing deficiency 
 among us, and I really feel surprised that per- 
 sons so capable as Mrs. , of whom there 
 
 are, I doubt not, many, do not see it a duty to 
 
MATERNAL ASSOCIATIONS. 115 
 
 help me in this important engagement I feel 
 assured that this gift is not mine ; but I think 
 myself extremely culpable, that in the situa- 
 tion I occupy I do not try my best cheerfully, 
 for example's sake. Ah, when the love of 
 Christ, and the glory and honor of God, shall 
 fill the soul, it will not be thus ; and I am 
 looking for this sweet evidence of growth in 
 grace in myself, that whatever God brings be- 
 fore me as a duty I shall undertake unhesi- 
 tatingly, in dependence upon, and confident 
 expectation of, his promised assistance. Some- 
 times I can do so ; still, nothing but an ha 
 bitual acting of obedience to the first indication 
 of my Father's will, can satisfy me. 
 
 " How delightful it is to anticipate a state 
 of perfect holiness, when, like the angel flying 
 with the everlasting gospel, we too shall haste 
 to fulfil his sweet commands. I never muse 
 on the happy spirits in heaven, winging their 
 way on various commissions, without panting 
 almost for emancipation from the fetters of 
 clay, and their attendant sin, and thinking when 
 these are removed, I will try to exceed them in 
 swiftness and in love. In the latter, surely 
 
116 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 the redeemed spirit must exceed ; angels know 
 comparatively little of the deht of love to Jesus. 
 He preserved them in holiness ; but to have lost 
 holiness, heaven, and happiness, and to have 
 them restored ! how overpowering to think of it! 
 But I must not trust myself on so dear a theme : 
 we are one in heart here ; may we be one with 
 Christ and each other in yon bright world. 
 " Believe me, my very dear friend, 
 "Your ever affectionate and obliged friend, 
 ^ "MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
 Mothers who have to gain their bread by 
 labor, whose education has been deficient, or 
 who have not been accustomed to attend wor- 
 ship, are a class which should excite our live- 
 liest sympathy. The chief difficulty consists 
 in getting'them to take sufficient interest in a 
 meeting where nothing but their moral and 
 spiritual good is designed, and to attend it 
 regularly. Yet perseverance will do wonders, 
 and kindness is never ultimately thrown away 
 upon the poor. They were not forgotten by 
 Mrs. Sherman. She formed another associa- 
 tion, consisting of the poor mothers of the con- 
 gregation, and all whom they were disposed to 
 
MATERNAL ASSOCIATIONS. 117 
 
 bring with them ; this might be called her 
 favorite institution, for which she prepared 
 with great delight. While they treated their 
 president with great respect and affection, there 
 was less reserve than etiquette imposes on a 
 higher class of society, more freedom of con- 
 versation, and consequently more knowledge , 
 of the good effected. Often has ghe returned 
 to her husband after meeting these poor moth- 
 ers, with a countenance beaming with joy at 
 the interesting communications they made, 
 the simple and fervent prayers they offered, 
 and the evident benefit their families derived 
 from these conversational exercises. These 
 good effects were soon visible among them : 
 some of the roughest specimens of human na- 
 ture became gentle as lambs, and the energy 
 of their disposition was directed to the noblest 
 end of life ; others, naturally timid, were 
 strengthened to serve God without fear ; in 
 several of their houses family prayer was es- 
 tablished, and in not a few instances the con- 
 version of the attending mother followed. Oh, 
 it would have cheered any spirit to see her 
 who went forth weeping, reaping her sheaves, 
 
118 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 receiving wages, and gathering fruit to life 
 eternal. 
 
 When ahsent from home, through ill health 
 or the claims of parental love, her practice was 
 frequently to write a letter addressed to the 
 poor mothers, which might be read at their 
 , assemblies. Several of those epistles became 
 instruments .of usefulness, stirring them up to 
 devotedness to Christ, punctuality in their at- 
 tendance, and a greater watchfulness over their 
 femilies. Many speak to this day of the joy 
 that was diffused, from the evidence they 
 afforded of the sympathy and piety of their 
 president's heart; and one of the mothers at- 
 tributes her conversion to the impression pro- 
 duced by a letter from Mrs. Sherman, which 
 was read at one of their meetings. The follow- 
 ing is a specimen of this kind of correspondence, 
 and will show how intensely she thirsted after 
 their temporal and spiritual interests. 
 
 "St. Boniface Hotel, Ventnor, Feb. 23, 1846. 
 
 " My dear Friends — I received your very 
 kind and sympathizing letter with much pleas- 
 ure, and the gratification I experienced in 
 shaking hands with you so immediately be- 
 
MATERNAL ASSOCIATIONS. 119 
 
 fore my removal from my beloved home, has 
 left a most cheering impression on my mind. 
 One thing which pleased me in doing so was, 
 that you might see for yourselves that I was 
 not in so sad a condition as some anxious minds 
 have imagined. I trust by thus promptly using 
 decided measures, it may be my privilege soon 
 to return to you in health and comparative 
 strength. The little meetings with you, though 
 marked on my part with great weakness and 
 insufficiency, have always proved refreshing to 
 my own mind, and 1 am anxious to induce the 
 healthy ones here to seek the formation of such 
 an association. I have not strength, personally, 
 to form one, but I will try to influence others 
 to do what they can : I know you would glad- 
 ly second such a resolution. I think of you all 
 with increased interest, now that I have drank 
 more deeply of the cup of sorrow. This heart 
 has experienced pangs to which it was an utter 
 stranger before, and so I have been taught 
 more keenly to feel for those who are called to 
 drink, if not the same, yet as bitter a cup, and 
 much more bitter too. But there are sweet 
 promises to such, which not even the Christian 
 
120 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 can prize till he is in circumstances of trial ; 
 and there are consolations and discoveries of 
 the divine character in affliction which are 
 found only then. It is when thus exercised 
 and tried, that we reahze that God is dealing 
 with us. When our path is not to he distin- 
 guished from that of the mass around us, we 
 cannot see that our Father is taking special 
 interest in us. 
 
 " The child that plays from morning to night, 
 that does any rude thing it chooses, even if hy 
 no means a rebellious or wicked child, yet, if 
 it meet with no effort to regulate the right 
 employment of its time, no check to rude- 
 ness, no impediment to its self-pleasing, the 
 inference is, that the parent takes no interest 
 in that child, and eventually it must suffer for 
 the want of necessary guidance and restraint. 
 The child that is of an age to reflect, will re- 
 gard parental discipline as an evidence of love, 
 when properly administered and not under the 
 influence of a disposition as evil as that which 
 it professes to correct ; and we have only to 
 compare our heavenly Father's discipline and 
 regulation of his family, with that of a well- 
 
MATERNAL ASSOCIATIONS. 121 
 
 ordered household, to see indeed a most hum- 
 hling contrast, but at the same time to find 
 many a mysterious point made clear : an4 who 
 would not welcome his all- wise discip/ine ? 
 
 "But each of us has her little vexing trials, * 
 such as we cannot talk about ; and if we are 
 not watchful, these, which I think are the most 
 calculated when rightly viewed to prove choice 
 blessings, will miss their design, just because 
 we think them too small to spread before God, 
 and to seek to derive from them a sanctifying 
 influence. Our Christian character is far more 
 tried and strengthened by these little things, 
 and the opportunities of glorifying God under 
 them are much greater than in our larger trials, 
 which we must bring before God. More graces 
 are proved, a greater variety and number of 
 means for purifying are being exercised, in 
 those every-day circumstances which too often 
 try the temper, conceal Christ's image, hide 
 God's smile, and imbitter every thing around. 
 The very things of which you are ready to say, 
 •but for these things I should be a happy wo- 
 man,' are expressly designed by your heavenly 
 Father for your special happiness, by correct- 
 
122 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 ing in you those numberless evils which pre- 
 vent real and abiding happiness. 
 
 "Let it be more our prayerful aim to see 
 and regard God's all-wise hand in our daily 
 circumstances ; and though they may be things 
 which he does not approve, let us remember 
 that all hearts and events are under his con- 
 trol. He permits them for your sanotification, 
 to draw you out of yourself to more simple 
 dependence on his strength, to gain from them 
 the exercise of those graces which his Spirit 
 has sown in your hearts. But there are some 
 dear mothers among us, who dare not believe 
 they belong to the family with which God 
 their Father is taking so much pains; their 
 vexations are seen only as such, and they know 
 no sympathizing heart. My dear friends, who 
 made us to differ ? did our superiority to you, 
 or our natural excellence, bring us there ? 
 Never; his boundless pity and grace gave his 
 Son for our salvation and yours. He offered 
 forgiveness, eternal life, and admission into his 
 family to us, and he inclined us to accept these 
 blessings. We would tell you what a dear 
 Saviour we have found, and we entreat you to 
 
MATERNAL ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 123 
 
 seek liim too : we came empty, so must you ; 
 we had nothing but our" guilt and misery to 
 bring him, nor have you ; he came to seek and 
 to save that which was lost ; we were lost, and 
 so are you ; we are saved by grace, and so 
 may you be. Come now, before you return to 
 your home, lest its temptations crush the de- 
 sires that may be rising in your minds. Come, 
 and entreat Grod to extend to you for Jesus' 
 sake the mercy we have found, and to make 
 your whole heart open to receive him, as your 
 Saviour, your Friend, and your King; then all 
 things must work together for your good, how- 
 ever painful, for he says they shall. The bitter 
 cup shall be sweet, life with all" its trials a 
 blessing, and death eternal gain. May we be 
 one unbroken circle in heaven, and together 
 review the way He has led us, and rejoice and 
 triumph in his love. 
 
 " Believe me, ever your affectionate 
 "Friend and sister in Christ, 
 
 "MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
 In the spring of 1842, Mrs. Sherman's useful 
 engagements were interrupted by an unfore- 
 seen and afflictive dispensation. The incea- 
 
124 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 sant labors during the previous five years, 
 which the congregation at Surrey cha})el and 
 the cause of God generally had required from 
 her husband, began to affect his health: the 
 organs of speech became greatly enfeebled, and 
 the physicians who were consulted, predicted 
 that unless he submitted immediately to entire 
 cessation from all pulpit exercises for at least 
 six months, and resided in purer air, it was 
 not improbable he would have to abandon the 
 ministry altogether. To insure freedom from 
 temptation to preach, and to occupy an active 
 mind with new scenes, a tour on the continent 
 was advised. In order to accelerate the cure, 
 and minister comfort to the invalid, the society 
 of his wife and an afflicted daughter was deem- 
 ed indispensable. 
 
 This period .of release from pressing and 
 responsible duties, was not embraced by Mrs. 
 Sherman as an opportunity for cessation from 
 active labors, and for a mere abandonment to 
 the enjoyment of the novelties by which she 
 was surrounded in a foreign land. Her highly 
 refined and cultivated taste found its utmost 
 gratification in the works of the best masters, 
 
JOURNEY TO AUSTRIA 
 
 125 
 
 with which most of the continental cities are 
 so richly furnished; and especially in the mag- 
 nificent display of Grod's workmanship in the 
 beauties of creation, which at times so over- 
 powered her, that she says, " I could only find 
 vent for expression in tears of joy and grati- 
 tude to my Grod, who had made for me, a sin- 
 ner, such a beauteous world." At the same 
 time, her warm heart was constantly alive to 
 the ignorance and wretchedness amidst which 
 she was moving ; and most gladly did she 
 make opportunities, and improve them, for 
 dropping the good seed of the word, in the hope 
 that this tour might be fruitful in good results 
 to the praise and glory of Grod. She lent a 
 ready and cordial sympathy to every effort 
 which she met with, for establishing pure, spir- 
 itual worship, in the place of corrupt and 
 superstitious observances; and an occasional 
 interview with a sincere and devout Christian 
 was, to her rejoicing spirit, "as cold water to 
 a thirsty soul." "Without the abridgment of 
 any innocent gratification, and with the enjoy- 
 ment of a peaceful conscience, she maintained a 
 cheerful, fervent piety, in the most barren places, 
 
126 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 by enlarged communion with God, and by a 
 diligent study of that precious book which 
 affords the richest nourishment to the soul 
 hungering after righteousness. How pleasant 
 the survey of a residence in a foreign clime, 
 when yielding such fruits of holiness, and sus- 
 tained by such living, active piety. 
 
 After an absence of six months, Mrs. Sher- 
 man and her husband returned to their home 
 and their labors, the chief object of their jour- 
 ney having been attained in the entire restora- 
 tion of his health. But the result was other- 
 wise in the case of their daughter : she did not 
 live to return to England. 
 
 This unexpected calamity was most acutely 
 felt by Mrs. Sherman, and she anxiously sought 
 that it might be made useful, especially to her 
 Sabbath-class. In a note to the friend who 
 kindly relieved her of the painful task of an- 
 nouncing to them this sad event, she says, "In 
 the retirement of my closet this afternoon; my 
 feeble prayer shall be that an eminent blessing 
 may rest on you, and on those endeared young 
 people; that the usefulness I had planned only 
 for my beloved child, may be accomplished, 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 127 
 
 and not defeated, by her early removal. One 
 thing will tend preeminently to heal my 
 wounded heart — the conversion of those dear 
 girls to God. Long have I pleaded for them ; 
 it may he that Grod is about to grant me my 
 desire by this solemn dispensation. I believe 
 they would rejoice to soothe me in my sorrow. 
 This I can say, my sorrow shall be turned 
 into joy if they will this day consecrate them- 
 selves to God." 
 
 "Mr. Tyler improved the event to my class, 
 I understand, in a very impressive manner. 
 The weeping among the dear girls will prove, 
 I trust, the softening shower which precedes 
 the springing of the seed, which shall eventu- 
 ally bring forth fruit to life eternal. We had 
 fully expected Mr. James of Birmingham to 
 preach to the congregation; but as he could 
 not come, the elders and some of the more 
 judicious of the church so strongly urged my 
 dear husband to undertake it, that he reluc- 
 tantly consented, and last Sunday evening, to 
 an overflowing congregation, he preached from 
 John 19:38, 'A disciple of Jesus, but se- 
 cretly,' a most suitable and impressive ser- 
 
128 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 mon. The character was faithfully and affec- 
 tionately drawn, and I am looking for much 
 fruit. As it will be printed,* pray that its 
 usefulness may extend far beyond our congre- 
 gation." 
 
 A little before this period, Mrs. Sherman had 
 become deeply interested in a group of sisters 
 in Lancashire, of cultivated minds and man- 
 ners, one of whom only had at that period 
 become associated with the church of Christ. 
 During repeated visits she labored to impress 
 them with the loveliness of religion, and the 
 absolute necessity of immediate consecration 
 to the Saviour. "Without attributing too much 
 to her example and conversation, there is every 
 reason to believe they left a conviction of its 
 value and importance, and were preliminary 
 helps to their decision. She had the joy of 
 beholding all of them, before her death, united 
 to Christ by faith, and the companions of his 
 saints. An extract from a letter to one of these 
 
 * The Secret Disciple, a sermon occasioned by the 
 decease of Miss Selina Sherman, at Freiwaldau, Silesia, 
 Austria, preached at Surrey chapel, November 27, 1842, 
 by the Rev. James Sherman. Fourth edition. 
 
■BENEVOLENT LABORS. 
 
 129 
 
 amiable sisters, will best exhibit her anxieties 
 and prayers on her behalf. 
 
 "June, 1841. 
 
 "I should rejoice in attempting the most 
 painful, self-denying thing, if I could but be 
 the means of bringing my sweet friend to the 
 entire, the unreserved consecration of her heart, 
 her life, her all to Christ. This is my earnest 
 prayer for you, dear, and my happiness cannot 
 be perfect in this world till it is acoomphshed. 
 I think of that soul which is destined to im- 
 mortaUty, as one whose powers were granted 
 that they might promote the glory of Him who 
 intrusted them to your care, and fit you for the 
 society of the pure spirits in heaven, and en- 
 able you to further the glorious designs of God 
 in bringing others to that blessed company. 
 He is always promoting the happiness and ben- 
 efit of the creatures he has formed for himself, 
 and he designs that such should be the benev- 
 olent and elevated occupation of every redeemed 
 spirit in this world. Your powers of mind ; 
 their cultivation by education ahd thought ; all 
 the events of providence, and the little inci- 
 dents in your history ; the vexations and daily 
 
 Shcrmau. 9 
 
130 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 mortifications to which you, in common with 
 every other creature, are suhject, as much as 
 the pleasures and enjoyments of life — all are 
 designed to lead to heaven, to prepare you for 
 its hallowed joys, and expel every weed which 
 might not grow in the heavenly garden. Can 
 I fail, then, to look with much anxiety on her 
 who seems wavering and hesitating ; knowing 
 too much of the loveliness of true religion to be 
 happy without it, yet not sufficiently acquainted 
 with its glories to feel that all besides is worth- 
 less, and to take up her cross for its glorious 
 Author's sake. 
 
 "Methinks, if you could fairly place side by 
 side the value of the pursuits of the two worlds, 
 the earthly and the heavenly, you could not 
 choose the earthly. What is the end to which 
 all your pursuits bear ? I know you are amia- 
 ble, intelligent, benevolent, kind, with many 
 sweet charms besides. But taking all your 
 life together, what end have you in view? 
 Your pursuits gratify you as far as they are 
 the result of your own choice; they are en- 
 larging your mind by adding to your stores of 
 knowledge, and thus making you an intelligent 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 131 
 
 and interesting companion ; you fill the station 
 in which Providence has placed you with much 
 propriety; you administer to the happiness of 
 many, as you have done to mine. But there 
 is something deficient in it all ; and if I mis- 
 take not, the feeling which I had for many 
 years is yours : there was wanting one grand 
 object of pursuit, which at the entrance of your 
 spiritual course, like Christian's wicket-gate, 
 is to be always in view. 
 
 "The Christian, when his heart is surren- 
 dered to Him from whom ii» its madness it 
 wandered, feels he is no longer his own ; his 
 own gratification is not his aim — he seeks only 
 to please God. Every imagination of his heart 
 is so grovelling and defiled, that he longs for a 
 purer, higher guide than his own wisdom. 
 And he finds the will of God in every respect 
 pure and worthy of a soul which is to dwell 
 with God. From henceforth the glory of God 
 is the aim; in every pursuit enlargement of 
 mind is sought, that it may contain and com- 
 prehend more of God, and so be fitted to pro- 
 mote his designs and work with him in the 
 renovation and salvation of the world. Self 
 
132 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 daily becomes less and less, as Grod appears 
 greater and more lovely; earthly pursuits be- 
 come uncongenial, and the bearing of every 
 thing is the will of God: what he loves, the 
 Christian loves; what he hates, the Christian 
 hates. Grod loves every creature of the family 
 of man, and seeks his happiness; so does the 
 Christian. The distinctions he once felt are 
 gradually lost as he grows in grace, and his 
 desire is to carry out to his utmost influence 
 this object of the divine mind. He recognizes 
 and loves the tgraces of his Saviour's image 
 where they are to be found; and where they 
 are not, he remembers that once he too was 
 unprofitable and corrupt, and he longs to pro- 
 cure the deliverance of that soul through the 
 almighty Power which rescued him. 
 
 "And does not even this very faint picture 
 prove that happiness is nowhere to be found 
 till we begin to pursue the great end of our 
 being? Why did the 'Son of God' humble 
 himself, and become a curse for us, but that 
 we might be delivered from that weight of sin 
 which binds the soul to earth? Would he 
 thus have suffered and obeyed, but to restore 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 133 
 
 US to the pure joys of pardon and communion 
 with our Father ? Lose not a moment of such 
 joy, my sweet friend. You feel the burden of 
 sin heavier every moment; fly to the cross, 
 cast it there, and let that sin-defiled heart be 
 washed in that cleansing stream, and there 
 seek the promised Spirit to enable you to soar 
 towards heaven, to take up your cross, to mor- 
 tify self and sin, and to fix your eyes on 
 'Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.' 
 Keep his example ever in view for your guide ; 
 his cross to remind you of the price of your 
 redemption, and your obligation io devote to 
 him what he has purchased there. And as 
 his Father's glory was his undeviating pursuit 
 while working out our redemption, so be it 
 yours, as one who reaps the benefit of it 
 ' You are not your own,' remember. Grive God 
 no rest, dear, till you are in the fold, of Jesus. 
 Yield not to the difficulties of prayer. Satan 
 will try to present such impediments as will 
 provoke you to relinquish it at times ; but you 
 must apply all your energies, and constantly 
 and perseveringly too. All is at stake; you 
 must let nothing interpose between you and 
 
134 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 heaven. This shall be my prayer for you, my 
 child." 
 
 Sufferers had always a large share of sym- 
 pathy in the heart of the pastor's wife, and an 
 event called forth its expression on behalf of a 
 little boy, supposed to be a prince of the Semi- 
 nole tribe of Indians. His history is full of 
 romantic interest. The following particulars 
 were communicated by Dr. Welch, who brought 
 him to this country. 
 
 On the 25th August, 1836, a scouting party 
 of five soldiers set out from Newnansville, 
 Florida, to scour the surrounding country, and 
 look out for signs of Indians. Early in the 
 morning they disturbed several, who were 
 helping themselves to some sweet potatoes in a 
 fenced field, belonging to a deserted residence ; 
 the Indians took the alarm in time to leap over 
 the fence and make their escape, retreating 
 over a small stream into the forest, through 
 which the soldiers followed the trails of one or 
 two a short distance ; they then deemed it 
 prudent to return, not knowing the strength of 
 the enemy, and again made their way into one 
 of the military roads lately made in Florida. 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 135 
 
 where they soon fell upon tracks of the foot- 
 steps of an Indian child, rendered distinct by 
 rain which had recently fallen ; these they 
 determined to pursue, considering" it tolerably 
 certain that they would be led thereby to one 
 of the encampments of the tribe. Towards 
 night-fall they came in sight of the little wan- 
 derer, he having in fact lost his way. With 
 that quickness of hearing which characterizes 
 all creatures in a wild state, he seemed to be 
 aware of the approach of his pursuers, for they 
 saw him bounding like a fawn to seek the 
 covert of the bushes; and there they found 
 him concealed in the high grass. 
 
 On being seized, he uttered a scream of ter- 
 ror, expecting instant death ; but he soon smiled 
 through his fast-falling tears, and in an im- 
 ploring attitude held up a peach in his little 
 hand, as a ransom for his life! In his flight 
 he had passed through a peach-orchard ; not 
 having eaten or drank the whole day, he pluck- 
 ed a few, and put some of them in the front 
 part of his dress. The soldier took the offered 
 peach and smiled, then returned it; and taking 
 the little fugitive in his arms, mounted his 
 
136 
 
 MAE.THA SHERMAN. 
 
 horse and placed him behind him. It was 
 quite dark before they reached Newnansville, 
 where he was taken in charge by one of the 
 soldiers for the night, who fed the poor little 
 famished prisoner with a bowl of milk, and 
 gave him a blanket, in which he wrapped him- 
 self after the Indian fashion, and lying down 
 before the fire was soon asleep. 
 
 On the next morning, he was brought a pris- 
 oner to Colonel Warren, commandant at the 
 military station at Newnansville, by whom he 
 was given into the charge of James Shields, 
 the soldier who took him, and who humanely 
 preserved him from a proposal made by his 
 comrades to murder him. He seemed to be 
 five or six years old; he was emaciated, and 
 his appearance indicated extreme suffering. 
 For at least three weeks, he maintained nearly 
 a perfect silence, and apparently brooded over 
 what he felt to be a heavy misfortune. Well 
 aware that he was in the hands of enemies, he 
 looked cautiously and quickly around, when- 
 ever a sound reached his ears, and appeared as 
 if watching an opportunity to escape. What- 
 ever passed in his infant brain, it was quite 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 137 
 
 clear that he did not contemplate starvation, as 
 he ate the bread and milk which was given to 
 him, accepting it however with indifference or 
 shyness, and again relapsing into liis state of 
 sadness when the meal was finished. He was 
 never heard to cry, sob, or moan, but generally 
 sat on the floor cross-legged, motionless and 
 thoughtful, and seemed overwhelmed with a 
 melancholy which in one so young was touch- 
 ing to witness. 
 
 Instead of sending the child a prisoner to 
 head-quarters. Colonel Warren, with commend- 
 able kindness and generosity, removed him with 
 his family to his country residence, where he 
 permitted him to eat, drink, play, and sleep 
 with his children ; and although the child of 
 their enemies, he soon engaged the affections 
 and kindly feelings of the colonel's whole es- 
 tablishment. When the colonel returned with 
 his family to Jacksonville, the little Indian 
 accompanied them, and became the frequent 
 visitor of Dr. Welch. He had now acquired a 
 sufficient knowledge of English to make him- 
 self tolerably well understood ; his health had 
 greatly improved, and he had grown a pretty, 
 
138 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 \nteresting child. Dr. "Welch entertaming great 
 sympathy for the little captive, fancying he ob- 
 served in him the dawning of good qualities, 
 and fearing he would be eventually claimed as 
 a prisoner of war, preferred a request to Colo- 
 nel Warren, that as he was about to leave that 
 part of the country, he would allow the doctor 
 to constitute himself his guardian. This re- 
 quest was gi-anted, and he came under Dr. 
 Welch's protection October 31, 1837. 
 
 No persuasions could induce him to divulge 
 his own name, or the names of his family ; but 
 when sent to school, the governess succeeded 
 ill eliciting from him his own name, Nikkano- 
 chee, and that of his father, Econchatti; and 
 when asked, on one occasion, if he had ever 
 been whipped while in his tribe, he replied 
 that his uncle had once punished him with 
 small switches to make him walk faster — prob- 
 ably when retreating from their enemies ; and 
 on being questioned what was the name of his 
 uncle, in an instant he answered, "Oceola." 
 From this and other concurrent testimony, Dr. 
 "Welch believes him to be the nephew of the 
 valiant Oceola, who was treacherously betray- 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 139 
 
 ed, and died a captive in the fort of St. Augus- 
 tine, in East Florida, and the son of Econchatti 
 Mico, king of the Red hills. In consequence 
 of this discovery, Dr. Welch added Oceola to 
 his acknowledged name of Nikkanochee. It 
 soon heeame evident, that being freed from 
 military guardianship, the hostility of his white 
 neighbors, and the risk of his being claimed by 
 the authorities and sent *' west," rendered the 
 situation of the orphan boy any thing but se- 
 cure. Circumstances transpired to determine 
 Dr. AVelch to leave Florida and return to Eng- 
 land, where he arrived with his little Indian 
 on the 2d July, 1840. 
 
 After his residence in England about eigh- 
 teen months, reverses rendered it necessary for 
 the doctor to place his young charge in some 
 establishment where his education would be 
 attended to, and he would be prepared to pro- 
 vide for his wants in advancing years; but 
 every attempt failed to secure the object. By 
 Oceola's repeated visits to Mrs. Sherman, she 
 had some opportunities of gaining a knowledge 
 of his character and habits, and her sympathy 
 and affection were drawn forth to the lad. At 
 
140 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 length, after much consultation with her hus- 
 band, whose sympathy ran in the same chan- 
 nel, it was determined to receive him into her 
 house, and to adopt and educate him as her 
 child. Although many blamed her for incur- 
 ring so gi-eat a risk as that of taking a half- 
 civilized boy into the family, every step of his 
 history hitherto has justified her decision. By 
 the liberality of friends who were interested in 
 his welfare, Oceola was sent to Mill hill gram- 
 mar-school, where he, by his courage and 
 amiableness, became a favorite of all the 
 scholars. After remaining there two years and 
 a half, he. chose the sea as a profession, has 
 been several voyages, and maintains a high 
 character with his pious captain and ship- 
 mates. 
 
 It was very refreshing to see the lively inter- 
 est which Mrs. Sherman took in this orphan's 
 welfare, with what assiduity she instructed 
 him in the principles of the gospel, both orally 
 and by letter, and furnished him with comforts 
 to which heretofore he had been a stranger. 
 He loves her memory; may he yet repay all 
 her efforts and prayers. 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 
 
 141 
 
 The year 1843 was distinguished, in her 
 estimation, by the marriage of her eldest 
 daughter Mary to Mr. Charles Burls, junior. 
 The pleasure she took in the preparations for 
 that event will not he forgotten by all parties 
 interested; especially her anxiety that the cer- 
 emony and "the marriage feast" might con- 
 tribute something to edification, and convey a 
 blessing to alf. Nothing was neglected that 
 her taste or etiquette could supply; but the 
 great desire of her soul was uppermost, that 
 the wedded pair should leave her roof with 
 sanctified impressions of duty, and enter upon 
 a new career of life under its pleasing and 
 solemn responsibilities. Little Oceola, in his 
 native dress, and her youngest child Martha, 
 then nearly five years of age, led the proces- 
 sion from the parsonage to the communion- 
 table in the chapel, spreading sweet flowers 
 in the way. A large number of Christian 
 friends, chiefly relatives, followed, and the sa- 
 cred edifice was crowded with an interested 
 congregation. The father of the bride con- 
 ducted the service, amidst the aspirations of 
 many hearts for a blessing on the union ; and 
 
142 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 after their return to the house, at the request 
 of Mrs. Sherman, the Rev. Dr. Morison dehv- 
 ered a most appropriate and touching charge 
 to the bride and bridegroom, and again com- 
 mended them to God. At the feast several 
 gentlemen addressed the company assembled, 
 and produced on those who waited, as well as 
 on those who partook of it, a most salutary 
 impression. One person became decided for 
 G-od, as the fruit of her prayers and efforts on 
 that memorable occasion. 
 
 On the 13th of June, in the following year, 
 1844, she gave birth to another daughter, after 
 a long season of painful suspension from active 
 labor. While confined for months previously 
 to a horizontal position, her active spirit direct- 
 ed her pen and influence in her great Master's 
 cause. Only three specimens pf letters, out 
 of great numbers written at this period, will 
 now be given ; the first showing the fervent 
 desires of her pious heart towards her first- 
 born child. 
 
 " Surrey Parsonage, June 4, 1844. 
 
 "My precious Child — Mamma has been 
 thinking and talking of you so much, that she 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 
 
 143 
 
 is sure you ought to be a very good little child, 
 and let her have nothing but wha.t is pleasant 
 to talk about. This time six long years ago, 
 you came to mamma, a very little baby, but 
 so fat, and looking so grave, as if you never 
 meant to laugh. Well, mamma was very 
 much pleased that (rod had trusted her with 
 a baby ; and before he had done so, when she 
 only hoped he would give her one, she used 
 TO think, what will that baby be, if it should 
 live to be a great woman. Mamma only had 
 one wish, and that was that her heavenly 
 Father would adopt her child into his family, 
 that it might always love and serve him in 
 this world, and then go into his family in 
 heaven, where it would be with him for ever. 
 So as soon as he gave her the little baby, 
 mamma gave her to God, to be his own happy 
 little child. 
 
 "Now, no one likes to have a naughty, sin- 
 ful child in their family ; and God is so holy, 
 and .so good, that he has only good children in 
 his family. When he receives them, they are 
 indeed guilty, sinful children ; but he gave his 
 dear Son Jesus Christ to suffer for their sins. 
 
144 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN 
 
 and to obey his holy law, which all had broken ; 
 and now, when a little sinful cliild wishes no 
 longer to grieve him, but to be obedient, and 
 holy, and fit for his family, she goes to God by 
 Jesus Christ; and when the holy God would 
 say, 'I cannot receive that Uttle sinful child,' 
 she says, ' No, but Jesus has borne away my 
 sins, and honored thy holy law, and for his 
 sake receive me, and make me one of thy 
 happy and obedient children.' Now, he never 
 refuses those who come in Christ's name. 
 Jesus pleads for that little child, that for his 
 sake she may be accepted. Then the Holy 
 Spirit of God performs his part : he takes away 
 the little heart that was so fond of sin, and 
 makes the dear child give up her naughty 
 tempers, and try to be like Jesus. He teaches 
 her how to please and serve God, and makes 
 her love him more than she ever loved any 
 body before. Then every one around her can 
 find out that there is a great change in that 
 little child's mind. She loves her Bible, she 
 loves to pray, and instead of trying to please 
 herself, she tries to please God first, and then 
 every body around her. If any one is unkind 
 
BENEVOLENT LABOHS. 
 
 145 
 
 to her, instead of being unkind in return, she 
 tries to be more kind than ever to that person, 
 because Jesus did so, and tells us to do so. 
 
 "Now mamma wants her dear little Patty 
 to enter God's happy family on her birthday. 
 She has, many thousand times, prayed that 
 you might be there, but she is afraid you are 
 not yet, and she wants you to try and to pray 
 that Grod for Christ's sake may receive you, 
 and write your name, Martha Rose Sherman, 
 among the long list of his dear children on this 
 your birthday. You would indeed be happy 
 then and good, and mamma would never be 
 afraid if you should die, because she would 
 know you were safe with your Father in heav- 
 en. Ask your kind friends who are taking so 
 much trouble to teach you, to pray with you 
 to-day, that whatever shuts you out of that 
 family may be taken away. You love to make 
 papa and mamma happy, do you not? Now 
 they cannot be so, while they think you are 
 not quite sure of going to heaven; you are not 
 a babe now, and Jesus tells children that they 
 may come to him, and he will guide them 
 there. How dreadful must it be, not to regard 
 
 Sherman. 10 
 
146 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 what such a condescending Saviour says ? Let 
 mamma hear, that on your birthday you came 
 to Jesus, to make you his own child, and that 
 from that day you were always trying to please 
 and honor him. Oh, how delighted I should 
 be to hear such good news of my own dear lit- 
 tle Patty. All send their love and kisses, and 
 hope you will live to see many more birthdays, 
 and that each one may see you serving and 
 loving God : none but God loves you more 
 than, 
 
 "Your very affectionate mamma, 
 
 "MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
 The affliction under which her pious mother 
 long labored, sometimes cast a dark cloud over 
 a spirit ordinarily happy and well assured of 
 its interest in Christ. Her daughter thus com- 
 forts her in one of these seasons of dejection: 
 
 "How sweet it is to know that redemption 
 and reconciliation are achieved for us, entirely 
 independent of any merit in us ; the work is 
 complete in itself — it is for us to receive it — • 
 and though faith often fails to discern its pos- 
 session of the infinite treasure, the faint yet 
 unquestionable traces of the slow and gradual 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 147 
 
 progress of the divine image in the soul, in 
 which Satan's likeness was once too evident, 
 give cause for peace and joy, and the full as- 
 surance that He who has begun the good work 
 will certainly complete it. My precious mam- 
 ma, you cannot look into that mind of yours, 
 and say, the improvement and elevation in its 
 thoughts, its tastes, its hopes, its desires, and 
 the results of those feelings, are but the effect 
 of self-cultivation and ordinary enlargement of 
 mind. Surely the yearning of the soul after 
 God and holiness his own blessed Spirit alone 
 implanted there. 
 
 "Oh, that faith were ever in vigorous exer- 
 cise — how would it aid us in the struggle 
 against Satan without, and sin within. Once 
 Satan and sin dwelt together in the heart ; but 
 while there is any evidence that God dwells 
 there, we certainly know that Satan is expel- 
 led; and though his wretched design is to seize 
 the opportunity of comparative mental weak- 
 ness which disease occasions, to try and regain 
 his power, there is One far above him ever 
 watching at our side, and when weakest, his 
 compassionate heart gives double protection, if 
 
148 
 
 MARIHA SHERMAN. 
 
 faith's dim eye could but discern it. Ah, my 
 own mother, yovir title is clear to me; would 
 that mine were but as clear. Could I for one 
 moment believe that any part of my salvation 
 depended on me, I should for ever despair ; but 
 I have the assurance that the provision is en- 
 tirely made, and is mine, if I will accept it. 
 My confidence is strong that my poor sinful 
 heart is 'made willing' by 'His power,' and 
 rejoices in every acquirement associated with 
 that 'free gift,' and loves more and more the 
 spirituality of the law of God, and the glories 
 of the divine character, as the feeble rays of 
 light from heaven discover them more and 
 more to my understanding. Associated as 
 these are with a sinful, polluted heart, I dare 
 not say I have wrought even the very little 
 that is there, which resists that sinfulness and 
 abhors that pollution. And surely you have 
 evidences of sanctification that my poor mind 
 has never even imagined, much less possessed. 
 Oh, that this afflictive, but righteous and all- 
 wise dispensation, may purge away all remain- 
 ing dross, and make you unequivocally reflect 
 the lovely image of the Crucified." 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 149 
 
 The next note is addressed to a young friend, 
 whose marriage took place on the very day Mrs. 
 Sherman's youngest child was born, and shows 
 her impressions of the duties of the marriage 
 relation. 
 
 "Surrey Parsonage, June 10, 1844. 
 
 " My dear Friend — I cannot anticipate the 
 momentous events of Thursday next, and at 
 the same time the equally momentous event 
 which may previously occur to me, without 
 expressing, while I can, my deep interest in 
 the results of that anxious day, and my most 
 heartfelt and affectionate prayers that you may 
 be permitted to be the most happy, useful, and 
 honored of wives, and your anticipated hus- 
 band prove worthy of his treasure, and be 
 equally happy, honored, and useful. The 
 Christian's ambition in every new undertaking, 
 is to be more devoted, more entirely conse- 
 crated to the service of his adored Master and 
 Lord ; and I believe you would not have ven- 
 tured upon this step, had you not believed that 
 such would be the result. May your expecta- 
 tions and hopes be far exceeded, through the 
 rich blessing of your covenant Grod, and may 
 
150 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 his smile ever be yours, and his presence ever 
 fill your dwelling, while you and yours never 
 cease to be ' His habitation through the Spirit.' 
 
 "My dear friend knows that one of the im- 
 portant duties of married life is, the cheerful 
 sacrifice of self-gratification for the pleasure 
 of each other, without allowing the sacrifice to 
 be recognized. I have been little tried in this 
 respect with my most precious husband; but 
 • I never make such efforts without an abundant 
 repayment of peace of mind, and, I trust, a 
 blessing. Such is perfectly consistent, I think, 
 with unflinching decision of character, and 
 firm hold of what is right, against every at- 
 tempt to draw us aside. Such trials as these 
 you are not likely to be exposed to, as my 
 friend has chosen a decided disciple of Christ. 
 May you be strengthened, on your marriage- 
 day, more especially and solemnly to renew 
 your consecration to Grod ; this will greatly re- 
 lieve the trials of that which was to me a ter- 
 rible day. Excuse this rough little witness to 
 the sympathy and remembrance of, 
 "Your very attached friend, 
 
 "MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 151 
 
 A serious attack brought the newly born in- 
 fant very near the borders of the grave before 
 it was a month old, and the exercise of her 
 faith and patience was not without gracious 
 fruit. 
 
 "I am thankful to say I am quite well and 
 gaining strength. My precious babe is, I trust, 
 out of danger; the improvement since yester- 
 day morning is very satisfactory. I could al- 
 most fancy the dear skeleton limbs had re- 
 covered a small portion of their original flesh ; 
 she has been smiling so sweetly this day that 
 it seemed to tell of returning health. She is 
 so perfectly gentle, and in the midst of severe 
 external as well as internal suffering, has ex- 
 hibited such sweet placidity, that it has re- 
 quired no ordinary strength to say from the 
 heart, ' Thy will be done ;' but how often do we 
 find that when our heavenly Father calls us to 
 a trial we never had before, he gives us grace 
 and strength we never knew before. The Re- 
 finer never removes his eye from the furnace 
 while the needed fire is performing its work; 
 the tiny piece of metal was not too small for 
 him to care for, when he thought it worth put- 
 
152 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 ting there; and it is a great comfort in sorrow 
 to remember that that sorrow is an indication 
 that he is noticing us. Which of his children 
 would prefer being unnoticed, rather than en- 
 dure the purifying but painful evidences of his 
 love and care ? 0, that he might see his own 
 image clearly reflected in the unworthy and 
 unprofitable heart he has been trying so pain- 
 fully but so mercifully." 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 
 
 163 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 i)EATH OF HER MOTHER —FORMATION OF 
 MISSIONARY SEWING SOCIETY. 
 
 Only six weeks elapsed from the birth of 
 her child, before she was called to witness a 
 long expected and painful event, the death of 
 her excellent mother. She had been for years 
 the subject of disease, which, while it did not 
 lessen her activity, produced such acute suffer- 
 ings as drew forth the sympathy of every one 
 who witnessed them. Her faithfulness to the 
 friends of her early life, her hospitality to the 
 servants of Christ, her services for the Re- 
 deemer's cause amid much weakneSfe, and her 
 devotion to the interests of the poor of the 
 neighborhood, have embalmed her name in the 
 hearts of those who came within the circle of 
 her influence. To her daughter, who priaed 
 her judicious counsels as one of her best earth- 
 ly comforts, she was very precious. Of this 
 event she thus writes: 
 
 "I know you have not forgotten your poor 
 
154 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 unworthy friend, as she has been passing 
 through the deep waters, and the promise has 
 not been forgotten by Him who gave it, ' I will 
 be with thee.' Such a stroke, before my 
 strength was regained, might have been over- 
 whelming; but my faithful God sustained me, 
 permitted me to cheer the dying hours of my 
 sainted mother, and I think to comfort my be- 
 loved widowed father. But how shall I leave 
 him I His mind shrinks from the idea, but 
 home has its duties, and responsible duties 
 too. He cannot live in London, I cannot live 
 at Enfield. Tell me, my dear friend, what is 
 my duty; I have no sweet mother's counsels 
 now. I feel I am, indeed, motherless. 0, it 
 is a painful loss. I know duty caimot clash 
 with duty, but I want discernment to discover 
 what is duty, and which path to take. My 
 dearest papa cUngs to me so fondly, and is 
 comparatively happy while I am with him. 
 He has never been separated from my beloved 
 mother since his marriage, except for two days. 
 You may suppose how desolate he will feel. 
 There is One who is 'a very present help in 
 trouble;' still, the absence of such a lovely 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 155 
 
 character as he has lost, can never be made 
 up in this world. May it endear increasingly 
 the privilege of communion with his heavenly 
 Friend." 
 
 During the years over which these events 
 run, she maintained the even tenor of her way 
 in supporting, by her correspondence and active 
 exertions, every institution in connection with 
 Surrey chapel, and as far as her opportunities 
 extended, the cause of Christ generally. It 
 often happens that an individual has some 
 favorite project, which he advocates to the for- 
 getfulness of all others equally useful ; but her 
 love to her Lord was of that universal charac- 
 ter, that every branch of his cause gained her 
 energies, and it only required some warm- 
 hearted Christian, who knew the merits of the 
 society for which he pleaded, to solicit her aid, 
 and her whole soul was immediately thrown 
 into the object. Among the letters of this pe- 
 riod, numbers were written expressly to solicit 
 help for poor ministers of Christ's gospel, and 
 for afflicted and impoverished saints : also for 
 the London Missionary, the British and Foreign 
 Bible, the Christian Instruction, the Maternal, 
 
156 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 the Dorcas, the Clothing, the Jews, the City 
 Mission, the Town Mission, the Irish Evangel- 
 ical, and the Colonial Missionary Societies ; 
 for the villages around Reading, the Sunday- 
 schools, the School of Industry, and the work- 
 ing missionary parties, pleas were urged and 
 efforts made, as if every thing depended on her 
 individual efforts. 
 
 To give her numerous epistles on various 
 subjects to her Christian friends, and especially 
 to her youthful charge, would swell this vol- 
 ume to an immoderate size ; and yet to make 
 an extract from any one of them is like taking 
 a painting out of its frame, for the purpose of 
 exhibiting it, but at the same time conceaUng 
 a portion of the subject. 
 
 A young friend, whose heart she had been 
 instrumental in bringing to the Saviour, and 
 who reminded her of that as the cause of her 
 ardent affection, extolling the feeble agent 
 more than she thought proper, is thus gently 
 admonished. 
 
 "April 19, 1845. 
 
 "I have a perfect horror of attributing any 
 good to my own exertions : there is such dan- 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 157 
 
 ger of taking to ourselves what belongs only to 
 God. Look at it as you will, the praise must 
 be his : if I labor ever so self-denyingly, he 
 first put into my heart the motive and the de- 
 sire to do so, and he only gives the strength ; 
 therefore, if my heart says, 'I brought that 
 sinner to Jesus; I helped that follower of the 
 Saviour on her way,' I immediately fly to the 
 blood of Christ, for pardon for that self-glorify- 
 ing thought which my pride and ignorance 
 suggested. Ah, it is sufficient honor to be 
 permitted to suffer or to work for Christ ; let 
 not pride spoil and perhaps deprive us of the 
 privilege, by robbing him of his glory. What 
 need we have of watchfulness ; how many 
 undefended parts are there in the heart ; and 
 Satan lulls our suspicions by his plausible at- 
 tacks ; therefore, the more devoted we are to 
 God's service, the more we have need to watch, 
 because his temptations then are not usually 
 to open worldliness and evident sin, as those 
 are not congenial to a mind that is renewed, 
 and therefore would be rejected ; but he tempts 
 by means of spiritual things, and makes the 
 intended blessing often prove an occasion of 
 
158 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 sin. So it was with St. Paul : the revelations 
 which made Isaiah exclaim, 'Woe is me, be- 
 cause I am a man of unclean lips ; for mine 
 eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts,' 
 proved dangerous to the humility of Paul, to 
 counteract which it was needful for him to have 
 ' a thorn in the flesh ;' and if the holy Paul 
 was thus dependent, how much more must 
 you and I be ? 0, let us be more constant in 
 prayer for that humility, without which we 
 are never safe. We must be 'kept by the 
 power of God through faith unto salvation,' 
 or we shall never ' stand.' " 
 
 A zealous disciple belonging to her class, 
 whose usefulness was not small, is guided by 
 the following admirable counsels : 
 
 "I long to employ your active mind solidly ; 
 I want that tongue to talk indeed for Jesus, 
 but I also want that mind and judgment to 
 I'emember that ' there is a time to talk, and a 
 time to keep silence.' I quite understand your 
 feelings, my dear child, for I believe I have 
 experienced the same ; but while I would not 
 for one moment check or damp your earnest- 
 ness, I want you to control it — to keep it un- 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 159 
 
 der right direction — to be prudent, quiet, and 
 unobtrusive, as well as zealous and devoted. 
 Here is the difficulty, I knovi^, with a warm 
 heart ; but you must ' adorn the doctrine of 
 God our Saviour in all things ;' therefore, 
 'avoid the appearance of evil,' of forwardness 
 in talking, as though you thought yourself 
 somebody ; this sometimes brings an ill name 
 on a youthful Christian, and lessens useful- 
 ness. Now, I want you to break off every 
 habit that is not calculated to glorify God. 
 
 "If you are a favorite in the class, remem- 
 ber this is an additional responsibility, which 
 calls for much prayer, lest that which may be 
 an instrument of extensive usefulness should 
 prove an incentive to pride and glorying in 
 yourself. Beware of this, my child : I watch 
 you with the deepest' interest, because I see 
 ■ such excellent materials which God has im- 
 planted, not you ; and if not directed wisely 
 and by divine guidance, they may do as much 
 harm as good. Be much, very, very much ia 
 prayer, my dear girl, that you may, step by 
 step, be guided by infinite wisdom and love, 
 and be strengthened to ' let your light so shine 
 
160 MARTHA SHJ;RMAK. 
 
 before men, that they may see your good works, 
 and glorify,' not you, but 'your Father which 
 is in heaven.' Thus the lowly Jesus acted, 
 not to be seen of men, not to bring glory on 
 his own glorious head : throughout his whole 
 history, unwearying, unbroken, self-denying 
 labor marked his course ; the love of man's 
 undying soul led him through the path of 
 sorrow, from the manger to the cross. Now 
 his work of atonement is finished ; still, he is 
 employed as our Intercessor before the throne, 
 and ere long ' all nations shall call him blessed.' 
 ' The whole earth shall be filled with his glory ;' 
 ' thrones and dominions, and principalities and 
 powers, shall bow before him, crying. Blessing 
 and honor, etc., to him that sitteth on the 
 throne, and to the Lamb, for ever.' May we 
 be among them, is the earnest prayer of 
 "Your affectionate friend, 
 
 ''MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
 To another, who objected taking an oath be- 
 fore a magistrate, and asked her opinion, she 
 writes, 
 
 "The same sacred guide that says, 'Swear 
 not at all,' says, 'An oath for confirmation is 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS 
 
 161 
 
 an end of all strife.' You are therefore per- 
 forming a Christian duty, under these circum- 
 stances, in taking the solemn oath that you 
 will speak only the truth. The necessity of 
 this oath is repeatedly shown in scripture his- 
 tory; the interests of a fellow-creature are in 
 a degree in the hands of another, in such a 
 case, and it is necessary to secure even a guilty 
 person from false accusation and misrepresen- 
 tation ; and as there are certain regulations for 
 all classes of society, and not a special one for 
 conscientious persons, your duty is to 'suhmit 
 to the higher powers,' as 'ordained of God.' 
 You see this is very different from taking 'the 
 name of God in vain.' " 
 
 The next is a note of consolation directed to 
 one of her class in the hospital: 
 
 "You remember the beautiful first Psalm; 
 the Christian is there compared to a tree that 
 brings forth his fruit 'in his season;' he has 
 sometimes a time of affliction, then the fruit 
 of submission and self-examination is in sea- 
 son; sometimes a time of prosperity, then the 
 fruit of watchfulness and prayer is in season , 
 sometimes a time of temptation, then the fruit 
 
 Sberman. 1 1 
 
162 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 of faith and close-cleaving to Christ is in sea- 
 son; sometimes a time of spiritual indolence 
 and self-indulgence, then the fruit of repent- 
 ance and self-abasement is in season. At all 
 times, faith, repentance, and love are in season ; 
 and when they wither, it is evident the tree 
 wants watering with copious showers of divine 
 influence. Prayer, as in Elijah's case, must 
 open the windows of heaven, which have been 
 closed, that there may be an ' abundance of 
 rain.' Then how sweet to know that the heav- 
 enlv Grardener is watchins^ and training this 
 little tree : through his intercession, it has not 
 been cut down, and his blood has purchased 
 the blessings it needs to revive and sustain it. 
 May you and I bring forth much fruit to his 
 glory." 
 
 A servant who had tasted largely of the 
 grace of G-od, longed to become a missionary 
 to the heathen; but Providence did not appear 
 to countenance the desire by opening a path, 
 and she is thvis sweetly instructed : 
 
 '•Surrey Parsonage, Sept. 27, 1S45. 
 
 " My dear Child — I rejoice to hear you have 
 obtained a situation, and as I find the class will 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 
 
 163 
 
 not meet to-morrow, on account of the teach- 
 ers' meeting, I cannot help writing to you to 
 urge upon you the necessity and duty of not 
 allowing your burning desire to work for God, 
 to interfere with your diligent performance of 
 the duties of your present situation. You 
 glorify Grod most, by diligently and as in his 
 sight performing the duties devolving on you 
 in the sphere in which it has pleased him to 
 place you. If your heart is so set upon a cer- 
 tain way of serving him, that you fail to serve 
 him in any other, you prove yourself unfit to 
 serve him at all. I long for you thoroughly to 
 understand this : you show your love by bear- 
 ing, as well as doing his will, and by doing 
 whatever he gives you to perform. It may be 
 that by thus calling you to a work so different 
 from that which you desire, he is proving and 
 exercising you, in order to prepare you for 
 work of another kind. If diligent in his ser- 
 vice, you will be diligent in serving those 
 whom he appoints you to serve. If your one 
 desire is to please him, it will make you as 
 diligent in scouring, dusting, and sweeping, as 
 in distributing tracts — as anxious to be as a 
 
164 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 Christian a pattern of neatness, punctuality, 
 and order, in your situation here, as if you 
 were a missionary to the heathen ; you will 
 labor to work well with your hands, that you 
 may be able to work for him in whatever way 
 he chooses. 
 
 "This is your school, where you are fitting 
 for future life: if inefficient and inferior in 
 your services, you are not yet qualified for 
 superior work. Get perfect in your present 
 occupation, whatever it may be, and this will 
 tend to qualify you in body and mind for any 
 service to which you may be called. Till you 
 perform household duties well, you are unfit to 
 be a valuable missionary. But do not press so 
 much any particular path. God knows your 
 desire, my dear child, and says, 'It was well 
 that it was in thy heart,' and if he sees fit, can 
 yet give you your wish. There leave it, simply 
 seeking to do his will. Do strive to be in every 
 way a treasure to your employers. Cultivate 
 great neatness and cleanliness in your work 
 and in your appearance. All these things are 
 pleasing to God, especially when done to please 
 him. God abundantly bless and teach you, 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 
 
 165 
 
 and give you your heart's desire to work, to 
 live, to die for him, is the prayer of 
 
 "Your affectionate friend, 
 
 "MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
 The following letter to a young Christian 
 who sought her advice, is so excellent that the 
 reader would scarcely pardon its abridgment: 
 
 "Surrey Parsonage, March 20, 1845. 
 
 " My very dear Child — Though my time is 
 very fully occupied, those are my happiest that 
 are my busiest days. Since it is, I trust, the 
 supreme desire of my heart to 'do all to the 
 glory of God,' to use my tongue, my pen, my 
 influence, my all in his service, therefore a let- 
 ter to my sweet friend, to help her instrumen- 
 tally in her way to ' the kingdom,' comes most 
 pleasurably into the employments of this day. 
 When I look within, at my own 'exceeding 
 sinfulness,' at the little grace, the tiny portion 
 of knowledge I possess, the coldness of my 
 heart, and its lifelessness in the service of Him 
 who gave himself for me, I am ready to say. 
 Can I indeed be of the happy number of those 
 who 'are bought with a price,' and who there- 
 fore are sweetly constrained by the love of Him 
 
166 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 who bought them, 'to glorify God with their 
 bodies and their spirits, which are his?' But 
 one look at the cross of Jesus, at the wonder- 
 ful union of every attribute of Deity in the 
 accomplishment of the redemption of the world; 
 makes me feel that, worthless as I am, He can 
 save me, and by my salvation glorify his own 
 name. And if in my heart, in the midst of all 
 my guilt, there is one all-prevailing determina- 
 tion to be his, to 'follow the Lamb,' to give 
 glory to none but him, he only gave me that 
 disposition, mingled as it is with corruption; 
 and he who has thus proved the commence- 
 ment of his work in me, will assuredly not 
 relinquish it, unless I grieve him away by 
 neglect and rebellion. And if he have so far 
 gained my heart, he will not leave it- thus to 
 return to its former rebellion ; his influence 
 there will gradually drive out sin, and restore 
 his own image. You see I am writing to you 
 about myself, but I do so because I think you 
 express the same discouragement that I often 
 feel, and I would encourage you from the same 
 source whence I have been enabled to receive 
 comfort. To a mind really thirsting after Grod, 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 167 
 
 I may thus give encouragement ; but to one 
 whose indecision, whose efforts to unite the 
 service of God and the world, occasion doubts, 
 I should write very differently. 
 
 "You ask, 'Does a true Christian ever feel 
 disinclination to serve God?' I certainly should 
 say, and so would you, the habitual disincli- 
 nation must prove an unrenewed mind ; but 
 where this is the exception, not the rule, occa- 
 sioning bitter grief, humiliation before God, 
 and prayerful resistance to it — this certainly is 
 consistent with the Christian's conflict with 
 sin and Satan. The many blissful anticipa- 
 tions of the heavenly world include the per- 
 petual service of God, without weariness or 
 lifelessness ; and I think that in proportion as 
 'we 'grow in grace,' we shall catch more of the 
 spirit of heaven in this, as well as in every 
 other respect. It is a great stimulus to exer- 
 tion to think of heaven — its holiness, its em- 
 ployments, and above all of Him who is its 
 glory ; this makes me long to begin and prac- 
 tise its occupations, however faintly, and to 
 seek that others may glorify Him that sits on 
 the throne, and share with me the sweet joys 
 
168 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 of even the baby efforts to serve and praise him. 
 0, the very thought of heaven sweetens every 
 thing here ; every trial and cross, every event, 
 seems sweet from the conviction that all is 
 designed to help us on our way thither, to call 
 out by test our character, that we may dis- 
 cover what we are; to strengthen our 'faith 
 and love and every grace' by exercise and 
 trial, and to endear to us the price of our re- 
 demption, the precious word of Grod, oar guide 
 to heaven, and the blessed Spirit who takes of 
 the things of Christ and shows them to us. 
 
 "I think it is a great help to the discovery 
 of our own character, to cultivate a constant 
 habit of self-inspection, asking ourselves our 
 motives for certain actions of the day, and our 
 reasons for certain shrinkings from duty. Like 
 any other habit, it may to a certain extent 
 become a form, so that we use it almost me- 
 chanically; but supposing this, we yet must 
 glean even at the worst some acquaintance 
 with ourselves, and some matter for prayer. 
 This must not supersede that self-examination 
 whi^h should accompany the regular seasons 
 for devotion; this habit greatly facilitates it. 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 
 
 169 
 
 leads through the day to mental prayer, con- 
 fession, and praise, and affords mu^h help in 
 bringing these matters afresh before God, giv- 
 ing to him the glory due for assistance in duties, 
 as well as mourning over omissions. 
 
 "Keep in mind, dear, that you are Christ's 
 servant, and that you have to glorify him not 
 only in acts strictly religious, but also by dili- 
 gently performing the duties of your vocation, 
 whatever it may be. The true leaven leavens 
 the whole lump. Religion consists in the 
 exercise of holy principles ; therefore no exter- 
 nal consecration to the service of God is owned 
 of him, if not the result of the hallowed prin- 
 ciples which he by his Spirit imparts when he 
 regenerates the mind. Now, we can certainly 
 by faithful self-scrutiny ascertain what are the 
 motives which induce certain conduct, and 
 when the affections of the heart towards God 
 are cold, and lifelessness robs us of all enjoy- 
 ment in duty, still let us equally pursue it, 
 guided by the same holy principles, though 
 not wafted along by the sweet gales of love. 
 
 "With every Christian while in this world 
 there will be great alternations of feeling; but 
 
170 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 religion itself does not depend on feeling. Of 
 course, i^jg exercise is greatly assisted by a 
 warm and glowing heart, but the cold day of a 
 Christian's life tests the sincerity of his obe- 
 dience. If we serve Him, approach him, and 
 speak of him only when the heart is warm, 
 there is reason to fear the flame of our piety 
 may soon be extinguished. But when coldness 
 in Grod's service grieves us, or if we cannot 
 grieve, that very thing distresses us^ and we 
 labor to discover the cause and apply the rem- 
 edy — that precious blood which cleanses from 
 all sin, and that divine influence which first 
 quickened the soul to spiritual life — I think 
 ,hese are indubitable marks of the. Spirit's 
 work on the heart, and of adoption into God's 
 happy redeemed family. A deeper acquaint- 
 ance with our own hearts, and with Him who 
 redeemed us, and a gi'owing conformity to him 
 in our whole character and conduct, are evi- 
 dences which we cannot question ; they neces- 
 sarily include repentance, faith, and love, and 
 every other Christian exercise. May you and 
 I experience to the full the extent of Christ's 
 glorious work, and be strengthened to win all 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 
 
 171 
 
 around us, both by example and effort, ta 
 Jesus. 
 
 "Believe me, my sweet child, 
 "Your very affectionate friend, 
 
 " MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
 A young person who had been singled out 
 from an ungodly family by the grace of God, 
 had become the subject of parental opposition. 
 She had arrived at years of discretion, and gave 
 no cause of complaint at home, except concern- 
 ing the law of her God. Among other annoy- 
 ances, she was prohibited by her mother from 
 attending any religious services during the week. 
 She asks for advice, and is thus instructed : 
 
 "I have consulted with Mr. Sherman, my 
 dear young friend, on the subject which occa- 
 sions you so much anxiety ; and he is of opin- 
 ion that it is not your duty to give up your 
 week-day privileges, for these reasons. First, 
 the commandment is, to 'obey in the Lord;', 
 therefore, when the parental command is to 
 abstain from the use of those blessings and 
 privileges which God has put within your 
 reach, or to do that which is displeasing to 
 him, obedience then would not be in the Lord. 
 
172 
 
 I 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 Secondly, if no other duty is neglected by your 
 attendance at the house of prayer in the week, 
 the requirement is unreasonable; therefore, as 
 you are of an age to judge what is proper or 
 otherwise, obedience to a command which 
 arises from improper motives and causes is not 
 binding. Thirdly, in the situation in which 
 you are placed, where every effort is made to 
 destroy the holy principles which the Spirit 
 of God has implanted in your heart, you need 
 strength and assistance in your Christian 
 course from every divinely appointed means ; 
 and as God must be dishonored by a lifeless, 
 uninfluential profession of his name, it is your 
 duty to use every help to prevent dishonoring 
 him, and to cultivate that exalted piety which 
 shall glorify him continually. This is, I think, 
 his candid opinion, and on second thoughts I 
 quite agree with him; still, I feel your situa- 
 tion is an extremely delicate one, especially as 
 reference was made to the fifth command, in 
 connection with your profession of religion. 
 
 "I think your resolution should be stated to 
 your mother, after much prayer both for your- 
 self and for her, and with much Christian love 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 173 
 
 and respect, remembering that obedience is 
 required except where the command interferes 
 with God's commands; and I would advise 
 you to state your reasons for acting contrary to 
 her desire. May this severe trial, my dear 
 child, be sanctified to you. Your heavenly 
 Father would not permit it, were it not neces- 
 sary to make you partaker of his holiness. 
 Pray to be enabled to view it as the apostle 
 viewed all his trials. 2 Cor. 4:17, 18. Look 
 through the trial, and beyond it, to its gracious 
 design. Be more anxious that it may be sanc- 
 tified than removed, and think more of the 
 distressing condition of the persecutor's soul, 
 than of the distress she occasions you. May 
 God give you grace and strength to glorify him 
 in the fires." 
 
 Soon after her connection with Surrey chapel 
 she induced several young ladies of the con- 
 gregation to form themselves into a party, who 
 should meet once a month at each other's 
 houses, to make fancy articles and useful 
 clothing, to be sent out to a selected station of 
 the London Missionary Society, either as gifts, 
 or to be sold there for the benefit of its local 
 
174 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 operations. Most of these young persons being 
 also members of the monthly Bible-class, they 
 had at these meetings, in addition to their 
 ordinary spiritual tuition, the presence and 
 assistance of their invaluable president, when- 
 ever opportunity permitted. Her letters to 
 them of various dates and from various places, 
 shoAV how much she sympathized in missionary 
 eftbrts, and how earnestly she wished a mis- 
 sionary spirit, as the result of lively and fervid 
 piety, to be manifested among her young friends. 
 Two extracts from letters, one without date, 
 and the other while residing at Griifenberg, 
 exhibit her faithfulness to her Lord, and her 
 watchfulness over her charge. 
 
 " The last object of my letter, though not the 
 least, was to inquire if it can possibly be true 
 that 3'our numbers and your zeal are dimin- 
 ishing. I would hope it is a mistake, as I can 
 scarcely suppose that when we are called to 
 renew our energies in order to meet the increas- 
 ing demand for missionaries, to be more earnest 
 in prayer, and to cultivate in every way a 
 missionary spirit, the young people of Surrey 
 chapel are holding back. Nothing would grieve 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 175 
 
 me more than to hear that you are not increas- 
 ing in zeal, in numbers, and in spirituality. 
 If the cross meet us, and difficulties assail us, 
 we must not shrink from either, but bear in 
 mind that it is the cause of Christ — of him 
 who purchased us with his own blood— in 
 which we are engaged, and each must stimu- 
 late others, and do all in her power to aid his 
 work, and to hasten on the glorious promised 
 day when all shall know him from the least to 
 the greatest. Be cautious that in your meet- 
 ings you never forget the object for which you 
 assemble, namely, to aid the missionary cause 
 by your industry, and to promote a missionary 
 spirit in each other. Gruard against desultory 
 conversation, as this will necessarily defeat the 
 design for which you meet. May the God of 
 love fill you with his Spirit, and grant that the 
 love of Christ may constrain you. 
 
 "I write what is nearest my heart, rathei 
 than news of this wonderful place, because 
 that intelligence you have received from other 
 quarters. I have heard with great regret that 
 tbe little missionary working party is not well 
 attended. Give my most affectionate love to 
 
17G 
 
 alARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 the young ladies, and tell them, that if I could 
 have hoped to find them all assembled, to con- 
 tribute by their industry and by increased ac- 
 quaintance with the importance of missionary 
 operations, to send the glad tidings of salvation 
 to the millions who are perishing in ignorance 
 of the only way of salvation, I should have 
 said, ' Go on, not mechanically, but as work- 
 ing for Him whose cause you are bound by 
 every tie to promote.' It is not a matter of 
 choice, whether you may or may not unite 
 your energies to bring on the promised time 
 when all shall know him from the least to the 
 greatest, and to send to your perishing fellow- 
 creatures the same gospel which, in your hap- 
 pier land, is so universally known and pro- 
 claimed ; but this is your duty under whatever 
 circumstances you may be placed. It is not 
 the hard bondage of a slave to a tyrannical 
 master : 0, no ; it is the constraining influence 
 of the love of Christ, which calls us to remem- 
 ber his own words, ' He that gathereth not with 
 me scattereth abroad.' 
 
 "The mind in which a hope exists that a 
 Saviour's dying love has procured its deliver- 
 
BENE-VOLENT LABORS. 
 
 177 
 
 ance from the curse of God, and united it to 
 him in bonds of hallowed friendship, and that 
 believes the satisfaction he has made to the 
 divine justice avails for every creature that 
 will embrace his salvation, surely such a mind 
 must pant to make known the glad tidings in 
 some way. However humble the contribution 
 be, whether of money, time, talents, or prayers, 
 it must be esteemed a rich privilege to have 
 any thing to do with the great work. Oh, I 
 desire no other influence than that which 
 springs from the love of a crucified Saviour. 
 Let this love but dwell habitually in the heart, 
 and constantly guide its possessor, and I fear 
 not the want of a missionary spirit. Let us, 
 my dear friend, be more earnest in prayer for 
 the reviving influences of the Spirit of God, to 
 make us more decided for God, more unflinch- 
 ing in our obedience, more established in the 
 truth of the gospel. I long for the time when 
 my dear young people shall truly be ' living 
 epistles, known and read of all.' There must 
 be much secret prayer, much devotional study 
 of the sacred volume, to discover the glorious 
 character of God, and much self-scrutiny, if 
 
 Sheim.n 1 2 
 
178 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 we would be Christians indeed. How mourn- 
 ful would it he, if owned of the church of God 
 on earth, but disowned by its great Head. The 
 piercing words, ' If any man have not the Spirit 
 of Christ, he is none of his ' — ' Without holi- 
 ness no man shall see the Lord' — call loudly to 
 us to 'examine whether we be in the faith.' 
 To be happy Christians, we must be growing 
 in 'grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord 
 and Saviour Jesus Christ.'" 
 
 There lies before the writer a heap of notes, 
 which, from an ordinary hand, would have 
 been mere notices that the meeting was to be 
 held at her house, with an invitation to attend 
 on the day appointed; but Mrs. Sherman made 
 each a vehicle of some important advice, cau- 
 tion, or exhortation, adapted specially to the 
 case of the young person to whom it was ad- 
 dressed, intended to form habits which would 
 adorn the Christian lady, while the cause of 
 Christ among the heathen was ardently pro- 
 moted. One will serve as a specimen. 
 
 " I am anticipating the pleasure of receiving 
 the missionary working-party on Wednesday, 
 the 27th, when, I trusty my dear young friend, 
 
BEKEVOLENT LABORS. 179 
 
 nothing will prevent your attendance; and 
 may I add, I hope each will be in the dining- 
 room at one minute before ten. I love punctu- 
 ality, because I think it is among the ' IdVely ' 
 things which the Christian is to pursue. God 
 is a being of perfect order in all his arrange- 
 ments; and in proportion as the power of sin 
 is weakened, and the divine likeness progress- 
 ing in the soul, we shall find these things rise 
 in importance in our estimation, and nothing 
 will be regarded as too little to exercise our 
 efforts, which may in the tiniest degree ad- 
 vance us nearer to the image of Grod. A mind 
 that is truly great, spurns not the little things 
 which have — as all must have — power to influ- 
 ence its habits, and to promote its true loveli- 
 ness. Let us, my dear friend, labor after 
 eminent Christian consistency, and a close 
 walk with God, that we may learn more of his 
 character and will, and 'grow up into him in 
 all things.' I am very anxious to see more 
 fruit arise out of our little party, which was 
 designed to promote personal and relative piety, 
 as well as a missionary spirit; these objects 
 cannot be advanced by merely meeting together ; 
 
180 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 much prayer must accompany any efforts or 
 means, that the blessing may be bestowed. And 
 I trust that the spirit of prayer and effort may be 
 granted to us all at our anticipated meeting." 
 
 Mrs. Sherman had long felt that this little 
 happy missionary party was not sufficiently 
 extensive to represent all the females of the 
 congregation, and she therefore wished to form 
 another, to embrace every class. She believed 
 that where fervent piety exists, it will make its 
 possessor anxious to save the souls of others; 
 and as the miseries and wants of the heathen 
 are brought before the Christian, his piety will 
 increase, and his sympathy and love be drawn 
 out for their deliverance. Her own spirit was 
 eminently missionary. 
 
 "I gain much," she writes, "by union with 
 the Missionary Society; for what little piety I 
 have is greatly increased by the accounts for- 
 warded, month by month, of its operations in 
 heathen lands. I learn how grace can triumph 
 over the most degraded specimens of my race; 
 I see how missionaries, my brethren and sis- 
 ters, can, amidst privation and suffering wholly 
 unknown to us, 'endure as seeing him who is 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 
 
 181 
 
 invisible ;' I behold real religion producing the 
 same gracious effects in the untutored savage, 
 when it once gains an entrance, as in the most 
 refined ; and above all, I have proof furnished 
 that Christ confines not the manifestation of his 
 love to any particular class of men or station, 
 but gives to the barbarian, bond or free, sup- 
 port in trouble, comfort strong and abiding, and 
 visions of glory which enable them to die tri- 
 umphantly. Who can read the accounts of the 
 sacrifices which these newly awakened Chris- 
 tians make, the persecutions they endure, their 
 glorious translations to another world, without 
 rejoicing in the sufliciency of the atonement, 
 the efficacy of the Spirit's work, and the sure 
 foundation laid for the confidence and joy of 
 every sinner under heaven? I am sure I love 
 Jesus Christ more every missionary meeting I 
 attend. I therefore ought to support missionary 
 enterprises, because I gain much by them." 
 
 With such views, it will not create surprise 
 that she was anxious to promote a similai 
 spirit universally among professing Christians, 
 and especially among females, that for their 
 own sakes they might inculcate on the minds 
 
182 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 of their children and relatives lessons of love 
 to the heathen. Yet she saw and felt the force 
 of many objections urged by some whose piety 
 could not be questioned, and who had already 
 manifested their decided attachment to mis- 
 sionary effort. In order to give them an op- 
 portunity of stating their reasons against the 
 formation of a more indiscriminate assembly, 
 and to hear the arguments of others in its fa- 
 vor, with her usual prudence she summoned a 
 meeting for conference and prayer, the result 
 and improvement of which she sent to her 
 Sunday afternoon class in the following judi- 
 cious letter: 
 
 "Surrey Parsonage, October 18, 1845. 
 
 "I mentioned to you, my beloved young 
 friends, that I expected to meet several friends 
 on the proposed plan of forming a missionary 
 working association for the congregation gen- 
 erally, whether young or old, rich or poor, who 
 would subscribe to it from a shilling a year 
 and upwards. Accordingly, those who were 
 against it, as well as those who were for it, 
 consulted together, and the friends in favor of 
 it succeeded; but as there is, alas, no perfec- 
 
BENEVOLENT LABORS. 183 
 
 tion here, and the best designs may prove evil 
 if not judiciously carried out, I feel particular- 
 ly anxious that the objections which have been 
 suggested as likely to prevail may be doubly 
 guarded against. It is probable that many 
 among my dear class may join the society, and 
 as I hope I have a degree of influence over 
 them, which I have not over others less known 
 to me, I am anxious to use that influence to 
 guard them against the abuse of that which 
 may, rightly used, prove a great privilege. 
 
 "The danger which many friends anticipate 
 is, that home duties less agreeable than these 
 little meetings will be neglected; that the 
 young people will be tempted to leave to their 
 mothers the share of domestic employments 
 which properly devolves on the daughters, 
 whose pleasure it ought to be not only to do 
 what they must, but all they can, to help their 
 parents. I see how possible it is that this may 
 be the case, and therefore warn my dear young 
 friends in the class, who know my opinions of 
 the fallacy and emptiness of that profession of 
 religion which is not accompanied by gTeat 
 diligence in every duty of our station. My ob- 
 
164 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 ject in desiring this society is, that personal 
 piety may he promoted, hy a greater acquaint- 
 ance with the sufferings and privations of the 
 heathen, who are 'without Grod in the world.' 
 My plan, therefore, is to keep the subject of 
 missions only before us all the time we are to- 
 gether ; to meet from five to eight in the even- 
 ing once a month; to get a missionary when- 
 ever we can; and when we cannot, to select 
 reading on the subjects of interest connected 
 with the station for which we are working. 
 As Christians are to set an example to the hea- 
 then, I am very anxious that the needlework 
 be good, and worthy of happy English women. 
 
 "The particulars and rules will shortly be 
 printed, when you shall see them, and sub- 
 scribers be supplied with them. AVe hope to 
 commence the first week in January, each 
 subscriber to receive a card to bi'ing in as many 
 more subscribers to the society, the London 
 Missionary Society, I mean, as we can procure. 
 I shall be glad if my dear class will make it 
 known as far as they can, as I am not sure 
 that it can be publicly announced. Now, let 
 my dear friends unitedly supplicate a blessing 
 
iiiiiMK VOliliJN I -LAiSUKS. ISO 
 
 on this new effort to promote a missionary 
 spirit among us. In proportion as we grow 
 in the divine Ukeness, the objects that are dear 
 to the eternal Mind are dear to us. His one 
 intense desire is the salvation of a ruined world, 
 by sending it the glad tidings that Jesus Christ 
 'came to seek and to save that which was 
 lost' Let it be our business to carry out this 
 object, first by securing the salvation of our 
 own souls, then by efforts and prayers for. 
 others at home and abroad ; and part of those 
 efforts must be the force of a consistent Chris- 
 tian example. Such may my dear class ever 
 present, that Grod may be glorified." 
 
 This was the last association she was per- 
 mitted to establish: her health having declined 
 very rapidly from the time of its formation, 
 she was not allowed to attend its first, or any 
 subsequent meeting; yet .she had the joy to 
 learn that a large number joined immediately, 
 and that it progressed in usefulness to them- 
 selves and the heathen. God give to its mem- 
 bers the spirit of perseverance and devotion to 
 missionary objects, which their president so 
 richly enjoyed. 
 
186 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE COMMENCEMENT OF HER ILLNESS- 
 SECOND TOUR ON THE CONTINENT. 
 
 In the autumn of the year 1845, Mrs. Sher- 
 man took a cold, which resulted in a protracted 
 cough, and other symptoms of a threatening 
 nature. The progress of disease, and conse- 
 quent prostration of strength, became so fear- 
 fully rapid, that a temporary removal to a 
 more genial atmosphere was prescribed by her 
 physician. She accordingly went, for a short 
 period, to various places in the vicinity of 
 London, where she employed her remaining 
 strength in seeking the welfare of souls, as the 
 following letters disclose : 
 
 To a young lady in delicate health, she 
 writes, 
 
 " November 4, 1845. 
 
 "I plead with you to take care of your 
 health, that you may have the honor of serving 
 God for many years, and not be called in 
 youth to bear instead of to do the will of your 
 
DECLINING HEALTH-JOURNIES. 
 
 187 
 
 heavenly Father. As we grow in grace, we 
 prize more our opportunities and privileges, 
 and do not sentimentalize on the joys of an 
 early removal from this world. When our 
 Christian character advances, we shall unceas- 
 ingly breathe after heaven, as we catch more 
 of the spirit of heaven; but it seems to me 
 more heaven-like to seek to 'spend and be 
 spent' for Christ here, with the anticipation of 
 being at last 'for ever with the Lord.'" 
 
 To another, whose love and kindness she 
 much valued: 
 
 "November 21, 1845. 
 "Thank you, dear, for the many kind and 
 undeserved expressions in your note. I deeply 
 feel that I am, and have been a 'cumberer of 
 the ground,' and I can only wonder why I was 
 planted in so fruitful a soil, where heavenly 
 dews and sun abound : where neighboring 
 trees yield their luxuriant fruit to the glory of 
 the Lord of the vineyard, though all of them, 
 even at the best, ill repaying the pains and 
 culture he has bestowed. Well may he say of 
 me, ' Cut it down, why cumbereth it the 
 ground.' Year after year has he gently dug 
 
188 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 about my roots, with the same instrument 
 with which he will, I think, eventually cut 
 me down. Yet I cannot imagine wrath in the 
 stroke; not in judgment, but in infinite wis- 
 dom, and for the rousing and benefit of others, 
 that my removal might effect instrumentally 
 what my lifeless presence has failed to do. 
 Pray for me, my dear friend, that energy and 
 spirituality may be produced by the Spirit of 
 life in my dead soul, and that my few remain- 
 ing days may be really, what my heart has 
 desired and professed past days to be, wholly 
 and entirely the Lord's. May every blessing 
 be yours, and growing devotedness to his lovely 
 >cause." 
 
 The kind attentions of many friends in pre- 
 paring for her such delicacies as they thought 
 her failing appetite could take, drew forth 
 many eff'usions of gratitude, such as the fol- 
 lowing: 
 
 "37 King's Road, Brighton, Dec. 11, 1845. 
 
 "My dear Friend — "What can I say to you 
 for your kind present, received through my 
 dearest husband? I greatly feel your affec- 
 tionate remembrance of me in my time of 
 
DECLINING HEALTH— JOUE.NIES. 
 
 189 
 
 affliction — of 'light affliction' indeed; lor there 
 is so very much mercy mingled with it, that 
 the difficulty sometimes is to know whether 
 that can be an affliction, in which faith brings 
 me the enjoyment of so many precious things 
 as realities which it only recognized before. 
 'The things which are seen,' the 'temporal,' 
 may be gloomy — they are so, viewed alone; 
 but we are not to look at them : that would be 
 to complain of the defects of the casket, which 
 contained a precious jewel. The ' far more 
 exceeding and eternal weight of glory' is 
 wrought by affliction, while we look not at 
 the things which are seen, but at the things 
 which are unseen and eternal. Who would 
 look at the dark cloud, except for the lovely 
 rainbow upon it? The bow is not seen when 
 the cloud is not there: and what lovely hues 
 of His character are displayed, who ' puts his 
 bow in the cloud' of our darkest affliction. 
 Ah, it is well, if a Father's hand smites. He 
 has blessings in reserve, and I will wait and 
 hope for them, and welcome health, if he shall 
 please to grant me that too. I am weak in- 
 deed, physically and spiritually; but while 
 
190 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 there is the promise of spiritual strength equal 
 to my day, I can bear the other cheerfully. 
 How I love the dear Surrey people, for their 
 kind prayerful interest in one so unworthy oi 
 their regard ! With kindest love to your cir- 
 cle, believe me, my dear friend, 
 
 "Yours ver}' sincerely, 
 
 '•MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
 As soon as her illness assumed a threaten- 
 ing aspect, which the air of Brighton did not 
 remove, the church met to supplicate the Fa- 
 ther of mercies to interpose his gracious hand, 
 and if it pleased him, to restore her to health 
 and usefvilness. The mothers over whom she 
 had presided had repeated concerts for prayer, 
 and sent her some precious sentiments of sym- 
 pathy and love, to which she thus replies : 
 
 "37 King's Road, December 12. 
 
 "My beloved Friend — What can I say in 
 return for the kind and affectionate expression 
 of the sympathy of the dear maternal band, 
 which your welcome letter contains ? I would 
 write my sense of it to them generally, but 
 the poor mind sympathizes with the body in 
 its weakness, and it is a mental effort to which 
 
DECLINING HEALTH— JOURNIES. 191 
 
 I am unequal ; but you will express for me 
 what you know my heart feels, and how 
 cheered I am by the kind remembrance of me 
 which has been shown by them, in common 
 with all the dear church at Surrey. It is 
 sweet to find a special errand to our Father's 
 throne, and to be borne there by so many Chris- 
 tian hearts. I am perfectly amazed at the un- 
 merited interest of my dear friends, and it 
 humbles me to know how little I have practi- 
 cally shown the deep interest I feel in them. 
 How little I have improved the many opportu- 
 nities of exercising useful influence over them, 
 in exciting to more eminent devotedness, and 
 to closer walking with God. Ah, my loved 
 friend, I dare not say, should my heavenly 
 Father restore my health, how different shall 
 my future course be, but I would rather plead 
 that such a sanctified result of his chastise- 
 ment may be granted ; that so I may act, and 
 my desires be no longer floating imaginations 
 only, but practical, uniform labors, to draw all 
 within my reach to Jesus. Surely if the 
 prayers of your — our — dear maternal band 
 'come up as a memorial before God,' I shall, 
 
192 
 
 MARTHA SHERSIAK. 
 
 if not restored to bodily health, yet receive 
 that measure of spiritual vigor which I so 
 much need. May the dear hearts that remem- 
 ber me be ever on the heart of our adorable 
 Intercessor before the throne, and all meet him 
 there, to unite in one song for ever." 
 
 In reply to some kind and anxious inquiries, 
 she thus addresses one of her father's servants. 
 
 "December 18. 1845. 
 
 " I am much obliged for your kind anxiety 
 on my account. How delightful to know in 
 whose hands my life and health are. Who 
 can be anxious in such hands ? I cannot wish 
 any other appointment than his own. Reports 
 from Surrey say my illness has already been 
 blest to many, in rousing them to more prayer 
 and diligence. Is it not then worth while to 
 suffer, if God be glorified by it? While others 
 are being watered by it, pray for me that my 
 own vineyard may not miss the heavenly 
 shower, and perish in barrenness and fruitless- 
 ness." 
 
 A young lady, a member of one of her class- 
 es, had gathered around her a number of Jew- 
 ish children, to whose instruction in useful and 
 
DECLINIKG HEALTH— JOUUNIES. 
 
 193 
 
 relio^ious knowledsfe she devoted herself. Mrs. 
 Sherman took the deepest interest in this class, 
 first from a special love to the children of Is- 
 rael, and next from the indefatigable zeal and 
 perseverance which prompted her young friend, 
 amidst great difficulties and discouragements, 
 to proceed in her work of faith. She thus en- 
 courages her: 
 
 " December 24, 1845 
 
 " I think you have no reason to be cast down 
 about your dear Jews. Think what they were, 
 what they now are, and what they are likely 
 to become, through the influence of the prayer 
 of faith accompanying the valuable ijistructions 
 already imparted. It is neither the planter nor 
 the waterer, but th^ Spirit which you seek, that 
 shall take the veil from their hearts. I often 
 think the efforts for them are like one expect- 
 ing the rising sun. While gazing and watch- 
 ing for the lovely and much-desired orb, his 
 eyes get dazzled with the brightness of the 
 clouds which give promise of his rising. He 
 watches till he can watch no longer, and turns 
 his eyes to objects less brilliant, but nearer at 
 hand. While he is thus engaged, the sun rises, 
 
 Sherman. 1 3 
 
194 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 but he sees it not till the warmth and bright- 
 ness it diffuses rouse him to turn again and 
 Irtok. So we wait and pray for Israel's salva- 
 tion, but again and again are disheartened, 
 because the bright promises which first encour- 
 aged us to pray and watch, yet remain unful- 
 filled, though the voice that spoke them as- 
 sures us they certainly shall be performed ; and 
 while our unbelief leads us often to turn our 
 eyes to more tangible and visible fruits, or 
 prospects of fruits, the event occurs, the veil 
 is removed from their heart, and we perceive 
 it not, till the sweet results of Israel's turning 
 to the Lord gladden the whole world. 
 
 "You have watched long for the answers to 
 our united Thursday praj«ers for your little 
 class, and your dear heart seems failing, just 
 at the moment when the improvement and the 
 remarks of the children seem to indicate a 
 state of mind preparing to welcome Christ, 
 the once-despised 'Nazarene,' as their Saviour. 
 Be not discouraged, dear: expect great things. 
 One converted Jewish child may be one of the 
 instruments God shall employ. 'A nation 
 shall be boTn in a day.' G-o on, my beloved 
 
DECLINING HEALTH— JOURNIISS. 195 
 
 girl, and expect to see those children in heav- 
 en; then I believe you will labor more diligent- 
 ly and pray more fervently for them." 
 
 The following extract shows the heart of the 
 mother — the loving, praying, believing mother ; 
 "The dear children are remarkably well, and 
 baby the very best baby that can be. I never 
 saw so good a child. I trust she will grow up 
 as good as she now is. Perhaps I may not 
 live to see her a woman, but I believe she will 
 be owned of Him to whom she was given long 
 before she was born; and if he take her up 
 as David says, I need not fear, if I go home 
 first, but my children will follow me in due 
 time." 
 
 The following note, written in pencil in a 
 small memorandum book, exhibits the calm 
 resignation of her spirit to the will of God, 
 and the rich enjoyment she possessed of his 
 gracious presence. 
 
 "February 10, 1846. — Left dear Surrey for 
 Ventnor, by the advice of Sir J. Clark, Drs. 
 Latham and Chambers. Felt it a trying de- 
 cree, but much relieved by the confidence that 
 a loving Father saw it best for me ; no severe 
 
196 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 chastisement of an angry Grod, but a Father's 
 needed discipline. Much cheered hy his deal- 
 ings — taking so much trouble with me, to pre- 
 pare me for the enjoyment of himself on earth, 
 and at last in heaven, where the service and 
 worship shall no more be impeded by disease 
 and weakness. I would record my enjoyment 
 in the chair on Ryde pier; I thought, perhaps 
 as silently, but unconsciously, I might be 
 borne back again, no more to see my beloved 
 earthly home, but to be laid by my dear moth- 
 er's side, to await the voice of the archangel; 
 yet felt satisfied that if it were so ordered, it 
 would be better and more for God's glory that 
 it should be so: therefore, checked the rising 
 thought of those whose dear hearts might de- 
 sire my stay, and who seem to need it. That 
 is not necessary which God withdraws in 
 love." 
 
 The last private record which she permitted 
 to be preserved, immediately follows the pre- 
 ceding. 
 
 " February 12. — Dear husband left. Watch- 
 ed the coach with its beloved passenger to the 
 top of the hill at Bonchurch, and committed 
 
DECLINING HEALTH— JOUE.NIES. 
 
 197 
 
 him to Him whose word is enough for his pro- 
 tection. Took a solitary walJi to divert my 
 mind ; ' most lovely scenery. He who created 
 the hills is my Beloved and my Friend. Saw 
 a poor Jew, and longed to speak to him, but 
 could not with my respirator, yet enjoyed 
 prayer for him. 'Lord, let a Saviour's blood 
 be on him, not as a curse, but as the blood of 
 the Lamb of G-od, which taketh away the sins 
 of the world.' " 
 
 "I hope to form a maternal association in 
 this room in a few days; I am quietly work- 
 ing at it. The great difficulty is to find some 
 
 suitable person to superintend it. Mi's. 
 
 has been suggested, but she is neither a mother 
 nor motherly. The tradesmen's wives are quite 
 encouraging in their response to the proposition, 
 and I think it would much promote union and 
 love, as \Afell as piety, in the congregation. 
 Pray for me, my dear friend, that I may be 
 .guided and assisted in the little effort." 
 
 One day, while resting on a stUe near Bon- 
 church, a young widow passed, and by her 
 appearance indicated that she had not long 
 known that mournful condition. Pity instant- 
 
198 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 ly moved the heart of Mrs. Sherman towards 
 the disconsolate stranger, whose inquiry re- 
 specting her health afforded the pastor's wife 
 an opportunity for ' further conversation. In 
 the melting tones of her tender voice she ex- 
 pressed her sympathy for the recent loss and 
 present circumstances of the widow; which 
 seemed to meet the desires of a heart longing 
 to tell its griefs to the benevolent mind, of 
 whose kindness the soothing words that fell 
 from those gracious lips were the evidence. 
 This is her deeply interesting recital of the 
 event : 
 
 "I walked this morning alone to Bonchurch, 
 and felt very tired ; seeing a stile rather farther 
 on, I sat there. As I rested I thought how 
 humbling it was to be literally disabled by my 
 respirator from speaking to any of the poor I 
 met. WhUe trying fo get some useful lesson 
 from it, a widow and child, whom I had not 
 seen before, came up, and seeing me, kindly 
 inquired after my health. After a few general 
 observations she was moving on, saying, as she 
 bowed her leave of me, ' It must be a trial to 
 you to be alone in Ventnor.' I simply replied^ 
 
DECLINING HEALTH— JOURNIES. 
 
 199 
 
 ' Your trial is greater than mine ; but if we 
 botli know and love Him who tries us, our 
 trials will be sweetened, will they not?' She 
 imnediately said, 'Oh, that is what I want to 
 understand.' I asked permission to join her, 
 as she was going home, and I shall not soon 
 forget that walk, the eagerness with which she 
 soaght instruction, and the liberty that was 
 giVen me in placing the gospel before her. I 
 believe my respirator helped my freedom, and 
 I seem now quite satisfied that God has given 
 me something to do here, worth all the trial of 
 coming. 
 
 " She begs that I will allow her further con- 
 versation another day, which you may be sure 
 I will. Indeed, it seemed altogether so ar- 
 ranged, and so timed, that I cannot but hope 
 an unseen hand directed us to meet. You will 
 entreat for her and for me, that I may be as- 
 sisted to guide her, for she seems very igno- 
 rant, though, as she says, ' longing to be con- 
 verted ;' and that her heart may be opened to 
 receive the truth in its sweet simplicity. I am 
 much interested in the servants, too; I hope 
 to get at them thoroughly soon. I have had 
 
200 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 much conversation with one, and I believe she 
 feels some interest. God meant more in send- 
 ing me here, and in trials generally he intends 
 more than individual benefit. It is for us to 
 watch his working, that we may work with 
 him and promote all the objects he designs. If 
 I may but help another to heaven, I shall not 
 think it so painful to be separated from my . 
 dear home.'' 
 
 Finding her message acceptable, she follow-, 
 ed up this first interview by successive meet- 
 ings, in which she endeavored to explain to her 
 willing disciple "the way of Grod more per- 
 fectly." 
 
 "I am increasingly interested in my widow; 
 she usually spends from seven to eight in the 
 evening with me ; think of us then. I am en- 
 deavoring to instruct her thoroughly in the 
 great doctrines of the gospel, for I fear unless 
 her mind as well as her heart is influenced, the 
 snares around her will prove sadly injurious. 
 Every truth is new, and she drinks in instruc- 
 tion with great delight." 
 
 She made this widow's case a subject of en- 
 treaty with God, that he would be pleased to 
 
DECLININa HEALTH— JOURNIES. 201 
 
 compensate the loss of her creature comfort, 
 by taking up his residence in her heart. She 
 wrote to several of her friends to engage their 
 prayers on behalf of the "hopeful inquirer," 
 and commended her to Christians in the 
 vicinity, entreating them to watch over the 
 buddings of piety which had begun to ap- 
 pear. Mrs. Sherman was soon convinced, that 
 repentance for sin, especially for neglected op- 
 portunities and faith in Christ, though "as a 
 grain of mustard-seed," existed in that spirit, 
 whose previously unfriendly habits and present 
 hinderances to decision rendered her, to all hu- 
 man appearance, a most unlikely person ever 
 to taste of gospel privileges. A period of two 
 years confirmed the accuracy of her judgment; 
 and a short time before her death, she "be- 
 queathed the widow's soul as a legacy" to a 
 Christian friend, to be watched over and trained 
 for God. Subsequent events have brought her 
 to London, where she is associated as a mem- 
 ber with the church of Christ at Surrey Chapel, 
 and walks before God to the comfort of her 
 pastor's heart, as a living memorial of the 
 precious saint who won her soul for Christ, and 
 
202 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 a striking illustration of the fact, "Blessed are 
 ye that sow heside all waters." 
 
 Her conversation with the servants, and her 
 affectionate liindness for their immortal inter- 
 ests, so won them that they solicited the privi- 
 lege of attending the family service. "I have 
 at last found courage to allow the household 
 to he present at family worship, when I am 
 alone. They always unite with us when Mr. 
 Sherman or papa are here; hut till lately I 
 only allowed nurse to come in. We now as- 
 semble eight, including the waiter. I never 
 previously prayed hefore a man, except in the 
 cottages of the poor, and I feel it to he a great 
 effort; but "the desire on their part to be pres- 
 ent, convinced me that I should think of no 
 impediment." 
 
 As soon as Mrs. Sherman was informed that 
 a small debt encumbered the chapel at Vent- 
 nor, with a countenance beaming with benevo- 
 lence and decision, she said to her husband, "I 
 will try and comfort the dear man's heart, by 
 attempting its removal." "Weak as she was, 
 she wrote a note every day to some liberal 
 Christian, and pleaded with others, from whom 
 
DECLININa HEALTH— JOURNIES. 
 
 203 
 
 she never had a denial, and in less than a 
 month the whole amount required was paid. 
 Never can her husband forget the moment 
 when he accidentally disturbed her in her 
 room, kneeling before a chair on which she had 
 placed the money thus collected, begging God 
 to accept the offerings of his servants, and 
 thanking him for employing her in its collec- 
 tion. 0, it was a lovely sight to behold both 
 the contributions and the efforts, which were 
 great in her state of weakness, alike conse- 
 crated to God. Let the contributors to that 
 fund be assured that, ere this, good interest 
 has come to them from heaven through her 
 prayers. 
 
 She thus describes the state of her health: 
 "Well, I suppose I must say something about 
 myself: I am decidedly stronger; I keep out, 
 walking, standing, leaning against posts, sit- 
 ting, sauntering, or riding every bright Jay, 
 and we have had two days only that were not 
 so. My cough is generally much as it was; 
 two days this week my old symptoms of ex- 
 haustion and sickness have thrown me back, 
 but I hope soon to regain lost ground. My 
 
204 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 heart yearns to speak to the poor invalids I see 
 here; I long to know where is their hope, and 
 whether I could help to point them to Jesus. 
 My respirator is a great impediment, because 
 it is as difficult to be heard as to speak." 
 
 To a young friend in the north, in whose 
 honored family she had occasionally taken up 
 her abode, she addressed the following letter, 
 as an answer to objections and difficulties 
 arising from a want of assurance: 
 
 '•January, 1846. 
 
 "You have been very much in my heart 
 since I received your letter two months since ; 
 but my ability to write where any effort is 
 requisite, has been so feeble that I have defer- 
 red, hoping for better days ; but my weakness 
 and cough remain, and therefore, in spite of an 
 empty mind, I am going to try to answer you. 
 A conversation only could properly respond to 
 your note, because, like all in your state, there 
 is a mixture of complete contradictions — not 
 loving Jesus, yet longing to be like him — lov- 
 ing sin, yet aiming at perfection. Now, my 
 sweet child, one thing is certain — that no con- 
 flict begins in the soul till the Spirit of God 
 
DECLINING HEALTH— JOURNIES. 
 
 205 
 
 begins to work; therefore set this down at 
 once, that these desires after G-od are not pro- 
 duced by your own sinful nature. To dis- 
 courage you in your path to the kingdom, the 
 enemy of souls is perpetually throwing temp- 
 tations in your way to make you stumhle, and 
 if he can succeed, to induce you to give up 
 entirely so difficult an effort. Remember, the 
 Christian life is one of conflict and of faith. 
 Joyful indeed would any Christian be without 
 the trial of faith; but would this glorify Grod? 
 No; Christian assurance is the result of close 
 walking with God, by simple unshaken faith 
 in his word. You are to commit that naked, 
 guilty soul to him, to be saved in his own 
 way; you are to expect, nay, to receive salva- 
 tion, because the offer of it is made to you. 
 God has proved his entire satisfaction in the 
 work of his beloved Son, by raising him from 
 the dead, and seating him at his own right 
 hand in glory, as the Intercessor. The work 
 of redemption therefore is complete, and now 
 the gospel is sent into the world, inviting every 
 creature to receive it, because God is 'just, and 
 the justifier of him that believeth.' Take God 
 
206 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 at his word, and accept salvation, and the fruits 
 of faith must follow. 
 
 "You must not be discouraged because of 
 your many falls and broken resolutions; look 
 up cheerfully to Him who promises strength 
 to the faint and 'help to the weak.' Keep a ^ 
 steady purpose, in most entire reliance on di- 
 vine strength and 'the supply of the Spirit of 
 Jesus Christ,' and do not stop to look how 
 many times you have fallen, but pursue your 
 way ; exercise constant repentance and simple 
 trust in a faithful Friend; forget the things 
 which are behind, and press forward to those 
 which are before; tarry not in all the plain, 
 but press onward, onward, onward. Thank 
 him for every thing you discover of a hopeful 
 character; give him the glory, and this will 
 greatly encourage you. Do not be idle; you 
 will never get on if you are. Your time be- 
 longs to God, your talents are his, and for him 
 they must be employed. Ask, 'Lord, what 
 wilt thou have me to do, and show me how to 
 do it; open a way for me, that to thee I may 
 render of thine own.' Be much in prayer and 
 in prayerful study of the word of God. Use 
 
DECLININO HEALTH— JOURNIES. 207 
 
 Grod as a friend, and you will soon write cheer- 
 ily. If my poor mind can at any time help 
 you, or' if I have not caught what you meant, 
 do use me, and let me know; I may not be 
 able to write immediately, but I will when I 
 can. I fear I must at least wait till the spring 
 for brighter days, but I am most happy ; I love 
 the hand that smites, and I cannot shrink at 
 His gentle touch. "With much love to your 
 dear circle, I am, ■ 
 
 "Your truly attached friend, 
 
 '■M. SHERMAN." 
 
 As the summer advanced, more strength was 
 gained, the cough seemed greatly subdued, and 
 hope was entertained that even now her life 
 might be given to her family and the service of 
 her Lord. "Prayer was made without ceasing 
 by the church" for her, and all her friends 
 were strengthened to continue in supplication 
 by the pleasing indications of recovery. The 
 Countess Von Reden of Buchwald, in Silesia, 
 Prussia, was exceedingly anxious that a change 
 of scene and air should be tried, and sent her 
 a most affectionate invitation to visit her hos- 
 pitable mansion, and try her maternal superin- 
 
208 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 tendence. Her physicians thought the plan 
 desirable, now her powers were recruited, and 
 advised an immediate departure, while the 
 brightness of the summer lasted. 
 
 During this second tour on the continent of 
 Europe, undertaken now for her own benefit, 
 she was no less assiduous than in her days of 
 health in employing her energies for the ad- 
 vancement of truth and piety among her fellow- 
 men. She did not avail herself of the excuse 
 which her declining strength might have fur- 
 nished for a self-indulgent relaxation in her 
 efforts for others. The dictates of a heart filled 
 with love to God and man were heeded by her, 
 rather than the promptings of a diseased and 
 decaying body. 
 
 As on her former tour, she wrote minute and 
 highly interesting records of the various objects 
 of interest which she met; and many a circum- 
 stance which an ordinary observer would fail to 
 notice, was to her active mind a connecting link 
 between her heavenly Father and his child, and 
 suggestive of some thought tending to purify and 
 elevate her character. She returned to England 
 in September, after an absence of two months. 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 209 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 VISIT TO ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 
 
 The continental tour and the visit to Silesia, 
 referred to in the preceding chapter, greatly- 
 improved Mrs. Sherman's general health, which 
 for some time after her return was sustained, 
 to the astonishment and comfort of her friends. 
 Hope, naturally buoyant in her cheerful tem- 
 per, became lively and vigorous. Her recovery, 
 before encompassed with uncertainty, she now 
 anticipated with confidence, and told her hus- 
 band, in cheerful accents, that as she felt bet- 
 ter than for months previously, she was assured 
 the Lord would again permit her to labor in his 
 vineyard. Her cough however had never been 
 effectually subdued, and as the winter advanced 
 began to show fearful symptoms of increased 
 violence. At the commencement of the year 
 1847 the strength previously gained declined, 
 and the appetite, which had been remarkably 
 renewed, rapidly failed. 
 
 Though the parsonage is situated very favor- 
 
 Sherman. "I 4 
 
210 
 
 ilARIHA SHERMAK. 
 
 ably for a consumptive patient, being protected- 
 entirely fron:i the north and east, it was thought 
 by her physician that the atmosphere of London 
 aggravated her disease ; therefore, as a change 
 for the invalid, rather than with any expectation 
 of permanent amendment, he ordered her for a 
 few weeks to her father's residence at Enfield, 
 where every attention that love could invent 
 was paid to the precious saint. Here, spas- 
 modic attacks of coughing, which were enough 
 to excite sympathy for the patient, cheerful 
 sufferer in the coldest heart, produced dreadful 
 exhaustion and brought her very low. Yet 
 she rallied again and again, and it appeared for 
 a few days as if the symptoms had taken a 
 favorable turn, and that, notwithstanding all 
 she had suffered, she might hereafter again 
 "work the work of the Lord." She was not 
 wholly deprived of attending worship on the 
 Sabbath; occasionally in the morning or after- 
 noon, she ventured among the assembled saints, 
 and ate with a keener spiritual relish the bread 
 that came down from heaven. But even a 
 short service was more than her enfeebled 
 strength could sustain without increased suffer- 
 
AT ST. LfEONARD'S AJNi) HASTINGS. 211 
 
 ing; and often has her determination to go 
 " where Grod dwells" cost her the sacrifice of a 
 night's rest and much bodily comfort. Still, 
 what relative could authoritatively interpose 
 or resist the touching I'emonstrance, '"Let me 
 go, I may not worship with you long on earth ; 
 and if I do suffer a little more in my body, my 
 spirit is refreshed with the dews which fall on 
 Zion's hill; 0, it is good to be there." 
 
 Rather than attempt to describe the state of 
 her mind, and its gracious employment, it 
 will be preferable to show both in some portions 
 of letters which she wrote at this period. 
 These will prove how near the verge of heaven 
 her spirit lived, from whence she derived her 
 solid peace, and how intent she was on serving 
 her incarnate Lord through the remaining days 
 of her suffering existence. That she might not 
 appear to be wholly separated from her Sab- 
 bath-class, a lady who had occasionally assisted 
 her, when necessitated to leave home, kindly 
 undertook to superintend it on her behalf; but 
 sickness in her friend's family compelled her 
 absence from London for a season, and finally 
 from the neighborhood of Surrey chapel. Just 
 
212 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 at this time, and when she felt her resumption 
 of its duties was hopeless, the kindness of her 
 heavenly Father appeared in sending to her 
 Miss Neele, a valued friend with whom she 
 had been on terms of intimacy from childhood, 
 to take charge of the education of her two 
 daughters. She entered the family a few 
 weeks before Mrs. Sherman's tour to Silesia, 
 and when she returned undertook to instruct 
 the class for a few Sabbaths; but her labors 
 proving very acceptable to the pupils, at the 
 request of Mrs. Sherman, seconded by the class, 
 she consented to become its permanent instruct- 
 ress. Her Sunday-class being thus happily 
 provided for, a great burden was at once re- 
 moved from her mind, while by their teacher's 
 residence with her, she was still able to main- 
 tain communication with them. 
 
 Although her young ladies' class required an 
 effort only once a fortnight, her failing strength 
 would not permit her longer to indulge the 
 pleasing expectation that she might resume its 
 duties ; and it became her anxiety and prayer 
 that some efficient and cultivated teacher might 
 be found for that also. At the beginning of 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 213 
 
 Ihe year 1847 Mrs. Field, a lady well qualified 
 for the undertaking, cheered her heart by sig^ 
 nifying to the exhausted invalid her acceptance 
 of the office. Her joy at this announcement 
 will be best told in her own language : 
 
 " January 9, 1847. 
 
 "Many are the instances in which your 
 kindness, my beloved friend, has revived my 
 heart; but as 'a friend in need is a friend in- 
 deed,' you have specially cheered my mind, by 
 its unexpected relief from the burden of my 
 beloved Bible-class. Long have I desired and 
 coveted your valuable aid, but your own deli- 
 cacy of health made me shrink from suggest- 
 ing any plan that would make demands on 
 your strength; but your dear, kind heart has 
 anticipated my wishes, and I tender you the 
 overflowings of mine in gratitude and love. 
 My dear husband fully intended to take charge 
 of the class when this year opened ; but the 
 state of his chest and of his general health, for 
 some weeks, made me think it quite improper 
 and even perilous for him to attempt any ad- 
 ditional exercise. 
 
 "My grief over that dear class, so much 
 
214 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 needing assistance, and the hope of resuming 
 my place among them being so continually- 
 disappointed by the recurrence of old evil 
 symptoms, whenever I encounter the slightest 
 exertion and excitement, have perhaps aggra- 
 vated the trial of banishment from my loved 
 place among them. I wish you, my dear 
 friend, the same rich enjoyment I have expe- 
 rienced in meeting them ; for though physically 
 there was rather suffering than enjoyment, my 
 nobler part has been often refreshed in the 
 feeble, broken effort to draw them near to 
 God. I have struggled long with my con- 
 sciousness of utter inefficiency for so respon- 
 sible a position; now my heavenly Father is 
 trying and proving me, whether I would serve 
 him or not. 
 
 "Ah, my beloved friend, none but One can 
 sympathize with my feelings, in being thus 
 step by step, removed from the scenes of rich 
 privilege, in which my whole soul has long 
 luxuriated, and enjoyed such rich manifesta- 
 tions of my Father's condescension and love. 
 Why was I permitted to taste the dear cup of 
 hallowed joy, so utterly unworthy as I am of 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 
 
 215 
 
 the least notice of my Father's eye ? "Why 
 was the cup taken from me, just as I was 
 increasingly realizing the happiness of being 
 nothing — less than nothing — that God might 
 be ' all in all.' It sometimes seems as if it was 
 a stroke of his wrath, and while I am over- 
 whelmed that his mercy ever reached my guilty 
 soul at all, I catch myself continually asking, 
 'Wherefore dost thou contend with me?' He 
 has brought me so to love him that I am ready, 
 I think, to feel 'He doeth all things well;' and 
 if he leave me without usefulness or influence 
 all my remaining days, it must be for some 
 infinitely wise purpose, though hidden from me, 
 and contrary to his ordinary method; for he 
 surely must be more glorified by the increase 
 of my influence, if he sanctify its exercise, than 
 by its removal. I am willing, more than 
 willing, to be entirely at his disposal, to be 
 nothing in the esteem of others, if he be but 
 glorified. But is it not mysterious, that in the 
 flower of my days, and just arriving at the age 
 when, if ever, some degree of wisdom may be 
 anticipated, and delighting in every thing in 
 proportion to my ability to communicate my 
 
216 
 
 MAETHA SHERMAN. 
 
 enjoyment to others, I am thus suddenly ar- 
 rested in my course? My weakness last win- 
 ter prevented all such gloomy musings; but 
 the great improvement in my general health 
 since my journey, seemed to encourage every 
 hope that I might again do as in former happy 
 days. But every attempt proves my mistake, 
 and sends me back to my closet, to ask that 
 resignation which surely I must want, or I 
 could not feel so discouraged. Forgive me for 
 thus pouring out my heart's grief to you. I 
 know you will pray for your unworthy friend, 
 as well as so substantially help her." 
 
 One of the members of the church had been 
 most unjustly subjected to a criminal prosecu- 
 tion, in consequence of the unexpected death 
 of the person to whom his kind offices were 
 gratuitously rendered. "Weak as she was, she 
 would send the following testimony of her sym- 
 pathy to his wife : 
 
 "Clay Hill, Enfield, February 1, 1847. 
 
 "I fear you are in anxiety, and I must send 
 my paper representative to assure you, dear Mrs. 
 
 L , how truly and heartily I sympathize 
 
 with you and your good husband under this 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 217 
 
 unexpected trial ; for though human syinpathy 
 can nf itself do little, it is sometimes cheer- 
 ing to know that every Christian sympathizer 
 contributes his or her mite to 'open the win- 
 dows of heaven,' that ' a blessing may be poured 
 out;' and you have many such sympathizers 
 at Surrey. When God is about to answer a 
 prayer which has long appeared to be unheed- 
 ed, he often seems to be sending only judg- 
 ments and wrath, raising enemies in return 
 for kindness, and crossing our best and most 
 hallowed purposes. We are so slow to com- 
 prehend our Father's methods of disciplining 
 his children, and so unwilling to work with him 
 in accomplishing his designs, that we are some- 
 times ready in our hearts, if not with our lips, 
 to join with Jacob in saying, ' All these things 
 are against me.' 
 
 "But, my dear friend, this present trial is 
 not more mysterious than Jacob's; all was 
 overruled in his case for good, and I am per- 
 fectly confident that God's design in your case 
 is for your advantage. How many have been 
 led to pray for you, who but feebly remem- 
 bered you before. Has it not led both you and 
 
218 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 your hustand to cast yourselves more simply 
 on Him who has all hearts in his hands ? Has 
 not the unchangeable faithfulness of God been 
 endeared in contrast with the malice of man? 
 The consciousness of integrity in your hus- 
 band's mind must be very consoling; the con- 
 viction that, however hateful the circumstances 
 of this trial are to the divine mind, yet, that 
 while his love permits them, he has entire 
 authority over them, so that they cannot do 
 more than he allows, is the sweetener of the 
 most bitter sorrow. 
 
 "'Look not,' my dear friend, 'at the things 
 which are seen' and 'temporal,' but 'at the 
 things which are unseen and eternal ;' so, ' our 
 light affliction worketh for us a far more ex- 
 ceeding and eternal weight of glory.' Look 
 through the dark cloud to Him that sits on his 
 throne, who makes the clouds his chariots of 
 love to draw you nearer to himself; behold him 
 in his ways till you love him and all his deal- 
 ings, however painful, confident that ' He that 
 spared not his own Son ' will ' freely give us 
 all things,' whether trial or prosperity, that 
 shall tend to our complete and fi.nal redemption. 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 219 
 
 • He loves too much to spare the rod when 
 needed, and he strikes because he loves and 
 'cares for you.' In his hands leave this week's 
 results; he will never betray you. Excuse 
 this note, which an anxious and sympathizing 
 heart dictates." 
 
 It was her habit on the return of her wed- 
 ding-day to review the providences which had 
 attended her useful course. A note bearing 
 date March 3, 1847, alludes to this event, and 
 exhibits how well her mind was disciplined to 
 endure and even welcome her altered condition, 
 which contrasted so painfully with that of for- 
 mer years. 
 
 "If you are in London, my dear friend, do 
 try to come and cheer me with your presence 
 at the maternal-meeting here on Monday; it 
 always delights me to see you, but especially 
 when I feel unequal to exertion, and must fall 
 back upon my kind friends. Several fresh 
 members have joined us lately, and I am 
 anxious to secure the assistance of those who 
 can speak to good purpose, which you know I 
 think you do. I am indeed a poor creature 
 now, more so than ever ; and am called to give 
 
220 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAJT. 
 
 up to other and far more efficient hands the • 
 little objects which have so intensely interested 
 me. Twelve years of peculiar happiness I have 
 passed this day with my beloved husband; it 
 is the first wedding-day that has transpired 
 without bright hopes of increasing activity and 
 usefulness; but I am now bidden to 'stand 
 still,' to wait, to submit, and to yield such 
 hopes to others. I feel, however, it is right, 
 and I do not in my heart desire any other ap- 
 pointment ; my flesh sometimes does, but though 
 a painful discipline, it is quite enough for me 
 that I am in my Father's hands. This sUences 
 every rebellious wish, and I hope soon to recog- 
 nize submission as more congenial than that 
 activity which I once so much enjoyed. I 
 want to know no will but his ; quietly and 
 cheerfully to sit in sUence, and learn the great 
 lessons which he has given to qualify me for 
 the enjoyment of himself, and to promote his 
 own glory." 
 
 To another of her friends whose attentions to 
 her diet were never-failing, she thus replies • 
 
 "Again must I thank you, my very kind 
 friend, for the repetition of your affectionate 
 
 * 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 221 
 
 remembrance, and for its extension to my little 
 Patty. I can only regard you as a 'minister- 
 ing' body, as well as 'spirit,' if I am not pre- 
 sumptuous in the humble hope that, 'through 
 Him that loved' and 'washed' me, I am 'an 
 heir of salvation,' to whom those blessed ones 
 are sent to minister. He who commissions 
 them is indeed the source of 'every good and 
 every perfect gift.' I bless him for making 
 your heart the kind well of mercy it is — you 
 will give him all the glory ; and I bless you 
 for the sweet overflowings of that heart to me, 
 which inclines you in all things to do his will, 
 and to make others happy. I disobey you by 
 writing, but I must thank you while I can hold 
 a pen." 
 
 On the 3rd of April, by the advice of Dr. 
 Roots, she left London for St. Leonard's. The 
 little exercise she was able to take in the open 
 air, by the facilities this lovely and quiet place 
 afforded, and the warm breezes from the ocean, 
 greatly renovated her strength and reduced 
 the violence of her cough for a few weeks ; but 
 she had now an exercise of another and more 
 painful kind. Her mind, which, during the 
 
222 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 whole period of her sickness had been remark- 
 ably placid, and even joyous, became suddenly 
 depressed: not that it was apparent to an or- 
 dinary observer ; for, like her Saviour, she sel- 
 dom mentioned her mental sorrows, except to 
 her heavenly Father. Her great anxiety for 
 the comfort of others would not allow her, un- 
 less absolutely necessary, to obtrude her griefs 
 on their attention; even her husband was not 
 made acquainted with them till after repeated 
 inquiry, lest the tale of sorrow should diminish 
 his happiness. 
 
 The dart which the vile archer, taking ad- 
 vantage of her bodily M^eakness, cast into her 
 tender conscience, was the base insinuation 
 that her backwardness to converse on heavenly 
 and spiritual topics had been a hinderance to 
 her husband's usefulness. Never did he invent 
 a more false accusation, for it was scarcely 
 possible for a disciple to give a heartier re- 
 sponse when the peculiarities of Christian ex- 
 perience were introduced, or to show greater 
 delight when the tales of Grod's love were the 
 subjects of conversation. It was not her habit 
 to thrust her religious opinions on every com- 
 
AI ST. LEONARD S AND HASTINGS. 223 
 
 pany and season; but few opportunities es- 
 caped without some delicate allusion to the 
 best of topics, with which her heart was 
 charged. Poor and rich, pious and profane, 
 will confirm this testimony ; and he whose 
 ministry her clouded imagination fancied" she 
 had injured, can only lament that the charge 
 might, with greater propriety, be brought 
 against him, that he had not sufficiently im- 
 proved the precious opportunities now, alas, 
 past, of spiritual communion with her during 
 thirteen years of almost uninterrupted bliss. 
 The description she gives of her state of mind 
 is so mournfully beautiful, that it cannot be 
 withheld. 
 
 "Before my marriage, my own impression 
 of one of the most important duties of a min- 
 ister's wife was this: that as her. husband's 
 many and varied occupations, being all on one 
 subject, were necessarily likely, in a measure, 
 to become mechanical, unless much time could 
 be devoted to communion with God and his 
 own heart in private ; her duty would be, by 
 her piety and spirituality of conversation, to 
 help his piety, and to give it the vigor requi- 
 
224 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 site to its constant exhibition in its brightest, 
 purest form at home. Now, my beloved hus- 
 band does everywhere show whom he serves; 
 but that quiet influence which the wife should 
 exert for him — not, believe me, by attempting 
 to dictate or teach, quite the reverse — I have 
 sought, longed for, prayed for, for twelve 
 years, but have never yet attained. And I feel 
 powerfully as if I had been your hinderance, 
 by my neglect of spiritual conversation; that 
 it is one of my wasted opportunities, and that 
 I am to be taken away as an utterly useless 
 being. For many weeks my heart has been 
 deeply oppressed, and it is my relief to shed 
 many tears. 
 
 "My Christian course has been a singularly 
 happy one: my first sight of the atonement 
 and the work of Christ has never lost its clear- 
 ness, and my mind seems incapable of long 
 depression as to my personal interest in Christ, 
 from that my refuge never being concealed. 
 This is, probably, partly from my natural hope- 
 fulness of disposition. For many long weeks, I 
 have lost much of my relish for my Bible, and 
 but for the influence of habit and conscience. 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 
 
 225 
 
 should sometimes neither open it nor repeat 
 any portion of it to myself, for a whole day. 
 I have no enjoyment of the presence of God, 
 and literally, I have gone from room to room 
 here, almost unconsciously, trying whether my 
 absent Lord would meet me anywhere: noth- 
 ing affords me any pleasure; 'they have taken 
 away my Lord,' and I can find no joy without 
 him. I do not feel my hope in Christ shaken; 
 this is the bitterness of my sorrow, that I hope, 
 unworthy as I am, he has bought me with his 
 own most precious blood, and therefore the in- 
 gratitude of neglecting his will is so base. He 
 delights in the happiness of the meanest of his 
 creatures, and hides not his face but in faith- 
 fulness and love ; and that such a Father 
 should have such a child, is a sorrow indeed. 
 It amazes me, that I do not entirely doubt my 
 adoption; it is so unlike the spirit of a child 
 in his family, to suspect I grieve him, and yet 
 spai'e any pains till the cause is removed. 
 
 "He has warned me by sickness, which 
 loosens many a tongue, but still to my most 
 beloved husband I am dumb. Never ^ave I 
 known an habitually heavy heart till this win- 
 
226 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 ter, and now there seems a shade over every 
 thing. It is not enough to hope I am Christ's, 
 if I do not glorify him ; and insensibiUty alone, 
 such as mine, must be most offensive to Him 
 who loves me, and takes such pains to teach 
 me, and to draw me nearer to himself. Pray, 
 0 pray for your poor wife; it is one comfort 
 that I may pray for you, and when unable to 
 feel any other prayer, I do pray with my whole 
 heart for you. Forgive me for sending you this 
 long letter about myself, but it is such a relief 
 to feel I have told you my burden. I can 
 sometimes roll it on Him who cares for me, 
 but the recollection of unforsaken sin renews 
 it. Receive a full heart of love from your de- 
 voted wife." 
 
 Though this dark cloud continued, with some 
 luminous apertures, for about six months, the 
 same cheerful tone of conversation, the same 
 efforts to help others out of their troubles, the 
 same anxiety to save souls which she mani- 
 fested in her more joyous days, pervaded her 
 conduct, as her letters of this period, as well 
 as the testimony of her friend and companion, 
 abundantly prove. The following note to her 
 
AT ST. LEONARB'S AND HASTINGS. 
 
 227 
 
 father shows that, ho^Yevel• dark the valley 
 through which she was walking, she obeyed 
 the advice of the prophet, to stay herself upon 
 her Grod, and encouraged him to the same 
 blessed exercise: 
 
 "I am but a poor thing at present, and till 
 the night perspirations cease, I cannot get very 
 robust. Quiet, which is so very necessary for 
 me, is perfectly attainable here, and every 
 thing is so peculiarly comfortable, that I stand 
 every chance of getting better, as far as means 
 and comforts avail. But One only can heal, 
 and till he says the word, your Patty must 
 cheerfully yield to the little inconveniences oi 
 weakness. She can only marvel at ' the good- 
 ness and mercy' which surround her, and 
 which gave to her the kindest and most indul- 
 gent of hu.sbands. How happy shall we be, 
 if you and I, with the loosening of our little 
 ties to earthly comforts, get more closely united 
 to those pure and tangible joys which can nev- 
 er be grasped too firmly. The more we look, 
 with the simplicity and confidence of children, 
 to the riches which are treasured up in Christ, 
 as our Father's portion, provided for us in the 
 
228 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 unfathomable depths of his love and grace, 
 surely the more shall we love him and his 
 holiness. We must ' behold his glory, till we 
 are changed into the same image from glory to 
 glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord : and 
 is not that look the look of simple faith — 
 trusting our all in a faithful, loving Father's 
 hand — receiving every promise in Christ, as 
 'yea and amen,' in him? Oh, for more sim- 
 plicity of faith, dear father." 
 
 Mr. Orne, a city mis.sionary in the Surrey 
 chapel district, who had shown much diligence 
 and devotedness in his visitation of the poor, 
 lost his wife, after a short illness. Though 
 writing at this period occasioned great fatigue, 
 she willingly made the sacrifice, to comfort the 
 widower's heart, and sent him the following 
 sympathizing letter : 
 
 "St. Leonard's, April 26. 
 
 "I cannot hear of the deep affliction with 
 which our heavenly Father has visited you, 
 my dear sir, without writing one line, though 
 in much weakness, to express my very deep 
 and sincere sympathy with you in the loss of 
 your beloved companion, especially when her 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 
 
 229 
 
 maternal care was most needed. I would not 
 however for a moment refer to the many dark 
 views of this mysterious dispensation, but 
 rather help to cheer you by the same means 
 with which you have so often cheered many 
 drooping widowed hearts; and He who has 
 witnessed your efforts with others, fails not, I 
 am sure, to comfort you now. Think not, my 
 dear sir, of your own loss, but of the 'joy un- 
 speakable and full of glory' which that eman- 
 cipated spirit now enjoys, 'without spot,' 'with 
 Christ,' 'like him,' and no longer capable of 
 sin. I often feel consoled under my 'light 
 affliction,' with the confidence I have, that 
 could our faith penetrate our Father's designs 
 in our bitterest trials, we should welcome all, 
 and dread as much the loss of one of his in- 
 tended strokes as we now do their approach. 
 If his faithful love could accomplish his gra- 
 cious plans without a pang, would he inflict 
 it ? His purposes of mercy are so far beyond 
 our finite minds to comprehend, that he does 
 not reveal them to us but by their results; in 
 heaven all will be unfolded, and the wrench 
 that separated two hearts which helped each 
 
230 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 other in the labors and toils of the missionary's 
 self-denying path, will be then found to have 
 been one great proof of his unchanging love. 
 
 "We shall soon forget the thorny path when 
 we reach our Father's home and see the ' Cap- 
 tain of our salvation,' the 'Man of sorrows,' 
 whose deeply rugged path smoothed ours, and 
 brought us to ' an inheritance incorruptible and 
 undefiled, and that fadeth not away.' I doubt 
 not your mission is to be advanced, and your 
 usefulness and real happiness too, by this blow; 
 and if God be glorified, your beloved one per- 
 fected in bliss, your work promoted* and your 
 sanctification advanced, is not this worth suf- 
 fering for? God's will must be good and 
 kind; and the 'God of all comfort' will not 
 leave you comfortless. May he grant you the 
 richest consolations of his Spirit, and make all 
 grace to abound towards you, and by every 
 loosened tie to earth draw you nearer to heav- 
 en, and present you and all your family perfect 
 in that day — not one child missing." 
 
 Persons anxious about their salvation, in 
 whom there seems to be a work already be- 
 gun, often multiply objections to embracing 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 
 
 231 
 
 Christ and his work at once, as if an improve- 
 ment would take place ere long, and thus ren- 
 der them better able to seize the remedy they 
 long to enjoy. They forget that there is guilt 
 in this delay, which is every day aggravated, 
 and that, instead of becoming more reconciled 
 to God's plan, the longer it is refused tlie more 
 they are disinclined to it, and in a far greater 
 degree 'God is dishonored. This difficulty had 
 been expressed to her, in a letter from a young 
 person to whom she had been useful in draw- 
 ing her from a state of ignorance and neglect 
 of her soul, to which she thus replies: 
 
 "St. Leonard's, May G, 1847. 
 
 "Your former letter, .my dear friend, would 
 have been answered long since, but I have been 
 very ill, and have been forbidden to write; I 
 am thankful to say, I am much better since I 
 came here, though the symptoms still continue. 
 Night perspirations and expectoration of blood, 
 both which symptoms I had not last winter, 
 have much weakened me, and the progress of 
 the disease is said to be very decided ; but as, 
 in the kind providence of God, I am so situated 
 that I can have every possible care and no ex- 
 
232 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 posure to cold, there is every hope that with so 
 good a constitution as I possess, I may yet be 
 spared for some years; though perhaps one 
 severe cold would speedily cut the slender 
 thread which hinds the frail tabernacle to earth. 
 I have all my family and the youngest of three 
 grandcjjildren here, so we are a tolerable par- 
 ty; but I am not excited by them, they make 
 it cheerful for me. 
 
 "I wish, my dear friend, I could spend the 
 hour between the lights as formerly, in guiding 
 you to 'the Lamb of God, which taketh away 
 the sin of the world ;' there I love to look, and 
 there I find a 'peace which passeth all under- 
 standing,' but nowhere else. If I look within, 
 I hope I see some increasing evidence of the 
 Spirit's work ; but while I would rejoice in 
 the smallest proof that I am a child of God, 
 throvigh his work in my heart, I cannot draw 
 my peace from that, but from the completeness 
 of Christ's work. He is my Prophet, Priest, 
 and King; and therefore while he lives, and 
 my guilty soul clings to him, I am safe; but 
 this is proved only by my growing in meetness 
 to dwell with him. 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINas. 233 
 
 "It is very important to keep clearly before 
 the mind what is to be the foundation of our 
 peace. 'He is our peace,' and there is no 
 other ground for hope but his work, by which 
 God is reconciled to man ; though we are saved 
 only when by faith we receive his atonement 
 and are reconciled to God, which is evidenced 
 by our forsaking that from which Christ died 
 to save us. We cannot have received Christ's 
 salvation if we continue to love sin; there is 
 no meaning in Christ's work, apart from the 
 sanctification which is its necessary result. 
 Sin separates us from God, from his favor here, 
 and his presence hereafter; and to restore us 
 to his favor, Christ bore our punishment and 
 curse. To sustain the justice, holiness, and 
 truth of God, he was obedient to the law we 
 had broken; and to restore us to his presence 
 in heaven, he sent his Spirit to renew and sanc- 
 tify the mind, and make us fit for and capable 
 of enjoying it. But all these blessings flow 
 from Christ's satisfaction to divine justice, so 
 that ' God is just, and the justifier of the sin- 
 ner that believeth in Jesus.' 
 
 "My dear friend, how I long for you richly 
 
234 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 to experience the two distinct fruits of Christ's 
 work, our justification through his blood as the 
 foundation of our hope, and the Spirit's work 
 in us as the evidence that we are building on 
 that only foundation. Your poor mind still 
 seems so confused and unsettled, sometimes 
 hoping, sometimes fearing ; but this ought not 
 to be.'. We are either converted or unconvert- 
 ed ; and we must not be satisfied in uncertain- 
 ty which of these is our state, when heaven or 
 hell is the result. We are exhorted to give all 
 diligence to make our election sure, to work 
 out our own salvation with fear and trembling, 
 not to merit salvation, but by the diligent use 
 of every means of grace, watchfulness, hu- 
 mility, leaning on God, resisting sin, fighting 
 against temptation, and above all, by prayerful 
 study of our guide-book the Bible, to strive for 
 our salvation, and against every thing that 
 would impede it. You must not rest till you 
 are reconciled to Grod ; for his reconciliation to 
 man is of no avail while the sinful heart is 
 practically at enmity with him. The riches of 
 his grace and love are displayed in the amazing 
 work of redemption, which removes the bar- 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 235 
 
 rier to man's salvation; and how aggravated 
 must that guilt be which resists and trifles 
 with such love, which can linger and hesitate 
 to seize its rich offers. 
 
 "My heart grieves to look back and see how 
 long I hesitated ; desiring to be a Christian, but 
 forgetting that I was a rebel and an enemy to 
 God so long as I was not one. I looked at my 
 own happiness, and therefore desired to be a 
 Christian, as the only way of being truly and 
 eternally happy; but I thought not that I was 
 a miracle of his forbearance while out of hell, 
 that I deserved hell, that I had chosen sin and 
 rejected holiness, that I had no good thing in 
 me, and that my utter destruction would be 
 perfectly just and righteous. Grod's mercy 
 offered me salvation, but I did not think of it 
 as such. It seemed a matter only between my 
 happiness and me, quite independent of God's 
 honor; and this, I fear, is much your own 
 state of mind, which makes me very intensely 
 anxious that you should pray much for your 
 eyes to be opened by the Spirit of God. Such 
 will be the Christian's prayer all the way to 
 heaven, and how needful it is in first starting. 
 
236 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 "Our eagerness in pursuit of any object de- 
 pends upon the value we set on it, and till we 
 know its worth, our zeal and expectation of 
 success are not likely to be great. Look at 
 wrestling Jacob, and do likewise: 'I will not 
 let thee go, except thou bless me.' I was 
 much interested in last Sunday's collect: '0, 
 Almighty God, who alone canst order the un- 
 ruly wills and affections of sinful men, grant 
 unto thy people that they may love the thing 
 which thou commandest, and desire that which 
 thou dost promise ; that so, among the sundry 
 and manifold changes of the world, our hearts 
 may surely there be fixed where true joys are 
 to be found, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 Amen.' Do mark it, and use it; I refer par- 
 ticularly to desiring what Grod has promised. 
 I think God's promises are so apt to be over- 
 looked by the seeker, whereas we should make 
 ourselves familiar with them all, and use them 
 as pleas in our prayers. 
 
 " Do, my dear friend, search your Bible, that 
 you may be conversant with its sweet and gra- 
 cious encouragements. As you read, copy 
 every promise you meet with, and make one 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 
 
 237 
 
 or more the subject of thouglit and prayer 
 through the day. We dishonor God by under- 
 valuing his promises, for none could be offered 
 us but through the work and mediation of 
 Christ, and every hope and promise is the pur- 
 chase of his most precious blood. I long to 
 see you rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and enjoying 
 that 'peace of God which passeth all under- 
 standing,' because that 'shall keep your heart 
 and mind through Christ Jesus.' God's ' peace ' 
 is not a mere sentiment, but an influential 
 principle, 'keeping the heart and mind' from 
 sin and in holiness. "We can judge whether 
 the peace we possess is true or false by its in- 
 fluence. Whatever comes from God tends to 
 God ; and that only which separates us from 
 sin, and conforms our will and conduct to God, 
 comes from him. 
 
 "Oh, be in earnest, my dear friend; you 
 must not yield to this listlessness and inactivi- 
 ty. I carefully shun it while suffering pain 
 and weakness, because I consider it my ene- 
 my. How much more should you determine 
 against it, when it is natural to you, because 
 the least weakness or illness would make you 
 
238 
 
 MARTHA SHERMA-V. 
 
 a burden to yourself and others. I wish I 
 could take you out of bed ; while you allow 
 yourself to sleep when you should be dommun- 
 ing with Grod, and laying in stores of grace 
 and knowledge to meet the circumstances of 
 the day, you must not expect to have the evi- 
 dence that you are a child of God, for you put 
 away the means of returning to him by self- 
 indulgence and, must I say it, idleness. I 
 speak honestly, because I feel deeply anxious 
 about you, and utter most earnest prayer and 
 desires for your speedy decision for God." 
 
 When some, to whom she had been useful, 
 felt their hope of her restoration begin to ex- 
 pire, and that they were to be permanently 
 deprived of her services, their grief was ex- 
 pressed, as she thought, in too strong terms, 
 which exhibited a want of submission to the 
 divine will, and reflected on the love and wis- 
 dom of God. In reply to one of her spiritual 
 children she turns comforter, and thus incul- 
 cates acceptance of her Father's discipline : 
 
 "Marina. May 25. 1S47. 
 
 "I feel, my dear child, as if I had no right 
 to the endearing title of teacher now, except 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 239 
 
 from the remembrance of past happy days. I 
 have learnt some of my sweetest lessons in 
 my beloved class, and the last subjects we had 
 have peculiarly comforted my mind throughout 
 my late affliction. How delightful are the dis- 
 coveries of the divine character in the offices 
 of the triune Grod, and how sweet to be per- 
 mitted to say, ' This is my Beloved, and this is 
 my Friend.' ' This Grod is our Grod for ever 
 and ever.' God's greatest promise to Abra- 
 ham was, ' I will be a God to thee, and to thy 
 seed after thee.' And this also is the New 
 Testament promise: happy are we, my child, 
 though every earthly joy were withdrawn. 
 While he is our God, why mourn the loss of 
 the poor little murmuring stream that once 
 brought to your feet some few refreshing drops 
 from the fountain. You have the fountain it- 
 .self, unmixed with human errors and infirmi- 
 ties. We ought to prize even the dew-drop, 
 which our Father so graciously sends to re- 
 fresh and help us in our weary pilgrimage; 
 but we must receive it as a dew-drop only, not 
 as the stream from whence we are to draw 
 our strength for the way. 
 
240 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 " Welcome every appointment of your loving 
 Father's hand. If you feel it a trial to be with- 
 out your old friend, when I have furnished you, 
 or rather, Grod has, with so experienced and 
 superior a substitute, what must I feel, thus 
 laid aside from all my most beloved occupa- 
 tions, truly, as far as I can see, ' a cumberer 
 of the ground,' panting to employ my little 
 energy for Him who loved me and died for 
 me, but suffering serious relapse as soon as I 
 make an effort? This requires the full exer- 
 cise of that faith I have recommended to oth- 
 ers, to believe that all these things are work- 
 ing together for good, and are God's method 
 for glorifying himself. I know he is working 
 while I am still, and he is crossing my desires 
 to prepare me for that perfect rejoicing in his 
 will which is found only in heaven, but which 
 we must labor and pray for here. I cannot 
 wish for any thing besides my Lord's will 
 now, but there I shall fully rejoice in it all. 
 
 "Now, my child, as you know you will in 
 heaven rejoice in this trial, seek to discern the 
 lovely character of God more, that you may 
 rejoice, not in the thing itself, but io God's 
 
AT ST. LEOKARD'S AND HASTINaS. 
 
 241 
 
 appointm ; however dark they seem now, it 
 is because we know so httle both of God and 
 of his designs. As we grow in grace we must 
 grow in 'the knowledge of our Lord and Sav- 
 iour Jesus Christ;' and as we advance in the 
 •true knowledge of him every other grace ad- 
 vances, and our whole life, character, and ex- 
 ample, prove whose we are, and for whom we 
 are living. Let us keep heaven in view as our 
 home, and then we shall prize every means our 
 Father sends to help us on our way thither. 
 Give my most affectionate love to my beloved 
 friends in the class." 
 
 Mrs. Sherman had sojourned nearly two 
 months at St. Leonard's, and her active mind, 
 amidst much depression and weakness, had 
 found ample employment. One of her efforts 
 while there may be specially mentioned. The 
 Countess S., of Weistricht, in Silesia, begged 
 her to interest herself in finding an English 
 lady who would be a companion to her, and 
 at the same time conduct the instruction of 
 her child. With an energy which would have 
 honored a person in health and comfort, she 
 wrote numerous letters to friends, to assist her 
 
242 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 in this selection. The distance from England 
 and the residence in a foreign land, though 
 presenting many advantages, were formidahle 
 difficulties, which, after some had accepted the 
 situation, caused them to alter their minds and 
 decline it. In two cases, every thing was ar- 
 ranged for the departure, but relatives inter- 
 fered and broke the engagement. Still she 
 pursued her task as if she was seeking a ben- 
 efit to herself, and did not cease till she sent 
 the countess a lady whose piety and talents 
 have justified her hopes and efforts. 
 
 As the spring advanced, a change was again 
 thought desirahle, and she removed to London 
 on the 4th of June, 1847. There was every 
 reason to fear that no radical improvement had 
 taken place in her symptoms; the visit to the 
 sea had yielded refreshment, and the dark 
 cloud upon her mind was not so dense as it 
 had been; still, the disease was progressing 
 with slow but certain steps. She bore the 
 journey with comparative ease, and her "own 
 dear home" was the sweeter for her brief ab- 
 sence. Many hearts were gladdened by her 
 return ; her very presence at the parsonage not 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINaS. 243 
 
 only delighted its inmates, but cast an air of 
 melancholy pleasure over the congregation ; for 
 all felt that a dear friend, though an invalid, 
 was among them. When her cough permitted 
 her to attend worship, to catch a glance at her 
 cheerful face as she sat in the vestry, or as she 
 passed to the house after the service was con- 
 cluded, was considered hy many, especially by 
 her classes, as an additional Sabbath joy ; and 
 as long as she was able to show herself among 
 them, hope lingered as to her final restoration. 
 Her weakness was however excessive, and on 
 some days occasioned the most pitiable ex- 
 haustion; yet, as soon as she rallied, some 
 work of mercy engaged her Christ-like mind. 
 
 A person who acknowledged Mrs. Sherman 
 had begotten her in Christ, by the gospel, and 
 concerning whose spiritual welfare she was 
 much interested, sent her a letter, in which 
 she attributed unchristian motives to an excel- 
 lent clergyman, because he thought it best to 
 enlarge the parish church, rather than build a 
 district church, which she and some others of 
 the parishioners preferred. She was not only 
 offended at his conduct, but placed it among 
 
244 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 the inconsistencies of Christians, which kept 
 her and others back from a more public decis- 
 ion for Christ. To that friend the following 
 judicious advice was sent: 
 
 "SuRRiiY Parsonage, June 29, 1847. 
 
 "Your last note, my dear friend, has given 
 me much anxiety on your account, as the spirit 
 of complaint and judging which it breathes is 
 not only unlovely, but appears to interfere 
 with your own decision for God. How I wish 
 I could talk with you on the subject: it is so 
 difficult to express my meaning on paper, es- 
 pecially in this time of weakness ; but I must 
 try what I can do, and you must have patience 
 with me while I differ from you In the first 
 place, I think your impugning your minister's 
 intentions very wrong, as you cannot say that 
 you are sure his motives are the love of money. 
 I think, from what I hear, the fear of a Pusey- 
 ite filling the pulpit is more correct; but this 
 he must not announce, as it necessarily reflects 
 on that system which involves such a possibili- 
 ty. There is, at any rate, much reason in his 
 preference of an enlargement of a small church 
 to the erection of a new one, with the possi- 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINCtS. 245 
 
 bility of error, instead of the pure gospel, pro- 
 ceeding from its minister. 
 
 "But supposing that you really have the 
 
 power to discern the motives of Mr. C , and 
 
 suppose he is even worse than you represent 
 him, what has that to do with the truth itself? 
 Suppose ninety out of every hundred profess- 
 ed Christians dishonored their' profession, and 
 * went back and walked no more with ' Jesus, 
 could their iniquity touch him, or weaken the 
 stability of his truth? Oh, how miserable 
 would the Christian's hope be, if even the 
 whole world, combined with Satan and his 
 angels, could touch or shake its deep-laid, its 
 eternal foundation. All are against Grod by 
 nature, and if their enmity could weaken the 
 efficacy of Christ's complete work of redemp- 
 tion, or its blessed results, God would himself — 
 I speak with reverence — cease to be God : if 
 there be a greater in power, he cannot be God. 
 Think what is involved in your being discour- 
 aged because of an uncharitable impression 
 against another; can you ever have laid hold 
 on Christ as the only and the all-sufficient 
 refuge of your sin-ruined soul, if such a pufF 
 
246 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 can blow your little bark from its safe moor- 
 ings? Something is fearfully wanting, my 
 dear friend, or it could not be; while you are 
 judging another's motives, time is hastening 
 you on to that moment when the bark that is 
 not firmly cabled and anchored on the Rock of 
 ages, shall be utterly destroyed in the storm of 
 divine wrath which shall visit the world of the 
 ungodly. 
 
 "Oh, my dear friend, I weep while I write, 
 and fear it possible that you are yet without 
 
 Christ. This impression of Mr. C 's conduct 
 
 is a test applied to your faith, and can you not 
 bear so slight a one? How then could you 
 bear the probable scoffs of the world, when 
 you take up your cross and come out from it 
 to follow Jesus? Has his love no room in the 
 heaVt; can you question its manifestation with 
 such glorious proofs all around you ? Remem- 
 ber our Saviour's rebuke to Peter's curiosity: 
 'What is that to thee? follow thou me;' and 
 what would he say when you make a stum- 
 bling-block for yourself out of nothing; for 
 even if you are correct, what can it be to you 
 beyond Christian sympathy for an offender? 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 247 
 
 You must know in whom you believe, and 
 why you believe, or you will not only be des- 
 titute of all 'peace and joy in believing,' but 
 bring a far more fearful dishonor on your pro- 
 fession than even the poor accused one. Pray, 
 pray much for deliverance from this sad insta- 
 bility which can only injure and 'never excel.' 
 Read and 'search the Scriptures,' that your 
 mind may be more enlightened 'in knowledge 
 and in all love,' that you may ' adorn the doc- 
 trine of G-od our Saviour in all things.' " 
 
 Country air was soon found to be necessary, 
 and the dear invalid at the beginning of July 
 repaired to her honored father's charming abode 
 at Enfield, anticipating that in the autumn a 
 continental tour would aid her recovery; she 
 alludes to this design in the following ex- 
 tracts : 
 
 "I am really very poorly, and so faint that 
 every effort seems almost impracticable, and 
 though I do try to rise above it, I fear Sunday 
 evening services must be abandoned. I am 
 very unwilling to believe they can injure, but 
 the oppression I feel on my chest and lungs at 
 the time, and the prostration of strength after- 
 
24S 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 wards, compel me to acknowledge I am hasten- 
 ing the progress of disease by attending -them. 
 My precious friend, how humiliating it is to 
 find the tabernacle which must soon be taken 
 down so powerful an impediment to the prog- 
 ress of its immortal inhabitant ; is it not ? 
 When I can for a moment look beyond ' the 
 things which are seen,' the beloved ones on 
 earth, I long to be 'with Christ,' no more dis- 
 honoring and grieving him, but bearing his 
 perfect likeness, and serving him without in- 
 terruption, or weakness, or sin. But if as- 
 sured that this shall at last be my joy, how 
 light every disappointment becomes ; it is even 
 my choice sometimes — I would it were always 
 so — because there are great and gracious pur- 
 poses in the divine mind, which by this means 
 are to be accomplished, and any trial is more 
 welcome than the failure of one of his designs ; 
 they are as his character — love, faithfulness, 
 and truth. Even if others, not myself, are to 
 gain the benefit, it amply repays for the pres- 
 ent trial." 
 
 Her elevated state of peaceful submission 
 and entire confidence in her heavenly Father's 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 249 
 
 love, is deliglitfuUy exemplified in the senti- 
 ments extracted from a letter sent to a dear 
 young friend in Lancashire. 
 
 '•Clay Hill, July 10, 1847. 
 
 " Though my correspondence has been, and 
 is likely to be almost entirely prohibited, I can- 
 not extend that prohibition to you, my dear 
 friend. Delay you will not interpret as indif- 
 ference, and therefore when I can venture to 
 break my rules, it shall be on your behalf. I 
 am here. I sunk so rapidly in London, that I 
 was obliged to take flight, though I really be- 
 lieve the atmosphere had much less to do with 
 it than the circum.stances and unavoidable 
 excitements. I rejoice to hear you are better, 
 and I almost envy you the privileges now so 
 impracticable for me, of telling others of a Sav- 
 iour's love. The cough and its attendants 
 invariably increase with talking, and conse- 
 quently I am scarcely allowed to see any one. 
 This I feel the severest part of my present trial, 
 as it .seems so difficult to glorify Grod in such 
 perfect retirement. He sees and marks the 
 spirit with which I bear his holy will, but I 
 cannot stimulate others, either by passive 
 
250 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 example, or by testifying of his love, when, 
 only with my little circle of home. They see 
 me always, and what I would tell, I have often 
 told them before, so that I think even were my 
 spirit all it should be, they would not gain 
 equal benefit with others who might only occa- 
 sionally visit me ; do not you think this is gen- 
 erally true ? 
 
 "But though even prohibited from long in- 
 tercourse with my precious children, which is 
 a very keen trial, yet I think my heart approves 
 of it, because my Father does it ; and he has 
 infinitely wise and loving purposes to accom- 
 plish, which, if I could see and understand 
 them now, would make me long for the very 
 trials from which I shrink. It is sweet to trust 
 a faithful Father ; and that exefcise of mind to 
 which he calls us, when we cannot see what 
 he~is working, is sometimes in the hands of the 
 Spirit of love the very choicest blessing to the 
 soul. Every fresh exercise of trust and confi- 
 dence in him strengthens and prepares for yet 
 stronger confidence, for greater joy in the Lord, 
 for more unbroken 'peace in believing.' And 
 what a boon this is, to feel earthly and lauda- 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 
 
 251 
 
 ble sources of enjoyment receding from our 
 touch, yet our happiness not only undiminish- 
 ed, but growing exceedingly in degree and in 
 kind, by realizing how entirely independent it 
 is of all created sources, how immediately from 
 the fountain, God. We are so prone, after all, 
 to cling to some earthly thing, Avhich, even if 
 a spiritual and hallowed thing in itself, yet be- 
 comes a snare, by the tenacity with which we 
 hold it, that our Father's love often takes from 
 us even this, lest a rival, though a holy one, 
 enter the heart with him. The fulness of his 
 love can never be understood till no rival is 
 there — till he has the sole sovereignty, without 
 a thought of another ; and to secure this unut- 
 terable joy, he sends trial upon trial, to wean 
 us from the beloved, but too engrossing object, 
 that we ' may be filled with all the fulness of 
 God.' 
 
 " How I should love to join you at , but 
 
 I am not now well enough to bear a journey. 
 We intended to spend part of July and all Au- 
 gust on the continent, but there is no prospect 
 of my removing from Enfield. I am better, 
 and by keeping perfectly quiet 1 hope soon to 
 
252 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 do comfortably again ; if not, I am quite satis- 
 fied. Yes, through the riches of His grace we 
 know in whom we have believed, and are per- 
 suaded, etc. Who are we that we should be 
 thus happy, while so many in our own cir» 
 cle are fearing to appropriate the great salva- 
 tion? What a debt we owe, and who can 
 pay it? ' Eternity's too short to utter all His 
 praise.' " 
 
 It was customary, when any member left 
 her class to be a teacher, to take with her the 
 credentials of her instructress, and often a let- 
 ter of advice and encouragement. A young 
 person who had devoted some of her Sabbath 
 evenings in one of the ragged-schools belong- 
 ing to Surrey chapel, wrote to ask her sanc- 
 tion to become a teacher, morning and after- 
 noon, in another Sunday-school. The following 
 extract will serve as a specimen of such pre- 
 cious epistles: 
 
 "Clay Hill, August 16, 1847. 
 
 "I have always pleasure in my dear young 
 friends' leaving the class to be teachers, as the 
 prominent design of its formation is to qualify 
 young persons for the office, by cultivating an 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 253 
 
 increased knowledge of the Scriptures, not only 
 in the letter, but in the spirit ; and by this in- 
 strumentality, accompanied with divine influ- 
 ence, to form and advance the Christian char- 
 acter, and to fit them to be laborers in (rod's 
 vineyard, that they may tell others the way to 
 eternal life which they have found themselves. 
 Now, my dear child, you are entering on new 
 and solemn responsibilities; you have spoken 
 probably for the last time to your class at Jur- 
 ston-street — how will you meet those precious 
 souls at the last day ? Are you clear of their 
 blood ? Have you earnestly, prayerfully sought 
 nothing less than their salvation? Follow up 
 those past efforts with constant prayer, and do 
 not allow yourself to think you have done with 
 them. No ; there is a sort of sacred tie between 
 the teacher and the taught which nothing can 
 destroy, and which eternity will develope in all 
 its solemnity. I feel this deeply myself, and 
 naturally wish you to feel it too, but more 
 profitably than I have done. 
 
 "You are now going to meet other minds, 
 to whom you have the same message to carry, 
 that ' Jesus Christ came into the world to save 
 
254 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 sinners ;' think of all the points in which you 
 were deficient as a teacher at Jurston-street, 
 and direct your efforts to correct them, and 
 with earnest prayer and never-tiring diligence, 
 labor to be an example to teachers and schol- 
 ars, and especially to your own class, of emi- 
 nent practical piety. Let it shine, not only on 
 the Sabbath and in religious exercises, but at 
 all times, in every look and habit, whether 
 seen by others or not. The Christian charac- 
 ter is moulded more by little than by great 
 things, and the habits of the Christian have 
 much to do with his progress, either for good 
 or evil. Cultivate habits of constant commun- 
 ion with Grod ; associate them with every thing 
 you do; this will check sinful inclinations, in- 
 jurious reading and companionship, as well as 
 other evils, and render the common things of 
 life blessings to your soul. Thus, your real 
 practical piety will grow, and will render you 
 an efficient teacher of others. 
 
 "Let nothing tempt you to neglect prepar- 
 ing for your class; never offer tc God that 
 wloich costs you nothing ; your interest in your 
 work much depends on this, and your intelli- 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 255 
 
 gence also; you will feel increased interest in 
 the truth itself by applying your mind prayer- 
 fully to understand it. Ever strive to make 
 the way of salvation clear to the mind of every 
 child. Christ alone — crucified, risen, and glo- 
 rified — is the foundation, without which no 
 piety can be expected to arise. He is our 
 hope, and every motive to holiness and obe- 
 dience flows from hence. 'We love him be- 
 cause he first loved us.'" 
 
 One of the members of her Sunday class 
 M'as called into eternity after a brief illness. 
 This event inspired her with new strength to 
 seize the favorable opportunity to produce suit- 
 able impressions on the minds of the living. It 
 seems written with eternity full in view, and 
 as it was the last document which they re- 
 ceived from the pen of their precious teacher, 
 it will be to the members a permanent testi- 
 mony of her faithful love and continued long- 
 ing for their salvation, while ability existed to 
 express it. 
 
 "Clay Hill, August 17, 1847. 
 
 * "My beloved Friends — It seems to me a 
 very long time since I had the pleasure of 
 
256 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 writing to you, but it is an occupation so ex- 
 hausting to my strength, that though I would 
 risk the suffering for the hope of usefulness, my 
 dear kind friends interfered and forbade the at- 
 tempt; but I can wait no longer, and therefore 
 hoping for the best, and intending to write very 
 little, I set to work with a heart so full, that 
 neither time nor paper will satisfy me. Per- 
 haps you thinlv I am old enough to act with- 
 out the control of friends. I might do so per- 
 haps, but our Saviour, remember, 'pleased not 
 himself;' his will was not his rule, as it is with 
 too many of us naturally. But when the grace 
 of Grod renews the mind, all the principles of 
 action are reversed, and instead of first seek- 
 ing to please ourselves, and then, if it give us 
 no trouble, or be to our own interest, pleasing 
 others, the rule now is love ; self is cast down 
 like Dagon before the ark, and the first in- 
 quiry is. How can I please God? then, How 
 can I please those around me ? and there is far 
 more happiness in making a great sacrifice of 
 our own inclinations for the pleasure of anoth- 
 er, than the most selfish being ever gained by 
 making every thing give way to please himself 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 257 
 
 Where ]ove to God and man is implanted 
 in the heart by the Holy Spirit's blessed influ- 
 ences, we scarcely need be reminded that we 
 are not to please ourselves ; for the lovely cata- 
 logue of graces described so repeatedly in the 
 Scriptures — and which I should ask you to re- 
 fresh me by reading to me this moment, if you 
 were by my side — necessarily spring up one 
 after the other, as we 'grow in grace,' till we 
 bear the lovely though faint image of our in- 
 carnate Lord. I am sure you are all too well 
 instructed to mistalic my meaning, and to 
 suppose this touches your decision for Christ 
 when that is opposed. No; to give up Christ 
 to pletise others would not be folio win g the 
 principle of love, which would make you 
 ready to relinquish your personal ease or grati- 
 fication for another. The one will make you 
 a blessing in your family, and contribute to 
 every one's comfort: the other would make 
 you despicable in the eyes of those whom you 
 seek to please at such a price, and 0, how 
 utterly despised in the sight of God. 
 
 "My beloved friends, I believe many of you 
 have around you those who spare no pains to 
 
 Sherman. J "7 
 
258 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 draw you from Christ; and will you listen to 
 such cruel soul-destroying friends^ falsely so 
 called? The apostle describes the depths of 
 misery in which the natural mind is, by that 
 most striking and comprehensive statement, 
 'without Christ,' 'without God,' and 'without 
 hope;' and while He waits to be your eternal 
 portion, and ofters himself to you, will you 
 gratify a miserable lost fellow-sinner by yield- 
 ing to the advice which must be his eternal 
 ruin as well as yours, if followed ? No ; I dare 
 not believe that you have to so little purpose 
 heard of the 'height and depth, and length . 
 and breadth of love' to you — of the joys which 
 far outweigh the crosses of his service — of the 
 supplies of grace from himself, proportioned to 
 every degree of your need which he has prom- 
 ised so many times, and bestowed upon many 
 whom you know — of the sense of his unseen 
 presence here, and of his immediate and eter- 
 nal presence in heaven, to which his Spirit is 
 to be your constant guide and teacher; and 
 besides these, the unnumbered supplies of 
 blessings to even the very meanest and feeblest 
 of his flock. With all these so frequently 
 
AT ST. LEOKARD'S AND HASTINaS. 259 
 
 brought before you, can you be tempted to 
 forsake him to please a worldly friend, one 
 who is an enemy to him, and as certainly to 
 you? 
 
 "Read that beautiful hymn, beginning, 
 'When any turn from Zion's way,' and resolve, 
 not in your own strength, but in His, that you 
 will 'come out from among' those companions 
 who would entice you from him either by influ- 
 ence or" example. But if your own family, and 
 those with whom duty bids you live, entice, 
 fear not; God is on your side. He knows the 
 most minute circumstance that occurs. He 
 has in kindness and faithfulness put you into 
 this fiery furnace to try your love, to purge 
 away the dross and sin which interrupt the 
 formation of his image in your souls ; and he 
 sits by, watching the progress of this refining 
 process. It is often the means he employs to 
 fit for eminent usefulness in his church; and 
 when he sees his own image reflected in you, 
 your will moulded into his, your love of sin and 
 self eradicated, and holiness your joy, then the 
 precious one in his sight will be not another 
 moment in the furnace. Therefore, instead oi 
 
■ 260 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 weeping, and sometimes I fear repining, at 
 yom- distressing position, rather weep that you 
 are so slow to get the blessing he is working 
 for you. Take courage, and seek to win your 
 persecutors to Jesus, by the heavenly and 
 Christ-like spirit with which you bear their 
 opposition ; thus you may bring honor to your 
 Saviour at least, if not salvation eventually to 
 them. 
 
 "I could write much more than my paper 
 or strength would allow on this point, but I 
 must liow refer to the solemn event which has 
 suddenly removed from your number one so 
 young, lovely, and apparently strong and 
 healthy. Death has rarely visited that dear 
 class, and, Who shall be the next? is an in- 
 quiry for each; or rather, How shall I meet 
 God, should I be the next? It is not for us to 
 pass judgment on the dead; perhaps, were it 
 ours to do so, she was one more than usually 
 difficult to describe, as to the state in which 
 death met her. Slie had many struggles with 
 a worldly heart, and through the faithful and 
 continual efforts of one of your number, she at 
 times seemed almost a Christian ; conscious, 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 261 
 
 apparently, that she could never be happy till 
 she had renounced her vain pleasures and 
 worldly character, yet too little affected with 
 the awful character of sin in the sight of God, 
 either to repent of it or to prize the great and 
 only atonement. Had she seen these points 
 aright by the Spirit of God, we know she could 
 not have wavered between Christ and the 
 world. 
 
 "It is from pur not feeling the awful evil ol 
 sin, that we do not prize the precious work of 
 Christ for our redemption; and the mind is 
 either quite undecided for God, or if his service 
 be chosen, piety is but a very feeble spark, 
 bringing little or no glory to him. 0, my be- 
 loved friends, bring not a divided heart to such 
 a Friend and Saviour. _ He demands, not only 
 by his authority and right, but by his immeas- 
 urable love to you, all your heart. ' Present 
 your whole spirit, soul, and body, a living sac- 
 rifice to him,' and when you have given up all, 
 even if you were called to such a sacrifice, 
 what have you done for such a Saviour; and 
 what have you lost, compared with what you 
 have gained in possessing him and his great 
 
262 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 salvation? 0, aim at exalted piety, at emi- 
 nent holiness, at extensive usefulness, you who 
 bear the Christian name; and you who are not 
 his, 0 think how death seized your friend — we 
 sometimes fear, tiiough we cannot bear the 
 thought — while hesitating; there is no middle 
 state before God. She was in Christ, and 
 eternally safe, or — dreadful thought ! — with- 
 out Christ and without hope ; and can you wait 
 another moment without an earnest prayer, 
 while hearing this letter, that you may rather 
 be destitute of home, of food, of friends, of every 
 thing necessary to your existence, than with- 
 out Christ? 
 
 "By every argument of which love can con- 
 ceive, I would implore each of you to make the 
 decision this moment, that you will 'give Grod 
 no rest' until he has made you his child, and 
 till you may call him your Father, your 'own 
 God.' Send your mental prayer to him before 
 you go home; there get by yourself and tell 
 him without disguise how entirely insensible 
 you are to your state in his sight, and that you 
 do not value Christ or his salvation in conse- 
 quence; tell him how this aggravates your 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINaS. 263 
 
 guilt, and that therefore you the more need 
 his help. Remind him that you are the very 
 character 'he came to seek and to save,' lost — 
 'them that are lost.' This one word exactly 
 describes your state, and were this the only 
 encouragement in the Bible to seek him, it 
 would be enough; but you can find unnum- 
 bered passages of the same gracious character. 
 Well, tell him this: tell him his obedience and 
 atoning death have satisfied divine Justice, so 
 that God can now pardon and accept you for 
 his sake, though not for your own. Tell him, 
 his resurrection, ascension, intercession at the 
 right hand of God, and his gift of the Holy 
 Spirit, prove this blessed fact, and have done 
 so ever since he rose. 
 
 "He is far more willing to save you, than 
 you are to be saved, and he beseeches you, by 
 his ministers and by his providences, to be 
 reconciled to God, How easily you yield 
 when a fellow-creature beseeches you, and 
 sometimes sadly to your injury. And can you 
 refuse eternal happiness through forgiveness, 
 reconciliation to God, and deliverance from sin, 
 misery, and hell ? My beloved friends, per- 
 
264 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 liaps we may never meet again on earth, but 
 certainly we sliall meet at that great day when 
 you and I must give account of ourselves to 
 Grod. If you refuse and neglect the offered 
 deliverance 'from the wrath to come,' your 
 reason must be given, and then your awful 
 sentence, 'Depart, ye cursed.' Ask yourself 
 now why you are not Christ's, and compel 
 yourself to answer ; and then surely your mad- 
 ness will appear to yourself, and you will flee 
 to him to emancipate you from the fetters 
 which hind your reason, your soul, to your 
 eternal ruin. My beloved friends, holiness is 
 the joy of heaven : ' follow after holiness,' with- 
 out one exception among you, and this shall 
 give greater joy to the angels around the throne, 
 than even to her whose anxieties, hopes, and 
 fears have dictated this long letter. 
 
 "Your ever affectionate, attached friend, 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN." 
 
 The last written proof of her joy at the in- 
 crease of means of grace for the young, in con- 
 nection with Surrey chapel is a note to Mr. 
 Hadland, on the formation of a select class, 
 meeting in the class-room on Sabbath after- 
 
AT ST. LEONARDOS AND HASTINGS. 265 
 
 noons, for the female children of respectable 
 families in the congregation, which a young 
 lady of eminent piety and suitable^ education 
 had consented to superintend, and to which she 
 sent her daughter as one of the first pupils. 
 
 "As writing is painful to me, I am sure, my 
 dear sir, you will excuse me for expressing in 
 few words my heartfelt joy at the proposal in 
 your note, and my earnest ■ desire that the 
 parents will not allow trifling impediments or 
 inconvenience, to deprive their little ones of the 
 long-needed privileges now offered them. Three 
 years ago the subject was suggested by your- 
 self, I think, and I had lamented that no prac- 
 tical arrangement followed. Now, I trust, the 
 time is come, and God is about to answer the 
 many prayers of his people for an increase of 
 family religion among us, by fulfilling his 
 word, 'Out of the mouth of babes and suck- 
 lings thou hast perfected praise.' 
 
 "Clay Hill, September 30, 1847.'" 
 
 As the winter approached, a warmer atmos- 
 phere became necessary for her comfort, and 
 she removed, accompanied by her family, to 
 Hastings, where the loving-kindness of her 
 
266 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 heavenly Father was signally manifested. She 
 now felt that the ascent of a few staits required 
 greater exertion than she could make, as her 
 httle remaining strength declined daily; but 
 that which gladdened the heart of her hus- 
 band, and made her path to the tomb smooth- 
 er, was the removal of mental darkness and 
 the return of the joys of God's salvation. On 
 Christmas-day, four days after her arrival, in 
 the last note she was permitted to write, she 
 states her grief that her spirit was still clouded. 
 
 "As to your affectionate hope for the future, 
 we must leave that to Him who is able to heal, 
 if it be his gracious will ; and though I strong- 
 ly chng to life, I cannot desire it for one mo- 
 ment, if he see my removal better. I can 
 leave it in his hands, I tliink cheerfully, not- 
 withstanding the dismal doubts that harass 
 me. My mind is really a mass of contradic- 
 tions, and I cannot understand myself. Oh, 
 how blissful will it be if all be found right at 
 last ; but my poor spirit is much oppressed : 
 may I not be left to dishonor my best Friend 
 in this time of the hidings of his blessed face 
 from me." 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 267 
 
 On the Wednesday in the following week, 
 her husband, who came to London on Satur- 
 day for the duties of his charge, returned to 
 Hastings, and found the mind of the precious 
 invalid still overwhelmed. After she had re- 
 tired to rest, he went into her chamber to com- 
 mend her to Grod and to comfort her troubled 
 heart with the promises of his faithful word. 
 Tt was a night much to be remembered; the 
 spirit of prayer was poured out, and the words 
 of Scripture pleaded in faith, were applied by 
 the Spirit of God to her soul. After he rose 
 from his knees, the first words from her lips 
 that saluted his ear, were, "The Lord is nigh 
 Unto them that are of a broken heart, and 
 saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Return 
 unto thy rest, 0 my soul, for the Lord hath 
 dealt bountifully with thee; for thou hast de-, 
 livered my soul from death, mine eyes from/ 
 tears, and my feet from falling." 
 
 Relieved by a flood of tears, but without 
 rapture or enthusiasm — calm as a summer's 
 eve after a shower of rain has refreshed the 
 earth, and the clouds are brilliant with the 
 glory of a setting sun — she began to trace the 
 
266 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 dealings of God with her soul, from the death 
 of her sister to the present hour, in language 
 beautifully simple but very affecting, and con- 
 cluded her review by emphatically repeating, 
 
 " True, I 've been a foolish creature, 
 And have slighted oft His grace; 
 Yet forgiveness is his nature, 
 
 Even when he hides his face • 
 After so much mercy past, 
 "Will he let me sink at last ?" 
 
 To the inquiry whether talking did not dis- 
 tress her, she repUed, "Not at all; I am not 
 excited, but relieved; my mind has never lost 
 its hold of the atonement. All along the suffi- 
 ciency of my Saviour's merits has been my 
 stay; the covenant of grace has appeared like 
 the bow round the throne, representing God's 
 glory and my security. But Satan, taking 
 advantage of a weak body, has pressed a de- 
 fect in my Cliristian conduct upon my spirit, 
 when my faith was not lively enough to apply 
 the blood of Christ for the pardon of that par- 
 ticular sin. But when you quoted that pas- 
 sage in your prayer, 'We also joy in God 
 through our Lord Jesus Clu-ist, by whom we 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 269 
 
 have now received the atonement,' light flash- 
 ed on my mind as if I had obtained a new- 
 idea, that while I had been recommending 
 others to receive the atonement, rejoicing in 
 its power to save them, and also welcoming it 
 in my judgment as amply sufficient to remove 
 all my guilt, I had not received it for the sin 
 which oppressed me ; and immediately, blessed 
 be my Saviour, I did receive it, saw the sin as 
 black as ever, but the guilt gone, and I can 
 now rejoice in God through Jesus Christ our 
 Lord." 
 
 Then in a celestial strain she pictured forth 
 the glories of an unseen world, and especially 
 its perfect holiness, and seemed borne on wings 
 of faith and love into it. Carried away by the 
 surprise and joy of the consecrated hour, the 
 writer, overwhelmed as he was, found it im- 
 possible to retain in form the expressions which 
 fell from her sanctified lips; but their savor 
 will never be lost. When he rose to take leave, 
 in order that she might have bodily rest, as she 
 grasped his hand and bade him "good-night," 
 she lifted her joyous eyes to heaven, and 
 said, 
 
270 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 " Never let me go till I, " 
 
 Upborae on wings of love, 
 Jom the regions of the sky, 
 
 And take my seat above. 
 Thou hast passed thy gracious word 
 
 That thou wilt bring me safely through ; 
 Thou wilt therefore keep me, Lord, 
 
 And never let me go." 
 
 The conversation of Moses and Elias on the 
 mount, concerning the things which Christ 
 should accomplish at Jerusalem, it may he 
 presumed, was expressed in language and 
 tones suited to the dignity of the glorious 
 theme, and that this greatly helped to produce 
 those emotions in the hearts of the -disciples 
 which led them to exclaim, "Lord, it is good 
 to he here." And in this interview it was 
 remarkahly the case — with a countenance not 
 naturally deficient in heauty, hut now lighted 
 up with intelligent persuasion of her heavenly 
 Father's love, her eyes hrilliant hy disease, 
 now sparkling with conscious joy — her tongue, 
 from which the law of kindness had never de- 
 parted, now delivering, in tones of devotion 
 and tenderness, and in language suhlimely 
 beautiful, descriptions of the merit of Christ's 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AKD HASTINGS. 
 
 271 
 
 death and the glory into which it would intro- 
 duce her, made an impression on the mind of 
 the writer, of the place, the subject, and the 
 blessedness of the righteous, which time can 
 never efface: "Lord, it is good to be here," 
 naturally rose from his heart and found utter- 
 ance in private, where a thank-offering was 
 presented for the recent deliverance of the suf- 
 fering disciple. It is remarkable that after an 
 exertion so great to one in extreme weakness, 
 she had a better night's rest, and had more 
 vigor for a few days than she had experienced 
 for some time. 
 
 She was favored with^repeated visits from 
 the Rev. J. Davies, the Eiev. J. Vores, and the 
 Rev. C. D. Bell; the latter living near, was 
 kind enough often to spend a short time with 
 her in religious exercises as she could bear 
 them, and to lend his sermons at her request, 
 parts of which were often read to her. He 
 showed both the interest and affection of a 
 Christian brother in her affliction: the Lord 
 will reward him. She suggested to this excel- 
 lent clergyman the formation of a Bible class 
 for young men; and the gratification with 
 
272 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 which she heard of the immediate adoption of 
 hsr hint was increased before she left Hastings, 
 by intelligence that the class was increasing in 
 numbers and interest. 
 
 On the 17th of January, 1848, she removed 
 from White ' Rock to an exceedingly warm 
 house in Wellington-square, which yielded 
 more comforts to an invalid, and where the 
 violence of the sea was scarcely heard or felt. 
 Though a little revived by the change, it was 
 clear to all that the disease was now making 
 greater progress, and of this she became more 
 conscious, yet struggling against infirmity to 
 maintain her habits of early rising and inde- 
 pendent action. At this crisis, the advice of 
 Dr. Moore was sought, a physician who com- 
 bines with great practical skill a deep acquaint- 
 ance with doctrinal and experimental religion, 
 and who has a facility and tenderness of com- 
 municating it which renders him invaluable to 
 a pious invalid, nor less so to one who needs 
 piety. To Mrs. Sherman his visits were bless- 
 ings indeed, and his first prescription did more 
 to mitigate suffering and afford rest than any 
 medicine she had previously taken. 
 
AT ST. LEONAUD'-S AND HASTINGS. 273 
 
 Few thing.s were parted with more reluc- 
 tantly than her little collecting books, contain- 
 ing lists of subscriber.? to the various societies. 
 These she kept in her own hands till the very- 
 last; and, even when unable to write herself, 
 notes were written by her amanuensis as her 
 temporary substitute, either soliciting fre.sh do- 
 nations or the continuance of former subscrip- 
 tions — so fondly did she cling to these labors, 
 and so long did she apparently cherish the 
 hope of renewing her active interest in them. 
 
 A few days however before the final opinion 
 of Dr. Moore was given of immediate danger, 
 as if anticipating what that opinion would be, 
 she desired that they might be brought to her; 
 and arranging them before her, requested that 
 letters might be written to several friends 
 whom she named, bequeathing them as lega- 
 cies to their care. A stranger entering the 
 room at that moment would scarcely have no- 
 ticed the slight and transient shade of sadness 
 that passed over her brow as she gave this 
 affecting commission. It was so slight as only 
 to be discernible by those who knew full well 
 the inward struggle that had preceded that 
 
 Sherman. \ 3 
 
274 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 resolution, and so transient as to disappear al- 
 most as soon as observed. Her collections for 
 the Jews, the city mission, the school for mis- 
 sionaries' children at Walthamstow, the Dorcas 
 and missionary societies, were among those in- 
 tended to be thus distributed ; and though the 
 sudden return of the family to London pre- 
 vented some of the letters from being written, 
 it is believed that all to whom these several 
 collections were transferred consider them in 
 the sacred light of a dying bequest. The case 
 of an orphan for whose election into the work- 
 ing-school she was solicitous, and of an indi- 
 vidual whose soul she had been instrumental 
 in winning for her Saviour, were also thus 
 solemnly and earnestly commended to Chris- 
 tian friends. 
 
 The school of industry, which Mr. HiU es- 
 tablished for clothing and educating thirty 
 girls, had from the commencement of her resi- 
 dence in London occupied much of her atten- 
 tive regard, and it was her anxious desire to re- 
 sign her treasurership into hands which would 
 sustain and advance its interests. Soon after 
 her return to London she sent for a dear friend. 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINaS. 275 
 
 and committed to her this special charge; it 
 was accepted, and subsequent events have jus- 
 tified her hopes for the continued prosperity of 
 the school. 
 
 After Dr. Moore had paid her several visits, 
 her husband, that he might judge better of her 
 state, became anxious to learn his candid opin- 
 ion, and inquired if he thought she had passed 
 what was termed the second stage of the dis- 
 ease. His reply, in substance, instantly was, 
 "Yes, she is now in the last stage, and may be 
 removed suddenly and soon, though it is not 
 improbable she may linger till April or May. 
 Home I consider the best place for her, to 
 which she ought to return as quickly as possi- 
 ble." This opinion was expressed in great 
 sympathy, but being very unexpected, it yield- 
 ed to her relatives abundant sorrow. 
 
 On her husband now devolved the affecting 
 duty of announcing to her that the sickness 
 was unto death. With many struggles be- 
 tween affection and fidelity to a promise pre- 
 viously made to her, he accomplished his pain- 
 ful task. The serenity with which she listened 
 to the communication, and the joy with which 
 
276 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 she expressed that "it was quite a rehef to her 
 spirit," not only surprised him, hut comforted 
 his bleeding heart. She said, "Well, He who 
 loved me and saved my soul can save and bless 
 my husband and children; to his faithful hands 
 1 commend them." The tears gu§hed from her 
 eyes; but recovering herself in a minute or 
 two, she said, "Do not misunderstand my 
 weeping; that is nature feeling the wrench 
 from the objects of its affection; but my no- 
 bler part says, 'I desire to depart and to be 
 with Christ, which is far better.'" 
 
 Her friend Miss Neele thus records the cir- 
 cumstances which immediately followed this 
 announcement: "When I first saw her after 
 Dr. Moore's opinion of more immediate danger 
 had been communicated to her, she was lying 
 on the sofa in the drawing-room. As I slowly 
 opened the door, she held out her arms to me, 
 with a smile, as if to remove my hesitation; 
 and though for a few moments the tear flowed 
 silently down her cheek, she said almost imme- 
 diately, ' When Mr. Sherman told me all, I felt 
 conscious that neither heart nor pulse moved 
 more quickly, in the least.' I said, 'Perhaps 
 
AT ST. LEONARD'S AND HASTINGS. 
 
 277 
 
 it was not such a surprise to you; I dare say 
 you were better prepared to receive the intelli- 
 gence than we were.' She answered, ' No, T 
 was not at all prepared; I had given up all 
 expectation of ever being well again, but I 
 had no idea that I should leave you so soon.' 
 Thus, 'perfect peace' within produced perfect 
 calmness without; and as 'love begets love,' 
 so calmness produced calmness; and when 
 she subsequently dictated, with unruffled and 
 even cheerful composure, various arrangements 
 which she wished made after her decease, it 
 was scarcely possible for those around her to 
 feel agitated, though often themselves wonder- 
 ing how they could be so calm while watching 
 the gradual decay of one so beloved." 
 
 On February 13th, she left Hastings for the 
 parsonage, and arrived there far less fatigued 
 than could have been anticipated from her 
 great weakness; never more to leave it till 
 carried to "the house appointed for all living." 
 
278 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 DEATH AND FUNERAL. 
 
 Immediately after Mrs. Sherman's return to 
 her heloved home, she began to set her house 
 in order, as one expecting soon to leave it. 
 AVith regard to herself, every thing had long 
 been ready, and she but waited the Master's 
 summons to enter into his serviee in the upper 
 sanctuary ; but there were arrangements with 
 respect to others which she was desirous of 
 having carried into execution before her de- 
 cease. Her heart was much set on seeing 
 once more those friends with whom she had 
 prayed and labored, and on bidding them fare- 
 well ; yet her weakness was such, that her med- 
 ical attendants feared the excitement which 
 such numbers would occasion, especially as 
 both the visitors and the invalid were likely 
 to be much affected with the interview. She 
 overruled the objection, by assuring them that 
 the excitement would be trifling compared with 
 the refreshment it would afford her spirit; and 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 
 
 a79 
 
 that as her recovery was now past all reason- 
 able hope, she could not resist the gratification 
 it would be to herself and to her associates and 
 classes. Anticipating also that the Saviour 
 might call her suddenly to himself, that as her 
 disease increased in power her weakness would 
 be proportionably greater, and that if the pres- » 
 ent opportunity were not seized, she might be 
 unable to see them at all, she determined on 
 meeting them as speedily as possible. Accord- 
 ingly, on Lord's-day, February 14, when the 
 Sunday afternoon class met, all its members 
 M'ere invited to come into the study, where, 
 reposing on a couch, she was waiting to re- 
 ceive them. Between forty and fifty young 
 persons were introduced to her singly. Each 
 was welcomed with an inexpressibly sweet 
 smile, and had a kind word addressed to her; 
 and those among them who traced their con- 
 version to her faithful labors, had a special 
 sentence of warning and encouragement. Ex- 
 pecting to see her emaciated and sinking al- 
 most unconscious into the arms of death, they 
 were surprised to behold a countenance radiant 
 with heavenly joy and to hear words of life 
 
280 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 and salvation from lips anointed •w^th grace. 
 Each kissed her hand and received from her a 
 hook as a dying gift. Her husband commend- 
 ed them to God in her presence, by a brief 
 prayer. 
 
 On the next day, ]\Ionday, the mothers ot 
 the humbler class met in the school-room for 
 their usual exercise, and were invited to come 
 and take a last glance of the loving face wliich 
 had so oft welcomed them with smiles, cheered 
 them in trouble, and instructed them in duty. 
 As no previous notice had been given, they 
 were taken by surprise ; but their behavior on 
 this occasion justified the dying saint's repeat- 
 ed observation, that only let the pious poor feel 
 you take an interest in their welfare, without 
 abridging their independence, and they will 
 honor and love you. It was delightful to wit- 
 ness their tenderness, respect, and gratitude — 
 the subdued tones in which they spoke to their 
 benefactress, and the delicacy which they ex- 
 hibited during the sad interview. Shaking the 
 hand of each, and receiving the kiss of charity 
 upon her own, she bade them farewell with a 
 look of affectionate regard that will not be 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 281 
 
 easily forgotten. "Where special circumstances 
 required, she addressed a few words suitable 
 to the state of the mothers before her, which 
 melted many hearts. Her husband delivered 
 to them the dying charge of their friend and 
 leader, to adhere to Christ and his service, to 
 maintain their maternal association, and to 
 meet her in glory ; and then in a short prayer 
 commended them also to God. 
 
 On Wednesday, the ladies who had been ac- 
 customed to meet at her house once a month 
 to talk over their common hope, and the best 
 means of training their children for heaven, as- 
 sembled by appointment for a similar purpose. 
 When told that they were waiting to be intro- 
 duced to her, and asked if she had any mes- 
 sage, as she could with difficulty speak to 
 them herself, she said, "I am afraid to say all 
 I feel on the subject of these maternal associa- 
 tions, lest I should seem to undervalue any 
 other society connected with the chapel; but I 
 do think them of the first importance, and 
 though I trust all will continue to flourish, I 
 would rather gjiy should decline than these." 
 She then added with energy, " Oh, tell the la- 
 
232 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 dies, never, never, never to forsake the mater- 
 nal associations." 
 
 On Thursday, between thirty and forty of 
 the young ladies belonging to the select class 
 came also to bid adieu to their loving teacher. 
 One of them wrote to her after the interview, 
 "The legacy you have bequeathed to me, your 
 ' collection for the Jews,' I receive with a heavy 
 heart, not unwillingly or murmuringly, I hope, 
 but with a consciousness of unworthiness and 
 unfitness for the task. I consider you have 
 conferred a great privilege on me, and I shall 
 prize very highly these parting proofs of your 
 affectionate regard. The meeting on Thurs- 
 day can never be forgotten : may it have a last- 
 ing and beneficial effect on all. We then saw 
 that true religion was not merely a profession, 
 but a reality. My prayer has ever been, ' Lord, 
 spare her,' yet the wish seems selfish to detain 
 you from going home to your heavenly Father. 
 
 "The cheering thought that Jesus is the 
 resurrection and the life, strengthens my faith, 
 and enables me to look beyond the silent tomb 
 to the blissful state of those who are for ever 
 wjth the Lord, knowing that if I am among 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 283 
 
 his believing children, hut a few years at most 
 will separate us, and then we shall meet again 
 where partings are unknown. May you have 
 your heart's desire in meeting all your beloved 
 class there. Many will then appear among the 
 children whom G-od has given you ; and though 
 since you have been laid aside from active use- 
 fulness, the thought may sometimes have arisen 
 that you have been useless, God has in many 
 instances, though perhaps unknown to you, 
 blessed your instructions to others. Many a 
 kind hint thrown out by you has been received, 
 and the advice attended to. No one could ever 
 mistake your earnestness and affection, your 
 constant desire to win our souls to Christ. 
 ' We remenaber your sayings,' and in looking 
 back on the past, desire to feel grateful that 
 we have been privileged with your example 
 and kind instructions so long. 
 
 "Accept, my dearest friend, my best and 
 sincere thanks for all your kindness td me; I 
 have indeed been a favored child. I have al- 
 ways considered myself as one of your chil- 
 dren, for it was in your class, ten years ago, 
 that I first felt a desire to be the T^ord's. I 
 
284 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 owe much to you in other respects: in any 
 difficulty you were the first to encourage me; 
 in undertaking any new and untried duties, 
 the knowledge that I had my friend's prayers 
 stimulated me to exertion when I began to feel 
 weary and despair of success, and especially 
 in winning the timid disciple, by setting forth 
 religion in its sweetest aspects, and by the love- 
 ly exhibition in yourself of the Christian char- 
 acter. Farewell, dearest friend; may you still 
 continue to enjoy much of your Saviour's 
 presence and perfect peace in the prospect of 
 death." 
 
 The refreshment of a spiritual exposition of 
 scripture and a brief prayer to an invalid, is 
 well known by those who have been in a state 
 of suffering. It was the privilege of her hus- 
 band to be her daily minister, and morning 
 and evening to seize the most favorable oppor- 
 tunities to conduct her tender spirit into the 
 green p'astures of the good Shepherd; but it 
 was suggested to her that a visit from some 
 man of God might cheer and help her. She 
 immediately said, "I have no special wish for 
 any one: if Mr. Greorge Clayton could spare a 
 
DEATH AST) FUNERAL. 
 
 285 
 
 few minutes, I should like to hear his voice in 
 prayer; his gentle manner would suit my 
 weakness, and he is sure to say something to 
 ine ahout Christ, my gracious Master, and his 
 salvation." 
 
 An intimation of her wish was enough; the 
 Rev. Gr. Clayton was with her the next day, 
 and continued his kind attentions till prayer 
 was exchanged for praise. The comfort she 
 derived from these visits was indeed great, and 
 she felt deeply her obligations to her sympa- 
 thizing friend. The elders of the church, with 
 whom she had for twelve years walked in har- 
 monious cooperation, and who Jiad ever shown 
 a readiness to aid her in all her works of love 
 to souls, were entreated by her, each in his 
 turn, to come and commend her spirit to God. 
 The Rev. Dr. Harris and the Rev. Newman 
 Hall also favored her with their counsels and 
 prayers. The constant attentions and invalu- 
 able spiritual aid of her old friend Miss Neele, 
 were unspeakably delightful to the invalid. 
 She often remarked how gracious her Saviour 
 had been to provide her such a companion in 
 the season of sickness. To her memoranda 
 
286 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 the following pages are indebted for many cir- 
 cumstances and observations, which must oth- 
 erwise have been wholly lost. 
 
 The Bible was the only book which she cared 
 to hear read, except occasionally a hymn from 
 the invalid's hymn-book, or her husband's se- 
 lection, with which she was most familiar. At 
 first she was guided as usual in her reading by 
 the "Scripture Calendar," which she preferred 
 to any other, because it arranged for the peru- 
 sal of the New Testament and Psalms twice, 
 and the Old Testament once, in the course of 
 the year; but now she said, "I think I may 
 be allowed to pick and choose a chapter suited 
 to my state," alluding to a remark which she 
 had often made, that the whole Bible should 
 be regularly read. The first chapter of the 
 epistle to the Colossians might be called her 
 favorite ; she asked for it to be read more fre- 
 quently than any other; the first and second 
 chapters of Ephesians, and the eighth of Ro- 
 mans, with the thanksgiving Psalms, were also 
 often selected. 
 
 After being in bed a short time, one evening, 
 she said, "Oh, I am so comfortable, in perfect 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 
 
 287 
 
 peace ; I do realize that promise, ' Thou wilt 
 keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed 
 on thee.' Now for a chapter, that sublime one 
 which speaks of the hope laid up in lieaven." 
 When it had been read, she exclaimed, "Oh, I 
 want a distiller to distil all its sweetness; my 
 poor mind cannot dwell long enough upon it 
 to extract the joys it affords." Those words 
 being quoted, " Ye have need of patience," 
 she said, "That does not seem applicable to 
 me ; I mean, I have so many mercies that my 
 patience does not seem tried." On the next 
 day, hearing the merriment of her children in 
 another room, her eyes filled with tears, and 
 she exclaimed, "Oh, that sweet prattle; those 
 enchanting voices to a mother's ear." Think- 
 ing they were too noisy, her friend was leaving 
 the room to induce them to be quiet, but she 
 said, "Oh, don't check them; I love to hear 
 their joyous notes when I can bear them; but 
 I cannot help feeling a little anxious, because 
 I fear there is some danger of the little one 
 being spoiled, she will be such a pet." Of 
 another she said, "Oh, for some hopeful sign 
 before I die." 
 
288 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 February 21st was a day of comparative 
 ease, which allowed her to have a little more 
 conversation with her husband and friend than 
 her cough usually permitted. Her spirit seem- 
 ed on the borders of the heavenly Canaan, look- 
 ing in and returning every now and then to tell 
 those around her of its blessedness. "I want 
 to mention one subject," she said to her "friend, 
 "though I hardly like to do so, as perhaps such 
 a thing may never be contemplated; but as 
 there was an obituary of dear mamma in the 
 Evangelical Magazine, perhaps, as a minister's 
 wife, there might be one of me, and it is so 
 repugnant to my feelings." "Had you not 
 better," said her friend, "leave that to the 
 judgment of others ; it will not hurt your feel- 
 ings then." 
 
 "Well," she replied, "there are no papers, 
 not one. I kept a diary once, but I destroyed 
 it, as the possibility of its ever being made 
 public so completely spoiled the profit and 
 comfort I derived from it, that I would not 
 keep it; I felt it was no longer only between 
 God and my own soul. It was chiefly a rec- 
 ord of my sentiments before I was decided, 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL 
 
 289 
 
 and was very useful to me then. If there 
 should he one, 0 pray for a spirit of wisdom 
 and judgment on the writer; else it will be 
 such a partial account, dictated by a heart 
 overflowing with love." On repeating that 
 verse to her, "For thou, Lord, wilt bless the 
 righteous, with favor wilt thou compass him 
 as with a shield," she remarked, "What a 
 comfort to have no opposition from man, to 
 have no human enemy ; and even Satan seems 
 hardly able to get at me, I have so many pray- 
 ing friends, but specially my Saviour interced- 
 ing for me." 
 
 Her husband read to her the following quaint 
 though beautiful hymn of good Mr. Berridge: 
 
 "The Lord of the earth, to Adam allied, 
 Sends messengers forth to fetch him a bride ; 
 To many he chooseth his love to impart, 
 And none he refuseth who give him their heart. 
 
 Strange marriage indeed for heaven's fair King, 
 Yet Jesus will wed with any poor thing; 
 He liketh the maimed, the halt, and the blind, 
 The poor and defamed, the lowest in kind. 
 
 So, after the banns are' published below, 
 Comes joining of hands, with joined hearts too; 
 Then debts are discharged, though heavy they be, 
 And she is enlarged, from bondage set free. 
 
 et,.rn..r, 1 9 
 
290 
 
 JMARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 A rich wedding suit is to. the bride brought, 
 Of love the sweet fruit, and by the King wrought ; 
 With this he does cover her nakedness quite, 
 And deck her all over as fair as the light. 
 
 A ring for the bride is from the King sent. 
 With jewels beside, to deck her heart meant; 
 With these she grows loving and modest and mild, 
 In good works improving, and seemeth a child. 
 
 Now, Christ is her song, her joy, and her hope; 
 She for him will sigh and long to look up: 
 And he from his tower peeps on her e'erwhile, 
 And tells his love to her and drops her a smile. 
 
 At length the approach of wedding is come, 
 And lo, a state-coach to fetch the bride home; 
 Kind angels are bringing her fast as she list, 
 And up she goes singing Hosanna to Christ." 
 
 "Oh, that is exquisite; read that last verso 
 again." "But you did not expect to go up 
 singing, did you?" "Yes, I did, though I 
 was under a cloud ; heaviness may endure for 
 a night, but joy cometh in the morning: I 
 know I shall go up singing; read it again." 
 
 On another evening, after much pain and 
 exhaustion, "Oh, it is hard to get into bed 
 without prayer; but He knows I would pray 
 if I could ; my knees, in health, have bent with 
 cheerfulness before him; my most hallowed 
 
- DEATH AND FUNERAL. 291 
 
 joys have been in the devotions of my closet, 
 and the savor of that communion is not lost 
 yet ; but I can now only mentally cry, in brief 
 sentences, for his help and favor." Again, af- 
 ter a little pause, "I fear I do not feel that 
 love to immortal souls which I ought; surely 
 the nearer I get to heaven, the more I ought 
 to feel for souls. If one scheme fails, love 
 devises anothoj', till it accomplishes its ob- 
 ject; but I seem to do nothing for Christ 
 and souls now. I am obliged to resolve all 
 my difficulties into this appeal, 'Lord, thou 
 knowest all things; thou knowest that I love 
 thee.' " 
 
 On the evening of February 24th, she fell 
 asleep on the sofa, biit was continually awaked 
 by the cough. Upon being suddenly aroused 
 by a distressing fit, she said, "Is it not strange 
 that no sooner do I drop asleep than the cough 
 awakes me;" but added cheerfully, "It is only 
 a trial of patience; I sometimes think my pa- 
 tience is not exercised, but the poor body does 
 need it sometimes." To a request that she 
 would not destroy the notes of her class sub- 
 jects, as she wished, and as she had almost 
 
£92 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 all her other papers, she repUed, " Oh, they are 
 so defective, they contain little explanation of 
 the great doctrines of the gospel ; a reference 
 and a hint were qviite enough for me as a 
 guide while speaking; my heart was so full 
 of them I knew I should not forget them ; but 
 I should not like my children, when they 
 grow up, to think they were omitted by me. 
 It is not the gospel, if they are left out; it 
 may be truth, but not 'the truth as it is in 
 Jesus,' not glad tidings of great joy to all 
 people. Usefulness to souls, which consists 
 in biassing the mind of the hearer to heaven- 
 ly things, so that they become natural to him, 
 will never be effected but by the motives, doc- 
 trines, and influences of the gospel. This I 
 conceive is what Christ means, when he says, 
 'Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word 
 is truth.'" 
 
 February 25th was a day of extreme suffer- 
 ing; but during an interval of ease, her hus- 
 band uttered a few words on Christ as the 
 way to the Father, and how safely and cheer- 
 fully afflicted spirits might take advantage of 
 that appointed access. "Yes," she replied, 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 
 
 293 
 
 "old Berridge just describes my feelings on 
 that very subject : 
 
 " ' Of Christ I chirp and sing, 
 
 And when he casts an eye, 
 I flutter up with brisker wing 
 And warble -in the sky. 
 
 Such is my pleasant task, 
 To sing of this sweet road ; 
 
 And if the cause a stranger ask, 
 It is my way to God.' " 
 
 When laid down for rest at night, being asked 
 what chapter she would like read, she whis- 
 pered with all her remaining strength, "One 
 of the beautiful psalms of praise." 
 
 March 2. — Her exhaustion was so great 
 that she thought death was approaching. The 
 next day, when a little recovered, she said, "I 
 thought it surely must be death ; it was a sol- 
 emn moment, a solemn moment indeed, but I 
 was not agitated ; I felt even then that I had 
 nothing to do but to commit myself to Christ, 
 and it seemed quite easy and natural to do 
 so." When a little refreshed by sleep, she 
 l?egan speaking of the illness from which her 
 husband was at that time suffering. "It is 
 such an unexpected trial; however, I must roll 
 
294 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 that on the Lord." Being reminded of the 
 command, "In every thing by prayer and 
 supplication, with thanksgiving, let your re- 
 quests be made known unto Grod," she replied, 
 " Thanksgiving seems even more congenial to 
 me, or perhaps I should say more spontaneous, 
 than prayer ; I feel it specially on first waking. 
 Just now, when I awoke, my heart seemed to 
 go forth in praise, and I felt such confidence 
 in God, when I thought of my dear husband's 
 illness." 
 
 The next evening her husband repeated a 
 hymn which he had seen in the collection of 
 the Rev. J. Gauntlett. On hearing it, she re- 
 marked, "That is sweetness itself — the most 
 comprehensive hymn I ever heard for a dying 
 Christian. You must repeat it to me till I 
 can go through it without a mistake ;" after a 
 third repetition she mastered the four verses, 
 and almost every day, till her death, quoted 
 the whole or some verse. The hymn is as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 " What is it for a saint to die, 
 
 That we the thought should fear? 
 'T is but to pass the heavenly sky, 
 And leave pollution here. 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. §95 
 
 True, Jordan's stream is wondrous deep, 
 
 And Canaaa's walls are high ; 
 But He that guards us while we sleep, 
 
 Will* guide us when we die. 
 
 A parting world, a gaping tomb, 
 
 Corruption and disease, 
 Are thorny paths to heaven, our home, 
 
 And doors to endless bliss ! 
 
 Eternal glory just before. 
 
 And Jesus waiting there; 
 A heavenly gale to waft us o'er — 
 
 What have the saints to fear?" 
 
 It was found necessary, for the last three or 
 four months, to administer an opiate almost 
 daily, to procure rest at night, and she some- 
 times expressed a fear lest it should occasion 
 her; mind to wander: "Should I become irri- 
 table, or be permitted to say any thing incon- 
 sistent with the Christian profession, I hope all 
 who know me will remember it is an infirmity, 
 the effect of disease or medicine. Entreat my 
 friends to pray, that if it be the will of G-od, 
 my intellect may be preserved unclouded to 
 the last." Her desire was fully granted; for 
 just at this time God was pleased to direct her 
 friends to Dr. Maclean, of Montague-square, 
 
 * The word in the original hymn is "can," hut she always used 
 "will," and corrected others when they repeated "can." 
 
296 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 who, in conjunction with her ordinary medical 
 attendant, Mr. Newth, so judiciously adminis- 
 tered the necessary opiates, and so carefully 
 watched their operation, that, while unexpect- 
 ed relief was often ohtaincd, the dreaded evil 
 was never experienced. She frequently said 
 how deeply she was indebted to her physician 
 for his skill and kindness, and how earnestly 
 she would have recommended him to others 
 in similar circumstances, had her life been 
 spared. 
 
 As she had for several months been denied 
 the privilege of partaking of the Lord's sup- 
 per, she wished to have it administered to her 
 privately, in connnunion with her own family 
 and a few chosen friends. But in so large and 
 affectionate a circle, it was found difficult to 
 reduce the number sufficiently, as she was 
 unable to bear the excitement of a large as- 
 sembly. It was therefore determined to con- 
 fine tlae little company to the members of her 
 family, the elders of the church, the Rev. J. 
 S. Eastmead, and the kind friend who had 
 undertaken her young ladies' class. On March 
 16, they assembled in the study, where she lay 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 
 
 297 
 
 on a couch, and the visitors, seventeen in num- 
 ber, sat around the room. That "upper room " 
 no one who was present will ever forget. She 
 had often expressed a desire to "hear that 
 sweet hymn sung once more." 
 
 " There is a happy land, far, far away, 
 Where saints in glory stand, bright, bright as day; 
 Oh, how they sweetly sing. Worthy is our Saviour Kins;, 
 Loud let his praises ring, praise, praise for aye. 
 
 Come to this happy land, come, come away; 
 
 Why will ye doubting stand, why still delay? 
 
 Oh, we shall happy be, when from sin and sorrow free ; 
 
 Lord, we shall live with thee, blest, blest for aye. 
 
 Bright in that happy land beams every eye — 
 Kept by a Father's hand, love cannot die. 
 On then, to glory run, be a crown and kingdom won, 
 And bright above the sun, reign, reign for aye." 
 
 It was therefore suggested that some of the 
 children from the Infant-school should sing it, 
 before the commencement of the sacramental 
 service. They were placed in an adjoining 
 room, whence their infantine voices, softened 
 by distance and subdued by the solemnity of 
 the occasion, cheered without exciting the 
 spirit of the precious invalid, so soon about to 
 enter that "happy land" of which they so 
 sweetly sung. 
 
298 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 The address of Mr. Clayton, and his mode of 
 conducting the whole service, wer« peculiarly 
 appropriate, edifying, and affecting; and the 
 delight she experienced, from the refreshment 
 of soul and the sensible enjoyment of her Sav- 
 iour's presence at the celebration of this feast 
 of love, was much increased by the addition 
 to the number of its guests, for the first time, 
 of two of her servants, one of whom attrib- 
 uted her decision to the exliibition of the 
 power of religion to sustain and cheer in the 
 hour of sickness, which she had witnessed in 
 her beloved mistress. 
 
 "When asked what arrangement she wished 
 to be made, she answered, "Let that be left 
 to Mr. Clayton ; but there are two parts of the 
 communion-service which I should like to hear 
 again: the prayer commencing, 'We do not 
 presume to come to this Thy table trusting in 
 our own righteousness;' and the anthems, be- 
 ginning, ' Therefore with angels and archan- 
 gels, and with all the company of heaven,' and 
 'Glory be to God on high:'" she added, "I 
 hope all will join; / will if I am able;" and 
 this she did in as audible a whisper as her 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. ' 299 
 
 weakness would allow. Her countenance was 
 lighted with the sunshine of heaven, and she 
 seemed, as she said after the service was con- 
 cluded, as though she was but echoing the 
 joyous notes of the angels and the spirits of 
 the just made perfect. After a collection had 
 been made in the room by her special request 
 for the Lord's poor, which amounted to about 
 twelve pounds, to be afterwards distributed by 
 the elders among some objects which she es- 
 pecially selected, the little company separated 
 to meet no more unitedly till they sit down at 
 the marriage-supper of the Lamb. 
 
 March 18. — One of her young friends who 
 came to take leave of her, expecting only to 
 shake hands without speaking, being surprised 
 to find her so cheerful and animated, said, "I 
 am glad to see you so well." The dear invalid 
 answered with a sinile, 
 
 "Jesus can make a dying bed 
 
 Feel soft as downy pillows are; 
 While on kis breast I lean my head, 
 
 And breathe my life out sweetly there." 
 
 March 19th was the Sabbath. After hear- 
 ing the notes of the morning sermon, on 2 
 
300 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 Samuel 23 : 5, read, she remarked, " Yes, I 
 know the covenant is sure, and it is sure to 
 me ; and though I cannot always realize it, 
 that does not alter its security. All these 
 glorious things seem to carnal reason a dream, 
 hut they are not; I feel them to be heavenly 
 realities." 
 
 March 26. — The symptoms were very alarm- 
 ing, and immediate danger was apprehended, 
 but towards evening she revived, and was 
 cheerful as usual. When the family were at 
 chapel she said, I wonder whether I shall be 
 here next Sunday. I am come to this point 
 now — anticipatian ; whenever the message 
 comes it will be welcome. The pins of the 
 tabernacle must be taken out, and they are 
 being removed very gently ; how I shall rejoice 
 when the last is pulled up and the tabernacle 
 falls." Her friend replied, "What a blessing 
 to meet the last enemy without fear." She 
 immediately said, with great composure, "1 
 have no fear ; he is not an enemy, at least he 
 has no power to hurt me." 
 
 A friend remarking, "Well, there is not 
 much to live for," with quickness she observed, 
 
DEATH AJ^D FUNERAL. 
 
 301 
 
 "Oh, but I have much to live for. I have no 
 sympathy with those who talk thus. I sup- 
 pose I have had fewer crooks than they ; my 
 I)ath has been such an unusually happy one; 
 but should it not be a Christian's desire, if it 
 be the will of God, to live and glorify him by 
 the spread of his truth? Since I have felt 
 there was no hope of recovery, I have been 
 wonderfully relieved from anxiety respecting 
 the dear ones left behind. I cannot suffer 
 myself to think much about them, but I know 
 that He to whom I have committed my soul 
 will take care of them. My early removal is 
 indeed a bhght upon all our plans; is it not? 
 I may say 'I am cut off in the midst of my 
 days,' we were so happy." Thus she showed 
 that her composure did not arise from insensi- 
 bility. 
 
 April 19. — An old friend and former play- 
 fellow called to take leave of her ; in childhood 
 and youth they had spent many, many happy 
 days together, and the sight of him fdled her 
 eyeis with tears; but she soon recovered, and 
 
 said, "Oh, J , tears are not often seen in 
 
 my eyes, but I am so weak in body and mind 
 
302 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 now, I am scarcely able to speak to you ; 
 but I shall soon be where my tongue will be 
 loosed, and I shall serve my G-od without 
 weakness either of soul or body. Mind; be 
 sure you meet me there." Then, giving him 
 "Christ on the Cross" as a parting memo- 
 rial, she added, "The Cross of Christ is all 
 my support and hope. Oh, that I had a 
 tongue to urge all to seek refuge there. Is it 
 not a comfort to feel the sting of death re- 
 moved ?" 
 
 The intelligent and manly traveller whom 
 she thus pointedly addressed, was quite over- 
 come, giving evidence by his emotion that 
 neither her words nor her manner of uttering 
 them had been lost on him. May all her 
 wishes be realized. When he was gone, she 
 said, "I did not convey half my meaning; I 
 wanted to exalt my Master more." She usu- 
 ally dropped a word in season to each of her 
 visitors and attendants, and when unable to 
 do so, it was one of her greatest crosses. "I 
 know," she said, "I can say little worth being 
 remembered ; but a word which at another 
 time might be thought little <of, spoken by one 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 
 
 303 
 
 under my circumstances, may make an im- 
 pression and be remembered hereafter." 
 
 April 27. — This being a day of increased 
 pain and Aveariness, there was an expression 
 of distress on her usually placid countenance 
 which it was very affecting to witness. A 
 promise being whispered to her, immediately 
 a sweet smile, the only sign of pleasure she 
 was able to give, confirmed the beautiful sen- 
 timent of Cowper : 
 
 " How sweet the name o{ Jesus sounds 
 In a believer's ear." 
 
 On her friend expressing a wish that some 
 resting-place could be contrived for her back, 
 as she sat up wearied on the sofa, afraid to lie 
 down on account of the irritation of the cough, 
 she replied, "I shall soon have one," and then 
 looking up joyfully, asked, evidently hoping to 
 be answered in the affirmative, "Do you not 
 think I am sinking now?" 
 
 April 28. — She had often said that the time 
 which she most enjoyed was just before going to 
 sleep, when the cough which was usually very 
 troublesome after first lying down in bed, was 
 beginning to subside a little; but this after 
 
304 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 noon she called her friend to her, and said, "I 
 have had such a dehghtful time for thinking, 
 so unusual during the day. My communion 
 with my Lord was sweet indeed. Who says 
 that religion is not a reality? Oh, if they had 
 enjoyed the precious promises of God, the as- > 
 surance of the forgiveness of, sins, and the cer- 
 tainty of dwelling for ever in a house not made 
 with hands eternal in the heavens, because 
 purchased by my Redeemer's blood and pre- 
 pared by his glorious residence, as I have done 
 this day, they would say as I can, ' that which 
 we have seen with our eyes, and our hands 
 have handled, declare we unto you.' 1 must 
 say I was glad to hear that the expectoration 
 was unfavorable, because I know it is a sign 
 that the end is near. Do you think it is wrong 
 to feel so? I have been examining, and I do 
 not think it is. Oh, the thought of being soon 
 freed from sin, it is too much, too overpower- 
 ing. I do not think I wish death, to be re- 
 leased from suffering, though the flesh will 
 shrink from that." 
 
 April 29th was a day in which extreme 
 weakness was experienced. When she heard 
 
DEATH AND FUKERAL. 
 
 305 
 
 the voice of her vounsrest child, she called her, 
 and had her placed for a moment on her knees. 
 Looking at her with inexpressible tenderness, 
 she said, "Mamma is going to heaven; will 
 my precious child meet me there?" The dear 
 little creature replied with energy, "Yes, mam- 
 ma." The answer awoke strong emotion, and 
 prevented her from saying more. 
 
 May 10. — The annual sermon for the Lon- 
 don Missionary Society was preached at Surrey 
 chapel by the Rev. Dr. Candlish. When her 
 friend went to her in the morning she was 
 much exhausted for want of rest; and when 
 the text was repeated, "Though I walk 
 through the valley of the shadow of death, I 
 will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy 
 rod and thy staff, they comfort me," she whis- 
 pered something, which her friend thought 
 was asking for a hymn, and went to fetch the 
 book; but .she repeated in a loud whisper, 
 striking the bed to intimate a feeling she was 
 unable' to express, "He never will forsake me." 
 In the course of the morning, Toplady's hymn 
 was read, beginning, "AVhen languor and dis- 
 ease invade." On coming to that verse, 
 
 She mi an. 20 
 
306 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 "Sweet to rejoice in lively hope, 
 
 That when iny change shall come, 
 Angels will bear my spirit up 
 To my eternal home," 
 
 she said, "Ah, angels carried Rowland Hill'a 
 spirit from this room. AVill it not be an honor 
 to be escorted into my Saviour's presence from 
 the same spot?" 
 
 After the service she expressed a wish "to 
 see dear Mr. James of Birmingham; he was 
 the instrument of bringing my husband to 
 Surrey chapel ; his piety has always appeared 
 to me very eminent, and God has signally 
 owned his treatises, which have but one object, 
 the winning of souls to our divine Lord. I 
 should like to shake him by the hand and hear 
 his voice in prayer, before I meet him in heav- 
 en." Mr. James came in, and thus describes 
 his impressions. 
 
 "The interview which I was privileged to 
 hold with Mrs. Sherman, about a week before 
 her dismissal, was a scene to which I recollect 
 no parallel, and which it is quite impossible ff>r 
 me either to forget or describe. Her counte- 
 nance, beautiful even in death, wa« lighted up 
 with a smile that looked rather like the joy 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 307 
 
 which we can conceive illuminates the soul 
 emerging from the cold stream of death, as a 
 dreaded event that was over, than of one who 
 was looking forward to it as just at hand. It 
 was not only a smile in death, but it was a 
 smile at death. 
 
 "It was the morning of the missionary ser- 
 mon in this place; when she could hear the 
 sound of the organ and the chorus of praise 
 rising from the congregated host, and which in 
 bygone times she had helped to swell. She 
 could hear the hum of voices and the sounds 
 of recognition and gratulation beneath her 
 window, of the tribes that had come up to 
 Zion; and there was she, in the chamber of 
 sickness, on the bed of death, contrasting her 
 situation with the gladsome circumstances of 
 multitudes in all the vigor of life and the joy- 
 ousness of health. If a momentary cloud, a 
 passing gloom, had come over the spirit from 
 such a contrast, who could have wondered — 
 yea, who docs not wonder that it did not? 
 But it. did not. The Sun of righteousness in 
 cloudless splendor shone upon her soul, which 
 reflected his beams in that, I repeat, most 
 
308 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 iieavenly smile that I ever saw upon the coun- 
 tenance of any human being in life or death. 
 She seemed standing -svithin the precincts of 
 glory ; and the only thing that reminded me of 
 mortality was the wasted form and the natural 
 tear she dropped — hut wiped it soon — which, 
 though it glistened in her eye, still sparkling, 
 did not for a moment interrupt the inefTable 
 joy. I felt, yea, I said to her, 'If this he dy- 
 ing, who would not lie down and die with you, 
 if they could die like you?' She would have 
 talked if the strength of her body had been 
 equal to the vigor of her soul; but every syl- 
 lable she uttered was descriptive of a 'peace 
 that passeth understanding,' a 'joy unspeak- 
 able and full of glory.' 
 
 "Could such a scene as that be witnessed 
 in public — as it must be witnessed to be 
 known, for no words can describe it — Chris- 
 tianity would, one should suppose, then appear 
 to all men a divine reality, a heavenly plant, 
 an eternal substance, and no man would have 
 power or heart, except he M-ere a demon, to 
 say aught against it. Before that scene the 
 loftiest philosopher must be humbled, infidelity 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 
 
 309 
 
 turn pale and silent, and folly and vice, for a 
 brief season, become serious, and disposed to 
 say, 'Let mo die the death of the righteous, 
 and let my last end be like hers.' " 
 
 Mat 14. — One of the elders who visited her 
 stated that he could never forget the peculiar 
 and inexpressible unction which accompanied 
 the few sentences she was enabled to utter, 
 which gave him the impression that heaven 
 had indeed come down to her, and that she 
 could not be far from it. One he particularly 
 records: looking at him as Mr. James de- 
 scribes, she said, "I am now lying at the foot 
 of His cross; I shall soon stand before his 
 throne." A cloud, though a bright one, seem- 
 ed in the evening to rest upon her spirit. She 
 was, however, able to converse with her hus- 
 band; but how can he describe the interview? 
 She was the comforter and he the mourner. 
 Her tongue dropped sentences like sweet- 
 smelling myrrh to his afflicted spirit ; her faith 
 grasped the promises; and twice or thrice, 
 adapting the action to the metaphor, she put 
 some of them, which she repeated, into his 
 hands, as a wife's legacy — "the words of a 
 
310 
 
 MARTHA SHEIIMAN. 
 
 living and faithful God." Then looking for- 
 ward to the "rising growth" of her children, 
 she described Christ as taking first the eldest, 
 and guiding her as a lamb into his fold — saw 
 her useful in teaching and gathering others to 
 her Saviour: then the little one, who by her 
 docility and tenderness during her affliction 
 had greatly endeared herself to her mother's 
 heart, following her sister in the same happy 
 course, "blessed and a blessing." A pause 
 ensued; she appeared full of thought; the 
 tears gushed from her eyes, and in tones of 
 tenderest sympathy, she exclaimed, "0 God, 
 my son, my son — convert, save my son!" 
 
 Recovering herself and resuming her heav- 
 enly smile, she took her husband's hand, say- 
 ing, "Thirteen years of more bliss has been 
 granted to us than ordinarily falls to the lot of 
 most, even of the children of God. We have 
 had much to do for Christ, and that has made 
 us happy ; we have talked of his grace, united 
 in his ordinances, and loved his service; my 
 work, feeble as it has been, is done; but 
 yours — the Lord lengthen your term of labor, 
 for the sake of my babes — may be extensive. 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 311 
 
 Forgive a wife, if with her dying hreath she 
 i'dj, preach Christ and his salvation more fully, 
 more conspicuously, more feelingly than ever. 
 It has been, I know, your aim to exalt him all 
 your life ; hut let your remaining efforts in the 
 pulpit extol him and make him very high. I 
 am sure I am very near death, and fearing I 
 may not be able to speak when he comes, it 
 has comforted me to tell you my heart. Do 
 not weep, cheer up; Christ your master will 
 give you strength and grace, and we shall 
 meet after a few short years to dwell in the 
 full blaze of glory and immortality." 
 
 May 15. — The members of the London Mis- 
 sionary Society met at Surrey chapel, to cele- 
 brate the death of Christ by partaking of the 
 Lord's supper. After the service, the Rev. D. 
 J. Smith of Dublin prayed with her, but her 
 exhaustion was so great that she lay apparent- 
 ly unconscious of all around. About an hour 
 afterwards, the Rev. James Parsons of York 
 saw her; she h^id by that time so far recovered 
 as to be able to whisper a few words in answer 
 to questions which he proposed, and to attend 
 to the petitions which he kindly offered. The 
 
312 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 next day she i^aid, " The last hymn which they 
 sang in the chapel reminded me how they 
 were engaged, and I felt I could join in spirit 
 with them. Afterwards, such joy was diffused 
 through my soul that I cannot describe the 
 sensation it produced. I seemed to be holding 
 communion with a dear friend whom I had 
 not seen for some time, and the moments were 
 so precious that even the presence of those good 
 men was, at first, an interruption." Being told 
 that the Rev. Mr. Smith concluded the service 
 with a very impressive prayer, in which she 
 was specially mentioned, she replied, "Was 
 not the joy I felt at that very time an imme- 
 diate answer to that prayer? That promise 
 was fulfilled in this instance. While they are 
 yet .speaking, I will hear." 
 
 On the 17th of May, it was evident that 
 death was approaching; but to the surprise of 
 all, she rallied again, and slept tolerably well 
 during the night. 
 
 About twelve o'clock, on the 18th, no doubt 
 could remain what the result must soon be, 
 The first intimation of the actual approach of 
 death was given by the precious invalid her- 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 
 
 313 
 
 self. She took the hand of the nurse, smiled, 
 and shook it, and beckoned the cook to come 
 and receive the same token of aflfection. Then 
 looking round for the housemaid, in whom for 
 four years she had taken the deepest interest, 
 she grasped her hand when she entered the 
 room with great emotion, and pointed upwards. 
 The struggle for breath, the excessive pain in 
 the side, and the convulsive agony of the whole 
 frame were fearful; but the celestial joy with- 
 in surpassed the expectations of all the family, 
 every member of which was present, except 
 her venerable father. 
 
 To the last, her intellect was vmimpaired, 
 and her speech sufficiently loud to be heard. 
 The hour of death is always solemn; it was 
 specially felt to be so on this occasion; and 
 the fear was, lest any intrusive conversation 
 should interrupt the communion, which it was 
 evident her sanctified spirit was holding with 
 her Redeemer. None doubted her safety, if 
 she had not uttered a word ; yet for the con- 
 viction of some and the comfort of all, a few 
 questions at intervals were put, the answers to 
 which showed the stability of her hope. 
 
314 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 " The long looked-for hour is come, my 
 dear," said her husband. "It is," she replied, 
 "blessed be my Saviour." "You have long 
 professed that Christ was precious; is he pre- 
 cious to you now?" Lifting up her almost 
 fleshless anus and hands, like the wings of a 
 bird ready to fly, she let them fall on the bed, 
 and exclaimed, "Infinitely, infinitely!" "Have 
 you, my precious one, any consciousness of the 
 immediate presence of Jesus Christ?" Pausing 
 for a moment, she replied, "No; I do not know 
 what that is; my consciousness is the con- 
 sciousness of faith. I know that he is with 
 me, by the support and ineffable consolations 
 he pours into my soul; but I shall soon know 
 what it is, for I shall be with him, and be like 
 him." "Then, like David, you can say you 
 fear no evil in the dark valley." She replied, 
 " The valley is very long, but not dark, for he 
 is with me in it; his rod and his staff" comfort 
 me." " Then you can bear testimony to your 
 children that a life spent in the service of God 
 is a most pleasant and profitable life?" As if 
 making an ■ effort beyond her strength to say 
 something which her heart dictated, but find- 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 315 
 
 ing it impossible, she again raised her arms as 
 before, and replied with energy, "7 can; I 
 canP "What now, when earth is vanishing, 
 is your sole dependence for acceptance with 
 God at the great day?" "Only the perfect 
 and finished righteousness of the Lord Jesus 
 Christ: 
 
 " ' Noth-ing in my hand I bring ; 
 Simply to the cross I cling.' " 
 
 Many other precious words and sentences 
 fell from her lips; but these will suffice to 
 show the fulness of her joy, and what an 
 abundant entrance was given her into the 
 kingdom of her Grod and Saviour. At a little 
 after three o'clock she requested to be left 
 with the servants, but in a few minutes the 
 family were summoned to witness the last 
 convulsive struggle with the enemy, which 
 had just commenced, and at twenty minutes 
 to four o'clock, on Thursday afternoon. May 
 18; 1848, in the 42d year of her age, she fell 
 asleep in Jesus. 
 
 Although the painful event had been long 
 expected, its announcement produced general 
 and sincere sorrow throughout the congrega- 
 
316 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 tion and neighborhood, and in a large circle of 
 friends, who evinced the tenderest sympathy 
 for her bereaved husband and family. The 
 funeral was appointed to take place on Thurs- 
 day, May 25, at Abney-park cemetery, where 
 the family vault is situated, and in which the 
 remains of her beloved mother are deposited. A 
 large number of persons, especially of the poor, 
 assembled in the chapel-yard to witness the de- 
 parture of the mournful procession, which left 
 the parsonage at eleven o'clock. The hearse 
 was followed by twelve mourning coaches, 
 which contained the relatives of the deceased, 
 the officiating ministers, the trustees, the el- 
 ders of the church, and many of the most de- 
 voted friends connected with the congregation. 
 Xext to these were four private carriages, sent 
 bv their owners, to show their affectionate es- 
 teem for the pastor's wife, in which were seat- 
 ed her children, a few female friends, and the 
 servants of the family. As a mark of respect, 
 many shops in the line of the cavalcade were 
 closed, and tears were dropped from many 
 spectators who had once witnessed her devoted 
 zeal, or received help from her kind hand. 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 
 
 317 
 
 On the arrival of the body at its earthly 
 resting-place, the scene was peculiarly affect- 
 ing: the poor women of the maternal associa- 
 tion, over which the departed saint had pre- 
 sided, and the young people of her classes, 
 dressed in respectful mourning, lined the path- 
 way to the cemetery chapel, deeply sorrowing 
 that they should see her face no more. Friends 
 from the congregation and from various parts, 
 amounting, it was computed, to not fewer than 
 2,000 persons, assembled in the cemetery, to 
 show by their presence and habiliments a last 
 token of affectionate regard. When the body 
 was placed in the cemetery chapel, the chil- 
 dren of the school of industry surrounded the 
 earthly remains of their treasurer, and showed 
 by their youthful sorrow that they felt they 
 had lost a friend. 
 
 The Rev. S. A. Davies of Enfield, Mrs. 
 Sherman's former pastor, commenced the sol- 
 emn service by reading part of the fifteenth 
 chapter of the* first of Corinthians, and the 
 ninetieth Psalm; and after the congregation 
 had sung the suitable hymn of Dr. Watts, be- 
 ginning, "Whydowe mourn departing friends," 
 
318 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 he sought by prayer the benediction of heaven 
 on the weeping assembly. The Rev. George 
 Clayton, in compliance with the wish of the 
 deceased, then delivered a most solemn and 
 appropriate address, applying the event by 
 sanctified eloquence to the consciences of all 
 present, and, it is believed, produced impres- 
 sions time will never efface. When the body 
 was conveyed from the" chapel to the tomb, the 
 elders of the church bore the pall, and as the pro- 
 cession slowly advanced, the gentlemen of the 
 choir, the children of the school, and the congre- 
 gation sung the hymn of Dr. AYatts, beginning, 
 
 "Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb, 
 Take this new treasure to thy trust."' 
 
 Arrived at the place of sepulture, the funeral 
 service was read by the Rev. J. S. Eastmead, 
 and the benediction pronounced by the Rev. 
 George Clayton. The whole assembly closed 
 the solemn service by attempting to sing — 
 which was accomplished with difficulty — the 
 two following verses : 
 
 "Farewell, dear saint, a short adieu! 
 Thy soul is gone beyond the spheres; 
 Our eyes thy radiant path pursue, 
 "While rapture glistens in our tears. 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 
 
 319 
 
 Farewell, blest saint, a short farewell, 
 Till soon we meet again above, 
 In the bright world where pleasures dwell, 
 And trees of life bear fruits of love." 
 
 "The whole scene," remarks a friend, "was 
 one of vinusual interest. Devout men and 
 women followed our departed friend to her 
 burial, and made great, but sincere lamenta- 
 tion over her. ' The widows stood by weep- 
 ing,' and the young people of the classes testi- 
 fied, by their presence and tears, what had 
 been done for them ' while she was with them.' 
 The language of every heart that witnessed 
 these solemnities appeared to be, "Blessed are 
 the dead which die in the Lord from hence- 
 forth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may 
 re.st from their labors ; and their works do fol- 
 low them.' " 
 
 About a week before the sainted spirit enter- 
 ed into rest, when familiarly anticipating the 
 event, and making her own arrangements to 
 send dying tokens of love to her friends, her 
 husband asked what message he should carry 
 to the people when she was taken from them 
 Her brief answer was, "Tell them to love 
 
320 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 Christ and one another — to labor for souls and 
 exhibit holiness — then they must be happy." 
 He then ventured to ask what minister she 
 would prefer, to improve her decease to the 
 congregation. "I would rather," she replied, 
 "it should pass with only ordinary observa- 
 tion ; but as I suppose the congregation will 
 expect, from the situation I occupied, some 
 special attempt to benefit others, if Mr. James 
 could preach in the morning, to the church, 
 and Mr. Parsons in the evening, to the young 
 and to my classes, my death might yield some 
 fruit; the hope of usefulness alone induces me 
 to consent to any arrangement of the kind." 
 
 Her wish was communicated to those hon- 
 ored servants of Christ, and on the Lord's-day, 
 May 28th, they most kindly carried out her 
 desires: the Rev. J. A. James preached to the 
 members of the church in the morning, from 
 Hebrews 6 : 12, "That ye be not slothful, but 
 followers of them who through faith and pa- 
 tience, inherit the promises;" a sermon char- 
 acterized by fervent piety and powerful appli- 
 cation of the principles of the gospel which 
 the deceased adorned, to her surviving fellow- 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 321 
 
 believers. The hearts of the hearers felt its 
 spiritual power, and were melted by its tender 
 and faithful appeals. In the evening, the Rev. 
 James Parsons preached to the young from 
 Job 14:2, "He cometh forth like a flower, 
 and is cut down." The sermon was full of 
 earnest persuasion, and being delivered under 
 a full sense of the responsibility of the hour, 
 produced a remarkable impression, the saving 
 fruits of which have already appeared. 
 
 Thus terminated the career of one whom 
 God had graciously endowed with "largeness 
 of heart" for his service on earth — whose re- 
 moval in the prime of life has excited the 
 sober luxury of sanctified grief, and whose 
 eminent piety shed a lustre on her character 
 and left a beautiful example of female devoted- 
 ncss for others to imitate. 
 
 The following description of the funeral 
 icene, and the right method of improving it, 
 <vas written by her valued friend, Joseph 
 Payne, Esq : 
 
 Sherman. 
 
 21 
 
322 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 MRS. SHERMAN'S FUNERAL. 
 
 BY ONE WHO ATTENDED IT. 
 
 The sun looked glorious from the heavens — the sky 
 
 "Was bright, serene, and cloudless ; and the day 
 
 Seemed fitter for a bridal than the gloom 
 
 Of funeral arrangements, when the good, 
 
 The gentle, the lamented, the admired. 
 
 Was "carried to her burial."* Crowds were there, 
 
 Eager to testify the love and grief 
 
 That filled their friendly bosoms : rich and poor, 
 
 The charioted in splendor, and the lame, 
 
 Supported by a crutch, were mingled then 
 
 In anxious emulation; old and yomig 
 
 Vied with each other : shops were partly closed, 
 
 And busy tradesmen silent stood and gazed. 
 
 On as the funeral procession went. 
 
 Group after group it passed of friendly forms. 
 
 All hastening to the body's resting-place. 
 
 The Sabbath scholar, and the teacher too — 
 
 The mother with her infant in her arms. 
 
 Her little one beside her — roimd whose waist 
 
 Was tied a faded sash which once was black — 
 
 Trudged on, regardless of the scorching heat, 
 
 And of the choking dust: their hearts were fuU, 
 
 And so their bodies were not delicate. 
 
 And as it farther went, the numbers grew : 
 
 And sighs were heard, and eyes with tears were wet, 
 
 And those who in the sombre coaches rode, 
 
 As they looked forth upon the stirring scene. 
 
 Said to themselves, and to each other said, 
 
 "Truly, ' the memory of the just is blessed.' "t 
 
 And when at length they reached the destined spot, 
 
 And in the small and crowded chapel stood, 
 
 •Acfe 8:2. t Proverbs 10 : 7. 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 
 
 323 
 
 The word was read, the voice of praj'er was heard, 
 
 The hymn of praise arose, and the address, 
 
 Solemn, instructive, eloquent, sincere, 
 
 Gushed forth from feeling and from £i-ieadly lips. 
 
 There sat the widower, binding to his heart 
 
 The consolations, "neither few nor small,'' 
 
 He oft had preached to others : there the child, 
 
 Of many hopeful feelings, by the hand 
 
 Of sisterly affection kindly held. 
 
 There too, the father looked, in deep dismay. 
 
 On the last broken link of love's sweet chain, 
 
 Which bound him to the earth ; yet sorrowing not 
 
 As one who has no hope. A while they paused, 
 
 Then slowly sought the tomb, and to its walls 
 
 Resigned their sacred trust ; and softly sang, 
 
 "Farewell, dear saint!" — and then the mourners left, 
 
 Took off their sable robes, and homeward turned. 
 
 To "go about the streets,"* as heretofore. 
 
 But one looked back, and in his fancy twined 
 
 A wreath for the departed ; tuned his harp. 
 
 And thus expressed the feelings of his heart : 
 
 Mourn for the living, mourn ; • 
 
 But weep not for the dead : . 
 They need your tears from whom is torn 
 
 Their pattern and their head. 
 
 But she the suifering saint, 
 
 To whom release is given, 
 No tongue can tell, no fancy paint. 
 
 Her joy and peace in heaven. 
 
 Mourn for the living, mourn ; 
 
 For tliey have lost a friend, 
 "Whose spirit is by angels borne 
 
 Where unions never end. 
 * Eccle»ia»tes 12 : 5. 
 
321 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 The young she loved to teach, 
 For whom her heart was moved. 
 
 Her bright example aimed to reach, 
 And while they failed, improved. 
 
 WTien, desolate and sad, 
 
 The wet<;hed sought her care, 
 A kind word and a smile she had 
 
 E'en for the meanest there. 
 
 And by her goodness moved, 
 
 They loudly spoke her worth ; 
 Comparing her to Him who proved 
 
 The sinner's friend on earth.* 
 
 "Like Jesus Christ" — what joy, 
 To hear such praise bestowed 
 By those for whom, in love's employ, 
 . She sought each sad abode ! 
 
 Long to the couch confined 
 ^ Of sickness and decay. 
 
 Her form grew weaker, but the mind 
 Was strengthened day by day. 
 
 And now and then it seemed 
 
 As if her glance had gained 
 Some glimpse of glory where it beamed, 
 
 Which on her soul remained. 
 
 *A lafly, one Friday morning, heard some poor women speaKing 
 of Mrs. Sherman. One of them said, " There she is, the dear 
 creature; she is like Jesus Christ." "What do you mean?"" said 
 another; "I know she is very good, but why is she Uke Jesus 
 Christ?" "^Because," replied the first, "she never despises any one, 
 and has always a smile and a kind word for the poor. ' 
 
DEATH AND FUNERAL. 
 
 And tlien such words she spoke 
 
 Of comfort and delight, 
 That clouds of gloom dispersed and broke 
 
 And all around was bright. 
 
 Pray for the living, pray ; 
 
 Besiege the throne of God, 
 That all may seek the upward way 
 
 Her careful footsteps trod. 
 
 Let faith and hope to bu'th, 
 
 In every heart arise, 
 That those who mourn her loss on earth 
 
 May join her in the skies. 
 
386 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 SUMMARY AND APPl,iCATION OF HER 
 CHARACTER. 
 
 The foregoing pages furnish materials for 
 the reader to form his own opinion of the 
 qharacter of the deceased, and they might, 
 without injury to her memory, he left to work 
 their own impressions ; yet, as she lived to be 
 useful, the writer will be pardoned if he aim 
 to enforce those graces which were so eminent- 
 ly conspicuous in her, as forming a bright pat- 
 tern of female excellence. The lives of many 
 individuals are published, whose intellectual 
 greatness checks every hope of attaining to 
 their exalted stature. The sublimity of their 
 views on divine subjects, the novel and im- 
 portant light in which they place ancient doc- 
 trines, so as to commend them to the judgment 
 of unbelievers, the daring which they exhibit 
 in carrying out new schemes for the further- 
 ance of truth and righteousness in the world, 
 and the hold which their writings and influ- 
 
VIEW OF HER CHARACTER. 327 
 
 ence gain on the population, fit them to he 
 leaders. 
 
 But while multitudes read the lives of such 
 moral heroes, the majority, from conscious in- 
 feriority, have no intention to imitate their 
 exploits. Some attempt to follow in the same 
 track ; but as it soon becomes evident to them- 
 selves and others that thjey have not the requi- 
 site mental resources, very few attain a similar 
 elevation; the greater number fall ere they 
 have reached a less exalted position, and de- 
 monstrate they were never designed to occupy 
 it. But the life of Mrs. Sherman presents no 
 proofs of mighty intellect: her conduct, letters, 
 and journals, only show the Christian lady car- 
 rying out her pnnciples into practical opera- 
 tion, and therefore leave footsteps in the com- 
 mon walk of life, in which any one may safely 
 tread. 
 
 Nature had done much for her in her lovely 
 person and attractive manners, but grace much 
 more. Her scriptural knowledge and ability to 
 communicate it, either orally or by letter, were 
 not natural, but acquired. Her position de- 
 manded exertion to obtain information, and 
 
328 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 she gave it; she felt unequal to her solemn 
 duties, and she prepared accordingly : thus, by 
 the ordinary operation of industry in the study 
 of the Scriptures, and in prayerful preparation 
 for spiritual engagements, she acquired accept- 
 ableness and usefulness to which few have at- 
 tained. It will be no disparagement to her, to 
 put on record that, previous to her marriage, 
 no member of her family believed her to pos- 
 sess the qualifications which she afterwards 
 exhibited. Her sister, had she been spared, 
 bade fair, by her mental endowments and 
 literary acquirements, to take an influential 
 position in the world ; but the amiable, loving, 
 merry Martha was thought capable only of 
 gracing a drawing-room, binding friends to her 
 by affection, and benefiting the poor by gen- 
 erosity : such duties as those in which she so 
 peculiarly excelled, were among the last for 
 which she was supposed to be fitted. 
 
 Now though few, comparatively, are placed 
 in her position, yet the world and the church 
 are in such circumstances, that it behooves 
 every female to inquire how she can best use 
 her powers for the honor of Christ and the sal- 
 
VIEW OF HER CHARACTER. 
 
 329 
 
 vation of her sex. Many satisfy them.selves 
 by pleading that they have no talent for teach- 
 ing, for the visitation of the poor, or for col- 
 lecting on behalf of religious and chai-itable 
 objects; yet they show no deficiency of talent 
 on any other subject; and it is rational to sup- 
 pose, if ordinary means were employed to qual- 
 ify them, they would be capable of these ser- 
 vices as well as others. 
 
 The ancient excuse, I am married, and can- 
 not come to the help of the Lord against the 
 mighty, is applicable to both sexes. Though 
 chiefly used by males, it is lamentable to see 
 many females who, before marriage, were the 
 ornament and hope of the community to which 
 they belonged, become inactive and indifferent 
 afterwards; as if their new relation exempted 
 them from exertion on behalf of those objects 
 in which they formerly took such deep interest. 
 Far be it from the writer to manifest a want 
 of sympathy in the increasing cares of a moth- 
 er with a rising family, or to intimate that do- 
 mestic duties are to be neglected for the sake 
 of public services. No; attention to home is 
 a part of her religion, and must be considered 
 
330 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 her first and highest claim, which, being acknow- 
 ledged and improved, her husband shall praise 
 her, and her children rise up and call her bless- 
 ed. But a mother whose zeal for G-od is ac- 
 cording to knowledge, will, by a little early 
 rising, by a wise regulation of the duties of 
 the day, and by a sense of her responsibility 
 to her Saviour, make such arrangements as 
 will secure a portion, if a smaller portion, of 
 her time for assisting the operations of the 
 church in the world. 
 
 Firmness and perseverance were strong pe- 
 culiarities of her mind, and gave stability and 
 decision to her religious character. Her opin- 
 ions were not hastily formed ; it often required 
 much reading and argument to convince her; 
 but when once convinced of the truth of a 
 theory, or of the duty of undertaking any 
 work for Grod, however laborious and diffi- 
 cult, she was immovable. This feature of her 
 disposition remarkably contrasted with her 
 naturally amiable temper, which, on inferior 
 matters, in which conscience was not affected, 
 readily yielded at any sacrifice of feeling to 
 the opinions, and even to the selfishness of 
 
VIEW OF HER CHARACTER. 331 
 
 others, while she would not give up a point in 
 argument to the dearest friend, if unconvinced. 
 Hence, fickleness, inconstancy, and love of 
 change were almost unknown to her. Hence 
 her perseverance with any thing she under- 
 took; it was not commenced till she felt its 
 importance, nor was it abandoned for unfore- 
 seen difficulties. Hence her punctuality to 
 the time appointed for committee, class, or 
 other meetings, and the constant inculcation of 
 this grace on others. 
 
 And how important is this feature in any 
 who attempt to do good. "Unstable as water, 
 thou shalt not excel," may be applied to some 
 Christian females, as well as to Reiiben. They 
 readily engage in every new effort, but after 
 attending a few meetings of committee, their 
 zeal cools, and they absent themselves ; a new 
 theory has them for advocates, but only long 
 enough to abandon it for another more novel; 
 thus neither the church nor the world is bene- 
 fited. It is better to pursue a system of use- 
 fulness in which some known defects exist, 
 but which is understood, and by which some 
 good is done, than to be perpetually changing 
 
332 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 times, instruments, and measures, with the 
 uncertainty of their effective operation. 
 
 Few have exhibited a more entire exemption 
 from selfishness than Mrs. Sherman. "If all 
 the world were like her," said a friend who 
 had known her from infancy, "malice and un- 
 charitableness would become obsolete words. 
 If I were to describe her, I should do it nega- 
 tively, by saying that she had none of the 
 disagreeables of so many other persons." Her 
 politeness would have made her courteous 
 without grace ; but that regulated and refined 
 it, so that it was the result of principle ob- 
 tained fi'om the cross; and she "thus judged, 
 that if One died for all, then were all dead: 
 and that He died for all, that they which live 
 should not henceforth live unto themselves, 
 but to him that died for them and rose again." 
 This unselfish feeling ran through the whole of 
 her conduct; it was not reserved for state oc- 
 casions, when its exhibition would have elicit- 
 ed applause, but was spontaneous and natural. 
 The comfort and ease of all within her house 
 were preferred to her own, and a beggar would 
 be as readily served as a prince. 
 
VIEW OF HER CHARACTER. 333 
 
 Often has she called forth the remonstrances 
 of friends, while standing • to hear the tale of 
 woe from a poor person in the hall, whose dirty 
 condition forbade introduction into a room, 
 when her weakness rendered it dangerous for 
 her to be in such a situation. Her sleep, her 
 meals, her dress, her personal comforts, were 
 relinquished with satisfaction, if any one, es- 
 pecially of God's children, required such help 
 as they would afford. And this is the test by 
 which we are to try our discipleship, "If any 
 man will be my disciple, let him deny himself; 
 let him take up his cross daily and follow me." 
 By some it would be considered that the sub- 
 ject of this memoir presented this feeling in 
 excess; but how short, how far short did 'she 
 fall of the example of Jesus Christ, who "was 
 rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we, 
 through his poverty, might be made rich." 
 Let Christian females study this characteris- 
 tic of our divine Lord, and be assured that 
 it is one of the principal preparations for use- 
 fulness. 
 
 No grace shone more conspicuously in her 
 than humility Every thing she undertook 
 
334 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 was begun with trembling and prosecuted with 
 fear ; she had no confidence in herself, nor any 
 leaning to her own vinderstandins: : the most 
 child-like spirit of dependence on her heavenly 
 Father characterized her entire course of life. 
 When a letter was read to her, a few weeks 
 before her death, containing an allusion to the 
 bright example she had set, she remarked, "I 
 cannot understand what they mean ; they have 
 drawn a picture in their imagination of what 
 they think I ought to be as a minister's wife, 
 and then have persuaded themseh'^es that I 
 resemble it, because they do not know me." 
 Such language from the lips of some would be 
 a hint for flattery ; but in her, the transparent 
 sincerity with which it was uttered was visi- 
 ble to all, and her whole conduct demonstrated 
 that she believed the lowest place suited her 
 best. On an occasion when a similar re- 
 mark was made by a friend, she replied, 
 " Alas, that any one should think my imper- 
 fect walk, every step of which needs cleans- 
 ing in my Saviour's blood, suitable for imita- 
 tion. I can only answer in the sentiments of 
 Cowper: 
 
VIEW OF HER CHARACTER. 
 
 335 
 
 " ' Since the dear hour that brought me to thy foot, 
 And cut up all my follies by the root, 
 I never trusted in an arm but thine. 
 Nor hoped but in thy righteousness divine ; 
 My prayers and alms, imperfect and defiled, 
 Were but the feeble efforts of a child ; 
 Howe'er performed, it was their brightest part 
 That they proceeded from a grateful heart : 
 Cleansed in thine own all purifying blood. 
 Forgive their evil and accept their good ; 
 I cast them at thy feet : my only plea 
 Is what it was, dependence upon t^ee ; 
 While struggling in the vale of tears below, 
 That never failed, nor shall it fail me now.' " 
 
 The apostle lays emphasis on this grace as 
 a special ornament of the female character: 
 "Whose adorning, let it not be that outward 
 adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing 
 of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it 
 be the hidden man of the heart, in that which 
 is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek 
 and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of Grod of 
 great price." She that would do good must be 
 content to stoop to the humble and needy, must 
 condescend to their position, and sacrifice feel- 
 ing and habits to get at their prejudices, and 
 convey truth to their minds. 0, how conde- 
 scending was Jesus Christ — how readily he 
 talked to a leper, listened to the domestic 
 
336 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 trials of parents, or took the children of the 
 poor in his arms. Let us imitate him ; for a 
 proud heart, like a high mountain, is sure to 
 be an unfruitful place. 
 
 " Grace be with all them who love our Lord 
 Jesus Christ in sincerity," she adopted as her 
 motto and exhibited in her conduct. Her 
 house, her table, her purse, were open to all 
 who bore the likeness of her Saviour. She 
 dared not separate herself from any whom the 
 Master had received, on account of denomina- 
 tional peculiarities. Of all such she could say, 
 
 " Whate'er their country or their name, 
 With them, when privileged to meet, 
 Kindred and fellowship I claim, 
 
 And converse hold, communion sweet ; 
 For still my heart will truly move 
 Towards all who love the Lord I love." 
 
 Never can the writer forget her joy when a 
 native Chinese convert, with Dr. Medhurst 
 from China, Tzatzoe an African chief, and 
 StofFels a converted Hottentot, Dr. Cheever 
 and Mr. Kirk from America, and others from 
 the continent of Europe, dined together at the 
 parsonage. She observed to Dr. Medhurst, 
 " This party not only prefigures the millen- 
 
v'lfiW OF HER CHARACTEU. 
 
 337 
 
 nium, but is an epitome of it. Here are na- 
 tive representatives from the four quarters of 
 the globe, all converted to Christ, and support- 
 ing his kingdom in their several countries. 
 Heaven itself will only be an enlargement 
 of such a group." And they who would be 
 useful must cultivate this spirit. Denomina- 
 tionalism has ruled too long. Reading only 
 the books written by one sect, or meeting only 
 the friends who think exactly with vis, enfee- 
 bles the mind and cramps its energies. There 
 are men of God in every division of the Chris- 
 tian church, at whose feet it would become 
 any of us to sit; and we lose that enlarge- 
 ment of heart, that love of the Spirit, which 
 embraces "the whole family in heaven and 
 earth," if we do not cultivate acquaintance 
 with all, and extract what is good from their 
 several modes of worship, their Christian in- 
 tercourse, and their exertions for the conver- 
 sion of the world, and insert them in our stere- 
 otyped forms and habits. 
 
 But after all, the great secret of her power 
 with her classes and the church lay in her fer- 
 vent piety, a faith that embraced and fed upon 
 22 
 
338 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 the living truths of the gospel, and intimate 
 communion with God, which no engagements 
 were suffered to curtail. Details have been 
 furnished which sufficiently prove this fact; 
 and her family are witnesses how constantly 
 her spirit seemed filled with the, fulness of 
 God, and what sacrifices of bodily ease she 
 made for the continuance of that heavenly fel- 
 lowship. This gave her influence, unconscious 
 influence. Though her exertions were great, 
 she accomplished more by what she was, than 
 by w^at she did. Her spiritual character gave 
 an element of silent power to her efforts, which 
 was the chief cause of their efficacy. An in- 
 fluence, unconsciously to herself, was always 
 operating on others with whom she came in 
 contact. They felt that influence, but proba- 
 bly were, equally with herself, unconscious of 
 its exercise, and quite unable to describe its 
 character. As the light, which gives no shock 
 and utters no roar, silently but effectually 
 chases away the darkness, and restores the 
 world to beauty and cheerfulness, stealing on 
 us gradually and almost insensibly ; so the 
 Christian, who shines the brighter firom sitting 
 
VIEW OF HER CHARACTEIi. 339 
 
 in heavenly places, where he may more fully 
 catch the beams and reflect the light of the 
 Sun of righteousness, will disperse the dark- 
 ness of prejudice, command the homage of 
 respect, and excite the desire for imitation in 
 those by whom he is surrounded. 
 
 The testimony of one to the practical power 
 of this silent influence, may illustrate and con- 
 firm these remarks. "I felt," said a young 
 lady, "the importance of religion before I en- 
 tered Mrs. Sherman's class ; but it was not till 
 I saw the happiness she diffused around her 
 that I was led to ask myself the question, 
 'Why cannot I be as amiable in my family as 
 Mrs. Sherman, and make others as happy as 
 she does?' and to form the resolution, 'I will 
 try ;' and if I have at all succeeded, the effort 
 and the success are owing to her lovely exam- 
 ple." 
 
 All, therefore, who would be blessings, must 
 settle it in their hearts that they must first 
 seek to be blessed. Station, education, talent, 
 are allowed to have certain influence, but not 
 so great as is generally supposed. Had ouy 
 Saviour thought much of them, he would have 
 
340 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 selected a higher class than fishermen to pro- 
 claim his gospel and lay the foundations of his 
 kingdom. "Knowledge is power" has become 
 a household phrase, but it is feebleness itself 
 compared with piety. "If God be for us, who 
 can be against us?" Therefore the renova- 
 tion of the most degraded of our species, and 
 the sanctification of the unholiest, which the 
 scientific have failed to accomplish, have been 
 effected by the humble Christian. 
 
 Oh, ye females, who are the ornaments of 
 our churches, and the most powerful helpers 
 in establishing the kingdom of Christ, suffer 
 the word of exhortation. You cannot speak 
 like men, nor rule like him "who was first 
 formed ;" but you have influence of your own, 
 which all acknowledge: the more mighty, be- 
 cause the more gentle; the more efficacious, 
 because the less visible. The most potent 
 agents in nature are the most simple and 
 noiseless — the least seen and the most myste- 
 rious — yet they are in constant and mighty 
 operation. And if by walking in the light as 
 He is in the light, you have fellowship one 
 with another, and can declare, "The Lord is 
 
VIEW OF HER CHARACTER. 341 
 
 my light and my salvation; whom shall I 
 fear?"^ — if from continued application to the 
 fountain opened, you can with confidence avow, 
 "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth 
 us from all sin" — if from repeated experience 
 of his gracious assistance, you can invite troub- 
 led minds to your Friend, saying, "Behold, 
 God is my helper" — if from daily meditation 
 on the "mystery of godliness," you become 
 rooted and built up in Christ, and established 
 in the faith of the gospel, and can affirm, "I 
 know whom I have believed, and am persuaded 
 that He is able to keep that which I have com- 
 mitted to him" — if under conscious weakness 
 and infirmity, as Asa, you know not what to 
 do, but the eye of your faith is cast up to the 
 mediatorial throne, and your heart and lips 
 avow, "I will go ir^the strength of the Lord 
 Grod; I will make mention of his righteous- 
 ness, even of his only" — then, like Deborah, 
 you will accompany the Lord's servants, and 
 share their honor in fighting his battles; like 
 Hannah, you will exalt the Lord's "anointed;" 
 like the Shunammite, you will plead for the so- 
 ciety of the prophet in your house, and see his 
 
342 
 
 MARTHA SHERMAN. 
 
 prayers answered in your children; like Mary, 
 you will rejoice in G-od your Saviour; like 
 Elizabeth, you will walk in all the ordinances 
 and commandments of the Lord blameless; 
 like Susannah, the wife of Herod's steward, 
 you will minister to Christ of your substance ; 
 like Martha, you will receive him into your 
 house, and — who can tell? — have your brother 
 raised to spiritual Ufe, and sit at the table 
 with him; like Phoebe, you will become the 
 servant of the church, and like Tryphena and 
 Tryphosa, labor much in the Lord. "Favor 
 is deceitful and beauty is vain; but a woman 
 that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."