i
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 OP 
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN, 
 
 HARTFORD, CONN. 
 
 WITH LETTERS AND INCIDENTAL SUBJECTS. 
 
 BY WILLIAM PATTEN, D. D- 
 
 " An old disciple." Acts xxi. 16. 
 
 HARTFORD: 
 
 PRINTED BY P. CANFIELD. 
 
 1834.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1833, by 
 WILLIAM PATTEN, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of 
 Connecticut.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 Page 
 FROM HER BIRTH TO HER MARRIAGE. 
 
 Her parentage and early education . . . , . 6 
 Her religious experience, as related in her public 
 
 profession ... . . . .12 
 Her early character and employment . . .15 
 
 PART II. 
 
 FROM HER MARRIAGE TO THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND. 
 
 Sketch of Rev. William Patten . . . .18 
 Residence of Mrs. Patten in Halifax ; with the edu 
 cation of her children ; ,4^ . . . 20 
 Removal to Hartford, and manner of life . . 26 
 Death of her eldest son . . . .; ^. 32 
 Dismission of Mr. Patten from his pastoral relation . 39 
 Death of Mrs. Patten's servant . . 40 
 Death of her youngest son . . . . 41 
 Sickness of her husband, and journey to Roxbury . 43 
 Her return, and the death of her husband i . 45 
 Concluding sketch of Mr. Patten . , , .' 48 
 
 PART 111. 
 
 FROM THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND TO HER OWN DECEASE. 
 
 Her circumstances after the death of her husband . 49 
 The decease of her youngest daughter ... 58
 
 IV CONTENTS. 
 
 Her visit to her father in his last sickness . . 59 
 The remarkable deliverance of her eldest son . 61 
 Her residence in Newport, R. I. . . .68 
 
 Her return, and the commencement of a school by 
 
 her daughters, and assisted by her younger son . .69 
 Her hospitality and liberality . . . .74 
 Brought near to death by two visitations . . 80 
 The sickness and death of her younger son . v . 83 
 The succeeding scenes and experiences of her life, 
 
 till her death 87 
 
 Poetical tributes to her memory, 
 
 By A . ^ , . . . .96 
 
 By Mrs. Sigourney . r , . . . ' 98 
 Extracts from a funeral sermon delivered by her 
 
 son . 100 
 
 Remarks on the public relation she gave of her 
 
 Christian experience . . . . .108 
 
 Her family connexions . v ., 123 
 
 Letters .. .128
 
 MEMOIRS 
 
 OF 
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN 
 
 THE following Memoirs will not bring into 
 view a woman of high literary attainments, or 
 who moved in a very conspicuous course of 
 public usefulness ; but one of local and do 
 mestic habits, of good sense, of kind affec 
 tions, of unaffected piety, who was a blessing 
 in all the relations she sustained, and was dis 
 tinguished for fortitude and hope in every 
 trial. 
 
 Her example, in being adapted to those in 
 the ordinary walks of life, may be more ex 
 tensively beneficial, than if she had moved in 
 a sphere in which but few can expect to be 
 placed. 
 
 1
 
 O MEMOIRS OF 
 
 As her duties were connected with the va 
 rious scenes and relations of life, instead of 
 selecting and exhibiting them as distinct traits 
 of character, the chronological order will be 
 observed, of considering her from her birth to 
 her marriage, from her marriage to the death 
 of her husband, and from the death of her 
 husband to her own decease, together with 
 those incidental subjects which belong to each 
 
 of these seasons. 
 
 1 
 
 I. 
 
 FROM HER BIRTH TO HER MARRIAGE. 
 
 Her father was the Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, 
 D. D., of Lebanon, Conn., whose reputation as 
 a faithful pastor, and as a popular and power 
 ful preacher in itinerant excursions, is not 
 yet forgotten ; though he is better known as 
 the founder of Moor's charity school, in favor 
 of civilizing and christianizing the Indians, 
 and of Dartmouth College in N. H. primarily 
 intended for the education of Missionaries, 
 and of young men for the ministry ; which re 
 main as monuments of his Christian enterprize
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 7 
 
 and benevolent exertions. It may be proper 
 to remark, that his private piety corresponded 
 to his public acts. The writer heard him say, 
 not long before his death, that it was his cus 
 tom, after the labors of the day were con 
 cluded, to retire for self-examination, and 
 that for twenty years he had not laid aside his 
 clothes at night, without being willing never 
 to put them on again. 
 
 Her mother was Sarah, a daughter of the 
 Rev. John Davenport, first minister of Stam 
 ford, Conn., who was son of the Rev. John 
 Davenport, founder and pastor of the first 
 church in New Haven, and afterwards pastor 
 of a church in Boston, Mass., both of whom 
 were men of ability and eminence, especially 
 the latter, who had great influence in the civil 
 and ecclesiastical affairs of New England. 
 
 When Dr. Wheelock married this daughter, 
 she was the widow of a Mr. Maltby, of New 
 Haven, by whom she had three children, a son 
 and two daughters. The son was educated 
 for the ministry, and, for a number of years, 
 was the much loved pastor of a church in Ber-
 
 8 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 muda, West Indies. He afterwards removed 
 to Charleston, S. C. One of the daughters 
 died in youth, an example of patience and 
 piety ; the other married Dr. Betts, of Nor- 
 walk, Conn. The descendants of the son and 
 this daughter are respectable, and reside in 
 each of those places. 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Wheelock was a woman of a 
 meek and quiet spirit, active in duty, patient 
 in trial, given to hospitality. So endeared 
 was she to her husband, by her natural and 
 moral qualities, that her gravestone bears the 
 inscription, that her character was too estimable 
 for an epitaph. 
 
 She had, by this marriage, four children ; 
 Theodora, who married Alexander Phelps, 
 Esq. of Hebron, Conn., afterwards of Oxford, 
 N. H. ; Ruth, the subject of the present me 
 moir ; and Ralph, who was an assistant of his 
 father, and an acceptable preacher of the gos 
 pel ; but in consequence of epilepsy from early 
 life, he was disqualified for becoming a stated 
 pastor, and finally for any useful labors. 
 
 Ruth Wheelock was born March 4th, 1740.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 
 
 She was an intelligent, docile child ; and in 
 her early years received all those advantages 
 of education, which the schools in her native 
 village could fupish. In addition to these 
 instructions, she was placed, for a time, in the 
 family of the Rev. Timothy Edwards of Wind 
 sor, Conn., two of whose daughters taught a 
 select school for needle work, composition, 
 and various branches of mental and moral 
 improvements, in which this pupil made com 
 mendable proficiency, and was highly es 
 teemed and beloved by the family, and by all 
 who were acquainted with her. 
 
 She early attained maturity. At fourteen 
 years of age, she might, for stature and dis 
 cretion, be reputed eighteen* From her own 
 good sense and taste, as well as from the ex 
 ample of those with whom she associated, she 
 acquired a delicacy and refinement of man 
 ners, which highly recommended her. She 
 was neither presuming, nor bashful. It was 
 not, in her, the " perfection of art to con 
 ceal art ;" but she acted from nature, in 
 manifesting a delicate sensibility and what- 
 
 1*
 
 10 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 ever was winning in conversation and ad 
 dress. 
 
 Her education did not disincline her from 
 taking a part in domestic affairs. For this 
 she had an opportunity, as her father had en 
 tered on the plan of evangelizing the heathen, 
 and had obtained several sons of chiefs of dif 
 ferent tribes, and from time to time the num 
 ber was increased. 
 
 These he received into his family, and ad 
 mitted to his table, thinking it would favor his 
 object to treat them as his own children ; and 
 he took several young men to educate as 
 school-masters and missionaries, so that, at 
 times, his family amounted to more than thirty. 
 
 In the scene of diversified industry and care 
 thus opened, this daughter cheerfully engaged, 
 and was unceasing and untiring in her opera 
 tions. She never complained, was always 
 alert, and appeared with a cheerful counte 
 nance, though she often abridged her hours 
 of rest ; and the result of her diversified en 
 gagements appeared, in some instances, al 
 most, a prodigy.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 11 
 
 Her father she highly venerated and loved. 
 She entered warmly into his views, did all in 
 her power to alleviate his cares and promote 
 his designs. So lovely and deserving a 
 daughter was she, that he said, at the close of 
 his life, that he " never had reproved her but 
 once ; and he afterwards found, that then he 
 was under a mistake, that she was not in 
 fault." 
 
 Her naturally active and pleasant disposi 
 tion was strengthened, and rendered uniform, 
 and she was furnished with a purer and higher 
 principle of action, by early piety. Before 
 she was fourteen years of age she made a 
 public profession of religion. 
 
 Of the commencement and nature of her 
 religious experience there is no other record, 
 than the public relation she gave, on admission 
 to the church. Though in relations of this 
 kind, which were then generally required, 
 there may be something of the same form, yet 
 it must be believed, that they expressed the 
 exercises, which were peculiar to each indi 
 vidual. That which was offered in this case
 
 12 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 may, therefore, be considered as an authentic 
 account of her conversion. 
 
 The following is an abstract from the re 
 lation : 
 
 " The mercy of God, in giving me a being 
 and education in a land of gospel light, has 
 appeared to me very great ; and I think 
 I have looked back, with regret, on my mis- 
 improvement of distinguished privileges and 
 advantages ; and especially seasons and means 
 of grace, which I have enjoyed in such fulness. 
 The patience, condescension and grace of 
 God have appeared wonderful, that, after all, 
 he should, not only indulge me with the out 
 ward means of salvation, but strive with me 
 by his Holy Spirit. 
 
 " There have been several seasons, of late, in 
 which I have been awakened, and much con 
 cerned respecting my eternal state ; but 
 worldly cares have, by little and little, crowded 
 such thoughts and interests out of my mind. 
 But about ten weeks ago, by reading a book of 
 Mr. Allen, ' On the certainty and suddenness of 
 the appearance of Christ to judgment? I was
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 13 
 
 more awakened, and more deeply impressed, 
 so that I could take no comfort in any thing, 
 and but little rest day, or night. 
 
 I attempted obedience to the law ; but did 
 not find that fruit from it which I expected, 
 either in good works, or consolation. My 
 heart was without that love which the law re 
 quired ; and I appeared to myself far from 
 salvation, and not even in the way of it. I 
 was blind, and my heart was hard. The most 
 weighty and solemn considerations possible, 
 were lost upon me ; and I saw it was not in 
 the power of means to change my heart ; but 
 that it must be the work of God ; and yet, that 
 the voluntary enmity of my heart to God and 
 Christ was the only bar to my salvation. I 
 saw myself to be in the hands of a just, righ 
 teous and sovereign God ; and myself to be a 
 most hateful creature, fit only to be made a 
 vessel of wrath. 
 
 " In the evening, while walking in my cham 
 ber alone, in great distress, thinking of giving 
 my heart to God, wishing I knew how to do it, 
 and crying to God to teach me, and enable me
 
 14 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 to do it, I felt a love for Christ, on which my 
 distress ceased, and I was filled with light and 
 
 " This I did not suppose to be conversion ; 
 and when I went down, and some inferred, 
 from a change in my countenance, that my 
 state was changed, I was in fear of their mis 
 take, and felt concerned that my concern was 
 gone. Still I rejoiced ; I could not help re 
 joicing. My heart was full of sweetness, full 
 of love. Christ appeared such a Saviour as I 
 wanted ; and, though he should not save me, 
 I could not but rejoice in him. 
 
 "This was the frame of my heart, in general, 
 till the next Sabbath, which was such a Sab 
 bath as I have never seen before. Then I 
 could say, A day in thy courts is better than a 
 thousand elsewhere ; and hearing a discourse 
 on Assurance, I began to think I had already 
 experienced a saving change. 
 
 " I continued comfortable till the next Sab 
 bath ; and then my joys were much higher. 
 My heart and soul said, How amiable are thy 
 tabernacles, O Lord of hosts ! I chose them
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 15 
 
 for my abode, and wished to dwell in the house 
 of the Lord forever. I was grieved when the 
 worship of God was finished, and that the time 
 was come, when I must leave his house. I 
 find another love to all parts of religious wor 
 ship and duty, another love to saints and sin 
 ners, than I ever had before. 
 
 "I think it to be the full purpose of my heart, 
 to forsake all sin, even whatever is displeasing 
 to God, and to devote myself wholly to his 
 service and glory forever. 
 
 " I desire now, publicly, to enlist under 
 Christ's banner ; and ye are witnesses of my 
 solemn vows and covenant engagements to be 
 the Lord's ; and will be witnesses against me, 
 if ever I forsake him, and prove false to his 
 covenant." 
 
 The change in her heart and views, here 
 stated, did not produce so visible a change in 
 her temper and conduct, as is seen in some 
 other instances, as she had always been regu 
 lar, and moral, and affectionate. It may be 
 repeated, that religion did not suppress these
 
 16 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 natural affections, nor seclude her from that 
 social intercourse and those employments, 
 which are proper in themselves, and which her 
 situation required. 
 
 Natural affections are an important and ex 
 tensive medium of exhibiting the influence of 
 religion. To be without them is to be worse than 
 an infidel, since an infidel may have natural 
 affections ; the want of them, therefore, shows 
 the influence of sin beyond the mere denial 
 of Christ. 
 
 The natural affections in her were regulated 
 and strengthened, and the expression of them 
 rendered more consistent and uniform, on her 
 being sanctified. In the ordinances of religion, 
 and all the means of Christian improvement, 
 she manifested a lively interest, not only by 
 the regularity of her attention to them, but by 
 her remarks. She was most pleased with that 
 preaching which was most evangelical and 
 impressive ; and with those books, and that 
 conversation which were most adapted to 
 inform the mind and warm the heart. The
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 17 
 
 light of the sun was not more pleasing to her 
 natural eye, than the light of truth to her 
 soul. 
 
 At the age of eighteen she was considered 
 one of the most accomplished and interesting 
 of young women. 
 
 It was to her credit, that it was never her 
 object vainly to attract the attention of young 
 men ; and if she had not opportunities to se 
 lect one, as a companion for life, she never 
 felt a preference, till she received the offer of 
 which she accepted. In this she had the ap 
 probation of her father, who made no other 
 objection, than the fear that the connexion 
 might not be lasting, as a person so extraor 
 dinary must soon become mature for a higher 
 world. 
 
 II. 
 
 FROM HER MARRIAGE TO THE DEATH OP HER 
 HUSBAND, 
 
 She was married June 9th, 1758, to the 
 Rev. William Patten, pastor of a church in 
 Halifax, Plymouth county, Mass. 
 
 2
 
 18 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 William Patten was born in Billerica, Mass., 
 March 22d, 1738. His parents were Nathaniel 
 and Mary Patten, of that place. They were 
 both pious, well educated, and much esteemed 
 for their exemplary conduct, their kindness 
 as neighbors, and the interest they took in 
 whatever called for their sympathy or aid. 
 
 They had three sons and one daughter, all 
 of whom sustained good characters, and were 
 in reputable standing in society. 
 
 William was their second son ; and from 
 childhood was remarkable for his observa 
 tion and intelligence. When five years old, 
 he composed a sermon on the first verse in the 
 Bible, the sentiments and connection of which 
 excited the surprise of his friends. 
 
 His parents, with the hope that he might 
 be a preacher of the gospel, determined to 
 give him a public education ; and to facili 
 tate this object, removed to Cambridge ; and 
 he was admitted a member of Harvard Col 
 lege in that place, when about twelve years 
 of age. 
 
 Through his collegiate course he incurred
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 19 
 
 > 
 
 no censure ; but was highly esteemed for his 
 courteous and regular conduct, and commend 
 ed for his diligence in study, and his attain 
 ments in the various branches of science. He 
 seemed at that time, and through life, to have 
 an almost intuitive perception of every sub 
 ject to which he attended, so as to have little 
 need of an instructor. 
 
 After graduating he determined to devote 
 himself to the ministry ; and, as was cus 
 tomary in those days, engaged in a school in 
 Dedham, Mass., and pursued his theological 
 studies under the superintendance and advice 
 of the Rev. Mr. Havens, pastor of a church in 
 that place. 
 
 Of the commencement and particular cir 
 cumstances of his religious experience, he has 
 left no record; but that he was then a Christian 
 may be inferred, from the favorable opinion 
 of his parents, and of the church to which 
 he became united, and of the minister under 
 whom he studied. It may likewise be in 
 ferred, from a confession of his faith present 
 ed, soon after, to a council for his ordination ;
 
 20 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 and from the judgment of the council, as it 
 was a practice to examine a candidate for or 
 dination, in his experimental acquaintance 
 with religion, as well as in his doctrinal know 
 ledge. 
 
 Earlier than he had intended, he was per 
 suaded to enter on the ministry by engaging 
 in an occasional supply of the pulpit in Hali 
 fax, for two or three Sabbaths. But before 
 the time expired, he received a unanimous call 
 from the church and people to become their 
 pastor. The objections, from his youth and 
 inexperience, were over-ruled by the importu 
 nity of the people, and the advice of his 
 friends ; and he was ordained Feb. 2d, 1757, 
 seven weeks before he was nineteen years of 
 age. 
 
 The people of Halifax, from the character 
 given of Mrs. Patten, anticipated much profit 
 and pleasure in her society, and hailed her ar 
 rival with great joy. To say the least, they 
 were not disappointed. Her agreeable ap 
 pearance and manners, her familiar inter 
 course with them, her hospitality, her chris-
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 21 
 
 tian example, and the interest she took in their 
 welfare, rendered her an object of universal 
 respect and love. 
 
 She here became the mother of five chil 
 dren, Eleazar Wheelock, Sarah, William, 
 Ruth and Mary, to whom she attended with 
 the kindest maternal affection, and to their 
 instruction in religion from the earliest dawn 
 of reason. 
 
 She was blessed with the subdued temper 
 and harmless conduct of all of them ; so that 
 a ministerial acquaintance once said, that if 
 any children were free from original depravi 
 ty, he should suppose them to be her's. 
 
 The eldest, born March 14th, 1759, was re 
 markable for his observation and early piety. 
 When only a year and nine months old he 
 went from the room in which his mother was 
 sitting, and called the maid and boy in the 
 kitchen to come to prayer. They followed 
 him, and seating himself with great serious 
 ness in his little armed chair, he opened his 
 child's book, and made as though he were 
 reading a portion of Scripture. He then 
 
 2*
 
 22 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 arose, and, leaning his chair against his 
 breast, said, " Infinitely great, and incompre- 
 hense Majesty." Here his mother checked 
 him, presuming he did not understand the 
 meaning of the words, which had probably 
 been used by his father in the morning pray 
 er, and that there would be an irreverence in 
 his proceeding. 
 
 Three years after this, he came one day to 
 his mother, trembling and with anxiety in his 
 countenance, and enquired, " What he should 
 do to be saved ?" Taking him on her knee, she 
 attempted to ascertain the ground of his dis 
 tress. He said, " he was a sinner." She then 
 spake to him of Jesus Christ ; of his dying for 
 sinners, and willingness to save all who repent 
 of sin, and trust in him. The child was 
 quieted, and went away. 
 
 His mother did not apprehend any saving 
 change till three months after, when, having 
 spoken to her little family of the character of 
 Christ, she added, " But I fear that not one 
 of you loves him." To which this son replied. 
 " I am sure, Ma', that I do." The hope that
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 23 
 
 he did love him was confirmed by observing 
 his general temper, his interest in devotion, 
 and his consciousness of what was morally 
 right and wrong when it had not been pointed 
 out to him, enquiring, when he heard, or saw 
 what was improper in other children, whether 
 it was not wicked ? 
 
 That mankind are naturally depraved was 
 believed by Mrs. Patten ; and the doctrine, if 
 true, lies at the foundation of religious educa 
 tion. That the doctrine is true, appears from 
 Scripture, in which it is taught explicitly and 
 by implication, in various passages. 
 
 The gospel dispensation is founded on the 
 fact, that mankind naturally, or as related to 
 the first Adam, are in a state of sin ; in cor 
 respondence to which, Christ, as the second 
 Adam, is represented as the Saviour of all 
 men, and especially of them that believe. 
 
 Man is born with all the endowments and 
 faculties he will ever possess. He has a 
 body, to which there will be no addition of a 
 feature, or member ; but only a growth. He 
 has also the same intellectual and moral facul-
 
 24 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 ties, which, as he advances in age, will be un 
 folded and brought to maturity. 
 
 If a child have intellectual and moral facul 
 ties, there must be some exercise of them. Its 
 thoughts are not the thoughts of an animal ; 
 its will is not the will of an animal. It has not 
 a responsibility above its intellectual capacity; 
 but to say that it has not a moral character is 
 to deny the possibility of its being good, cfr 
 the necessity of its being saved by Christ, and 
 leads to the belief of its annihilation. 
 
 The doctrine of the natural depravity of 
 man does not require the belief, that any who 
 die in infancy are lost. This is not a neces 
 sary consequence of the doctrine ; nor is it 
 asserted in Scripture, as a ground of faith. 
 But the doctrine is important, as furnishing a 
 subject of prayer, and a principle of instruc 
 tion, that the opening mind may be referred 
 to Christ, who, as the only Saviour of the 
 world, is the only ground of hope. 
 
 In the mysterious course of Divine Provi 
 dence Mr. Patten, after a ministry of nine 
 years, was brought to the conclusion, that it
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 25 
 
 would contribute to his own usefulness, and 
 be, indeed, for the benefit of the people, for 
 him to remove to some other place. To his 
 request for a dismission, there was a general 
 objection. He therefore invited a council to 
 give their advice on the subject. But it ap 
 peared to them in so dubious a light, that they 
 referred it back to him and the church, for a 
 determination. As he continued under the 
 persuasion, in which he thought he was disin 
 terested, as there was no other place which he 
 had particularly in view, the church finally 
 gave their consent ; and his pastoral relation 
 to them, but with an affectionate and full re 
 commendation of his character, was dissolved 
 September 5th, 1766. 
 
 In this trial Mrs. Patten meekly acquiesced 
 in the will of her heavenly Father, though she 
 was deeply affected, with concern for the 
 church and people ; and that the prospect of 
 continuing in a place, so endeared to her in 
 many respects, should so soon be closed. But 
 she had the gratification afterwards to know,
 
 26 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 that the object of Mr. Patten in requesting a 
 dismission was, as it respected the people, 
 realized ; that it was, indeed, a sacrifice for 
 their good. 
 
 Mr. Patten, after continuing at liberty about 
 a year, received an invitation to become col 
 league pastor with the Rev. Elnathan Whit 
 man, of the South church, in Hartford, Conn., 
 and in that office he was installed September 
 23d, 1767. 
 
 That this situation was more public than 
 the one he had left did not recommend it to 
 Mrs. Patten. But it was agreeable to her 
 as it brought her in the vicinity of her father, 
 and in connexion with some who had formerly 
 been her acquaintances ; and she was willing 
 to exert her influence in doing good, in a more 
 extensive and conspicuous field of labor. 
 
 As there were, in those days, but few bene 
 volent institutions or charitable societies, to 
 give encouragement to religious enterprise, 
 her usefulness is to be considered in her con 
 duct in the family, in her intercourse with the
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 27 
 
 church and people with whom she had be 
 come connected, and in doing good as there 
 were other opportunities for it. 
 
 She attended to every domestic duty, par 
 ticularly the religious care of her children. 
 She was regular in observing all the public 
 ordinances of religion, and strict in domestic, 
 and so far as can be known, in secret devo 
 tion. She was very hospitable to ministers 
 and other guests ; and in the parish expressed 
 a suitable regard for those of different classes, 
 and in different circumstances. She was not 
 more accessible to the rich than to the poor. 
 Though wealth and refinement have a claim 
 to respect, yet those in humble stations are 
 equally entitled to regard. They may be more 
 benefitted by attentions, and often receive 
 them with more gratitude. A minister and 
 his wife have indeed no particular rank in 
 society. They are not below the highest, nor 
 above the lowest j but are equally related to 
 all, as they are devoted to the spiritual wel 
 fare of all. Of this Mrs. Patten gave an im 
 partial example ; none thought that she des-
 
 ZO MEMOIRS OF 
 
 pised and neglected them, nor any that she 
 was disposed to flatter. 
 
 Among other means of being useful, she 
 undertook the instruction of female people of 
 color, inviting them to her house several even 
 ings in the week, which she continued much 
 to their improvement, till discountenanced by 
 some to whom their services belonged. 
 
 She maintained, though not a scrutinizing, 
 yet a strict and habitual watchfulness over her 
 children. She conversed with them daily on 
 religion. She required them, not merely to pray 
 by repeating forms of prayer ; but to retire 
 and offer their thoughts and desires in their 
 own language. When able to read, she re 
 quired them to read every day a portion of 
 the Scriptures. She often importuned them 
 not to defer religion, but resolve that they 
 would immediately devote to it their attention, 
 and their hearts. Wherusjhe put them to bed 
 she would converse a^id pray with them, 
 kneeling by their side. \ Maternal authority 
 and tenderness were so blended, in these ser 
 vices, that the children were pleased ; and
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 29 
 
 were impressed with the conviction, that what 
 she did was her duty, and what she enjoined 
 was theirs. 
 
 The government, in general, was founded 
 on moral principle. She forbad nothing which 
 her children did not believe to be wrong ; she 
 commanded nothing which they did not be 
 lieve to be right. This gave scope for every 
 reasonable liberty ; and she was loved, as very 
 indulgent, and added the influence of con 
 science to other motives, for submitting to her 
 restraints. In this way, she rarely had occa 
 sion for any chastisement ; and in maintaining 
 order, her children were affectionate to each 
 other, and to her. 
 
 She was a woman of devotion. It was her 
 custom, on all occasions, to resort to the 
 throne of grace, and make known her wants 
 and desires to God, in communing with 
 whom was her delight, and in whom she had 
 filial confidence. 
 
 She was fervent as well as frequent in 
 prayer. The writer recollects, that when a 
 little child, he went into a vacant room, and 
 
 3
 
 30 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 heard a low voice, as of one in distress. Ap 
 proaching the apartment from which the 
 sound proceeded, the door of which was 
 closed, he discovered that it was the voice of 
 his mother in prayer in prayer for her chil 
 dren, that they might be brought to love and. 
 serve God, and saved from everlasting death. 
 This was the first serious impression on his 
 mind in favor of religion. He felt, that it 
 must be something different from the will and 
 desire of his mother ; and, in itself, of infinite 
 importance. 
 
 She was scrupulous that her emotions 
 should not betray her secret devotion ; and 
 she would, doubtless, have suppressed them 
 on this occasion, had she not supposed that 
 she was out of the hearing, even of a child. 
 Her private devotions were strictly secret. 
 
 In her intercourse with God, she had, at 
 times, such a spirit of prayer, that, as she mo* 
 destly said, she seemed to know, by her free 
 dom, or restraint, for what to pray ; that what 
 she requested was granted, and what she 
 could not request she found afterwards could
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 31 
 
 not have been granted, had it been desired. 
 This, however, was limited in her to particu 
 lar cases, as it doubtless is to the most fa 
 vored Christians. The prayers of saints are 
 founded on the promises of God ; and imply 
 the desire that his will may be done. Yet it 
 is not known in what manner his promises 
 will be accomplished: what particular good 
 will be denied, or evil permitted in order to 
 their fulfilment. The general encouragement 
 of the saints to pray, and their consolation in 
 it, consist in their feeling a conformity to the 
 will of God, and a confidence in his promises ; 
 in which sense it is certain, their prayers will 
 be answered, and the greatest possible good 
 be produced. 
 
 Yet when God intends to bestow some 
 particular benefit, or to avert, or remove, some 
 particular evil, he may excite desires in his 
 people for the bestowment of that benefit, or 
 deliverance from that evil, and thus answer 
 their prayers for particular good. Such de 
 sires it would not be consistent for God to
 
 32 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 deny ; and in exciting and fulfilling them, he 
 gives a special proof that he hears prayer. 
 But there is reason for caution, lest the ear 
 nest desire of a thing, should be considered 
 an evidence that it will be granted. The de 
 sire may originate in natural affection, or 
 sympathy, and not in a supreme regard for 
 God, and the interests of his kingdom ; and 
 the disappointment of the desire may induce 
 the conclusion, that all prayers offered by the 
 person are unavailing. 
 
 Soon after the removal of the family to 
 Hartford, they were brought into great afflic 
 tion, by a calamity which befel the eldest son. 
 In attempting to save himself from a danger 
 ous fall, he wrenched his back, which disabled 
 him from walking, and brought on a rapid 
 decline. 
 
 During his confinement he suffered but lit 
 tle pain ; but his situation was wearisome, and 
 attended with various distresses ; through the 
 whole he manifested sweetness of temper, and 
 calmness of mind, submitting to God, and in-
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 33 
 
 dulging a meek hope of his salvation. He 
 wrote, and repeated with feeling, the hymn, 
 the first verse of which is, 
 
 " Come, let us join our cheerful songs, 
 With angels round the throne ; 
 Ten thousand thousand are their tongues, 
 But all their joys are one." 
 
 Not long before his death, a respectable 
 neighbor called on a visit, and was surprised 
 to see him so emaciated and pale. But among 
 other things for his consolation, he said, as he 
 was going away, " Wheelock, you need not be 
 in fear to die, for you have been a very good 
 boy." Mrs. Patten accompanied the gentle 
 man to the door, and on her return, found that 
 her son had covered his face, and was weep 
 ing. She inquired if he were in pain ? As 
 soon as he could compose himself, he drew 
 the covering from his face, and with eyes glis 
 tening with surprise and tears, replied, " No, 
 mother ; but only think, that Mr. S. should 
 say, I need not be afraid to die, because I have 
 been a good boy !" His mother observed, 
 
 3*
 
 34 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 " You know better than that, my son." He 
 answered, " Yes, mother. I know that Christ 
 died for sinners; and that I need not be in fear 
 to die, because I love him." 
 
 The hour of removal of this son from the 
 world, was evidently drawing near ; but it 
 finally came in a sudden and unexpected man 
 ner. One morning, without any previous indi 
 cations of the change, and while the family, 
 with Dr. Wheelock and several other ministe 
 rial friends, were at breakfast in another room, 
 the nurse came to Mrs. Patten, with the 
 message, that her son wished to see her, im 
 mediately. She hastened, and saw an altera 
 tion in his countenance, and that he panted 
 for breath. He said, "Mother, I am dying; 
 do call my father to pray for me." All went 
 into the room. After a few questions, prayer 
 was offered, in which he appeared, abstracted 
 ly from his distress, calmly to join. When 
 prayer was ended, he opened his eyes ; and 
 inquiries were more particularly made, respect 
 ing his views, and the ground of his hope. 
 In his replies to which, he said, that he was
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 35 
 
 willing to leave his parents, and friends, and 
 all things, to be with Christ. Another prayer 
 was offered, in which he manifested the same 
 composure, and interest. He then opened his 
 eyes, and as he appeared about expiring, his 
 father could only say, " Are you still willing, 
 my son, to die !" To which he replied, "Yes, 
 sir, quite willing." On assenting that another 
 prayer should be offered, he again closed his 
 eyes, and gently clasped his hands ; and in 
 the midst of the duty, without opening his 
 eyes, or any struggle, he expired, literally "fall 
 ing asleep in Jesus." He was then but ten 
 years and ten days of age. 
 
 Great as was the consolation of Mrs. Patten, 
 in the decease of this child, it was a providen 
 tial favor that her father was present, to sympa 
 thize in her grief and encourage her faith in its 
 struggle with natural affection, and temporary 
 privation. The trial was new, and difficult. 
 Though the event was foreseen, it was not felt 
 as a reality, till it took place. The death of 
 a child, in any instance, is one of the greatest 
 afflictions ; in this child, there was every en-
 
 36 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 clearing quality ; and hope opened the pros 
 pect of his being a solace to her, a blessing to 
 the family, an ornament to the church, and a 
 light in the world. Yet she was submissive. 
 Becoming gratitude was connected with her 
 sorrow. In a filial temper, her feelings ac 
 corded with those of her husband, who, on re 
 turning from the funeral, observed, that he was 
 " glad he had so good a child to give." 
 
 Beyond the force of language, this instance 
 teaches the necessity and blessedness of trust 
 ing in Christ for salvation. As Christ is the 
 only way of salvation, it is much more easy to 
 lead a child to a knowledge of this way, than 
 convince it of its own goodness. By flattery, 
 a child may become self conceited, and its 
 fears may be lulled ; but it cannot be con 
 scious of goodness, or be a subject of the 
 peace of God. This the writer can testify 
 from experience ; for when, at the age of six 
 or eight years, he was told that he was good ; 
 and when some parents adduced him as an ex 
 ample, which they wished their children to 
 follow, he thought they did not know him.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 37 
 
 He was surprised at their candor, or rather 
 their ignorance. He felt that he was not what 
 they supposed him to be. He had no good 
 ness which gave him confidence before God, 
 or rendered him willing to die. 
 
 But this subject may be better illustrated 
 by a case, in which a different course of in 
 struction was pursued, from the one adopted 
 by Mrs. Patten. 
 
 The writer knew a clergyman's family, in 
 which there was a very amiable child, eight 
 or ten years old, who was in a decline. One 
 afternoon, without any thing having been said 
 to her on the subject, she surprised her moth 
 er, by saying, "Though I have wished that we 
 might all die together, and live in heaven ; yet 
 now I dare not die ; for I fear God is angry 
 with me." Her mother replied, " Why do 
 you think so ? God cannot be angry with 
 you, for you never did any thing wrong in 
 your life." Not being able to convince her, 
 she called her father, who repeated the assu 
 rance before given her, that she had done no 
 thing wrong ; that she had always been
 
 38 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 dient to her parents ; had been kind to her 
 playmates, and gone to meeting on the Sab 
 bath. " Still," to use the words of her mother, 
 " accustomed as she was to place implicit 
 confidence in the opinions of her father, it 
 was with the greatest difficulty she was dissua 
 ded from her apprehension of the anger of 
 God." She was rather silenced, than convin 
 ced. She was cheered with no assurance, 
 though she expressed no fear. What an open 
 ing was here for the parents to lead the mind 
 of the child to Christ I And how readily, and 
 with what stability would it have found peace 
 by believing in him. 
 
 Mrs. Patten, while resident in Hartford, be 
 came the mother of three additional children ; 
 Charlotte, Nathaniel Wheelock, and George 
 Jaffrey. After the death of her son, she con 
 tinued regularly her customary duties, without 
 any incident which requires to be recorded, 
 till the dismission of her husband from his pas 
 toral charge, which took place in November, 
 1773. 
 
 But the reader will pause to reflect, that in
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 39 
 
 so long an intermediate space, there must have 
 been many delightful expressions of Christian 
 character, in one so devoted to God, so affec 
 tionate to her family, so faithful in all her re 
 lations ; and in those circumstances of joy 
 and sorrow, which must have occurred ; but 
 these must be left, with the works in general 
 of the saints, to the disclosures of the final 
 day. 
 
 The council, convened on the dismission of 
 Mr. Patten, were again in doubt, as to the 
 expediency of the measure ; and by their com 
 mittee, referred it to his option, either to be 
 dismissed, or left in good standing. He chose 
 to submit it to their judgment. It appears 
 by their result, that, considering Mr. Patten's 
 age and eminent gifts and ministerial quali 
 fications, and the prospect, from the want of 
 harmony in the Society, of his being more 
 useful elsewhere, their opinion was in favor of 
 his going away. They accordingly pronoun 
 ced the dissolution of his pastoral relation, 
 and recommended him to the churches at 
 large.
 
 40 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 The afflictions of this scene were followed 
 by various troubles, which form a memorable 
 portion of those trials which Mrs. Patten ex 
 perienced, and in which she exhibited the sup 
 port and consolation of divine grace. 
 
 A colored lad, given to her by her father 
 at her marriage, and who had been obedient 
 and useful, became sick, and died. 
 
 Mrs. Patten had particularly labored, during 
 a threatening decline, to bring him to a sense 
 of his situation, and a knowledge of the way 
 of salvation, without apparent success. 
 
 One morning, not coming down as early as 
 usual, she went to his chamber, and found him 
 lying on his bed, speechless, with his eyes fix 
 ed, senseless, and just expiring. She called 
 for some of the family. The writer was one 
 of the first who entered. He saw his mother 
 walking the room, wringing her hands in ago 
 ny, with entreaties to the Lord that he would 
 be merciful to her servant ; and, if possible, 
 give her some evidence that her instructions 
 and prayers had not been in vain. 
 Very soon, the servant breathed more easy ;
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 41 
 
 his features became more natural ; his eyes 
 had the marks of intelligence ; and he turned 
 them mildly on his mistress. Sitting down by 
 him, she said, " Obed, did you know that you 
 were just entering eternity? He replied, that 
 he did. She then proposed a series of ques 
 tions, respecting his sense of sin, his views of 
 Christ, and of the invisible world, and indeed, 
 made every inquiry which she would, had this 
 been their last interview. 
 
 She then left him with an aged attendant, 
 and went down to prepare him some drink. 
 In a few moments she returned ; and Obed 
 was lying perfectly quiet, and apparently look 
 ing at the window. The attendant said, "He 
 is better, and will soon be able to arise." But 
 the revival he had experienced was granted, 
 it seems, for the consolation of his mistress, 
 and in answer to her prayer ; and not to pro 
 long his life ; for the stillness in which he lay 
 was the sleep of death. He had expired with 
 out a struggle, or groan, or any thing to indi 
 cate his departure. 
 
 But there was, at this time, an instance still 
 4
 
 42 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 more deeply affecting to the natural feelings 
 of Mrs. Patten. Her lovely son, Nathaniel 
 Wheelock, a year and nine months old, had, 
 for several days, been sick. Its pains were 
 occasionally violent, and produced convul 
 sions. In one of these paroxysms it expired, 
 July 18, 1773, while the pastor of the church 
 was offering a prayer at the funeral of the ser 
 vant, Mr. Patten being absent from home. 
 
 Mrs. Patten spake of this bereavement, as 
 rendering her more like " a fretful child," than 
 almost any thing that she had ever experien 
 ced. The temptation to murmur was great ; 
 a more lovely child, in appearance and tem 
 per, could scarcely be taken from any pa 
 rent. From the various troubles in her situ 
 ation, the loss of this child, great in itself, 
 was felt with peculiar sensibility. 
 
 But she did not indulge murmuring. Hea 
 vily as she was burthened, she knew that there 
 was superior strength on high for her support. 
 Her own weakness caused her to look with the 
 more earnestness to God ; and her tears did 
 not displease him, for she could say, " The
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 43 
 
 Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; 
 blessed be the name of the Lord." 
 
 When Mr. Patten was released from his 
 pastoral engagements, application was made 
 to him by several destitute churches, in which 
 he officiated, with much acceptance ; and in 
 one of them there was a prospect of his re-set 
 tlement; but while engaged in the public servi 
 ces of the Sabbath, he experienced a sudden 
 failure of voice ; which rendered it necessa 
 ry that he should close the meeting. Af 
 ter resting several months, and finding no re 
 lief to his voice, he despaired of resuming the 
 ministry ; and from his feebleness and infirmi 
 ty, he was induced to conclude, that his 
 course in life was nearly ended. His animal 
 spirits were excessively depressed ; but what 
 was singular in such a case, his mental and 
 moral exercises were regular and vigorous. 
 The apprehension that he should die, gave 
 strength to the desire, of rest in the grave, and 
 of a home in heaven. The depression of his 
 feelings, and consequent gloom on his mind 
 with respect to the world, were considered by
 
 44 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 his physicians and friends a disease ; and a 
 change of scene as indispensable to his re 
 storation to health. They therefore advised 
 that he should attempt a visit to his parents 
 and relatives, in Roxbury and Boston. With 
 out hope himself, but from regard to their feel 
 ings and opinions, he gave his consent. 
 
 But the difficulties of the undertaking were 
 great ; and, to a mind less affectionate, and 
 believing, than Mrs. Patten's, might have been 
 thought insuperable. The youngest child 
 was but a year old, and not weaned ; her 
 youngest daughter, five years of age, was af 
 flicted with a complication of disorders, and 
 confined to the nursery ; she knew of no one 
 with whom to leave the care of the children ; 
 and the family was without income. But the 
 journey, both from the exigence of Mr. Pat 
 ten's case, and the approach of winter, could 
 not be delayed. 
 
 Making the best arrangements in her power 
 for a short absence, intending, after arriving 
 at Roxbury, to leave her husband with his pa-
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 45 
 
 rents and relations, and then return, she was 
 soon prepared for the journey. 
 
 The writer seems to see his father walking 
 on a board, with the assistance of his wife, 
 from the threshold of the door to the chaise, 
 with a seat prepared for himself at their feet, 
 as it was thought he might be of use to them. 
 
 By short stages, and intervening days of 
 rest, it was more than three weeks before they 
 arrived within thirty miles of Roxbury. The 
 resolution of Mr. Patten then failed ; and it 
 seemed to him cruelty to urge him to proceed. 
 
 Leaving him to the care of the family who 
 kept the public house, she hastened, with her 
 son, to Roxbury. His friends, informed of his 
 situation, procured a carriage, in which they 
 placed a bed. With this accommodation he 
 was brought, without .much inconvenience, to 
 those to whom he was endeared by the near 
 est relative ties. " Is this my son ?" said his 
 mother, as they were conveying him into the 
 house : " O, my son !" 
 
 Mrs. Patten remained with him two weeks; 
 and seeing no increase of unfavorable symp- 
 
 4*
 
 46 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 toms she readily complied with his desire, and 
 the opinion of their friends, to return and see 
 the state of the children. 
 
 It was winter, and the ground was covered 
 with an unusual depth of snow, which render 
 ed the journey, in a carriage with wheels, dif 
 ficult, and very fatiguing ; but it was accom 
 plished in three or four days. 
 
 It was well she did return. The nurse, 
 with whom she had entrusted the children, had 
 not been faithful. They suffered from her 
 want of judgment, from her want of feeling, 
 which especially appeared in the decline of 
 the sick, though not complaining daughter. 
 The gladness of all the children, in seeing 
 their mother, only the gratulations and ca 
 resses of children, in such circumstances, can 
 tell. Nor can words express the joy of Mrs. 
 Patten in being allowed again to spread over 
 them the wing of her maternal care. In ad 
 dition to her attention by day, and watching 
 by night, they were restored to those kind and 
 winning instructions, which showed her inter 
 est in their everlasting peace ; and to those
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 47 
 
 prayers, which seemed to bring the blessing 
 near to them. 
 
 By the first mail, after Mrs. Patten's return, 
 she was informed that her husband did not 
 suffer by her absence ; and that she need not 
 hasten back. An intimation was given, even 
 that he might recruit, and return home in the 
 Spring. From the supposed nature of his 
 disorder, and his being in circumstances most 
 favorable to recovery, she admitted the 
 hope. 
 
 But a letter by the following mail, brought 
 the intelligence of his departure from the 
 world. A day or two before it took place, 
 there were symptoms of the change, which 
 were obvious to him as well as his friends. 
 He lay in perfect quietness, but was too fee 
 ble to speak, except in a whisper. He said, 
 he was sure he had loved his Master and his 
 work. He expressed a confidence, that the 
 God of the " widow and fatherless" would be 
 with his family ; and a firm hope of his own 
 salvation, through the mediation of Christ. 
 He thus rested from his labors.
 
 48 MEMOIRS Otf 
 
 In person, Mr. Patten was rather above the 
 middle stature, and well proportioned. His 
 countenance was manly and pleasing, his eye 
 intelligent and observant. His voice was syl- 
 labically distinct ; its tones full, and adapted 
 to his subject. The attention of the lar 
 gest audiences was arrested and fixed while 
 he was speaking. There was an ease and 
 grace in his gestures, and all his movements, 
 which exhibited nature in its most improved 
 state. His sermons were accurate, as to me 
 thod and style, and awakening and instruc 
 tive ; and were delivered either extempore, or 
 without any apparent attention to his notes. 
 In prayer he was scriptural, copious, perti 
 nent ; always blending deep solemnity with 
 filial confidence. 
 
 He deceased January 16th, 1775, in the 
 37th year of his age ; and was respectfully 
 interred in a tomb appropriated to ministers, 
 in Roxbury. 
 
 " Spare us, O Lord, aloud we pray ; 
 Nor let our sun go down at noon ;
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 49 
 
 Thy years are one eternal day, 
 And must thy children die so soon?" 
 
 WATTS. 
 
 III. 
 
 FROM THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND TO HER 
 OWN DECEASE. 
 
 The bereavement, from its nature, and the 
 sudden manner in which it took place and 
 communicated to her when alone with her 
 children, was almost overwhelming to Mrs. 
 Patten. She felt peculiarly desolate ; the 
 agony of her feelings was great ; but in con 
 sideration of her children, who clustered 
 around her, she felt it her duty to restrain 
 her outcries ; and conscious that the afflic 
 tion, with all its circumstances and connexions 
 was known to her heavenly Father, and was 
 of his appointment, she became submissive, 
 and found light and peace. 
 
 The situation of Mrs. Patten was at this 
 time peculiarly hopeless and wretched. She 
 had a family of six children, the eldest four-
 
 50 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 teen years, the youngest sixteen months ; her 
 daughter of five years, still sick, and requi 
 ring constant attention. She was without 
 means of support, and not in a capacity to ob 
 tain supplies by any employment, had one of 
 fered ; and it was in the midst of winter. 
 Yet in methods not foreseen, and on which 
 she could not calculate, provision was made 
 for her, so that her family did not suffer. 
 
 Her father, Dr. Wheelock, wrote a letter 
 full of sympathetic feeling, offering to do for her 
 and her children all in his power, if she would 
 remove in the spring to Hanover, an hundred 
 and eighty miles to the northward. But as 
 the settlement was new, and he was struggling 
 with many difficulties to continue the school 
 and college, it was not in heart to add to his 
 cares, and increase his expenses. She there 
 fore declined the offer. 
 
 He then requested that he might take her 
 elder son into his family, and give him a col 
 legiate education. An offer was likewise 
 made by the father of Mr. Patten, and a bro 
 ther in Roxbury, who was in a large grocery
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 51 
 
 concern, to take this son and bring him up to 
 that business. Mrs. Patten, sensible of the 
 importance that her son should be educated 
 to some useful employment, left it to him to 
 decide which of the two offers should be ac 
 cepted. 
 
 It was naturally more agreeable to him to 
 be with his grandfather and uncle in Roxbury, 
 with whom he had become acquainted during 
 the sickness of his father, and where his father 
 had died. The vicinity of Boston, and the 
 business of store keeping, were likewise more 
 agreeable to him, than to be confined to stu 
 dy, in a wilderness situation. But as he 
 thought there was a greater prospect of be 
 coming a Christian by going to his grandfath 
 er Wheelock,*not only from his eminent piety 
 and zeal, but from the religious state of socie 
 ty at college, and there being then a revival 
 among the students, he preferred his offer. In 
 this reason of preference Mrs. Patten fully ac 
 quiesced, and sent her son the following sum 
 mer. 
 
 Within a year, she received from him a let-
 
 52 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 ter informing her that by the grace of God, 
 he had been convinced of his lost state, and 
 had found support and joy through faith in 
 Christ. 
 
 Her feelings, expressed on this occasion, 
 were a proof that her first and highest object 
 with respect to him was attained, in his being 
 delivered from the dominion of sin, and saved 
 from everlasting death. This, she often said, 
 was her desire, her only desire with respect to 
 all her children. From love to God, as well 
 as from regard to their welfare, it was her 
 earnest, all absorbing wish, they should serve 
 him, persuaded that this comprehended all 
 good was the " whole of man." 
 
 She did not fail to improve this instance of 
 divine mercy, in connexion with the example 
 of her former son, to excite the attention, and 
 impress the minds of her other children in fa 
 vor of religion. The example of elder children 
 when good, is doubtless among the most im 
 portant means of grace. Not only the natu 
 ral affection of children for each other, but 
 their equality in standing, and similarity of
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 53 
 
 feeling, and intimate intercourse, give the 
 elder an influence over the younger, which 
 even the parent does not possess. They are 
 powerfully instrumental in regulating or per 
 verting the younger. When not restrained, 
 they weaken the authority of the parent over 
 them, and render it in a great measure in 
 effectual. 
 
 Several of her other children Mrs. Patten 
 might have located among relatives who kind 
 ly offered to receive them ; but while it was 
 very inconvenient for her to be left alone, 
 with a sick child and infant, it was inexpress 
 ibly distressing to have her children dispersed. 
 They were her greatest earthly solace. But it 
 was a superior motive, that she could pay more 
 attention to their religious instruction and 
 conduct than she could expect from others. 
 From maternal affection and Christian solici 
 tude, she therefore resolved to continue them 
 under her own care. 
 
 But this resolution required a strong faith 
 in the promises of God, as she was without 
 the visible means or prospect of support. Yet 
 
 5
 
 54 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 as her resolution was founded in good inten 
 tions, she did not consider that reliance pre 
 sumptuous. She did not fear to " live by 
 faith ;" and the care of God over her was ap 
 parent in providing for her according to her 
 exigencies, and in season. 
 
 She did not express to any one her desti 
 tute and helpless situation, and ask for assist 
 ance. She thought that, like her Christian 
 example, it was sufficiently obvious to those 
 who were disposed to attend and minister to 
 her relief; and that to state it in words, might 
 appear like complaining, or bring a reproach 
 on her for keeping her family together. She 
 therefore allowed her situation to speak for 
 itself; and was willing to adopt every in 
 stance of self denial possible, to attain her ob 
 ject. 
 
 But her wants she told to God, repairing to 
 him on all occasions as the only object of 
 hope ; and his interpositions on her behalf 
 were a constant source of gratitude, and often 
 filled her with surprise. 
 
 Were the door of her dwelling to be open-
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 55 
 
 ed, though no miracle would be seen, the care 
 of God would be scarcely less visible. No 
 article necessary to the support and enjoy 
 ment of life was exhausted, but a supply was 
 furnished. An instance in the case of her 
 sick daughter, is a specimen. When Mrs. 
 Patten was wiping a tear from her eye, be 
 cause her child expressed a desire for some 
 thing which could not be procured, a servant 
 came to the door with a billet from an unknown 
 friend, enclosing money sufficient for purcha 
 sing that article, and whatever was necessary 
 for the family. She had daily evidence of 
 that gracious declaration of Christ, " Your 
 Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need 
 of these things ;" and with the disciples, when 
 Christ inquired of them after their return from 
 their mission, *' Have ye lacked any thing ?" 
 she could reply, " Nothing." The temper of 
 a disciple she manifested, in being without 
 anxiety. No, never was she anxious. She 
 was equally contented, and she exhibited 
 equal cheerfulness of countenance when most 
 destitute, as though the world were at her dis-
 
 56 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 posal. " Her treasury," she said, " was on 
 high." This was sure and inexhaustible. 
 
 That all are dependent on God, both for life 
 and the means by which it is sustained, it 
 were atheism to deny. 
 
 Trust in God does not imply the neglect or 
 contempt of means, but it requires that he be 
 not limited to those in our possession or view ; 
 and that he be not directed in the course he 
 may take. It is not, therefore, presumptuous 
 to rely on him when one is destitute of proper 
 ty, is incapable of laboring, and even is with 
 out sympathizing relatives and friends. In no 
 case is " the Lord's arm shortened that he 
 cannot save." " The hearts of all are in his 
 hand ;" " the earth is his, and the fulness 
 thereof," and there are repeated providen 
 tial occurrences by which those who trust in 
 means are taught to fear ; but those who trust 
 in the Lord not to be discouraged. 
 
 The chief object of solicitude to Mrs. Pat 
 ten at this time was her sick daughter, who 
 continued perceptibly, though gradually to de 
 cline. It was a ground of peculiar affliction,
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 57 
 
 that from nervous weakness, the child could 
 not bear the thought of death ; and that any 
 discourse of religion connected with that 
 change produced an agitation which rendered 
 it necessary to divert her attention to some 
 other subject. 
 
 In this perplexity Mrs. Patten adapted a 
 method of indirect instruction. She called 
 her other children around her and catechised 
 them ; and in the answers and explanations 
 given, communicated to her sick daughter all 
 the truths she wished her to know. After 
 pursuing this course for a short time, the 
 child seemed to feel neglected that she was 
 not questioned in her order ; and said, " Ma', 
 you may ask me questions now, for I can bear 
 them." After this she attended with calmness 
 and apparent satisfaction to all that was said 
 to her. Her death was finally occasioned by 
 the whooping cough, which operated on her 
 with great severity. In a fit of coughing, 
 while her agitated mother was carrying her to 
 the air, she said, " Ma', don't be frightened, 
 I shall soon get over it ;" but without speak- 
 
 5*
 
 58 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 ing again she expired. This was Charlotte, 
 a beautiful, discreet, patient, docile, and as 
 we trust a Christian child. She deceased 
 April 21st, 1775, in the seventh year of her 
 age. 
 
 On this occasion Mrs. Patten scarcely felt 
 the evil of separation. She seemed to real 
 ise the voice of Christ, " She is not dead, but 
 sleepeth." She viewed her child as " taken 
 away from the evil to come ;" as resting from 
 her labors, and an heir of a blessed immor 
 tality. She therefore quietly resigned her to 
 her bed in the dust, and to the arms of the 
 Redeemer. 
 
 No longer confined by the cares of sick 
 ness, Mrs. Patten was able to pay a more 
 general attention to the concerns of her fami 
 ly. Her right to the house in which she lived 
 was doubtful, and it was necessary to have a 
 legal decision in the case. It was a provi 
 dential favor to her, that the cause, without 
 any designed delay on her part, was continued 
 in court seven years. This furnished a shel 
 ter for herself and children ; in connexion
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 59 
 
 with which they had some facilities for gain 
 ing a subsistence ; but these were precarious, 
 and at best, inadequate ; so that the attention 
 of Mrs. Patten was kept awake to her depen 
 dence on God, and through confidence in 
 him, his " peace possessed her heart and her 
 mind." 
 
 In the winter of 1779, she was called to visit 
 her father, supposed to be in his last sickness. 
 She readily assented ; leaving her little family 
 under the divine protection, she proceeded in 
 a sleigh with one of her brothers who had 
 come for her, and accomplished the journey 
 without difficulty. 
 
 Their mutual joy at meeting was great ; 
 even the melancholy considerations attending 
 it were rich in consolation. 
 
 Her father was gratified with the assiduous, 
 judicious and affectionate attention she de 
 voted to him, scarcely leaving him day or 
 night for three months ; at which time he ex 
 pired. It was a satisfaction to her that she 
 had an opportunity to minister to him in his 
 infirmities, to relieve his cares and distresses,
 
 60 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 to hear his Christian remarks, and witness his 
 example through his sickness and in his dying 
 hour. He had ever expressed for her a ten 
 der love, and bestowed on her all the obliga 
 tions a child could receive from a parent. She 
 had never offended him, had always cheerfully 
 obeyed his command ; and she followed him 
 in faithfulness till he closed his eyes in death. 
 This took place April 24, 1779. 
 
 On her return to her family she found rea 
 son for gratitude, for the Lord had been with 
 them to protect and bless them ; so that they 
 had not been in want, and no evil had dis 
 turbed their peace. Though young they had 
 remembered and observed the counsels of 
 their mother, so that she found reason only to 
 commend them for their regularity and har 
 mony. 
 
 After this, nothing unusual occurred in 
 her family or connexions till April, 1780, 
 when there was much to excite her maternal 
 and Christian feelings in the danger and res- 
 
 G O 
 
 cue of her son at college. As it may proper 
 ly have a place in these memoirs, and may be
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 61 
 
 useful to the reader, a brief account will be 
 given of the scene. 
 
 This son was in his last year in college, and 
 had accompanied his uncle, the new presi 
 dent, forty miles above the college ; and after 
 fording Wild Ammonoosuc river, lodged at 
 an aunt's about a mile beyond. In the morn 
 ing, which was Sabbath, it was necessary to 
 re-cross the river to attend public worship. 
 With this object in view, in company with his 
 uncle and aunt, and several of the family, he 
 set out. But when they arrived at the river 
 they found that it was much swollen by the 
 copious rain which had fallen the preceding 
 night and the dissolved snow. Several of the 
 party crossed in a small boat ; but as it was 
 still possible, though difficult, to ford the river, 
 it was expedient for some to attempt it, and 
 lead the horses that were dismounted. Of 
 this number he offered to be one ; but in the 
 stream his horse, on being checked, crouched 
 and was overthrown. The rider, precipitated 
 into the water, immediately regained his 
 standing ; but found it impossible to resist for
 
 62 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 a moment the force of the current. He was 
 again overwhelmed. By repeated struggles 
 to obtain a footing, he caught a few gasps of 
 air ; but the intermediate times of being un 
 der water were longer than he could suspend 
 his breath, and caused very great distress. 
 
 He was soon carried into deep water, and 
 then, from the necessity of it, thought of swim 
 ming, to which exercise he had been accus 
 tomed. Without fatigue, or even sensible ef 
 fort, he rested on the surface of the water. 
 But he had not proceeded far before his 
 strength entirely failed him, so that he could 
 not move a hand or foot to save the universe. 
 As he lay on the bottom of the river, his pain 
 abated ; but the bed w r as hard, from the neces 
 sity and nature of the sleep into which he was 
 falling and the inextinguishable desire of being 
 awake to life. He reflected that he must now 
 breathe, or breathe no more ; but finding the 
 attempt useless and distressing, he continued 
 voluntarily to suspend his breath, and soon all 
 sense and consciousness ceased. 
 
 On the first return of thought, he imagined
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 63 
 
 that he was on the bed where he had slept the 
 night before, and that it was now a dark and 
 stormy night. The scene through which he 
 had passed occurred to him, and he supposed 
 it to be a dream, and that it had drenched him 
 in a cold -perspiration. He resolved to start 
 and thoroughly awake, that he might be 
 certain it was a dream. As he made the at 
 tempt, he felt that he was weak, and conclu 
 ded he would not fatigue himself more, as 
 he should naturally awake in a moment 
 or two. On this, he perceived a glimmering 
 of light, and heard the clapping of hands, 
 seemingly at a distance, but rapidly approach 
 ing ; when at the time it should have reached 
 him, he found he was lying on the shore, sur 
 rounded by weeping friends, who were stri 
 king his hands, and attempting by friction to 
 restore him to animation. He was told that 
 he had been in that situation fifteen or twenty 
 minutes. 
 
 Though he saw, and heard, and felt, his sen 
 sations were those of much distress. There 
 was but a spark of life in a body of death, ser-
 
 64 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 ving scarcely more than to evidence its des 
 olation. Still there was a joy a great joy, 
 in being again alive, and this blessing was 
 confirmed by a restoration, ere long, to health 
 and strength. 
 
 It might well be deemed a deficiency, were 
 the writer not to relate his exercises and im 
 pressions during the scene through which he 
 was carried. 
 
 He felt the solemnity of dying to be great 
 er than he had before apprehended, and he 
 believes that no one can have an adequate 
 idea of it, but from experience. In preceding 
 sicknesses and apprehensions of dying, there is 
 
 some uncertainty as to the issue. Apprehen 
 sion is therefore blended with a degree of 
 hope, and the use of means for recovery. 
 But when one is convinced by external cir 
 cumstances, and his experience, that he is in 
 deed dying, he then has a full, and it may be 
 said, new impression of the great change. 
 
 It was thus with this son. He had, in the 
 course of his life, been visited with seasons of 
 dangerous sickness ; he had repeatedly been
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 65 
 
 seized with strange feelings, which he did not 
 know but might be those of death ; but he did 
 not know how much influence hope retained, 
 amidst his fears ; nor how great a difference 
 there was, between the suspicion, and the real 
 ity of dying. But when he found, that he was 
 in a rapid stream, his efforts to escape or re 
 sist which were wholly ineffectual ; that he 
 was far from help, and actually lying on a 
 bed beneath the wave, there was no room to 
 doubt that the hand of death was upon him ; 
 and this knowledge was attended with more 
 solemnity than any apprehensions he ever be 
 fore had of the subject. 
 
 But the chief solemnity of death consists in 
 its relation to eternity. Awakened to this 
 subject, all the scenes and interests of time 
 appear as shadowy forms, and a darkening 
 twilight. God will be in all its thoughts, in 
 all its feelings, in all its hopes, or fears. 
 
 This was the experience of the son in 
 the scene before related, and in realizing 
 the presence of God, and that he was then 
 
 6
 
 6t> MEMOIRS or 
 
 going to his tribunal, its terrors awed and dis 
 tracted him. 
 
 His mind, for some time previous, had been 
 in a state of darkness and conflict, and the 
 danger into which he was then plunged, im 
 pressed him as a judgment. The consterna 
 tion of the scene, and especially of this im 
 pression, precluded other thoughts ; but im 
 mediately on his rescue, and finding that he 
 was a subject of mercy, the name of Christ 
 occurred to him, and produced an exultation 
 far superior to the joys of restored life ; and 
 he thought, if one had reminded him of it in his 
 distress, it would have caused him almost to 
 leap from the water ; at least, it would have 
 given wings to his faith, and rendered him tri 
 umphant. 
 
 It Was then his determination, that if ever 
 he should attend the dying, he would speak to 
 them repeatedly of Christ ; that the sound of 
 his name should be mingled with their suffer 
 ings of body and mind, and should be the last 
 they heard in this state of sin and mortality.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 67 
 
 " He is a rock," all else ia wave and dark 
 ness. 
 
 When Mrs. Patten became acquainted with 
 this scene, her emotions and exercises of 
 mind may more easily be conceived than ex 
 pressed ; her gratitude to God, her earnest 
 desire that this son might renewedly, and with 
 zeal, be devoted to his service ; and that all 
 her children might be excited to attend to 
 those " things which belong to their everr 
 lasting peace," since the " grave is without 
 any order ;" and they " knew not what a day 
 may bring forth ;" and without which, when 
 the affectionate ties in which they are united 
 shall be dissolved, they will fail of being as 
 sociated in a state of perpetual and perfect 
 friendship and blessedness. 
 
 Mrs. Patten continued several years after 
 this time in a state comparatively obscure, at 
 tending to her family, instructing her chiL? 
 dren, and promoting their usefulness. She 
 had the satisfaction of witnessing a public 
 profession of religion by her three daughters, 
 each of whom gave evidence of her being a
 
 68 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 friend to Christ, and of professing his name 
 with a desire to serve him. Blessed family ! 
 united in Christian affection, in Christian obe 
 dience, and in the hope of salvation. 
 
 In May, 1786, the elder son was ordained 
 pastor of a church in Newport, R. I. As 
 there was a parsonage house belonging to the 
 society, he invited and urged his mother and 
 the family to reside with him. This she 
 thought it prudent to decline ; but consented 
 that two of her daughters should go, and her 
 little son, as it was the wish of his brother to 
 assist in giving him a collegiate education, that 
 in this respect he might be on an equality 
 with himself. 
 
 After a year she saw fit to take the place of 
 one of her daughters, and remained in New 
 port two years and a half. Her courtesy and 
 good example gained her general respect and 
 esteem. No one, at all acquainted with her, 
 doubted that she was a Christian. She was 
 considered as exhibiting religion, though de 
 cidedly, yet in one of its mildest and most in 
 teresting forms. She joined the Osborne fe-
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 69 
 
 male praying meeting ; and in her intercourse 
 with Christians and others, maintained the 
 character of being humble, devout, charitable, 
 and in all respects exemplary. 
 
 When her younger son became prepared 
 for his second year in college, it was necessary, 
 either that the object of his education should 
 be abandoned, or that the family should be 
 broken up. The latter, with mutual feelings 
 of regret at the separation, was adopted. 
 
 Previously to their leaving Hartford, a 
 school had been commenced, which was con 
 tinued by the eldest daughter ; and on their 
 return the three daughters unitedly engaged 
 in the employment. 
 
 Though expedient, and in a sense neces 
 sary, it was not undertaken, nor was it con 
 ducted, on mercenary principles, but in a dis 
 position to be employed in doing good. 
 
 The school thus commenced, gradually in 
 creased and became prosperous. Instructions 
 were given not only in the primary and es 
 sential, but in the refined and ornamental 
 branches. Of these branches which were not 
 
 6*
 
 70 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 taught in any school the sisters had attended, 
 they acquired the knowledge by their own stu 
 dy. This was especially the case in needle 
 work, both lace and embroidery ; specimens 
 of which they could develope, however com 
 plicated, ingenious and beautiful, and repro 
 duce. The pupils had likewise opportunity of 
 taking lessons on various subjects from mas 
 ters in town. 
 
 But it was found important, to perfect their 
 institution, that some man should be connect 
 ed with it, from whom permanent instructions 
 might be derived in criticism, mathematics, 
 geography, and branches proper to such a de 
 partment. 
 
 At this time, the younger son of Mrs. Pat 
 ten had graduated ; and though he was strong 
 ly inclined to mercantile pursuits, and had the 
 encouragement of a clerk's office in one of 
 the ships of an East India merchant ; yet some 
 trouble arising to American commerce at Can 
 ton, the voyage was indefinitely postponed. 
 
 On returning to his mother and sisters, he 
 consented to give that assistance in the school 
 which they desired. But that he might be
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 71 
 
 more fully employed, he concluded to attend 
 in a separate apartment to the instruction of 
 boys, in the literary branches necessary to 
 qualify them for the various occupations in 
 life ; and in the classics and other books pre 
 paratory to their admission to college. 
 
 He was a thorough and critical, and at 
 length became an universal scholar. The 
 constitution and management of his school 
 were very judicious, appearing in the order 
 that was maintained, and the rapid proficiency 
 of the pupils. His government was not by 
 passion, or the dictate of incident, but wholly 
 by law ; so that his school was of the nature 
 of a republic, in which the Principal was an 
 impartial and firm, but lenient administrator ; 
 and the pupils felt an interest in the support 
 of the laws. The laws were few, but com 
 prehensive, adapted to preserve order and 
 quiet, and promote study. They included 
 manners and morals, requiring a courteous 
 demeanor, forbidding profanity and falsehood, 
 and unkind expressions and rude conduct. 
 Religion was likewise promoted, by the stated
 
 72 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 reading of the Scriptures, and the catecheti 
 cal instructions and example of the teacher. 
 
 The two schools obtained great celebrity ; 
 and while patronized in town, applications 
 were made from different and remote places 
 for children to be admitted, and for board in 
 the family. In addition to those from the 
 New England states, some were received from 
 South Carolina and several of the West India 
 Islands ; so that the schools at times consisted 
 of between two and three hundred, many of 
 them from families of the first respectability ; 
 and there were from thirty to forty in the 
 family as boarders. 
 
 Mrs. Patten never taught in the school, but 
 she presided in the family, and was very use 
 ful. She regularly prayed with her own 
 daughters, and the female class of boarders. 
 She attended to the wants and conduct of all 
 the children ; gave them advice, instructed 
 them in propriety of behaviour, and in moral 
 and religious duty. She wished both their 
 natural and moral improvement that they 
 might excel in whatever " is lovely, virtuous,
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 73 
 
 and of good report." But it was her desire 
 that all other things might subserve their 
 knowledge of God and the Redeemer, and 
 promote their walking in " the way that is 
 everlasting," and shining as the " brightness 
 of the firmament, and the stars forever." 
 
 Her authority was so tempered by meek 
 ness, and such were her candor, the justice of 
 her judgment, and evident regard for their good, 
 that she engaged in a high degree their con 
 fidence and love. They universally addressed 
 her by the appellation of Grand Ma' ; and 
 they appeared to have for her the respect and 
 affection of children. 
 
 Her instructions and example were salutary, 
 as they exhibited in a consistent light the 
 Christian character. They all saw that to be 
 such a Christian was to be good ; and the con 
 viction was blessed, not only as a restraint, 
 and a motive to an amiable demeanor, and a 
 reverence for the Scriptures and Christian in 
 stitutions ; but in some instances to the expe 
 rience of sanctifying grace, in the choice to 
 be the Lord's,
 
 74 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Through their influence, and the instruc 
 tions and discipline in both the schools, the 
 pupils were remarkable for the regularity of 
 their conduct, and proficiency in their studies. 
 It is not known that any one was turned away 
 for neglect or misconduct ; whereas boys in 
 other schools and in other towns, who were 
 refractory, and above the control of their pre 
 ceptors, have, on being sent to this, spontane 
 ously conformed to the general order, and 
 have excelled in their attainments. It was 
 said of the females, that there was a remark 
 able uniformity in them as it respected their 
 being entirely free from affectation, and ex 
 hibiting a delicacy and propriety in their man 
 ners, with an improved mind and amiable dis 
 position. 
 
 As the sphere of Mrs. Patten's usefulness 
 enlarged, especially as the pecuniary re 
 sources of the family increased, her benevo 
 lence and liberality became more conspicu 
 ous. 
 
 She had ever been hospitable. This office 
 of kindness was not confined to her relatives
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEK. 75 
 
 and friends, either in town, or who visited 
 her on their journies ; but extended to all who 
 were strangers and in want, and to whom she 
 could give relief. 
 
 In this respect she exemplified the spirit of 
 the command of Christ, " When thou niakest a 
 feast, call not thy friends, thy kinsmen, or rich 
 neighbors but the poor, the blind, the maim 
 ed, for they cannot reward thee." 
 
 In entertaining her natural relatives, her 
 Christian friends and ministers of the gospel, 
 she showed that she considered the obligation 
 conferred on her, rather than on them. Yet 
 she provided a way to accommodate others. 
 Poverty, infirmity, and even delirium, have 
 found food and a nurse's care, and have felt 
 peace and quietness under her roof; so that 
 there was reason in the plea which a friend 
 less stranger once offered for a lodging, that 
 " she had been told, Mrs. Patten never turned 
 any away." Hospitality was the law of her 
 house. 
 
 She was solicitous to relieve in their own 
 dwellings, those who could not make personal
 
 76 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 application, sending them supplies, visiting 
 them, and by her kind and instructive sugges 
 tions, ministering to their spiritual benefit and 
 consolation. 
 
 She was very obliging in her intercourse 
 with her neighbors ; " ready to lend, not ho 
 ping for any thing again," or on the principle 
 of doing them a kindness, and not of receiv 
 ing a recompense. 
 
 In the benevolent and charitable institutions 
 and enterprises of the day, she took a lively 
 interest, and was pleased as they multiplied, 
 cheerfully giving them her aid. 
 
 Instead of pleading what she had done, as an 
 excuse for not doing more, she considered 
 new opportunities of promoting what was 
 good, as new fields in which she might sow, 
 with the prospect of reaping a large harvest. 
 The harvest to which she looked forward was, 
 the fruits of benevolent exertion. This is 
 indeed all the good that God has done, and 
 all that he will bestow. 
 
 She was a principal instrument in founding 
 the Beneficent Society, in the place of her re-
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. T7 
 
 sidence, for the support and education of indi 
 gent orphan, or neglected female children. 
 The following testimonial on the subject is 
 found among her papers. 
 
 Hartford, June 1st, 1816. 
 " The Female Beneficent Society present 
 their grateful acknowledgments to Mrs. Ruth 
 Patten, for her liberal aid and patronage of the 
 Society, for her excellent counsel to the Man 
 agers, and for her exertions as their Presi 
 dent. 
 
 They hope long to retain her as one of the 
 first and firmest friends of the institution, and 
 pray God to make her and her family parta 
 kers of all the unsearchable riches of Christ ; 
 and beg her to accept the assurance of their 
 highest esteem and utmost regard. 
 By order of the Board, 
 
 MARY GREW, Preset. 
 J. WATSON, Sec'y." 
 
 She was one of the first contributors to 
 Williamstown College, to the Foreign Mis- 
 
 7
 
 78 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 sionary Society, to the Connecticut Bible So 
 ciety, of which she and her three daughters be 
 came life members. It is difficult to enume 
 rate the various benevolent institutions to 
 which she belonged ; and would be impossi 
 ble, as it is unnecessary to ascertain the 
 amount of her donations to them, and to par 
 ticular charitable objects. As she lived in 
 communion with God, and in the exercise of 
 a disposition to do good, she did not keep a 
 register of the number of her prayers, or of 
 time spent in them, nor of the instances and 
 amount of her charities ; they were the course 
 of her life, and could not be written. 
 
 She was deeply interested in the churches 
 and their pastors, and deplored the errors and 
 divisions that appeared among them, and pray 
 ed for their union, their purity and peace. 
 Her charity did not lead her to overlook all 
 differences in opinion as not important ; it 
 did not consist in indulgence to error, but to 
 those by whom it was adopted, with a desire 
 that while Christians walked together, so far
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 79 
 
 as they were agreed, they might all be united 
 in the truth. 
 
 It was her heart's desire that pure and un- 
 defiled religion might be revived and flour 
 ish; and any accounts or indications of the awa 
 kening and conversion of sinners, filled her 
 with joy, and gave increased animation to her 
 prayers and praises. 
 
 The missionary cause lay with habitual 
 weight on her mind, and at times absorbed her 
 feelings as relating to a world of sinners. 
 Earnestly did she desire that the gospel might 
 be sent to the heathen, and preached to 
 the Jews, and exhibited in all those re 
 gions where, through ignorance, or delusion, 
 or impenitence, the people sat in the " shadow 
 of death." Fervent were her prayers for the 
 missionaries, and she made every exertion in 
 her power to aid their support and promote 
 their usefulness. 
 
 In her works she was not ostentatious. She 
 never appeared to think them important, or 
 entitled to praise. The works themselves of 
 Christians are the light in which they are to 
 shine. To attempt, by boasting, to bring them
 
 80 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 into public notice, would be like the influence 
 of the sun on the manna, causing it to melt 
 away. In accordance with the precept of 
 Christ, " when she had done all, she consider 
 ed that she had but performed her duty ; that 
 she was an unprofitable servant." 
 
 Without diminishing from the benevolence of 
 her disposition, it may be observed, that Mrs. 
 Patten was gratified with the cheerful concur 
 rence of her daughters in her views and wishes, 
 by which she was enabled to carry them more 
 fully into effect. 
 
 In two instances, without a long interval of 
 time, Mrs. Patten was brought near death. In 
 the first, her strength suddenly failed, and she 
 fell into a lethargic, insensible state, which 
 continued two days, with but little hope of her 
 recovery. When restored to reason, it ap 
 peared that the dispensation, though sudden, 
 did not find her unprepared. Though still in 
 apparent danger, she expressed no fear, but 
 was quiet and resigned. The grace of which 
 she was habitually the subject, was brought in 
 to exercise in correspondence to the trial. 
 .
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 81 
 
 She was deeply impressed with the solemnity 
 of entering eternity ; and grateful and sur 
 prised that she was restored again to life and 
 usefulness. 
 
 The other instance was, her falling back 
 ward down a flight of stairs. This fall was 
 very severe. It rendered her for a time insen 
 sible, it injured her neck and back, and dis 
 abled her from leaving the house for three 
 months. It was the more remarkable, as she 
 had recently heard of the decease of a brother 
 and sister, and was preparing for church, with 
 a written request, that prayer might be offered 
 for divine support and consolation under the 
 bereavements. That two of the family should 
 die so near together, and she almost had 
 joined them, deeply impressed her with a 
 sense of the frailty of life, and its dearest 
 connexions, and of the divine hand in shield 
 ing her in so great danger, and not increasing 
 her paternal family's desolation and sorrow. 
 These impressions were connected with live 
 ly gratitude to God, and renewed devotedness 
 of herself to him with humility and zeal. 
 
 7*
 
 82 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 She often expressed these obligations in 
 her confinement ; and when able to attend 
 public worship, she desired that thanks might 
 be returned ; and went in the spirit of the 
 hymn, which she repeated. 
 
 it YV M-. 
 
 " Among thy saints that fill thy house, 
 
 My offerings shall be paid ; 
 There shall my zeal perform the vows 
 My soul in anguish made. 
 
 :'r>oU/lJ'ipfciMft-Yhj:"v>t-hmi 
 " How happy all thy servants are ! 
 
 How great thy grace to me ; 
 My life, which thou hast made thy care, 
 Lord, I devote to thee. 
 
 } iron 0* $& 
 
 " Now I am thine, forever thine ; 
 Nor shall my purpose move ; 
 Thy hands have loos'd my bands of pain, 
 And bound me with thy love. 
 
 
 
 " Here, in thy courts, I leave my vows, 
 
 And thy rich grace record ; 
 Witness, ye saints, who hear me now, . 
 If I forsake the Lord."
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 83 
 
 Mrs. Patten was distinguished by there hav 
 ing been no death in her family, consisting of 
 herself and five children, for fifty three years. 
 She was then called to part with her younger 
 son. 
 
 From his being an infant when his father 
 died, and left, for a time, to a careless 
 nurse, the impressions she then had, remained, 
 and produced towards him a peculiar tender 
 ness of feeling. As he grew up, he exhibited 
 qualities adapted to gratify her wishes, and 
 excite high expectations. 
 
 Placed providentially in her family after his 
 collegiate education was completed, he had 
 continued through the following years, without 
 leaving her for scarcely a day. He recipro 
 cated her affection, being one of the kindest, 
 most attentive and dutiful of sons. 
 
 She indulged the hope that he was pious ; 
 and this opinion was entertained by his pas 
 tor and other Christian friends. He venerated 
 the Scriptures, appeared to understand and 
 approve evangelical doctrines, strictly ob 
 served the Sabbath, regularly attended public
 
 84 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 worship, and discountenanced all expressions 
 of irreligion and vice ; and was exemplary in 
 the family, in his school, and in his intercourse 
 in general with society. 
 
 He did not make a profession of religion, 
 from a sense of great unworthiness, and the 
 fear of adding to the number who dishonor 
 the gospel by a conduct contradictory to their 
 profession. But this was wrong; for if he 
 saw and lamented their inconsistency, it ought 
 to have been a motive with him to profess re 
 ligion, that by divine grace he might give a 
 better example ; for which his stricter convic 
 tions of moral duty so much the more quali 
 fied him. 
 
 In his sickness he was meek and patient. 
 For several weeks there was hope of his re 
 covery ; but his relapses were frequent and 
 threatening. His mother and sisters were un 
 wearied in their attentions ; and not to in 
 crease their trouble, he suppressed all com 
 plaint. They conversed with him familiarly 
 on the subject of religion, in its relation to 
 the experiences of the present and future
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 85 
 
 states. His mother repeatedly prayed with 
 him ; but he one day said to her, with a smile, 
 " Mother, you never pray that I may be re 
 stored to health, but only that the visitation of 
 sickness may be sanctified to me." In this he 
 acquiesced, for he fully concurred with her, in 
 desiring the divine blessing on his soul, rather 
 than in the external circumstances of his state. 
 
 He never manifested a wish in contrariety to 
 the allotment of Providence in the situation in 
 which he was placed. The only privation he 
 appeared to feel was, that of attending public 
 worship. One sabbath morning, as the bell 
 announced the time of assembling, he sang, 
 evidently affected at the recollection, 
 
 " How pleased and bless'd was I 
 To hear the people cry, 
 Come, let us seek our God to day." 
 
 He expressed gratitude for the accommoda 
 tions of his situation; said, " he had a pleasant 
 home." He was sensible of great obligations 
 to his numerous acquaintances and friends, in 
 whose sympathy and kind attentions he found
 
 86 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 much solace. But chiefly was he thankful to 
 ministers and Christians in town and from 
 abroad, for their visits and prayers, their in 
 structions and encouragements, in which he 
 expressed great interest, not only in words, 
 but by tears. 
 
 After a sickness of five months, and being 
 reduced to great weakness, his departure was 
 very peaceful. Having had a troublesome 
 night and morning, but experiencing some re 
 lief, he was assisted to recline back in his 
 chair. He thought he might sleep, and tran 
 quilly closed his eyes. The influence of death 
 had no distress which caused him to open 
 them again ; he soon expired. This was 
 Feb. 15, 1830, in the 57th year of his age. 
 
 From the great age and infirmities of Mrs. 
 Patten, and the nature of the bereavement, it 
 was apprehended that she would not survive 
 it ; that with all her knowledge and experi 
 ence of religion, her physical strength would 
 not sustain the shock. But this was not the 
 consequence. God had denied her nothing
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 87 
 
 she had requested ; she believed that her pray 
 ers were answered, and she was quieted. 
 
 On the occasion of the funeral, at which 
 there was a large collection of people, and 
 many who had been the pupils of the deceas 
 ed, to walk in procession as mourners, a num 
 ber of the friends of Mrs. Patten watched her 
 with concern as she sat in the room with the 
 corpse ; but she sat without apparent agita 
 tion ; and when called to take the last look, 
 she went, and gently stroking the face of her 
 child, said, " My son, I shall soon be with 
 you ;" and returned with a maternal smile, as 
 though she had left him asleep in his cradle. 
 
 " My son, I shall soon be with you ;" how 
 comprehensive and impressive the words ! I 
 shall soon be with thee in the grave, where the 
 weary are at rest : and I hope soon to be with 
 thee in heaven, partaking of the fulness of 
 
 joy- 
 Within the two following years there were 
 
 two successive trials, not a little afflictive. 
 Mrs. Patten's oldest daughter, on whom the 
 care of the family principally devolved ; and
 
 88 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 then the second, who was peculiarly de 
 voted to her mother, incurred injuries by fall 
 ing, which confined them, and rendered them 
 in a measure helpless. As it is said, " All 
 things work together for good to them that 
 love God," Mrs. Patten had this evidence 
 that she loved God, as she derived and com 
 municated benefit from these dispensations. 
 It was a satisfaction to her, that these be 
 loved daughters were constantly in her pre 
 sence ; that she could converse with them on 
 the w r orks and ways of God ; that she could 
 witness their patience and resignation, (one 
 of the instances being attended with great 
 pain, and apprehension of a fatal issue) and 
 that they could encourage each other in the 
 hope of meeting in a state, where there shall 
 be no sin, nor sickness, nor sorrow. 
 
 But chiefly by the example of their mother 
 were the daughters encouraged. She showed 
 a filial acquiescence in the will of her hea 
 venly Father. Her submission was not con 
 strained, but an adoption of the divine will as 
 her own. So conspicuous was this trait in
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 89 
 
 her character, that when some external trou 
 ble has produced tremor and paleness, she 
 has exhibited the same pleasantness of coun 
 tenance and conversation, as though nothing 
 had befallen her. 
 
 In her advanced years, though infirm, she 
 walked to the place of public worship at least 
 once on the Sabbath ; and she made particu 
 lar exertions to do it when the Lord's supper 
 was to be administered. 
 
 In the night she had many wakeful hours, 
 which she employed in meditation and prayer, 
 in which her mind was peculiarly serene, and 
 her heart calmly and uninterruptedly engaged. 
 She considered those deprived of a great privi 
 lege, with whom all the night was passed in sleep. 
 In the day she blended these light domestic 
 cares, in which it pleased her to take an in 
 terest, with devotional exercises, often speak 
 ing of God, and addressing him ; and repeat 
 ing, or singing verses of hymns appropriate to 
 her views and feelings, in which her feeble 
 voice was often assisted by her children. 
 
 8
 
 90 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 The veil, between her and the eternal state, 
 seemed, at times, to be lifted up, or to have 
 become a transparency ; on which side of it 
 she was, she appeared scarcely to know. Her 
 heart was in heaven ; and this induced her to 
 adopt the language and praise of heaven. She 
 had enlarged views, with corresponding im 
 pressions, of the moral state of the world, and 
 of the prospects of the church. Deep was 
 her sense of the deplorable condition of sin 
 ners, and of the obligations on Christians to 
 promote their salvation. She felt a tender 
 solicitude for those to whom she was natu 
 rally related, that they might all become the 
 servants of Christ, and be engaged in promo 
 ting his cause. She looked forward with full 
 confidence to the universal prevalence of 
 the gospel, when " the kingdoms of this world 
 shall become the kingdom of our Lord and 
 his Christ ;" when the " Sun of righteousness 
 shall shine in all nations, with healing in his 
 beams, and there shall be nothing to hurt or 
 destroy in all the earth." For this she fer 
 vently and constantly prayed ; and performed
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 
 
 and promoted, so far as she was able, works 
 subsidiary to this end. 
 
 It can scarcely be said that she had sick 
 ness before her death. An indisposition, from 
 a slight cold, affected her for a few days. The 
 evening preceding her decease, she sang, 
 though in a broken manner, the psalm alrea^ 
 dy transcribed, concluding with the words, 
 
 " Witness, ye saints, who hear me now, 
 If I forsake the Lord." 
 
 In the morning she arose, and continued 
 with the family till after dinner. She 
 then retired, for the purpose of resting a 
 short time ; but continued on the bed 
 two or three hours, in a quiet sleep. Her 
 youngest daughter then spoke to her, to give 
 her some medicine and refreshment. She 
 awoke, and said she would arise. In making 
 the attempt, she failed ; and finding it diffi 
 cult, even with the assistance of her daughter, 
 she said, she would lie a little longer. Her 
 daughter then offered her an elixir, which she 
 declined taking, from inconvenience, and as 
 unnecessary. But on her daughter's saying,
 
 92 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 " Dear mother, we wish you to be well," she 
 replied, " I know it, my child," and drank it. 
 Her daughter then left her for a few moments 
 but on her return, found that she had ex 
 pired. Her eyes were closed, her counte 
 nance was placid, her hands were clasped, and 
 a tear was on her cheek, indicating that she 
 was in an act of supplication when her spirit 
 ascended to the region of praise. 
 
 Thus terminated, December 5th, 1831, the 
 life of one whom the Lord had sustained 
 ninety-one years and nine months, and se 
 venty-eight as a professor of the gospel. It 
 is worthy of remark, that it was her last ex 
 pression in the public profession which she 
 made of religion, " Ye are witnesses of my 
 solemn vows and engagements to be the 
 Lord's ; and ye will be witnesses against me 
 if ever I forsake him." And it was her last 
 expression in her hymn on earth, 
 
 " Witness, ye saints, who hear me now, 
 If I forsake the Lord." 
 
 By the grace of God she was supported in 
 all trials, and continued faithful unto death.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 93 
 
 So strong was the impression on the minds 
 of her children and friends, that she was a 
 Christian, and an heir of immortal life ; so 
 familiar had the spiritual state become, and so 
 near had it been brought to them, by her con 
 versation, her hopes and praises, that they 
 viewed her, rather in relation to God and 
 heaven, than to this frail world, and the 
 grave. 
 
 At her funeral, which was respectfully at 
 tended, the sentiments of the following hymn 
 were felt to be just : 
 
 " Ah ! lovely appearance of death, 
 No sight upon earth is so fair ; 
 Not all the gay pageants that breathe, 
 Can with a dead body compare. 
 
 " With solemn delight 1 survey 
 
 The corpse, when the spirit is fled ; 
 In love with the beautiful clay, 
 And longing to lie in its stead." 
 
 WHITFIELD. 
 
 The following Sabbath a discourse was de 
 livered by the Rev. Dr. Hawes, pastor of the 
 
 8*
 
 94 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 church to which she belonged, on the char 
 acter and blessedness of the Christian ; and 
 in a very judicious and feeling manner, he 
 executed her request, that, after her decease, 
 public thanks might be offered to God, for his 
 mercy and faithfulness in being with her, and 
 sustaining her through her long journey in the 
 wilderness. 
 
 She likewise mentioned, repeatedly, that it 
 would be a gratification, could she believe that 
 some memoirs would be published of her life ; 
 not that she might be known and commend 
 ed, but that she might add her testimony to 
 the faithfulness of God, and furnish encou 
 ragement to others to trust in him, in the 
 darkest seasons, and in all their trials. 
 
 This must have been her motive, for she 
 was not ostentatious. She sought, not to ap 
 pear, but to be a disciple of Christ. She nei 
 ther prayed, nor read the Scriptures, nor 
 practised any duty merely as a form. The flush 
 on her moral countenance was not paint, but 
 the result of pure and warm affection. Adopt 
 ing the will of God, she had respect to all his
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 95 
 
 commands, and submitted to all his dispensa 
 tions. While " she lived, she lived to the Lord ; 
 when she died, she died to the Lord ; living 
 and dying, she was the Lord's" 
 
 They who are thus devoted to the Redeem 
 er, shall be guided and supported ; they shall 
 " go from one degree of grace to another, and 
 finish their course with joy, and shall be uni 
 ted to the spirits of the just made perfect, in 
 the kingdom of heaven." 
 
 The following tributes of sympathy with the 
 family, and affection and respect for the mem 
 ory of Mrs. Patten, are published with grati 
 tude to the authors. 
 
 "Feb. 7th, 1832. 
 To S. R. and M. Patten. 
 
 My Dear Friends, 
 
 Your letter of Dec. 31st, received but a 
 few days since, gave me the first intelligence 
 of the decease of my aged friend, and your 
 venerable mother. 
 
 It was a great mercy that she was so gently 
 released from a world of sin and woe. The
 
 96 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 world needed her, but she had long blessed it, 
 and God's time had come for receiving her 
 to her reward. 
 
 I sympathize with you : but this new break 
 ing of tender ties may be the very means of 
 uniting you more closely to the departed 
 righteous person. 
 
 The death of such a woman ought to be 
 commemorated by a good poet ; yet have I 
 ventured to say a few things of her, in the 
 measure of poetry, which I enclose. 
 
 May the Father of mercies sanctify this af 
 fliction, and make you such as she was whom 
 you mourn. 
 
 I am, with great regard, 
 
 Your sincere friend, 
 
 A." 
 
 ON MADAM PATTEN. 
 
 The aged pilgrim, then, has found repose, 
 A shelter in the grave. Her joyous youth, 
 By grace and beauty armed with gentle power, 
 Was quickly pass'd. She felt the new formed ties 
 Oflife ; yet soon, amidst a mother's cares, 
 The arm on which in confidence and love
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 97 
 
 She leaned, was smitten by a fatal shaft, 
 
 And powerless fell. The widow's weeds she wore, 
 
 Nor ceas'd to wear for many a year, till death. 
 
 But she had joys, of which the world thinks not ; 
 
 Her soul was stay'd on God. A Father's hand, 
 
 In love correcting, not in angry mood, 
 
 In ev'ry chastisement she seem'd serene ; 
 
 She lifted up her head, in faith and hope, 
 
 Amid the storm. As earthly blessings fled, 
 
 She cried, "Now, Lord, I'll love thee for thyself alone." 
 
 On forms of youthful loveliness, the eye 
 Gazes, entranced. The rare and lofty zeal 
 Of gentleness and energy combined, 
 Toiling for good of out-cast, wandering men, 
 Is object of delight. But neither youth 
 Arrayed in beauty, nor yet years mature, 
 Intelligent, refined, and nobly bent, 
 Shed such a radiance round, as hoary age 
 Calm in sharp discipline, and grasping firm 
 The promises of God, blessing by prayer, 
 A heedless world ; and glad in glorious hope 
 Of quick translation to a home on high, 
 To taste of heaven's illimitable good. 
 
 The venerable saint has entered into rest. 
 Without a pang, she gently fell asleep ; 
 Departed from the earth, she blesses still 
 The lingerers behind, by prayers of faith,
 
 98 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Long uttered, and by bright example, too, 
 Which lives in many a heart that knew her worth. 
 She blesses me. I venerate her name. 
 
 Monday, Dec. 12, 1831. 
 Miss R. Patten, 
 
 My dear Madam, 
 
 May I present to yourself and sisters, the 
 annexed slight tribute to the memory of that 
 departed excellence, which to know, was to 
 revere and love ; and with expressions of 
 sympathy, and ardent wishes that our own 
 death may be as peaceful and happy as her's 
 whose life you have cheered by the purest fil 
 ial affection, 
 
 I remain 
 
 Yours, respectfully, 
 
 L. H. SlGOURNEY. 
 
 Thoughts on the Death of Madam Patten. 
 
 I thought that death was terrible. I've seen 
 His ministry on the distracted brow, 
 The glazing eye, the struggles and the groan 
 With which the heart strings break.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 99 
 
 Yet here was one 
 
 Whose summoned breath went forth as peacefully 
 As folds the spent rose when the day is done. 
 Life still was dear ; for, with a healthful rod, 
 That charity, whose fruit is happiness, 
 Did grow and blossom in her ; and the light 
 Of her own cheerful spirit, flowing out, 
 Did tinge earth's rain-drops with the dew of heaven. 
 
 Time had respected her, and spared her brow 
 Its beauty ; and her heart the unchilled warmth 
 Of these affections, gentle and sublime, 
 Which make the fire-side holy. Hand in hand 
 With these her care had nurtured, and who joy'd 
 To pay their debt of gratitude, she passed 
 Benign and graceful down the vale of age, 
 Wrapp'd up in tender love. Without a sigh, 
 A change of feature, or a shaded smile, 
 She gave her hand to the stern messenger ; 
 And as a glad child seeks its Father's arms, 
 Went home. 
 
 She, in her Saviour's ranks had done 
 A veteran's service ; and with Polycarp, 
 Might say to death ; " For more than fourscore years 
 He was my Lord. Shall 1 deny him now ?" 
 No, no ; thou could'st not turn away from Him 
 Who was thy hope from youth ; and on whose word 
 Thy feebleness of hoary hairs was staid.
 
 100 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Before his Father and the angel trust 
 He will adjudge thee faithful. 
 
 So, farewell, 
 
 Blessed and full of days ! No more thy prayer 
 Up through the solitude of night shall go 
 To bless thy children's children ; nor thy soul 
 Yearn for re-union to those kindred ones 
 Who went to rest before thee. 'Twas not meet 
 That thou should'st longer tarry from the bliss 
 Which God reserveth for the pure in heart. 
 
 Extracts from the Sermon delivered by her 
 son, in his church in Newport, December 
 llth, 1830, on occasion of her death. 
 Those parts which described her character 
 are omitted, as they are contained in the pre 
 ceding memoirs. 
 
 1st Thess. iv. 13, 14. 
 
 " But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, 
 concerning those which are asleep, that ye sorrow not 
 even as others, which have no hope. For if we believe 
 that Jesus died and rose again, even so them that sleep in 
 Jesus, will God bring with him." 
 
 " The greatest of worldly sorrows is the 
 dissolution of those ties which bind us to so-
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 101 
 
 ciety. Society is the light of life. The 
 death of a friend sometimes produces a sense 
 of desolation which changes the whole aspect 
 of the world. 
 
 Death is the most despairing of events. 
 If a friend be absent on a journey, we' expect 
 his return ; if he be sick, we indulge the hope 
 of his recovery ; but when he dies, all hope 
 is extinguished. " He shall return no more 
 to his house, neither shall his place know him 
 any more." 
 
 This cause of sorrow is common to all. 
 Yet were our friends in that change to cease 
 to exist ; were they to be " as though they 
 had never been," the reason for sorrow 
 would be inexpressibly enhanced. But we 
 are taught by Revelation, that the soul has a 
 continued existence, and that the body shall 
 be restored to life, so that it is not dead, but 
 asleep. 
 
 For this knowledge we are indebted sole 
 ly to revelation. It was not included, by the 
 heathen, in their hope of immortality. Their 
 hope was confined entirely to the soul. The
 
 102 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 resurrection of the body, when suggested to 
 them, from its contrariety to nature and ex 
 perience, was rejected as incredible. The 
 doctrine, though expressed in former revela 
 tions, is brought more clearly to light since 
 the appearance of Christ, and is confirmed 
 by his resurrection from the dead. He as 
 serts, that " all who are in their graves shall 
 hear his voice, and come forth." It is said, 
 that " we must all stand before the judgment 
 seat of Christ, and give an account of the 
 deeds done in the body." In our text the re 
 surrection of the saints is argued from the 
 resurrection of Christ, " If we believe that 
 Jesus died and rose again, them also that 
 sleep in Jesus will God bring with him j" and 
 the general resurrection of the dead is argued 
 by the apostle from the same topic. If there 
 be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ 
 not risen ; but Christ is risen, and become 
 the first fruits of them that slept. For since 
 by man came death, by man came also the re 
 surrection of the dead." 
 
 The knowledge of this doctrine is not, in
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 103 
 
 itself, a consolation, for in the future state all 
 will not be happy ; and to be miserable is 
 more to be deplored than not to exist. The 
 resurrection will be a blessing only to those 
 who sleep in Jesus. In order to this it is ne 
 cessary, while in life, to become his disciple. 
 It is impossible that any relation to him 
 should commence when the body is in the 
 grave ; for there all those intellectual and 
 moral capacities and exercises of the soul, of 
 which the body was formerly the organ, have 
 gone with the soul to an invisible state, and 
 the body is left senseless and inanimate. " In 
 the grave there is no wisdom, nor work, nor 
 device, nor knowledge." Were it possible 
 for the soul, in this separation, to experience 
 a change of character, the body could have 
 no interest in it, as its operative and vital con 
 nexion with the soul is dissolved, and it has 
 turned to dust. 
 
 To be a disciple of Christ is represented in 
 various passages of scripture, and by various 
 figures, as being in Him. " If any man be in 
 Christ, he is a new creature." " There is no
 
 104 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 condemnation to them that are in Him." 
 " That I may be found in Him." " As ye have 
 received Jesus Christ the Lord, so walk ye in 
 Him, rooted and built up in Him." There is 
 no phrase more expressive of the entire de 
 pendence of the believer on Christ, and of the 
 complete influence of Christ over him. As it 
 is said in a natural sense, that "in God we 
 live, and move, and have our being ;" so the 
 believer, by being in Christ, derives from Him 
 life, light, and strength ; his defence from evil, 
 and all his supplies and hope of good. 
 
 They who are thus in Christ while they 
 live, when they die sleep in Him. They are 
 mystically his body. As he has arisen from 
 the dead, and ascended to heaven, and is in 
 vested with all authority, he will release them 
 from the bands of death, and give them the 
 victory over all the powers of darkness, and 
 crown them with glory in his kingdom. In 
 vain did he die, in vain does he live, if they 
 who believe in him shall not experience com 
 plete salvation. 
 
 This subject is necessary to general conso-
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 105 
 
 Jation. It is so to the speaker and his family 
 connections, who have recently been bereav 
 ed of their mother. It is the language of our 
 feelings, " Art thou indeed gone ? the nurse 
 of our infancy, the guardian of our childhood, 
 the guide of our youth ? our counsellor at all 
 times, to whom we resorted in our perplexi 
 ties and troubles, and in whose love, prudence, 
 and judgment, we so safely confided? Thou, 
 who wast so importunate in thy prayers for 
 us through life ; by our bed side, in the fami 
 ly, and in secret ? Alas ! mother, art thou 
 gone ? In the house, so endeared to us by 
 thy presence, thou art no where to be found ; 
 not even in the chamber where in feebleness 
 thou wast accustomed to repose, not a whisper 
 of thy breath is to be heard. Shall we then go 
 to the place of burial ? Here we are taught 
 that we shall see thy face no more ; that thy 
 mild eye, thy maternal smile, and every thing 
 interesting in thy appearance, are obliterated 
 in dust. 
 
 Oppressed with grief, and encompassed with 
 darkness, we hear a voice from heaven, say- 
 
 9*
 
 106 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 ing, " Sorrow not as others who have no hope. 
 They who sleep in Jesus will God bring with 
 him." This assurance, with gratitude we re 
 ceive, and will not sorrow as others who have 
 no hope. 
 
 Mother, thou art not dead. Thou hast gone 
 to the bosom, not of Abraham, but of Christ, 
 Jiis promised son, our Lord and Saviour. Thou 
 art united to the spirits of the just made per 
 fect. 
 
 How great must be her joy in seeing Him, 
 " whom, having not seen, she loved." How 
 great must be her joy in seeing those Chris 
 tian relatives and friends from whom she was 
 separated in tears ! How great must be her 
 joy in meeting the patriarchs and prophets, 
 the apostles and martyrs, from whose writings 
 and example she had derived so much instruc 
 tion and encouragement! How great must be 
 her joy in seeing the mysteries of providence 
 explained, and the designs of God unfolded, 
 and in having the clearest view of his perfec 
 tion, and enjoying the unclouded light of his 
 countenance ! As included in his designs, and
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 107 
 
 faithfulness, she knows that her body, which 
 sleeps in the dust, shall be raised spiritual and 
 glorious ; that as a part of the constitution of 
 her nature, it is in covenant with Christ, and 
 when he returns to judge the world, it shall 
 awake in his likeness, and re-united to the soul, 
 she shall be presented faultless before the pre 
 sence of his glory, and with all the redeemed, 
 shall have an open and abundant entrance 
 ministered to her into the everlasting king- 
 
 *** * 
 
 dom and joy of the Lord. 
 
 This instance of bereavement, in which our 
 sorrow is so much assuaged by hope, is adapt 
 ed to our encouragement. May the life and 
 death of our friend be sanctified to us, and to 
 all who were acquainted with her. May her 
 instructions be impressed on the minds and 
 hearts of her children. May her example be 
 followed. May her prayers be answered. 
 May her removal from the world be followed 
 with an addition to the church, and an increase 
 of faith and obedience in the saints. Then 
 her death will be a blessing as well as her 
 life, and greater will be our reason to rejoice 
 than mourn.
 
 108 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 REMARKS 
 
 On the Public Relation given by Mrs. Patten, 
 of her Christian Experience. 
 
 As in her subsequent life there was evidence 
 of her being a real Christian, as in her tem 
 per in all trials, and her works on all occa 
 sions, she " adorned the doctrines of God our 
 Saviour," there must have been, in the com 
 mencement of her religious experience, the el 
 ements of the Christian character. These it 
 may be useful to examine. 
 
 1st. She was convinced of sin ; that her 
 heart was depraved ; that she was an enemy 
 to God. 
 
 As the law of God requires only love, all 
 sin must originate, and be seated, in the 
 heart. A conviction of sin implies, therefore, 
 a consciousness of depravity of heart. To ex 
 culpate the heart, and yet condemn the con 
 duct, is absurd ; it is like condemning the 
 fruit, and yet justifying the tree that bears it. 
 
 She had not been conscious of depravity of 

 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 109 
 
 heart, for she had exercised natural affec 
 tions, and expressed them, according to her 
 natural .views, in all relations. In this re 
 spect she was peculiarly blameless, and might 
 say, she had " kept the divine commands from 
 her childhood." But when brought to see the 
 nature of the divine law; that it required her 
 to " love God with all her heart, and her 
 neighbor as herself," she found that this love 
 she had not exercised ; and therefore that 
 she was a transgressor. 
 
 In being a transgressor, she was constrain 
 ed to admit the conviction, that she was an 
 enemy to God. In no other temper of heart 
 than this can the law be transgressed ; for 
 God himself is the object of that love which his 
 law requires. To transgress is, therefore, not 
 only to violate the authority by which the law 
 is enacted, but to refuse that love for God 
 which the precept requires. In transgressing, 
 there must therefore be enmity to God. 
 There can be no neutrality of character in 
 one, as a subject of this law. If the law can-
 
 110 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 not be transgressed unless in enmity to God, 
 the transgression of it is evidently sinful ; for 
 it must be sinful to be an enemy to God. 
 
 In correspondence to this, it is written, 
 " The carnal mind is enmity against God. It 
 is not subject to his law, neither indeed can 
 be ;" and the apostle Paul observes, that 
 " though he had lived in all good conscience 
 before God, yet when the commandment 
 came, sin revived, and he died ;" and that 
 " the commandment which was ordained unto 
 life, he found to be unto death," condemning 
 him for his transgression of it. 
 
 2. She attempted to recommend herself to 
 God, by the works of the law, but did not, in 
 this way, find peace. 
 
 When one, without love, attempts to obey 
 the law, he does not act from the spirit of 
 obedience ; he obeys, only in letter or form ; 
 and therefore his works are not truly right 
 eous. 
 
 In addition to this, when the law has been 
 once transgressed, it is impossible, by future
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. Ill 
 
 obedience, though it were perfect, to obtain 
 justification by it, or be relieved from condem 
 nation. "The law knows no mercy." It makes 
 no provision for pardon, on repentance and 
 future obedience. It pronounces a curse on 
 " every one who continues not in all things, 
 written in the law, to do them," and considers 
 him " who offends in one point, as guilty of 
 the whole law." Not even the saint, either 
 in this life, or to eternity, will be justified by 
 his own works ; for he will ever be the same 
 person who once transgressed the law, and 
 therefore has not rendered that entire obedi 
 ence which the law requires. 
 
 3dly. She was convinced that the depravi 
 ty of her heart was the only bar to her salva 
 tion. 
 
 God can, and does require of a creature 
 nothing more than his heart ; more than 
 this a creature cannot give. To give his heart 
 is to give himself, and all that he has. 
 
 From the provision made in the gospel for 
 pardon and eternal life, to give the heart to 
 God is all that is necessary to salvation.
 
 112 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Then the understanding will be enlightened, 
 and all the faculties of the soul will be prop 
 erly exercised, and brought into submission to 
 God. With justice therefore, was she con 
 vinced that the depravity of her heart was the 
 only obstacle in the way of her salvation. 
 
 4thly. She found that she could not give 
 her heart to God, and that no means, or cre 
 ated agent, could enable her to do it ; but 
 that it must be the work of the Spirit of God. 
 
 She must give her heart herself, else it 
 would not be her act ; yet she could not do it 
 of herself. There is a contradiction in sup 
 posing that a heart inimical to God, should, 
 of itself, be inclined to love him, or give itself 
 to him in friendship. Convinced, through 
 her understanding, and by the medium of 
 conscience, of the depravity of her heart, she 
 found it to be a plague which she could not 
 cure, a bond of iniquity which she could not 
 break ; but guilty and perilous as the exercise 
 was, that it would still rise in opposition to 
 God. 
 
 Nor could she find relief from the power of
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 113 
 
 means. Means refer to some agent, without 
 whom they are nothing. What is a pen with 
 out a hand to write ? or a harp without some 
 one to touch its strings ? The means of grace 
 refer to the agency of God, and of man. They 
 are means by which God instructs and con 
 verts sinners ; and they are means, in the use 
 of which sinners become instructed and con 
 verted. In these means, God and man may 
 co-operate ; or they may make use of the 
 same means, at the same time. But no one 
 can co-operate with God in that power by 
 which the means are rendered effectual. This 
 belongs to God alone. He can have no part 
 ner in this power more than in his throne. 
 This is necessary, that salvation may be as 
 cribed to him, and be to " the praise of the 
 glory of his grace." 
 
 In the sense explained, the apostle Paul 
 speaks of himself and other ministers, as co 
 operating with God, if the word with, rather 
 than o/", be a just translation of the passage. 
 " We are workers together with God." He 
 co-operated with God in using means to con- 
 
 10
 
 114 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 vince and convert sinners, and to edify the 
 saints ; but he wholly disclaims any part of 
 that power by which his labors were rendered 
 effectual. Though he was not " behind the 
 chiefest of the apostles, he was nothing." 
 " AH his sufficiency was of God." 
 
 God would always render the means of 
 grace effectual, were it his sole object in them 
 to save mankind ; but it is also his design to 
 show the exceeding depravity and obstinacy 
 of the sinful heart, and the justice with which 
 he may destroy, and his grace in saving the 
 transgressor. He does not, therefore, accom 
 pany with his sanctifying influence, those 
 means which are employed more immediately 
 and solely by himself. All his dispensations 
 are means of grace, as they are adapted to 
 teach men his righteousness and goodness, 
 and bring them to repentance. This is true 
 of the light of the sun, and rain from heaven, 
 and of all the divine mercies and judgments. 
 
 For this reason, the ministry of the most 
 eminent and faithful servants of God is not, in 
 all instances, attended with success. This was
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 115 
 
 true of Noah, who preached to a world of sin 
 ners, that remained impenitent ; of Moses and 
 Aaron, in their mission to Pharaoh, who refa- 
 sed to obey the Lord, and let Israel go ; of the 
 Prophets and apostles ; and especially of 
 Christ, who said to the Jews, that they " had 
 seen and hated both him and the father, and 
 that they had " no cloak for their sins." And 
 he places it in a clear light, by the figure of 
 a " barren fig-tree," which was spared anoth 
 er year, that every possible cultivation should 
 be bestowed on it ; and if then it should not 
 bear fruit, it was to be cut down. 
 
 In his regenerating grace, God operates ac 
 cording to the moral nature, or free agency of 
 man. He does not compel, but inclines. 
 His influence is not felt, but experienced. It 
 is in this respect, like the power of Christ in 
 giving sight to the blind. From their knowing 
 that they were once blind, but that then they 
 saw, they knew that the power of Christ had 
 been exerted in their favor. 
 
 The convert wills, which is an evidence that 
 he is free. But this will is an effect ; and as
 
 116 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 there was no adequate cause for it in his own 
 heart, there must be found a reason in the 
 previous agency of God. They cannot be 
 simultaneous, for a cause must, of necessity, 
 precede the existence of its effect. In cor 
 respondence to this, the apostle Paul styles 
 Christians, " God's workmanship, created in 
 Christ Jesus, unto good works ;" and he ex 
 horts them to " work out their salvation with 
 fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh 
 in them to will and to do of his good pleasure." 
 If men depend on God for the support, pro 
 gress, and completion of the work of sancti- 
 fication, they must be dependant on him for the 
 commencement of that work. 
 
 5thly. The conviction of guilt and helpless 
 ness, and of her dependance on God, was at 
 tended with great distress, and with earnest 
 desires that she might know how to give her 
 heart to God, and with cries to him that he 
 would teach her, and enable her to do it. 
 
 When dependance on God is made a plea 
 for neglecting religion, it shows that the mind 
 is not convinced of sin, nor awakened to its
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 117 
 
 awful consequences. The acknowledgment 
 is merely theoretic, and is adopted as a re 
 fuge for continued impenitence and disobedi 
 ence. 
 
 A real conviction of sin and danger will 
 cause inexpressible distress, and induce the 
 soul to look to God with earnest desire to be 
 taught the way of deliverance, and brought to 
 the experience of it. This desire is natural ; 
 it is the desire of happiness, and in itself con 
 sidered, is neither sinful nor holy. It is a 
 means by which God brings the sinner to him. 
 It is one of the most important, and a neces 
 sary means of grace, for they who are without 
 the desire of salvation are without natural as 
 well as moral affection ; they are " twice dead, 
 and ready to be plucked up by the roots." 
 
 It is likewise the natural consequence of a 
 sense of dependance on God, to look to him 
 for deliverance. From him alone, help can 
 come ; and it is not presumptuous to cry to 
 him for it, since salvation is possible, and the 
 blessing is desired in the way that God may 
 10*
 
 118 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 teach, and on the terms he may enable the soul 
 to perform. 
 
 Gthly. In this state of mind, she had a sense 
 of the sovereignty of God ; that she was in his 
 hands, and that it depended on his will, wheth 
 er she should be saved, or left to perish. She 
 was a transgressor of his law, and therefore 
 in the hands of God, as sovereign. Though 
 he might save, he might justly destroy ; and 
 as salvation would be of grace, it must be a 
 sovereign act. In the dispensation of mercy, 
 God is influenced by what he sees to be best. 
 That he does not save all, is not owing to a 
 want of compassion, or willingness that they 
 should be saved ; but to its not being consist 
 ent. He is therefore sovereign in the deter 
 mination to do WHAT is BEST. This is the 
 character in which he requires love by his 
 law. 
 
 Mrs. Patten was convinced of her depend- 
 ance on the will of God; and awaited, in the 
 deepest possible concern, his decision. 
 
 7thly. She was brought to light and peace, 
 by being brought to love Christ.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 119 
 
 She might have expected relief from God, 
 as infinite in mercy. Though mercy is an 
 essential attribute of the divine nature, yet it 
 can be exercised only through the medium of 
 the Son. To believe in God as merciful, 
 without equal faith in the Son, is to believe 
 in him in a sense in which he cannot save. 
 Mrs. Patten had heard of Jesus Christ as a 
 Saviour, and assented to the representation ; 
 but she had not considered, or understood his 
 character. In heart she was a Unitarian. 
 But when God revealed his Son in her, she 
 was " brought out of darkness into his mar 
 vellous light. She realized the truth of the 
 words of Christ, " He that hath seen me, hath 
 seen the Father," and " This is the will of 
 Him who sent me, that he that seeth the Son, 
 and belie veth in him, may have everlasting 
 life." 
 
 8th. It is not an objection to her experi 
 ence, that she did not know, at the time, that 
 it was of a saving nature. 
 
 As Christ must be declared, before one can 
 believe in him; so faith -in his character as
 
 120 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Saviour, must precede the knowledge of one's 
 personal salvation. As they are distinct, they 
 may be separated by a shorter or longer inter 
 val of time. Salvation does not depend on 
 the assurance of salvation, but on previous 
 exercises which are the ground of that assu 
 rance. 
 
 In true faith, love for Christ is exercised ; 
 and thus the attention is naturally attracted to 
 him, and dwells on him. The believer sees 
 such an excellence and glory in his character, 
 as to love him and rejoice in him without 
 thinking of himself, or expecting or desiring 
 any other happiness. This corresponds to 
 the expression of the apostle, " whom, hav 
 ing not seen, ye love ; in whom, though now 
 ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with 
 joy unspeakable and full of glory." 
 
 Reflecting on this experience, she found it a 
 testimony of her being a friend to Christ ; and 
 therefore that she was his disciple, and an 
 heir of his kingdom. 
 
 9th. She was brought to exercise a new 
 love for her fellow men.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 121 
 
 As the second command is like the first, if 
 she had a new love for God, she had a new 
 love for her neighbor. She became sensible 
 of her relation to all mankind, as children of 
 the same family ; she perceived the distinc 
 tion of character between the righteous and 
 the wicked ; and while she felt a complacency 
 in the righteous, she earnestly desired the re 
 pentance and salvation of the wicked ; and 
 thus was disposed to do good to all men. 
 
 10th. It was her desire to enter publicly 
 into covenant with the Lord, and to devote 
 herself to him wholly and forever ; and to seal 
 her engagements by communing in the supper. 
 From this she was not deterred by a sense of 
 unworthiness, nor was she influenced in pro 
 ceeding that she might recommend herself; 
 but she acted from love to Christ, and regard 
 for all his commands, and with confidence in 
 his grace and faithfulness, that " she should 
 be kept from falling, and finally be presented 
 faultless before the presence of his glory." 
 
 True religion is the impression of truth in 
 the heart. Christ prayed to the Father for his
 
 122 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 people, " Sanctify them through thy truth ; thy 
 word is truth." The word of God is represent 
 ed as seec?,thc fruits of which are all the graces 
 of the Christian character, and all the joys of 
 the kingdom of heaven. 
 
 If there be false doctrines, there may be 
 false experiences of religion ; for the religion 
 of men ever corresponds to the doctrines they 
 believe. This is apparent in the general de 
 nominations of religion among men. The 
 religion of idolaters corresponds to what they 
 believe of the various idols whom they wor 
 ship ; the religion of the Mahometans, to 
 what they believe of the character and doc 
 trines of Mahomet ; of the Jews, to what they 
 believe respecting the writing of Moses. 
 
 Among those who profess to believe the 
 gospel, there may be views of its doctrines so 
 contrary to truth as to be inconsistent with 
 the hope of salvation. Christ speaks of " a 
 light in man that is darkness." Even his dis 
 ciples did not, in all instances, know " what 
 manner of spirit they were of;" and we are 
 directed to " try the spirits that we may know
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 123 
 
 v 
 
 which is of God." As all true Christians 
 agree in the essential doctrines of the gospel, 
 so their experiences agree in essential princi 
 ples, however they may vary in circumstances 
 and forms. In all respects no two are alike. 
 From the danger of delusion, each one should 
 have a sense of the importance of " examin 
 ing himself, whether he be in faith," and any 
 assistance in this duty from the experience of 
 those who have finished their course in faith 
 fulness, there is reason cheerfully to improve. 
 
 Mrs. Patten esteemed it one of the greatest 
 privileges and honors, that so many to whom 
 she was naturally related, and with whom in 
 general she was acquainted, were professed 
 Christians, and, especially ministers of the 
 Gospel. In this respect, she was distinguish 
 ed. As it may not displease the reader, and 
 will particularly gratify some of her surviving 
 relatives, a sketch of the affinities will be sub 
 joined ; though from want of knowledge, it 
 will be imperfect. 
 
 In addition to those already mentioned, 
 one of the brothers of her mother was a min-
 
 124 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 ister, Rev. James Davenport, and his son was 
 a minister, Rev. John Davenport. A second 
 brother of her mother, Hon. Abraham Daven 
 port, of Stamford, was a professor and firm 
 supporter of religion, and there was much re 
 ligion in his family connexions. His daugh 
 ter married Dr. James Cogswell, a skilful and 
 pious physician, who was son of Rev. Dr. 
 Cogswell, of Windham, and whose only 
 daughter married the Rev. Mr. Fisher. The 
 eldest son of Abraham Davenport, Hon. John 
 Davenport, was pious, and married a daughter 
 of Rev. Mr. Welles, of Stamford. Several of 
 their children were pious ; one of them is the 
 wife of Judge Radcliff, Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 
 The second son of Abraham Davenport, 
 Hon. James Davenport, was distinguished for 
 ability and usefulness. Three of his daugh 
 ters married ministers ; the Rev. Messrs. 
 Whelpley and Bruen, of N. Y. and Rev. Dr. 
 Skinner, Professor in the Theological Sem 
 inary, Andover. 
 
 One of the sisters of Mrs. Patten's mother 
 married the Rev. Dr. Williams, of Springfield,
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 125 
 
 who had three sons in the ministry, one of 
 them, Rev. Dr. Williams, of Tolland. The 
 Rev. Mr. Storrs, who was successor to Dr. 
 Williams of Springfield, married one of his 
 grand-daughters, a pious woman. They had 
 two sons in the ministry, Rev. Mr. Storrs of 
 Braintree, and Rev. Mr. Storrs, president of 
 the Western Reserve college, Ohio. In this 
 connexion, were Rev. Mr. Stebbins, who mar 
 ried a daughter of Rev. Mr. Streat, and Rev. 
 Messrs. Barker and Reynolds. 
 
 The father of Mrs. Patten was the only son 
 of pious parents. One of his sisters married 
 Rev. Dr. Pomroy of Hebron, one of whose 
 daughters married Rev. Dr. Macclure of East 
 Windsor, and two of whose grand-daughters 
 married ministers, Rev. Mr. Basset, and the 
 other, pastor of a church in Newark, N. J. 
 
 Another sister of the father of Mrs. Patten 
 married Mr. Bingham, a pious man, one of 
 whose daughters married Rev. S. Kirkland, 
 missionary to the Oneida Indians, who was 
 father of Rev. Dr. Kirkland, late president of 
 Harvard university. In this connexion is 
 
 11
 
 126 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 Rev. Mr. Bingham, missionary at the Sand 
 wich Islands. 
 
 A son of the eldest sister of Mrs. Patten 
 was a minister of the Episcopal order, and 
 settled in Canada. Mrs. Patten's father mar 
 ried, for his second wife, Miss Mary Brins- 
 made of Milford, a pious woman, by whom he 
 had three sons and two daughters, all of whom 
 became professors of religion, and lived to 
 adult years, and were married. 
 
 The eldest son, Hon. John Wheelock, was 
 successor of his father as president of the col 
 lege, and married Miss Sechm, daughter of a 
 governor of St. Thomas, and daughter-in-law 
 of Mr. Boudinot of New Jersey, a pious wo 
 man, by whom he had one child, a daughter, 
 who married Rev. Dr. Allen, president of 
 Bowdoin college, Me. 
 
 The eldest daughter married B. Woodward, 
 Esq., for a time a preacher, afterwards pro 
 fessor of mathematics in the college ; one of 
 his sons is pastor of a church ; another a mis 
 sionary in Ceylon ; and one of his daughters 
 married Rev. Mr. Searl, a missionary in S. C.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 127 
 
 The second daughter married Rev. Sylva- 
 nus Ripley, professor of Divinity in the col 
 lege, and was mother of General E. W. Rip- 
 ley, and General J. Ripley, the former of 
 whom married a daughter of Rev. Mr. Allen, 
 of Pittsfield. 
 
 The third son has a son in the ministry, 
 and a daughter, married to Rev. Dr. Marsh, 
 president of Burlington college, Vt, 
 
 May those of the relatives who read this 
 list, be solicitous to secure the blessings of 
 that covenant into which the Lord entered 
 with their fathers ; and be sensible of the ob 
 ligations upon them from so many examples, 
 to "shine as lights in^he world."
 
 LETTERS. 
 
 IN the following compilation, it is the object of the 
 transcriber to furnish a sample of Mrs. Patten's man 
 ner of writing ; and it was his purpose to add several 
 letters to her, expressive of the piety and esteem of her 
 friends ; but the prescribed limits of the work do not 
 admit of it. 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 TO HER SON W. P. 
 
 March 8th, 1808. 
 My very dear Son, 
 
 We received your affectionate and consoling letter 
 of February, which gave renewed occasion for grati 
 tude. 
 
 There is no mother, I know, that is so happy in her 
 children as your's. I have the satisfaction of seeing 
 them, as I hope, " walking in the truth," of serving 
 God faithfully, from a principle of love; I pray that 
 we may not deceive others, nor be ourselves de 
 ceived.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 129 
 
 The goodness of God is truly great in preserving 
 the lives of so many of the family ; and when repeat 
 edly threatened, especially of lat. I think I can see 
 much of the faithfulness and mercy of a covenant 
 keeping God, in his dealings towards us. May it be 
 our study to bring forth fruits meet for Him, by whom 
 we have been protected and nourished. But, O ! my 
 son, what reason have we to cry with the Prophet, 
 " My leanness, my leanness 1" How unprofitable 
 have we been, considering the advantages we have 
 enjoyed under divine cultivation ! How indolent con 
 sidering the fields of labor ; and how little affected 
 considering how many souls, unconscious of their 
 danger, are moving beyond the gulf which cannot be 
 repassed. 
 
 With respect to sketches of my life, for which you 
 have expressed a solicitude, I have often wished that 
 some were written, for the benefit of my children, if 
 not of others, to show how little our happiness con 
 sists in the abundance that we possess ; and what en 
 couragement to " stand still and see the salvation of 
 God." 
 
 The instances of faith, in ancient and modern times, 
 have not appeared to me strange, in the reasonable 
 ness of implicit trust in God, seeking his guidance, of 
 following whither he leads, of the encouragement, the 
 strength, the blessedness of his presence. May he, 
 from his infinite fulness, grant us all these supplies of 
 grace that we need. 
 
 I do not know, that for some years, I have felt any 
 particular desires with regard to the things of the 
 
 11*
 
 130 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 world. I confer it a duty to be industrious and 
 prudent, that \v o may have enough for ourselves, and 
 to give to others ; but in what is spiritual, I feel my 
 desires are very strong to see my posterity in the way 
 of obedience, examples of piety and usefulness, and 
 the cause of religion extend and prevail. 
 
 You know, my son, I have been in a great diversity 
 of trials ; but I can say, in humility for my great un- 
 worthiness, that God has fulfilled his gracious promi 
 ses to us. There is no earthly friend or property, that, 
 as an object of confidence, can be compared with 
 Him. 
 
 Your affectionate Mother, 
 
 R. P. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 TO W. AND H. P. 
 
 May 17, 1*808. 
 My dear children, 
 
 I desire to bless God that I am preserved to an 
 swer another of your welcome letters. 
 
 I have had a severe attack of disease. I felt very 
 cold, and in great pain ; and determined to take some 
 warm tea, and retire to bed. After a few sips, which 
 I threw up, I became lethargic, and remained in 
 sensible three or four hours. A physician was imme 
 diately with me, and every thing was done that could 
 be ; but when restored to recollection, I was still dis 
 posed to relapse into a sleep like death. Since my
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTED. 131 
 
 relief, I have been very feeble, but % V gradually gain 
 ing strength. 
 
 How many times has God appeared? for me ! O, 
 may my spared life, and all that I have/ be devoted to 
 him. Pray for me. I can write but little^ 
 
 Give grandma's best love to your children, and a 
 kiss to each of them. Tell them I long to see them ; 
 and that it is my daily prayer, that, as they advance 
 in life, they may, in heart, leave the world behind, 
 and press forward, with the heavenly inheritance in 
 view. 
 
 Your affectionate Mother, 
 
 R.P. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 TO THE REV. H. B., MISSIONARY TO THE SAND 
 WICH ISLANDS. 
 
 July 5, 1830. 
 Rev. and dear Sir, 
 
 I am happy to forward to you a token of affection, 
 left by my dear departed son, George. The little 
 sacred volume may be a convenient pocket compan 
 ion, in your removals and excursions among the hea 
 then. My daughters will put up a few trifles for 
 dear Mrs. B. in the package with which this will be 
 sent. 
 
 We greatly rejoice in your prosperity, by the bles 
 sing of God, in your joint endeavors to advance the 
 kingdom of our glorious Redeemer.
 
 132 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 The cause of missions lies very near our hearts. 
 There has no day passed, without our remembrance of 
 you at the throne of grace. God's goodness to you, and 
 all other dear friends in that region, has been very great, 
 and we hope, ere long, to hear of greater things than 
 these, when the spirit shall be poured out in rich abun 
 dance, the gospel run arid be glorified, and the earth be 
 filled with the knowledge and glory of the divine Re 
 deemer. Happy the instruments in promoting so noble 
 a cause. 
 
 And now my dear friends, I know not whether I 
 should ask you to mourn or rejoice with us in the remo 
 val of my beloved son. The latter becomes an unwor 
 thy mother, who has been instrumental of introducing 
 into the world an heir of glory, to which state I have 
 no reason to doubt he is advanced. Still, the bereave 
 ment is very sorrowful ; and I doubt not, that an aged 
 mother, in her 91st year, will find an advocate in your 
 compassionate bosom for her grief. He was my young 
 est child ; and not long since, the most healthy in the 
 family. But though the Lord slay me and mine, yet 
 will I trust in him, and when every blessing is flown, 
 will love him for himself alone. 
 
 Pray earnestly for us, my dear friends ; and for the 
 beloved land of your nativity, lest the heathen rise up 
 in the judgment and condemn us ; for many of them, 
 as there is reason to hope, repented at the first annunci 
 ation of the gospel ; but alas ! we, who have ever lived 
 in its meridian lustre, are still hardened in sin. 
 " Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove, 
 
 With all thy quick'ning powers, 
 Come, shed abroad a Saviour's love, 
 And that shall kindle ours."
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 133 
 
 My family unite with me in best love to yourselves 
 and all the brethren and sisters in your connection, 
 (though unknown) for j-e we not " one in the Lord." 
 That the God of grace may be with you, is the constant 
 prayer of 
 
 Your affectionate friend, 
 
 R. P. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 THE ANSWER TO THE PRECEDING, BY THE REV. H. B. 
 
 Owyhee, 1832. 
 . Dear Mrs. Patten, 
 
 Your friendly letter, I have received, and the pre 
 cious, little sacred volume, neatly and kindly marked 
 for me, having on the silver clasp, the initials of your 
 dear departed son's name, G. J. P. 
 
 It will be a pleasure to use these convenient pocket 
 companions, in some of my exercises among the people ; 
 and should they be preserved safely, I hope they may 
 be useful to my little, only son, whose name they bear 
 also. 
 
 It is a comfort to us to be so often assured that our 
 Christian friends pray for us, while we attempt to break 
 up the fallow ground, and to sow the good seed even 
 though much may still fall among thorns, and some by 
 the way side, and some in stony places ; for some we 
 believe will fall in good ground, and, watered, as it 
 will be by your prayers, will bring forth fruit. 
 
 1 have recently returned from a short tour of ten 
 days, to a station about 100 miles from me, where the
 
 134 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 spirit of the Lord, it is believed, was influencing the 
 hearts of some of the sons and daughters of paganism, 
 to turn from their sins, and to seek an interest in 
 Christ. 
 
 Thus you see, that you, who can say, " There has 
 no day passed without my remembrance of you at the 
 throne of grace," have not daily approached the throne 
 of grace for us, and our poor people, in vain. 
 
 It would have been a comfort to you to see what a 
 change Christianity has produced in a few individuals 
 of this nation. If the Lord can make such trophies 
 among the heathen, what can he not do among the chil 
 dren of Christians, whose parents and ancestors have 
 laid up many prayers for them, and for whom faithful 
 ministers pray and preach, and to whom the whole Bi 
 ble, with all its claims, speaks from day to day, in a tone 
 of indisputably divine authority ? 
 
 Let the mothers in Israel take courage, when the 
 sons of the church are ready to faint, God can hear 
 their prayers in the obscurest closet, and send answers 
 of peace, unto the ends of the earth. 
 
 I have recently heard of the death of both my pa 
 rents. But the Lord can take me up. I think I can 
 trust in him. 
 
 Yours, truly, H. B. 
 
 LETTER V. 
 TO MRS. s. L. r Norwalk. 
 
 May 20, 1828. 
 My very dear niece, 
 Since the decease of your beloved and worthy son,
 
 MRS. RTJTH PATTEN. 135 
 
 in so sudden and distressing a manner,* I have wished 
 to write, but the indisposition of myself and family has 
 prevented. I am now scarcely able to hold my pen ; 
 but a sense of duty and affection for you, induce me to 
 make the attempt. The excellent character your son 
 sustained in all his relations, though a source of grief 
 in his removal, is yet a reason for gratitude and conso 
 lation, in the hope that he is taken to a higher and a 
 better world. 
 
 We ought to submit, and to submit with cheerful 
 ness to the divine dispensation, since God is our Fa 
 ther, and all his dispensations result from infinite be 
 nevolence, and wisdom, and mercy. Instead of mur 
 muring, they should cause us to trust in him. Instead 
 of alienating, they should bring us nearer to him. The 
 nearer we are, the greater will be our safety and con 
 solation. 
 
 Itis import ant to understand the loving kindness of 
 the Lord^which is often mysterious. The late Dr. S. 
 of this city, a man of piety and experience in religion, 
 observed, that " were he to go into his closet to thank 
 God for his mercies, afflictions would come first on the 
 list." Sanctified afflictions produce bright views of 
 God, and the most sensible enjoyments. 
 
 Your son passed the evening with us before his de 
 parture for New York. He said " he had called, by 
 your request ; but that in future, he should call on his 
 
 * By the bursting of a boiler in a steam boat, on his passage 
 from Hartford to New York.
 
 136 .MEMOIRS OF 
 
 own account." We were much pleased with his so 
 cial qualities, as well as his remarks on religion. 
 
 We should be highly gratified by an acquaintance 
 with the survivors of your dear family. I am now 87 
 years old, and have experienced much of the good 
 ness and faithfulness of God, in both mercies and af 
 flictions, so that I can testify that " goodness and mer 
 cy have followed me all the days of my life ;" and I 
 hope, through grace, I shall " dwell in the house of the 
 Lord forever ;" even that house " not made with hands, 
 eternal in the heavens." 
 
 That you, and yours, may experience the joy and 
 peace of believing, is the prayer of 
 
 Your affectionate Aunt, 
 
 R. P. 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 TO ONE OF HER GRANDSONS. 
 
 May, 1822. 
 My dear J., 
 
 Hearing you are about to leave your father's house, 
 that you may seek employment abroad, let me earnest 
 ly entreat you to be faithful in the service of the Lord. 
 If we have no disinterested love for him, and our fellow 
 men, our hearts are bound up in self, and we must 
 be despicable, indeed. May we have just ideas of the 
 divine character ; love it for what it is in itself; have 
 a just sense of our own unworthiness, and our constant 
 need of divine guidance and protection. 
 
 O, my dear son, this will ever be the first desire of
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 137 
 
 fny heart, and it will be my last petition, that God would 
 grant you that humility, that faith, that love, which con 
 stitute a child of God. 
 
 I write as a dying parent to a dying child ; or, rath 
 er, to one that is born to die. May the Lord direct 
 your steps, bless and prosper you, and make you a great 
 blessing. There is much to do in the world. O, how 
 much to restore it from sin and disorder. May you 
 not be idle, but, animated by the spirit of Christ, be ef- 
 ficient in the sphere in which you may be placed, and 
 shine in unfading light. 
 
 Dear J., Farewell. That we may meet in heaven, 
 though we may not on earth, is the prayer of 
 
 Your affectionate, though decaying 
 Grandmother, in her 83d year. 
 
 R. P. 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 TO MRS. A. G. 
 
 My dear Madam, 
 
 I rejoice in the information contained in your let 
 ter, that God has visited H. with the outpourings of 
 his Holy Spirit; an event so long desired by your 
 worthy, but almost despairing, pastor. May the work 
 go on and prosper abundantly. 
 
 How wonderful are the condescension and grace of 
 our glorious Redeemer, in arresting sinners in their 
 course to ruin, and turning them into the way of life ; 
 
 12
 
 138 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 and in his attention to the support and progress of hitf 
 feeble and unworthy children. 
 
 It is good to have a sense of our weakness, and en- 
 tire dependance on the great Head of the Church for 
 grace and spiritual strength. But, oh ! our deceitful, 
 unbelieving hearts ! We need repentance from day 
 to day, and renewed faith in the great salvation, 
 wrought out for sinners. May we have our minds 
 stayed on God. 
 
 O, my friend ! does not your heart leap for joy, that 
 we live to see the light of the present day ? May the sun 
 of righteousness, who is becoming extensively visible, 
 soon visit the whole earth, with divine light, and all 
 the blessing of its healing influence ! May God visit 
 the vine in this land, which his own right hand has 
 planted, and prune and nurture it, and cause it to 
 bring forth much fruit. 
 
 In this place the people are active and eager in 
 worldly affairs ; but for this reason inattentive and in 
 sensible to religious interests. Pray for us. 
 
 God grant to you, and those dear to you, the light of 
 his countenance and all needed good ; and if we should 
 never again see each other in this world, may we go 
 from a life of prayer to an eternity of praise. 
 Believe me 
 
 Your affectionate sister in Christ, 
 
 R.R
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 139 
 
 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 TO MRS. J. P. 
 
 May 22, 1817. 
 
 My dear Sister, 
 
 This is the first time I have taken my pen in hand 
 since I was brought to the brink of the grave by a dan 
 gerous fall. Intending to go to my chamber, after 
 ascending seven or eight stairs, the railing by which I 
 held gave way, and I fell backward to the floor. Con 
 sidering the nature of the fall, and the injury done to 
 my back and neck, it is an astonishment to all as well 
 as to myself, that I was taken up alive. My reason 
 was continued through the scene- 1 have since ex 
 perienced much distress ; and now, after six weeks, I 
 am but just beginning to walk alone. May the name 
 of the Lord be praised for his goodness in this won 
 derful interposition, and all the expressions of his 
 grace. He wounded, and in a great measure has 
 healed. May my breath be spent in praising him, till 
 I shall be called to perform this work, without sin or 
 sorrow, in the world of glory. O, my dear sister, what 
 continued reason have we to live in preparation to 
 obey the summons of our Lord, the time of which is 
 unknown to us, and may be sudden. 
 
 We have long hoped for an opportunity to see you 
 while here ; but now it is doubtful, you are so distant, 
 and the vicissitudes of time are so many and great, 
 and such a mountain of difficulties lies in the way. I 
 desire to bless God for the hope we have of a glorious
 
 140 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 immortality ; of meeting where our Saviour and our 
 dear friends are gone. 
 
 We have reason in our widowed state to notice the 
 goodness arid faithfulness of our covenant keeping 
 God. May we ever trust with confidence in his pro 
 mises, for ourselves, our children, the dear church, and 
 all that is comprised in his kingdom, persuaded that, 
 as he possesses, so he will display infinite perfection. 
 
 That God may ever bless you and your dear chil 
 dren, is the prayer of 
 
 Your affectionate sister, 
 
 R. P. 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 TO ONE OP HER GRANDSONS. 
 
 My dear W. 
 
 I hear of you frequently, and always that you are 
 doing well, and increasing in respectability. But I 
 am apprehensive you have mistaken your calling ; 
 though yet it is not too late for me to hope you may 
 change. 
 
 A number have relinquished the profession of the 
 law for the ministry, and have become eminent, the 
 Lord sanctifying their attainments in that profession, 
 and all their accomplishments, to this blessed work. 
 
 Ministers and missionaries are much wanted ; of 
 lawyers there is a great redundance. By engaging 
 in the ministry, you would never be out of employ 
 ment, and your employment would be of the highest
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 141 
 
 kind; and whatever your privations and sufferings 
 might be, your recompense would be proportionally 
 great. 
 
 Still, my dear Son, you may serve God in the pro 
 fession in which you are ; and it is my prayer, that 
 you may have grace to be faithful ; that you may pros 
 per, and be a blessing in establishing what is right, 
 and vindicating the oppressed. 
 
 Give my love to your dear family, who are included 
 with yourself, in the remembrance and prayer of 
 Your affectionate Grandmother, 
 
 R.P. 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 TO N. P. H. 
 
 My dear nephew, 
 
 I wish much to know your sentiments and manner 
 of life, of which, from your absence and distance from 
 me, I am ignorant. 
 
 I feel the more solicitous that your soul may be in 
 health and prosper, as I stand responsible for baptis 
 mal obligations. You were committed to my care at 
 a tender age, by the request of your dying mother ; 
 and from this and other considerations, were much 
 endeared to us. 1 endeavored to dedicate you sincerely 
 to the God of your life, and the Redeemer who died to 
 to save you, and to the Spirit of grace, to sanctify and 
 preserve you, and prepare you for glory. And now, 
 my child, remember that these vows of God are upon 
 
 12*
 
 142 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 yoir. They cannot be retracted ; and I trust you do 
 not wish they should be. Go on, then, in the strength 
 of the Lord ; and may he strengthen and abundantly 
 bless you. 
 
 If I seem too importunate, my son, you will excuse 
 it, not only from my sense of duty, but from the dan 
 gers with which you are surrounded, and my advanced 
 age. 
 
 Corrupt principles are very prevalent ; one of the 
 most plausible of which is, that only morality is neces 
 sary to salvation. This cannot go beyond the grave. 
 At the bar of God, repentance of sin and faith in 
 Christ are indispensable to acceptance. Yet these are 
 productive of the strictest and purest morality ; for we 
 cannot repent of sin, if we indulge one sin ; and with 
 out repentance, it is in vain to trust in Christ for par 
 don. I wish you to be moral ; but with views more 
 enlarged and exalted, I pray that you may be a Chris 
 tian. 
 
 From my advanced years, I must do what I have 
 to do quickly. Soon I shall go, whence I shall not 
 return ; and I would neglect no effort in my power to 
 promote the best interests of my dear relatives and 
 others. 
 
 Be assured that I have ever remembered you with 
 my own children, in my addresses at the throne of 
 grace, that you may have the friendship of God, and 
 be faithful on earth, and blessed in heaven. 
 I am 
 
 Your affectionate Grandmother, 
 
 R. P.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 143 
 
 LETTER XI. 
 
 TO G. W. 
 
 My dear nephew, 
 
 What a blessing that the world is under the govern 
 ment of God, and that we know his wisdom and per 
 fection ; while it is our indispensable duty to submit to 
 him, we may do it with cheerfulness, since he is, in all 
 circumstances, an object of hope. 
 
 I have been informed by Mrs. B. that the hand of 
 the Lord is laid heavily upon you in taking from you the 
 desire of your eyes ; and one dear, not only in your 
 own sight, but in the sight of others. All natural ex 
 cellence is not too lovely to die. It is frail as the 
 grass, or the flower of the field. But we rejoice in that 
 moral excellence which the dear departed possessed, 
 and that we may hope she has joined the spirits of the 
 just made perfect, and bears her part in that song 
 of praise to God and the Lamb for which eternity is 
 not too long. 
 
 If we resign ourselves, we shall resign all who are 
 dear to us, all that we have into the hands of God. If 
 we murmur at bereavements or losses, it is an evi 
 dence we have not devoted ourselves to God. May 
 we comply with this duty, and have that peace which 
 passeth all understanding. 
 
 My family sympathize with you, and send their love. 
 Do write soon to 
 
 Your affectionate Aunt, 
 R.P.
 
 144 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 TO W. P. 
 
 Sept. 25, 1831. 
 My very dear Son, 
 
 I was contemplating earnestly to request you 
 to come and see what happiness we were enjoy 
 ing in temporal and spiritual blessings. But the 
 great and wise Dispenser of all events has seen fit to 
 bring a new affliction upon us, by calling your sister R. 
 into a try ing scene, from a fall which endangers her 
 limb, and even her life. 
 
 God has doubtless some important purpose to an 
 swer by this peculiar dispensation, that our Christian 
 graces, if any we have, may be made manifest, and I 
 humbly trust the result will prove, that this desirable 
 effect is not wholly unaccomplished. 
 
 Oct. 4. 
 
 I began this letter when your sister's state was 
 alarming, and concluded not to finish it till some more 
 decided opinion could be formed. I think she has 
 been enabled to exercise faith and patience, wonder 
 fully. The physician says she is doing well, and as 
 cribes this almost miraculous recovery, under Provi 
 dence, to temperance ; he says she is just 25. 
 
 We are favored with a very interesting and hopeful 
 ly pious young physician from New York, Dr. K. He 
 is very patient and gentle ; and sometimes, when, 
 with him, we view the injured ancle, he points out the 
 operation of nature in the tendency of the severed parts 
 to unite, and perform their accustomed functions.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 145 
 
 Truly we "are fearfully and wonderfully made; and 
 that, our souls know right well. What shall we ren 
 der to the Lord for all his benefits. We will take the 
 cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. 
 We will will pay the vows which our souls made when 
 we were in trouble.'' 
 
 We always rejoice to hear any thing to the comfort 
 and advantage of yourself, your family, or people ; are 
 glad an addition is to be made to your church. " May 
 it be increased, with all the increase of God-" O that 
 those who have remained blind and insensible under 
 the means of grace, might awake and be converted. 
 Then my aged eyes, which are filled with tears of 
 sorrow for their perilous state, would weep for joy, at 
 their having " passed from death to life," that they 
 are " no more conformed to the world, but transform 
 ed by the renewing of their mind, proving what is 
 that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." 
 
 God grant you may be faithful and abundantly suc 
 cessful; may he lift the light of his countenance upon 
 you, and give you peace. So prays 
 
 Your aged, but not forgetful mother, 
 
 R. R 
 
 LETTER XIII. 
 
 TO G. W. 
 
 My dear Nephew, 
 
 May your trials yield unto you the peaceable fruits 
 of righteousness. May you be brought more and more
 
 146 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 to live on God as your portion, and to him as the object 
 of your existence. 
 
 The sources of happiness in God are boundless. If 
 our hearts are right with him ; if we read his word 
 with understanding, if we pray in faith, we shall find 
 him always near, a present help, and shall partake of 
 the fulness of joy. 
 
 But O, our unbelieving hearts ! what torrents of sin 
 flow from them, ready to overwhelm us and sweep us 
 away ! Truly we are without hope, unless from the 
 grace of Christ, his sanctify ing spirit, his atoning blood, 
 his all perfect righteousness. Blessed be his name, 
 that we may look to him, assured that he is willing, 
 and able, to do all that in us, and for us, that we 
 need. 
 
 I have had many distressing scenes in my walk, thus 
 far, through this wilderness ; more than I can enume 
 rate. But 1 must confess, that I have had a faithful, 
 covenant keeping God at my right hand, to whom I 
 know by experience, that if we commit all our con 
 cerns, in a child-like temper, we need not fear. 
 
 The time of our trial is short, but a few years. May 
 we be patient unto the end. May we " do what our 
 hands find to do, with our might ; for in the grave, to 
 which we hasten, there is no wisdom, nor device, nor 
 work, nor knowledge." 
 
 May we be faithful, and finally found of our God in 
 peace, prays 
 
 Your affectionate Aunt, 
 
 R. P.
 
 MRS. RUTH PATTEN. 147 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 
 TO HEV. W. A. 
 
 March 28, 1830. 
 Worthy and dear sir, 
 
 We received your very refreshing letter, for which 
 we return you our grateful acknowledgments. We 
 never needed consolation more. Though the good 
 ness of God, through all our trials, has been very great. 
 1 trust we have found, in some good measure, by ex 
 perience, the fulfilment of those great and precious 
 promises, which you so kindly recommend to our 
 consideration ; and we humbly pray that you, dear 
 sir, may be comforted of God with the same comfort 
 wherewith you have been enabled to comfort those 
 who were in trouble. 
 
 It is, .indeed, peculiarly consoling, that our heavenly 
 father does not " infuse a single needless ingredient of 
 bitterness in the cup he giveth his children to drink." 
 
 Forever blessed be the Lord for the wonders of re 
 deeming love, and for the rich variety of blessings 
 which we enjoy, in consequence thereof. May all 
 that appertain to our dear families, be partakers of 
 that " fulness of joy, and those pleasures forevermore, 
 that flow at God's right hand. 
 
 We were much gratified to hear from the habita 
 tion of my dear and honored father, and from the silent 
 abode of my beloved and honored mother. Though 
 but four years old when she died, I recollect many 
 things respecting her, which have proved beneficial to 
 me through life. It is probable that your dear offspring
 
 148 MEMOIRS OF 
 
 may be able to say the same, many years hence, of 
 their dear departed mother. 
 
 Let us praise God, my dear sir, for the great bless 
 ing of hope. May we patiently and prayerfully wait 
 for the salvation of God ; not seeking great things here 
 below, for ourselves, or dear ones. Has not God said, 
 " Seek them not.'' Riches oftener prove a curse, than 
 a blessing, to their possessors. From my own obser 
 vation, through a long course of years, and the concur 
 rence of others, I have reason to believe the state 
 ment correct. 
 
 For several days, as strength would permit, I have 
 been penning these lines. It may be the last commu 
 nication you will receive from me. Should I be so 
 happy as to reach the heavenly shore, shall I not bear 
 the gladsome tidings, that you are daily growing in 
 grace, and training up your dear children in the nur 
 ture and admonition of the Lord, heirs of an " inherit 
 ance that is incorruptible, undefiled, %nd that fadeth 
 not away ?" and that the dear Seminary, under your 
 faithful guidance, is rapidly increasing in knowledge, 
 human and divine, and that from this fountain, are flow 
 ing " streams that make glad the city of our God ?" 
 
 And now, my dear sir, farewell. " The Lord bless 
 you, and keep you ; lift up the light of his countenance 
 upon you, and give you peace," prays 
 Your aged and decaying 
 
 friend, of 90 years, 
 
 R. P.
 
 
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