terian, and Methodist. In the promising congregations in Rome and Naples she found ample evidence that the agents of the Wesleyan Missionary Society have been divinely directed, and that their labours give promise of glorious results. The last sentences in the note-book are in remarkable harmony with the first entries in the private journal, written many years before, revealing an anxious care to maintain a pure "conscience in all things: "Visited St. Peter's, but not on the Sabbath. Went to the Presbyterian church." Then, after referring to a conversation held in the morning as to the proper occupation of their Sabbath hours in Rome, she wrote, "I suggested, or rather asked, if conviction of duty is not" (followed by)" condemnation, when not acted up to." When these words were written her pen had done its work, and the hand that guided it was soon to be still. On Wednesday morning, May 7th, the party arrived in Paris on their way home. Mrs. Kirsop appeared in her usual health on Thursday, but on Friday morning, before leaving for London, complained of feeling unwell. During the journey she grew much worse, and between Dover and London the symptoms became alarming. On reaching the house of her brother-in-law, the Rev. L. Tyerman, a physician was called in. From that time until the Sunday morning following her sufferings were intense. About three hours before her death she became conscious that her end was near. When spoken to about the safety of her soul, she said, "Jesus is with me; yes, O yes! I have not a doubt, no, not one." And having given this final testimony, she passed away from earth to be with God. As the writer of this biography sustained an intimate family relationship to Mrs. Kirsop, any expression of admiration might be thought unseemly. Mr. Dawson, who knew her well, says, "I have been personally acquainted with the late Mrs. Kirsop for more than twenty-seven years, and cannot point out one person, in all the circle of my acquaintance, who, according to my judgment, has been more devoted to God. She had a strong desire for the prosperity of religion. Her time, talents, influence, and property, were used in promoting it. She seemed determined to devote body and soul to the honour of Christ." Her friend, Mrs. Jobson, wrote: "I have had intimate and confidential knowledge of Mrs. Kirsop through many years. I became acquainted with her in 1838, and then, as ever afterwards, she impressed me with her intense devotion to God. I never saw in her any turning aside for the world, whatever might be its temptations, or her advance in position or possessions relating to it. Steadfastness of purpose to serve and glorify the most High, was ever apparent. Her godliness was serious and practical, evincing itself at all times and in all circumstances; and I never saw an instance of her trifling or wavering in the least degree. It appeared to me, as she advanced in life, she became increasingly impressed with its responsibilities, and steadily set herself to do good. This was apparent as she was seen among her friends and visitors, and in her increased efforts on behalf of the poor and afflicted; as also in her diligent endeavour after usefulness as a class-leader. That office was most efficiently held by her, and her efficiency was found in the prayerful and diligent care with which she prepared herself for service in it, and in her ceaseless watchfulness over those whom the Church had committed to her care. She recognised the importance of reading, meditation, and prayer, in preparation for her work; and she did not confine her exertions to the classmeeting hour, but followed wanderers, and sought to recover them. There was a period in her Christian life when the beauty of holiness' opened itself more fully to her mind through the Scriptures and the writings of eminent and saintly persons. Led by the Spirit into the truth, she was enabled to surrender her soul to Christ for entire purification. From that time it seemed that all her thoughts were for the promotion of the Saviour's kingdom among mankind; and I believe no sacrifice or service was felt by her to be irksome. It is now grateful and pleasant to call to remembrance the many signal instances of success with which her ardent and persevering efforts were crowned. Persons in different ranks and classes of society, by the blessing of God on her endeavours, were benefited and saved; and many such will be the crown of her rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jesus." As every face has its own peculiar features, so every religious character has its own recognised traits. To this rule the life and character of Mrs. Kirsop formed no exception. She had a firm faith in the doctrines of the Divine Word as understood by the evangelical Churches, and a salutary dread of lax and rationalistic views. Her faith was intelligent faith, and was maintained by diligent reading. Severely scrupulous about the occupation of her time and thoughts, she, at one period, abstained from the daily reading of secular journals, under the impression that it was too great a tax upon her time, and the reverse of helpful to spiritual life. Whatever may be thought of her judgment in this matter, her motive was right. The standard Wesleyan authors were her favourites. But she read and recommended the works of eminent writers in all branches of the Protestant Church. The Bible always retained its supreme place in her regard, and was never neglected for any human book. Mrs. Kirsop had clear conceptions of the method of salvation by Christ, and especially of the way of finding acceptance and peace with God; and probably the most useful efforts of her life were made in directing anxious in quirers to the one and all-sufficient Saviour. She had strong convictions of duty, and, on all occasions and at all costs, conscientiously adhered to what she believed to be right. Settled belief in prayer as an agency for man's good was a prominent feature in Mrs. Kirsop's religion. In this age, when sceptics deride all belief in prayer, her confidence in it was unshaken and conspicuous. All who knew Mrs. Kirsop would observe in her a profound sympathy with Christ in His great enterprise of saving the human race. What has been called the "burden" of souls was often laid upon her heart. She has been known to spend days in fasting and humiliation before God. The cases of particular persons, in whom she felt special interest, were often made the subjects of long-continued prayer. Towards the end of her life Mrs. Kirsop felt a growing interest in benevolent and Christian efforts on behalf of the suffering and dependent classes. Of this we have proof in the bequests of £1,000 to each of the following Refuges for Poor Children :-Miss Gibson's, Ramsay, Isle of Man; Miss Mittendorf's, Mr. Holland's, Dr. Barnardo's, and the Children's Home connected with Methodism; with £500 for poor widows in Weardale, and other sums for religious and evangelistic purposes. The writer believes that after her husband's decease, had she been aware of the amount of property left at her disposal, much larger sums would have been devoted to the work of the Church. It is by no means to be supposed that the character now sketched was faultless. Jesus presents the only perfect example this world has known. What is right? This was her first and final question. Her conscience was often a safer guide than her judgment. She strove to act under the influence of pure and exalted motives. When she failed it was from a want of perception of what was right, rather than a want of determination to do it. Her own private records are marked by a painful sense of great unfaithfulness, which she confessed and deplored before God. With intense earnestness she endeavoured to live to Christ, and could say, in life and in death, "By the grace of God I am what I am." 109 THE OVERFLOWING FOUNTAIN: THOUGHTS ON 2 CORINTHIANS IX. 8. To the Christian, God is everything. It is remarkable how the Scriptures speak of the abundance of His gifts, and how frequently they remind us that all things necessary both for life and godliness are treasured up for us in the fountain of His grace. 66 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing;" (Psalm xxxiv. 10 ;) "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly;' (Psalm lxxxiv. 11;) "My God shall supply all your need;" (Phil. iv. 19;) Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." (1 Peter v. 7.) These are but sample passages, out of many which show how God can and will meet both the bodily and the spiritual wants of all who fully trust Him. 66 But there is one passage which is especially replete with consolation, and which we may call an overflowing fountain, from which we may always receive as much as we can well carry away. It is St. Paul's declaration in 2 Cor. ix. 8: "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work." The Apostle in the preceding context is exhorting to Christian liberality, and he speaks very emphatically: "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." God loveth a cheerful giver; but he is not a cheerful giver who is lavish in his own expenditure, and yet calculates to a farthing how much, or how little, he shall give to the cause of Christ. He is not a cheerful giver whose gifts are drawn out of him merely by argument and persuasion, and when he has given, is sorry that he was overcome. But he is a cheerful giver who gives to the utmost of his means, readily and from the heart, regretting only that he has not more to spare. Better far is it to give what seems too much, rather than what is too little. And why? God is able to make all grace abound to you,—to make up to you, that is, all that you give,-nay, to return it to you in "measure pressed down" and "running over." How remarkable are the emphatic words here, all grace, all sufficiency in all things, always, that ye may abound in every good work! "God is able to make all grace abound toward you." This expression cannot mean only temporal gifts, but refers undoubtedly to all the blessings He has in store for His people. His resources are illimitable, and "according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" He can "supply all their need." We need grace in a thousand forms. It is the very element of our spiritual being, so that we could no more live without it than we could exist if the air were exhausted. And God can give it in whatever form it is required;-pardoning grace, regenerating grace, sanctifying grace, persevering grace, and, at last, dying grace. Never are we in need of a temporal blessing that He cannot supply; never are we conscious of the lack of a spiritual gift, but He can meet the want. In respect to bodily needs our "bread shall be given us," and our "water shall be sure ;" and in respect to higher requirements we have in Christ, who is all in all, a superfluity of blessings which can never fail. Go to the spring-head itself, and there you will find an inexhaustible supply. We need grace for the different stages and circumstances of life. Childhood needs grace for its tender years; youth needs grace for its dangers and besetments; manhood needs grace for the great battle of life; and age needs grace for its numerous infirmities. And we need grace for special work, for special emergencies, for special trials. In this uncertain world we know not what shall be on the morrow, and some sudden difficulty may arise, some unexpected burden be laid upon us, some unlooked-for temptation assail us, or some severe calamity threaten us. Can God help us in these emergencies? Can He "furnish a table in the wilderness? " Yes: He can "make all grace abound" toward us. You are called to sustain some severe bereavement,-He can give you grace to bow to it submissively. You are about to enter on some untried work,-He can give you grace to perform it efficiently. You see before you some powerful temptation,-He can give you grace manfully to resist it. You are compelled to submit to some painful operation,-He can arm you with such fortitude that you shall pass through it with heroic joy. The history of the martyrs and confessors of the Church in all ages proves that there can never come a sorrow, a trial, a want, a conflict, to any of God's people, but He can make all grace abound towards them in it. "It is God: His love looks mighty, But is mightier than it seems! Goes far out beyond our dreams. "For the love of God is broader Than the measures of man's mind; And the Heart of the Eternal Is most wonderfully kind." And if all grace is given, what a result we shall have! "all suffi ciency, in all things, always!" |
