DEATH OF THE PIOUS SERVANT, ARCHER.

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saults of our spiritual enemies, which are ever on the watch, seeking whom they may devour.

Let us ever be watchful and diligent in prayer, to the end that the profession we make of Christianity, and the many means we enjoy, may never rise up in judgment against us at the last day. May the Lord, our righteousness for justification, be also our strength for the present salvation of our souls from the dominion and slavery of sin.

I must hasten to a conclusion. When you write to me, always direct to my brother. You need not put your letters in double covers, as what you say to one concerns the other equally. All here join in blessing, love, and compliments.

Yours most affectionately,

J. H.

The next communication from Miss Hill to her brother Rowland, was to acquaint him with the death of Mr. Richard Hill's pious servant, Archer.' The regard of his employer for this worthy man, and the respectful gratitude he manifested in return, shew the happiness which religion brings upon all the relations of life, and the security it affords for the performance of the reciprocal duties of masters and servants, so often unsatisfactory, because based upon wrong principles. The letter of this excellent lady sets before us an instructive example.

1 There is a tablet to the memory of this Christian servant on the wall of Hodnet Church, alike honourable to a kind master and an upright and devoted attendant.

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LETTER OF MISS JANE HILL.

To Rowland Hill, Esq., St. John's College, Cambridge.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

Hawkstone, Thursday night,

Feb. 6, 1766.

My last letter was to inform you of the death of poor Sir Brian, at which I dare say you were much concerned. This, too, will contain an account of a scene of mortality; but, blessed be God, such a one as should make the heart of every Christian exult with gratitude, wonder, love, and praise; yet one that gives us the greatest concern, and which I doubt not will affect you. After this preparation, I will proceed to tell you that poor Archer is gone to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. I think I informed you in my last that he was ill. Never was a more instructive death bed. Never was faith more strong than in the blessed deceased. During the whole of his illness, he enjoyed an uninterrupted sense of the love of God in his soul, and communion with him. On his first seizure, which is near three weeks since, when I was reading part of a letter to him, in which was the name of Jesus, he fell as it were in an ecstacy, but recovering himself a little, said words to this effect, 'O, Madam, that name, that name you mentioned, I find it as ointment poured forth. Sweet Jesus, he indeed is my shepherd.' He continued growing weaker and weaker daily, but as his bodily strength decayed, his faith seemed to strengthen. On Monday last he took a solemn farewell of my brother, his wife, and other mourning friends. The agonies of death seemed upon him; however, it pleased God to allow him a little longer time on earth, and he was so much better yesterday as to give great hopes of his recovery; but he

LETTER OF MISS JANE HILL.

77

said to his wife, 'Do not flatter yourself, I must die; I have had another call from God;' and accordingly this day, soon after twelve o'clock, he sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. O, how strong was his faith to the very last gasp! What encouragement, my dear brother, is this for us to press forward towards the promised land, to which he is gone but a short time before us. I have been tempted to wish

6

myself in his blessed case. Grant, Lord, that my latter end may be like his. For about an hour before he resigned his soul to God, he was wholly engaged in ejaculations and prayer, and was frequently heard to repeat, 'Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Sweet Jesus, come quickly.' A day or two since, he said to his maid, Do you believe in Jesus?' 'I trust I do, Sir,' answered she. O, but you must believe with the heart,' said he; 'confessing him with the mouth is not enough. Did you ever see any person die?' On being answered in the affirmative, 'A believer,' said he, never dies; he does but sleep in Jesus. I shall not die; God has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure.' At another time he said to those about him, 'You must all come to this. You must all leave this world. O, that my death may occasion the life of many.' When he seemed to be drawing his last breath, he said, 'O, how easy it is to die; this cannot be called dying, death has no sting, it is swallowed up in victory. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Why do thy chariot wheels tarry so long?' On being something easier, he said, 'God's will be done; if it is his will, I would rather depart now.' The day after this he said, Satan has tempted me to desire I may recover, but I know I shall not; through the power of Jesus I am come off more than conqueror.' When he was better, he desired his wife would not flatter herself, saying, 'I shall live but a

78

MEMORANDUM OF MR. RICHARD HILL.

short time, and I trust you will follow me soon.

Mourn not for me, mourn for yourself. I shall soon be with Jesus;' and this morning, not long before he did go to Jesus, he said, 'I have seen things which I never saw before,' but had not strength to explain himself. He expired without a pang, and is most heartily lamented by the greatest part of this family. He will be an unspeakable loss to the parish; but God, who has taken him, is righteous and just in all his dealings. Thy will, O, blessed Lord, be done. Our dear brother bears the blow with most Christian resignation, kissing the rod that smites. The blessed deceased shewed an uncommon affection for his master, calling often for him, and expressing the utmost gratitude for every kindness shewn him. His distressed wife, Miss Clay has taken to her house. The Lord supports her greatly in her affliction.

*

My brother is surprised you have not answered his letter. Pray do as soon as you receive this. At present I have time for no more. May the Lord be your sun and shield, and remember that your race as well as mine will soon be run.

Your most affectionate sister,

J. H.

Among the memoranda of Sir Richard Hill I find the following in reference to this event:- Feb. 6th, 1766. This day, being Thursday, about a quarter past twelve at noon, my dear, humble, faithful servant Giles Archer sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. His disorder was a fever, which lasted exactly three weeks. The Lord enable me to follow him as he followed Christ.' In another memorandum relative to the same occurrence,

he says,
says, 'He was

HIS EXAMPLE AS A MASTER.

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about thirty-five years of age, six or seven of which he had known the grace of God in truth. He had just begun his sixth year's service with me, and I believe nothing but death could ever have parted us. I may truly say that in him I lost a judicious, valuable friend, as well as a most excellent servant. The Lord can supply his loss if he sees good.' May many learn from this example how blessed a thing it is to be endued with the grace of true piety, not only as regards our future prospects, but with reference even to the alliances of time, and the uses of this world. The letter announcing this event, reflects no small degree of credit on its pious author and her devoted brothers. It is the last of this series in my possession. It will be read with admiration by every friend of the principles it contains, and will be acceptable to all who remember with profit or respect, the long and laborious ministry of him to whom it was addressed, in times when the zeal of his youth involved him in much affliction and persecution for his Master's sake.