apparent indifference; but after retiring to her room, the Spirit of God applied them with force to her heart and conscience. She endeavored to banish the thought; yet still the words seemed to be sounding in her ears-"What a pity! if, after suffering so much affliction in this life, you should be miserable to all eternity!" She tried to divert her mind, and shake off those serious reflections; but her efforts were unavailing. The Spirit of God had fastened conviction on her mind; and the rays of Divine light which shone into her soul, gave her a clear discovery of her lost and undone condition, without a Savior. She saw and felt that she was a sinner, and that, as such, the wrath of God was hanging over her; and now she was brought to cry, in the bitterness of her soul, "God be merciful unto me a sinner!" Tears of penitence and sighs of distress evinced the anguish of her soul. Feeling now her need of spiritual instruction, and of religious society, she attended the public worship of God in the Methodist Episcopal Church, where she heard the doctrines of free grace-repentance, and salvation by faith, illustrated and enforced greatly to her encouragement and comfort. About three weeks after her conviction, being satisfied with the doctrines and discipline of the church, she united herself to it. A few days after this, while prostrate before God in her room, praying and crying to Him in the deepest anguish of mind, for deliverance from the guilt and burthen of sin, she was enabled by faith to venture her all upon Christ for salvation, and instantly experienced the pardoning mercy of God. Her distress and anguish were in a moment removed, and her soul truly filled with that joy which is "unspeakable and full of glory." In the fulness of her soul, she immediately proclaimed to her friends and acquaintances, what great things God had done for her-the change which she experienced-the happiness she felt. She rejoiced greatly in God her Savior, and "Jesus all the day long, From the time of her conversion, she entered with delight upon the practice of the duties of religion; and from thenceforth, to the day of her death, continued to adorn her profession by a "Godly walk and chaste conversation;" attending on all the ordinances of God's house; and recommending, by precept and example, that religion which was now "The joy and delight of her heart." Her faith was strong, and in continual exercise: whereby she was enabled to walk in the light of God's countenance, and to "ask and receive that her joy might be full." Ofttimes has she been so overwhelmed with a sense of the presence and love of God, as to sink nerveless to the floor. In the ardor and fervency of her soul, she experienced how inadequate language is to describe the fulness of joy, the "peace which passeth all understanding," which she felt. As "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh;" so it was her delight to converse about the things of God and of eternity. She regularly attended her class-meetings, whenever practicable. She greatly loved this excellent means of grace; and the rational account which she gave, from time to time, of her experience in the things of God, was rendered a blessing to her classmates. Thus it appeared that God in His wisdom was preparing our afflicted young sister, gradually for that "rest which remaineth for the people of God," and into which she was shortly to enter. In the early part of the year 1819, Mr. Hough, with his family, removed from Chilicothe to his seat in the country, about two miles distant; where, in the month of September following, he died leaving a large family of children, most of them young. This was a very painful dispensation of Divine Providence to the whole family, but peculiarly so to Elizabeth, who from her affliction, seemed more dependent on the protection and support of her father than any of the family. But her religion taught her submission to the will of Heaven. In the month of August, 1821, she was attacked with a bilious intermitting fever, which in a few days brought her down to the gates of death. The violence of the disease then somewhat abating, and some favorable symptoms taking place, hopes were entertained by her friends for her recovery. But the vital functions were too far impaired; her constitution, which had always been delicate, received a shock from which it could not recover. She lingered until the fifth of October, when life, as it were, gradually ebbed out, and she expired without any apparent pain, in the twenty fifth year of her age. In the beginning of her affliction, she passed through some painful exercises of mind, concerning her spiritual state. The adversary of souls thrust sore at her, and for some days her mental conflicts were severe. But He who "knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation," delivered her. About four weeks before her death, while struggling in the strength of faith and prayer, the "snare of the fowler" was in a moment broken; her captive soul was liberated, and filled with that "love which casteth out fear,"-with "all the fulness of God." She instantly raised her feeble hands and voice in shouts of praise to God. She seemed truly overwhelmed with a sense of the presence and love of God; and ceased not, when her strength would permit, to talk in rapturous strains of the wonders of redeeming love, and the glories of a future state of blessedness. Many of her friends and acquaintances in Chilicothe went out daily to see her, to all of whom she spoke with such earnestness and sweetness concerning their souls, and of the love of God, as failed not to touch their hearts. She continued in this happy frame of mind till the day of her death; although for the last few days, her strength was so far ex hausted that she talked but little. During her illness she was visited occasionally by the Rev. James Quinn, stationed preacher in the Chilicothe station. Of those interviews the following account will conclude this memoir. "I made two or three visits to our dear sister, Elizabeth Hough, during the time of her last affliction, and always found her mind calmly stayed on God, 'knowing in whom she had believed.' On my first visit, when I entered her room, with a heavenly smile on her countenance, she said,- Oh brother Quinn, how I longed to see you, to tell you how good the Lord is to my poor soul. I have suffered great pain, but have had glorious times. My mind has been stayed on God, and he has kept my soul in perfect peace.' I said, 'do you feel, my sister, that the sting of death is drawn?" She replied, 'O yes! and thanks be to God, I have the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Whilst we sung a hymn and joined in prayer, it seemed as if her happy soul was filled with divine raptures, and lost in the vision of God. Stephen like, she seemed to be looking up steadfastly into heaven. Never shall I forget the expressive, yet inexpressible lustre which shone in her countenance, while she expressed herself to this effect:-Oh! it is better to depart and be with Christ-I have a better and an enduring substance-I love my blessed Lord, and He loves me-He is mine and I am His-Oh glory! glory!-praise the Lord, O my soul.' "On my second and third visits, I found her still in the same tranquil, happy frame of mind. She observed, on my last visit, that she had not such soul ravishing views at all times; but that her soul rested in peace, resigned; and that her confidence in God her Redeemer, remained firm and unshaken!' I was not with her when she took her exit; but learn from her mother, that she contiuued in the same serene and happy frame, until, without a struggle or groan, she slept in Jesus." From the Methodist Magazine, Vol. V.—1822. . MRS. SALLY RUNDAL. MRS. SALLY RUNDAL was born Dec. 27th, 1798. Her parents were among the first who embraced the religion of Jesus, in that part of the country, under the great revival of religion which has been progressing under the Methodist ministry for upwards of fifty years in America. Notwithstanding the opposition they then encountered from almost all sorts of people, the obloquy thrown upon them by the thoughtless and designing, the parents of Mrs. Rundal, being convinced of the truth as it is in Jesus, broke through every opposing barrier, and steadfastly persevered bearing the cross of Jesus Christ. They endeavored to educate their children in the same principles by which they regulated their own conduct; and they have had the happiness of seeing most of them, who have arrived to a mature age, become the followers of Christ. She embraced religion in her youth, and evinced the sincerity of her profession by walking blamelessly in the ordinances of Christ. In her twenty-first year she commenced a Diary, noting in a very particular manner the secret exercises of her heart, and the dealings of God, in his Providence and grace, towards her. A few extracts follow : 66 May 2, 1819.-I have this day been privileged with hearing the word of God preached from these words- So run that ye may obtain.' But the stupidity of my heart, how great! Lord help me from this evening to arise, and so to run that I may obtain the blessed crown which is prepared for the righteous. If I ever felt a desire to be holy I do now. O Lord, grant me the answer of my prayer, and conform me in all things to thy will. "May 7.-I feel this evening that Jesus is mine and I am his. O that I may enjoy His smiles continually, and ever look to Him for strength to withstand the temptations of the adversary, and the besetments of this vain world." "May 23.-I have again had the privilege of meeting with the followers of Jesus, and glory be to His name, He condescended to be one in our midst; and I felt that it was none other than the house of God and the gate of Heaven." "July 8.-I have an unshaken confidence in God this morning, and his Spirit bearing witness with my spirit, that I am His. But I do not feel satisfied without the witness of perfect love. I want thy life, thy purity, ་ This appears to have been the continual language of her heart until her marriage, which took place Dec. 6, 1820, after which she kept no regular record of her experiences. She gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Jacob Rundal, and she became, in consequence, the step-mother of three children, which he had by a former wife. This sudden transition from a single state, in which she enjoyed all the comforts of life without any forethought of her own, to a married state, and to the duties of a mother, gave her an opportunity to display the virtues of her character to still greater advantage; and such were her qualifications for this new station, which involved such delicate and nice responsibilities, and such her conscientious diligence, that her Christian graces shone out with increased lustre, and fully confirmed the hopes of her friends, and satisfied the expectations of her husband. Neither did she enter into this state heedlessly, but "deliberately and in the fear of God." Previous to her marriage with Mr. Rundal, but while the match was pending, she observes in her Diary as follows: "I have had some trials of late respecting my situation in life. Twenty-two years of my short life, have been spent in peace with my dear parents; and I am now called to change it for one in which, if I do my duty, I can be more useful; but I feel that I need more of every grace to help me. O Lord! I come to thee for direction. Make my duty plain before me, and guide my steps aright. It has been my prayer for some time that I might be more useful, and I feel it of importance to walk circumspectly before the world, that I may not bring a reproach upon the cause of God; and if it is His will that I should take one who is worthy of my affections for my companion, I hope to resign myself entirely to His will in all things. Though she believed her marriage to be signally marked by divine Providence, she much regretted having to leave the neighborhood where she had enjoyed so many religious privileges, especially that of prayer-meetings, which she highly prized, because they had been the means of great good to her soul. But though in consequence of her removal from the scene of her youthful days, doubly endeared to her on account of her religious enjoyments, she continued in the faith of the Gospel and the fellowship of the saints. The domestic circle in which she moved was adorned by her propriety of demeanor, the sweetness of her temper and the urbanity of her manners; and her value was enhanced by the assiduity with which she attended to the conjugal and maternal duties. She marked, with scrupulous exactness, any spiritual declension, which she at any time suffered, and immediately "flew back to Christ the way :" and whenever her circumstances did not forbid it, she attended the worship of God with the same ardor of devotion by which she was before distinguished. Here, in the sanctuary of the Lord, she found great delight. |