Catherine Marsh

“ A severe attack of illness under which his mother was suffering weighed heavily on his heart, though it did not shackle the freeness and almost daily communication of his Christian sympathies.
TO HIS MOTHER.
"Earnestly have I prayed, dearest, best of mothers, that as is thy day so may thy strength be. What a blessed comfort it is that we have an open Bible within reach when struck clown by sickness or affliction; for at such dark seasons, if it were not for that precious book, we might doubt that 'God is love.' But surely there is balm for every woe there. ”

“ Before his next visit to us, we met him several times in London. There we found him teaching in Lord Shaftesbury's Ragged Schools, visiting repentant thieves, and diving into the depths of metropolitan wretchedness with city missionaries. Love to the crucified Saviour, who had loved him and given Himself for him, constrained this young soldier of Christ to consecrate every power as a living sacrifice to God. ”

“ Lot us earnestly pray for each other that wo may have that vitality and love which a seen and accepted Christ alone can kindle within our hearts. We must watch and pray, lest the things of this world draw off our hearts from the one thing needful, and make us forget that here we have no continuing city. But though we are weak, Christ is strong, and his strength is made perfect in our weakness. Let us look to our incarnate God, who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross and despised the shame. ”

“ On the Sabbath he taught twice in the school, and between the afternoon and evening services visited a stranger afflicted with paralysis, then lodging in the village; a man of considerable intellectual cultivation, inquiring after truth, but fettered by a long habit of scepticism. For him the singleness, honesty, and fervour of Hedley Vicars' character had a peculiar charm. The few strong, earnest words which he said in explanation of a passage of Scripture, and the simplicity and reality of his prayer, produced an impression which was never effaced, and was deepened by every succeeding visit. ”

“ I grieve to say that one, of whom I had great hopes, has deserted his colours, and gone back — poor fellow, I deeply pity him! I trust it may prove a warning lesson to me, to watch and pray more constantly and fervently, and 'take heed,' lest I also fall. ”

“ But will never give up any man — Jesus did not give me up — and I hope and look to his being brought back to the fold.
"What you said in your letter about spiritual pride, I feel to be very applicable to myself at times; but when I am so inclined to forget who and what I am, I endeavour to imagine the sinner standing alone, without a Saviour, and without the Holy Ghost; and the miserable, wretched thought quickly makes me to know and to feel my utter vileness and weakness!
"Give my Christian love to all ”

“ In the month of October of the same year, my father, my sister, and I were renewing a friendship of former days by a visit to Terling-place. A letter was received on the morning of the 11th by Lady Rayleigh, promising a visit from her brother, which caused such a tumult of joyous excitement at the breakfast-table, and so much shouting and clapping of hands among the children, as soon as the news was made known to them, that, in my ignorance, I supposed the young soldier had only just arrived from Nova Scotia. ”

“ On Saturday he came to call upon me, and stayed for some time. He is a delightful fellow. I sent for Cay, and we had a, happy time of communion together. It is a great blessing having such a brother officer as Cay. He is one of a thousand. We often walk together, and he generally comes up to my barrack-room after mess, and we read the Bible, converse about heavenly things, and end in prayer. ”

“ She is a delightful Christian. How invigorating it is to meet with such. She took us to see the old church. Some of the epitaphs in the churchyard were very absurd. An old lady signifies to the world that she 'died fully persuaded of the many virtues of her dear husband; and others were of similar import. The park and the views from it are beautiful. We drove back well pleased with our visit. ”