Letters by Martha Muir; With an Introductory Memoir (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1833. Excerpt: ... MEMOIR. Martha Muir was the daughter of Alexander Muir and Martha Whyte, his wife. She was born on the 15th of April, 1797, in Wester Yonderton, a farm belonging to Lord Douglas in the parish of Renfrew; and at that time held in lease by her father. She discovered, even in childhood, a thoughtful disposition, accompanied with a considerable degree of shyness and want of relish for the ordinary amusements of children. Accordingly, on being put to school, she felt quite unhappy, and Ijad to be taken home. After this, she was taught by her mother. Her lesson book was now chiefly the bible. From it, she usually read a portion to her mother every day; the latter instructing her as she went along, not only in the sounds of words, but also in their meaning; and opening up to her, as she was able to understand them, the doctrines of the gospel. Her mother being a pious woman, and much concerned about the spiritual welfare of her family, it may be readily believed, that these instructions were accompanied with frequent and fervent prayer; and there is reason to believe that the seeds of divine grace, which shot up so vigorously afterwards, were sown, even so early as this, or at least that the soil was brought under cultivation. The writer of these statements recollects a circumstance, mentioned to him by the deceased, which in some measure confirms this. She remarked that she had been accustomed to see the usual observances of religion, in her father's house, from her earliest recollection; but that the thing which had made the deepest and most lasting impression on her mind, in early life, was a practice which her mother had, of retiring at a particular hour of the day to one of the farm offices, for prayer. She was accustomed, on these occasions, often to pray ...