Letters of Martha Smith; With a Short Memoir of Her Life (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.1844 Excerpt: ... In looking over this, it seems like complaining, or magnifying little trials into great ones, which I believe would not be approved by the good Master, who, I am persuaded, afflicts not willingly.: Last week our Quarterly-meeting was held. It was large. Eight women friends not belonging thereto appeared in testimony. Elizabeth Walker was one of the number. M.S.. LETTER XIII. Sokhury, 6th mo. 21, 1821. Dear Brother: After looking several times in vain for thy arrival, I at length received thy letter as a subr stitute. I am a great moralizer, or rather spiritualizer, on those occurrences; therefore I cannot, without losing my wonted guard, say, " What a pity " "A dreadr ful accident " or any of those expressions that seem to denote regret or alarm, unless in cases where the moral or religious dispositions of a person appear to be endangered; but so far from it, that when I hear of occurrences that the generality of people look upon as accidents or misfortunes, I often find my mind turned to the great First Cause, silently to consider whether He has not some wise and benevolent purpose, in permitting those casualties that almost daily appear in neighborhoods, or among acquaintances, sometimes visiting with sickness, losses and crosses of various kinds, in our sanguine pursuit of the things of time: all which, if they are not rebukes for unfaithfulness, ingratitude, or disobedience, may at least serve as mild and gentle hints, to remind us of the inconstancy and unsatisfactory tenure of every thing that can undergo 'a change. And happy, yea, blessed and thrice happy, when these things serve to open our eyes and direct our minds and affections to the excellency, the consolation and peace, that are to be found in the unchangeable truth; in a reliance on th...