MEMOIR OF MRS. CATHERINE DEALE, Of Grafton-street, Dublin: BY THE REV. WILLIAM STEWART. THE subject of this brief memoir, whose maiden name was Dycer, was born at Wincanton, (England,) in the year 1788. Her parents, although not possessed of vital godliness, were, nevertheless, moral in their conduct, and regular in their attendance on the Church service on Sabbath-days: and as soon as their daughter was able to learn, they taught her to respect the commandments of God, and particularly to "remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy." Her father, who was an example of punctuality and diligence in his calling, faithfully exercised his parental authority over his children; inculcating on them those principles of moral rectitude and industry for which he was himself remarkable. But though she was placed in these favourable circumstances in early life, under the instruction and salutary restraints of her affectionate parents, by which she was prevented from needless association with the giddy and thoughtless; yet the tendency of her mind to the follies and vanities of the world clearly indicated, even to herself, that her heart was not right in the sight of God. She was, indeed, fully aware, that she had left undone those things which she ought to have done, and had done the things she ought not to have done; yet frequently, while attending the Church service, and hearing the Minister read, she felt conscious that the language employed, however truly it might describe her sinful condition, was yet inapplicable to her case, as her heart was an entire stranger to those feelings of penitence and godly sorrow which the words so pathetically expressed. About this time the Holy Spirit powerfully operated on her mind, and convinced her that, without a change of heart, she could never see the kingdom of God. Nevertheless, by following her own will, and indulging the native propensities of "the carnal mind," which are in all "enmity against God," she trifled with these sacred convictions; and, by grieving the good Spirit, suffered them to pass away, until in after-years, through a series of painful disappointments and afflictions, they were again revived. The occasion of this revival was found in the Methodist ministry, which she had begun to attend in Dublin. The word which she heard was made the instrument of renewing her former feelings, and with augmented energy, insomuch that she then felt, in reality, that the remembrance of her sins was indeed grievous, and the burden of them intolerable. In this state of mind she joined the Wesleyan society, an earnest seeker of salvation. Her convictions were now no evanescent feeling. In the diligent use of the various means of grace she sought the Lord, sorrowing, yet not without hope; until at length, in a prayermeeting, at Whitefriar-street chapel, she was enabled by faith to "behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world;" : and, by an act of confident and exclusive trust in his all-atoning merit, her weary, heavy-laden spirit found rest, and was "filled with all joy and peace in believing." Thus, through grace, she became "a new creature." The change which she had experienced was real and entire her feelings, her disposition, her personal appearance, and manner of life, were all changed: she was no longer conformed to this world, being transformed by the renewing of her mind; and her adorning, ever after, was "the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." She now resolved, in the strength of grace, to give herself fully unto God; and not only to live to him, (so as to secure, through Christ, her own personal salvation,) but also to live for him,-devoting whatever gifts or influence she might possess to the promotion of the spiritual and temporal good of others. The whole of her subsequent life was in strict accordance with these pious and benevolent purposes. Previously to her own conversion she had lived in the same house with a member of the Wesleyan society, who had never spoken to her on the subject of religion, and had neither invited nor recommended her to attend the means of grace. After her conversion she waited on this individual, and seriously admonished her of what she now regarded as a reprehensible neglect of Christian duty. The recollection of this circumstance was a stimulus to her own zeal and activity, inducing her to embrace every opportunity that presented itself to recommend religion, and to press home upon the heart and conscience of her friends and acquaintances, the necessity and importance of personal piety in order to their safety and happiness. And not unfrequently she travelled out of the ordinary way in seeking for opportunities of usefulness; thus manifesting her love to the Saviour, and her concern for the salvation of immortal souls. She felt especially for her dear father, her only surviving parent, and spoke to him frequently on the absolute necessity of spiritual religion. She invited him to accompany her to those means of grace which had been so singularly blessed to her own soul; and he accepted the invitation. He was afterwards led to join the Wesleyan society; and his daughter had the unspeakable gratification of witnessing the success of her efforts, and the answer to her prayers, in his conversion to God. He lived several years afterwards, maintaining a character consistent with his Christian profession; and ultimately departed this life in the peaceful and joyous hope of a blessed immortality. In the year 1818 she was united in marriage to Mr. James Deale, a respectable, much-loved, and useful Leader and Local Preacher in the Methodist society; and for more than twenty years they were cordial and affectionate helps meet for each other, both in spiritual and temporal things. This association enlarged her sphere of usefulness, by bringing her into more immediate and friendly intercourse with the members and Ministers of the Connexion to which she belonged. She esteemed them "very highly in love for their work's sake;" and in their society, and the prosperity of Zion, next to her communion with God, she found her chief pleasure and delight; cheerfully anticipating, in their Christian intercourse, the happy day when all the friends and faithful followers of the Lord Jesus shall unite in their heavenly and eternal home. Shortly after her marriage she joined a small band of pious females, who, by their mutual faith and prayer, greatly encouraged and helped each other in the ways of the Lord. Soon afterwards she was officially appointed to take charge of a class. This office she undertook with fear and trembling, under a consciousness of her insufficiency for such a responsible and important duty. Yet, trusting in the Lord, and praying for the needful guidance and supply of the Spirit, she was enabled to go forward, encouraging the timid, comforting the feebleminded, supporting the weak, visiting the sick, following after the wanderers, and endeavouring to build up believers on their most holy faith; and God blessed her labours. Such was her success, that the one class had soon to be divided, and thus became two. These she continued to meet until, in consequence of family circumstances, she was obliged to give up one of them; but to the other she faithfully attended, till the Sunday week before her death. In her family she was affectionate, careful, and diligent; always anxious to promote their happiness, in every sense of the word. She spared not herself, but constantly laboured to promote this object. A stranger to self-indulgence, she readily entered upon any exercise of kindness or duty that required a sacrifice of ease or pleasure. Her tenderness as a wife and mother can never be forgotten by those who experienced it. Her religious course was one of unbending integrity; her walk with God close and undeviating; her piety fervent and constant. Her frequency at the throne of grace was surprising, considering the number and variety of her engagements. No morning ever passed without, at least, half an hour being spent in communion with God, and in studying his holy book. Her Bible was her constant companion; and it was often read by her kneeling. In the winter mornings she rose before day, availing herself of the light of a candle; and as the days advanced in length, she would have her Bible near the window, endeavouring with the dawn of the morning to gather instruction from the sacred pages, through the teaching of the Holy Spirit. On the Sabbath she always desired and sought to be able to spend a full hour in these sacred exercises, before the early morning preaching; which, in the chapel she attended, began at seven o'clock in summer, and at eight in winter. At this service she was careful to be in time for the commencement, not being satisfied unless she could join with her fellow-worshippers in singing the first hymn. She delighted in works of piety and mercy; in fact, her whole life, from the beginning of her religious course, seemed like an exemplification of the great principle of Christian benevolence. She collected for the support of the Wesleyan Missions; and there seldom was an appeal to be made, in behalf of any of the charitable institutions connected with the Wesleyan society, but that she gave to them herself, and also endeavoured to collect for them from others, as far as she was able. Shortly after the formation of the Methodist Female Benevolent Society, she became a member of it; and her activity and diligence in visiting the poor, and collecting money and articles of clothing for their relief, have seldom been surpassed, and cannot soon be forgotten. on. In general she was favoured with good health; but latterly she suffered considerably, by reason of frequent attacks of weakness and pain. Her last illness was comparatively but of short duration, and to her family her demise appeared sudden; but the messenger of death did not surprise or alarm her. He found her with the wedding-garment About the commencement of her illness a friend remarked to her, “Afflictions are intended by our heavenly Father to promote our spiritual good: we are thereby withdrawn from the business of the world, and have more time for self-examination, and for meditation on the things which belong to our peace." She replied, "Yes; time is given to me now for those sacred exercises which it would not be lawful for me to neglect were I in health; and it is my anxious desire and prayer, that I may derive from this opportunity all the spiritual profit that my Lord designs for me by it." As her illness increased, and the symptoms assumed a more serious and dangerous character, she was asked, what were her desires respecting her restoration to health. She replied, "I left myself in the hands of my heavenly Father at the commencement, and I feel no disposition to choose for myself: I have no will but his, and he will do with me as seemeth to him good. I am weak, but he is strong, strong, strong,-able to save to the uttermost.' Jesus is precious to my soul. O how precious is the sound of Jesu's name! O that I could sufficiently praise him! But I shall never be able to praise him enough for all his love to me.” Her disorder increased so much, as to render conversation difficult, and at length impracticable. During the last few days of her life she took very little notice of anything that passed: the only subject that roused her was religion. When spoken to of the Saviour, her attention was gained immediately; but such was her weakness, that it was only for a few moments that this was the case. On one occasion she was heard to say, "And shall I behold the King in his beauty?" She then slumbered for a short time; but, soon awaking, she resumed, "Yes, I shall see the King in his beauty, and with him I shall stand on Mount Zion." A few hours before her departure, on hearing a friend repeat the Saviour's words, "In my Father's house are many mansions;" (John xiv. 2, 3;) she raised her hands, and with great These were her eagerness and emphasis said, "I know it, I know it." "Her God sustain'd her in the final hour; Her final hour brought glory to her God." SUBMISSION TO GOD IN SEASONS OF TRIAL. In his infinite wisdom, perhaps God has allotted us a weak and unhealthy frame of body. In this case, how often are we tempted to murmur and repine! We think, "How strange is this! If permitted, I could now, by divine grace, be made a blessing to my fellowcreatures. I might administer comfort to their bodies, and medicine to their souls. But for what am I now fit? I am a burden to the kindness of others, and a weariness to myself. How happy their lot who, on each returning day, go forth as the sun to run their course, spreading blessings around them, and by their good works glorifying their Father which is in heaven!" O upstart will! why these perverse reasonings? Is it not as useful to suffer the will of God, as to do it? May not God be as much glorified by patience, as by activity? And can we not in sickness work for God? Is prayer no work? selfexamination no work? Submit yourselves to God's gracious will, and even your sick hours shall be heavenly ones. Or God may be proving you by withdrawing a large portion of your worldly comforts. From changes in trade, or those that affect the value of property, or other causes, our situation may be very different from what it formerly was. Our means of doing good are abridged; and a thousand schemes which we had planned, some of them schemes of usefulness, from which others were to reap the advantage, are at once dissolved. We find it difficult to bow our wills. The change is more uneasy to us than we anticipated. If it affected ourselves only, it might be more easily borne; but it extends through so many ramifications, and has so important an effect on the members of our family, on our neighbours, on our kind offices to them, and influence among them! And do we thus contend with God? Does not the truth now appear? Is it not plainly seen how firmly the creature had hold of our hearts? how little were our shoulders accustomed to the cross? Though God may have removed from us the power of doing what we once did, and as we once did, are we excluded from prayer? May not God be more glorified by the mite from our poverty, than by the large gifts we gave out of our abundance? Your patience may benefit now more than your alms formerly. Submit to the will of God. These crosses are links in the chain of means by which he attaches you to Christ and heaven. The great day will explain all. Meanwhile pray, "Thy will, not mine, be done!"-Memoir, &c., of the Rev. H. Vaughan, B.A. (Ob. 1836.) |