174 LETTER TO A. B. ESQ. side. Mr. Stanford requested the nurse to shut the door, that he might engage in prayer; but to this the elder brother objected. Mr. S. mildly informed him, that as chaplain to the hospital, this was a service with which he could not conscientiously dispense. After prayer, the mother was absorbed in tears, and even the brothers appeared thankful. It is a subject of regret, that Mr. Stanford's diary for the four remaining months in the year, were loaned to a friend for his perusal, who soon after died, and the manuscript was never recovered; but from his text-book it appears, that he continued his regular services in the State-Prison, City-Hospital, Alms-House, Magdalen-House, and the United States Military-Hospital, &c. During this year, (1813) he was assisted to labour with unabated zeal, and at the close of his notes for the year, he says:-"Whatever good may have been done among the poor people of my charge, I ascribe all the glory and praise to my gracious God in Christ. Amen." Letter of condolence addressed to A***** B*****, Esq. who was greatly afflicted by a sudden and painful bereavement. "DEAR FRIEND, "Informed of your domestic trials, respect and gratitude impel me to address you. To resign so fine a child to the grave, after indulging the fondest hopes of his eventually being the solace of your advancing years, must be extremely afflicting, and calls for consolation more than mortal sympathy can give. "In the midst of our sorrows, it is very difficult to discern the intention of the Almighty; a dark cloud covers the mind, and irritability often distracts the frame; but afterwards, like the traveller who has passed the desert, and gained the mountain's top, we LETTER TO A. B. ESQ. 175 can better review the dreary path we have trodden, and make the necessary improvements. I trust it will ere long be thus with you. God has given you several precious children. The roses in your garden have already afforded you much delight. Had not the Lord a right to take this little flower and transplant it in heaven? Be still, and know that he is God. If he has removed one flower, remember he has spared others to delight your heart. He has an indisputable right to the whole, and could ere this have caused their leaves to drop, and removed them for ever from your view. Nay, more, he could have commanded death to dissolve the marriage band, and have taken the wife from the husband, and thus swelled the tide of your grief. Or the husband and the father might have been separated from the mother and her children, and they left to pass the remnant of their days in sorrow. "At this awful season of pestilence, into how many excellent families has not death entered! On every side we behold widows wringing their hands for the loss of their husbands, the staff of their support, and the solace of their days. Orphans mourning the loss of parents, in vain look for some kind hand to save. But look around upon your charming family, the majority of whom are yet reserved to promote your joy! "May the present stroke of death, which has deprived you of a delightful son, be the means of teaching you to enjoy your children, and all you possess, in the Lord.' Then, should Providence remove them from your embraces, you will cheerfully acquiesce in the Saviour's will, who gave, and has a right to take away. "With sincere desires for your personal and domestic felicity, "I remain, "Your affectionate friend, 176 SCHOOLS IN THE STATE-PRISON. Mr. Stanford commenced the first page of his diary for 1814, with the following pious remark:"Another year commenced. What work the Lord has appointed for me among the forlorn classes committed to my care, or what general services for the benefit of my fellow creatures, I know not. O Lord, put thy fear into my heart; give me grace to walk humbly before thee, and make my strength equal to my day; then all will be well, and thy name shall be glorified." It may not be improper, in this place, again to remind the reader, that the preceding, as well as the following account of the public and private labours of Mr. Stanford, as a minister of the gospel, are to be regarded not as a full statement in detail, but as an epitome of his diary, from which, if it were desirable, volumes might be filled with the recital of touching and interesting incidents. Lord's day. At eight A. M. he preached in the City-Hospital; and in the State-Prison at half past ten A. M. and then visited the sick. In the afternoon he preached to the church in Broome-street; and in the evening in the Alms-House, to a large number of paupers, who were serious and attentive. Blessed be the adorable Saviour, who has commanded the gospel to be preached to the poor. Monday. Mr. Stanford walked to the State-Prison for the purpose of examining two new schools, which, added to those already organized, made at that time seven schools in this prison, which were open only in the evening, and found to be of great advantage to the more ignorant prisoners. He Friday morning, 7th. Mr. Stanford was sent for to visit a dying woman in the Bridewell. found her, and three others, in a wretched condition, lying on the bare floor, with only a ragged blanket for each, to shield them from the piercing cold. The physician who accompanied him, ANOTHER VICTIM OF SEDUCTION SAVED. 177 id, that this poor creature could not long survive the orrible effects of her sinful course. The apartment as so very offensive, that they were obliged to open e window while they remained. When Mr. Stanrd complained to the keeper concerning the destitute ate of these women, he said, he had no more coverg in the house to give them. As a committee of e Aldermen were to meet in the evening, Mr. Stanrd stated the case to them, and the next morning ey ordered the females to be provided with suitable eds and bedding. Since this period, greater attenon has been paid to the miserable inmates of the ridewell. In the afternoon he went to the State-Prison. ere he found the hospital crowded with the sick nd the dying. Five men were affected with a ery malignant fever, and the hall and wards were foul and disagreeable, owing to the prevailing disse, that it was difficult to perform the usual-service. -especting this visit, he remarks:-" I know it is azardous to visit under such circumstances, but the ord is my keeper, and my life is of little value exept thus to be employed for the benefit of others." Tuesday, 25th. This day he visited most of the ards in the City-Hospital; in one of which he found young female under deep penitence for her profliate life; and there is great reason to hope that the lessed Jesus, at whose feet Mary Magdalene did not eep in vain, revealed his pardoning mercy to this mhappy victim of seduction. Conversion of RB, aged 19. "This young woman was,' says Mr. Stanford, confined several months by consumption. From y first visit she listened with attention, and confessed hat she had been a great sinner, and felt her heart very hard and obstinate, that she was almost ready despair. Gradually, however, it pleased the Lord 174 LETTER TO A. B. ESQ.,~ side. Mr. Stanford requested the nurse to shut the door, that he might engage in prayer; but to this the elder brother objected. Mr. S. mildly informed him, that as chaplain to the hospital, this was a service with which he could not conscientiously dispense. After prayer, the mother was absorbed in tears, and even the brothers appeared thankful. It is a subject of regret, that Mr. Stanford's diary for the four remaining months in the year, were loaned to a friend for his perusal, who soon after died, and the manuscript was never recovered; but from his text-book it appears, that he continued his regular services in the State-Prison, City-Hospital, Alms-House, Magdalen-House, and the United States Military-Hospital, &c. During this year, (1813) he was assisted to labour with unabated zeal, and at the close of his notes for the year, he says:" Whatever good may have been done among the poor people of my charge, I ascribe all the glory and praise to my gracious God in Christ. Amen." Letter of condolence addressed to A***** B*****, Esq. who was greatly afflicted by a sudden and painful bereavement, "DEAR FRIEND, "Informed of your domestic trials, respect and gratitude impel me to address you. To resign so fine a child to the grave, after indulging the fondest hopes of his eventually being the solace of your advancing years, must be extremely afflicting, and calls for consolation more than mortal sympathy can give. "In the midst of our sorrows, it is very difficult to discern the intention of the Almighty; a dark cloud covers the mind, and irritability often distracts the frame; but afterwards, like the traveller who has passed the desert, and gained the mountain's top, we |