same language, and may be arranged as synonyms
of the same word. Yes! piety, goodness, the favour
and approbation of God, are all marked out by sorrow
and infirmity here. Why else did the blessed
Jesus tabernacle here below—a man
of sorrows? and why else was he acquainted with
grief? It might make a Christian almost drink
his cup of sickness and pain with
greediness
when he remembers that he is tasting the same
cup as that of which his Lord drank, and he might
hail with rapture the outstretched arm of death and
suffering as about to place on his head the diadem
of eternal glory. I am not to flatter you—you
need it not, you ask it not; but, my friend,
you must feel and know that you have been walking
with God, walking
humbly, doing good, neither
trusting to false presumptions nor to your own
merits. Christ has been
your master,
to Him you have looked, and, blessed be God!
He will never, never forsake those who trust to Him,—those
who are good to others for his sake,—those
who seek redemption through Him. Where,
O ye years that are past, have you gone?
You have carried to the throne of grace many an
act of contrition, many a devout prayer, many a good
deed, many an offering of faith, from the friend
to whom I now write. Bring back, ye moments
that are to come and which shall be granted to
her in this world, rich consolations, promises
of pardon, assurances of favour, all spiritual blessings!
Dear Miss Byard, may all these be yours in full abundance.
May God the Father bless you, through the Eternal
Spirit, for Christ’s sake! This is
the sincere and earnest prayer of your affectionate
and faithful friend, E.B.R.
In this I am joined
by Isabella.
Marked—“It
arrived just after her death.”
In his journal Mr. Ramsay speaks of Bishop Sandford
with a very grateful recollection. To him he
owed his preferment, and a “more agreeable charge
could not well be had.” He characterises
him as a man of elegant mind and accurate scholarship,
of deep piety and sincere faith. I think it is
with some regret that he adds, the “state of
the Church is much changed since his episcopate.”
His dear brother Marmaduke died in the summer of 1831,
and the Dean, who is no exaggerator of his feelings,
remarks—“This is one of the sorrows
for which language is inadequate. Such a mind,
such taste, abilities, and accomplishments!”
Edward Ramsay felt that nothing could make up for
the loss of his brother, but he had comfort in thinking
how much his brother’s mind had been wakened
to religious inquiries. His simple notes in his
journal are sometimes worth preserving. “July
6, 1833, was the finest day I ever remember.”
He passed it in the Highlands with Professor Forbes,
Skenes, and other delightful friends. On the 28th
he left for the Duke of Sutherland’s funeral;
afterwards he repaired to Leamington and Dr. Jephson,
whose skill he soon found reason to admire. On
leaving Leamington he thanks God that he has gained