CHAPTER XII.

CLOSING LABORS FOR THE POOR—­
SICKNESS AND DEATH.

During the last two years of her life, Mrs. Graham found her strength inadequate to so extensive a course of visiting the poor as formerly; there were some distressed families, however, that experienced her kind attentions to the last.  She would occasionally accompany the Rev. Mr. Stanford on his visits to the state-prison, hospital, and to the Magdalen house.  This gentleman was the stated preacher employed by “the Society for the Support of the Gospel among the Poor,” and devoted his time to preaching in the almshouse, hospital, state-prison, debtors’-prison, etc., with great assiduity and acceptance.

Mrs. Graham now spent much of her time in her room, devoted to meditation, prayer, and reading the Scriptures; she seemed to be weaning from earth and preparing for heaven.  Prayer was that sweet breath of her soul which brought stability to her life.  Genuine humility was obvious in all her sentiments and deportment.  Religious friends prized her conversation, counsel, and friendship; sometimes they would venture on a compliment to her superior attainments, but always experienced a decided rebuke.  To her friend Colonel L——­, who expressed a wish to be such a character as she was, she quickly replied with an air of mingled pleasantry and censure, “Get thee behind me, Satan.”  To a female friend who said, “If I were only sure at last of being admitted to a place at your feet I should feel happy.”  “Hush, hush,” replied Mrs. Graham, “There is ONE SAVIOUR.”  Thus she was always careful to give her divine Redeemer the whole glory of her salvation.

This example of humility, self-denial, and sensibility to the imperfection of her conduct, is the more to be valued, as it is so difficult to be followed.  Flattery is too commonly practised; and there is no sufficient guard against its dangerous consequences, except a constant and humbling recognition of the spirituality of the law of God, and our lamentable deficiency in fulfilling it.  Pride was not made for man:  “I have seen an end of all perfection,” said the Psalmist, “but thy commandment is exceeding broad.”  It was by cherishing this sentiment, by studying her Bible, by searching her heart and its motives, and above all, by grace accorded of heaven in answer to her prayers, that Mrs. Graham was enabled to maintain such meekness of spirit, such an uniformity of Christian character throughout her life.  May all who read her history be directed to the same sources of true peace and genuine happiness.