“Well, what shall we say?  Father, glorify thy name, and let us lie in thy hand as clay in the potter’s, till thou finish thy workmanship, and fit us vessels of mercy, to be filled with happiness, when thou shalt have done thy good pleasure in us, and by us, in this world, through the grace that is in Christ Jesus, who loved us, and gave himself for us; to whom be glory, honor, and praise in the church below, and in the general assembly above, now and ever.  Amen.

“My love, my heart’s love, to my dear Mrs. D——.  I am ever your affectionate friend, in the bonds of the gospel,

“ISABELLA GRAHAM.”

Early in 1793 Mrs. Graham heard, from a worthy clergyman at Greenock, who, at her request, paid attention to her son, that he had been very ill of a fever, and subsequently subject to epileptic fits.  In one of these he had fallen from the mast-head, and was rendered unfit for service for many months.  The gentleman to whom he was apprenticed, permitted him to leave.  In these circumstances Mrs. Graham addressed to him the following letter: 

“MY LONG-LOST BUT STILL DEAR SON—­If this ever reach you, hearken to the voice of your mother, your only parent, and to the voice of God by her.  O, my son, you have had a long race in the service of Satan; he has kept you in bondage and made you his drudge.  You are far advanced in the broad way that leads to destruction—­to that place of endless torment prepared for the devil and his angels, to which Satan is dragging you.  He has even been seeking the destruction of your body, that he might have you secure.

“O, my son, think.  Has he proved a good master?  What have you found in his service? and has he not disappointed all your gayest hopes, and fed you with husks?  Have you, my son, been happy?  Are you not obliged to drive away your own reflections?  I know you are.  Dare you, my son, sit down and think over all the past, all the present, and look forward to the future with any degree of comfort?  My son, you cannot.  Hear then the word of the Lord; that Lord, that merciful Lord, who has seen you in all your rebellion, heard every profane oath you may have uttered, seen you rioting among the sons of Belial; yet what is his voice to you?  O, my son, it is not, ’Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone; where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.’  No, my son, the door of mercy is still open to you; the Lord calls, ’O sinner, thou hast destroyed thyself, but in me is thy help.’  Only repent, so iniquity shall not prove your ruin.’  ’Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness:  I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry.’  ’Hear, and your soul shall live.’  ’Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved’—­saved from hell; saved from Satan and his snare; saved from the force of corruption in your heart.