Thus again had his afflicted mother to exercise faith and submission, not without hope towards God that the great Redeemer had taken care of, and would finally save this prodigal son.  She had known a case in her father’s family, which excited their solicitude and encouraged her hope.  Her younger brother, Archibald Marshall, a lad of high temper, though possessed of an affectionate heart, had gone to sea, and was not heard of at all for several years.  A pious woman, who kept a boarding-house in Paisley, found one of her boarders one day reading Doddridge’s Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, with Archibald Marshall’s name written on the blank leaf.  On inquiry, the stranger told her that he got that book from a young man on his death-bed as a token of regard.  That young man was Archibald Marshall; he was an exemplary Christian, “and I have reason,” added he, “to bless God that he ever was my mess-mate.”  The woman who heard this account, transmitted it to Mr. Marshall’s family, who were known to her.  Mrs. Graham had no such consolatory account afforded to her; but under much yearning of heart she left this concern, as well as every other, to the disposal of that God “who doeth all things well.”

Again she sings of mercy in a sweet meditation.

“NEW YORK, October 1, 1794

“’Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee.’

“Blessed be the Lord, for he hath showed me his marvellous loving-kindness in a strong city—­Christ, the city of refuge.

“Thou hast given me my heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of my lips.  ‘One thing have I desired of the Lord,’ and through life sought after for myself and the children whom thou hast given me; ’that all the days of our lives we might dwell in the house of the Lord,’ behold his beauty, and inquire in his holy temple; that in the time of trouble he would hide us in his pavilion, in the secret of his tabernacle, and set our feet upon a rock.

“O thou incarnate God; thou blessed temple not made with hands; thou blessed pavilion, in which thy people hide in the time of trouble, and are safe; thou Rock of ages, on which we build our hopes for time and eternity, and defy the assaults of sin, Satan, and the world:  thou, Jehovah Jesus, art all these to thy people.  Thou broughtest them ’from a fearful pit and from the miry clay; thou settest their feet upon this spiritual rock, and establishest their goings; thou puttest a new song in their mouths, even praise unto their God.’  Many have seen it and sung it; many now see and sing it; many shall see and sing it, and trust in the Lord.  They find in thee all that is expressive of life; all that is expressive of safety; all that is expressive of comfort; all that is expressive of happiness.

“’O how many are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward; they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee:  if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.’  Thou, thy blessed self, art the sum and substance of every good to man.  All this I know; all this have I at different times experienced; and yet my heart is heavy, my spirits depressed.  There is no cause, Oh no.  Thy very afflictive providences have met my wishes, and been so many answers to my prayers.