Elizabeth. Her grace. weeks in life, and none of them more than eight years. Elizabeth was the first-born child; she had grown to be the companion and counselor of her parents, the pride and joy of the social and domestic circle, and the delight of a host of admiring friends. From a child she had been in delicate health. Her complexion was so white, and contrasted so vividly with the brightness of her beautiful eyes, that no one could see her without being at once interested in her appearance. Hopeful, cheerful, and patient under sufferings painfully acute and long endured, her very feebleness had made her a loving burden on her parents' hearts, who, year by year, watched her with fond solicitude. To personal attractions she added the charms of a highlycultivated mind, and manners polished by wide associations with the most refined and accomplished society. In the hope of finding benefit from the voyage and foreign travel, she accepted an invitation from Daniel James, Esq., of Liverpool, a life-time friend of her father, to visit him in the Old World. She traveled in England, Scotland, and Ireland, spending much of her time in the enjoyment of social intercourse with some of the best people on the earth. With the family of Mr. James she visited the Continent, and rejoiced among the beauty and grandeur of the Rhine and Switzerland. Returning home with health improved, she devoted herself to the duties of a daughter in her father's house, gladdening all his days, and ministering as she could to lighten his labors. Having known her well and long, I speak thus freely and confidently of the treasure which Dr. Murray had in Travels. Dies. this beautiful and precious daughter. But it was a treasure in a very frail vessel. She was so spirituelle to look upon that she seemed to be rather of heaven than earth. And it was strange that she lived with us so long, rather than that she died so soon. It was the first day of the summer of 1858, when, just as the sun was rising, she breathed out her spirit on the breast of her Redeemer; and those eyes, so long closed to external objects, were opened "to behold the King in his beauty." It was a solemn hour of mingled peace and joy with the bitterness of bereavement when Dr. Murray knelt by the side of his first-born and long-cherished child, to thank God, who had given her the victory over death, and for all the precious memories connected with her life. This was his last offering to Heaven. We have accompanied the father to the grave with six children. Four only out of ten survived. Repeated and dreadful were these bereavements, but they were, doubtless, just the sorrows that Infinite Wisdom, in infinite love, devised for Dr. Murray's personal advancement in the life divine, and his highest preparation for the work he was called to do. These afflictions softened, humbled, and purified him. God put forth His hand and touched him just where he was most tender and exposed, and the fruits of gentleness and love, of increasing spirituality and devotion, bore witness to the virtue of the affliction with which it pleased his heavenly Father to visit him. Look up. Revived. CHAPTER XIX. A new Baptism.-Words of Cheer.-Extracts from his Journal.Exposure to Cold.- Paroxysms of Pain.-Faints and revives.Farewell to Friends.-Dying Prayer and Benediction.—Funeral. THE close of Dr. Murray's life was in keeping with its steady onward, upward course. During his last visit to Ireland, amid scenes of revival, he received a new baptism of the Spirit, and returned home with a burning desire to see among his own people, and in this country, the Word of the Lord glorified as it was in Ireland and Wales. For this end he labored, and prayed with increased zeal and love. Earthly cares were no longer a hinderance to him; and to a friend laboring under their burden, he said, "Look up; your treasures are not here; where Christ lives, we live; our children are with Him in heaven; soon we shall have finished our work. I am a working-man as well as you, and I do not go bowed down, looking into the grave. Your daughter is not there; mine is not there. Be cheerful; let us work for God, and soon we shall be with them." And these words, spoken in the street, were blessed to a bereaved, weary pilgrim, who, leaving his burden at the foot of the Cross, went on his way rejoicing, and continues to bless God for that casual meeting. Dr. Murray had been often heard to say "he would rather wear out than rust out," and "that he hoped to Q End coming. Diary. lay aside his armor only on the brink of the grave." That wish was literally fulfilled; for so brief was the sickness that terminated his useful career, that we pause but a moment to listen to the words of the dying before we hear the song of the redeemed. Dr. Murray's systematic habit of jotting down the little things of each day affords us a glimpse of his active, busy life for a few weeks previous to its close. To show how many and varied were his engagements, and the effect of such constant exposure on his health, we copy a few extracts from his Diary, from January 1st, 1862, to February 1st, when he laid aside his pen for the last time. Jan. 1. A beautiful day. A good congregation. Many calls. A glorious meeting in the First Church to-day. The first time in all its history it was declared out of debt, with a balance in the treasury, with a yearly income to meet all its expenditures, and about four thousand dollars in funds for the poor, and to keep the grave-yard in repair. Jan. 2 and 3. [He notices the arrival and departure of friends, and many calls made among his people.] Jan. 4. National fast held with great solemnity. This is a memorable day-the nation in convulsions! South Carolina has seceded, and secession seems the order of the day, and the prevailing sentiment of the Southern people. President Buchanan appointed this as a day of fasting and prayer as to the affairs of the nation. The day was remarkably kept here. The various churches met by themselves in the morning, and there was a crowded meeting in the Second Church in the afternoon. If the day was kept all over the country as here, it must have been a remarkable day of prayer. Jan. 5, Saturday. Very pleasant. Commenced a series of sermons on "Things unseen and eternal.” Jan. 6. A beautiful Sabbath. Preached twice. Good monthly concert. Goes to Hartford. Returns. Jan. 7. Very unpleasant day. Good ministers' meeting. Union prayer-meeting in the Baptist Church. Not many present, but good and solemn. Jan. 8. Pleasant, though cloudy. Excellent Union meetings in the First Church afternoon and evening. Jan. 9. Went to New York in a snow-storm. Attended a good meet ing in the Methodist Church in the evening. Jan. 10. Fair. Union meetings in the Third Church. Jan. 11. Meetings in the Second Church. Well attended. [This week of prayer was one long to be remembered in the Church of Elizabeth. The earnest tenderness of Dr. Murray's manner, and the faithfulness of his addresses to the people, and solemnity in prayer, were frequently spoken of.] [On Saturday, the 12th, he left home, at no small personal sacrifice, to meet an engagement for the American Tract Society in Hartford. He then remarked, "They were among my first friends, and I can not refuse them their last request." The visit was in every respect pleasant, and gratefully remembered. His own brief record says, "Left home at 9 A.M. Called at the Tract and Bible House. Took cars for Hartford at 12 15. Reached there at 5 P.M. Went to Mr. Childs's. Mr. Eastman and Nixon called in the evening."] Jan. 13. Preached in the morning for Mr. Childs; afternoon for Mr. Beadle. In the evening, spoke at the Tract meeting in the Central Church. A very cold day. Jan. 14. Left Hartford at 1 P.M., and reached home at 7. Cold and snowy. Jan. 15. Went in the afternoon to Bergen. Took tea at Mr. Parker's. Lectured in the lecture-room at 7 P.M. Returned home in the night train. The evening very unpleasant. Jan. 16. Very stormy. Rev. Mr. Crittenden here. Made some calls -one at the Orphan Asylum. Jan. 17. Very fine. Went to Trenton, to meeting of the Historical Society. Pleasant meeting. Presided in the afternoon. Returned in the evening train. Jan. 18. In the study all day. Very stormy. Wrote letters in the af ternoon. Jan. 20. Pleasant, though cloudy. well, staid at home in the evening. Preached twice, and, not feeling |