SISTER C. B. SPAULDING.
By WM. H. SLOWN.
BRO. SMITH; I offer a few lines to the REVIEW in relation to Sr. Spaulding of Bloomington, Ill. There were some things about her life, last sickness, and death, that were interesting to me, and they may be to others. When her letter came in the REVIEW of May 26, 1868, I thought, as I had business at Bloomington in two or three weeks, that then I would call upon her. But when I received the REVIEW with the notice of her serious sickness, and the request for some person to visit her, I dropped everything and went immediately to visit her; but she had been dead already a week. I spent two or three hours with her husband and daughter, the only remaining members of the family, tried to comfort them, and prayed with them. But I could not say to them, you sorrow not as those that have no hope; for although the mother died in the full triumphs of living faith, and will no doubt stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, they have not yet made God their refuge, therefore cannot expect to meet her unless they seek at once the preparation. My prayer to God is, that they may do so soon. Sr. Spaulding was a great sufferer the most of the time for eight years. She was one of those that believed that Christ would come in 1844, and was greatly disappointed. She kept the Sabbath for eleven years. She had a stroke of the palsy eight years ago, and was unable to dress herself for five years. She sent for Bro. Pierce, who came and prayed for her, and she said in her last sickness that her suffering ceased from that time. Her daughter wrote down much that she said in the last hours of her sickness. I make some extracts: “My sufferings began on the 10th day of the 7th month. I have tried to do all that God requires of me. All Heaven is interested in me.” These words of Scripture were very precious to her: “Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me.” “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous Judge will give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.” “Why art thou cast down O my soul? Why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him.” “I know that my Redeemer liveth.” I want to sleep in Jesus. “I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.” Thus she passed away in her right mind, fell asleep in Jesus, died without a struggle, like one sinking to gentle sleep. Who would not love to die like this?