III. MEMOIR OF THE REVEREND CHARLES A. CHASTEL DE BOINVILLE. COMPILED FROM HIS JOURNAL AND HIS LETTERS

 BY THOMAS CONSTABLE AUTHOR OF ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND HIS LITERARY CORRESPONDENTS WITH A PORTRAIT. London James Nisbet & Co., 1880.

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3-1. PREFACE序.

It is now fifteen years since I won the friendship of Charles de Boinville, whom I had long heard described, by an aunt who thoroughly appreciated him, as the most perfect Christian she had ever known. She it was who introduced us, saying, “ You will love Charles.” In 1864 I visited him at Bar-le-Duc, and spent several days as a member of his family, never to be forgotten for the enjoyment, while they glided by too quickly, and for the elevating memories they have left behind.

Our intercourse has since then been frequent, and the estimation in which he has been held by me rose steadily with every opportunity afforded. His loving nature led him to reciprocate esteem, perhaps unduly* and while shrinking from the responsibility involved m an acceptance of her proposal, I felt both gratified

and surprised when invited by the widow of my friend to edit a Memorial of his life. Of the status of M. de Boinville as a theologian I am incompetent to speak; his efficiency as a pastor will be evinced by extracts from his private Journal, and corroborated by the testimony of those who came under

his influence in that capacity, while his character as a man shines forth in every action of his life. A spiritual telescope of no mean power would be required to enable me to follow him to those spiritual heights where he breathed freely, and habitually lived. I feel indeed like the feeble copier of a portrait originally produced by heavenly art, and if I shall succeed in rendering its mere lineaments correctly, must leave my readers to realise the picture as they can.

If neither a hero, a martyr, an orator, nor a leader and commander of the people, according to the world's acceptance and definition of its great ones, Charles de Boinville possessed a heroic nature and a martyr's spirit, and he had the eloquence of the eye and heart, by which — when he felt himself to be proclaiming the truth of God — he swept away barriers of prejudice and error that the subtlest logic might have altogether failed to move. He abounded in the grace that “ never faileth."

3-2. CONTENTS目次

CHAPTER I.

Jean Baptiste Chastel de Boinville, born and brought up at Metz — Marries Mademoiselle de Domangeville, but is soon left a widower — He becomes acquainted with M. de Lafayette, and is closely associated with him in political matters, as one of his aides-de-camp — Attack by the mob on the royal family at Versailles — M. de Boinville’spro- perty confiscated by the Revolutionary Government — He finds himself penniless in London — Marries Miss Collins — Matrimonial vicissitudes— Joins la grande Armee, and falls a victim to the cold in the retreat from Moscow. — Dr. William Lambe, Charles de Boinville’s maternal grand- father, a distinguished physician and chemist — Is the first to introduce the springs of Leamington to public notice, and becomes an earnest advocate of total abstinence from malt and alcohol, and of the exclusive use of vegetables as food — He becomes a believer in Christ’s Divinity at the eleventh hour, ......... 1

CHAPTER II. 1819 - 1841 .

Charles de Boinville’s early years — His mother’s confidence in him — Determines to become a farmer — Letter from his grandmother — Account of his home life, and of the effect produced on him by reading the third chapter of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans — Seized with a strong desire to preach the gospel in France — He joins the Wesleyan Methodists, who offered at the time the only open door — Conversation with a Roman Catholic priest — He studies at Lille under M. Marzials, becomes acquainted with Caroline Marsh, and records a curious social experience in a French family — Interesting letter from his grand- mother, and reminiscence of him at Lille by the Rev. R. B. Watson, 

CHAPTER III. 1842-1843.

His humble estimate of himself — Determines to be moderate in all things — Records conversation with an old Invalide in Paris — Preaches at Roubaix, Mgzi&res, and Corcelles, visits Strasbourg, and settles for a time at Lausanne — Correspondence with his mother regarding study and his matrimonial prospects — Becomes acquainted with Alex- andre Vinet, lives under his roof, and expresses his reverent admiration of that great man, and deep debt of gratitude towards him — Vinet ’s high esteem for C. de Boinville — CongSnies — Madame Scaulmes and her silver spoon — Death at Cambridge of his sister Cornelia, . . 39

CHAPTER IV. 1843.

Visits Paris with his mother and his brother Frank — Inter- course and association there with Frank in evangelic labours, chiefly among the poor at Batignolles — He mourns over the want of spirituality in France — Appointment to Vauvert — Frank accompanies him thither — Intercourse with a Capuchin monk by the way — Frank’s zeal — Brother Gabriel, 53

CHAPTER V. 1844-1845.

A gap in our journal — Correspondence with Caroline Marsh, whom he marries on the 2d of April 1844 — His health fails — They reside for a time at St. Chamas, and have interesting intercourse with M. and Mme. Faucher — Remove to Hy£res — Letter from Charles and Caroline to Charles’s mother — Eugene Faucher and M. Peyran — Journey to Paris — Their life there — Birth of a daughter, and death of Caroline — Estimate of her character — “My Husband ! ” 65

CHAPTER VI. 1846-1847.

Appointment to Lisieux — Some account of the place and district around it — M. and Madame B. — Progress of his work — Transferred for a time to Beuville — Mademoiselle Lucas — Hears of the death of his grandmother — Is recalled to Lisieux — Gives some account of the superstitions of the people — Notre Dame de la D61ivrande, .... 83

CHAPTER VII. 1847.

The Vallge d’Auge — VoiH le protestant — The four Convents of Lisieux — Les dames utiles , and les dames inutiles — A proselyte — Reclaimed by her mother — A better spirit arising at Lisieux — Generous confidence — Chapel opened, and continues to be crowded in spite of opposition — The frbres lie St. Yon burn his books — Madame Quesne — A false alarm — Encouragement, and discreditable priestly tactics, 96

CHAPTER VIII. 1848.

Would-be confessors, and honest inquirers after truth — The year 1848 — Revolutionary disturbances — English work- people driven away — The Lord’s Supper administered after the Protestant fashion at Lisieux, for the first time since the days of persecution — M. de Boinville goes to Paris for a time — Is received into full connection by the Conference — Temporary good effects of the Revolution, . 107

CHAPTER IX. 1848-1852.

On the 14th of September 1848, happily married to Mary Lgontine Graham — His ordination — The Evangelical Alliance — The cholera — Death of Madame Calbry — Unauthorised interference of the priests — Calumnious assertions — Would-be Protestants rejected — Real converts — AdMe Morin and the priest — M. Guizot — The cur6s of St. Pierre — Controversy and its effects — “Pourquoi je suis Protestant ” — The spiritual influence of M. de Boinville on all classes, 113

CHAPTER X. 1850-1851.

Threatened removal from Lisieux — Rachel and Elizabeth — Deputation to Guernsey — New Chapel opened, and school- master engaged — Watchnight — Death of Madame Bertre — Priestly interference counteracted — Jean Bertre over- comes all difficulties, and becomes a colporteur. . . 128

CHAPTER XI. 1852-1854.

Claudine, Rachel’s nurse — M. de Boinville transferred to Paris, but health gives way and he returns for a time to Lisieux — The dog Rover and his father — M. de Boinville preaches for Adolphe Monod — Trial of M. Jeanne and M. Grelley for doing good without authorisation — M. Jeanne on appeal acquitted — M. Grelley condemned — Returns to Paris — A sincere penitent — Lady H. Host — Health once more breaks down — Visit to Chambourcy — Settlement at Boulogne — The Emperor and Empress — Called to Bar-le-Duc, . . 143

CHAPTER XII. 1855- 1856.

Bar-le-Duc — Is joined by liis family there — Describes the place in a letter to his brother William — Burial at St. Mihiel — Verdun — Mr. Newenham — Visits Boinville — Where are the good Samaritans ? — The burials question solved — Love of scenery — Dr. Liandon de Dangeau — The Calvary at St, Mihiel — An interesting funeral, 157

CHAPTER XIII. 1856- 1858.

His ecclesiastical connection becomes uncomfortable, and he makes up his mind to join the National Church — On the urgent solicitation of his flock decides to remain at Bar-le-Duc, and is inducted in presence of a very varied congregation — Christian liberality and gratitude — A good shepherd and his dog— Encounter with a wild boar — Homely hospitality — Invitation to Boinville — Mixed marriage — Borely — A railway accident — Strasbourg — M. Ch&vre, . . 171

CHAPTER XIV.

J ohn Eisenmann — Born at Odeltshofen — Escapes the conscription — Is robbed by Cossack soldiers — Settles as a weaver at Bar-le-Duc — Marries a Roman Catholic — Falls ill — His curious dream and its effects — Obtains authorisation for Protestant worship at Bar — Will not be discouraged — His patience in hospital, and regard for the Sabbath — Obtains the service of a colporteur — Visit of the parish priest — M. F arjat the first resident Protestant pastor at Bar — Foundation-stone of church laid, 23d of May 1861 — Opened May 25th, 1862 — Eisenmann died January 21, 1863, . .190

CHAPTER XV. 1858-1859.

Industry a handmaid of religion — Funeral at Brixey-aux-Chanoines — Vaucoleurs and Domr4my-la-Pucelle — Giard in hospital — His assurance of faith — 44 Nous ne nous quit- tons pas ” — M. Martin’s accident and its results — Alex- ander de Boinville comes with his wife to reside for three years at Bar-le-Duc — Begret at their departure — He visits the Ban de la Boche — Named by Imperial decree pastor of Bar-le-Duc — Hospitality and demonstrative affection of the Protestants of Gondrecourt — 44 The Fruits of a Text,” the story of Auguste Bohin — Conflict between a shepherd and a wolf at Dainville — The good priest, . . . .215

CHAPTEB XVI. 1861-1862.

* Body of a drowned child recovered — The slate quarries and mines at Trelaze — The people of Dammarie dissatisfied with their priest — More hatred than love in the place — Completion of the Temple at Bar — M. Guizot — Why do I always say, “How thankful I ought to be,” instead of 4 4 How thankful I am ” ?— Letter from Adolphe Monod — Our China Teacups,” 233

CHAPTEB XVII. 1862-1864.

Comparative estimate of English and French character — 44 Who said that?” — Papineau of Vauvert — The burials question again — 44 The Story of a Monastery ” — Monneaux — Beady Money — Millennial Christianity — The monks of Essommes — The fruits of love — The Abbe Baulx brings blessings in disguise, 253

CHAPTEB XVIII. 1864-1865.

Melanie Champagnol — Her natural tenderness — Her moral cour- age — Her success as a special pleader — Her family remove to Bar-le-Duc — She becomes a Protestant — Is eminently useful — Loses her health, and dies — Madame D. — M. Guizot — M. de Boinville visits Scotland — The Empress Eugenie and the Prince Imperial visit Bar-le-Duc — Modifi- cation of theological opinions — “ One more unfortunate !” — Call to Cherbourg — Sorrow on leaving Bar-le-Duc — Account of the pleasant society there, . . . .274

CHAPTER XIX. 1866-1868.

Regret at leaving Bar-le-Duc — Installed at Cherbourg — The place and people — Sionville, a storm and its effects — Poor old Cheminai — Modeste Gueret — The Emperor Maximilian — The Empress Eugenie visits the Arsenal — Anecdote of Lafayette — Prince Murat — Fishermen at St. Yasst — The Book of Job — Visit to Edinburgh — Who is our neighbour? — Paris or London, Comparison of comfort — Good Samaritans, ......... 298

CHAPTER XX. 1868.

Colloquial controversy with the Abbe Ratisbonne — Recommended by M. Guizot to the Bible Society as Inspector of Colporteurs in France — Eminent fitness for the post — Re- trospect of the year — Light sown in darkness, . . .316

CHAPTER XXI. 1869-1870.

Removes from Cherbourg to Le Vesinet — Anxieties in the present and for the future — Deathbed of Madame de Robert — Beuzeval — Visits Guizot at Val-Richer — Description of the family life there — Monument commemorating the Xorman Invasion of England — A wandering nun — Alfred joins the Garde Mobile — Confident anticipation of French success — Xot justified by the result — The Emperor is taken prisoner — They take refuge for a time at Beuzeval, but leave France finally for England on the 10th of November 1870, 328

CHAPTEE XXII. 1871-1873.

Supplies for a time Mr. Saphir’s place at Greenwich — Doctrinal difficulties — Is appointed by the British and Foreign Bible Society to superintend its Eastern District — Interesting anecdote of Captain Wilson — Characteristic note from Alex- andre Vinet — G<Dod news from Le Vesinet, both spiritual and temporal — “ What is my country State of religion in England — Death of M. and Madame Champagnol — A conversation which did not end in smoke — Comparative estimate of French and English civilisation — An anomalous grub, 344

CHAPTEE XXIII. 1873-1878.

Enabled to join the English Presbyterian body, resigns his post in connection with the Bible Society, and becomes pastor of the Presbyterian congregation at Kingston-on-Thames — Issues a circular on the subject of the distressed French pastors — Xew iron church opened at Kingston — Letter to his mother on his fifty-fifth birth-day— Death of his aunt Cornelia — Her character — Last letter to his mother — His mother’s death — Kevisits France — Progress of his congregation — Elected Moderator of the London Presbytery — Letters from his widow and his daughter, giving details of his last illness and his deathbed, 360 

he priests, seemed to

On the 18th of April in the next year he thus records the death of this beloved mother: “ To-day at 10 o'clock we parted from one of the holiest of women and the best of mothers. She had been ailing for two days, but this morning she grew rapidly worse. After expressing the comfort she derived from a prayer offered, she ceased to speak intelligibly, and about two hours afterwards suddenly and quite gently she drew her last breath and departed. She dreaded suffering, she said, because she was not patient. The Lord took her without suffering. Oh what a woman was that ! but 4 The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord.’”

“ June 2 bth, 1876. — I scarcely wished, after my blessed and revered mother’s decease, to continue my journal : on the one hand, much of the personal interest of life seems to have departed with her, and on the other, I feel as if I had arrived at a stage in my earthly career which calls for a halt ; but on mature consideration, and on reading over past records of God’s merciful dealings toward me and toward others, which I should probably have forgotten but for my occasionally writing down the chief facts and experience of my life, I have thought it better for my own sake and for my children’s to keep up this record, at least for a time. Since my mother’s death the chief events have been the meeting of Synod in Liverpool authorising the London Presbytery to admit me a member of the same, my induction on May 25th, when Dr. Donald Fraser and Dr. Moore officiated, and the happy consummation of the union, at which I was not fortunate enough to be present, having been called to attend our conseil de famille in Paris on June 10th.

“ I have not been to France since the war, and it was not without considerable emotion that I revisited the scene of former labours, and looked upon the beautiful city, — never more beautiful, though the Tuileries and the Hotel de Ville are not yet rebuilt. I called on several friends.

The scenes that most impressed me were the sight of one aged and venerable-looking figure walking in the park at Ivry, whom I had not seen for forty-eight years ! — the Chateau Ch6rincourt, where I spent a quiet Sunday, and where my wife and I joined in worship with M. Strohl and his son. I also went to Le Y6sinet, where my heart was filled with the remembrance of sorrow and joy as I wandered alone amongst the old familiar woods and paths. I called on two families, and was glad to find that the good cause is prospering, and that they still have public worship every Lord’s Day, and a Sabbath-school. These good people look on me as their father ; the visit did me much good, and greatly rejoiced me. On the 16th we recrossed the Channel — I for the 1 1 6th time, — and arrived safe at our dear home.”

“ July 23. — Ordained three elders and three deacons, as good men as we could desire to have to fill these offices.

My picture and description of Joan of Arc’s cottage is in the Leisure Hour for this month.”

“ August 20. — It is now three years since we came here. Though our church is still weak and small, God has blessed us. I feel to be getting old, and hardly up to taking charge of a large church ; besides, I have my French work, which I do not wish to give up, and which I could not attend to if I had a wider field. But above all, I feel that if I left Kingston many would be grieved, and I myself might be grieving the Spirit. Nothing but a very clear and decided call would induce me to leave my present dear little church, although perhaps, owing to the fact that the gospel is preached now, I believe, in every church and chapel in the town, I should, if it had been left to my choice, have preferred work of a more missionary character. But here, as everywhere, I endeavour quietly and faithfully to preach to those whom God sends to hear me, and to visit those to whom God sends me as members of my flock, without trespassing on other men’s ground. As to other Churches, I wish to take a Christian interest in all. . . . The great problem still is, how to bring the gospel to bear widely on the lower strata, as it does generally on the middle strata, of society.”

“ September 10. — Received tidings of the birth at Yeddo of our first grandchild, Mary Agnes ; the Lord bless the child ! She was born on July 17.”

u December 31. — The chief events of this year in my personal history are soon told. The chief one, surely, is the departure of my blessed mother, for the rest and glory above ; the remembrance of her is as a savour of life unto life.”

“January 12, 1877. — The Committee of the French

Pastoral Relief Fund met, and we divided amongst tlie poor pastors the same sum as last year. At the recent meeting of the London Presbytery, I brought forward a motion for the appointment of a committee to consider and report upon the expediency of forming closer friendly relations between the Presbytery and other foreign Churches within the bounds.”

“ May . — 111 of ague, but have been able to preach till the last Sunday of this month.”

“ June . — Very ill ; replaced by excellent supplies. May this be blessed to my people ! My sketch of Bersier appears in Sunday at Home!' 1

“ July . — Somewhat better, but very weak and unable to begin work again. God’s will is good, perfect, acceptable. May I be perfectly submissive, yea, and be made happy, peaceful, spiritually joyful ! I have reason to be very grateful for news from France,— first ' from my most sympathising cousin C — , whose piety is edifying and consoling. She is particularly my child in Christ Jesus. She reports well of the w T ork we began at Le V6sinet.

Then from Cherbourg M. le pasteur Meyer writes to ask me for copies of my little book of family prayers, which are used by some of the people, and others want to have them for daily use. Then, too, my good friend Label, whom I received into the Church, has become a colporteur, and the most successful one in France. This is, I think, the eighth of my sons who has become a colporteur. In sickness these things revive the spirit.”

On the 1st of July he records the fifty-ninth anniversary of his birth, and also that he took his seat on that day 1 M. le pasteur Bersier, the well-known preacher of the Eglise de l’Etoile in Paris.

(probably for the last time) as Moderator of the London 

Presbytery. A brother member, the Kev. Mr. Matheson, writes to me as follows : — “ M. de Boinville had only been a member of Presbytery for two years when he was unanimously elected Moderator for the usual term — six months, — an honour which, in a body consisting of a hundred and forty members, conferred on one so recently admitted, and one who made himself so little prominent, very emphatically marked the estimation in which he was held by his brethren. The office entailed a good deal of fatigue, owing to the frequent and protracted meetings of the Court; but up almost to the end of his term of appointment he was able to discharge the duties of the chair. At the last meeting, however, at which he should have presided, another had to take his place; and the Presbytery, apprised of his serious illness, offered united earnest prayer on his behalf .” 1

1 Mr. Matheson adds, that special prayer continued to be offered at each subsequent meeting for his restoration to health, and that when intimation of his death was made, the Presbytery inserted in their Records the following minute : —

“ The Presbytery have heard with much sorrow of the death of the Rev. Charles Chastel de Boinville, their late Moderator, and desire to record their sense of the loss they have sustained by the removal of a brother so beloved, and who during the few years he has been among them has done such good service as is evidenced by the formation of the congregation at Kingston-on-Thames. After many years of abundant and successful labours as a Protestant minister in France, the land of his ancestors, when compelled to return to England, the land of his birth, he threw himself into the work of this Church with much quiet energy and no little self-denial ; and now that he rests from his labours, he has left behind him

many pleasant memories in the hearts of fellow-labourers and of those who were benefited by his ministry. The Presbytery would express their interest in the flock deprived of the care of a pastor so watchful and Christlike ; and they would tender also the assurance of their sympathy with the bereaved and sorrowing family of their lamented brother.” This was the expression of the feelings of the Presbytery as a whole ; but those who were more

The latest entry in his journal is that he preached in Brighton in the month of September. The last letter written by his own hand , which I have seen, is addressed to his brother William, and begins as follows : —

“July 9, 1877. — My dear William, — I write because I think it will give you pleasure to see my handwriting. I have been very ill, and thought for a time I was going to leave you all, and that my work was done upon earth. But though I am still very weak, I am getting gradually, very slowly, better, and I can praise God that after feeling almost dead to earthly enjoyments, and hardly able even to pray and be alive to God, I am comparatively alive again ; I could rest on Jesus — that was all. But I felt very much what the Psalmist says : 6 1 was as a beast before thee/ Now I can pray for you all. . . . Kiss Beatrice and the younger ones for their loving uncle. Mary joins me in love to Amy and all. Peace and love be with you. Do not let yourself get low without hasting to find out the cause. — Your most affectionate brother,

Later letters there were, which, though not written by his own hand, show that his affection for his friends was unabated, and that his interest was still lively in public questions, especially in the politics of his beloved France. But for the details of his last suffering months on earth we must turn to the following pages, furnished to us by the tender hands of his widow and his daughter : — intimately acquainted with him, and who had been drawn to him in warm affection because of his single-heartedness and his loveable spirit, felt his departure a real personal l

MEMOIR OF CHARLES DE BOINVILLE.

“ Ivedon Cottage, Kingston-on-Thames, October 1879.

“ My dear Mr. Constable, — You ask me to do what I feel quite unequal to in many respects, but still I will try to give you the details you want.

“From the time of his mother’s death in April 1876, my dear husband’s health seemed to be very delicate. He had been a constant sufferer ever since I had known him, but the last few years he w~as scarcely ever out of pain, which he bore in the most uncomplaining manner, and was always cheerful and patient.

“ At Christmas 1876 we moved into a small house with a nice garden, which had taken dear Charles’s fancy very much. It reminded him of France, and he took great pains in having his flowers, of which he was very fond, planted, and in filling the garden with fruit-trees. He even then used to say : 4 1 like to think that when I am gone, you and the girls will live in this house ; it will be a nice home for you.’

“ His preaching had become wonderfully spiritual, and I often felt, with a pang, that my darling was not long for this world.

“While he was attending the Synod of ’77 in London, the Vicar of Kingston died quite suddenly, and my dear husband, who had the greatest regard for him, attended his funeral. The parish church was crowded, and the procession to the cemetery a very long one, the weather bitterly cold, with a nasty east wind, and my dear Charles came home so poorly that he could not return to the meetings of Synod. We thought he had got a chill, and would, with care, recover, but ague set in, and he got so bad that at length he had to listen to our entreaties and call in his doctor, who found him dreadfully weak. We left home for a few days, hoping the sea-air would be beneficial, but other and more serious symptoms came on, and we had to return home. Our doctor was called in, and found our dear one dangerously ill. He told me he feared the mischief was of very long standing. He was most truthful in telling me of my darling one’s precarious state. To that and to his kind unceasing attentions I owe, after God, the few remaining months of a most precious existence.

“ By his advice Charles was kept in perfect quiet for four months, and the remedies used were followed by a partial return to health. Great exhaustion still continued, but by October my husband resumed the greater part of his duties, and preached on Sunday morning till February, when he took both services, and continued them with the week-night service and a Bible class up to his last illness.

“ He was named Moderator of the London Presbytery for the summer months, and though, from his weakness, it was an effort to attend, yet he keenly felt the honour put upon him, and the love manifested to him by many of his brother ministers, and he considered it a sign of their sympathy for his French labours as he had been but so short a time with them in England.

“ During these summer months he was often sorely troubled about the French Pastoral Belief Fund, and used to say to me, ‘ I wonder if any one will carry it on when I am gone. It is so much wanted.’ He had been very anxious to get the Sustentation Fund understood and taken up in France, and had corresponded on that subject, but his advice was only partially followed, and it was not acted on at the right time.

“ During all this time Charles’s state of weakness was such that I had to give him nourishment at least four times in the night, and I have often trembled when I saw him get into the pulpit lest he should faint or be unable to proceed with his duties ; yet his energy was such that had it not been for his paleness, and had we not known what his sufferings were, we should scarcely have thought him ill.

“ In August he was induced to take rest for two Sundays. We spent one with dear friends at Blackheath, when an invitation came to him to replace M. Gonin, the French pastor of Brighton, for two Sundays.

“ I was very averse to his going, but he had set his heart on it, and I feared to vex him, as he said to me, 4 1 think it a duty to do all I can to get strength for the winter. Brighton has done Madame Gonin so much good, it may do the same to me/ We went, and he there grew rapidly worse, and had to return home. He preached three times in French while there, and his sermons did good to many, I was told.

u We returned to Kingston. The first few days at home, and the feeling that he was near his doctor, to whom he was much attached, and in whom he had great confidence, seemed to revive him, and he was able to preach or two Sundays. His last texts were characteristic of the man — Rev. iii. 20 ; 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. 1

i “ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock : if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” — Rev. iii. 20.

“ What ! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own ? For

“On September 15th lie was too ill to take his week- night service, but the following day went with me to baptize a child at Hampton Court. This was the last act of his ministry.

“ He rapidly grew worse, and our doctor proposed a consultation with another medical man, which I did not think at all necessary ; but he urged me, as he thought my absent ones might regret it had not taken place ; so I gave way. The next day he came with a well-known physician and told Charles he had brought a friend to see him. In the night dear Charles had got very much better, and both doctors expressed to me a hope that he might once more rally. When alone with his doctor and me, Charles said to him, ‘Now mind, I have perfect confidence in your skill, and do not want any further advice/ For a time he seemed to get better, but his strength did not increase, and he used to say to me, ‘ It is no use saying I am better, I feel getting weaker/ This state continued for a little while, and he was able to come down-stairs once more, but with such fatigue that we had a bedroom prepared for him on the ground-floor. The day he was to take possession of it, I went to help him up as usual, when he suddenly had a fainting-fit. When recovered, he got down-stairs, but seemed very low, and on trying to feel his pulse, I found it failing. I sent at once for the doctor, who fortunately was able to come directly and prescribed for him.

“ Dear Charles seemed to be sinking fast, and said to me, ‘ Mr. thinks I am dying * had you not been with me this morning, my darling, I should have died/

“ We telegraphed to his brothers, and they both came ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” — 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20.

the next morning, but the remedies applied had relieved my dear one, and once again I hoped against hope. Then came seven weeks of long agony, weakness, delirium, and pain. My dear Charles manifested such love to us all, such patience, such faith, such trust in God as are never to be forgotten. It was all peace with him, his constant prayer was for patience to the end. He continually called on God for mercy, for faith. He never doubted. He had often lost the power of expressing his wishes, and could not make us understand him. Yet even then he would repeat texts without a mistake, without a wrong word. He used to 4 long for the coming of the Lord Jesus/ The last hymn that he enjoyed hearing, and that he tried to join in, was a great favourite of his —

1 When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of Glory died.’

“ During these last weeks he saw no one, but a few days before his death a dear friend, Mr. Finlay Gibson, came and prayed with him. My dear Charles was very pleased to see him.

“His last Sunday on earth was a very painful one. Our dear friend the Rev. W. Wright of the Bible Society had to come to supply my husband's place, and he also prayed with him. Charles was quite conscious, and thanked him, but he was in too much pain to say any- thing. His mind was constantly dwelling on the Book of Revelation, — standing by the tree of life, crossing the stream.

“ He could not bear me out of his sight, and if I left the room for a moment would have a restless look in the eye till I returned. His nervousness and restlessness were very great, preventing sleep during his illness and at the last. Opiates were of no avail, and seemed to increase the uneasiness. This had been constant for the last weeks.

“ He fell asleep, and his breathing got more and more easy ; a gentle sigh, and he awoke in glory.

“ There is nothing, dear Mr. Constable, to tell of this long trial to my dear one, and I should like a veil thrown over it all but one thing. It was all peace with him ; his faith never wavered. What he had preached to others he practised to the last. He was ever fearful of giving trouble and of dishonouring God. He used to say, ‘ I am so weary/ Now he rests, and we can only mourn ; but I think I may say without murmuring, and with great thankfulness, that for thirty years God gave me such a loving, devoted husband, and to my children such a good and tender father. — Yours ever, “Mary de Boinville.”

The following extracts are from a letter written by Bachel de Boinville to her absent brothers : —

“ Mamma asked me long ago to write you an account of our darling father’s last illness. I did begin, but partly for want of time, partly for want of courage, it has never been finished. I might wait long for courage. As time passes and the seasons return all is so sad without that gentle hand to guide and to bless !

“ It is now little more than a year since I took my last walk with papa. We went to Norbiton, where he visited first a poor woman of his congregation. Though suffering dreadfully himself, he came to console the sorrowful. Then we went to see Mr. and Mrs. Gibson, who had trouble to conceal that they were struck with his altered appearance, and he must have noticed this, for when he got outside he said, 'I feel so ill, and sometimes I have such dark forebodings of what is going to happen to me.’ I begged of him not to think of what might happen, as I was sure it would make him worse. ‘ You think I ought not ? well then I won’t/ and in an instant, to avoid giving me pain, he threw off his sadness and began to speak of other things. I could not persuade him to have a cab, so we walked back by a pretty lane, every inch of which I love. I shall never forget that walk, and the pain he went through, as well as the fear of fainting. . . .

“The nights in October were terrible for our poor mother. No watching was too long, or trouble too great ; but the torture of seeing one so dear and so good unable to take the food or the rest he so much needed, — unable to find an easy position, — wretched because he kept her awake, — and yet nothing soothed him but the sound of her voice! Sometimes when she dropped to sleep he would raise himself to look at her and say, 4 Your poor mamma! she ’s so tired.’ . . . When the time came for me to go to bed, she sat up and read to him. In the morning she always read him his portion of Scripture, after which he listened to the daily news, and took a keen interest in the French politics till about the end of September. After that he could only listen to a short paragraph, and some days none at all.

“ The days were easier to get through than the nights, and one very good reason was that Nina was then able to look after his food and comforts. For months, beginning at five or six in the morning till nine or ten at night, she never ceased attending to him, and during the whole two years of his illness she was his tender and constant nurse.

RACHEL TO HER BROTHERS .379

. . . Nothing that could be done to relieve him was left undone, but the disease increased in spite of skill and care. He suffered with amazing courage; hours were spent in silent prayer, . . . but how can I realise, far less describe, a mind so spiritual, so nearly arrived at that perfection which he now enjoys, wanting nothing. His was a holiness which showed itself less in words than in the absence of all irritability or repining, so completely was he resigned to the will of God. For the two whole years he never uttered one cross word. When it seemed as if all should yield to his wants, he was more careful for others than for himself. . . . Once when his mind had begun to wander, when sitting close by him, I heard him say, very softly, ‘ 0 God, bless me and take care of me. I am a little child/ On a very cold night, when papa had been getting in and out at least every quarter of an hour, I entreated him to remain in bed. 4 I’m afraid,’ he said, ‘ I can’t stay without complaining.’ ‘ Then do complain,’ said I. He replied by one of his loveliest smiles, and remained quiet another hour without complaining.

“On Sunday the 2 2d December, Mr. Wright preached in our church, and at papa’s request came in and prayed. At about five o’clock he had begged to have a Psalm read to him. Mamma was quite unable to do it, so I read the 103d Psalm to the end of the 17th verse. His ' breathing being very difficult, I asked him if he was tired. 4 Yes, very] he said ; so I left off, and he saw the book shut for the last time. Nina was also standing by him, and he said, ‘ God bless you both, my darlings ! ’ Soon after eleven o’clock he said to mamma, ‘ Mary, my darling, we are standing by the Tree ! ’ These were his last audible words.”