Page:Death bed, or, Patience & resignation (to the will of God) displayed.pdf/23

 envy perſons however happy they may appear. We know not indeed, as the Bible days, what a day may bring forth. How little did that lovely creature think, when ſhe rode by me in the lane, that ſhe was ſo near the end of her journey, aye, and of her life too! and now what good can all her fine cloaths and gay carriage do her? Her coſtly hat and gay feathers could not ſave her head, and if ſhe had been on foot as I was, ſhe might have been alive now.-I am ſure I ought to be thankful, and bleſs , what my wiſh was not gratified; for if it had, what would have become of my ſeven dear children! The poor woman's tears flowed faſter at this thought, but her huſband anſwered, that, who had taken the lady and ſpared her, was able to provide for her children, if he had thought fit to remove her from them. Our buſineſs, ſaid he, is only to do our duty, and not to ſuppoſe that GOD cannot provide for others without our help. Let us truſt, that the young lady he has called from this world was ready to go, and that if ſhe has loſt the pleaſures of this life, ſhe will have higher joys at right hand: but I hope, dame, this misfortune will ſtop your murmuring in future. You are a good woman; but like Mary in the ſcripture, too much trouble about many things. I believe I am, ſaid ſhe, and unmindful of the one thing needful. forgive my weakneſs, and grant me more ſtrength