Page:Memorials of Capt. Hedley Vicars, Ninety-seventh Regiment by Marsh, Catherine, 1818-1912.djvu/92

86 look within for proofs of my election and sanctification, I sometimes tremble: but the instant I lift up my eyes to Him whom God has given to be our righteousness, then my unbelieving fears vanish to the winds. Oh, that we could ever keep Jesus in our hearts and never let Him go.

In a letter of the same date to his youngest sister, the following remarkable passage occurs:

"Be assured you will feel far happier in this world even, by making religion your chief business and study, than by all the pleasures and gaieties which your young heart may now probably be longing after. I tell you candidly and seriously that I would willingly part with every earthly pleasure for life for one hour's communion with Jesus every day."

On the 29th of March he came from Windsor to meet us in London and return with us to Beckenham. On the evening of his arrival he addressed upwards of a hundred navvies, besides several of the young men of the village, at the reading-rooms. They were crowded to excess, and many more men surrounded the doors. He chose for his subject, "Prepare to meet thy God;" and no man on a dying bed could have spoken with greater solemnity and earnestness. Yet there he stood — a strong young man amidst strong young men, "putting himself alongside of us as a fellow-sinner," as one of them remarked, "and yet so good now, and such a man withal!"

One after another they crowded round him for a shake of his hand, and to wish him safety and success. We heard them saying amongst themselves, "It's a pity such a fine fellow as that should go to be shot;" and several of them met at the farther end of the village to make an agreement to pray for him regularly. With two of them the next morning he had a private conversation and prayer, at their own request.