417. Letter Mccclxxx.
LETTER MCCCLXXX.
T o Lady S―― S――.
Bath, December 9, 1767.
Honoured Madam, ALL hath been awful, and more than awful. On Saturday evening, before the corpse was taken from B――n-House, a word of exhortation was given, and a hymn sung in the room where the corpse lay. The young Earl stood with his hands on the head of the coffin, the Countess Dowager on his right hand, Lady Ann and Lady Isabella on his left, and their brother Thomas next to their mother, with Miss O――n, Miss Wh――r, Miss G――e; on one side all domestics, with a few friends on the other. The word of exhortation was received with great solemnity, and most wept under the parting prayer. At ten the corpse was removed to good Lady H――n's chapel, where it was deposited within a place railed in for that purpose, covered with black bays, and the usual funeral concomitants, except escutcheons. On Sunday morning, all attended in mourning at early sacrament. They were seated by themselves, at the feet of the corpse, and
with their head servants, received first, and a particular address was made to them. Immediately after receiving, these verses were sung for them:
Our lives, our blood, we here present, If for thy truths they may be spent:
Fulfil thy sovereign counsel, Lord; Thy will be done, thy name ador'd.
Give them thy strength, O God of power, Then let men rave or devils roar; Thy faithful witnesses they'll be; 'Tis fix'd, they can do all through Thee.
Then they received this blessing, "The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, the Lord cause his face to shine upon you, and give you peace," and so returned to their places.
Sacrament ended (and a blessed sacrament it was) the Noble Mourners returned to good Lady H――n's house, which was lent them for the day. At eleven, public service begun. The bereaved relations sat in order within, and the domestics around the outside of the rail. The chapel was more than crouded. Near three hundred tickets signed by the present Earl, were given out to the nobility and gentry, to be admitted. All was hush'd and solemn.
Proper hymns were sung, and I preached on these words, "I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, write, blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." Attention sat on every face, and deep and almost universal impressions were made. The like scene, and if possible more solemn, was exhibited in the evening, and I was enabled to preach a second time, and a like power attended the word as in the morning. Ever since, there hath been public service and preaching twice a day. This is to be continued till Friday
morning, then all is to be removed to Bristol, in order to be shipped off for Scotland. The inscription on the coffin runs thus;
"His life was honourable,—his death blessed,—he sought earnestly peace with God,—he found it with unspeakable joy alone in the merits of Christ
Jesus, witnessed by the holy Spirit to his soul,—he yet speaketh.—Go thou and do likewise."
I have oftened wished for your Ladyship here. Congregations are very large, attentive, and deeply impressed. Surely the death of this noble Earl, thus improved, will prove the life of many. He had great foretastes of heaven, cried, "Come Holy Ghost;" he came, and filled him with joy unspeakable. Happy, happy, were his last dying words. All surviving relatives still feel the influence. They sit round the corpse attended by their domestics and supporters twice a day. Good Lady S――x gets fresh spirits.
She loves your Ladyship dearly. I am called to attend, and therefore must hasten to acknowledge innumerable obligations, and to subscribe myself, honoured Madam, Your Ladyship's, &c. &c. &c.
G. W.