SD743. Edward-Moulton-Barrett (father) to Samuel Moulton-Barrett (uncle)
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 2, 372 (in part).
London
August 4, 1831
My beloved Sam
Where can I find words to communicate to you the shock, which the Letter of your dear Christian friend Mr Waddell gave me & the affliction that it afforded to us in informing us of a loss we can never cease to be sensible of & as regards myself & Children to lament over; but if I am in want of language to depict the state of my feelings on this distressing event, what can I say when I consider it with reference to yourself, verily as regards human comfort, nothing, for I know full well from my own personal experience under a similar deprivation that of all earthly consolations, it may well be said “miserable Comforters are ye all” and hence I would only have recourse to the means by which I was enabled to sustain the burden laid upon me & by the grace of God comfort you by the same comfort wherewith I myself was comforted of God in my tribulation——I found that reading & meditating & praying over the Scriptures were precious vehicles by bringing me to him who is alone the manifestation of God’s love to his people & who is present in all the afflictions of his Believers to bear them up, pouring into their broken hearts that Unction from above which binds, heals & comforts them, realising the promise that “according to your day so shall your strength be.” As means let me refer you to the 1 Thess: 41. 13v. to the end, and particularly, as regards the blessed deceased to the 14v. for indeed we cannot doubt that she sleeps in Jesus, as hers was not a name to live only, but there existed in her the power of Godliness, & here I cannot help remarking that two Missionaries now in England from Jamaica, Birchall & Cantilow, bear ample testimony to her anxiety & labor of love in behalf of the poor Negroes & the loss, humanly speaking, that the cause has sustained in her departure; & surely this is having obtained a good report through faith; If then she has entered into her rest & who can doubt it, as all Scripture is true, we cannot, we dare not, as we love, disturb that rest by even a wish to bring such a Spirit back to a world of Sin, Sorrow, disease & trouble in order only to gratify our selfish, for we cannot give it a better epithet, desires– I am sure my dear Sam has been better instructed than to entertain such a wish– I am satisfied that your Mary with my Mary, like the Mary of old, did choose that better part which shall not be taken from them & hence that they are now in the joy of their Lord; that they were the Children whom the Father gave him with whom He travails on the Cross & is satisfied & they I am convinced are satisfied, therefore let us in faith be satisfied & joy in our tribulation. Now read 12 Heb: to the end of the 13v. & know who has done this & the end He had in view in doing it, to alienate us from the Creature in order to fix our whole Soul on the Creator, to take us from time to eternity, to prove to us He chastens only as a Father of infinite wisdom, mercy & love for our own good, & therefore let us bless him in the midst of our sufferings, kiss every twig of the Rod, & say Father it was well done, for Thou didst it– Oh my Brother I cannot doubt that our beloved ones are now singing the song of Moses & the song of the Lamb, & are waiting in bliss for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body.Oh may we by the Grace of our God, be alike partakers with them & be made, the short time we are permitted to linger here daily more & more meet for the Kingdon of Heaven & fit companions of them, who have gone before us in the faith of the Gospel; Let us not then quench the Spirit neither hide the talent we each have committed to us for our Lord’s service, but let us be more Zealous, more faithful & rejoice the more on our dependance on him who having proved his infinite love in giving his Son to die for us, cannot withold any good thing from those who love him– My paper will not let me add any more, than to pray, which is my morning & evening exercise, that the God of all comfort & consolation will support, guide & bless you in time & eternity–
Yr very affectionate Brother
E M Barrett
Tell dear Mr Waddell, I will write to him when I can do so without a charge to him– The Lord bless him & give him to rejoice over much fruit of the Seed he is enabled to save–
Address, on integral page: S. M. Barrett Esqre / Cinnamon Hill / Little River, P. O. / St. James’s / Jamaica- / Pr Pk
Publication: Diary by E.B.B., pp. 281–283.
Manuscript: Wellesley College.
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