Part 1 (1/2)

From Death into Life

by William Haslam

INTRODUCTION

This volume is not so s withthe space of twenty years It will be observed that this is not, as biographies generally are, an account of life on to death; but rather the other way--a narrative of transition from death into life, and that in iven over by three physicians to die, but it pleased the Lord, in answer to prayer, to raise th I thankfully devoted to a religious and earnest life In the height and see prosperity of this, the Lord awakened me to see that I was dead in trespasses and sins; still far fro about to establish hteousness of God Then He quickened me by the Holy Ghost, and raised me up into a new and spiritual life

In this volume the reader will meet with the respective results of (what I have called) the Religious, as distinguished from the Spiritual, life

The former produced only outward and ecclesiastical effects, while the latter brought forth fruit in the salvation of souls, to the praise and glory of God

One object in writing this book is to warn and instruct earnest-ers to the experience of salvation, seeking rest where I aood to others when they have not yet received that good the to live before they are born; to become holy before they have become justified; and to lead others to conversion before they have been converted themselves

A second object is--to draw the attention of every earnest, seeking, or anxious soul, to consider the Lord's ious wanderings, and then using lory in the salvation of hundreds

Another desire I have is--to cheer the hearts of believers who are working for God, by relating to theain, by the si of the Gospel Here the reader will meet with narratives of the Lord's work in individual cases, in congregations, and in parishes--wonderful things which are worthy of record

I have not shunned to tell of thethat others may take heed and profit by them; and then I shall not have written in vain

CHAPTER 1

The Broken Nest, 1841

At the tiins, I had, in the providence of God, a very happy nest; and as far as temporal prospects were concerned, I was provided for to h not rich, was content I had taken ree; was about to be ordained; and, what is ht, to settle down as an efficient country parson

With this bright future before , after a hard and tiring day, just as I was sitting down to rest, a letter was put intoent” ritten on the outside It told ed, and went on to say that if I wished to see her alive I must set off with all haste It tookcoats and rugs together, so that I was all ready to start by the night ht o'clock punctually I left London for the journey of two hundred and eighty ht I sat outside the coach; all the next day; and part of the following night I shall never forget the misery of mind and body that I experienced, for I was tired before starting; and the fatigue of sitting up all night, together with the intense cold of the s, were al, however, caree helped to cheer reat that I could never have held up had it not been for the et forward It was quite consonant with allop, especially when they were tearing down one hill to get an i journey was over; and about thirty hours after starting, I foundto the well-known house As I approached the door was softly opened by a relative who for several days had been anxiously watching my arrival She at once conducted me upstairs, to what I expected was a sick cha I saas the lid of a coffin standing up against the wall, and in theon either side

I nearly fell to the ground with this tremendous shock and surprise

There was the dear face, but it seeard for er turned to welcome me, nor was the hand stretched out, as theretofore, to meet mine All was still; there was no s but the silence of death to greet ht of that coffin, with its quiet inmate, did not awaken sorrow so er and rebellion

I eak and exhausted in body, but strong in wilful insubordination

Mur, I spoke unadvisedly with , that I had far better kneel down in submission to God, and say ”Thy will be done!” This, however, was not so easy, for the demon of rebellion had seizedainst God I walked about the roorieved my friends, who came repeatedly to ask me to kneel down and say, ”Thy will be done!” ”Kneel down--just kneel down!”

At length I did so, and while soan to flow, and I said the words, ”Thy will be done!” Immediately the spell was broken and I was enabled to say froain, ”Thy will be done!” After this I was conscious of a nation had come in its place More than that, the dear face in the coffin see in peace, so calm and so lovely, that I felt I would not recall the spirit that was fled, even if it bad been possible There rought in -up of my will to the will of God; and withal, such a love towards Him that I wondered at er to h I knew and loved Hih my tears flowed freely

The funeral took place the sareat eht of the dear one I had lost, but yet more of the God of love I had found; and to remember that she ith Him was an additional co beyond expression; and yet, when it was all over, such a sense of desolation came upon me, that I felt utterly forlorn and truly sad