“But though they’re little, they are golden sands.”
In several respects not inferior to any thing in the life of Armelle Nicholas: in others greatly superior thereto. For first, All here is genuine; which I fear is not the case in the account given us of Armelle. For words are there put into her mouth, which I think she could not possibly utter. For instance. She is made to say, “I had always such a sense of my sins, that I never felt pride in my life.” Could any one born of a woman say this? Is it not an embellishment added by her historian?
3. Secondly, All here is strong, sterling sense, strictly agreeable to sound reason. Here are no extravagant flights, no mystic reveries, no unscriptural enthusiasm. The sentiments are all just and noble; the result of a fine natural understanding, cultivated by conversation, thinking, reading, and true Christian experience. At the same time they shew an heart as well improved as the understanding; truly devoted to God, and filled in a very uncommon degree, with the entire fruit of his Spirit.
4. Thirdly, This strong genuine sense is expressed in such a stile, as none would expect from a young servant maid: a stile simple and artless in the highest degree, but likewise clear, lively, proper: every phrase, every word being so well chosen, yea, and so well placed, that it is not easy to mend it. And such an inexpressible sweetness runs through the whole, as art would in vain strive to imitate.
So JANE COOPER wrote, and spoke, and lived! Thou that readest, go and do likewise!
SOME ACCOUNT
OF THE
LIFE AND DEATH
OF
JANE COOPER.
1. JANE COOPER was born at Hingham, in the county of Norfolk, in the year 1738. Her father died when she was very young, and some time after, her mother married again. She was a daughter of affliction from her childhood; her father-in-law meeting with many misfortunes: But rather than be burdensome to any, when she was about twenty years of age, she chose to go out to service. For this purpose she came to London, and undertook to do all work in a small family. What sweetened all her labour was, that she had frequent opportunities of hearing what she believed to be the pure gospel. But after some months, she judged it best to leave this place, though much against the desire of her master. She then lived with a gentlewoman in Pall-mall, who for a considerable time, used her more like a companion than a servant. Her mistress afterwards removing to Brentford, she remained with her till spring 1762, though exceedingly to the prejudice of her health, which continually decayed. When she quitted Brentford, finding her strength so entirely lost that she was no longer capable of service, she hired a lodging in London, by the advice of her friends, designing to work plain-work: but before she settled, she took a journey into Norfolk, to visit her friends and relations. Part of the time she was in the country was spent at Norwich, where she indeed “lived as an angel here below,” comforting the sick and afflicted, supporting the weak, lifting up the hands that hung down, confirming the wavering, and in every possible way ministering to the heirs of salvation.
2. Of her spiritual experience during this time, we have no account, but in some of her letters, and in her diary: part of which runs thus: (it is dated January 16, 1762.)
“I received peace in believing four years ago. For some time after, I felt no sin, and thought I never should any more. How far it was owing to my unfaithfulness, I cannot tell; but it was not long, before I found my inward parts were very wickedness. I was amazed to feel, that notwithstanding this, I loved him who died for me, that I still retained my confidence in God, and had the witness in myself, that I was a child of God. But with all I thought, I should always have a carnal mind, which would sometimes be at enmity with God.