The Life And Testimony Of Mary Harris

Gospel Standard 1868:

Mrs. Mary Harris, widow of Mr. David Harris, of Kingston-upon-Thames, died Feb. 15th, 1868.

Mary Harris was for many years a consistent member of the Particular Baptist Church, meeting at Providence Chapel in the above town. Naturally of an amiable disposition, and humbled by grace, she was much loved and respected by all who knew her, and particularly by Christian friends. She was truly poor in spirit, and one who hungered and thirsted after righteousness.

She was baptized some years ago. On that day she greatly rejoiced, but was afterwards much in the dark, with hope only just kept alive by now and then a portion of Scripture seemingly whispered to her soul while reading the word of the Lord, which was truly her every-day book, though she was always deploring its being so sealed.

She continued in this state up to March 29th, 1865, when, while dressing that morning, after a night almost wholly spent in prayer, the Lord graciously answered her request, and said thrice unto her soul, “I am thy salvation.” That was a day to be remembered by all who had the pleasure of seeing her. She desired her friends to be called in that they might bless and praise the Lord with and for her.

The happiness arising from this continued for some time; but after a few months she got into the old unhappy place again, and continued there till the evening of Dec. 18th, 1867. She had then been confined to her room a fortnight, which two weeks were spent in wrestling prayer, as very many previous weeks and months had been. Truly her every breath was prayer, generally consisting of very few words, such as, “O Lord, do help me.” “Do, dear Lord, have mercy on me.” Sometimes adding, “Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.” But on the night above mentioned, two friends called to see her after the prayer-meeting. She shook hands with them, but directly forgot that they were present. It was evident her breathings were, “Lord, help me,” though not spoken out, and he graciously condescended again to speak to her. A change was seen to pass over her countenance, and in a minute or two she said, “Bless the Lord, bless the Lord, O my soul.” She then opened her eyes, and, seeing her friends, asked them to bless and praise the Lord, for he had again said unto her soul, “I am thy salvation.”

A few days after this, these words came with sweet and gentle power: “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness. I will hold thine hand and will keep thee.” (Isa. 42:6.) But again she sank very low, and it was almost painful to hear her wrestling in an agony of prayer for the Lord’s presence.

Dec. 31st was a very dark day with her. At night her daughter and a very dear friend (a member of Gower Street) were sitting up with her, and she begged of them to ask the Lord to come according to her wishes and their expectations, which he presently did; and her joy was then very great. Between 11 and 12 o’clock she began shouting, with her feeble voice, “I’m safet I’m safe! I’m safe to all eternity!

“‘On the Rock of Ages founded, 

What can shake my sure repose?'”

She then told them the Lord had assured her she was firmly fixed on the Rock of Ages.

One day, she thought and hoped she was going home, as these words came to her with sweet power: “This day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” And what made her think still more that her time would be very short, the Lord said, “Fear not, I have redeemed thee; thou art mine.” And she said she saw a heavenly convoy waiting to take her home, which entirely removed this fear of death, which fear had held her in bondage for upwards of 50 years.

The last manifestation of God’s love to her soul made her so happy that for a time she felt she had left the body. The words that gave this exceeding joy were, “Soul, come up higher, and shout, Victory! victory! victory! through the blood of the Lamb.” She never sank very low in her mind after this, though not altogether as happy as she wished. She felt and used to say the Lord would not have taught her to trust in him, and leave fier at last.

She was now very anxious to be gone, that she might be free from Satan and self, and praise the Lord as she ought.

For the first six weeks she suffered very little pain; but fast increasing weakness caused great weariness after that time. Pain increased, and it was very grievous to her family and friends to see her suffering so much, especially in the nights of the last week up to half-past two on Friday morning, when she appeared to go to sleep, and continued so for 24 hours, when she very quietly breathed her last without a sigh or a groan.

T. M.