Tufts, Sarah (1785-1838)

Died, Jan. 6,1838, at Scoulton, in the Rockland circuit, Sarah Tufts, aged fifty-three.  She lived in ignorance till the year 1827, when a few of us, having received Divine light, and wishing the salvation of our neighbours, we invited the P. Methodists.  And November 25, when brother Pentney came; and brother Carter, (now a local preacher), opened his door.  Among the people present was our departed sister, who became a strict attendant, was convinced of sin, fled to Christ for salvation, and received the evidence that she was born of God; which blessing she held fast to her dying moment.

About this time her husband died.  He had attended a few times, and met in class once.  He was then taken ill, when I and the rest of the friends visited and prayed with him, pointing him to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world; and we had a good hope of meeting him in heaven.

In March following our sister became a member.  Trials and discouragements she met with, and temptations harassed her heaven-hound soul: but she conquered through grace; was strict in attending the means; and if absent from class, her class-mates in surprise would anxiously enquire the reason.

She supported the cause to the utmost of her ability; and the preachers, for ten years, have been heartily welcomed and freely entertained under her homely roof.  She was respected by many, and beloved by the society, who, in cases of affliction, found in her a sympathizing friend.  An old neighbour, (not in our society), on hearing of her death, exclaimed, with tears, “I shall have none to wait on me as she has done.”  And one of our members, who has long had an afflicted family, and has buried two daughters after long and painful suffering, and herself not having enjoyed good health for years, feels her loss, and lamenting says, “How many hours would she come and sit with me!”  Thus we may say, she wept with those that wept.  But our loss, we doubt not, is her eternal gain.

For her relations, they being without religion, she would besiege the throne of grace.  And oh! may God answer her many prayers, so that they may meet her in heaven.

Her death was rather sudden: on the Thursday she was seized with a bowel complaint.  Every possible means was tried to preserve life; but on the Saturday morning she closed her eyes on earthly objects, “and ceased at once to work and live.”

To a young person in a backsliding state, she said, “If I had not sought the Lord before, I could not have done it now.”  Being asked if she thought she should die, she replied, “Yes.” — “Do you think you shall go to heaven?”  “O yes;” and she added, “There’s a better day a coming; bless my Father; give my love to all the preachers.”

She chose the four local preachers at Scoulton for her bearers; gave directions for her funeral, and exclaimed, “Am I not a brand plucked from the burning!”  And she shortly after went to join the blood-wash’d throng.  I endeavoured to improve her death to a weeping congregation, from, “Be ye also ready.”

The young woman before mentioned has since been restored.  To God be all the glory, both now and for ever. Amen, amen.

Thos. Frost

 

Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1838.  Page 438.

 

 

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