Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Keren Vergon, Leah Moser and PG
Distributed Proofreaders
1861.
In compiling the following sheets, the Author has discharged what hefelt to be an act, not merely of filial affection, but of Christianduty. To his deceased and venerated Mother he owes more than wordscan express;—a Mother whose consistent example, earnest piety andfrequent effectual prayers, perhaps even more than her oft-repeatedcounsels, produced upon his mind, while yet a child, the settledconviction that religion is the one business of life. But be believesit also due to the cause of Christ, that an example of "Religion inEarnest," so pre-eminent, should not pass unrecorded and unimproved.
Those who think the charm of biography consists in startling incident;or who seek for material to gratify a literary taste, will discoverhere little to meet their respective views. We have only to offer thema simple record of one, whose history possessed no romantic interest,and who made no pretension to intellectual attainments. But such aslove to trace the development of Divine grace in the human heart,and to see its power uniformly exemplified in the several phases ofevery-day life;—who are willing to learn how much may be accomplishedby decision, simplicity of purpose, and undeviating consistency;—in aword, how every Christian even in private life, may become a centre ofhappiness, life and power, are in this volume presented with no commonillustration.
The method of arrangement which the writer has adopted has beendetermined, partly by his materials, and partly by the desire torender his subject practical as well as interesting. How far he hassucceeded must be decided by the impression made upon the mind of thereader. He now commends his work to God, who alone can give success toevery good purpose, earnestly praying that Christ, who was magnifiedin the life of his now sainted mother, may be yet more abundantlymagnified in her death.
Stetten, O.A. Cannstatt, Württemberg.
December 27th, 1860.