Peace in Believing:

A MEMOIR

OF

ISABELLA CAMPBELL,

OF

FERNICARRY, ROSNEATH, DUMBARTONSHIRE.

BY HER MINISTER.

"No nourishment is here for worldly minds;
But for theirs who of the world are weary."

New Edition.

LONDON:

ARTHUR HALL, VIRTUE, & CO.

25, PATERNOSTER ROW.

1854.

TO

THE ELDERS AND PEOPLE

OF THE

Parish of Rosneath.

IN addressing to you a Record of the Life and Death of ISABELLA CAMPBELL, I feel that I express in the strongest manner my interest in your welfare: as I cannot desire for you, to whom I am bound by so many ties, any higher felicity than this; that, while holding her in remembrance, the same faith which gave her the victory may sustain and comfort you, in life and in death.

ROBERT STORY.

PREFACE

TO THE FIRST EDITION.

IN constructing this Memoir, I have had no other end in view, but to present a true delineation of Isabella's character, that those who behold it may glorify God in her. My study, therefore, has been to keep her continually before them, avoiding whatever might turn away their eyes from the contemplation of so holy an example; and intermingling with the narrative none of the discussions which, however natural, could only have indulged those feelings of literary ambition, which so often tempt memorialists, in doing justice to the dead, to estimate too highly the applause of the living.

To those, who must be amused or excited by what they read, I have provided no gratification and no stimulant; but whosoever thinks, that of all histories, that of a soul delivered from conscious guilt and fear is the most intensely affecting, will find in this record of peace and joy, of holy living and triumphant dying, abundant occasion for solemn and delightful meditation,

The materials, which I procured from the most authentic sources, I have arranged, so far as could be ascertained, in chronological order; and regarding them more is not needful to be said, than that nothing has been recorded but after the severest scrutiny of its genuineness. In reference to the letters indeed, which, it is possible, (from the language in which they are clothed, irrespective of the subjects they treat of,) may attract peculiar notice, I may mention, that although the daughter of a retired officer of the army, unless in very early childhood, when there was a teacher in the family, Isabella had no advantages of education, but such as were afforded in the school attended by the children of the contiguous farmers and cottagers. The religion of the Gospel, however, elevated her mind and polished her taste; and habitually conversant, as she was, with its great and glorious things, she easily found fit expressions for her thoughts, often, as may be seen, not a little memorable for their sublimity and beauty.

For various reasons, I have adopted the form in which the Memoir appears. It has had its disadvantages, which, I fear, may be felt by many; but I found, from the nature of my materials, I could best preserve the interest of the narrative, by moulding it into the form of an address to my own people.