Mary Ann Foster

A Sketch of the life & happy departure of Mary Ann Foster who died at Bristol, April 9th 1789. From her cradle to her death it may be said that she was an affectionate & pleasing child, discovering an uncommon sensibility in all things for one of her age. As early as three years old she frequented the Childrens Meetings at the Brethen’s Chapel; it was evident that he tender mind was impressed not with dread but with a pleasant serenity whenever she heard of death & going to dwell with our Saviour, On attending the funeral of a Child about her own age, she afterwards asked one of her companions, if she should like to die & be buried like Maria Grinfield (who died at the age of three years & a quarter) her companion replied “no” to which she said, I am sure I should,

for thou I should for to my dear Saviour — on being asked if she did not fear the Gloomy grave “Oh no she replied our Saviour was laid in the Grave & I am not afraid, my soul will go to him when I die, & I shall be drest in white & praise him with all the little Angels for ever & ever!”

The discourse delivered at that funeral made a deep impression on her tender heart she went home to her Momma & related all she could remember of it & said she should ask her forgiveness as Maria did of her Momma & Papa before she died adding, my dear Momma, you will I know forgive me for our Saviours sake because I am his, he has only lent me to you for a little while, her Papa said, “Maryann what is it you say,” she replies, Papa you would not understand it if I told you, but Momma does. In her morning and evening prayers she entreated her dear

Savior to forgive her all her Sins, & prepare her for his heavnly Kingdom that she would thank him for all his love while here & sing his praises for ever she often concluded with this verse out of her little hymn book

But Saviour dear thou for my good Wast pleased a child to be And thou didst shed thy precious blood Upon the cross for me. 2 Come then & take this heart of mine O take me as Iam I know that I by right am thine Thou loving gracious Lamb.

She could often remark on the Lords goodness to her, and say that she wanted for no good thing, while many poor Children were in wants of every thing tho’ she was no better then they were. On Easter day she asked why it was so called she was told because our Saviour rose in the east and then said, what shall in heaven? her friend replied, we shall sing the song of Moses and the Lamb” Oh that will be delightful she said, how I long to die that I may go to my dear Saviour, then

I shall love him more for I shall see him and be with him for ever. In the night season, she would often wake and say here is darkness, in heaven there is always light our dear Saviour is the light & the glory there we shall sing the with the Angels Hallelujah praise the Lord. One morning hearing the servant singing a vain song, she went to her & repeated the following verse

“Stop poor sinner stop and think Before you further go Will you sport upon the brink Of evrlasting one?

O Molly, said she you are not singing our Saviours praise, if you do not begin here, you never will in heaven, remember I told you so & if ever you tell his, you will go the bottomless pit, where Satan is, Oh Molly repent and call on our Saviour for Mercy, that you may be saved. On the Saturday before her last illness, she went to dine with a friend, and appeared uncommonly thoughtful, & was asked if any thing had greivd her – no; but I have a secret to tell you, but Momma must not know it because it will vex her, but she will

know it by and bye, dear Maryann what can that be, that your Momma must not know, she replied with a frightened countenance, I an going to leave you not to London where Momma thinks to send me to school, & has so many new dresses for me, but I shall want none of them for I shall have a dress where I am going which shall be always white & looking up to heaven with her little hands folded together she said, I am going far above those clouds, I am going to My dear Saviour, who is in heaven, he will give a crown of gold & a white robe & I shall lay my crown at his feet, & I will fall down at his feet & worship him with all the little Angels in white, her friend said, how will you know our Saviour for we read in the Revelations that St John was mistaken & was going to worship an Angel instead of the Lord Jesus, she said, I shall not mistake for our dear Saviour was crucified, you know they nailed

Him to the Cross by his hands & by his feet, & they peirced his side, I shall know him by his wounds, & I will Sing in heaven hallelujah praise the Lord & All hail the power of Jesus name

Let Angels prostrate fall Bring forth the royal children And crown him Lord of all

The week following on the 4th of April she was seized with a putrid sore throat And fever, she suffered with such uncommon patience as astonished all around her, to a friend that visited her she said with a smile I am doing to sing the song Moses & the Lamb before you – dear Momma, do not grieve for me, I am soon going to our dear Saviour, he has only lent me to you for a little while if you lose me you will give me up to him, do not cry, because Maryann is going to heaven, you will come by & bye, we shall meet again – Momma let be he burried like the Sisters & let all the Sisters have

gloves and ribbons and meet around my coffin with the Minister to sing verses, and afterwards follow me in white to the grave, her Momma answered her that it should be as she wished desired, she also begged that her coffin might be like Maria Grinfield’s which was granted, she said, I should like so be buried in the Chapel burying ground, but I cannot expect that, as I am not in the Society you know, but never mind, my soul will be with our dear Saviour, my body shall rise from the pithole Sr James’s so that is no matter – but when the weather is fine, will you visit my grave sometimes to remember Maryann? on the night before her departure, she attempted to sing Hallelujah praise the Lord which she had often done, but now her throat was so bad that she could only repeat the words – The next day about noon not being able to speak her dear little hands folded together with her lips

moving in the attitude of prayer – then her spirit calmly departed into the hands of him who gave it being aged only 4 years and a half.

Clifton Octr 19th 1829.