Moravian Lives @ Moravian U

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Departed July 20. 1825. Course of Life of S. Rebecca Cist.

Our departed S. Rebecca Cist – eldest daughter of our late Friend, Mr. Charles S. Cist and Mary late Wise – was born at Philadelphia, on the 19th of March 1787. She was baptized by the then minister of the evangelical Lutheran Congregation at said City.

Her Mother and Grand-Parents being members of the U. Brethren's Congregation at Philadelphia, she with the whole family regularly attended divine Service at our Church; enjoying the Instruction and Pastoral Care of [crossed out: our] the Ministers of our Congregation.

Her Constitution from Infancy was rather weakly & delicate, but she was enjoying good health.

To her Parents, who were paying due attention to the Education of their Children it was a matter of great

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satisfaction to perceive in her early marks of an obliging, dutiful Disposition towards them and at the same time, a ready willingness to take learning (receive Instruction) and, according to her ability, to be of service to them and (being of an active mind) her dear Mother (after the death of her father Mr. Cist) had in the year 1805 had the most pleasing proofs of it.

In the year 1823. she became a resident of Bethlehem in the Month of April, when her Mother with her five daughters left Philadelphia, to live here. During that Period, our late Sister, upon request served faithfully for some time in the Boarding School, as a Teacher & Tutoress.

Excepting several attacks of the fever & ague, that was prevailing two summers at this place in the neighbourhood, our Sister was generally enjoying until + good health

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on the 10th instant, when she complained of feeling sick. The attending Physician declared her sickness to be a case of a remittent fever, which however at first, seemed to yield to the medicines applied; and the Prospect of her Recovery appeared to be near at hand, when, on a sudden, on the 19th instant, she was seized by a general Debility, which brought her whole System very low, and all endeavours of the Physician to raise it again, did fail. This great Debility was so rapidly increasing, that already on the 20th in the 12th hour of the night her redeemed Spirit took its flight to the arms of her Saviour God. On this same day about Noon, she expressed much satisfaction, at seeing an old acquaintance & friend paying her a visit. Whilst he was speaking to her in reference to

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her then awful situation, about the divine Love & mercy towards needy souls, and the desirable state of an humble heart that conscious of her own backwardness & sinfulness by nature, in love resigned to His ever good will, longs for comfort, from Him, our Saviour, who redeemed us from sin and delivered us from the power of Death &c– she listened with visible marks of her heart's emotion and, upon being asked about it, she very distinctly answered, and in consequence, the whole was concluded with an humble but fervent Prayer in her behalf, under a consoling Sense of the Presence of the Lord, our Saviour.

The Time of her earthly Pilgrimage hath been 39 years, 4 M. and 1 Day.