equal to her own degree. She never disclaimed the pious, though poor,-reckoning them "the excellent of the earth," in whom was all her delight; going far to visit them in trouble, and minister to their wants; and not ashamed if seen in their fellowship; for with such, she knew, the high and holy One that inhabiteth eternity condescends to dwell. But if religious character were evidently wanting in any person, of whatever rank, though she willingly recognized the claims of station to honour and to deference, she made not such her companions or familiar friends. If they went with her to the house of God, she rejoiced to attend them thither; but she would not forsake her Saviour to follow them to scenes in which the sober aspect of serious piety would furnish the lovers of pleasure with an occasion for mirth. Her Saviour was not there; and without him, she was persuaded that no place was safe, and no society pleas ing. And, doubtless, she does not now regret the choice she made. The pride of rank, the flutter of vanity, the friendship of the world, and habits of conformity to it,. might have interested and delighted for a while; but such things lay up for a dying

hour no comforts, and leave eternity without consolation.

We have said that the character in the text was not inapplicable to her. To be righteous, was the study of her life from early years. On this subject, the best lessons, enforced by example, were furnished under the domestic training of a parent who knew the truth; and who herself died under the power and consolations of divine grace. Yet, while to be righteous towards God and towards her fellow-creatures, in all moral relations, was her study, she was far from resting in the merit of her duties for acceptance before an all-seeing Judge. She underwent, not slight, but very deep and powerful convictions of her own demerit, and exceeding sinfulness in the sight of God; felt her pressing need of pardoning mercy and a justifying righteousness; and by faith, it is presumed, she came to the peace of a justified state. Some of her exercises on these points, we may be perImitted to describe in her own words :"What shall I render," said she," to the Lord, for his marvellous loving-kindness? He has rescued even me from the enemy,

* An obituary of this excellent person will be found in the Christian Observer for April 1818.

and established my goings on the rock of his own righteousness. On Immanuel I can now rely with confidence. He is mine -my Saviour-my Shepherd-my Fortress -my all! I seem never before to have seen any thing of his preciousness; still, I cannot feel or prize him as I ought, for his mercies are beyond what I can think; but this I can say, 'He is altogether lovely! and it is my heart's desire to live to his glory. The work of faith has been gradually wrought, and it may well astonish me to see how he has led me, and borne with blind stubbornness, coldness, and inconstancy in the very seeking of what I most desired; for painful indeed has often been my state of heaviness, while I remained clogged to earth, submitting to the snares of Satan; all tending to keep me from Jesus. I can now see in all this, fresh cause to bless the Lord, for his own hand got the victory.

"After he brought me to give myself up altogether to him, and commit my soul to his keeping, (for I am indeed humbled in seeing how long pride kept dominion) he applied his own word with power. The words Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world,' and

6

They looked unto him and were lighten-.

ed,' followed me night and day. I was lightened indeed! my burden was cast on One ready to receive it, and full freedom of access seemed opened up. The partition legal wall was broken down; and now how precious it is to feel that I can continually look to Jesus to guide and keep me, and see a fountain opened even for such guilt as mine. Peace has been made, and the more the Spirit of Holiness discloses my state of extreme sinfulness, the closer I am made to cling to Christ. Why me? why am I made a sharer of such love? is a frequent thought; and it increases my wonder, to feel that free grace would be glorified in the most unworthy of all the children of Adam. I am but a weak beginner, and I beg you would pray for my being kept from falling, for fresh views of Christ, and for still increased faith. And," added she, to the person to whom she wrote the above account, "O magnify the Lord with me, that he has brought me to lay hold on that hope which is now the anchor of my soul, sure and stedfast!"

Such is the relation she gave of what God had done for her soul, in which we see exemplified the leading and essential features of a genuine work of grace, the conviction

of sinfulness, the self-abasement, the evangelical repentance, and the turning to the Lord with desires for known salvation, which nothing would appease but fulfilment. She followed on until she knew the Lord, and could speak the language of a ransomed captive set free from bondage. Nor did she rest satisfied with first impressions, or with partial attainment; for her subsequent experience was characterized by great strivings after new enlargements; and many days after the period referred to above, we have seen her, with trembling concern, and with many tears, expressing a fear of resting where rest is not safe; though neither then, nor at any other period, had her religious views any tendency to melancholy, from which, indeed, few persons are constitutionally more exempt. It was from that period, however, that having known the Saviour in the first clear outgoings of his love to her soul, her works of righteousness and of mercy acquired new vigour of principle, and were pursued with greater devotion and activity; for she had given herself unto the Lord to do his will, with a freedom that stipulated for no reserves; consecrating to his cause her name, and influence, and all-not ashamed to own him in any company, and