peared to me, and how happy every creature! But, above all, how delightful do created things appear, because it is our God who gave them being, and arranged them. I took with me the little Psalmbook, but I did not look much at it; for all appeared so joyful around, that I could not help stopping to admire, as though I had never seen it before. Whenever I see a day like this, it brings to my mind does it not to yours?-those beautiful chapters at the end of the Revelation. This put me in mind of Miss D. I could not help thinking how very happy she was, and how good God had been to her, in so soon putting her in possession of the happiness she sought. Then I thought of you, and I felt great happiness in believing that you would be, as I did that she was already happy. I thought how soon you would know each other, and how few years would bring you together, and make you happy together. Then I thought of myself, and wondered if that happy day would ever come to me. I could not help thinking of the many things that God had done for me: how often He had called me, even before I knew the voice that spoke: by how many providences He had hedged me about, so as to prevent my entering into many pernicious things; and by how many others He had led me to be acquainted with His children in a very unexpected way.

"I then took your little book, and began reading

the 115th Psalm. How I enjoyed it! It seemed indeed as if my whole soul were happy, though awfully so, in seeing the holiness and unspeakable purity of God; and, though I felt very vile and unworthy, so that I knew not how the great and holy God should remember me, yet I seemed so sure that He did not only condescend to come down and suffer for the whole world, but that He also died for me, that I was unspeakably glad. Oh! how I wish that I had a heart to love and serve Him all the days of my life, and that I could be free from the bondage of self and sin, and henceforth live to Him alone."

In a review of the past year, Mrs. Schimmel Penninck writes:

"About this time, my dear friend was taken ill with a cough. I said but little, but I saw it as a cloud, though then the size of a man's hand, gathering in the horizon. I earnestly besought the Lord to help me to examine my heart, to see if I could truly say, 'Thy will be done.' After After my visit to Dudson, the greatly increased indisposition of my friend was a bitter trial. Knowing her to be entirely ignorant of her disorder, the conflict brought on me great darkness, but I cried to the Lord, and He heard me, and made a way for our speaking together. Since that time we have spent many happy hours. Often in the midst of the tears of natural affection

and grief, the presence of the Lord has kept our hearts in peace. Blessed be His name!

“March, 1809. — My dear friend is now probably very near her close. The Lord bless her abundantly and keep her. May He become more and more precious to her. May her peace, which now flows as a river, deepen; may her views of her heavenly inheritance yet brighten, and may she be enabled to testify more and more of the goodness and mercy of the Lord, to the salvation of others! O Lord! let not the blessing be confined to her; shed abroad Thy grace in our hearts. whatever impression Thy affliction to convey.

Soften them to receive goodness appointed this O my God, let me not

murmur or repine. My heart does, indeed, feel this separation from the friend Thou hast given me. The Lord has given, the Lord is about to take away; blessed be the name of the Lord. How often hast Thou, Lord, blessed her intercourse to me! Return that blessing seven, nay, a hundred-fold, by Thy presence with her at this hour! Make her more fully meet for the heavenly inheritance Thou hast purchased for her.

"I went to see her yesterday, being Monday; she was lying on the sofa. I perceived a change, all her features were sharpened, but a heavenly peace sat on her countenance; it seemed like seeing in one person the beginning of the death of the body, and

the life of the soul. She said, in a feeble voice, much interrupted by shortness of breath; The nearer I approach to death, the more happy does it seem to me. I can scarcely think I am so near beholding my precious Saviour.' I said, 'Yes, indeed; there is but a very thin veil between you and an excess of glory that we neither can express nor conceive.' She replied: Oh! how blessed is death! how blessed to have nothing to do but to die! When I look at myself, I can scarcely connect myself and glory in one thought. When I look at my adorable Saviour, I feel I cannot understand one half of His goodness, neither dare I set any bounds to it. Oh! unutterable goodness and mercy!' continued she, her eyes uplifted, and full of tears. Then, looking at me with a smile, and kissing me, she said; When you see me no more, cast yourself entirely upon the Lord: follow Him, not at a distance, but closely. You do not know how the smallest wandering separates from Him. It is an evil and a bitter thing to forsake the Lord. I have found it so; but He has forgiven me. I love you dearly; I love your precious and immortal soul. We shall soon meet; the love of a Christian is stronger than death; but I do not love you as I did. No earthly tie can make me wish to stay on earth. The Lord is more to me than ten thousands of

6

friends; He has no rival in my heart; soon shall I rejoice in His presence!""

"April 2nd. This is the first time, since my dear friend's happy spirit took its flight, that I have taken up the pen. Blessed be God! her woes are all ended, and she is rejoicing in the presence of her Redeemer. When my heart can follow her, it blesses God; but when it returns back to us who are left below, it bleeds. O my God, be Thou with me as I pass through the valley of the shadow of death!"

We return to her journal, and private papers.

(1809.) "Yesterday John Helton drank tea with us, but he hardly spoke at all, at which I felt much disappointed. When they were all gone, I went very early to my bedroom, and read for a good while, till I forgot the time, in Baxter's Saints' Everlasting Rest.' I could not help thinking of poor E., and that if she read that book, she could not but feel almost more happy than sorrowful about her poor brother! "

"How different am I from David Brainerd, who, like me, of a melancholic constitution, yet felt the influence of Divine grace so powerfully, that at seasons the Divine supplies his soul received strengthened and refreshed his body."

"O my God! how infinitely precious must that sacrifice be, which can wash away the infinity of