thereof, but he that doeth the will of the Lord abideth forever,' and that she should read daily a portion of the Bible, for this was God's light to man to guide him to the fountain of life, and that in Christ's sermon on the Mount, the sources of true happiness, as given in it, are a real spiritual change of heart-a life of faith and godliness, the cultivation of humbleness, penitence, meekness, forgiveness, resistance to all known sin, submission to the will of God, communion with the Father, meditation on Christ, and heaven, and eternity. Abbot's 'Guide to Peace' was put into her hands. As to the Bible, she said she never had looked into it since she was at school, except it might be on a Sunday when in church, and did not think from her present recollection of it that it would be very agreeable and improving reading; but as it had been recommended as deserving a careful perusal, she would, when she had a leisure hour, glance over some parts of it. In a subsequent conversation she stated that she had hurriedly turned over a few pages of Abbot's Guide to Peace,' and remarked that he appeared well-intentioned, but somewhat ascetic in his notions and habits. She had also glanced over, she said, the third chapter of the gospel according to John; but she did not understand it, and considered several of the statements contained in it as irrational, such as what Jesus said to Nicodemus-Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,' and felt very much as Nicodemus when he inquired of Christ-How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?' The figurative character of the language was explained, as shewn in the reply to the question of Nicodemus- Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.' The indispensableness of an entire spiritual renovation was urged, and the nature of this work was set forth as effected only by the power of the Spirit. In beginning, promoting, and perfecting it, the Spirit operates through the knowledge of re

vealed truth. The reality of the inward work is known only by its effects. The corrupt tree that is made good will yield good fruit; but it must first be made good before it will do so. The sinner must be made a new creature; he must be brought to believe in Jesus; he that believeth on him is not condemned. 'Faith worketh by love and purifies the heart,' and trusts in God and prompts to render cordial and universal obedience. The solemn and important directions which the Saviour gives were exhibited: 'Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you.' 'Strive to enter in by the strait gate; for I say unto you many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able.' 'Work while it is day, the night cometh when no man can work.' After this conversation, Mrs B appeared to be somewhat impressed. She now often recurred to the Scriptures, and gave herself to prayer. She read with some concern Doddridge's "Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul." The light of the spiritual day now began to dawn on her. Though dimly, she saw herself and the world in an entirely new aspect. She felt solicitude to understand the truth and the system of grace made known in the Bible. God's Spirit apprehended her. Thus she passed from death to life, and came out of darkness into marvellous light. Forthwith she followed Jesus. She did not now linger, but relinquished all the gaieties of the world of fashion in her subsequent life, and became assiduous in the observance of religious duties. The Bible was made her constant guide, and prayer was made her constant exercise. Now she lived in a new region-experienced holy impulses, enjoyed and delighted in religious exercises, and contemplated new and glorious ends. The instruction and reformation of her husband became a matter of intense concern, but all her exertions were without any apparent success. This much pained her. Though somewhat awed by her self-denial and meekness, and softened at times by her suasive appeals, yet he was bent on his course, and seemingly resolved to take its risks and results. She gave herself with

much zeal and steadfastness to the training of her children in the fear of the Lord. Under God, her labours were productive of much benefit. The good seed she sowed in their tender hearts was quickened and rooted. It grew, and yielded abundantly. They were prosperous olive plants around her table. What joy this gave her! What a stimulus to continued effort! What a precious and enduring reward! At the present time they are living and engaging ensamples of the saving power of the Gospel of the Son of God. One of the young men has devoted himself to the work of the ministry, and labours with no small measure of success. Mrs B is now a widow, and far advanced in years. She ripens fast for glory. Her first instructress has gone to the glorious rest before her; but she hastens to the same destination, and will, ere long, be with her in the land of uprightness, where the inhabitants are without spot, and the bliss is without alloy.

"August, 1827. . . I have been much oppressed with the power of indwelling sin-much cast down with the fear that I may have been deceiving myself by supposing that Christ has revealed his love in me by his spirit, and called me out of darkness into marvellous light. I have so much interest in mere worldly objects, and so little in what is spiritual; so much concern about what is perishing, and so little about what is invaluable and imperishable, that I am apt to fear that all this is not compatible with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And yet I have not lost all desire of spiritual good. I am not without a feeling of regret for my engrossment with the world and its secularities. I see my backslidings, and they pain me. O my God, revive thy work in my heart! 'Heal my backslidings.' In thee, O divine and compassionate Saviour, I would trust, to preserve me from the temptations of the flesh, the world, and the devil. Thou art my refuge in the time of trouble. Thou art my shield in the season of assault-my covert in the day of the storm. Ah! my frail bark is tossed to and fro on life's ocean by the. swellings of evil passion, and the gusts of outward

temptation, and it is a marvel to me that it has not sunk in the vexed waters. But my Redeemer preserves me when I go down into the measureless depths, and brings me up again; and in him I confide to bring me through billow and tempest to the haven of my desire. What carnal affection lodges within me! How frequent are my omissions of duty! What coldness of heart in the performance of duties to which I attend! How strong is my pride-the besetting sin of my nature! Envy I have not. I rejoice to see merit and in the success of merit. Vanity I cannot say annoys me. Flattery, however pleasantly offered, does not stir me at all. I feel myself insulted by those who suppose that I can be thus influenced and gained. Malice or vindictiveness I scarcely know, and cannot cherish. Though careful and economical, yet the love of riches and the desire to accumulate do not move and sway me. Under trials I am not given to murmur and repine. But my pride is strong and sensitive. The least designed neglect-the smallest meditated disrespect any attempt to treat with arrogance or scorn, rouses all the energies and passions of my soul; and prompt me, for a time, to shew superciliousness and haughtiness towards those who thus do me wrong. How much I lose by the workings of this affection! My God! pardon my wanderings from thee in speech and in heart, my love of self, and give me grace to arm against the flesh. Clothe me with humility. It ill becomes a professed lover of the Saviour who was meek and lowly-one who has been brought out of a low condition of guilt and vileness, and plucked as a brand out of the burning, to cherish pride of understanding, or of heart, or of talents, or of attainments, or of profession. O my God, enable me to crucify this God-dishonouring and Christ-dishonouring passion! Give me

an humble and an affectionate heart. Increase my lowliness of spirit. Preserve me from cold and speculative views of the blessed Gospel. Kindle the fire of heavenly love in my soul. Draw my heart with earnest longing to thyself.

"September, 1828.

How wonderful the love of

Jesus to me. In his infinite mind from eternity, he saw me in sin, and cast out; and had compassion for me. When he became man and gave himself a ransom for the sins of many, how unsearchable the love that actuated and sustained him! How great the redemption he thus achieved! How invaluable the blessings he thus procured and has to confer ! How amazing the mercy he shewed me, when he called me, and gave me a new heart, and brought me to know his worth and trust in his righteousness-me who was in enmity and waywardness-in forgetfulness of God-in neglect of my souland in deep inconcern about my future and everlasting condition. Verily he is found of them that sought him not. I was lost, and he found me. I was dead, and he said to me, 'live.' Ever adored be his name, who hath had From the spiritual change which I feel he has wrought in me, I know and believe he has loved me, and been made sin and a curse for me. But for what he has done as my sufficient surety, I had perished in my sin. May I prize aright his love-his mercy-his sacrifice-his blessings. May I see more clearly and feel more impressively my inexhaustible obligations to him for what he has wrought for me and in me. Divine Spirit, dispose me to give myself wholly and forever to him to devote all that I have or may have to his service, and to the diffusion of his Gospel among fellow-sinners.

me.

mercy on

"Heard Mr F―n, on Sabbath evening. He discoursed on the eighteenth verse of the third chapter of the second epistle of Peter-But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ'-with much simplicity and earnestness. I derived much benefit from the service. O God, enable me to grow in grace-to increase in knowledge and godliness-to employ, with increasing diligence, the means of spiritual advancement-and to guard against those influences which hinder it.

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Thursday evening attended Dr K—'s prayer meeting; the subject of exercise was the thirteenth and fourteenth verses