1857]

OUR AMERICAN SISTERS.

267

line. He stopped and said, 'Miss Hessel, this line does'nt scan.' I felt tempted to snatch the book out of his hand."

On Jan. 6th, 1857 she writes to the biographer: "I am reading Lynch's Lectures on 'Aids to Self-improvement.' I like a great deal of the book very much. I have read 'Dred,' and enjoyed it. Our American sisters are doing a great work. They have swept and garnished the platform of fiction, and are making it what it ought to be, the vehicle for conveying the noblest truths to the masses of humanity. Miss Warner's 'Hills of the Shatemuc,' although dull in the early part, is nevertheless a valuable contribution to this kind of literature. The struggles of a proud, imperious, self-willed girl, with the elements of a noble character at the bottom, are truthfully depicted. Her earnest search after religious truth, her rebellion of heart to the yoke of Christ, her deep convictions of its righteousness, and the beautiful simple faith which at last made it so easy, are well delineated. Such pictures of humanity, and the operation of the gospel on its rugged, complex points, are worth a thousand times more for every practical purpose than the most beautiful descriptions of your sweet milk-and-water women, who are almost too good for the gospel to make them any better.

"I am doing nothing at present, except thinking out a few matters which I have neither time nor energy to commit to paper. I should, I think, be quite easy to do nothing in this way at present, if some of my friends did not urge it upon me. Mr. Wt dogmatizes after this fashion: Utter your thought. Yourself and the world must be the better for it.' Against this I quote his oracle Carlyle : Wait till the thought has well matured itself.'

“I feel painfully sometimes the scanty aids I have for self-improvement—that is, in many respects. The influences of my daily life are anything but elevating. True I am rich in correspondents, and not poor in books; but there are wants here of which I feel deeply sensible. When under other influences, I realize rapid development of thought, kindlings of intellectual power, to which I am a stranger here. Still I have much to be thankful for, and need, most of all, the gift to use well and wisely every endowment and acquisition."

CHAPTER XI.

A valuable remark of Perthes-The study of the Bible -How best to promote spiritual growth-The intermediate state-Spiritual experiences-Failing health-Life of Hewitson-Will there be error in heaven-No disgrace in industry-The preciousness of the simple truths of the Gospel in sickness-The duration of future punishment-Religion a priceless treasure--Visits Bradford, Birkenshaw, and Scarbro'-- Application of a precious promise-A remarkable manifestation--" A Prayer."

Ir has been truly observed by the sagacious and nobleminded Perthes, that "the history of a human being resolves itself mainly into the history of his affections." Our tastes are refined or debased; our enjoyments augmented or diminished; our characters ennobled or degraded, according to the nature of the objects we love. There is no subject, the consideration of which is of greater practical importance, than the assimilating influence of the objects of our regard.

The range of objects eliciting our affections determines largely the measure of our enjoyment. "Love is the sum total of life." Those who open their hearts to every object worthy of them, have an enjoyment as much surpassing theirs who senselessly or selfishly close them to all but a very few objects, as a river exceeds a rill. Miss Hessel's was emphatically a loving soul. It is scarcely an exaggeration to say that everything worthy of it secured her love. Hence her streams of joy were both various and numerous. Rich, however, as was the enjoyment she derived from nature, art, and literature, experience had now instructed her that the amplest, as well as purest, source of delight consisted in the contemplation of the Divine

Her

character as revealed in the inspired volume. love of literature had, at one period, insidiously sapped the vigour of her piety. On discovering the lamentable fact, however, she betook herself, in the spirit of the devoted Henry Martyn, to the Book of Books. Latterly, as the reader will have seen, it became her chief study, and the effects were visible in an increased spirituality and desire for usefulness. She discovered

that while the mere reader of the Bible may both experience interest and derive profit, the diligent student alone realizes its beauties and proves the fulness of its power. The surface of the earth furnishes the sustenance needful for man's physical nature, but the minerals by which his social progress is to be promoted are hidden in its deep recesses. So all that is needful for personal salvation is on the surface of the sacred page, but the principles upon which depends the development of a refined and noble Christian character, can be discovered only by devout and patient search. The subjoined letter, addressed to Mr. F, on Jan. 11th, will furnish one link in the chain of evidence that Scripture study was continued as long as ability permitted: "I have been thinking about you this afternoon and praying for you. I ought perhaps to account for this by telling you of two things. One is that latterly I have been seriously impressed with a sense of the double responsibility which my friendships impose upon me. You know something of the high value I put upon them. I am anxious to derive from them a greater benefit, and also to communicate all the good I can. Another thing which led me to think of and pray for you is a Memoir of Adelaide Newton I am reading. She was a profound student of the Bible, and compared the translation with the original.

1857]

MEMOIR OF ADELAIDE NEWTON."

271 I am astonished at the richness of her remarks on some passages. She dwells upon some errors which hold many of the saints of God in bondage. There is one which I believe to be a great barrier to your religious enjoyment-that almost constantly poring over your heart for evidence of your spiritual growth. Her Scripture readings have led her to think the prevalent notion on the importance of self-examination erroneous. She says it is never directly enjoined, except in two instances, viz., 1 Cor. xi. 28, and 2 Cor. xiii. 5, and there it relates to the possession of Christian character. Her views seem in harmony with those of Vinet and Mc Cheyne. She says in a letter to a friend, 'I cannot find a single instance, in which, in either the Gospels or Epistles, Christians are taught by example or precept to make a study of their own hearts. I cannot help thinking that Christian experience has far too much taken the place of the study of Christ and the character of God, and that this accounts, in great measure, for the low and desponding state of so many Christians. Do you not think that the constant study of His character would far more effectually teach us our depravity than poring over our own?' Yes, Adelaide, and a constant looking to Him is the only remedy for that depravity. By such looking alone are we 'changed into the same image.'

I have found 'great spoil' in this memoir. Hers was a noble manifestation of one of the phases of Christian life; not perhaps the one I should most admire, for I strongly doubt whether her ideal of Christian character is of the highest and best type.

"I purpose commencing the study of John's Epistles. Will you join me? And let us exchange our thoughts on passages which strike us. I feel impressed with