her soul. "When I look back to the years of my early childhood, I cannot remember the time when the Lord did not strive with me; neither can I remember any precise time of my first covenant. It was the gentle drawing of the cords of His love; it was the sweet impress of His hand; it was the breathing in silence of a wind that bloweth where it listeth." She every early manifested a kind consideration for the feelings of others, preferring their gratification to her own; and as she grew in years, she deeply sympathised in the joys and sorrows of those around. her. Earnestness of purpose, and unwearied energy were characteristics of her mind, giving a zest to the amusements of childhood, and stimulating her to satisfy her thirst for knowledge. She regarded learning as a pleasure rather than a task, choosing useful in preference to merely entertaining reading; and while deeply feeling her responsibility for all the talents entrusted to her, and carefully availing herself of opportunities for self-improvement, the right employment of her time, and the fulfilment of her duties towards herself and others, were the frequent subjects of her serious consideration. She gladly devoted a portion of time, almost daily, to visiting the poor, endeavouring, in various ways, to contribute to their temporal and spiritual improvement. To adopt the words of a dear relative of the Editor, who has taken a lively interest in this compilation, "she was privileged with judicious parental care and culture, and mercifully shielded from trials which oftentimes check the growth of the affections, and repress the developement of mental vigour; and while the dew of heaven, and the sunshine, and the showers of divine love were bestowed, the soil and atmosphere in which she grew, fostered and brought to rapid maturity, a plant soon to be transferred to the Paradise above." "She possessed a mind of no common order, and her's was a character in which simplicity and strength, originality and refinement, were beautifully blended diffident and retiring, she was best appreciated when she was known most intimately, and her journals unfold an advancement in Christian experience to which her conduct bore living testimony; yet, watching well over her own heart, it was given her deeply to deplore its evil tendencies, and very sensibly to feel her weakness. While in humble reliance "on the hope set before us" in the Gospel, with growing distrust of herself, her faith increased in God her Saviour, and through the grace given, she maintained the struggle with her soul's enemies, following on to know the Lord; thus, as she sought preparation for a more enlarged sphere of usefulness on earth, her spirit ripened for the more perfect service of heaven, and six weeks after she left her father's house a bride, the summons was received to join that countless multitude, who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb; therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple.'" The Extracts from the Journal are appropriately introduced by the following lines written on her 14th birth-day; a few months after the first entry in the little volume which she entitled "Mementos of mercy to the chief of sinners: 6th Month, 9th, 1837. Can it be true that one more link Eternity! that awful thing Thought tries in vain to scan; E'en daring fancy's fearless flight, A bubble on the ocean's breast, Can it be joyful, then, to find, This year may be our last? Look on the firmament above. * * Where can we search to find its home? And I have one year less to seek, Am one year nearer to the time, And when that awful time will come, No human tongue can say― But oh! how startling is the thought, That it may be to-day! How shall my guilty spirit meet How shall I join the ransom'd throng, Around the throne that stand? And cast their crowns before thy feet, Lord of the saintly band? 12th Mo. 6th, 1836. There are seasons in which I am favoured to feel a quiet resignation, to spend and be spent in the service of Him, who, even in my youthful days, has been pleased to visit me with the overshadowing of His mercy and love, and to require me to give up all my dearest secret idols, and every thing which exalts self against the government of the Prince of Peace. 4th Mo. 3rd, 1837. Almost in despair of ever being what I ought to be. I feel so poor in every good thing, and so amazingly rich in every bad thing. Still this little spark of love that remains, seems to hope in Him "who will not quench the smoking flax." 6th Mo. 4th. I have cause to be very watchful. Satan is at hand: temptations abound, and it is no easy matter to keep in the right way. To have my affections crucified to the world is my desire. The way to the celestial city, is not only through the valley of humiliation, but also through the valley of the shadow of death. 6th Mo. 11th. Many things have lately occurred which have flattered my vanity. I have received compliments and commendations: old Adam likes. these things, and persuades me that I am somebody, and may well feel complacency. How needful is watchfulness: may the true light discover to me the snares that are set on every side. |