Still he goes on to preach Christ from Phil. iii, 7-10. But what things were gain to me, &c. Christ. Christ. In comparison with him all is nothing. Lord, teach me this good lesson. Still my father is much afflicted with pain. The use I would make is, to be myself preparing for the like. If this be done in the green tree-if he so afflicted who has done so much and been so long a faithful laborer in the Lord's vineyard, what 'must I expect, who have been cumbering the ground?" The annual return of Nov. 5th, served to excite fresh emotions of thankfulness for the signal deliverance of England from ungodly machinations. Nor was her observance of the day a mere formal recollection of the treason. Her very soul was lifted up to the great Deliverer. Her devout father, and other excellent ministers, commemorated the event, annually, by a sermon adapted to the occasion. The return of these opportunities were highly prized. In 1724, she writes: "Nov. 5. The return of the year should excite our thankfulness for national mercies. Yet a Protestant people. Blessed be God. Psalm cxxiv. When this old mercy is in danger to be forgotten, God still sends us fresh ones; as at this time King William, of blessed memory, landed in England, Nov. 4th, 1688, whom God made a Savior to deliver us from Popery, and Slavery. At the same time of year again, another great de liverance, in 1714, from the Rebellion at Preston. Our soul escaped as a bird. I often fear lest I offend God for want of a public spirit. A sign I am but a babe in the family." SECTION IV. HER HUMILITY. "TRUE humility," observes an illustrious writer, "is a lowly frame and habit of spirit, arising from a due sense of the glorious excellency of the Almighty God, our own frailty and infirmities, and our infinite dependance upon his bounty, goodness, and mercy." And, among the various graces which adorn Christianity, there is none more valuable. It is essential to personal religion, and peculiarly distinguishes eminent piety. Who has been more humble than Abraham, or Jacob, or Job, or David, or Paul? Dr. Harris said,-So much humility as any man has, so much grace and worth he possesses, and no more. The Scriptures abound in discoveries of its importance. Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the con Sir Matthew Hale. 4 trite ones." "Put on humbleness of mind” Be clothed with humility." Angels are bright examples of this sacred virtue, and it is observable that Ezekiel, when relating his vision of their “attentiou, activity, and perseverance in executing the divine commands," expressly states that "they had the hands of a man under their wings." We see their operations, but not their hands. They are humble. The language of our Savior on the subject, is especially striking. "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."-And it is "well worthy," as Dr. Doddridge has remarked, "of our observation, that no one sentence is so frequently repeated as this: which occurs at least ten times in the Evangelists." Humility is indeed, "The proof of goodness, and the solid stamp Mrs. Savage having learned of him who was "meek and lowly in heart," was "poor in spirit." This is manifest from her deep sense of the evil of sin-her esteem of the righteousness of Christ-her submissive conduct while suffering affliction-her gratitude for divine mercies-her meekness under reproach-her contentment in every stationand her love to prayer, and all heavenly ap *Family Expositor, Matt. xxiii, 12. pointments. The following extracts furnish her sentiments on this interesting topic, shewing her love, as well as practice, of humility. Sabbath, Dec. 9, 1688. In the morning I was more than ordinarily drowsy, but God was found of me before we went to public worship. I find it more easy to go on in a course of external duty, than to be heavenly and spiritual as I should be. How many vain thoughts lodged within me to-day. How long, Lord, must it be so? This night I begged of God the twenty-four good spirits* which my dear Father has been preaching over this last year. Methinks I see cause to be especially earnest for a humble spirit. Oh, humility is a most excellent, adorning grace. 1 find pride strong in me, and I am apt to be jealous of my dear relations, lest they do any thing in pride or vain glory. I am of his mind who named the three great graces of a Christian-Humility. Humility. Humility. We cannot have too mean thoughts of ourselves provided we do not neglect our duty, nor let go our hold of Christ." "Aug. 7, 1694. The return of the day brings to my mind the mercy of God to me in my birth. Thirty years I have been a monument of mercy. Yet, how have I abused that patience and long-suffering which have so long waited to bring me to repent * See the Evangelical Magazine for September, 1817, P. 349. ance. If I can any way judge of a change, the greater part of these thirty years of my life was spent wholly in a state of unregeneracy, wherein I was not only a stranger, but an enemy to God; and if, out of the lesser half of my time, I subtract all that which hath since been employed in serving the Devil, the World, and the Flesh, how small a part of my time hath my God had to his service; and when, out of that, I subtract all my lifeless, careless duties, wherein I have, as it were, only mocked him, offering a sacrifice without a heart, I am amazed to think that his patience is yet lengthened out to a tree which hath been so many years barren in the vineyard. O what empty spaces are there in the time that is past. I wish that for time to come my time may be better fiiled up." "Sept. 14, 1702. Dear brother (after long intermission) came to us, and preached our lecture from Matt. v, 3. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Lord, entitle me to this blessing. Such are happy in both worldsboth here, and hereafter. This true poverty of spirit is that which empties me of self that I may be filled with Christ. It extends itself to God-our brother-ourselves. It enables us to possess ourselves in any condition. I have often desired it of God, and it is the breathing of my thirsting soul-Lord, make me poor in spirit, and rich in spirituals. How poor soever I may be in the |
