Her Piety and Devotion, 89-Self-dedication, 91-Self-examination, 95-Meditation,100- Love to Prayer, 103-Love of the Sabbath Memoirs of the Rev. James Owen ADVERTISEMENT. In the following Memoir* nothing has been introduced but what is authentic.-. Mrs. Savage left, in her own hand-writing, a Diary of many volumes, com. mencing with the year 1686, and continued, with few intervals, to her death. Thence, chiefly, the narrative has been compiled. All the extracts, unless otherwise mentioned, are given from those volumes. The great number of her papers, generally of superior excellence, rendered The only account of Mrs. Savage, and that a very brief one, which, it is believed, has ever been written, may be seen in the Christian Observer, vol. iv, p. 327. AA selection difficult. It has been my aim, however, to avoid tediousness, and to introduce only fair examples illustrative of each particular into which her character has been divided. In doing this, as well as in the general plan, I have followed Mr. Orton, in his useful Life of Dr. Doddridge. Of the Appendix little need be said. It is rather bulky, but, I hope, neither prolix nor irrelevant. For the Memoir of Mr. Owen, I am responsible. The facts were principally obtained from a life of him written, soon after his death, by his brother, Dr. Charles Owen, and long since become scarce. The other articles are from Manuscripts never before published, and a reference, as to authenticity, is made, in each, for the reader's satisfaction. To the descendants of Mrs. Savage, and also to Mrs. Ireland, of Wem, I embrace this opportunity of renewing my acknowledgments, as well for their repeated kindness in furnishing information concerning their revered ancestor, as for the liberal use of many manuscripts which enrich this compilation. Nor can I omit to mention Mrs. Savage's grand-daughter, the late Mrs. Brett, of West-Bromwich, in Staffordshire-my venerable and lamented friend-as having contributed essentially to the present volume. The undertaking was commenced, not only under the auspices of Mrs. Brett, but of various esteemed friends, both among the Clergy and Laity, and has been prosecuted, at intervals, in those moments which a laborious profession furnishes for relaxation. My object has not been to gratify a blind partiality, to extol human nature, or to satisfy captious criticism; but, by illustrating the blessedness of religion, to encourage early piety, to edify aged Christians, and, in short, to animate and confirm all who love the 'truth as it is in Jesus.' Female virtue is repeatedly exhibited by inspired wisdom, for the imitation and guidance of succeeding generations. Now, see the Saint immortal; her I mean J. B. WILLIAMS. Swan Hill, Shrewsbury, |
