overheard, Betty said, "Let us pray for Hannah's soul!"She then prayed in a very affecting manner. Afterward one, about eight years old, pleaded much for the forgiveness of Hannah's sin; but added, Lord, do not let us think so much about her sin, as to forget our own. Lord, do not let us laugh and trifle, and talk of foolish things as soon as we rise off our knees; but make us Christians. Another then thanked God for their good corrections and teachings, and said, If we are not Christians, we shall be more punished than others. After some time sister Tripp went in to see them to bed; but first went to prayer with them for a few minutes. The spirit of conviction now fell on Betty Lawrence in an extraordinary manner. We came up, and found her in a great agony; she was the very picture of terror The veins of her neck were as if they would burst. She wrung her hands, and cried with a bitter cry, O my sins! O my sins! I believe more than a hundred times. She then broke out into such a confession of her original corruption and actual sins as quite amazed us; adding, Oh! I have never done any thing to please thee in all my life. I have broken all thy laws; I have not kept thy commandments; Lord, I have kept the devil's commandments! May such a wretch come to thee, Lord? Wilt thou receive me, Lord? Wilt thou pardon me? Wilt thou make me a Christian? Tell me, Lord, shall I go to heaven or hell? Tell me, Lord, shall I go to heaven or hell? Wilt thou make me a Christian? Wilt thou pardon all my sins? She then paused awhile, her eyes fixed upwards, and her face as in a flame; then added, but with a softer voice, Yes, he will, he will! But wilt thou Lord? Yes, thou wilt, thou wilt! Mr. Dornford being that night with us, gave out a hymn; she now seemed quite calm. The horror which before appeared on her countenance was gone, and had left a sweet smile. After remaining some time in this posture, she said, Jesus is smiling upon me! She afterward told us, she had a view as of Christ upon the cross, smiling upon her

and saying, "I have, pardoned all your sins, and if you pray, I will give you abundant love." She then broke out, Oh! what a sweet Saviour he is! He hath forgiven me all my sins! All, all, Lord! Thou hast, thou wilt forgive them. But, O Lord, let them be perfectly forgiven. But shall I ever sin again? Shall I ever sin again? Oh! do not let me sin again-Oh! what a sweet Saviour thou art! What sweet love is thine! Oh! more such love as thine! More such love as thine! But do not let me sin again! Fill me with love, that I may not sin again! We were the more surprised at all this, because she was a child of a remarkably dull apprehension, and had no liberty in expressing herself on any subject. But striking as the scene was (far more so than I can describe,) it was nothing to the change that followed. She was naturally of a very bad temper, but now, it might indeed be said,

"Love made her willing feet

In swift obedience move."

So great was the change, in both understanding and will, as plainly declared the hand that had wrought it.

The Lord was pleased at this season to give his word success, both among the people who attended the preaching, and in the family. But our house was too strait, and needed some enlargement, and a good deal of repairs. It therefore occurred to my mind, as we had so many visitants, to take another step, and put up a poor's box, like Professor Francke, in Germany. But I found some difficulty. I thought my relations will object to it; and, in short, I found it more easy to give than to receive. But I saw the order of God in the plan, and that was enough. Accordingly we put it up in the hall, with this inscription, "For the maintenance of a few poor orphans, that they may be brought up in the fear of the Lord." Difficulties now began to gather as clouds about us. Workmen must be paid; a family far too large for my income, to sup

6*

port; with a variety of expenses in carrying on the work, assisting their poverty, &c. One day it was suggested, Surely I am wrong; God will not appear for me in this undertaking. I told my mind to some friends, who said, "This is the very thing we always saw; you will find in the end it is all a delusion. In two or three years, you will turn out all these people and children to the wide world; and in your old age, you will be without the necessaries of life." I heard them with attention, and only replied, "If it be a delusion, I meant well, believing it to be the will of God."

I carried it to the Lord in prayer, when the following thoughts were impressed on my mind. If Christ was now upon earth, and in want of food and raiment, should I be afraid to give him mine, for fear of wanting it myself? Should I not rather say, Let all I have be brought out as a sacrifice to my Lord; he is well able to repay me; and if he do not see it best so to do, then let us suffer together. I saw the case with the poor was the same, (as far as he had called me to help them,) and that my Lord had said, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto them, ye have done it unto me! Here a light broke into my mind, which quite satisfied me, and dispelled every cloud. I cried out, "Lord, thy will is enough! Thou hast bid me love my neighbour as myself, be it so. Their wants be mine; my substance theirs." Rising from my knees, I took up the Bible, when opening on Job, ch. xxii, v. 23, I found from that verse, to the end of the chapter, several parts come as a message from Heaven. "If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up. Thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles. Then shalt thou lay up gold as the dust, and the gold of Ophir, as the stones of the brook. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver, Thou shalt decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and the light shall shine on thy path." These words were wrote

as with a diamond pen on my heart; and in all my trials, I could never give up the confidence I then received, that I should one day see them accomplished.

Sister Ryan one day said to me,

a sum to pay on Saturday-night.

"We shall have such

Had we not better bor

row it of such a friend, till your half year comes in?" We attempted so to do, but were disappointed. Being on my knees at prayer, I opened a book before me on the table, and cast my eyes on these words, "Christ charges himself with all your temporal affairs, while you charge yourself with those which relate to his glory." I closed my eyes, and continued praying; when to the eye of my mind, it seemed as if the Lord Jesus stood just by me, and spoke again those words to my heart, with such a power as wiped away every care. Before I got off my knees, I was called down to speak to a man, who asked for me; and who, through a providence too long to repeat, brought me just the sum I wanted.

The box began now to be helpful to us; and this year in the midst of our great expenses, an uncle gave me two hundred and fifty guineas. Once, on opening the box, we found a guinea wrapped up in a letter, its contents were as follows:

"With much pleasure I have heard of your charitable undertaking, which I pray God to bless and to succeed. Be never discouraged; though divine Providence should exercise you at times, even with many great and alarming difficulties; for this is frequently the way in which God leads his children, in order to prove their faith and patience. But even supposing he should not succeed this affair, according to your present plan, yet he will never fail to bless those who sincerely endeavour to promote his honour, the kingdom of the Lord Jesus, and the good of souls. I desire you will accept the inclosed, and that you would set me down an annual contributor of

the same sum. May the Lord Jesus Christ be with all of us! Forget us not in your prayers.

"I am, with respect and regard,
"Your very affectionate friend,
"V. P.

In another paper was a guinea enclosed, with these words" I have felt your burden, and should be thankful you had more help. But perhaps it is the will of God concerning you, to give you day by day your daily bread. I pray him to be with you.'

Indeed we daily experienced many mercies. We had an household as a flock of sheep. Sometimes when we were sitting down to table, that word would come sweetly to our minds

"Part of his family are we,
His family of love."

But above all other temporal goods, I saw the blessing of my friend Ryan. It would have been impossible for me to have acted this part alone; I had neither grace nor ability for it; but the Lord gave her to me, as a mother. In all the active part of this undertaking, she was the main spring. It is true, the light in forming the plans was given to me; but had it not been for her resolution and diligence, they would never have been brought into execution. Notwithstanding her ill health, it is amazing what she went through, both in overlooking and working with her own hands. She was truly devoted to God; and though I saw her at that time as a most precious gift of Heaven to me, I was not sufficiently sensible of her inestimable worth.

About this time a young lady, with whom I had been acquainted, came to board with us. After residing about half a year, she had a great desire to make a new will, in order to leave me a large sum of money; and asked me to recommend a lawyer to do it, as we then intended