ity of character. On the contrary, she always, in the most unaffected manner, spoke of herself as a wretched sinner; and thought so little of these "fruits of righteousness," in which she abounded, that sometimes she even felt doubts respecting the sincerity of her faith and love! And "in honour "she preferred others to herself" to such a degree as sometimes, by what she said, to embarrass those who had been conversing with her as with a being of a superior order.

I do not think that any degree of genuine humility can be extreme; or will even lead to disconsolation, provided it be attended with adequate views of the "unsearchable riches of Christ," and of the abounding mercy and grace of God. Yet I am of opinion that, from some peculiar circumstances, her genuine humility did become at times the occasion of discouragement to her. She had heard from certain persons of 'sinless perfec tion,' as being attainable in this life, and as by some actually attained; and she spoke, on some occasions, as if this attainment were general to true Christians, and as if every thing short of it tended to impeach the sincerity of her faith and love. This in some degree interfered with her comfort, and appeared to me a defect in her character; as it rendered her "rejoicing in hope" not proportionate to the other graces of the Spirit with which she was so eminently adorned. In general, however, she was serene and cheerful; at times full of joy and consolation; and when most prone to dejection and under the severest trials, always disposed to praise and adore the goodness and mercy of God.

Her" glorying in the cross alone" had so eclipsed to her mind, all the outward distinctions of her rank in society, while her deep humility rendered her wholly unconcious of another and nobler superiority which she possessed, that her "condes"cension to those of low estate" was peculiarly admirable and attractive though it has been thought by some, that her great affability of manners might possibly have an unfavourable effect on her inferiors, in leading them to forget their own station, with that subordination of rank, and the duties resulting from it, which are so important to the general good order of society. But this condescending kindness, though it may be carried too far, is much more congenial to the spirit and tendency of our holy and benevolent religion than the opposite extreme, into which alas! too many are betrayed, from the idea of maintaining proper distance and subordination, and which often gives Christianity a forbidding and repulsive aspect.

"To be spiritually minded is life and peace :" and this honoured character was peculiarly distinguished by a spiritual and heavenly mind; speaking and acting as one whose treasure, and heart, and hopes were in heaven; whose "affections were "set on things above ;" and who estimated every object, both in respect of herself and others, only as it tended to forward, or to obstruct, the great concerns of eternal salvation. There was, as it appeared to me, or rather as heavenly atmosphere around her. Many a time, when cares and disquietudes seemed to disqualify my mind alike for receiving or imparting spiritual good; and I called on her, rather from a sense of

I felt it, a sort of

duty, and to testify respect and gratitude, than from higher motives and expectations; free communication in discourse with her has produced such a change and I have been so sensibly calmed refreshed and animated for every work and labour of love, that I could hardly believe myself the same anxious heartless being, that I had been only just before. Indeed I may say, I scarcely ever experienced such an effect from any book or sermon however excellent. And this was the case especially in my last visits to her; when I was led to think, from what I had previously heard, that concurring infirmities precluded much expectation of interesting discourse.

What is very remarkable in this respect, I never witnessed any material variation in her, except as to the degree of her own personal confidence and comfort. At all times, heavenly things; the grand concerns of eternal salvation; the love of Christ, our obligations to devoted obedience, our falling so much below those obligations; concern about the salvation of others, and the interests of true religion in the world; topics comprising what may be called the marrow of Christianity were sure soon to occupy the conversation, to the exclusion, not only of trifling discourse, but of common place observations about religion. And here, in particular, I would remark that, though she, as well as I, was fully aware that in some doctrinal points there were shades of difference in our sentiments, yet those points were never the subject of our conversation; not being shunned by any preconcerted plan or agreement, but more deeply interesting topics always led us far away from speculation

and dispute. Nor would she suffer the visit, however short, to close without prayer, in which she always seemed peculiarly affected when supplications were offered for relatives and friends, and for the success of true religion in every part of the world.

And here I would mention a particular request which she more than once very earnestly made to me: namely, that I would not forget to pray for her especially, that nothing in her conduct, at the approach of death, might be permitted to excite in the minds of those around her, or related to her, any prejudice against the religion which she professed; or doubts about its truth and excellence, and sufficiency to support the soul in every circumstance of life and death.

I shall have repeated occasion to notice the tribulations and afflictions under which this honoured servant of God was supported. Her rank in life, the respect shewn her in consideration of her connexions, and concurring circumstances, indeed, exempted her from those trials to which poverty, or vehement persecution, or severe oppression has in every age exposed numbers of " the excellent " of the earth :" yet she had a measure of heartrending distresses, far greater than that of most Christians. She drank deep of the cup of sorrow: and perhaps no one, since the time when the mother of our Lord stood by the cross of her dying Son and Saviour, ever felt more emphatically the import of Simeon's words, "Yea, a sword shall "pierce through thine own soul also," than she did. But obvious reasons forbid me to enlarge, and require that I should draw a shade over her

most poignant sorrows. Even this hint may revive recollections in some persons, which they would desire, if possible, to lose in final oblivion.-Soon after one of the most exquisite of her trials, I was desired to visit her: but I was almost afraid of going, lest some unguarded word should tear open the wounds, which, it might be thought, time alone could in any measure heal. I found, however, that while she felt, and that with exquisite sensibility, she felt as a Christian, with submission and hope. She did not shun speaking on the cause of her distresses; and what little she said was truly admirable: so that my embarrassment soon vanished; and, without any very peculiar restraint, I could suggest, and she could receive, in faith, gratitude, deep humility, and resignation, those consolatory topics, which otherwise I should have been afraid to mention, in such a case of singular and, as I may call it, sacred sorrow. She had indeed" need of patience;" and God gave her patience; and "patience had its perfect work;" so that the whole conduced to raise her character to that distinguished superiority, which was generally allowed her by all competent judges, and was undiscovered only to herself.

'I have known this excellent lady,' a friend writes in a letter to me, above twenty years, and

never saw her superior in humility, charity, and ' entire devotedness to God. Her piety was a living ' principle always in action, extending its influence 'to the most minute ramifications of duty. She ' lived much in communion with God; seemed to 'be delivered from all painful fear of death; and ' often expressed to me, during the last three or