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.

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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 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

four years of her life, her longing desires of deli'verance from the imperfections of mortality, to enjoy the presence of her Redeemer, in a state of perfect holiness, and uninterrupted blessedness. 'Her conversation, her thoughts, her affections, were in heaven; and I think she possessed as 'much of the spirit and temper of heaven as I ever 'witnessed in any Christian.-If it were not descending to something less important and inte"resting, I would add that, in her intercourse with 'all her friends, religious or otherwise, she was cheerful, full of vivacity, tender and affectionate, free from levity, careful never to wound the feelings of those who were present, or the reputation ' of those who were absent. Her unaffected po'liteness, connected with true benignity of heart, ' added a grace and a charm to all she said and did, which tended to render her the delight of all ' her friends.'

And here I must close my very imperfect delineation of this excellent character, in which I do not think that those who knew her best will charge me with being her panegyrist; which I am fully conscious that I do not mean to be: and I doubt not that the day of judgment will exhibit her in far brighter colours.

II. I shall now proceed to consider the words of the text, without any other method than the order in which they lie. Omitting all expository remarks on the context, I shall take it for granted that the latter part of the chapter gives a prophetical view of the felicity to which the martyrs, confessors, and Christians of the first three centuries, after the ten pagan persecutions, had, been admitted. This I

fully believe is the meaning of it as a prophecy; and that it was intended to encourage those sufferers under their tribulations, and all other Christians to the end of time.

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The apostle in vision "beheld, and lo a great "multitude which no man could number, of all "nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, "stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, "clothed with white robes, and palms in their "hands; and cried with a loud voice, Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and "unto the Lamb.-And all the angels stood round "about the throne, and about the elders and the "four living creatures, and fell before the throne "on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, "be unto our God for ever and ever: Amen. And "one of the elders answered, saying unto me, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? "and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest.-And he said to me, These are they which have come out of great tribulation." Here we begin. They had been in " great tri"bulation;" but they "were come out of it." Many are the " afflictions of the righteous, but "the Lord delivereth him out of them all."1-As David, when near death, said, "The Lord who "hath redeemed my soul from all distress:" and Jacob, "The Angel who redeemed me from all "evil."2" Lead us not into temptation-but, "deliver us from evil. Amen." Our blessed Sa

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'Psal. xxxiv. 19.

2 Gen xlviii. 14. 1 Kings i. 29.