to it, as well as for every thing he has prepared for you in your journey to the promised land. Here we have no abiding place, the rest is polluted, we are pilgrims and only sojourners, as all our fathers were ;-let us then with vigour and activity pursue the narrow path, and make that speed which souls ought to do, who seek a city whose builder and maker is God. We are called to forsake all for Jesus-let us then listen to the small still voice directing us in our way, and let us steadily and resolutely walk in it, in spite of the opposition we must expect to meet with from an unbelieving world, our own corrupt hearts, and the temptations of the wicked one. Heaven, even an everlasting crown of glory, an inheritance among the saints in light, is the end.

"I send you an account of the death of Mrs Venn, which my brother received in an excellent letter from her afflicted husband, whose behaviour under his trial has been greatly blessed to his people, and been the means of convincing gainsayers of the reality of religion in his soul. Mr V. writes as follows: My dear, wife was in a bad state of health for several months before her departure; but in the beginning of July her disorder lay greatly on her spirits, a thing perfectly unknown to her till that time;-this also was aggra vated by the assaults of her spiritual enemy, for he was) suffered to pour in upon her soul the most blasphemous suggestions, leading her to call in question the truths of Scripture, and even the very existence of God. To so great a height were these temptations permitted to rise, and the agony of her mind produced by them was so violent, that on the night of the first, Sabbath of July, though there was a most tempestuous wind which rocked the house, she told me it did not even engage her attention, so much more horrible was

upon

the storm within. Indeed such were its effects her mind, that when she came down in the morning. to breakfast, her very countenance expressed the vast disturbance of her soul. More or less of the same fiery trial she endured for some weeks; but in due time God heard her prayer, he set at liberty her tempted harassed soul-he put an end to the violent conflict, and gave her a blessing of grace which never left her, till it was swallowed up (there is no room to question) in the joy of the Lord. On the 27th of August the fever which was to carry her home made its appearance, and, at the very same time, my dear wife told Miss H. she had a manifestation from God her Saviour, more glorious than ever she had before experienced. In giving me an account of it, she said it was as clear and distinct an evidence in her soul of God's love to her, as if she had heard the Lord say, • Thou art mine, and I am thine; I have saved you.' During the first seven days no danger was apprehended from the fever, but on the 5th of September some alarming symptoms began;-the day following she said, I am ready, I am willing to depart, I have so clear a view of my Saviour.' The next day she added, Jesus is so sufficient, I would have nothing to mix with him, nor do I want one single good work more.' On Tuesday, when the fever raged, she laid her hand upon the head of her most dear friend, Miss H. and said, 'O that I could take you up with me to everlasting rest! Upon observing the grief I was in, she told me I was so overcome and so unwilling to part with her, that she believed she should not be spared to me. Upon Mr R. asking her, whether she could not still bless God? O, said she, with a smile, now is the time for him to bless me ;' meaning, the disease prevented all activity of mind, and rendered her entirely

passive to receive the comforts of his love. Two days before her departure she desired Mr R. would not pray for her recovery, but for some mitigation of her pain, and an easy passage to her Lord. The last request was answered fully, for though her pain increased till she said, I think it is greater than I can bear;' yet the very last words she uttered were, O the joy, the delight!' I was in much pain, (after I knew we must part,) for what she might suffer in the agonies of death; but in the midst of judgment upon me, a sinful man, my God remembered mercy, and spared me this additional weight to my burden, for she seemed insensible from six in the morning till a quarter past two, when only drawing her breath twice, somewhat longer than usual, she gave up the ghost, and left me suffering under the most grievous affliction, yet comforted with the most cheering, lively, and well grounded hope of her being in glory everlasting.''

An extract from a letter of Miss Hill's, at this time, is worthy of insertion, not only as it contains some useful hints to Lady Glenorchy, but likewise as it exhibits an interesting view of the sentiments and conduct of some of the younger branches of the family of Hawk

stone,

"October 20, 1767.

"We have just had a parting prayer with my dear brother, Rowland, who leaves us to-morrow. He proposes to see good Lady Huntington in his way to Cambridge, which, I trust, will be blessed to him, and that he will ever stand faithful in the cause of his crucified Master, whether he be admitted, as a minister of the Gospel, to preach in his name, or not; but, alas ! my dear friend, to such a deplorable apostacy is the

world come, that young men who are steadfastly attached to the church, and live exemplary lives, can hardly get their testimonials signed for orders.

con

"I have just had a smart debate with Ncerning sects and parties;-the cause of it was a most excellent letter, which my sister wrote to her, with congratulations on her birth-day, wherein she takes occasion to mention something of the necessity of a divine change of heart, and enlarges a little on the things of God, but in so proper a manner, that you would think it impossible that the least offence could be taken. The Lord enabled me to open my mouth with great boldness, (I trust with meekness also, for I am ever afraid of showing any thing of an improper spirit,) and to give a reason for the hope that was in me. The Bible was brought in order to convince me of my errors, but not a text was produced which did not serve to overthrow the argument which N intended to support. I proved myself to be of the established church, and she a dissenter from it. Oh! may the Lord God bring good out of this ;-but alas ! so many have been the arguments, so great are the prejudices, that I have little hope left. My poor brother was attacked yesterday by some worldlings, and told he never could be easy, although he never was so happy in his life, till he got into their way again. Well, my dear friend, these things must be-May the Lord God make them as so many excitements to quicken us in our journey towards Zion. The cross of Christ is the Christian's glory, and blessed are all they that are thought worthy to bear it. I only fear that I dishonour my Master by being too much conformed to this world. Let us, my dear friend, joyfully embrace the all-perfect righteousness of the Lord Jehovah, so shall our justification be complete, and our services, al

though mere nothings in themselves, be accepted in the Beloved. May the Lord God Almighty continually bless and preserve you; may he supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus!"

Although Lady Glenorchy suffered much from her worldly acquaintances in consequence of her attachment to serious religion, yet she was not singular in these sufferings. Her friend Miss Hill was also greatly exposed to them, and felt deeply under them, as appears from the following letter, which she at this time wrote to Lady Glenorchy.

"December 16, 1767.

"I have left two gambling parties, of whom I am pretty heartily tired, to write to you, an employment always agreeable to me. I have just been told that I am good for nothing, as I will neither play nor mingle in fashionable amusements. That I am good for nothing I know to my sorrow, and each day, each hour, shows the more of my own vileness, and sinks me lower than the dust to see my great unprofitableness; and when I consider how little my God and Saviour has been thought of or spoke of by me, I may with justice hide myself, and with shame and confusion cry, "God be merciful to me a most ungrateful rebellious sinner! Yet still Jesus follows the rebel with tender mercies and loving-kindness; and it is only because his compassions fail not that I am not consumed, and not lifting up my eyes in torments. Blessed be God,

he saves his people for his own name's sake, and that is the moving cause from first to last. His righteousness is highly and will be everlastingly exalted thereby; yea, his merey, judgment, and righteousness, the attributes which he has always delighted to honour,