the habit of dining, and dawdling away the Sunday with us, think I am mad, or at least that I am a dreadful bigot. I used,' they say, to be amiable and obliging. Why not, as formerly, go to the Foundling the Asylum-the Magdalen-or drive in the Park? Off to church in the morning-hurry over your dinner-off again in the afternoon-then off to church again in the evening! It is too much of a thing. Mr. H. ought not to suffer it. Never any woman was so changed!' Ah! so I had need to be: so I desire to be. I have dawdled away too many Sabbaths. I now begin to taste the comforts of this change; and, by the help of God, I will persevere, however I may be ridiculed or hated.”

"Wed.-I prize my Wednesdays; and long for their coming round, because of the delightful evenings at Long-Acre Chapel. Ah, how much more comfort have I now, than formerly in going to the theatre! which I was so immoderately fond of, as to believe I could never become indifferent to it. A Letter from my invaluable sister Jones did me much good upon this point.”

Extracts from the Religious Correspondence between MRS. HAWKES and Mrs. Jones having been preserved, and kindly furnished by a member of MRS. HAWKES's family, an opportunity is afforded of supplying that part of Mrs. Jones's Letter to which allusion has just been made: it is as follows:

"You ask me respecting the innocence of going to hear and see Mrs. Siddons. For my own part, though my taste might be pleased, I should be afraid to frequent the theatre, because of the evil influence attending such places. I apprehend, that if, in such an assembly, our eyes, like those of the servant of Elisha, were opened, we should see a host of evil spirits, differently engaged, according to the variety of dispositions and propensities they had to en

counter; and we might reasonably expect, that if any of the worshippers of God had dared to venture into a place so consecrated to Satan, that he would. appoint some of his first engines to attack them."

MRS. HAWKES next notices, in her Diary, a visit to a Clergyman in the country, who had "run well,' but who, from her reflections, seems to have been a backslider. Her remarks shew that her own conscience was truly tender, and keenly alive to the concerns of her soul.

"May 3, 1789.-Arrived at, a beautiful, rural spot. Much money has been expended, to beautify the house and gardens:-but, alas! I perceive, that though their possessor has recourse to employment -to music-to company-he is like the dove that found no rest for the sole of her foot. Oh that he would return to the ark !"

"Sunday.-A beautiful little church, on an enchanting spot of rising ground, very picturesque and interesting. But the waters are bitter-nothing

grows.

"My prayers and tears will not avail;-but who can tell?"

"June 25.-Returned to town. My revered Minister, and the Rev. Mr. Burn, breakfasted with us. 'The tongue of the just is as choice silver.'

My trials at home seem heavier after an absence. 'The heart knoweth its own bitterness.' When shall I have attained that seemingly-hard lesson, to do well, and suffer for it patiently? I can suffer for it silently; but where is patience, love, resignation? Fret not thyself, in any wise to do evil.'

"The brightest morning has often the darkest evening. So it has been with me to-day. So feeble is the texture of my mind, that it is easily thrown into disquietude; but many tears will not compose

it again. No wonder that such a poor, rebelliou proud, sinful creature as I am, should need, an have correction: but how far less have I than deserve! I would desire to receive chastening a my necessary food; for, whom the Lord loveth, H chasteneth."",

MRS. HAWKES's dispensation was, indeed, one o varied and long-continued suffering. HE, however who for wise ends had so ordered it, had given her a willing and obedient spirit, ready to take the ap pointed yoke and wear it patiently; which disposition was in itself a special blessing. Consolations of the highest order were also provided for her. In her knowledge of Christ she found "a tabernacle for a shadow in the day-time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain:" Isaiah iv. 6. The following records will shew, that while travelling through a dry and weary land, and under a scorching sun, it was in the sanctuary that she found shade.

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Sunday, June 28.-My heart leaps for joy in my restoration to my beloved and highly-valued privileges. I would rather be a door-keeper in the House of my God, than dwell in the palaces of the ungodly.""

"Sunday, July 5.-Great weakness of body-many sharp trials from without-a disturbed and distracted mind-an evil, foolish imagination-a malignant enemy-all attack me. But there is a Rock, in this weary land.

"Mem.-Never again comply with any solicitations to leave my appointed place of worship; for where can I go, to be so richly fed? Better say no to a friend, than say yes, to my soul's loss!"

Sunday, July 12.-I feel it a profitable indulgence to attend early worship at Lothbury. The season is sacred; the bustle and folly of the world is

not yet awake; there is a holy sympathy in the congregation; and the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper is peculiarly delightful. I ought to think little of my week-day sorrows, for such inestimable favours on the Sabbath."

"Sunday, July 19.-I find it good to rise early, to secure time, before public worship, for reading and prayer and in order that I may do this, let me imitate my honoured mother's custom, of getting every thing of family business done on the Saturday night. She never failed to have every thing done, even to the preparation of every article for dinner; so that herself, children, and servants, were freed from all occupation on the Sabbath. I recollect with reverence her godly habits. Alas! how little did I honour her as I ought to have done, when she was living. But I feel the benefit of her pious example now." Sunday, July 26.-Too ill to observe my usual habit of rising early. The Lord will have mercy, and not sacrifice.' I am enabled this day to set to my seal, that in the sanctuary I have found rivers of living water; and my dim eyes begin to see a little of the beauty of the Sun of Righteousness.'

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Sunday, August 2.-Who ever trusted in the Lord and was disappointed? Who ever came to Him, desiring to be fed with the bread of heaven, and was sent empty away? Not I, this day, unworthy as I am! I am made, in a manner, to forget all the piercing sorrows of the week; and to say, Let me only be favoured with the presence of my Saviour, and welcome all my allotted trials."

Thus, as a new-born babe, did MRS. HAWKES "desire the sincere milk of the word, that she might grow thereby." She expresses strongly, in the following Letter to Mrs. Jones, that support which she now derived, even in the midst of outward trials, from the consolations of Religion.

"This has been a choice morning to my poor barren soul, which for the last week has been tried within and without. But, blessed be my gracious. Lord, who hath poured water upon the dry ground of my heart, and caused it to breathe forth, longing, panting, desires after Himself! I feel the refreshing droppings of His Spirit; and I am constrained to go out after Him, whom having not seen (glory be to His Name!) I inexpressibly love and adore. Oh the preciousness of a present Saviour! Oh that He were thus ever present!-I fear that I am not enough thankful for the goodness of my God. When heavy trials come, I am too apt to be bowed down. Not murmuring, thank God!-I think I have not for a long time felt any thing of that;-but I fear I am not rejoicing, as I ought to be, for the many mercies that are mixed with my great trials. I call upon you to unite with me in praise and thanksgiving. I cannot give words to my full heart, for the goodness and tenderness of God to me, the most unworthy of all His creatures. Glory be to His Name, that He has graciously caused me to seek, and to find HIM-that, by bringing me into His marvellous light, He has afforded me such superior enjoyments, such ennobling views, such secret and solid satisfaction; such as, I am sure, never entered into my heart to conceive! Oh! it is all wonder and astonishment, that so much mercy should be bestowed on so undeserving a wretch! But these are the benefits and blessings of Redeeming Love.-Perhaps you will say, I am indulging too high a flight. But who can soar too high, when contemplating the wondrous works of Redemption? It is only to you that I indulge the overflowing of my gratitude: one turn of my conscious eye into my vile self, at once awes and chastizes my rapture; and tells me, with such favours, how far I am from what I ought to be."

The spiritual joy with which MRS. HAWKES was