Alluding to the memoirs of two females eminent for their piety, she remarks, "some of their characteristics I think are very dissimilar, but I love them both; no doubt they now see eye to eye, and walk together in the golden streets of the New Jerusalem. They have entered into rest-but they toiled and watched and prayed. Shall we yield to discouragement when assured that if faithful we shall come off

more than conquerors; yea, that we shall receive a crown of life?

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May we be zealous followers of those who, through faith and patience, are now inheriting the promises. Oh! what is the longest life, compared with eternity? It is nothing;-and when we can look beyond the bounds of time, all the things by which we are now surrounded seem as nothing; but we live by minutes, and are creatures of feeling; hence we are affected by the every-day occurrences of life.

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How common is the petition, Help me to live as I shall wish I had done when I come to die;' and yet how little do we strive for this, or seek to live each day as if it were our last. Oh! let us desire that our future plans may be left with God; let us ask that one principle may ever constrain us— love to God! and that we may have the attainment of one end continually in view-the glory of God! May we do this, desiring to leave all at his disposal. His way is best. He will direct our steps if we trust in him, and prepare us for the joy of his everlasting kingdom.

"Yours affectionately,

SARAH.'

CHAPTER VII.

Self-examination-" Advice to a Young Christian "-Female Biography-Arduous Duties of her School-Dangerous Illness of a Sister-Interesting Seasons with her Pupils-Reflections at the Close of the Year-Bishop M'Ilvaine-Divine purpose in permitting some of the Canaanites to remain in the Holy Land-Tendency of Afflictions to draw the Heart to GodAffecting case of Destitution and Suffering-Letter from Rev. J. A. Clark.

MISS FOOTE employed much time in the examination of her own heart, and fervently prayed for the illumination of the Holy Spirit, that she might see her defects, be cleansed from all iniquity, and engage, with elevated faith, in every department of duty. It is pleasing to perceive, that, though surrounded by many temptations, she was aspiring after greater deadness to the world, with her eye fixed on the atonement of Jesus as the only ground of her confidence..

If I

December 5, 1830. "As an accountable and immortal being, as a professing christian, I have many duties to perform, duties to God, to myself, and to the world. hope or desire to perform these aright, it is necessary that my own heart should be right. Yes, it is necessary that this seat of iniquity should be cleansed, and made meet for the residence of the Holy Spirit. As a christian, I cannot be satisfied with present attainments, but should earnestly and continually desire to employ those means which will aid in pro

ducing a conformity to the will and image of the blessed Jesus.

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'Believing that frequent self-examination is one of the greatest helps to a knowledge of our own true state, and having found myself greatly assisted in this, by occasionally recording the exercises of my mind, the resolutions formed, and the mercies enjoyed, I have resumed the practice.

“Enable me, O Lord, to act from a clear sense of duty in forming resolutions; and preserve me from abusing thy manifold mercies. May I judge myself impartially, and steadfastly resist the unhallowed influence of a desire for the approbation of the world. Help me to keep a conscience void of offence, and tenderly alive to thy requirements. Above all, may I seek to glorify thee, and ever feel that I am not my own, but wholly and voluntarily thine. Make me more holy, and more devoted to the great concerns of my soul. Preserve me from sinful desires and motives. Teach me, in infinite mercy, more of myself, of my offences, and my helplessness, that I may love thee more, and rest entirely upon Christ as my Saviour. May I not only see, but feel; may I have that faith which works by love, purifies the heart, an overcomes the world.

"Have this evening finished the perusal of Advice to a Young Christian,' and hope I can sincerely thank God that it was placed in my hand. Rarely have I read any thing on the subject so clear, so full of feeling. It is just what I need. May the advice be received and loved and followed. pursuance of the recommendation of the writer, and with humble confidence in Divine aid, I resolve that

In

at the close of each day I will examine myself, scrutinize my motives of action, 'analyse my feelings,' see what duties have been performed, and what have been left undone, or carelessly and superficially attended to. Lord, thou knowest me altogether, thou canst not be deceived, thou wilt not be mocked. May this thought lead me to flee every approach to deception, may it urge me to duty, and may I in the performance of duty be accepted through Christ."

She alludes to the same subject at a later period, in a letter to her friend C., and expresses her surprise that the duty had received so small a share of her

attention.

"Yesterday, I endeavoured to ascertain whether my affections were really placed upon the Lord. But I could only appeal to Him who knows all things, and beg, yea implore, with bitter tears, that I might be delivered from hypocrisy and self-delusion. Dear C., how much we have to do! Without stepping beyond the boundaries of the 'little world within,' we have enough to occupy our time, and engage our thoughts. Add to this, the duty we owe to God and to our fellow-creatures;-can we be idle?

"You speak of the necessity of self-examination ; is it not surprising that, untill recently, my attention has been very little directed to the subject? This will account for my deficiency in self-knowledge. I hope, by the blessing of God and the assistance of the Holy Spirit, to attend daily to this duty. Do you not think there is great danger of performing it superficially? Often, when I have been pursuing the examination, the inquiry of my

heart has appeared in such a light, that I have shrunk from the view, and turned my thoughts to another subject. May a sense of my deficiency humble me in the dust, and lead me to exalt Him who can teach and enlighten.

"You ask my opinion of religious biography, and of the emulation it excites. It certainly has a powerful effect. I think the perusal of well-written narratives, and especially memoirs of females, has a happy influence, and is calculated to inspire with confidence on the one hand and humility on the other.

“Mrs. H. appears to have had very little unreserved intercourse with her friends,-that christian communion, that interchange of feelings which has a tendency, when properly regulated, to promote our comfort, and increase our affection for each other. But perhaps those parts of her correspondence were omitted. Do not imagine that my opinion of her is less favourable than when I alluded to her before. My deep interest in the subject has led to this expression of my views."

Miss Foote's school having become so large as to render it impossible for her to perform its duties without assistance, she had for some time been solicitous to have a person associated with her who would diminish her cares and responsibility. This was the more necessary from repeated indications of disease, and an inability to use her voice without much suffering. Arrangements were accordingly made for her sister J. to assume a portion of the labour. At the time her arrival was expected, Sarah received the painful intelligence that this sister, for whose welfare she had cherished the deepest solicitude,