She soon became conspicuous and mote its interest, and assisted exemplary for her mildness-her more congregations than one in remarkable command of temper, supporting the ministry of reconand an uniform uninterrupted ciliation. walk, as one who continually real- The general character of her ized the presence and the majesty exercises of mind, the reader will of God. Her humility was espe- find in the accompanying extracts cially prominent, and many poor from her Diary, to be in a style and pious women were noticed and degree much above the usual by her, and treated as her friends standard of Christians. But it is and equals. She loved the com- proper to state, from the informpany and conversation of the ation of one who knew her well, Lord's people; and though the that " she was particularly attenrank of her family rendered it tive to cases of conscience, and necessary for her sometimes to was desirous to converse upon appear among persons of a dif- subjects relative to the expeferent description, they soon per-rience and trials of the Lord's ceived she was not one of them. people. One peculiar trait of Such, however, was the character her devotional frame, was a deof her mind and the dignity of her sire to abound in adoration. This manners, that they looked up to she has mentioned, with a wish, her with respect and veneration, that in public and family prayer, and rendered homage to the re- the expressions of solemn adoraligion which she professed. Her tion might be more pointed and most pleasant hours, however, frequent." We only add, that were passed with those who, with she lived comfortably by faithher, loved the Redeemer. had peace and joy in believing, Grace taught her unbounded and walked humbly with her benevolence, and she cheerfully God.

applied much of her store of On the first day of July, 1800, wealth in prudent and extensive in the 77th year of her age, her charities. Many poor widows long and exemplary life was endwere assisted and some entirely ed, without pain or previous supported by her kind attention warning. She rose in her usual and large assistance. health and spirits, walked someShe understood the doctrines of time in her garden; but before grace, which she believed with nine at night was called to the the heart, and ably defended them enjoyment of that rest which reagainst the opposition and ob- maineth for the people of God. jections of many by whom she The nature of her complaint prewas surrounded. Strong in the vented her from saying any thing faith, she rested on the imputed -nor was it necessary. Her righteousness of her blessed Je-life, as a daughter, wife, and mosus, as the only basis of her justi-ther, under the direction of the fication, and was never ashamed Spirit of God, since she had openof Christ, his people, or his cause. ly avowed Christ to be her all, Cordially attached to the Re- was enough.

formed Dutch Church, of which Her Diary begins with May 19, she lived and died a worthy mem- in the year 1766, two years after ber, she exerted herself to pro- Dr. Laidlie's arrival in New-York,

and plainly shows that at that time she was no novice in the divine life.

those had to whom the Lord manifested himself. Many characters by which the hearers might know if they were God's people-and advice given them in the application. Happy, my soul, wilt thou be if included in the blessed number. Gracious Lord, manifest thyself to my soul; remove every obstacle; show thy power in calling me home to thee; subdue in me more and more the power of sin. O for the blessed privilege of adoption, sanctification. Lord Jesus, show forth the riches of free grace in the redemption of one so altogether unworthy. To thee do I give up my whole soul, heart, and faculties. Keep me by thy almighty power. Amen. And as thou, in thy providence, callest me away from this place, O be thou ever with me; feed my soul from thine own hand; let not my heart be confined to outward ordinances, but teach me to wait, and cast myself on thee with all my burdens; and do thou, my blessed Jesus, wash away all my sins, and clothe me

"May 19, 1766. Awoke this morning with scattered thoughts; though, I bless God, I was, some time after, enabled to lift up my heart to the Lord, and was assisted. O that it would please God to make me devote my first thoughts to him. My morning prayer was sweet. Went to Church; heard an excellent discourse on John xiv. 26. Some marks laid down for self-examination; which, to the praise of free grace, I could say I had experienced, and was very comfortable to my soul. The prayer was delightful. O my God! I bless thy holy name for thy amazing love to me, the most unworthy of thy creatures. When I returned home I sought the Lord in prayer, in which I found my heart drawn out after greater degrees of holiness. O my adored Jesus, perfect thine own work, and may I be taught with salvation. of the Holy Spirit. Give thy blessing to thy word this afternoon and evening. O to be made more and more thine, my Jesus, my Lord, my life, my all. Blessed be thy name, that thou condescendest to be my Advocate with the Father, and that thy precious blood is my passport, and will through grace admit me to thy blissful presence.”

We select the following additional passages from her Diary, to enable the reader to judge more fully of the nature of her religion.

"March 1st to the 18th. O what abundant cause for praise and thanks to the blessed Author of all my mercies. O God, who is like thee, wonderful, glorious, and almighty, in giving me, the most unworthy, the assistance of thy holy, ever-blessed Spirit, to draw me unto thyself, my Lord and my God. How shall I begin the glorious theme of praise? How hast thou drawn out my whole soul after thee, exciting my love, making it ardent and unutterable! My desires after thee and thy grace are such as convince me it must be the work of thy blessed Spirit. My heart I could never dictate such holy and ardent love as I find there. May I, O my Lord, take this as an earnest of still greater blessings that thou hast laid up for me in Jesus, my covenant head; that thou wilt unite me in an indissolu ble union with him who is the Lord my

"Lord's day, June. I am still in New-York, contrary to my expectations, and have the privilege of bearing the word preached again. Begged the Lord in secret to bless his gospel to me, for I have not felt that love, that energy, I have sometimes experienced, Aud righteousness; and in thine own time though this was a most powerful sermon, I have brought but little home. Dear Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years in the midst of the years make known.

"The conclusion of the last sermon was, that the work of the Lord might go on in the hearts of his people; that the Lord will preserve his own, be they where they will. In what manner the Lord makes himself known to his own. Then was shown what great privileges

give me the foretaste of that exquisite bliss thou hast laid up for thine own. What shall I render unto thee, thou glorious Author of those precious hopes? O for still clearer views of thy blessed self, that my whole soul may be full of thee, my Jesus, my all, and as far conformed to thy image as my frame can admit of, being holy as thou art holy.

"This has been a most sweet week to my soul. What precious times have I experienced in prayer. How has my

heart been drawn out after holiness and nearness to God.

"This day, March 18th, 1768, has been a blessed day. What sweet meltings of soul under a sense of God's goodness, mercy, and love to me. O the blessed hope of being for ever with the Lord. If here, in this wilderness, in this body of flesh, my blessed Lord gives a transient view of his glory, in which there is such happiness, what must a full discovery give in heaven Although the glorious majesty cannot be fully known even there, yet so much will be manifested as will fill the happy spirit with unspeakable bliss. Glory, glory be to the sovereign Jehovah, for the precious hope that I am thine.

Lord God Almighty, by all thy re deemed; but especially by me, the most unworthy.

Accept, O ever-blessed Lord, thy poor creature, who bath in thy strength devoted herself to thee. But O, how many backslidings! if thou heal me, as I humbly trust thou wilt, then in thy power and might I shall run thy race with joy. To thee do I give up all that thou hast given me, husband, children, parents, friends, estate, time, talents, all to be used for thy glory. Let nothing in this world be too dear to be parted with, when the cause and glory or will of God calls for it. Help me, O blessed Jesus, my Redeemer, to be true to thee; let thy strength be sufficient for me, and thy continual influence, thou blessed Spirit of all grace, "January, 1768. Glory be to to lead, govern, and support thy weak thee, thou God of my life, who spared creature, in herself altogether unable to and preserved thy unprofitable ser- think a good thought. Give me freevant to this hour. O how power-dom of access to thee, as my Father, fully hast thou made known thyself brought nigh by the Lord Christ. as a God of mercy and grace in my Amen, and amen. behalf. How hast thou defeated the designs of those who were unfriendly

to me.

"January 28th. Awoke this morning with sweet thoughts of my God, and his precious dealings with my soul; recol"Thy bounty makes my cup of bless-lected the many mercies that have been ings to overflow temporally, and may I say spiritually. I humbly trust I may; I hope I have not this world for my portion. No-if that or any thing besides thee come in competition, I would spurn the gilded toy, were it all creation, with the contempt it merits. Give me thy blessed self, that will satisfy nothing else can.

showed me. The faithfulness, truth, and goodness I have experienced, filled my heart with wonder, love, and joy. O how sweet to the longing soul, when the blessed Spirit shines in and dispels the clouds of darkness, doubts, and unbelief. Blessed be thy name, Lord of my life, for this glimpse of thy mercy, thy love to me, the chief of sinners. But how transient the view! How soon lost! O Lord of my life, set me free

rious liberty of thy redeemed; let me know no fear, but the loss of thy favour; strengthen my faith; increase my love, and let me live under a sweet sense of thy grace to my soul.

❝ 29th. Still the same cause for thankfulness and praise: my Lord continues his goodness to me, the most unworthy.

"Saturday, January Went to Church. Heard a preparation sermon When I came home I humbled myself from bondage, and place me in the globefore the Lord, pleading for mercy and grace. And O my soul, never forget the goodness of thy God, who certainly is a prayer-hearing, faithful, and everloving Father in Christ Jesus (the foundation of all my hope.) He hath, I humbly trust, revived his own work in my soul; strengthening my faith, increasing my love, and giving me strong and ardent desires after himself, the "30th. This morning was enabled to fountain of all good. The Lord would lift my heart to God in prayer. I hope not excite desires in my soul that he I read his word with improvement and would not fulfil; the mouth of truth delight. After breakfast read Witsius hath said, Blessed are they that bunger on Justification with great pleasure, and thirst after righteousness, for they and through the day I hope was emshall be filled-on this promise I rest. He is faithful, who hath promised, able, being Almighty, and willing, having given me himself. Glory, eternal praise be given to thee, O eternal, ever-blessed

ployed in thinking of the goodness of my Great Shepherd. Meditation in the evening very comfortable. In self-examination found cause for great thankfulness for what the Lord had done for

me, the most unworthy. O for a Sab- my soul? Hope still in God, who is bath's blessing on the morrow. thy strength and salvation. What though temptations from within or with

"31st. Surely God's people may set to their seal that he is true and a prayer-out may, for the trial of thy faith and hearing God. He has given me a Šab- patience, be permitted to harass and inbath's blessing. vade thy peace, still remember that the “Clermont, January, 1769. Never, same in kind the great Captain of thy O my soul, forget the precious mani-salvation hath encountered. Although festations of God's love to thee on this without sin, yet he was tempted, that occasion. Saturday heard the prepara- he might be a faithful High Priest, tion sermon, and felt much of the divine sympathizing with his poor weak folpresence on my way from Church. On lowers. Build not, my soul, on the sandy Sunday morning all was dead and in-foundation cf self-righteousness; but sensible; went to Church under dejec-endeavour to feel more of thy emptiness, tion of spirit. Sitting down at the ta- and come to the fountain of life, to be ble of my adorable Redeemer, my filled out of his fulness. Blessed Jesus, whole heart was taken up in prayer, I thank thee, that all, all is in thee that when these words were brought with thine handmaiden needs. I thank thee, power to my soul, What is thy petition, holy blessed Spirit, for opening my and what is thy request? my heart an-eyes, for making me the subject of thy swered, Lord, that I may be thine. My gracious influences, and working faith whole heart and all that I am was given in my heart, and making me willing in up to my precious Lord. But glory the day of thy power. Bless the Lord, and praise I am bouud to render to God. O my soul, for ever and ever. Amen. His goodness, truth, love, and condescension to his unworthy creature were such as I hope always to remember nal life, and they shall never perish, with gratitude and love. Returning neither shall any pluck them out of my home from Church, the blessed Lord band. was pleased to manifest himself to my soul with much power, and favoured me with a foretaste, I think I may call it, of the happiness his saints in heaven enjoy; that from this view my soul was impatient to be gone. Joyfully would I have left my body, and taken my flight to glory. Twice on the road was I thus favoured. Why me, Lord?-even so, Father, for thus it pleased thee to answer my petitions and requests made at thy table. What shall I render to my God for all his astonishing mercy to my soul.

"John x. 28. I give unto them eter

"Our blessed Lord, in the preceding verse says, that his sheep hear his voice, and be knows them, and they follow him, and he will give them complete happiness. Neither the world, nor all its allurements, temptations, cares, or afflictions, shall deprive them of that portion which their heavenly Father has laid up for them. What a comfortable promise is this, made by the adorable Redeemer, who is faithfulness and truth invariable. They shall never perish;' not only be kept from evil, but enjoy everlasting felicity. Although the evil spirit, as prince of "O my soul, rejoice in the God of thy the world, may put in practice all those salvation. The ever-blessed Father bas arts to allure, by which so many fall given his equal Son as thy life. He away, which suit our corrupt nature, hath made a full, a complete expiation and fall in with the bias of our inclinafor all thy great and accumulated sins, tions, still he, nor any other power shall original as well as actual transgressions, ever pluck them out of our heavenly for infirmities, weaknesses, and number-Father's hand. Feed, my soul, on this less other frailties. Like as a father gracious promise; let it support thee pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth through life, amidst every affliction, them that fear him. For the mountains trial, and temptation; that the Lord shall depart, the hills be removed, but reigns; that he has disposed thee to my loving-kindness shall remain.' What follow him, who is thy good Shepherd; more stable than the mountains? Yet that be whom thou servest is God, and they, durable as they are, shall be re-none shall ever pluck thee out of his moved, before my loving-kindness shall be withdrawn, or my covenant be dissolved. Why restless, why cast down,

hand.

“July 12th. Sabbath day. But Ah! how silent! No Church, to hear the

sacred word of the living God explained of his servant, that walketh in darkfor information, for direction, for reproof, ness, and hath no light? let him trust in and for comfort. O my ever-blessed the name of the Lord, and stay himself Jesus, be thou my teacher; lead me, upon his God. thou who art the way, the truth, and the life; and if it is thy blessed will to take me from the appointed means of grace, do thou in mercy feed my soul by thy immediate agency; and if this, thou in thy wisdom seest fit to deny me, O Lord, refuse me not this, that thou wilt cause me to live by faith on thee. O that thou wouldest enable me to receive out of thy fulness, even grace for grace, to grant me that appropriating faith, whereby thou, the Lord, art become mine. Show, by thy willingness to receive such an unworthy creature as I am, that grace is free. Be thou my guide through this barren wilderness; fit and prepare me for all thy will, either prosperous or adverse, may all be sane tified to my soul. Grant that I may live near to thee, my dearest Lord, that when my last summons arrives I may meet it with joy, and rise to greet the Lord of glory, and dwell with him in bliss for evermore.

"Ephesians ii. 4. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he hath loved us,

"How often do believers, that fear the name and the word of the Lord, walk in darkness from a sense of their sinful nature, and numberless defects !--very justly may they be humbled. Satan then takes advantage, and endeavours to make them distrust the God of all mercy; hides by his arts the loving Saviour from the eye of faith. Unbelief takes place, and thick darkness, which may be felt, comes on. O how truly deplorable-how distressing such a situation! The ever-blessed Spirit has withdrawn his enlightening influences as to any sensible comfort. But let such a one, that fears the Lord, that obeys his holy will, and makes his word his rule, that looks only to the great propitiatory sacrifice the blessed Jesus hath made, let such a one trust on his God, as his Father, by adoption; on God, the Son, as his Redeemer, and in God, the Holy Ghost, as his Sanctifier. All which glorious privileges are comprehended in those words-Trust, and stay himself upon his God. When evidences are darkened so that conscience cannot find them, then, O everblessed God, may my faith be strong in the might of the Redeemner, and show me, that I have undone myself"Who can describe the riches of that but in thee is my help found, that thou grace the Apostle here speaks of, or the camest to seek and to save that which mercy and love of our adorable God, was lost; that thou never saidst to the that he should condescend to visit sin-seed of Jacob, seek ye my face in vain, ners, sons of apostate Adam, who were but Fear not, it is I. Can a mother dead in trespasses and sins, unable to forget her sucking child? Yea, they think a good thought, out of mere grace, may forget. Therefore trust in God, -nothing to induce him to take our part, who hath given his word for thy combut mercy-mercy and love inexhaust-fort, and his oath for thy strong consoible? When we were dead in sin, he lation. Beware of dishonouring him by hath still had thoughts of peace to us, by unbelief or distrust, but say, with Job, giving us his dear Son to take our ini-Though He slay me, yet will I trust quities on himself, and to quicken us in Him.' Wait on the Lord, and he together with him, to give his people new hearts, and his blessed Spirit shedding abroad the love of God in their souls, thereby enabling them to become new creatures, and in the strength of the blessed Saviour, endeavouring to live to his honour and glory. O my From the preceding sketch of Father! give me lively and soul-affect- Mrs. Livingston's life and chaing views of thy love; enable me to racter, together with the extracts live an humble, pious, and holy life, de- from her Diary, it is evident her voted to thy service.

"5. Even when we were dead in trespasses and sins, hath quickened us together with Christ: by grace ye are saved.

that shall come will come, and will not tarry, for in him all the promises are Yea and Amen, as the portion of those who are in Christ Jesus."

"July 19th. Who is among you that religion included the following feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice characteristic features; on each