but which, on the conversion of the heart to God, has awoke to a consciousness of those inherent qualities, which render it worthy of an immortal being. Learned and scientific acquirements are too often found apart from vital godliness; but while this circumstance is to be regretted, it furnishes fresh reason for engaging Christians in their prosecution. That will be a happy day for the world, when they who hold as it were the keys of knowledge, shall be men filled with the Holy Ghost, and who will wield the mighty weapons with which that knowledge supplies them, in the cause of truth and holiness.

But, apart from these considerations, there is something in the mind itself, that imperiously demands cultivation. We feel that it is the noblest part of our nature; it is that which raises us above sensuality, and allies us to angels and to God. The natural powers of the human mind are great, and even here we look with admiration on the mental efforts of a Bacon or a Newton; but these vanish, as the star of morning fades before the glowing light of day, when compared with those energies that shall be put forth, when the mind, freed from the shackles of corruption, and purified at the Fount of Life, shall engage with untiring activity in the occupations of a glorious and deathless sphere.

The thought is ennobling, and must excite to the improvement of those faculties which God has given us for some useful end; while the precept of the apostle should never be forgotten, "Whether ye eat

or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Any thing that offered in the shape of study was delightful to Mary, and she hailed it as a means of mental improvement; but I think her talent for languages was as strongly marked as any of her powers. When fourteen years old, staying at the house of a friend, she began Latin as a profitable amusement; and it is no small proof of her power of application, that in eight weeks she had learned twice through the Grammar, written Exercises daily, and read thoroughly Valpy's Delectus. At another time, staying with the same friend, only for a few days, she went through Vulgar Fractions; so constantly anxious was she to improve. She never paid a visit without inquiring, What knowledge can I gain here? and with her readiness of mind and fixedness of purpose, it is not surprising that her progress was easy and rapid. Thus her days were spent in unwearied application, till her mind waxing more and more vigorous, at length became too powerful in its operations for so frail a tenement, and the casket wore away, as if unfit to hold a gem so prized. Her love of order ought not to be unnoticed. Fond as she was of books, they were never suffered to lie out of their proper places; and though attached to literary pursuits, these never made her forget the importance of more feminine occupations, nor unfitted her for domestic life.

Humility shone in an eminent degree in her character. It is true that there is a reserve springing from

pride; but hers was entirely the fruit of the low opinion she constantly entertained of herself. She always gave others the palm, and spoke of her own small attainments in language plainly the expression of no affected humility nor hidden ostentatiousness, but of a heart intimately acquainted with itself. It was in the summer of 1832, that my intercourse with the beloved subject of this memoir commenced. I remember then thinking that, behind the veil which her diffidence had flung around her, there must be hidden a mind of more than ordinary power; and when all reserve was laid aside, and we loved each other as sisters, I indeed found that there was a mind, distinguished alike by strength of intellect, and by its striking resemblance to the mind of Christ.

Her extreme aversion from disclosing to others her private feelings, and the fear lest she should be tempted to express herself more strongly than her conscience would permit, led her to commit but little to paper, and even to destroy nearly all the manuscripts which she had written. The following fragment however remains among a few others, which, though torn, are quite legible.

66

Adieu, vanity world! may I be dead to all thine allurements; may all thy sinful pleasures disgust me. In the hour of death, will thy sordid gratifications afford me any real happiness, or impart one cheering thought to a dying mortal? Oh let me not be insnared by thy flattering scenes.

All is delusion: all

is vanity. Blessed Jesus! be thou my Guide: direct me through this maze of sensuality. Thou art the Rock of ages, be rock. Thou art higher than I; lead me till death shall call me to thee. Then shall I sing thy praises to all eternity.

my

Mary's natural diffidence acted for some time as a seal upon her lips on the subject of religion. She knew it, and bewailed it as sinful. She had a strong desire to unite with the people of God, and walk with them in the way of his commandments, long before she actually made a profession of religion. One of her letters, bearing the date of April 21st, 1834, refers to this subject. "How rejoiced I am, dear at your admission into the visible church of Christ! Thank you for your kind inquiries respecting my progression in this particular. I am grieved to tell you, that I have not yet enjoyed the privilege of commemorating the love of Jesus at the table of the Lord. I still feel an ardent desire to partake with his disciples of this delightful feast; but feel also my unworthiness of such an honour. I fear afterwards acting inconsistently with that high character the children of God are called to maintain; and dread putting forth the leaves of profession, while no real fruits of righteousness would be produced. Again, I feel such a difficulty in mentioning the subject to any one, even to my dear parents, to whom I should be most unreserved and confidential;

C

and if I find impossible to overcome this diffidence to them, I am sure I never can converse freely with any one else. I greatly need your encouragement and advice in this state of uncomfortable perplexity. Was it Domestic Portraiture you mentioned as being a nice work while I was with you? If so, I have read it since my return, and like it very much indeed. I feel just the same reserve that Wilberforce Richmond did, and wish I may be as successful in conquering it as he was." The following, dated from Bocking, Sept. 27th, is addressed to the same correspondent. "I cannot describe my feelings on reading your last; but it was not read without tears. The subject which formed so prominent a part of your letter, is indeed a highly important one; and because even to you I have been silent on it so long, do not suppose that it has ceased to be interesting to me, but the state of my mind is so fluctuating, now hope, now fear prevailing, that I know not what to say to you respecting it. When I sometimes think of the command that was given by Jesus, on instituting the Lord's supper, 'This do in remembrance of me,' together with the gracious promises of assistance contained in the word of God, I feel as though I must come forward as a follower of Christ, and give my heart to him; and at another time I am oppressed with a sense of my utter unworthiness, and a conviction arises that I have altogether mistaken what I once conceived to be the evidences of a renewed heart, and that I cannot be a child of God. 'Oh! that in unfettered union, spirit could with