ritance where I can be most devoted in heart and life unto him, and most separated from a vain world! These are, I trust, among the most earnest desires of my soul." - 66 July 20. Fain would I be brought to feel satisfied with every dispensation which my heavenly Father sees good for me. What a lovely grace is contentment! How does it honour and glorify God! Oh that the risings of self-love and self-will were daily more subdued! I would desire to trace the divine hand in the common occurrences of every day, so that in the little disappointments and vexations of life, my mind may be kept comparatively peaceful and resigned, looking to the first great cause of all. Is my body weakly, my health fluctuating? Do the infirmities of others oppress me? Are my pleasures crossed, my hopes frustrated? All this is good. My Father is purging me: my patience is exercised: my grace is strengthened. A careful attention and watchfulness, through the divine grace, to these little things, would prepare me to bear heavy trials with more patience and resignation." A friend, who visited Miss G.... about this time, thus describes the situation in which she found her. "The state of dear ... .'s mind, was truly amiable. Resignation was written on her countenance, and she often told me, that when she felt herself most ill in body, her mind was most happy. She had but one will, and that was swallowed up in the will of God. This was clear from every word she uttered, and in this most desirable frame of mind I left her." In Miss G....'s diary, for the following month, I remark the following entries. Aug. 7." The infirmities of a frail and weakly body, almost overpower me. I feel it such a hindrance to my close walk with God. And yet this is my infirmity, for, rightly managed, these painful necessities should draw me nearer to him." Aug. 22.-"Through my sad thoughtlessness and unwatchful spirit many an opportunity of speaking a word for God passes away, and, when too late, my conscience rises and condemns me. How many plans for doing good enter into my thoughts, and pass away, as though they had never been, ineffectual and vain! The Lord have mercy upon me!" At this period, when Miss G.... was regaining a measure of strength, she thus addressed a friend. "I think I may say, with David, it has been good for me to be afflicted. Greatly did I need my Father's chastising rod; but, blessed be his holy name, I find his dealings with me are not after my deserts, but according to his own abundant mercy. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and though, for the present, chastisement is not joyous certainly, but grievous; yet, if it be sanctified, it will ultimately yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness, and I shall have cause to rejoice. Never, in deed, was a Saviour so precious to me. When I looked within, the prospect was so dark and discouraging, the burden of sin so great, that nothing but his blood and righteousness could afford me a moment's peace. The precious promisesi of God were my daily and nightly support. Indeed, my Bible was all in all to me, and supplied the place of all christian friends. And yet, my dear, I think there never was a period when I felt more affection for you. I could not wish to be with you indeed, because the hand of God plainly marked out my present situation. I felt the I felt the poor blind worm had been led by the way she knew not. May I not be permitted 6 to say, in much thankfulness, that in many instances lately, crooked things have been made straight before me, and rough places plain ?' Oh that in all future exercises I may derive encouragement from the past experience of Jehovah's mercies! "Under the present favourable symptoms of returning strength, I sometimes venture to anticipate my return to town.. I am indeed surrounded with mercies, but the want of christian society is often painful to me. Sometimes I am too weak to read, and even prayer is burdensome; and I need some one to lead me to Jesus, when my spirit is bowed down. under manifold infirmities. "But there is one desire nearer my. heart than to be with you. As the sabbath day closes, I have the consolation of thinking I am one day nearer the earthly or the heavenly courts of the Lord; for the promise runs, 6 Those |