they now, alas, too often do ; but they would attest to the constancy, sincerity, and wrestling ardour of our secret. devotions; and Heaven, in answer, would shed immortal blessings upon a world of woe.

When I glance at a dear fellow mortal, I think, O you are formed to live forever; and my bosom heaves with wonder and astonishment, too vast for utterance. Where is the language that can pourtray, in all its magnitude and solemnity, the worth of one soul? and what can amount to its equivalent? The language of earth fails to explain; and millions of perishing worlds dwindle into nothing.

If these are truths, where, O where is that benevolent spirit which Christians profess to have imbibed, and which their blessed Redeemer so eminently displayed, when he wept over perishing Jerusalem? when he had sought solitary repose by the side of Jacob's well? a spirit which shone conspicuously in his every action, and led him finally to the cross of Calvary. If they are followers of the man of sorrows, where are their bowels of compassion for Christless sinners, their glowing love to the glory of God, and their incessant, indefatigable exertions for the enlargement and extension of the Mediator's kingdom? If they are travellers to a world of holiness, where is their conformity to the temper and employments of heaven, their elevated superiority to mortal things, their devout and ardent aspirations after those joys which know not the alloy of sin and imperfection, flowing pure from the throne of Deity? O did they more exercise and illustrate the heaven-born spirit of their holy religion, they would enjoy vastly more of its refreshing and sublimely animating comforts, and they would shine as lights in this dark world, to the glory of the Being they love and adore.

FANNY

JOURNAL, 1814.

May 12. Last night was chiefly spent in reading the writings of my departed Harriet, and sweetly melancholy it was to my soul. "Safe is she lodged above these rolling spheres," far distant from this land of sorrow and region of death. After many a struggle and many a tear, she has arrived at the mansion of unclouded bliss, and peacefully rests in Eden's bower. And does she not from her golden seat, cast a pitying look on her dear Fanny, wandering forlorn in this vale of tears? Does she not witness the mourning tears and tender sighs of bereaved affection, and gently whisper, "Weep not for Harriet, but redeem the time, fulfil your work, and come and join me in our Father's blest abode." O Harriet! my much loved Harriet! shall our spirits one day meet and be blest with a friendship, which separation cannot wound, nor death destroy! which shall glow with seraphic fire in endless day! Tossed to and fro on the tempestuous sea of life, distressed with fears, assaulted by temptation, oppressed with iniquities, shall I ever find my way to a brighter world! O why tarry I here, seeing I groan day after day over an unprofitable life, and spend my time in vain! Is not the hour of release at hand, and shall I not soon drink abundantly of the wine of my Father's kingdom, and feast on fruit dropping sweetly from the tree of life! Haste my beloved! shorten these interposing days, and receive my parting spirit to thy glorious rest.

May 13. The years that are past arise to my view, and present cause for deep humiliation, self-abasement, and contrition. Ah! they are recorded in the annals of eternity, with all their numerous misimprovements, imperfections, and sins. Not one moment of them can ever

be recalled, not one action ever be undone. As I kneel ed before the throne this eve, as usual, I ruminated on what I have been, and what I now am, and the tears of sorrow stole gently down; and when I was engaged in supplication, I was blessed with some fixedness, ardour, and importunity, and found the season grateful to my soul.

LETTER TO MISS M. W. OF BEVERLY.

Beverly, May 14, 1814.

Ir grieves me to learn you are in darkness, seeking after your beloved, but finding him not; and wandering about in this distant land, with scarce one drop of bliss to smooth the way. But despond not. Your case is by no means peculiar. Trust in the Lord, and cast your every care on him; for he careth for you, and will relieve and succour you in the best time. Ere long, I trust, you will rejoice in his returning smiles, and the rich manifestations of his glory to your soul; and then you will go on your way rejoicing with lively gratitude and ardent zeal. Continue in the use of his appointed means, humbly imploring his gracious presence, and the cheering influences of his Holy Spirit; and be more anxious to have your trials sanctified, than removed. Such feelings are unpleasant; but they are necessary, to teach us our weakness and nothingness, wean us from the world, increase our humility, watchfulness, and prayer, and make us more dependent on the arm of the Almighty. If they have this ef fect on you through the blessing of God, you will have great reason to magnify and adore his holy name, and rejoice in his universal government.

O my sister, be not weary nor faint in your mind..

Y

Press onward in the path of duty, looking to Jesus, who was tempted like as you are, sin excepted; and exercise faith in his mighty name; for it is by faith, and not by sight we must live here. I feel a tender interest in concerns, and I cannot but long that the comforts of reNigion may be yours. O may your weary soul rest sweetly on the bosom of Jesus.

your

We have had no meeting this eve; but all is right; for the winds and the storms might easily have been calmed by Jehovah's word, if on the whole it had been best for us to have encircled the altar of social prayer and praise.

If you have not read dear Mrs Newell's Memoirs, I wish you may; for I think you will be pleased and profited. She is gone to her rest; and my pained heart says it is right, all right, though she was the best beloved of all my numerous friends, and fondly united by many a tie. Yours in love, FANNY.

NOTE TO MISS E. S. OF BEVERLY, THEN AT WENHAM. May 21, 1814.

You ask, "What is communion with God?" I wish I were better able to tell you. But it can better be known by experience than by description. I think however I have just felt it in my retirement, unless I am most fatally deluded. I have been favoured with much enlargement in petition for almost every thing. I seemed to leave all sublunary things, and grasped after durable riches, and soul satisfying blessings for myself, my friends, my acquaintances, my sisters of the church, my dear enemies, poor perishing pagans, for the ministers of Christ as a body, and particular individuals, for humane and religious societies, praying female societies, for the enlargement of

Matt. 5, 44.

Zion, and universal diffusion of peace, love, and religion If I know my own heart, there is not a false friend, nor an enemy, nor a soul in this habitable world, but I can carry to the throne of grace, and supplicate the same mercies, and enjoyments, and graces, that I do for myself → I want to have my whole soul moulded into pure gospel love, and to exhibit it illustriously in my temper and conduct: Will you not pray that this may be the case? Do, my dearly beloved; and forget not to praise the Lord for the precious filial freedom I have enjoyed and still hope to enjoy in pouring out my soul before him-a cordial for all my sorrows. and trials, a sweet relief from every woe. O! if one drop of heaven is so good, what is heaven itself? May you and I know by happy experience.. O may you be in the spiri on the Lord's day, and make advances in experimental piety. Good evening my dear friend.

FANNY WOODBURY..

NOTE TO MISS E. S. OF BEVERLY, THEN AT WENHAM.

May 22, 1814.

As it is not customary to keep school on election days, you will probably come home. I want you should devote Wednesday morn to a delightful ramble with me. I anticipate it with sensations of joy. But no; let us not depend too much; for it is a day which myriads of our race will never see. I want to feel that I have nothing to do here, but to glorify God, benefit immortal beings, work out my own salvation, and make my way to a fairer region.

Blessed be the Lord for the griefs and woes that have of late been mine to suffer. For they show the utter vanity of all below, and the preciousness of that gospel