As there is a beautiful uniformity in Christian experience, the following extracts may serve to shew that the people of God are engaged in a conflict, emphatically styled spiritual-that devotional exercises are their element-that their hopes of divine acceptance rest exclusively on the meritorious sacrifice of Christ-that things above' engross their affections-that present attainments cannot satisfy them-that universal obedience, and entire resignation to the will of heaven, are their habitual aim-in short, that religious excellence is characterised by godly fear, holy love, and spiritual joy.

SECTION I.

HER DILIGENCE IN IMPROVING TIME, AND IN STUDIOUS EXERCISES.

WHEN the toil and bustle connected with a farm-house, and a large family, are considered, it is truly astonishing how so much was accomplished.-It should be borne in mind, that her preparation for eternity, which it will appear was most exemplary, never hindered her secular affairs. Her eye was fixed upon the land of Canaan, but she perseveringly walked in the paths of appointed duty. She attended, diligently to the routine of the kitchen and the dairy, the

concerns.

market and the fair. "Conscientious waiting upon God," it is observed in her funeral sermon, "neither prevented her discharging her duty to those who were about her, nor hurried her to the neglect of her temporal So remarkable was her diligence in her family, that, excepting the portion of time which she consecrated to God, it is said of her, by one that observed and knew her well for forty years, that she was not idle or unemployed-no, not a moment. She very well understood and knew that her duty to God did, by no means, oblige her to neglect the duties of a wife, a mother, or a mistress. When out of the more immediate service of God, she was constantly discharging these. Religion is no friend to sloth, confusion, and indolence."

Mrs. Savage habitually rose early, and so miserly was she of time, that when, through the disturbances of nursing, or other causes, she slept too long, her Diary records especial dissatisfaction and regret.

It was the order and wisdom of her household regulations, which enabled her to redeem time for mental improvement. She thought much, and, considering her pressing engagements, she read much. Good books were her treasure;

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Their familiar voice,
Even to old age, with unabated charm;
Beguiled her leisure hours; refreshed her thoughts."

Her acquaintance with, and delight in, the Holy Scriptures was extensive and sincere, and laid a firm foundation for the accurate knowledge she discovered of the system of revealed truth. The Psalms of David, and St. Paul's Epistles, were peculiarly admired. During the last years of her life she usually, while at work, kept the Bible within reach, that she might turn to such portions as were the subjects of meditation. With reading the Scriptures (in regular order) and her Father's Exposition, she commonly began the day, and the wakeful hours of night were usually improved by repeating, from memory, Psalms, and Hymns, and Catechisms.

The following are pleasing specimens of a devout perusal of the divine word, in which she particularly recognizes the goodness of God. "Wednesday morning I read in course Ezekiel xvi. A portion of scripture, where, as in a glass, I may see my own face. His kindness to that poor forlorn infant was great. Surely such was his kindness to me in infancy, when I was wholly polluted and defiled with original corruption. Then he had compassion on me— washed me with water-entered into covenant with me in baptism, so that I became his. He decked me with ornaments, viz. natural abilities, both of body and mind, in a competent manner. In a word, he did much for me. But, I was unthankful-fought

against him with his own weapons. Yet he was pleased to follow me with the calls of his grace, till, at last, he made them effectual, and brought me home to himself. To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, be honor and glory for ever. Amen."

"Sabbath, July 15, 1694. I did not awake with thoughts suitable to the day. Is my Lord risen, and is my heart so low and cold? I was lately refreshed by reading, in the family, Daniel xii, 13. How comfortably does that book close! The good man had great revelation of things to come, and he seems,by the story, to have desired earnestly to see the coming of Christ, and the accomplishment of the great things he had been told of, (verses 6, 8.) But observe, how God answers him-"Go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days." Thy body shall rest in the grave; thy soul, in heaven. As if he had said, Let it suffice thee it shall be, though thou dost not live to see it. I believe God hath great things to do in the world; perhaps, shortly, in the destruction of antichrist, root and branch-and the advancement of the gospel-kingdom of Jesus Christ. Though I may not live to see it, yet, I trust, I shall rest with that good man, and all the dear members of that great body, and stand in my lot at the end of the daysin the resurrection of the just."

"January 11, 1708. This week I am reading, in course, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, wherein, I see more excellency than ever heretofore. The eighth chapter is concerning the everlasting covenant. I will make a new covenant. The Exposition especially observes-that pardon of sin seems to be the foundation of the rest. I will do so and so, For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. And, methinks, the manner of the expression is exceedingly sweet. In the Old Testament it used to be "If they will walk in my statutes, and do them, and be obedient, &c. then I will be gracious." But, here are no ifs and ands. I will and you shall is the language. This is, indeed,Gospel-good news. Enough to make one's heart leap for joy. He works all our works in us, and for us. Oh, this everlasting covenant has that in it which is "all our salvation, and all our desire." It was that which my dear and honored father had his heart much upon.

"In the ninth chapter, as all along, he is preferring the Gospel before the Law-the New Testament before the Old. But, that which most affects me is the last verse, where, speaking of Christ's second coming, the true saints are described to be such as look for him. This the wicked do not. They would be glad if he would never come. But the real Christian looks, nay longs, for his