4 our strength is not in ourselves, but in him only.". She diligently and conscientiously observed fasts, both congregational and appointed by authority. The following extracts manifest a delight in spiritual worship, and a fervency in ministerial labors, not often surpassed. June 18. My dear, and self, and my little girl went to Broad Oak; it being the third Wednesday, was the fast, which my dear father was enabled, by divine assistance, to carry on from nine till four in praying, singing, preaching, and expounding. A sweet opportunity it was, wherein my soul certainly had communion with God, who was pleased so to answer my prayers, as to keep me from drowsiness all the time, which I reckon a great mercy." “June 8, 1692.-Wednesday the public fast. I went to Broad Oak. Took my two little girls with me. Dear father preached from Gen. xlii, 21-guilty concerning our Brother. He insisted on three points: "1. The office of conscience. I bless God for any tenderness of this kind-that I have that within me which will smite when I do amiss. I bless God for such a deputy with all my heart. "2. The benefit of affliction. Till Joseph's brethren were in trouble they thought not of their sin. Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions. But 3. That chiefly insisted on, was the guilt we all lie under concerning our Brother. Both omissions and commissions laid open in many particulars. Here I must lay a guilty hand on a more guilty heart, and cry, I am verily guilty concerning my Brother. What relation have I filled up as I ought? Father, forgive. "It pleased God to abate the pleasure I should have had now in being here, by laying his hand on my father, afflicting him with lameness, and much pain on his bed. Wearisome nights appointed him; full of the graces of God's spirit-humility, patience, resignation-especially, full of the sermons he had lately preached concerning Christ: what he is to believers in forty particulars.* He said he never had so much comfort in the reflection upon any subject as this. Notwithstanding his illness, he went on Sabbath, June 12, limping to the pulpit, where, indeed, his delight is, and preached, expounded, and catechised as usual, being strengthened with strength from above. These sermons were lately in the compiler's possession, and are in the best style of their admired author. The subjects, with an appropriate text to each, are as follows: our Lord Jesus Christ is considered, in relation to his people, as their Foundation-Food-Root-Raiment-HeadHope--Refuge--Righteousness--Light-Life-PeacePassover- -Portion-Propitiation-Freedom-FountainWisdom-Way-Ensign-Example-Door-Dew-SunShield-Strength-Song-Horn-Honor-SanctificationSupply-Resurrection--Redemption--Lesson-Ladder Truth-Treasure-Temple-Ark—All. Still he goes on to preach Christ from Phil. iii, 7-10. But what things were gain to me, &c. Christ. Christ. In comparison with him all is nothing. Lord, teach me this good lesson. Still my father is much afflicted with pain. The use I would make is, to be myself preparing for the like. If this be done in the green tree-if he be so afflicted who has done so much and been so long a faithful laborer in the Lord's vineyard, what must I expect, who have been cumbering the ground?" The annual return of Nov. 5th, served to excite fresh emotions of thankfulness for the signal deliverance of England from ungodly machinations. Nor was her observance of the day a mere formal recollection of the treason. Her very soul was lifted up to the great Deliverer. Her devout father, and other excellent ministers, commemorated the event, annually, by a sermon adapted to the occasion. The return of these opportunities were highly prized. In 1724, she writes: "Nov. 5. The return of the year should excite our thankfulness for national mercies. Yet a Protestant people. Blessed be God. Psalm cxxiv. When this old mercy is in 'danger to be forgotten, God still sends us fresh ones; as at this time King William, of blessed memory, landed in England, Nov. 4th, 1688, whom God made a Savior to deliver us from Popery, and, Slavery. At the same time of year again, another great de liverance, in 1714, from the Rebellion at Preston. Our soul escaped as a bird. I often fear lest I offend God for want of a public spirit. A sign I am but a babe in the family." SECTION IV. HER HUMILITY. "TRUE humility," observes an illustrious writer, "is a lowly frame and habit of spirit, arising from a due sense of the glorious excellency of the Almighty God, our own frailty and infirmities, and our infinite dependance upon his bounty, goodness, and mercy." And, among the various graces which adorn Christianity, there is none more valuable. It is essential to personal religion, and peculiarly distinguishes eminent piety. Who has been more humble than Abraham, or Jacob, or Job, or David, or Paul? Dr. Harris said,-So much humility as any man has, so much grace and worth he possesses, and no more. The Scriptures abound in discoveries of its importance. Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the con * Sir Matthew Hale. trite ones." "Put on humbleness of mind" Be clothed with humility." Angels are bright examples of this sacred virtue, and it is observable that Ezekiel, when relating his vision of their "attention, activity, and perseverance in executing the divine commands," expressly states that "they had the hands of a man under their wings." We see their operations, but not their hands. They are humble. The language of our Savior on the subject, is especially striking. "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."-And it is well worthy," as Dr. Doddridge has remarked, "of our observation, that no one sentence is so frequently repeated as this: which occurs at least ten times in the Evangelists." Humility is indeed, "The proof of goodness, and the solid stamp On which the Christian virtues love to rest." Mrs. Savage having learned of him who was "meek and lowly in heart,” was "poor in spirit." This is manifest from her deep sense of the evil of sin-her esteem of the righteousness of Christ-her submissive conduct while suffering affliction-her gratitude for divine mercies-her meekness under reproach-her contentment in every stationand her love to prayer, and all heavenly ap *Family Expositor, Matt. xxiii, 12. |