January 5, 1834.-The latter end of the last month and beginning of this, has been a time of deep inward exercise, and outward care and fatigue. My trials increase, and my bodily strength is much weakened; nevertheless, the Lord does not suffer me to be tempted above what I am able to bear. I seem to be plunged into the cares of life more than I ever was, but it is my daily cross, which I am at present called to bear. I never was so loosed from outward things as I now am; I have but one mark, and that is holiness to God. I long for a fuller impress of the Divine mind, and a more perfect conformity to my living Head in all things. I walk by faith, and live a moment at once. many days my prospects have been very gloomy; and the new year has been a season of close trial and heavy temptations.

For.

'February 2.-When I look back upon the past, and forward into a never-ending eternity, I wonder that I am not more earnestly contending for the prize of my high calling of God in Christ Jesus. My time seems too much filled up with outward things, and yet I know not how to shake off the load, which grows heavier day by day; so that I find it difficult to do all that lies before me in such a way as will enable me in all things, and under all circumstances, to be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. I would not shake off the cross that I now bear, because it is a weight, but because I am so obstructed thereby in pursuing that line of duty which I owe to God, to myself, and to the Church of Christ. May the Lord direct me what to do, and enable me to buy up opportunities more diligently, as they are afforded me, and to endure patiently, and improve wisely and faithfully, all that the providence of God points out

for me to do. To-day has been a heavy day; yet I have found the Lord very precious, and His word a strong tower in every time of need.

'February 14.-My soul for many days has been in heaviness through manifold temptations, so that I sometimes felt as if I should be quite overwhelmed; but on retiring to rest, and being alone for an hour, I was enabled to look immediately to God, and to enter fully into my own state and wants. Immediately the snare was broken, and my soul was delivered. I so realised the presence of God with me, and had such a clear sense of the love and favour of God towards me, that I could not for one moment fear any evil. How sweet are the incomes of His grace! how delightful the manifestations of His presence! Since then, the enemy has not been suffered to come nigh me: the way into the holiest of all has been fully opened, and the access easy and delightful to my soul, through Him who loved me, and died, and rose again for me.

March 4.-I am this day seventy years old. I may say with Jacob of old, "Few and evil have been the days of the years of my pilgrimage." I feel the strongest sympathy with Jacob's spirit; and I know that Jacob's God is mine. Like him, I have constantly some trial to meet; but the Lord helpeth me, and heareth and answereth my prayer. My mind has for for many days been exercised out of the common way; clouds and darkness encompassed my path; I looked unto the Lord, and was enlightened; the cloud dispersed, and my heart was glad, and I praised the Lord for the manifestation of His goodness to me, in making my way plain before me. Glory be unto His holy name. I desire to give myself more than ever to Him, and to devote my soul and body's powers to His service as

I have never done. He has my heart, and He shall have my all. I can, I do confide in Him, and will bless His name for ever and ever. I am striving to live more inwardly. I long to be all spiritual, every moment experiencing the full salvation of God; but sometimes I am off my guard before I am aware of an enemy; and the least deviation from the perfect law interrupts for a season that peaceful tranquillity which is so congenial with the heavenly state. O may I watch in all things, that no thought, word, or action, may be a source of temptation to me, or interrupt my close communion with God.

March 9.-I awoke with these words upon my mind,

"Though thy wrath against me burn'd,

Now Thou comforts me again :

All thy wrath aside is turn'd,

Thou hast blotted out my sin."

'A calm and heavenly peace rested on my soul, love filled my heart, and the sacred influence enlarged and actuated all my powers, softening down all before it, and bringing into captivity every thought and desire, to the obedience of Christ; making me willing to be, to do, and to suffer, all His righteous will without fear, and with all humility and readiness of mind to serve the interests of His kingdom.'

The following letter is the close of the correspondence which Mrs. Tatham had maintained for more than half a century. It is a gem, most precious, indeed, because it is so pure, bright, compact, and heavy. But it is the last in the cabinet, and it is worthy of that situation, showing, as it does, how vigorous, saintly, and farreaching was the mind whence it proceeded. The letter is addressed to Mrs. Oastler.

346

MEMOIR OF MRS. TATHAM.

'MY VERY DEAR MARY,-My mind of late has been peculiarly impressed with the greatness of that mystery, God manifest in the flesh, and I am enabled so to realise the certainty of it in my own soul, as puts me in possession of those great and glorious benefits He lived and died to purchase for us. I have found that hymn in our large hymn book peculiarly beneficial to my soul,

"Arise, my soul, arise,

Thy Saviour's sacrifice!

All the names that love could find,
All the forms that love could take,
Jesus in Himself hath join'd,
Thee, my soul, His own to make."

I hope you will read the whole hymn again and again, until you make every heart-felt word your own. There is a depth in it which will take your whole life to fathom and be determined to press into the fulness of redeeming love.

Farewell. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit. Amen and amen.

'M. T.'

CHAPTER XI.

EXTRACTS FROM MRS. TATHAM'S WRITINGS ON VARIOUS PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE.

WHETHER Mrs. Tatham continued to write a diary after the date at which the reader has now arrived, cannot be certainly ascertained. Nothing of that character, however, has been found subsequent to the year 1834. It is probable that her advancing age and progressive debility, and especially her increasing difficulty of sight, made writing less and less tolerable to her, and practicable by her, although her hand-writing continued firm, and regular, and uniform, to the close of her life, as is apparent from the fac-simile of it which is presented at the foot of the portrait accompanying this volume. The character of her manuscript was thus distinct, and strong, and full-formed, when in the seventy-second year of her age. Neither is it in the power of the writer to present any more of her correspondence: that, no doubt, was now very much abandoned, for the same reasons that prevented the continuance of her Diary. But of one part of her writings, which is very abundant, but little, if any thing, has hitherto been placed before the reader, viz., her remarks on various and numerous Scripture passages. In an early part of this volume, her views on several interesting and important Scripture subjects will