set in, with poor parents who desire nothing in the world so much as to see their children walk in the narrow way' that leads to life." As a friend she shone with peculiar lustre. Her enjoyment of the society of her friends was ever improved to spiritual purposes. Mutual exhortation and prayer were special objects of attention; and some portion of scripture being selected as a parting farewell, happily lessened, by an elevated style of thought, the pangs of separation. Tidings having suddenly reached her of the illness of one whom she regarded in that character, she remarks" My heart was full; my remedy is to retire and spread the letter before a compassionate Father, and tell him how it is, which I find more easy than to submit freely to his all-wise disposal; yet, when I had done this, I was refreshed." The death of a friend was no trifling occurrence; every feeling was exercised, and the most sacred efforts resorted to, that the event might be followed by entire resignation, and personal benefit. "Nor was the funeral denied the grace Of many tears, virtuous and thoughtful grief; • Wordsworth's Excursion, p. 331. Thus she records the loss of an acquaintance: "My dear friend, Mrs. Bradburn, having brought a living child into this world, went herself, about four hours after, to as better. She went, as I hear, triumphantly to glory, sweetly sleeping in Jesus. I heard not of it till Friday. I was then much affected. could not quiet my spirit for some time. A dear praying friend left us, and gone to receive the reward of her work. Indeed she lived much in a little time, and was a pattern of piety. Great need of such. May I not cry to God as I did to the dying prophet-" My father, my father, the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof"" Were it not that the Lord of Hosts hath left us a small remnant, we had surely been like Sodom ere now." And wilt thou lessen the number of thy praying ones? Surely it bodes ill; especially, now there is so much need of such. But shall the clay contend with the potter? His will is his wisdom. Infinite wisdom sees good thus it shall be. With that I silence my murmurings." On the death of her brother-in-law, Mr. Radford,* of Chester, in the year 1699, she thus wrote; "Lord, what work has sin made! It is the old kill-friend. What a great many of our See the Life of Matthew Henry, ut supra, p. 73. dear relations have been snatched away from us in a short time. All in the midst of their days and usefulness. O that my heart were more duly affected, and that I could be learning the meaning of these providences, which have really a sad aspect. There is reason to fear when God houses his people so fast, that a storm is coming. I am told dear brother Radford finished admirably well, and gave great satisfaction as to the safety of his eternal state. Is it not matter of comfort, that our dear friends have safely escaped the corruptions and entanglements of this evil world?-landed at their everlasting rest? Brother Henry* preached his funeral sermon on Tuesday evening, August 22, from Psalm lxxxviii. 18. Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. It is God who removes them. They are put far out of our sight, out of hearing, out of our reach. He gave the following directions:Bless God for the lovers and friends we have had, and for the comfort we have had in them. Learn by such providences to cease from man. Retain the remembrance of the love and friendship of those who are now removed. Imitate them in what is virtuous and praiseworthy. Let it make death and the grave more familiar to us. • Appendix III. Diligently prepare to follow after. Bless God for the remnant that are left of our lovers and friends. Since they are thus removed from us, let us make sure of a friend and a lover that will never fail. He said that under such providences it is comfortable to believe that though put far from us, they are gone nearer to God-though they are removed from us, God is not.-We are going to them, and shall be with them shortly." It would be easy to illustrate, with valuable matter, Mrs. Savage's general character; but, it being my intention to notice, more particularly, those features of it which seem best calculated for edification, I shall, at once, attempt a delineation, hoping to illustrate, thereby, the essential principles of religion. An admirer of creation is not satisfied with casually surveying a rich landscape, but for improvement as well as gratification, finds pleasure in visiting and individualizing its minuter beauties. So a spiritual mind delights to expatiate on regenerating mercy, and to trace, in the "heirs of salvation," the moral image of their Saviour. 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 -that devotional exercises are their element 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 characterized 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 market and the fair. "Conscientious waiting upon God," it is observed in her funeral sermon, "neither prevented her discharging her |