Lord, may I approve myself to thee in all I do in this matter, and have a confcience void of offence towards God, and towards man. I commit this cause to thee. I would be influenced by thy word. I have chosen it as my rule to walk by."

A num

Not only Blacks; but numbers of other people met at Mrs. Ofborn's in this time. ber of young men used to meet on the fame evening with the blacks in a different apartment; for prayer, reading and religious converfation. And on Monday evening a number of young women from nine to twenty years old, often above forty or fifty, met together at her house, to enjoy her prayers and inftructions. Mrs. Ofborn at firft was in doubt about the propriety and expediency of praying with them. But after maturely confidering the matter, and feeking direction, the concluded it was her duty, and accordingly practifed it, and read to them, and gave them that inftruction and advice, which the thought proper and important. And they appeared fo attentive, and at times fome of them were fo impreffed and affected, that he was encouraged to proceed. Tuesday evening a large number of boys met in her room for a confiderable time to receive her inftruction and bleffing. Wednesday evening was devoted to the ftated weekly meeting of the fociety of women. On Thursday or Saturday, or both, fhe catechized the children of her fehool, when a number of children who did not belong to her fchool often attended to receive inftruction from her and hear her

On

prayers.

prayers. On Friday evening a number of heads of families ufed to meet at her house for prayer and religious converfation; fo that every week fome hundreds of perfons met at her house for religious purposes. This gave conftant employ to Mrs. Ofborn, and called up her attention, and strong and constant exercises of mind, while fhe at the fame time prefided in a large fchool of children. Some of her exercifes refpecting her houfe being thus crowded with people for religious purposes, were as follows, taken from her diary:

"Tuefday morning, January 27, 1767.—O my Lord and my God, appear for my help now, as thou haft appeared for my help heretofore. Fain would I raise a tribute of humble praife and thanksgiving for thy condefcenfion and grace to me in the year paft; for the Lord himself has vouchfafed to be my protection from errors and confufions, amidst the throng he has gathered round me. To thee be all the glory forever. In July laft the number had amounted to three hundred fouls. And now the Lord has increafed it to five hundred and twenty five, who have ftatedly reforted here. And yet no evil has followed, though my fears have often been alarmed, with refpect to Lord's day evenings; yet all is quiet, and every company more ferioufly compofed and fettled in fteadily purfuing after knowledge. Bleffed be God, who indulges me with frequent tidings of Blacks and little ones being more concerned, and getting alone to pray. O that the Lord, in his infinite wifdom, will carry on

his own glorious work, in his own gradual way which he has chofen; and confound all the wifdom of the wife. We have been lotting upon great and extraordinary impreffions upon fouls here, and by great and extraordinary means; but God will take his own way, and use what clay and fpittle he pleases to open blind eyes, and cause the walls to fall, by what rams' horns he pleases. Amen. Let the most despicable worm upon earth be employed for God, that the glory may evidently be his own." "Tuesday, June 2, 1767.-Bleffed be God, who gave me opportunity to converfe with forty two young girls laft evening. The Lord feal what was faid and read for inftruction; and hear my poor cries for converting grace. O have mercy on thefe fouls! Lord, fecure them for thine own: O take the prey from the mighty. Snatch them as brands out of the burning, I pray thee. Thanks be to God for the folemnity, affiftance and refreshments of the laft evening. O help me ftill to hope in thy mercy, under all difcouragements, thou faithful, merciful God."

From the year 1770, to the time of the British taking poffeffion of Newport, the church, both male and female, ufed to hold their monthly meetings at her house; as this was peculiarly agreeable to her, and fhe lived in a convenient room. And there was a weekly meeting at her houfe of a number of profeffors for prayer; which continued most of the time during the war. Thus her house was indeed, and in an eminent fenfe, A houfe of prayer.

PART

PART III.

EXTRACTS from her DIARY.

Thursday, June 21, 1744. YESTERDAY very much overcome in

God's house, at the folemn ordination of the Rev. Mr. Helyer. My heart was then filled with joy and praises; and God excited and enabled me to breathe out my foul in vehement cries to him for all needful grace, for his fervant, and for his church. Rejoiced much to think I was once more to enjoy the glorious feaft, inftituted by my dear Redeemer. I longed to render a tribute of praife, and even to be swallowed up with praises all my life long, because God had fo graciously given me the defire of my heart. But, alas! how fhort lived are my praises. All this day, with bodily indifpofition and my own declining heart, Í have been as water heated, returning to my former coldness again. O! it makes eternity glorious, that praises fhall never cease.

Sabbath day, June 24.-This morning, through the goodnefs of God, to the fatisfaction and comfort of my foul, I was engaged in the work of felf examination, to fee how the cafe flood between God and my foul, and found caufe to bless him, that, by his grace, "I am what I am." Some time after that I was again

overcome

overcome with a sense of the amazing goodnets of God to me, in giving me fuch a dear Paftor, and attempted to adore and praise him with all my powers engaged. This was a sweet feafon, for my heart was warmed. I went to the houfe of God, but was too cool there. In the intermiffion feafon I truft I was ferious, but not lively. But this afternoon, bleffed be God, I was filled with joy, grief, love, prayer and praises, God's word being powerfully fet home. I was enlarged, in pleading for grace and ftrength to be beftowed on my dear young Paftor; that, though of himself he is infufficient for his great and difficult work; yet, his fufficiency being of God, he might be made fuccessful.

Sabbath noon, July 15.-Blefs the Lord, O my foul, and forget not all his benefits. I have been to the table of the Lord, and he brought me into his banqueting houfe, and his banner over me was love. I fat under his fhadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my tafte. My foul faid, It is good for me to be here. I was enabled, with all my powers engaged, to renew my dedication of myself to God, and rejoice in my choice of him. I was, in a measure, brought to behold his glory in the perfections of his nature. I was enabled to wrestle with him for victory over my fins, and to be made more holy. Thefe feemed to be my chief errands; and as I was pleading that promise, "They that have clean hands fhall grow stronger and ftronger," this promife feemed to be whispered, I will frengthen thee,

H

I will