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who attended him, advised he should not follow the baking business. He had an inclination for the sea, and his mother with great reluctance suffered him to enter that line: one voyage, however, in which he nearly suffered shipwreck, induced him to change his inclinations. He had musical talents, and by those he gained a slender maintenance. But this line of employment led him into a circle of acquaintance, where he imbibed opinions opposite to those in which his pious mother had educated him, and a clear and vigourous intellect was exercised by him on subjects which tended to increase his sceptical turn of mind. He soon became a Perhaps none but a

confirmed and avowed deist. Christian parent can fully sympathise in this part of my friend's afflictive story. It was the heaviest trial she ever experienced. How many sighs and tears have I witnessed on this account, and scarcely have I a letter in my possession which does not refer to the subject. The strong expressions it drew from her a few months before her death, I transcribe as a specimen. I have no doubt of the feelings of every pious mother so situated,

"I have one favour to request of you, my dear friend, (and, oh, that you may be enabled to do it in faith) it is this, that you unite with me, and besiege as it were, the throne of grace on behalf of my dear son, To see him converted would be a

felicity beyond all expression. He is in the Lord's hands, and with him all things are possible."

A few years caused a reverse in my friend's worldly prosperity. The person with whom she was partner, and who was necessary to her in the management of the business, married, and set up in opposition. She was now about forty-two years of age; this person had resided with her for many years: he professed himself to be religious, and she entertained for him a most friendly regard. Many of her acquaintance were of opinion, that at her husband's death he had made her an offer of marriage, which she had accepted: if this was the case, it was a secret she never entrusted to me; she represented the wound given to her as a friend, to have been very deep; but at this period her spiritual consolations abounded more than at any other. Her Lord and Saviour seemed to be ever with her under the endearing character of a brother born for adversity." Even her sleeping hours were occupied by ideas of him, and once particularly he appeared so plainly to the eye of her imagination, looking upon her with such an aspect of benignity, that the pleasing impression never forsook her mind, though from the fear of incurring a censure of enthusiasm, she seldom mentioned it. Doubtless this appearance was no other than a dream, and as dreams are frequently the result of ideas which engross the waking mind, it may very rationally

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be accounted for. Possibly, however, the gracious Being, who ever has access to the soul, is pleased in this manner to convey his consoling influences under peculiar cases of affliction. When, in the confidence of friendly conversation, this pious .woman related to me wonders in her Christsan ex·perience—such as the application of texts of scripture, instructions from the pulpit exactly suited to her case, and kind providences appearing in her favour, I have lamented how little I knew of such consolations, she would answer, “your blessings have been of a different nature. The Lord is a Sovereign; to some he gives an abundance of temporal prosperity, and to others spiritual, but seldom both together. If all have strength and consolation imparted equal to their day, all should be satisfied."

Finding herself unequal to the management of her now declining business, she drew from it before it was too late to do it honourably, and endeavoured to find some other means of maintenance. She set up a day-school for a short time, but this was insufficient for her support: several other schemes were tried, till at length she was introduced into my family, as companion to a relation afflicted with fits. She was personally unknown, but the report of her being a methodist was to me, who was then young, and ignorant of scripture doctrines, particularly unacceptable, having asso

and fanatical.

and I wish the senti

ciated with the name all that was gloomy, morose, How was I surprised to find her the reverse of all this. She enlivened our family circle frequently by sallies of agreeable humour, and always by solid, sensible remarks. The uniform sweetness of her temper was admirable. Observing the pleasure she seemed to take in attendance at the parish church, I supposed the information given of her being a methodist false, and questioned her upon it. Her reply proved the liberality of her disposition, ment was engraven on the heart of every professing Christian-" I call myself a member of the ehurch of England, and. I rejoice that in this place the pulpit and the reading desk are in unison, and I can therefore avail myself of the privilege : but I am a citizen of the religious world, and feel at home with every denomination, where Jesus Christ is held forth as the way, the truth and the life." To recite the words of an edifying nature, which fell from her lips in our various conversations, would fill many pages. They are deposited in my memory as precious memorials of her piety, and they are treasured up in that " book of remembrance, written for them who fearing the Lord, and thinking upon his name, speak often one to another."

We lived under the same roof together seven years, with a mutual increase of affection: when

my friend received an invitation to reside with an old acquaintance she had not seen for many years. Her husband was just dead, and had left her as she supposed in affluence sufficient to provide for her friend, in case she survived her. So flattering a proposal was not to be rejected, and my friend quitted my family though to our mutual regret.

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From expressions which this person used in her letters, my friend had reason to hope she was at least religiously disposed, and having received a blessing on her influence in many instances, she indulged the hope of being made an instrument of good to her. But she was disappointed. She found her a different character to what she supposed her; she was averse to all but the form of religion, and in her temper proud and jealous. Her circumstances too, were not so affluent as she imagined, and my friend naturally of an independent disposition, could not bear the idea of being in the smallest degree an incumbrance She was now near sixty years of age, and subject throughout life to rheumatic disorders, which were increased upon her, consequently she was not qualified for a situation where much usefulness would be required. Providentially, as the widow of a taylor, she had a claim on an alms-house in her native city, and sufficient interest to procure an asylum there. On occasion of her success and settlement in this humble place, the style of her letters resembled

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