exceeding joy*." Her inward peace was too great to be expressed. When nature was very weak, and her strength and spirits exhausted, she blessed God that her faith did not fail; and she had thereby those clear manifestations of Christ, and soul-refreshing prelibations of glory, that were a kind of heaven in her way to it. Her last words were, with rapture of admiration, "O those rays of glory!" Thus her soul took its flight into the bosom of Jesus, to enjoy what it had long waited for, namely, further discoveries of his love, and to be clothed with immortality, and enjoy eternal life.

* These words were the subject of her funeral discourse, being often repeated by her in her illness, and a wonderful support to faith in her last moments.

MISS MARY TERRY.

THIS excellent young person was born at Hamburgh, in Germany, where her father had settled on account of trade. In the year 1698, when she was only eight years old, an afflictive providence obliged her to come with her little brother and sister to England, she being the eldest of three, whom it pleased God at that time to commit to the care of their pious grandmother. She observes, in her diary, the goodness of God in giving them a prosperous voyage, and then makes the following remark: "I hope God has turned this affliction to our spiritual good, for here we have the help of a better education, and here religion is kept up more in the purity and power of it, than it was in the place from whence we came." By this means, says the Rev. Thomas Reynolds, who gives the account, she came under my personal observation and ministry. At this very early age, it was astonishing to remark the large stock of good instructions and devout prayers wherewith she had furnished her memory, and how diligent she was to retain them by often repeating those good things that had been taught her, and taking care that her little brother and sister did the like. About the eleventh year of her age, she learned to write; and no sooner could she join her letters, than (as we found after her death) she would write down the heads of those sermons which affected her, and which she carefully carried home in her memory.

In the same year, she was taken very ill of a fever, in which, as she writes, she was much afraid to die, as fearing the state of her soul was not safe. This made her seriously think within herself, how importunately she would pray, and how much better she

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would discharge her duty, if God should spare her. And then she adds: "It hath pleased the Lord to try me in raising me from that sick-bed, that I should not die, but declare the works of the Lord." This is the only instance she gives of any notable distress of mind; and when she recovered she made good her vows. "I cannot," says Mr. Reynolds, lay the beginning of her conversion here; for such was her seriousness and unblameable behaviour, that I doubt not the grace of God had touched her heart long before this." It is the happiness many times of those that enjoy the advantage of a religious education, and have been kept from falling into grievous sins, to be brought by insensible steps into a love of religion, so that they know not how to date the particular time of their conversion.

In the year 1703, which was the thirteenth of her age, it pleased God to remove by death her only brother, Richard, whom she dearly loved, and on whom she had bestowed much pains. Though she was much affected at his death, she blesses God she did not sorrow as those that have no hope; and then adds: "God had been early at work upon his heart. This was a great affliction to us all, and to my grandmother especially: for by taking him away, God rooted the name out of the family, there being never another to bear it up."

"The reader will forgive the digression," continues the writer of her life, " if I take leave in this place to mention somewhat of him. He was a child deservedly admired by all for his natural beauty, and the engaging sweetness of his temper and carriage. But that which was most of all to be wondered at, was the pious disposition of mind that so early appeared in him. As his sister was not wanting to do all she could to improve him, so was he as ready to receive impressions. He was a child that read much, and thought much, and spent much of his time in walking and pon

dering by himself. without some good book or other in his pocket, even when he was but little above five years old. He was constant to his retirements for secret duty. But that which deserves a particular remark, was the concern which this young child had some time before he died, for the spiritual welfare of an aged faithful servant that had been above forty years in the family, and who by weakness was confined to her chamber, having passed the seventieth year of her age. This little child, when not eight years old, would take delight to be with her, and, of his own accord, discourse of the things of God, and pray with her; in which, as that servant said, he would deliver himself so pertinently, and in such an affecting manner, as was wonderful. He continued thus till she died, and was hereby no small help and comfort to that poor servant. Thus, O Lord, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise!' He died October 13, 1703, in the tenth year of his age.'

He could never be found

Soon after this, it pleased God to exercise her with great deafness through a violent cold which lay much in her head: it lasted near two months, all which time she enjoyed little of the comfort of life. But her greatest trouble was, that hereby she was hindered the privilege of joining with others in any public or private ordinances, though, as she writes, it was also melancholy not to have converse with friends. She adds: "I was earnest with God in prayer, that he would, if it were his holy will, direct to some proper means, and give his blessing thereto, and again restore the hearing ear." Which, after about two months, he was pleased to grant; and then she says: "O blessed be God that I have all my senses, and am not deprived of any! By the loss of one, how is the comfort of all abated! I hope I have been taught how to prize them more than ever. The Lord sanctify this late exercise

to me, and enable me to make some suitable return for this mercy, to glorify him in all the parts, members, and senses of my body, and all the powers and faculties of my soul."

In the year 1705, God wrought in her earnest desires to partake of the ordinance of the Lord's Supper; but Satan was very busy with his temptations. The account which she gives of the workings of her mind at this period, is highly interesting and instructive, especially when we consider her extreme youth. Speaking of the false shame which at first deterred her, she says: "I thought, if this should prevail to hinder me in my approaches to that ordinance, it would evince I had not a right principle of love to God, nor a sense of my obligation arising from the positive institution of Christ, and from my baptismal covenant, which hath already bound me up to all duty; also it would argue ignorance in me of the abundant advantage that would flow to me from a right discharge of my duty, and an answerable conversation in performing the engagements thereby laid upon me to all holy walking.

"At another time, the devil and my corrupt heart suggested to me, that although I did give myself to God in the most solemn manner, and by his grace did resolve to walk in all his commandments; yet, how well soever I might begin, I should not be able to persevere to the end; but in prosperity I should be ready to be puffed up, and forget my God; and in adversity be overmuch depressed and cast down, or be over-anxious and solicitous about the body, and neglect the duties and concerns of my soul. I was afraid lest the temptations of the devil, the flatteries and allurements of the world, the vanities and pleasures to which youth is commonly addicted, should overtake and betray me into presumptuous sins. But amidst all these troubles of mind, I met with that comfortable promise in the covenant of God; Jerem. xxxii. 38, And they shall be my