people, and I will be their God.' And in the 40th verse it is said again: And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me.' I place my hope and trust on God's fulfilling this promise to me, that he will, nay I hope he hath already begun to implant his fear in my heart, so that notwithstanding all the oppositions 1 may meet with in my way, I shall never depart from him.

"Another temptation was, that I was too young to approach that solemn ordinance. With this I considered, that those advanced more in years cannot, merely by their natural gifts and qualifications, perform any duty in a right manner, so as to be accepted with God in Christ, without the influences of His grace and Spirit accompanying their endeavours; with which grace He can also, and doth, assist younger persons that are earnest in begging it of him, and who serve Him in sincerity and truth, which I desire to do with all my heart and soul; and therefore I trust that God will not deny me His assistance. And as no small motive and spur to me in my preparations for this ordinance, I had the example of an acquaintance before me, even younger than myself, who, upon making known her desires, was admitted a communicant under the care of the same ministry.

“After all, I was satisfied, that these and all other such like suggestions, which would divert and put me by making preparation for this ordinance, were Satan's stratagems. I begged of God, that He would be pleased to remove all obstructions and hinderances that seemed to lie in the way, and prepare my heart for a right attendance upon him in so solemn a duty, knowing that the preparation of the heart in man is from the Lord.

"In the year 1706, I made timely discovery of my desires, and some suitable preparation, according

as I was able, in order to my being admitted the following April to the Lord's table. I chose this month, it being the entrance upon a new year of my life. I thought, that to lay myself under new bonds and obligations to walk in God's ways in the beginning of a new year of my life, might be a means to walk this year more closely with God, and to maintain my communion with him in a holy and humble manner.

"The Monday before Sacrament-day, the Lord was pleased to visit my sister with a fever. I thought God was now displeased at something in me, and going to indicate his displeasure, not only by threatening to take away my sister from me; but also, by the timing of it, I was afraid he would disappoint me, in his providence, of my longing expectations and earnest desires on the approaching Lord's-day. But the Lord was better to me than my fears, and mitigated his hand, and gave us a hopeful prospect of recovery; for which his name be praised. Hereby also he gave me hopes of having yet an opportunity of waiting upon him on his own day at his house and table.

April 7, 1706. "Being aged this month sixteen years, I was, at my desire, this 7th instant, it being Lord's-day, admitted to the participation of the Lord's Supper. Therein I enjoyed some sweet communion with my God; but my greatest joy and comfort at this time, was when I came home, upon reflecting on what I had been doing, and my reviewing the sermon which was preached that afternoon from these words, Isa. lxiii. 19, We are thine." Wherein, among other things, were shewn the special grounds upon which persons may be said to be the Lord's; as, by election; by price and purchase; by effectual calling, and the work of regeneration; and by their own act of self-dedication or covenantsurrender. Upon all these grounds I hoped I might now, with comfort, look up and say, Lord, I am thine!"

January 4, 1708. "I renewed my covenant with God at the Lord's-table. It being the first Sacrament in this year, I had a special regard both in my preparations and in the ordinance to a new year, and resolve and engage to take more pains with myself, and to study my duty more, and do more for God. than ever I had done; and I was earnestly desirous that this whole year, if God should spare my life, I might enjoy more of him, have more communion with him in every duty, which sometimes I have found very sweet, so that in the whole this may be a better year with respect both to duty and comfort. That I might bring forth much fruit, and may be found a faithful steward whenever God shall call me to an account of my stewardship, whether this year or another, in the strength and for the sake of Jesus Christ."

It is to be observed, that in the close of this year she died.

It only remains, that we give a short account of her death. Such was the violence of her distemper, that it carried her off in less than five days. She found herself somewhat indisposed for several mornings before she took to her bed; but this did not hinder her from appearing in the family, and being about the house as usual. But on Friday, the 3d of December, she became very ill, her distemper proving a malignant fever. She bore her sickness with extraordinary patience, speaking but little, yet exercising her thoughts much towards God. The greatest trouble she complained of was, that she could not meditate and compose her thoughts as she had been used to do. When, among other things, she was asked, if she had not experienced the presence of God in his ordinances, and found communion with him in her attendances upon him, she immediately replied, Yes, yes; you can say nothing of that kind but I can give an answer to." The day she died, which was December 8, 1708,

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finding the pangs of death upon her, she expressed some fear how she should be able to get through what was before her, for that she found dying work to be hard work. But it pleased the Lord quickly to release her of those fears; for no sooner had the minister who came to visit her withdrawn from the bed, than she fell into a convulsion fit, in which she departed, having not finished by some months the eighteenth year of her age.

"Watch ye, therefore, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at evening, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly, he find you sleeping."

MRS. HOUSMAN.

MRS. HOUSMAN, whose maiden name was Pearsall, was born in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, of religious parents, who were a credit to the profession they made; and as in other respects they acted worthily in their station, so they were diligently careful to train up their children betimes in the ways of God. The most interesting particulars of her life and character will be gathered from the extracts which follow from her published Diary.

Her Method of closing the Week, and preparing for the Sabbath.

April 3, 1711. Through Divine goodness, I am brought near the close of another week; I would not close it without making some reflections. I find I could run out in complaints against myself; but I would not overlook the gracious dealings of God to me. I would humbly hope I have had the tokens of his presence with me in duty. O how reviving hath it been! It is infinite condescension, to have any regard to so mean and vile a creature as I am. None more beholden to free grace than I; and sometimes, methinks I can admire it, and feel it constraining. It grieves me that I can make no more returns. I cannot love Christ as he hath loved me; but yet, I would love him as much as ever creature loved him.

I cannot but be thankful that I have another Sabbath in view. O! if I know my heart, I would fain get grace by the means; but I cannot but be jealous of myself, and fear how it will be with me; such sad experience I have had of a hard, dull, un