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devote the remainder of my life entirely to the service of my God.-Write to me. Tell me my numerous outward faults; though you know not the faults of my heart, yet tell me all you know, that I may improve. I shall receive it as a token of love.

The following summary account of her religious exercises was found among her private papers.

DIARY.

A REVIEW of past religious experience I have often found useful and encouraging. On this account I have written down the exercises of my mind, hoping that, by frequently reading them, I may be led to adore the riches of sovereign grace, praise the Lord for his former kindness to me, and feel encouraged to persevere in a holy life.

The first ten years of my life were spent in vanity. I was entirely ignorant of the depravity of my heart. The summer that I entered my eleventh year, I attended a dancing school. My conscience would sometimes tell me, that my time was foolishly spent and though I had never heard it intimated that such amusements were criminal, yet I could not rest, until I had solemnly determined that when the school closed, I would immediately become religious. But these resolutions were not carried into effect. Although I attended every day to secret prayer, and read the Bible with greater attention than be fore, yet I soon became weary of these exercises, and by degrees omitted entirely the duties of the closet. When I entered I was thirteenth year, my sent by my parents to the academy at Bradford.

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A revival of religion commenced in the neighbourhood, which in a short time spread into the school. A large number of the young ladies were anxiously inquiring, what they should do to inherit eternal life. I began to enquire, what can these things mean! My attention was solemnly called to the concerns of my immortal soul. I was a stranger to hope; and I feared the ridicule of my gay companions. My heart was opposed to the character of God; and I felt that if I continued an enemy to his government, I must eternally perish. My convictions of sin were not so poignant and distressing as many have had; but they were of long continu-ance. It was more than three months before I was brought to cast my soul on the Saviour of sinners, and rely on him alone for salvation. The ecstacies which many new-born souls possess, were not mine.. But if I was not lost in raptures on reflecting upon what I had escaped, I was filled with a sweet peace, a heavenly calmness, which I never can describe. The honours, applauses, and titles of this vain world appeared like trifles light as air. The character of Jesus appeared infinitely lovely, and I could say with the psalmist, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none on earth that I desire besides thee. The awful gulf I had escaped, filled me with astonishment. My gay associates were renounced, and the friends of Jesus became my dear friends. The destitute broken state of the church at Haverhill, prevented me from openly professing my faith in Jesus, but it was a privilege which I longed to enjoy. But, alas! these seasons, so precious, did not long continue. Soon was I led to exclaim, Oh!

that I were as in months past! My zeal for the cause of religion almost entirely abated; while this vain world engrossed my affections, which had been consecrated to my Redeemer. My Bible, once so lovely, was entirely neglected. Novels and romances engaged my thoughts, and hour after hour was foolishly and sinfully spent in the perusal of them. The company of Christians became, by degress, irksome and unpleasant. I endeavoured to shun them. The voice of conscience would frequently whisper, all is not right. Many a sleepless night have I passed after a day of vanity and sin. But such conflicts did not bring me home to the fold from which, like a strayed lamb, I had wandered far away. A religion which was intimately connected with the amusements of the world, and the friendship of those who are at enmity with God, would have suited well my depraved heart. But I knew that the religion of the go spel was vastly different. It exalts the Creator, while it hum bles the creature in the dust.

Such was my awful situation! I lived only to wound the cause of my ever blessed Saviour. Weep, O my soul ! when contemplating and recording the sins of my youth. Be astonished at the long-suffering of Jehovah!-How great a God is our God! The death of a beloved parent, and uncle, had but little effect on my hard heart. Though these afflictions moved my passions, they did not lead,me to the Fountain of consolation. But God, who is rich in mercy, did not leave me here.. He had prepared my heart to receive his grace; and he glorified the riches of his mercy, by carrying on the work. I was

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providentially invited to visit a friend in Newburyport. I complied with the invitation. The evening previous to my return home, I heard the Rev. Mr. M'F. It was the 28th of June, 1809. How did the truths which he delivered sink deep into my inmost soul! My past transgressions rose like great mountains before me. The most poignant anguish seized my mind; my carnal security fled; and I felt myself a guilty transgressor, naked before a holy God. Mr. B. returned with me the next day to Haverhill. Never, no never, while memory retains her seat in my breast, shall I forget the affectionate manner in which he addressed me. His conversation had the desired effect. I then made the solemn resolution, as trust, in the strength of Jesus, that I would make a sincere dedication of my all to my Creator, both for time and eternity. This resolution produced a calm serenity and composure, to which I had long been a stranger. How lovely the way of salvation then appeared!-Oh, how lovely was the character of the Saviour! The duty of professing publicly on which side I was, now was impressed on my mind. I came forward, and offered myself to the church; was accepted; received into communion; and commemorated, for the first time, the dying love of the blessed Jesus, August 6, 1809. This was a precious season, long to be remembered! Oh, the depths of sovereign grace! Eternity will be too short to celebrate the perfections of God.

August 27, 1809.

HARRIET ATWOOD.

1806.

Sept. 1. A LARGE number of my companions of both sexes, with whom I have associated this summer, are in deep distress for their immortal souls. Many, who were formerly gay and thoughtless, are now in tears anxiously inquiring what they shall do to be saved. Oh, how rich is the mercy of Jesus! He dispenses his favours to whom he pleases, without regard to age or sex. Surely it is a wonderful display of the sovereignty of God, to make me a subject of his kingdom, while many of my companions, far more amiable than I am, are left to grovel in the dust, or to mourn their wretched condition without one gleam of hope.

Sept. 4. I have just parted with my companions, with whom I have spent three months at the academy. I have felt a strong attachment to many of them, particularly to those who have been hopefully renewed the summer past. But the idea of meeting them in heaven, never more to bid them farewell, silenced every painful thought.

Sept. 10. Been indulged with the privilege of visiting a Christian friend this afternoon. Sweet indeed to my heart is the society of the friends of Immanuel. I never knew true joy until I found it in the exercise of religion.

Sept. 18. How great are the changes which take place in my mind in the course of one short day! I have felt deeply distressed for the depravity of my heart, and have been ready to despair of the mercy of God. But the light of divine truth has this evening irradiated my soul, and I have enjoyed such composure as I never knew before.

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