to the heart by the arm of omnipotence, and prevailed. Satan was bruised under her feet-the temptation vanished before the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness and though much of her state at that period might be charged on bodily debility, and feebleness of mind, yet it is highly consolatory to know, that faith in God's covenant, and faith in God's character, can enable the child in years, and the aged pilgrim, to triumph over every enemy; to thresh the mountains' of affliction, and to beat them as small as the dust beneath the feet.

"From the very next day, if not that same night, she was again enabled to cast all her care upon Him who cared for her; and never afterwards, that I am aware, was she permitted to doubt the goodness of the Saviour to herself personally."

This, however, was only a passing cloud, at the dawn of a glorious day, to which no night should succeed! To a real Christian, even the tomb is no longer darksome, but may be compared to the bridal chamber. Christ, by lying in the grave, has made it, to his people, a bed of spices. "They shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness." Isa. lvii. 2. "Blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb." Rev. xix. 9. For "they shall see his face, and His name shall be in their foreheads, and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light; and they shall reign for ever and ever." Rev. xxii. 4, 5. "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe all tears from their eyes." Rev. vii. 17.

Fell's Sermons, page 265.

CHAPTER XI.

CONCLUDING REMARKS.

IN bringing this Memoir to a close, it may be useful and interesting to take a review,-First, of MRS. HAWKES'S character, NATURAL, MORAL, and RELIGIOUS;-Secondly, of her AFFLICTIONS;-and-Thirdly, endeavour to derive INSTRUCTION from the whole.

In considering MRS. HAWKES's NATURAL CHARACTER, no attempt will be made to exalt the creature, but simply to bring forward those distinguishing qualities, with which it had pleased God to endow her. In doing this, some difficulty will arise;-because, as in natural beauty, though the first glance makes us sensible of its presence-it is more easy to apprehend than to describe that symmetry; so in the endowments and qualities of the mind, there may be a certain beautiful combination and proportion, which though obviously marked, cannot easily be delineated. In MRS. HAWKES'S natural character, there was manifested, a singular comprehensiveness of mind ;-a judgment and practical wisdom which were of the highest order;-a remarkable quickness and delicacy of feeling;-a cordial and affectionate sympathy; an interesting vivacity;—a tender and

contemplative seriousness,-united in a harmonious proportion, which it is less easy to conceive of abstractedly, than to apprehend when seen. She was like a well-tuned instrument, answering immediately to the touch-whatever might be the strain desired. Her sweet social temper was formed for friendship; and in the exercise of benevolent and affectionate feelings, she seemed to move as in her native element. Though extremely susceptible of grief, she was a most cheerful and interesting companion, both to the old and to the young;-to the latter she was singularly attached. The cast of her mind was contemplative; and after her conversion, this faculty found the highest and noblest exercise in exploring the riches of Divine revelation. In conversation she was peculiarly gifted; but, from delicacy of feeling, and a natural fear of obtrusiveness, she was the reverse of a great talker: and when in company with persons of eminence, her remarks were chiefly in the form of questions, by which she had a happy facility of drawing forth the knowledge and experience of others. It will not therefore appear surprising, that her society was much desired by all who knew her. Her manners, though simple, were a little under restraint with those towards whom she felt deference; which arose, not from any degree of mean servility, but from great sensitiveness, and correctness of feeling. To her inferiors, she was always benevolent and condescending. Nor must the great generosity of her disposition be overlooked. Largeness of heart was manifested by the manner of doing "what she could," after her circumstances became reduced. The shades of her natural character were,-a high and independent spirit, inclined to resistance; a keen sense of injuries, as well as a lively perception of kindness;-a sensibility which was too easily wounded: hence, in early life, her peace

was often broken through excess of feeling; Flavel remarks," a strong affection makes a strong affliction."-She was timid in an extraordinary degree; and from a kind of nervous apprehensiveness, she was led sometimes to magnify evils in advance, though there was a natural fortitude, which sustained them with magnanimity, when in actual encounter. In person, she was of a pleasing figure, and good stature; and, before her disease, inclined to be slender. Her complexion was brown, with a fixed colour in her cheeks. Her eyes were a fine dark hazel, expressive of tenderness, intellect, and sweetness. Her whole countenance beamed with benevolence and sympathy.

In reference to MRS. HAWKES's character in a MORAL point of view, we may remark that it was of an elevated stamp. Even before her conversion, she manifested in her intercourse with others, a strong sense of propriety -great integrity—sincerity-ingenuousness. Her high moral sense was a special preservative during her career of worldliness and vanity ;-of which various proofs might be advanced. There was a certain harmony between her natural and moral character, which gave a lustre to both; and when each was improved by Divine grace, her natural, moral, and religious character, blended like the fine colours of a prism. In thus setting forth the elevated stamp of her character in a moral point of view, there is no danger of conveying a false impression, as though it could not consist with that natural depravity, of which she was so deeply sensible after her conversion; and which she so constantly deplored in all her writings-whether epistolary or private. The high moral character of St. Paul is made to stand out on the canvas, in order the more to call our attention to the truth, that all this is consistent with the existence of pride of heart,

and enmity to God; with self-will, and an unrenewed mind:-nay, even with the very spirit of persecution. If there has been no change of heart, no work of the Holy Spirit, moral virtues do but resemble the green moss, sparkling with early dew, adorning a dead trunk which will soon become fuel for the fire.

While, however, guarding the moral virtues from assuming a place which they cannot occupy, let it not be once imagined, that it is intended to advance any thing subversive of their real importance. Mr. Cecil has remarked, "Morality should never be under-valued, or spoken lightly of by any one;-for what is man without it? It is essential to Christianity. But if it is put in the place of Christ, if it set aside the blood and spirit of Jesus, it then becomes an opposer. Let Plato, Socrates, Confucius, and others, be honoured because they were diligent men, doing their best by the light of a dim taper. But who is he that when the Sun of Righteousness has arisen, will still prefer the dim taper-the glimmering rushlight—and say, it is better than the light of the Sun?" Indeed, such is the connexion between one part of Divine truth and another, that those who have the justest and largest views of Gospel grace, are able to form the most exact and extensive estimate of moral duty, and are actuated by the highest motives to an exemplary life and conversation. Whatever might be the elevation of MRS. HAWKES's moral character before her conversion, the doctrines she embraced had a tendency to raise it far higher-because extending to the motives and inmost thoughts of the heart. The Christian is "called with a holy calling;" he is bid to seek morality of the highest order, in the command, "Be ye holy, for I am holy;" and he who from a constant study of the Divine perfections, especially as they shine in the