had children, where they might be maintained, and live with their children, till those were capable of being put to service or a trade; and on the decease of any one of them, another might be put in her room. To this he readily consented, which gave her no small satisfaction. She blessed God, who had disposed him to consent to it so readily. She was in great hopes that her husband, through the divine grace, should become truly good, which she earnestly begged of God; and to this end she urged him to be rid of all public affairs and attendance on a court, as being the bane of all inclinations to true and solid virtue.

Her heart was now wholly turned to God and to eternity; and day and night, while she waked, for she slept but little, she spent her time in ardent ejaculations, or in reading or hearing some portion of the holy Scriptures with great devotion. Her son having about this time read a letter concerning the love of God, was desirous it might be read to her, as being well suited to the present disposition of her heart. Having heard it with great attention, she said she had read it over two several times before, and wished nothing more than to have her heart wholly moulded into the love of God: she had always regarded the love of God as the essence of religion.

Her fever increasing much at night, on Thursday night she could get no sleep, and so fell into a little delirium. After a time, however, she fell asleep, and awoke free from any delirium. Expressing the sense she had of her unworthiness and ingratitude to God, a lady who was present said, she could see no reason why she should have so ill an opinion of herself, as all who knew her were persuaded that she had led a very good life. To this she replied, that that arose from their not knowing her. She could wish that all might know her real character, and might learn, from her example, not to defer their repentance, but to turn unto God while in health. The same lady observing that she had great reason to bless God who had given her such a son, she replied, that she did bless God for what he was, and prayed that he might be made better, and not to be as those who put their hand to the plough and look back again. While she was speaking of her approaching end, and that it was now not far off, her mother said, she hoped she might still recover. She answered, "God forbid that I should flatter myself by thinking either that 1 shall live long in this world, or that I have a full assurance of a blessed eternity; for I stand I know not how." And turning to her younger sister she said, "O Jane, Jane, be wise; deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Christ."

That night she caused them to read to her our Savior's farewell sermon, and then said, "I shall shortly bid farewell to the vanities of the world, and enjoy him whom my soul loveth." When she awaked from her slumberings, during which she had been troubled with vain dreams, she said she should shortly behold the glory of God and she begged earnestly that she might have no thought but

of him, and that he would inspire her with his holy Spirit, that, neither sleeping nor waking, she might have any unholy or unprofitable thoughts.

Friday night, the fever still increasing, she fell again into a little delirium, sleeping none that night. However, in the morning the delirium left her, and she became quite composed. She had before been much affected with the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, and was sensible that God did not always bestow on those he most loved, plenty of the good things of this life, and that she had not made that good use of them that she might and ought to have done; and therefore, thinking that the meanest things were too good for her, she desired to be buried in the meanest manner that is used in this country.

In the afternoon, her fever still increasing, she was seized again with a slight delirium. During its continuance, prayers were made for her, of which she seemed insensible. A little time after, one prayed over her, blessing God that he had turned her heart wholly unto him, and had taken possession of it, and begging earnestly that God would rebuke Satan, and cause him to depart from her: her spirit was immediately composed, and she broke forth into a most devout prayer and ardent adoration of God, at which all who were present were greatly surprised. Her husband drawing near to her, she held forth her hand to him, and then fell into a little delirium again. It was thought that she was calling for the young infant; but when brought she took no notice of him. She was heard to say, "Come, shew me the way." One present reminded her that Jesus had said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life;" and added, that He was now come to lead her to the Father, and to guide her through this dark path. And then he earnestly prayed, that Almighty God, the Creator of the world, would have mercy on the work of his own hands; that Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, would save the soul that he had bought; that the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, would support and comfort her in this her last agony. When he had ended, she broke forth into a divine rapture of adoration and praise with her last breath: "My Redeemer liveth: praise to the Lord: Amen. Thou hast promised mercy; thou wilt not leave me praise to the Lord: Amen. Take me by the hand, O my Savior, and lead me through the dark path unto the Father. O my God, leave me not. I know, O Christ, thou wilt not leave me. Thou never didst forsake a soul that was wholly given up to thee: praise to the Lord: Amen. Heavenly Father, into thy merciful hands I commend my spirit. Thou knowest that I have forsaken the world, and given my heart wholly unto thee. Come, and take possession of it. All I had in the world, they are thine: I give them unto thee; do thou accept of them. I trust only in thy mercy, and in the merits of my blessed Redeemer praise to the Lord: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus, and ead me to the Father. Heavenly Father, into thy merciful arms I

commend my spirit. Amen." With these words she closed her eyes, and seemed to all present to be yielding up her last breath; and thus she continued for some time, her pulse being quite gone. But in a little time she opened her eyes again, and with an air, as it seemed, of joy and wonder, she continued looking upwards with a fixed gaze for near half an hour. By degrees she let her eyes fall, shut them, and yielded up her last breath. Those who were present were not a little affected both with her last words and her last looks, which they all beheld with silent admiration; and they were led to think that God had been pleased to grant her the desire of her heart, some special mark of his favor, in her passing out of this world, and that she was entered into the joy of her Lord.

From the funeral sermon which was preached on the occasion of this lady's death, I shall extract a few concluding observations.

"Adored be the infinite mercy and goodness of God for this fresh instance of a sinner who hath caused joy in heaven by true penitence. She was a great ornament to her family, sex, and country; a virtuous woman, whose price was far above rubies;-the heart of whose husband might trust in her;-who looked well to the ways of her household, and ate not the bread of idleness;-whose children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her; who was not vain of her favor, which is deceitful, and beauty, which is vain; but truly feared the Lord, and therefore ought to be praised ;-but who, especially in her latter years, and in the last days of her life, gave such evidences of a truly penitent spirit. She then felt the difference between that virtue which has a vain shew in the world, and yet is founded too much on self-love and self-seeking; and that which is founded on a deep and true humility, divine love, and self-contempt;-between a heart divided between God and the world, and a heart wholly devoted unto God. How much did she abhor herself! How profoundly penitent was she for her sins! How was her heart totally weaned from this world, and wholly resigned unto God! How ardent were the breathings of her soul to him! How humble was her hope in his infinite mercy! How often did she say, 'I will cast myself at his feet: if I perish, I will perish there!' And what an earnest had we of her blessed acceptance with her heavenly Father and Redeemer, in her last joyful and rapturous breathing out of her spirit into the hands of her heavenly Father! O may we be stirred up to follow such a blessed example of true penitence! May the children trace this path of their excellent mother! May they ever remember and practice her last dying counsel! May her widowed husband give joy to her spirit, by being united to her in this spirit of true penitence! And may we all forsake our evil ways and unrighteous thoughts, and turn unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon us, even to our God, for he will abundantly pardon! Amen."

ELIZABETH WEST.

THOUGH this woman, who was born in Edinburgh towards the close of the seventeenth century, moved in the humble sphere of a servant, she was rich with respect to vital religion, a star of the first magnitude. We shall give some extracts from her diary, which discover lively, fervent godliness. The style is plain and homely, but the matter substantial and sweet.

"Though I cannot tell the time and place, when and where the Lord did me first good; yet this I know, that he began with me very early, when I was young in years, to incline my heart to seek the Lord. I wanted not good education from my mother, and likewise from my aunt, who was a pious woman and took much pains on me. When I was conversing with my comrades, I would be telling them what my mother was saying to me, that if I were good, I would get to heaven. Now, thought I, heaven was such a place, where I should get fine clothes, and every thing that was excellent.

"This so allured me, that I could have been content to do any thing to get to heaven: I resolved I would neither swear nor lie, nor do any thing that was ill; but I would pray and seek the Lord, then I would be sure to get to heaven; yet I found a strong inclination in my heart to break all my resolutions: for, the first temptation that came in my way to sin, I embraced it cheerfully. I was extraordinarily given to play of all sorts, which took my heart wholly up, so that I thought it a melancholy thing to be religious; but when I had gone to my bed I would think, what if I go to hell, where I shall never come out? That word never wrought strongly on me but the remedy I took to still my conscience was, I would say my prayers I learned at the school; then I was well enough. I cannot distinctly give an account how I spent my time: for some years I satisfied myself with the Pharisee's religion, that I was not so bad as others; but, in the Lord's own time, when he was pleased to send the gospel among us at the Revolution, then I began more seriously to seek the Lord; I left off my form of prayer, and betook me to another way, which I thought would please God better. I was for a considerable time under the ministry of Mr. William Erskine all that I can observe, during the time he preached among us, was, that I attained to a great delight in hearing the word, which wrought upon my affections, that I durst not neglect secret prayer; where sometimes I would be very tender, and shed some tears, then I thought there was no doubt but I was converted. It pleased the Lord soon to remove Mr. William Erskine.

:

"Then I frequently heard Mr. James Kirkton with a great deal of delight; for his sermons were very taking, and I had a good memory; so gained applause with those among whom I conversed. This pleased me extremely, though I knew never what it was to make application of any thing I heard. O how great reason have 1 to admire the goodness of the Lord, that did not send me to the pit in this selfish condition! seeking justification by works, never remembering what I was by nature. In this case I remained until it pleased the Lord to send Mr. George Meldrum to be our minister, in place of Mr. William Erskine, who was the Lord's messenger to me indeed the first time I heard him, I thought I felt something I never felt before, but knew not what it was: that word was made out to me, Hos. xi. 1, 2, 3. He preached on these words, Joshua, xxiv. 15. Choose you this day whom ye will serve.'-Where he besought us earnestly, with tears, that we should choose presently, whom we should serve. He said, 'Many will say, I will do that afterwards; but few will say, I will choose presently.' He protested he would not go out of the pulpit till we would give our consent presently to the bargain without delay. If I rightly remember, this was the first time that ever I could observe the Lord speaking to me in public. At this time I thought the Lord made me willing in a day of his power to choose and consent to serve the Lord. O that I may never forget this day!

"After this, I found corruption begin to stir in me; but, whatever troubled me, I got it spoken to on the Sabbath day, which struck me with wonder. I several times resorted to Mr. Meldrum and told him my case, (though very confusedly): his converse to me was both meek and comfortable; but, particularly, he exhorted me to keep a record of all the Lord's dealings with my soul, if I could write. I thought this a strange command; but I heard the same exhortation from Mr. John Flint, at Lasswade, on these words, Isa. xliv. 5. 'One shall say, I am the Lord's: and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord.' This being on a communion Sabbath, he exhorted every one to write with their hands to be the Lord's. I would fain have put this exhortation in practice, but knew not how to begin; it being presently before the Sacrament in Edinburgh, which was the first after the Revolution, and the first ever I was partaker of.

"December 25, 1694.-As all the Lord's ways with me have been as so many wonders, so I think it my duty to record one dispensation of Providence which I met with this night; and in so doing, O that I were as a beacon set up, that others may be aware of these rocks on which I had almost split, if God had not prevented it; This night I was sitting alone, thinking on a sermon which I had heard, and of three remarkable observations, from Matt. viii. 31, 32.

"The first was: The devil will take little before he wants all; he lost the man, be is content with the swine. The second is: They