me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies: I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the Lord." Hosea ii. 19, 20. It is, however, one characteristic of the new creature to be subject to fears respecting its preservation. These fears are naturally expressed in the following extract from her diary.

August 3.-"I am truly cast down because the time is arrived when we make our annual visit into the country. Some of the places to which I must go are peculiarly unfavourable to religion. I have also formerly exhibited there gaiety and folly. I have now to make a stand, and support a very different character. I am young and inexperienced in Christianity; I shall have no support from any creature. What if I should fall into temptation? what if I should be among such as are ashamed of Jesus and his cause? what if I should be like PLIABLE, and slide away into unworthy compliances! My very heart is ready to 'faint with fear. But I will pray with Jabez, 'O that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and let thine hand be with me to keep me from evil.'"

Broad Marston.* August 7.-" Through mercy, I am here in safety, and find my valuable brother Henry in better health. May his life long be spared. He is a great ornament to religion, and a comfort to all about him. His great strength of understanding, and his remarkable amiableness and composure

The paternal residence; and where Mrs. Hawkes had lived till the time of her marriage. Her second brother, Henry, continued to rent the estate after the death of his parents.

of temper, are truly admirable. I have lived with him. many years, but I do not remember to have seen him angry on more than one occasion. Whenever he reproved either friend, domestic, or labourer, it was with mildness and dignity; and his unclouded, cheerful, genuine piety, spread a lustre over the whole of his character that was not to be described. O may I copy his bright example."

August 9.-" I have been shutting myself up in my dear departed mother's chamber, the very walls and furniture of which are sacred. A thousand times have I marked her retiring into it for purposes of devotion. Often have I overheard her strong cries and tears to God, and often caught the sound of, MY CHILdren,' as if that interest was uppermost. At morning, at noon, and at evening, she never failed to retire to read and pray. Thousands of tears has she shed in this chamber: where I have sometimes had the privilege of kneeling down by her side. How present in her image! how sweet my communion with her departed spirit! Little did I then know the value of her intercession for her children; or the weight of her character or example as a Christian. Thank God, I know it now; and abhor myself in proportion as I estimate her. Oh that I might but tread in her honoured steps! Oh that her prayers for every one of us may be like 'bread cast upon the waters,' found after many days! Oh may my dear mother's God be my God! He graciously carried her through many years of weakness and sorrow. He enabled her to walk worthy of her high calling; and he stood by her in a dying hour. Her last words were, 'For me to die is gain--and, I will pray for my children while I have breath."

"My brother--seemed much upon her mind. Oh

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may his mother be much upon his mind, and upon all our minds; and may we meet her in glory! Who knows but her happy spirit has been a witness to my secret transactions in her former chamber. May all my transactions through life be equally pleasing in her eyes!"

Dudley." I am here truly like a sparrow upon the house-top.' I am full of fears lest I should dishonour that holy name and cause I have so lately professed;--lest I should grieve that Holy Spirit, whose influence alone can support and help me. Thanks be to God, that he gives me to feel my danger, and shows me where lies my strength; and he also enables me, in the spirit of a little child, to tell him all my complaints and fears; and to call upon him for security. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.'"

Mem.-"Beware of hasty friendships; examine all new proposals.' I have had one to-day, but the advice at the beginning of this book* warns me. I have already experienced great advantage from endeavouring to follow my wise counsellor, in avoiding not only a too great degree of pliableness of temper, but also a mean, sneaking, irresolute, shame-faced behaviour among worldly people. I find by experience, that they soon discover when the mind is made up; and on making this discovery, cease to persuade you to join with them in their pursuits; while they secretly respect the consistent character. I perceive this strongly in the remarks made upon certain persons. Some say, we are to become all things to all men. But my honoured minister observed, we are in danger, lest in imitating St. Paul in becoming all things to all men, we attempt his work without the ballast."

* Her Diary, where she recorded Mr. Cecil's remarks.

It was a great mercy to MRS. HAWKES, that during her spiritual conflicts she had a sister strong in the faith, who was to her as a nursing mother, to whom she could unburden every thought with advantage, and meet in return both sympathy and spiritual counsel. A reference to the correspondence of these affectionate sisters, may often illustrate the progress of thework of gracein MRS. HAWKES'S mind. In the following letter, Mrs. Jones, with a view to encourage her sister, expatiates, in a very animating manner, on the love and forbearance of God; she writes

"I have had many exercises, but God has enabled me to lie at anchor till the storm was over. I have had much to bear with in myself, but God is a God of patience, and therefore he beareth not like man, but like Himself. There is no end of his goodness! no, no end! We serve a God of love, who accepts our endeavours to please him. He is not extreme to mark with rigour every little failure, but regards the motive, and the affections; and saith, Let your love be without dissimulation: let that be fixed; and as to other things, I know what is in man, and consider that he is but dust; and on that account I have opened a fountain to wash away his sin and uncleanness. His defilement shall not hinder the exercise of my love towards him; sinful as he is, if he abides in me, (by faith and love,) and my word abides in him, (as the mark to which he aims,) he may ask what he will, and it shall be done unto him. O that we knew the strength of this promise, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, it shall be done.'

"We may torment and perplex ourselves with this and the other defect: but we must come to God to be filled with his love. He will strengthen us for every good word and work; or nothing is so active, so operative a

love, which the apostle fully proves, 1 Cor. xiii. We do not expect enough from this love. It is an ocean, and we must cast ourselves into it as well as we can.

"I hope you continue to meet me at the throne of grace at twelve. I feel it an animating thought, that we can unite in spirit, though we are absent in body. At the Lord's table, last Sunday, I had a very invigorating view of the love of God. It appeared to me without bounds, and as free as the air we breathe, so that my heart could only cry out, Lord, I accept it, I accept it.' If in our most favoured moments we have sometimes a sight of the love of God, which we can by no means express in human language, O what amazing discoveries shall break upon our souls when they leave these clay tenements! The very anticipation of it is glorious!"

From MRS. HAWKES to Mrs. Jones.

"I thank my dearest sister for her last letter; it did me good. My aching heart feelingly echoed back your words, There is no end of his goodness; ' if there were, there would be an end of our hope, for I am sure there is no end of the daily provocations he receives at our hands, at least I can say, from mine. I seem at this time to be learning deeper lessons of my own utter depravity; and to feel that sin is in every breath I draw,-in every pulse that beats. I frequently cannot open my lips; but am only able to prostrate my spirit before God. I feel that if I ask favours, I shall abuse them; and yet I cannot live without asking more and more. Therefore I can only pray, if there are any in the family of Christ whose case resembles mine, deal with me as thou dealest with them. I have been greatly encouraged lately, by the consideration of the wisdom of God, and by believing that what his wisdom undertakes, his love will complete.