hearts, than they are weakened; the wine is mixed with water-yea, with dregs. In heaven, these frail vessels shall be made capable of holding them purely, and be ever full.'

The entrance of the allied armies into Paris, in 1814, and Buonaparte's consequent abdication of the throne of France-events which caused so great a change in the face of European affairs-are thus noticed by MRS. HAWKES, in her Diary :

"Easter Sunday, April 10, 1814.-My mind is still overwhelmed, and impressed with a sacred awe, by the news of yesterday, concerning France. Surely the Lord's arm is made visible to man! May the inhabitants of the world thereby learn righteousness! So manifest a display of the Divine Power disposes the mind to a more solemn observance of the grand event, which the Church this day commemorates. Our Risen Saviour has all power, both in heaven and earth; and, surely, His spiritual kingdom shall be advanced by the great changes in the kingdoms of this world. The time will come, when all enemies shall be put under His feet. Let it be my business to fight under His banner, against sin and Satan!" Ezekiel xxxviii.

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MRS. HAWKES, in the course of her correspondence, and especially in the following Letters, describes very clearly her sentiments on the subject of indwelling sin; quite in accordance with the statement made by St. Paul, in the 7th chapter of his Epistle to the Romans. In the month of June, 1814, writing to her friend Mrs. C--tt, she says:

"I can, My dear friend, feelingly unite in the complaints you utter; for I, too, have much reason to fear a torpid and lukewarm state, which seems to be the chief danger of such as are less surrounded with temptations from external objects. Persons

who have lived long enough to detect the snares and follies of the world, and all its vanities, have their dangers from other quarters;-for to dangers we shall always be exposed while we are inhabitants of a depraved world, carrying about with us a fallen nature, and while our vigilant Adversary is ever on the watch against us. For my own part, I feel sometimes quite weary with looking into my own. corrupt heart. Ah!' I say, 'here is enough to do,

to weed this rank soil: there is no time for drowsiness.' Roots of bitterness, that seemed to be destroyed, are ever putting forth their buds and branches, in a thousand different appearances, all poisonous and injurious to the growth of grace. In this work I should utterly faint, if I were not enabled to look more to the Good Husbandman than to myself, for success. I find that the best way to have corruptions destroyed, is to take them to the foot of the Cross; and there wait the purifying, sanctifying, and renewing virtue of that precious blood, which alone procures and maintains our peace and spiritual life."

To the same friend, at another time, she writes:

"I find nothing so damping and impeding to this work of faith, as the shoots of that evil root of bitterness, indwelling sin. Sin puts forth its poison into every thing. I will transcribe a passage on this subject, which I lately met with in the diary of a most eminent and godly Minister, and which greatly pleased me: I was much distressed,' says he, by my discoveries of the remaining power of indwelling sin, and the invasion of sins of daily infirmity: not understanding well our state here, that if any man say he has no sin, he deceives himself; for in many things we offend all: neither understanding the gracious provision made, for this case, in the Covenant of Grace-the daily sacrifice, i. e. the daily application to the Throne of Grace-the blood of the

Atonement-the Fountain opened. In my ignorance, I essayed to humble myself distinctly for every one of my failures;-but I found, had I followed this course, my whole time would not have sufficed. Hereon, the Lord led me to that course a worthy friend advises in this case ;- I was fain to take them in the lump, or rather to go with them all at once, and plunge myself in the Fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. If any one grosser sin overtakes us, we must endeavour a distinct recovery and intimation of pardon, by a distinct application to the blood of sprinkling.. .... Herein lies one of the greatest secrets of practical godliness, and the highest attainment of close walking with God, to come daily to the Fountain and wash, and yet to keep up as great a reverence for this provision of forgiveness as if it were once only to be had, and no more.'

"No wonder, My dear Madam, that such as know nothing of the Gospel method of salvation, nor the constraining influence of the love and grace of Christ, and the true filial fear of a Child of God, should condemn this merciful and wonderful doctrine of daily washing,' as leading to licentiousness. Such an objection was started as early as the days of the Apostle; and he knew how to answer it. In the same way does every true and sincere follower of Christ answer it, both to himself and others. The branch that is really united to the True Vine, and that lives and bears fruit by virtue of this union, will never, from that root, bring forth wild and sour grapes. But we must be content to be misunderstood; as we are content when we hear a blind man mistake in attempting to describe a fine prospect or beautiful colours; and we must turn such mistakes into a prayer, that the eyes of their understanding may be enlightened."

Writing to a young friend on the same subject, she says:

"It is not difficult to know and believe theoretically that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked; but to feel it, to trace really its secret windings, to detect how sin insinuates itself into our motives, designs, objects, thoughts, prayers, and every action, sleeping and waking-and on that account, truly and sincerely to be afraid and ashamed to lift our mouths out of the dust, because we are vile, and because we cannot open them without danger these are lessons gradually learnt under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, in the various means He is pleased to use; and from continual occasions. and circumstantial occurrences, by which, as in a glass, an enlightened, observant eye obtains important discoveries of what is hidden within. You say, you abhor yourself because you are proud;-and so do I, My dear; and yet I am proud still. But we must sentence this arch-fiend to die the death of crucifixion; and every day drive in a fresh nail; and pray to be made willing that nails should be driven in from every quarter, till it bleeds, if not to death (which it never will in this world), yet till it is enfeebled and overcome by the contrary feelings of self-abasement. The very discipline and subjugation of your natural abilities to the humility and simplicity of a little child, will constitute one part of that obedience of faith which is so essential to the Christian character.

"You made me smile at your simplicity, in not knowing what you should pray for on my account. Ah, My love! I am as full of weakness, want, and wickedness, as you, or any other. The moment I cease from plying my oars, that moment spiritual life languishes. I need your prayers, and those of all others who will bestow such a kindness: I need faith, patience, humility, holiness, resignation, and entire reliance upon God for life and for death. My disease much increases; and if faith, patience, and

dependence increase not accordingly, I must sink under my load. Therefore you now know what to pray for; and be assured you have, and must always have, a place in my supplications."

To another friend she writes:

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"When I set out, above thirty years ago, on my pilgrimage Zion-ward, though encompassed with outward trouble, yet, like the Ethiopian Eunuch spoken of in the Acts, I was enabled, for a few years, to go on my way rejoicing. But, as my voyage through life's tempestuous ocean has been lengthened, and 'deep is still calling to deep,' till heart and flesh begin to fail, I am now content to 'go softly,' wondering and ashamed at such depths of sin, depravity, and weakness, which varied trials, temptations, and occasions have brought out to my view: so that now I am constrained to cry out, Behold, I am vile!' I will henceforth lay my hand upon my mouth.' I dare not, however, conceal the bright parts of so dark a picture, lest I should be guilty of ingratitude to that infinite and gracious God, who only strips that he may clothe, and wounds that he may heal. In proportion as I have been driven from all peace in myself, and all rest from created objects, I have been in mercy led to the 'Rock that is higher than I'; and there I have found rest and peace, satisfying and abounding: so that nothing ought to be uppermost in my mind but wonder and praise, for the mercies I have experienced, and the surprising favours I have received; for I have ever had in the night,' however dark."

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MRS. HAWKES'S sentiments on the subject of indwelling sin are still more strikingly expressed in a Letter to Mrs. Jones; where they stand in connexion with experiences which indicate great advancement in the divine life. She writes :