and distressing to every feeling of nature, as

r-a sister so

Yea

the separation from an only sisterdearly, so justly beloved! One to whom I was united by "love strong as death."* stronger, for though death has succeeded in dissolving our temporal union, it hath no power over the spirit.

No, ours are I am persuaded, bound together with bands too strong for time to break, inasmuch as they are composed of that love by which the mystical body of Christ is fitly joined together, and united to its Head: a love

*It has already appeared in the course of the narrative and in the extracts from Mary Anne's letters introduced therein; also from her adaptation of the 4th anniversary of Mr. Newton's Ebenezer on the death of his wife to her own case that this affection was warmly returned.

The following extract from a letter to a friend, is here inserted, as it serves at once to show the strength of her attachment to Lydia, and also her perfect conformity to the mind and will of God, as it respected His taking her to Himself, or leaving her yet a little longer in the bosom of this attached family.

The extract runs thus -After speaking of their having changed the place of their residence she says,

'I do not think, that excepting fatigue, she was the least injured by the change; but her constitution ap

enkindled at the eternal fountain and source celestial; even "the love of God, shed abroad in our hearts by the power of the Holy Ghost,"

Surely these sentiments and feelings respecting a dispensation of Providence (speaking after the manner of men) so much to be lamented, is a pledge and confirmation of ours being love in (or according to) "the Spirit," which shall survive both faith and hope, and constitute the blessedness of the ransomed throng “which surround the throne;" cementing into one the Church Militant, and the Church Triumphant ;

pears to be wearing, under the pressure of a disease, which, it is my opinion, will in time quite subdue it.

You will wonder, my affectionate friend, that I can thus write of it; but I find this final anticipation almost as necessary as my daily bread; neither do I suffer an anxious wish farther than as it is in conformity to the divine will. I am sure He has a right to do what he will, and that it is my privilege, if I am enabled to say from the heart, "not my will but thine be done;" and, to act in conformity to this petition, may God in his great mercy keep me looking unto Him with child-like confidence; beseeching him to give me grace to take this visitation aright. And Oh! that I' may be weaned from all creature props and dependencies, seeing that there is no other thing necessary for a believer, than to be looking unto Jesus.

so that" if one member suffer, all the members suffer with it, or one member be honoured," (and are not they honoured, who are called to take the right hand place?)" all the members rejoice with it!"

O! how does this alter the very nature of those separating strokes! when we can say with good hope, in reference to our dear departed friends,

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'they are not lost, but only gone before." Thanks be to God, that this blessedness is mine, through the merits and meditation of my adorable Redeemer; and the expectation, that I shall be permitted in His own good time, to enter into the Kingdom.

"And let me take my place above;

Enter into my Master's joy,

And all eternity employ

In praise, and ecstacy, and love."

OCTOBER 9, 1817.

The dawn of another of those days of holy and sacred satisfaction, arises very unexpectedly upon thee, O my soul; days, on which pleasurable sensations are ever predominant.—

And no wonder it should be so, while every recollected 'circumstance conspires to declare concerning one, so inexpressibly dear to thee, that it is well with her; well for eternity.

While I am so sharply feeling in the sufferings of this poor perishing body, the dire effects and consequence of sin; although (blessed be my God for the cheering hope) it be sin pardoned through the "blood of the Lamb;" which hope gives rise to the animating expectation, that they shall eventually prove only "the sufferings of this present time;" which the apostle describes, as "not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed." But if these be so painful and hard to endure, what must be the nature and degree of those which are reserved for the impenitent and unbelieving?

O what an unspeakable mercy it is, to be given to rejoice in the "sure and certain hope," that from all of these latter, our beloved Mary Anne is secure! From the former we could never expect, or even wish her entire exemption, seeing it is the path marked by "the footsteps of the flock;" the high way whereon all the re

deemed of the Lord do walk, who ever come to Mount Zion. Yet from these also, we now know of a surety, that the Lord sent his angel and delivered her; and that she hath entered by the gate into the City, where the inhabitants shall no more say 'I am sick;' and from whence sorrow and sin are alike excluded.

Then "bless the Lord O my soul," for He hath taken her to Himself, to a " weight of glory.”

THE END.

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