indigent neighbours, and it is my blest employment to teach the Gospel to the poor! Rejoice, O my heart! rejoice with exceeding great joy, in the honour bestowed upon thee! may I be a faithful steward, a zealous teacher! may I be extensively useful to the rising generation; O that I may recover my strength before I go hence and be no more seen! may I live, if such be the will of God, to accomplish the religious purposes of my heart.

I have a family of dutiful, affectionate children, what a blessing is this. I have reason to hope, that though death must for a time separate us, we shall all finally meet, never more to part. O may I be thankful for this blessing; may I try in future to enjoy it instead of dwelling upon these reflections which embitter life; and if my dear children ever read these pages after I am gone to my long home; if they awaken any tender regrets for the loss of an affectionate parent, may they be comforted with the reflection, that by their amiable conduct they greatly added to her earthly felicity. Yes, my dear children, you have amply repaid every maternal care, and if ever it is your lot to bear a parent's name, may your children prove to you, what you have been to me; I cannot wish you a higher degree of happiness in that relation, for it is not attainable upon earth, O may each of you follow my example in this one particular; instill into the minds of your infants as soon as reason dawns, the principles of religion, the divine blessing will accompany your endeavours,

Should prosperity be granted to me and my family, may our inclination to do good continue with it, and encrease as our abundance encreases, or if it be the will of God to cloud with, adversity, may we all be resigned! let it be our joint determination to be exactly just in all our dealings; to moderate our desires, to rely on the Providence of God, for all good things, and never to think or say the power of my hand, or my own wisdom has gotten me this wealth, or gained me this advantage.

I have sober, regular, and I believe faithful servants; this is also a comfort. And I have many blessings and comforts besides. Let me not then sink into despondency like one forsaken of God, because he has seen fit to take my dear husband from me, but rather let me rejoice in the goodness of my Maker, and endeavour to enjoy with a cheerful mind, the blessings and comforts in possession. I will do so. I will strive to subdue my cares, I therefore, begin the year with joy and thanksgivings.

O Father of mercies continue to me thy favour, and I will fear no evil! Redeemer of mankind, continue to me thy love, and I will endeavour to follow thy example of patience.

Jan. 11. On Sunday evening I found myself fatigued with teaching the children of the Sunday School, and not able to write, I therefore filled up the time I usually allot to the continuation of these pages, with reading over the transcript of the last

year's Meditations, which raised my soul from earthly cares, and prepared me for reading family. prayers with fervency and devotion.

I have had several nights of quiet comfortable repose, and though my heart has felt many a pang, and my eyes have shed many tears for the loss of my dear husband, I have not given way to fruitless sorrow, but have resisted it, I think, as much as I could.

I have been vexed by an obstruction thrown in my way, when I was rejoicing in the happy success of my plan for getting the poor to attend publick worship. But I am not discouraged on this subject, so as to remit my labours. The greater the dif ficulties, the greater must be my exertions. While I live I will do all in my power to promote the religious observance of the Sabbath Day. If my life be spared I will try to bring the poor to the Sacrament.

I have also had much vexation in the course of the last five months from the ill behaviour of the parents of the children of the schools. No less than five of them have taken their girls away. One of them yesterday withdrew her children, and treated me with the greatest insolence imaginable. I was hurt at her ingratitude to me, but that soon subsided; I meet with no more than our blessed Redeemer taught his disciples to expect; but I am grieved that my pains to improve two children of promising dispositions, and ready capacities, are, after five years instruction, rendered abortive.

I resolve that the ill treatment I meet with shall shall not cause me to remit my attention to the schools.

Father of mercies, and God of all consolation, I presume to offer unto thee my humblest thanksgivings, for thine abundant mercies bestowed upon me, and my children. O may we ever be grateful to thee; may we strive to do thy blessed will.

Let not

Saviour of mankind, I beseech thee, look with compassion and tenderness upon me, thy true, though weak disciple. O accept my humble services, and give efficacy to them. Satan snatch away those whom we have ga thered together, but keep them safe in thy fold. Lord, thou knowest that it is not through carelessness in me that any of thy lambs stray away; I would do my duty; I would lead them all to thee if I were able to do so; but the arts of the wicked one prevail against me. O may those two poor children lately so dear to me, call to mind hereafter the lessons I have given them; may they be awakened to a sense of duty by other means, so that they be not totally lost! Lord, I beseech thee to bless my labours, without thy blessing they cannot succeed. I would fain pray to thee with fervent devotion but a sense of weariness over powers me; I must yield to it. O Lord, the earthly body presses down the immortal spirit; but it will not always be so; I shall, I trust, here

after, serve and praise thee with unabating vigour, with unremitting fervour!

Adorable Saviour, vouchsafe to receive the homage of a heart most zealously devoted to thee; vouchsafe to bless my labours in thy service. I desire as the greatest honour and happiness I can have in this world to be instrumental in the propagation of thy holy religion. Transporting thought! I trust I have already been so, thanksgivings a thousand times repeated cannot express the joy of my soul in this reflection! Vouchsafe also to accept my humble endeavours to instruct the poor children of this place, and continue to us the means of supporting the schools. For my own part, I should think no sacrifices too great for the accomplishment of the important work of teaching the Gospel to the poor.

Jan. 24. I had another most comfortable serene day, and a night of calm and refreshing repose; praised be the Lord, for his merciful kindness!

For these last two or three days I have felt more self approbation than usual. I am desirous of considering it as proceeding from the testimony of a good conscience, and a sense of the favour of God; O that I may judge rightly in this matter! If my ways are pleasing to thee, O Lord, and this sweet peace is the reward thou bestowest upon me thy humble, but faithful servant, for my weak endeavours to do my duty, vouchsafe to continue it; if it is the effect of vanity or of spiritual pride,