Has she virtues ?—what filial hand can paint them? And yet the holy office has been undertaken of perpetuating a mother's memory! It seemed proper that some individual should weave together the incidents of a life too interesting and instructive to be altogether lost. Who so fitted for the work, as one who had knowu her so long, and had known her so well? The absence of the present Memoir from the biography of the Christian church-imperfectly as its materials are compiledthe writer, with lowliness, hesitates not to say, would have been a real and serious loss. The memorial of a life so unreservedly consecrated to God, -the publication of a correspondence, so rich in Christian experience, and replete with Christion comfort, must, with God's blessing, be greatly and extensively useful. To retain and perpetuate, therefore, something of that bright spirit that has passed away, and which itself could not be retained,—to catch the mantle as it fell in its celestial flight, and pass it down, a sacred and precious heirloom, to the Christian church, were a solemn and imperious duty, from which no conviction of inability or sense of unworthiness should be allowed to shrink. There were difficulties in the accomplishment of the work, other than those inseparable from its peculiar nature. It was found impossible to give that fulness to the biography, that was desired, without involving allusion to the living. Personal references to some who survive,-increasingly to feel how irreparable is their loss,-have already insinuated themselves. into the volume to a greater extent and more prominently than either the judgment or taste of the compiler approved. They were, however, so closely interlaced with her writings as to render a separation difficult, if not impossible, without essentially impairing their beauty and effect. The destruction, by her own hands, of one of her earliest and most important private journals, together with a large mass of letters of a deeply interesting and circumstantial character, deprives the work of that completeness of consecutive and incidental history which the editor would like to have preserved. The habit, too, of not dating many of her letters, and jottings in her diary, would greatly have embarrassed the chronological arrangement of the matter, (and may possibly have done so to some slight extent,) but or the events themselves, which have formed tolerably correct landmarks, guiding our course along the stream of her life. Painfully trying to his feelings, and physically exhausting, as the work has been, it is not without some regret that his task is concluded. Not only has he counted it an honour— the least in his father's house-to have been intrusted with an office so responsible and sacred, but the prosecution of his work has conferred a happiness hallowed and indescribable. It has been to him, in many a still hour of night, like a prolongation of personal communion with her pure and glorified spirit, thus "preventing the feeling of entire disruption, and forming a kind of intermediate stage between her society in this world and the everlasting union of heaven.” Acknowledgments are due to those of her correspondents who have kindly furnished for the Memoir letters in their possession. It has been, necessarily, but to a limited extent that the compiler has been able to avail himself of these invaluable treasures. He hopes, however, to follow the present volume. with a second one, composed entirely of selections from his mother's unpublished remains, in which many of these letters will appear. The work-already and solemnly dedicated to the TRIUNE GOD-is now humbly laid at the feet of Christ's ONE church, with the fervent prayer, that the example which it presents of a LIVING FAITH, and of a CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY may instruct, comfort, and animate many saints in their Christian course; and thus bring honour and praise to HIM whom, liv ing, it was her supreme delight to serve; and whom, though dead, through these memorials, she still may glorify. Oh, cherish'd and revered! fond memory well Leamington, England. CONTENTS. Christianity a Spiritual Life-The Believer a Living Soul-The Prevalence of Religious Formalism-Archbishop Leighton-The Moral Incentive of a High Standard Birth-Ancestry-Early Training-A Mother's Influence - Mrs. Forbes-Providential Preservations-First Prayer-Marriage-The Pilgrim PAGE The Day-dawn of Grace-First Convictions of Sin-" The Whole Duty of Man "- Residence at Romford-Removal to London-St. James's Chapel, Pentonville -Rev. Thomas Sheppard-Spiritual Distress-Night of Weeping-Morning of Joy-Full Conversion-Writings of Rev. John Newton-Interesting Stranger -Spiritual Conflicts-Restored Peace-Letter to her Mother-Foreshadow- The Practical Character of her Religion-Family Worship-Letter to her Mother -Bermuda, its Salubrity, Inhabitants, Spiritual Condition-Asylum of the Puritans-Andrew Marvel-Whitfield visits Bermuda-His successful Labours -Dr. George Forbes-Her Exertions to secure a Minister for Bermuda-Rev. George Burder-Rev. H. H. Cross-Chapel opened in St. George's-Remark- able Providence-Rev. Duncan Dunbar-Colonial Slavery-Rescue of a Slave Family-Manumits her Slaves-Providential Escape-Illness of her Husband -Dr. Hamilton-Influence of Christian Physicians-Religious Anniversaries God's Adjustment of His People to their Position-Her Illness-Captain Winslow's Colonel Bayard-Divie Bethune-Her Opinion of the United States-Death of her Infant Death of her Husband-Letters to her Son-Inconsolable Grief-Light in Darkness-A Remarkable Dream-An Especial Promise-Her Baptism-Walks of Usefulness-A Pious Idiot-Conflict of Faith-Letter to her Son-Memorial to the King-William Wilberforce-Her Communion with Revisits England-Former Scenes -Return to America — Residence at Mount Pleasant Letter to her Mother-Removal to New York-The Mothers' Meet- ing-American Revivals-President Edwards-The Pilgrim Fathers-Outpour- ing of the Spirit on her Family-Letters to her Children-Remarks on the Baptism of the Holy Ghost-On Faith and Prayer-Résumé of her History-- Her Second Visit to England-Earnest Letter to her Children-Extracts from her Diary-Rev. James Harington Evans-A Remarkable Providence-Heart- searchings-Death of George IV.-Reflection on Christmas-Letter to her Mother-Letter to her Son R.-Letter to her Son H.-Rev. Mr. Evans' Preach- ing-Thoughts in Pentonville Chapel-Interesting Discovery-Letter to her Son-Spiritual Fluctuations-Her Birthday-The Necessity of Trials-Minis- Her Fitness for Counsel and Comfort-Illness and Death of Mrs. Evans-Visit to Cambridge-Haslingfield-Letter to her Pastor-Rev. Mr. Carus-Diary- Rev. Mr. Melville-Letter to her Son Rev. I. D. W.-Her last Visit to America ---Ordination of her Son-Diary-Revival in New York-Return to England- Death of her Mother-Tugby-Village Scenes-Her Prayers for the Queen-- Anecdote of the Queen-Avoidance of Debt-Rev. R. Cecil-Memoir of Rev. Dr. Payson-Letter to her Son Rev. I. D. W., on Ministerial Work-Heart- searchings-Letter to her Son Rev. G. E. W., on Ministerial Responsibility- Missionary Memoir of Mrs. Harriet Winslow-A Jewel in Mrs. Harriet Wins- Her Thoughts on Spiritual Subjects-Communion with God-Dr. Love Letter to |