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Letter from the author.

after you, I never met with any one that could give any very definite account of you. The recollection of Emma B- was like a bright vision that had passed away; all that remained was, the remembrance that I had seen her sitting, like a meek and lovely child, at the feet of Jesus. The radiance of hope was upon her brow, and heavenly peace in her bosom. I did not expect to see her, or hear of her again, till I entered the fields of paradise, and began to revive, among the happy beings that traversed those fields, the acquaintanceships of earth. Then, among those that had washed their robes, and made them white, in the blood of the Lamb, I did hope to recognise my young sainted friend! Yesterday, unexpectedly, I heard your name mentioned. I eagerly inquired after you, and whether your "walk was close with God?" It was a friend that loved you that loved your soul-of whom I inquired. O pardon me, when I inquire of you, "Where art thou ?" The thought flashed upon my mind, I shall meet you in judgment, and perhaps I shall behold you for ever cast out. What will Christ say to you when he reminds you of his agonies and death? Be assured that I have written these lines in kindness, and to say, 66 prepare to meet thy God!" Do you feel prepared? Can you look back, with satisfaction, on the past? You have stood before the King Eternal, and solemnly dedicated yourself to his service; you called men and angels to witness-yea, God himself—that you renounced the world, the flesh, and the devil. How will that vow appear in a dying hour? O, return, return unto the Lord, before it be too late for ever.

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I probably shall never see you until we meet at the judgment bar; but do allow me to hope that you will then appear at the right hand of the Son of man. I hope you will not mistake the motives this communication to you. warning voice of God, and may his mercy in Christ pluck you as a brand from the burning.

Your affectionate friend,

May it prove to you the

J. A. C.

The causes that tended to bring about Emma's decline.

A friend of Emma's, who loved her tenderly, and saw with anguish her sad defection from the Lord, and who was privileged to act the part of a ministering angel in recalling her to the feet of Jesus, and helping her to prepare for her mortal hour, has kindly furnished me with materials from which I shall draw most of the facts that will be presented in the remainder of this sketch.

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Miss H, the friend just adverted to, having spoken of Emma's burning love for Christ, and her devotedness to his cause, remarks,-" From this beautiful picture of the fervour of her first love, it is painful to turn. Alas! that so bright a jewel should have ceased for a while to gem the Redeemer's crown. It is painful too to reflect upon the many hinderances that beset her; and when we consider the deceitfulness of sin, we cannot so much wonder that she fell, as that she thus long held on her way. Her struggle was not only with the mere rising corruptions of her own heart; but those to whom she was bound by every tie of love, sought, on the one hand, to prevent her strictness of devotion, and, on the other, to allure her back to gayety; and in the language of the psalmist, No man cared for her soul.' At home, none comprehended her feelings; abroad, none compassionated them. Not being attached to the church under the care of Mr. Cyet able to attend it, she seemed to have no pastor. clergyman upon whose ministry her family attended was, properly, the only person whom she had a right to look to, as sustaining to her the relation of a pastor. He had only a very general acquaintance with her. And often when she sought for Christian counsel and sympathy, the result was such that she felt mortified and disappointed. She had exalted views of the character of the Christian minister, nor did she enough consider that all are compassed with infirmity; when, therefore, the watchful care she had anticipated was not experienced, she felt in bitterness, I have seen an end of all perfection.'

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"Circumstances continued to prevent her from enjoying the society of Christian friends, or the support of a Christian pastor, long before she had yielded to the wishes of those around her, to mingle more in the world from which she had so entirely withdrawn herself. Beset with snares on every hand, naturally of an affectionate disposition, she felt the want of human sympathies. Says one who then saw much of her, We cannot believe that she joined the circles of her friends at first from any other than a desire to prove to them her willingness to please. Her first retrograde steps were such, as most would think not inconsistent. By degrees she entered into gayer scenes, and then soon became to all appearance a complete worldling.'

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"Time passed on," continues Miss H. "I heard occasionally that she was the gayest of the gay. I often wondered whether she could be happy. I often longed to see her. It was strange that the first time I again saw Emma, we met as mourners in the house of mourning. We spoke of our bereavements, but it was as strangers speak. There was something in her manner that repulsed me, and it was with a vexed as well as sorrowing feeling that I bade her adieu. How little thought I then, that ere I laid aside the garments of wo, she would be with those who stand before the throne in white robes, and having palms in their hands!' How little, that it should be my privilege to watch the preparation of her spirit for its upward flight!

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"Early in the fall of 1834, I was informed of her illness, and that her mind was in a very anxious and unhappy state. Accompanied by a friend, I sought admission to her, and was not denied. Never shall I forget the shock of the moment when she met us. I had merely thought of her as an invalid; but when I saw the seal of that fatal disease with which I had been sadly familiar, it was to me as the engraving of death. I dared not trust my voice to speak. Calling soon after, I found her unable to see me.

The cir

A fact adverted to.

cumstances of that morning were afterwards related to me. She had attempted to write to Mr. C—————, but her strength had proved inadequate to the exertion, and a severe fainting fit followed."

The fact adverted to in the conclusion of the last paragraph, and the peculiar state of Emma's mind at this period, will be unfolded in the next chapter.

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There is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again. From the Book of Job.

THE Psalmist bears the following testimony in relation to the covenant protection which God extends to those who are truly his people: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”

This is the only hope that any human creature can cherish of his finally reaching mount Zion with songs and everlasting joy-though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. Were it not for the hand of the Lord plucking us away from the downward path in spite of ourselves, we should not only wander from him every hour, but we should never return from our wanderings. What a blessed privilege-what an unspeakable mercy it is, that Israel's God is our keeper, and that he has said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee! The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord, that hath mercy on thee. Were we left to ourselves were we not continually kept by the power of God's grace, not one of us would ever stand within the walls of the New Jerusalem. But the great Captain of our salvation, who has undertaken to conduct his chosen people to the everlasting possession of that heavenly rest which remaineth for the people of God, hath said, I know my sheep, and they follow me; and I give unto them eter

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