the parable of the ten thousand talents and hundred pence. She considered also that the best have their failings, and the worst may have some good things in them.

She much delighted in God's house, and the public worship, and was a conscientious observer of the Lord's-day; and had made this remark, that according to her frame and temper that day, such was her disposition the week following.

She was careful that all her family served the Lord; and when she wanted a chaplain, performed the offices of evening and morning worship herself, enjoining them private devotion; and to such as needed, she composed forms of prayer for their use.

She was very moderate in her sentiments about disputable points, sadly regretting the divisions and animosities occasioned among Christians by them. Though she heartily approved the doctrine and worship of the Church of England, in which she blessed God that she had been initiated and educated, yet she complied with the customs and forms of the Church of Scotland, the country where God had cast her lot, finding the essentials of religion the same in both.

She divided the twenty-four hours into three parts, allotting five for devotion, ten for necessary refreshment, nine for business. Her hours of devotion were from five to seven in the morning, from one in the afternoon to two, from six to seven in the evening, and from nine to ten. This order she carefully observed; and if at any time she was diverted from observing the hours of devotion, she made it up from the other divisions. Yet, she did not confine her devotion to these stated hours, but all the day long, however employed, she endeavoured to keep up a spiritual frame; and in the night-time when she did awake, she was still with God, and had then her meditations, her songs, and prayers.

She was ever employed either in doing or reaping

good. In the summer season, she vied with the bee orant in gathering herbs, flowers, worms, snails, &c. for the still or limbeck, for the mortar or boiling-pan, &c.; and was ordinarily then in a dress fitted for her still-house, making preparations of extracted waters, spirits, ointments, conserves, salves, powders, &c. which she ministered every Wednesday to a multitude of poor infirm persons, besides what she daily sent abroad to persons of all ranks, who consulted her in their maladies.

She was swift to hear, slow to speak; and when she spoke, it was with grace, ever projecting to make others better by her converse, yet, managing it in such an humble manner as if she designed rather to receive than to give instruction. She had a singular dexterity to divert and shuffle out unprofitable tattling, and introduce serious discourse; which if she could not effect, she would then pleasantly converse with God and her own soul, in the midst of company, without discovering herself, or disturbing them.

She was equally eminent both for the contemplative, active, or practical part of Christianity: contemplation had so spiritualized her mind, that almost every object suggested pious thoughts to her. For instance; one very stormy day, sitting alone in an arbour, at Charleton, where the trees round about her cracked with the violence of the roaring wind, though she heard the noise and saw the effects of the storm, yet, she enjoyed as serene a calm as if no storm had been in the air: upon which she reflected on the great peace and tranquillity of a good conscience, and the safety and security of being under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm xlvi. 1, and

xci. 1.

Observing a sheep feeding pleasantly among thorns, at a distance from the flock, she thought it an emblem of her own state; a stranger in a strange land, far from her nearest relatives, encompassed with difficulties, yet through the mercy of God finding a

pleasant pasture, and enjoying a cheerful and undisturbed mind.

Observing the long twigs of honey-suckle look withered-like, and yet at the top flourish with leaves and flowers, it raised her thoughts to admire the grace of God, which can put life in a withered stock, and make it flourish.

Beating sugar, her reflection was, How happy I, if the many strokes I have met with did refine me, subdue every gross part, and make me wholly fit for my master's use!

Looking on a map, which she used as a screen, and observing many cross lines; if, thought she, the geographer had such skill to make all those cross lines concur to discover the usefulness of his art for the help and direction of navigators, how much more can the great Maker of the universe order all the most cross dispensations to be useful for our direction in our Christian journey! &c.

Observing the bees sucking and working upon the flowers which grew at her husband's grave, her thoughts suggested to her, in imitation of them, to draw instruction from that monument of mortality.

Looking on her own picture drawn at large, with her sister, as two shepherdesses, the posture in which she found herself drawn, leaning on a rock, and carelessly stretching forth her hand to a stream of water which, gushing out of a grot, fell on her hand, and immediately fell off; this represented to her the hieroglyphic of her life. She had found earthly comforts unstable as water, and therefore not much to be regarded, but to be let come and go without concern; and her only support under all the varieties of troubles and disengagements, had been, her leaning on that Rock of ages, whence she had sucked honey and oil to sweeten all cross dispensations. She added, "The Lord liveth, and blessed be my rock, and ex"alted be the God of the rock of my salvation!" 2 Sam. xxii. 47.

MRS. CATHERINE CLARKE,

WIFE OF THE REV. SAMUEL CLARKE.

CATHERINE OVERTON was born at Bedworth, in the county of Warwick, four miles from Coventry, February 25, 1602, of religious parents. Her father was Mr. Valentine Overton, Rector of Bedworth, where he lived a constant and diligent preacher of God's holy word till he was almost 82 years of age. Her mother's maiden name was Isaverton: she was a most excellent woman, who took the whole burthen of family affairs, both within and without doors, from off her husband, that he might with the more freedom attend his holy calling.

It pleased God early to implant in her heart the seeds of grace, which first discovered themselves when she was about fifteen years old. The discoveries to which she was at that time led, of the corruption of her nature, made such a deep impression upon her tender mind, that whereas she was naturally of a cheerful, sanguine constitution, she now became serious and somewhat melancholy. Hereupon Satan, that old serpent and enemy of our souls, assaulted her with many and various temptaions, whereby he sought to quench these heavenly parks. But, by frequent reading the sacred Scripures, diligent attending to the word preached, nd secret prayer, it pleased the all-wise God to upport and strengthen her against him and all his levices. These conflicts continued the longer, ecause she had none to whom she durst unbosom erself, and make her case known.

When she was about seventeen years old, she was ent by her parents to Siwell, in Northamptonshire, o wait upon a young lady who was somewhat

related to her. But this kind of life was so tedious and irksome to her, that, at the end of six months, she prevailed with her parents to send for her home again. Hear the narrative of it in her own words, as they were found written in her cabinet after her decease. "When," saith she, "I was but young, "my father being at prayers in his family, I many "times found such sweetness, and was so affected "therewith, that I could not but wish that my heart

66

might oftener be in such a frame. But childhood, " and the vanities thereof, soon cooled these heavenly sparks. But my father caused me to write sermons, and to repeat the same; as also to learn "Mr. Perkins's Catechism, which I often repeated "to myself when I was alone; and therein especially "I took notice of those places wherein he had set "down the signs and marks of a strong and weak "faith, being convinced in my conscience that with"out faith I could not be saved, and that every faith "would not serve to bring me to heaven.

66

66

"Hereupon I fell to examination of myself; and "though I could not find the marks of a strong, yet, through God's mercy, I found the marks of a true, though weak faith, which was some comfort and 66 support to me. And that God which began this good work in me, was pleased to quicken and stir 66 me up to a diligent use of such means as himself "had ordained and appointed for the increase thereof, as hearing the word preached, receiving the Sacra"ment of the Lord's Supper, and use of other private "duties.

66

“But when I was about seventeen years old, my "parents sent me to wait upon a young gentlewoman "in Northamptonshire, the only daughter of Sir W. W.; at which time, being sent so far from my near and dear relations, and meeting with some "other discouragements in the family, through want. "of the means of grace which I formerly enjoyed, I grew very melancholy. I began also to have great