once for all, to that long-desired habitation, where God shall wipe away all tears from my eyes; where there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain'!

:

"I consider myself as now entering upon a new dispensation and I would get upon my watchtower,' to hear what the Lord will condescend to speak unto me; and 'what I shall answer, when I am reproved,' as to my past and present experience.

"At present, such a tumultuous crowd of impressions and sentiments press upon my mind, that I feel it impossible to take any calm or profitable view of present circumstances, or of my future prospects; even should my worthless, dying life be prolonged.

"Like a voyager newly launched on untried seas, every thing is unknown, unsettled, unorganized. I have to form new associations, new sympathiesto breathe a new atmosphere. So scattered are my thoughts, I can only concern myself about present affairs; and pray that the presence of my Saviour may be with me.

6

"In my removal, let me, however, note down a few remarkable circumstances, in order to promote present thankfulness and future hope. He despiseth not the prayer of the destitute.' So graciously has my Heavenly Father attended to my cry, and condescended to grant me my request, that the very same friend (namely, my dear sister Jones,) who brought and left me in my Minister's house when I had no longer a covering to my head or a bed to lie upon, returned, after an interval of six years; and, having again provided an abode, conducted me out from a never-to-be-forgotten hidingplace'! Oh that it may be my last removal to any house made with hands! What a mercy that the storm is in some degree abated, before I am bid to quit my hiding-place! Surely I ought, without

misgiving, to trust my Divine Leader the rest of the way.

"Another remarkable circumstance attending my removal is, that some strong and, till within a few days, unconquerable objections, respecting the abode proposed to me by my dear sister, have been made, in a great measure, to give way to more weighty considerations.

"No one could be received with more kindness and affection than my dear niece and her husband received me.-Lord, let thy blessing attend this change! It is brought about in a way that is wonderful to me.-Not for your sakes, 'O House of Israel! will I do this, but for Mine Holy Name's sake.””

and

In the step which MRS. HAWKES was now taking, she was actuated by strictly conscientious motives, and not those which feeling might dictate: and thus following the leading of Divine Providence, she was sure of being both safe and happy. "All things, says the Apostle, "work together for good, to them that love God." If we seriously compare and examine, we shall find that the Scriptures and the book of Providence harmonize with each other. The Promises are limited to certain characters:"All the paths of the Lord are indeed mercy truth," but it is "unto such as keep His covenant and testimonies." The features of MRS. HAWKES'S religious character might be traced as answering to those portrayed in the Bible. Her whole walk and conversation manifested love to God, and obedience to His will, even before the Promises were poured, in a blessed tide, over her spirit. And, as "an Israelite indeed," her "journeyings" were ordered by Him, who, in all ages, goes before His own people, truly, if not visibly, as the "Angel of the Everlasting Covenant," to order all things for their good.-Exod. xxiii. 20.

CHAP. V.

FROM HER SETTLEMENT AT MR. COLLYER'S,
TO HER REMOVAL TO BETCHWORTH.

TIONS SANCTIFIED

A.D. 1802 TO 1811.

MRS. HAWKES'S REMOVAL, A SOURCE OF REGRET TO MRS. CECIL-AFFLIC LETTER FROM THE REV. JOHN NEWTON - MRS. HAWKES'S REFLECTIONS ON A REPINING SPIRIT-HER VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT OF BEING DEPENDENT-HER USEFULNESS, ESPECIALLY TO YOUNG PERSONS-HER EXTENSIVE CORRESPONDENCE-HER SENSE OF MANIFOLD MERCIES-PECUNIARY ANXIETIES-TEMPORARY RETURN TO MR. CECIL'S HOUSE, AND RE-SETTLEMENT AT MR. COLLYER'S-DANGER OF HER DISEASE TERMINATING IN SUDDEN DEATH-CHEERFULNESS UNDER AFFLICTION-FRIENDSHIP AND MEDICAL ATTENTION OF DR. FEARON-SERIOUS SELF-EXAMINATION-HER REMARKS ON MR. CECIL'S PARALYTIC AFFECTION LETTERS ON THE SUBJECT-REFLECTIONS ON MR. CECIL'S DEATH -HER VIEW OF HIS CHARACTER SHE VISITS MRS. CECIL AT HAMPSTEAD -IS SUPPORTED BY CHRISTIAN HOPE-LETTER TO MRS. CTT, ON THE DUTY OF PRAISING GOD.

MRS. HAWKES's removal from Little James Street was a subject of real regret to Mrs. Cecil, who felt that her dear friend's society was a loss not to be easily repaired. Mrs. C.'s feelings and sentiments on this occasion will appear in the following extract from one of her Letters to MRS. HAWKES, written from Chobham, in Sept. 1802:

"I confess to you, My dearest sister and beloved friend, there is but one rich gift I covet; and that is, that you might be thrown into my lot, to live and die with me and mine. This would be no impoverishing circumstance: I could only view it as a certain increase of my own and my children's inheritance. I have sometimes thought this might be: and then I have seen why I had a house large

enough to receive you, as well as a heart fully ready to meet this favour. And I have thought, also, that even were I taken away, I should leave you among my children, as their guardian and friend.

"I most cordially thank you for your Letter: I cannot express how much pleasure it afforded me. I scribble a line now; and, for my apparent neglect, have one plea, which I hope will be accepted; namely, having had eighteen in family for some days past. Ah! I never have so many as not to regret that I have not one more-one, whose society has afforded me more real pleasure than all other Ĭ enjoyed!

ever

"I am grieved to hear, both from yourself and others, of the increase of your pain. You have need to look to a better country,' where pain, and sorrow, and sighing flee away;-as I know you do. Nevertheless, I am aware how delicate a recipient of sympathy you are: and I feel a sad regret, that I am unable now to render you more than sympathy; for I am not content to offer you only that which you must receive from every common friend."

Writing to a friend, shortly after her removal, MRS. HAWKES says:

“I spent last week in visiting my old and ever kind friends in Little James Street. Mrs. Cecil most bitterly complains of my 'inflexibility': and I assure you that it costs me more than she knows, to keep it up. But I consider it very wrong, and unworthy, to act only from feeling, instead of being ruled by the judgment: and therefore, till some circumstance arises that will allow me to think it right to return, I hope to be able to withstand all her persuasive powers, and all the earnest entreaties of the dear children. One or other of them come to see me most days; so that, though we are separated, our intercourse is not interrupted. I am very com

fortable here; and have a room and fire entirely to myself, which is a great enjoyment. My health has been rather better of late, but my complaint continues much the same."

The purifying and sanctifying effects of MRS. HAWKES'S painful dispensation became now more and more evident, in her rapidly improving Christian character. This design and tendency was made so far manifest to herself, that she was enabled to kiss the rod, even while smarting under its strokes ; -as appears in the next, and many subsequent memorials of her Christian experience.

"Nov. 1802.-Purifying work is painful work: the refining furnace needs a well-established confidence in, and love to, the Great Refiner. I feel there is much dross to be purged away. My nature trembles at the fire but my faith commits the process to God, with strong cries, Correct me in mercy, and not in judgment!' 'By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit, to take away his sin.' And again, 'Every branch in me that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.' God is now seeming to say to me, Instead of bringing thy sufferings to a close, as thou hast impatiently desired, thou must still be emptied from vessel to vessel.' One trying dispensation shall give place to another; and this is designed

"1. To bring thy sins to remembrance, and to correct thee.

"2. To prove thee; and shew thee what is yet in thine heart.

"3. To purify and purge away thy dross.

"4. To make thee as a weaned child, from every created good.