Clapham, June 1817.-In every change of place, the Christian, however obscure, feeble, and insignificant, has a great work to perform. He has to keep himself, through grace, 'in the fear of the Lord, all the day long,' and 'unspotted from the world.' He has to shew forth the praise of God, not only with his lips, but in his life. He has to seize every opportunity to lend a helping hand to others--to be on the watch for every fit occasion to spread forth the savour and knowledge of that sacred Name, which is as ointment poured forth'; and he has to 'watch and pray,' that he may do all this wisely, humbly, simply, dependently, faithfully, reverentially, and with singleness of eye. Is not this a great work?-too great for human power; yet possible, through all-sufficient grace.-Lord, vouchsafe thy grace to me, a helpless worm!"

From this place, in the month of August, MRS. HAWKES writes to her valued friend, Mrs. Fry, as follows:

:

"I am better since my stay in this place; yet still suffering much, and encompassed with many infirmities. The old tenement totters more and more, and will be taken down at the appointed time. Through mercy, I am enabled to look forward to that solemn period with a calm and pleasing expectation. I should fill several sheets, were I to give my beloved friend a history of the loving-kindness of the Lord to me in every way; and I desire only that my lips and life may shew forth His praise. I never felt more deeply sensible of my own vileness and insufficiency: but I do hope I am learning something of that high lesson, which the Blessed Apostle had attained so perfectly, when he said, 'When I am weak, then am I strong.' How infinitely precious is Christ to the soul that feels its

poverty and need! And fully does He satisfy and fill the hungry with good things."

About the same time, MRS. HAWKES addresses her friend Mrs. C--tt, as follows:—

"I am thankful to have found some benefit by my removal to Clapham. I am much struck with the combination of advantages and disadvantages that is found in every change of place and circumstances. No doubt, had we to choose our own lot, we should cull all the sweets, and leave out all the bitters; and thereby make ourselves a nest, in which, if left to ourselves, we should moulder and decay in all our best faculties and pursuits; for we cannot be trusted with much ease or rest. How happy for us, that we are not permitted thus to choose for ourselves; and that He undertakes for us, who knows what is in us; and who, with one comprehensive view, takes in every event and consequence of our most minute changes! We are so short-sighted, that we can see but very little beyond the present time. We are too apt to make ourselves our own centre; forgetting, that we are placed in the scale of human beings for a far higher purpose than the mere enjoyment of our natural life; and that all our sufferings here are for designs far higher than such as are merely personal; namely, the glorifying of our Father which is in heaven; and the contributing, in any way in which He shall be pleased to make use of us, to the good of our fellow-creatures. It is often a support to me, under my pain and languid oppression, to contemplate not only the purifying and blessed effects of affliction in my own soul, but also the ways in which God will glorify Himself by the meanest of His creatures, and make use of them for His own divine purposes; causing the sufferings of the most obscure individual to work in with, and form a part of, His comprehensive and gracious designs. I desire

earnestly a more simple and entire surrender of myself -to be any thing, or nothing, as He shall see best. To glorify God, is the first object at which we should aim. But, alas! how often do I fall short of my desire, in this, and every other point of practical Christianity! At the close of every day, when I review what has been done for God, for my own soul, and for the good of others, I am forced with shame. to write, 'Wanting,' wanting': and, but for that finished salvation which is all my security and hope, I should lay my head on my pillow with feelings of deep despondency.-How blessed are those assurances in the Sacred Scriptures, that we have an Advocate with the Father'-that there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus'-to them, who, notwithstanding a host of infirmities and deficiencies,' walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,' having their spotted garments washed white again, by continually making fresh application to the blood of sprinkling!"

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The whole of the foregoing chapter exhibits the full-blown flower of Christian character, casting its fragrance all around. Every thing appears proportionate, and presents to our view a practical working out of the Divine precept, " Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity." 2 Peter i. 5-8.

CHAP. VIII.

HER RESIDENCE AT QUEEN'S ROW, PENTONVILLE.

A.D. 1817 TO 1828.

REFLECTIONS ON HER REMOVAL-HEAVENLY SAVOUR OF THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MRS. HAWKES AND MRS. JONES ADVANCING SPIRITUALITY OF MRS. HAWKES'S MIND-HER STUDY OF THE SCRIPTURES— LETTER TO MRS. C..... TT ON FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES-CHRISTMASDAY-MEDITATIONS ON DEATH-LETTERS ON THE SUBJECT-DEATH OF MRS. JONES-LETTERS TO VARIOUS FRIENDS ON THE FREENESS OF DIVINE GRACE DEATH OF MRS. MYNORS-ATTACK OF NERVOUS DEPRESSIONLETTER ON THE SUBJECT-VISIT TO HIGHGATE-CLOSE OF THE YEAR

1827, AND OPENING OF 1828-ANXIETIES RESPECTING NEW APARTMENTS

-REASONS FOR REMAINING NEAR LONDON-LETTER TO A CLERGYMAN ON NEW SPECULATIONS IN RELIGION.

IN the month of October, MRS. HAWKES left Clapham; and went to reside at Queen's Row, Pentonville. Soon after her removal, she writes in her Diary as follows:

"Queen's Row, Oct. 5, 1817.-Pilgrim like, I have this day entered into another tent; to which, I trust, I have been directed by a gracious and kind Providence, in answer to my prayers. These changes are painful and agitating to me, in my diseased and feeble state. But I shall soon give over dwelling in tents; and remove to an habitation not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.' For the present, that blessed word of promise is given me, together with faith to rest upon it as sure: 'I will be with thee, whithersoever thou goest.'-I ask no more. The Presence of the Lord secures every blessing that is essential to real comfort. I shall have trials; but,

under all, this gracious promise is sure: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.'"

In a Letter to her valued friend, Mrs. Young, who was at this time called from home to visit a sick child in Scotland, MRS. HAWKES expresses sentiments similar to the above; as follows:

"I trust that encouraging promise, 'I will be with thee whithersoever thou goest,' which has of late been made very sweet to me, will, if it please Him, be fulfilled also in your experience. He will ever be with you, and with every one whose heart he has touched with his converting grace and redeeming love. But our faith is not always strong and lively enough to realize His heavenly Presence. Like as the natural sun may be obscured from our view by some passing cloud, so may the comforting rays of the Sun of Righteousness be for a time obscured by some mental cloud, through which our faith is unable to penetrate; and then we soon begin to fear, and say, 'My Beloved has withdrawn himself!' To the law and to the testimony,' therefore, will we turn, rather than to sense and feeling; and, under the darkest cloud, rest upon His blessed word of promise- I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.' It is in order to produce, or rather to exercise, this stability of faith, that we are suffered sometimes to walk in darkness. Every true Christian has his winter and his summer seasons. It is only in that blessed country, towards which we are hastening, that there is one unclouded day. With respect to myself, I have reason to bless the Lord for the storm as well as the calm. That is best for the soul which keeps it low at the foot of the Cross, loathing itself, and trusting only in Jesus; sinking before Him, in order to rise in Him, who is our righteousness and strength."