suffer it. Never any woman was so changed!' Ah, so I had need to be; so I desire to be. I have dawdled away too many Sabbaths. I now begin to taste the comforts of this change; and by the help of God, I will persevere, however I may be ridiculed or hated."

Wed." I prize my Wednesdays, and long for their coming round, because of the delightful evenings at Long Acre Chapel. Ah, how much more comfort have I now, than formerly in going to the theatre; which I was so immoderately fond of, as to believe I could never become indifferent to it. A letter from my invaluable sister Jones did me much good upon this point."

Extracts from the religious correspondence between MRS. HAWKES and Mrs. Jones having been preserved, and kindly furnished by a member of MRS. HAWKES'S family, an opportunity is afforded of supplying that part of Mrs. Jones's letter, to which allusion has just been made; it is as follows:

"You ask me respecting the innocence of going to hear and see Mrs. Siddons. For my own part, though my taste might be pleased, I should be afraid to frequent the theatre, because of the evil influence attending such places. I apprehend that if, in such an assembly, our eyes, like those of the servant of Elisha, were opened, we should see a host of evil spirits differently engaged, according to the variety of dispositions and propensities they had to encounter; and we might reasonably expect, that if any of the worshippers of God had dared to venture into a place so consecrated to Satan, that he would appoint some of his first engines to attack them."

MRS. HAWKES next notices in her diary, a visit to a clergyman in the country, who had "run well," but who from her reflections seems to have been a back

slider. Her remarks show that her own conscience was truly tender, and keenly alive to the concerns of her soul.

May 3, 1789.-" Arrived at ➖➖, a beautiful, rural spot. Much money has been expended to beautify the house and gardens:-but, alas! I perceive that though their possessor has recourse to employmentto music-to company-he is like the dove that found no rest for the sole of her foot. Oh, that he would return to the ark!"

Sunday." A beautiful little church, on an enchanting spot of rising ground, very picturesque and interesting. But, the waters are bitter; nothing grows!

My prayers and tears will not avail, but who can tell!"

June 25.-"Returned to town. My revered minister, and the Rev. Mr. Burn, breakfasted with us. • The tongue of the just is as choice silver.'

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My trials at home seem heavier after an absence. 'The heart knoweth its own bitterness.' When shall I have attained that seemingly hard lesson, to do well and suffer for it patiently? I can suffer for it silently, but where is patience, love, resignation? Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.'

"The brightest morning has often the darkest evening. So it has been with me to-day. So feeble is the texture of my mind, that it is easily thrown into disquietude: but many tears will not compose it again. No wonder that such a poor, rebellious, proud, sinful creature as I am, should need, and have, correction: but how far less have I than I deserve! I would desire to receive chastening as my necessary food, for loveth he chasteneth.""

Whom the Lord

MRS. HAWKES's dispensation was indeed one of

varied and long-continued suffering. He, however, who for wise ends had so ordered it, had given her a willing and obedient spirit, ready to take the appointed yoke and wear it patiently; which disposition was in itself a special blessing. Consolations of the highest order were also provided for her. In her knowledge of Christ she found, “A tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain." Isaiah iv. 6. The following records will show, that while travelling through a dry and weary land, and under a scorching sun, it was in the sanctuary that she found shade.

Sunday, June 28.-" My heart leaps for joy in my restoration to my beloved and highly-valued privileges. 'I would rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the palaces of the ungodly.""

Sunday, July 5.-" Great weakness of body-many sharp trials from without-a disturbed and distracted. mind-an evil foolish imagination-a malignant enemy, -all attack me. But there is a rock in this weary land."

Mem.-"Never again comply with any solicitations to leave my appointed place of worship; for where can I go to be so richly fed? Better say no to a friend, than say yes, to my soul's loss!"

Sunday, July 12.-" I feel it a profitable indulgence to attend early worship at Lothbury. The season is sacred, the bustle and folly of the world is not yet awake; there is a holy sympathy in the congregation; and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper is peculiarly delightful. I ought to think little of my week-day sorrows, for such inestimable favours on the Sabbath."

Sunday, July 19.-" I find it good to rise early to secure time, before public worship, for reading and

prayer and in order that I may do this, let me imitate my honoured mother's custom of getting every thing of family business done on the Saturday night. She never failed to have every thing done, even to the preparation of every article for dinner; so that herself, children and servants, were freed from all occupation on the Sabbath. I recollect with reverence her godly habits. Alas! how little did I honour her as I ought to have done when she was living. But I feel the benefit of her pious example now."

Sunday, July 26.-" Too ill to observe my usual habit of rising early. The Lord will have mercy and not sacrifice.' I am enabled this day to set to my seal, that in the sanctuary I have found rivers of living water; and my dim eyes begin to see a little of the beauty of the Sun of Righteousness.”

Sunday, August 2.-" Who ever trusted in the Lord and was disappointed? Who ever came to him desiring to be fed with the bread of heaven, and was sent empty away? Not I, this day, unworthy as I am! I am made, in a manner, to forget all the piercing sorrows of the week, and to say, let me only be favoured with the presence of my Saviour, and welcome all my allotted trials."

Thus as a new-born babe did MRS. HAWKES "desire the sincere milk of the word, that she might grow thereby." She expresses strongly, in the following letter to Mrs. Jones, that support which she now derived,. even in the midst of outward trials, from the consolations of religion.

"This has been a choice morning to my poor barren soul, which for the last week has been tried within and without. But blessed be my gracious Lord, who hath poured water upon the dry ground of my heart, and

caused it to breathe forth, longing, panting, desires after Himself. I feel the refreshing droppings of his Spirit; and I am constrained to go out after him, whom, having not seen (glory be to his name,) I inexpressibly love and adore! Oh, the preciousness of a present Saviour! Oh, that he were thus ever present! I fear that I am not enough thankful for the goodness of my God. When heavy trials come, I am too apt to be bowed down. Not murmuring, thank God; I think I have not for a long time felt anything of that:-but I fear I am not rejoicing as I ought to be, for the many mercies that are mixed with my great trials. I call upon you to unite with me in praise and thanksgiving; I cannot give words to my full heart for the goodness and tenderness of God to me, the most unworthy of all his creatures. Glory be to his name, that he has graciously caused me to seek, and to find Him;-that by bringing me into his marvellous light, he has afforded me such superior enjoyments, such ennobling views, such secret and solid satisfaction; such as, I am sure, never entered into my heart to conceive! Oh, it is all wonder and astonishment, that so much mercy should be bestowed on so undeserving a wretch! But these are the benefits and blessings of redeeming love. Perhaps you will say, I am indulging too high a flight. But who can soar too high, when contemplating the wondrous works of redemption? It is only to you, that I indulge the overflowing of my gratitude; one turn of my conscious eye into my vile self, at once awes and chastises my rapture; and tells me, with such favours, how far I am from what I ought to be."

The spiritual joy with which MRS. HAWKES was favoured in the early stages of her conversion, together with her severe trials, exemplified in a striking manner the fulfilment of that promise, "I will betroth thee unto