Hail, happy eternity, when I shall serve my God day and night, without losing a single moment. Till then, indulgent Father, strengthen me in body and mind, and cause me daily to increase in love to thee, and in communion with thee.

November 4. My experience proves that silence of spirit, and a constant keeping of the heart with all diligence, tend greatly to promote communion with God. Let God invariably be the object of our supreme affection, and we shall find this keeping of the heart easy and delightful. It costs us no trouble to think or speak of those whom we love. The Lord has been teaching me some important lessons this week, and he made me truly willing to learn them. One respects self-examination. I perceive that when I desire to know the true state of my soul, and for that reason attempt to look narrowly into my heart, I should begin by acting faith upon Christ, and upon the promises made to believers through him, in whom they are all " yea and amen." This instantly brings strength and comfort, more or less, into the mind, and thereby greatly facilitates the important work of self-examination; it clears our views, and enables us to see light in God's light. Formerly, when attempting to try my state, if, on looking into my heart, I did not feel strong love and faith, I was discouraged; and thereby gave the enemy an advantage over me, and unfitted myself for the work in which I was engaged. May my God teach me wisdom in all things, bless me with a teachable disposition, a quick apprehension, and a power to retain for my own profit every lesson thus taught :—I wish also to be qualified to instruct others; for as I freely receive I would freely give.

13. Much hindered from my usual retirement through intercourse with Christians, but endeavoured to make it profitable, and found social prayer delightful. The Lord still leads me forward in different paths of usefulness, and powerfully inclines my heart to employ every talent to his glory. Through mercy, I feel more rooted and grounded in the ways of God, and possess more power to confess him before the world. The Lord still gives me proof after proof of the emptiness of creature enjoyment: and of the fulness, reality, and happiness of the things of eternity; he gives me also to feel this, thereby not only enlightening my understanding and convincing my judgment, but also persuading and inclining my will to pursue spiritual and eternal objects.

23. For some days I have experienced that "God is love." I think he is deepening my communion with himself, showing me how much nearer I may come to him, and pointing it out in different ways so clearly as to make me astonished at my own blindness, that would not permit me to see it sooner. I cannot express how precious I have found Jesus for a few of the last days; he hath permitted me to converse with him as a man

with his friend, to see him clearly by faith, and to enjoy sweet union and communion with him. My life is now one continued resting on him.

December 2. "God is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in him." I have been afflicted, but it hath been a gentle visitation, and not attended with that languor I generally feel on these occasions. My God has given me to know him, as a God that heareth prayer. I have been convinced of the great privilege of drawing nigh to a throne of grace, and desired to improve it. I have found it sweet to give God my last thoughts at night; in the morning, also, when I awake, O how delightful to find my heart and affections flowing spontaneously to my Lord, while he condescends to manifest his presence. Still my God enables me to act for him with comfort and steadiness; and gives me to enjoy him in conversation, meditation, reading, singing his praise, &c. O to be all that God would have me.

20. My spiritual life is sensibly increased, I feel powerfully drawn to a throne of grace, and am constrained to abide there. While writing to a Christian friend, Jesus was benignly nigh: his name was as ointment poured forth, and my soul clave to him. O to enjoy those unsearchable riches that are in him. Some days last week I was uncommonly tempted, and felt very weak; my soul shudders at what I then felt and feared. In spite of all the Lord hath done for me, how soon should I fail, if not continually upheld by Omnipotence. Blessed be my God, who does not permit these dreadful feelings to continue long. Holy Father, deliver me from them, that I may serve thee in righteousness and true holiness, without fear, all the days of my life. O when shall I be all I desire; I would be all love, all praise, all meekness,—in short, I would be a living image of that God I serve. I would prove, to the utmost power of sovereign grace, all that elevation of mind, all that dignity of sentiment, all that purity of heart, all that sanctity of manners, which true religion inspires. Come, O my God, impart thyself more fully, and enable me to love and serve thee with all the strength and perfection that the imperfection of humanity will admit,

CHAPTER XV.-1780.

Lady Maxwell's correspondence with Lady Henrietta Hope.

IN tracing the Christian course of this eminently pious lady, we have hitherto derived our information principally from her Diary. After this period, many of her valuable letters, written to a few pious friends, have been preserved; and we shall now

gladly avail ourselves of this auxiliary aid. From her Diary, we have already learned how she communed with God and her own heart we have seen her steadily advance in fervent piety to God, and in extensive and unwearied benevolence to man. Her epistolary correspondence will still, in a measure, pursue the same delightful themes; but it will also enlarge the field of observation, and give a prominence to different traits in her ladyship's character, which cannot fail to excite admiration. We shall thus behold her, in the relation of a spiritual parent, sympathizing in the afflictions of her amiable and pious daughter; and with uncommon tenderness and fidelity, striving to pour into her bosom the balm of consolation. We shall see her exemplifying a friendship founded in religious principle, and invigorated and regulated by the spirit of Christianity. And, while she cannot but charm by her delightful familiarity of manner and simplicity of style, she will continue to administer instruction on a variety of interesting points, both of religious experience and religious practice.

Lady Henrietta Hope is already known to the reader; and the other correspondents of Lady Maxwell shall be afterward noticed.

TO THE RIGHT HON. LADY HENRIETTA HOPE.

January 14, 1780.

Does my dear daughter suppose I want compliments or protestations? Indeed I do not. With regard to her, and my intercourse with her, my eye is single, and my intention pure: I wish the prosperity of her soul, and the return which would give me most satisfaction would be, to know that my feeble attempts to promote it were not in vain.

If I could, I would remove your every spiritual malady; how much more willing must your God be to make you all He would have you to be! I believe you would willingly submit to all your present painful sensations, did you believe you were just in the way the Lord would have you. Your distress, I know,

is heightened by uneasy fears that your want of prosperity is, partly at least, in yourself. Could I point it out, I honestly would, whatever pain you might feel from the discovery. As far as I know I think you have a tender conscience, and you shun doing violence to it but I am not certain that you have not what is termed a doubting conscience, and this of itself is a source of much distress that the Lord does not mean we should feel but till I know it is so, I will not say any more about it. I think you desire and attempt, as far as you know it, to do and suffer all the will of God. I believe you have nó confidence in the flesh; that you endeavour daily to take up your cross, and deny yourself; if so, why do not you enjoy more comfort? Nay,

why do you not "rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in every thing give thanks?" Were I to say what appears to me to prevent it, I would tell you: You do not keep your privileges in view; of course, you do not live up to them. You live more by sense than by faith. When you examine your own state, your conclusions concerning it are too much influenced by evil reasoning. You seek holiness, I fear, as it were, by the works of the law, rather than by simple faith. You dwell too much upon your wants; you are not enough thankful for what the Lord has already done for you. The haste of unbelief is not enough subdued; a degree of murmuring at times takes place (than which nothing makes greater havoc in the soul) when tempted from various causes to fretfulness. Though you do not give way to it, yet you do not strive enough against it: you rather sink down into a state of despondency and supineness of spirit. These, I think, are some of your hinderances, which, together with a weak and sickly body and a variety of trials, bring you into heaviness, and press down your soul; but be of good courage, all shall yet be well. I think you suffer loss also from want of intercourse with lively Christians; and I believe not a small degree of your distress is of that kind which proceeds not so much from weakness of faith as from scrupulousness of conscience; yet even this is highly useful in its season. But I apprehend this distress will pass away when you obtain more faith and love; when you are more rooted and grounded in the love of God. There are different stages, you know, in the Christian life: the young men are stronger than the babes; the fathers are stronger than the young men. When you enjoy the stability of this matured state you will then be better enabled to "keep yourself in the love of God," and to overcome the wicked one. O that you may quickly experience this!

I hope the Lord means to give you your sister's soul, whatever may be the issue of her disorder. She is laid upon my mind in prayer, and also my dear daughter, more than ever. Be not too

much distressed about not being able to abide in prayer, on your knees; give it up to the Lord he can soon remove it, or overrule it for good, if he permit it to remain. By being so much above stairs you will have fewer things to distress you, and less fatigue of body, and, I dare say, prevent colds. May you be enabled to improve your situation to the utmost.

Miss N. has given a very favourable account of me, I see, but no doubt I have reason to admire the goodness of my God for the health he has given me this severe winter. He knows I desire to use that, and all he bestows on me, for his glory. Had I a thousand lives, I would devote them to Him who has given his only Son for me, and permits me to feel the sweet attraction of his love very strongly. He is, indeed, the spring of all my joys, and comfort of my brightest days. I dwell continually under

the covert of his wings, and find it all my plea for every blessing I stand in need of. I am still far behind, but through mercy kept hungering and thirsting after all the purchase of his cross. Be encouraged, my dear madam, to fight for the prize, O how animating the prospect of dwelling for ever with the Lord, and even here enjoying all that he has dearly bought, and is freely bestowing on his people! And this belongs to you. What should discourage you? and why with vexing thoughts should you disquiet yourself? Will you read and pray over the 17th and following verses of the 1st chapter of the Ephesians; also, from the 10th to the 18th verse of the last chapter of ditto? I think you will find benefit from these scriptures. Be thankful that you obtain comfort in reading the Bible. There are wise reasons for the Lord's varying the means he blesses to us; one is, that we may idolize none of them, that we may prize them all, not knowing which may have the commission to do us good. Now, my dear daughter, I commit you to Him who "carries the lambs in his bosom, and gently leads those that are with young." Your affectionate parent in Him, D. M.

TO LADY H. HOPE.

January 25, 1780.

I regret my dear daughter's illness the more, from a fear that she may not have all that attention which is needful as matters now stand. But I trust the Lord will make up every want, and with his love sweeten every dispensation. May you feel him ever nigh! I think if you would live more by faith, you would enjoy more comfort. Insisting upon the direct act of faith, especially when barren, dry, and tempted, is often of great use; it strengthens the mind, increases confidence in a pardoning God, and frequently brings comfort, by breaking the power of temptation but this is a lesson the Lord himself alone can enable us to learn practically, for it is acting contrary to our feelings, our fears, the suggestions of Satan, and the reasonings of unbelief. The Lord has already done much for you, and will perfect what concerns you.

In order to our spiritual prosperity, it is of great consequence not only to obtain, but to keep, a clear view of our privileges as Christians; and to fix it in our minds that, as all these blessings are purchased for us by Christ, the Lord intends that we should enjoy them, and is pleased when we plead for them, and are importunate. He delights in the prosperity of his people. May he soon give you to experience the fulness of gospel promises, that you may rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in every thing give thanks." You know what satisfaction this would give to your parent.

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