be absent. His friends expected his arrival ; but weeks passed away, and no tidings came respecting him. My father and mother went to Boston, in the month of October, 1809, and found their friends there nearly as anxious as themselves; for nothing had been heard of the vessel, or any of the crew. They called upon the owner, who told them that he consid

ered its loss so certain, that he would gladly take $100 for it. The day before they left Boston, however, they saw an account of its arrival in New York. They returned to Concord, expecting their dear brother to visit them, in a very short time; but instead of this they received a letter from the captain, informing them of his sickness and death, which was the cause of their detention. He had died of consumption, just ten days after his mother, and found a stranger's grave, in Kingston, Jamaica."

She thus alludes to his death: Nov. 12, 1809. "I am again called to drink of the cup of affliction. God in his providence has seen fit to remove my only brother by death. May I be suitably affected under these bereavements. Almighty God, be pleased to enable me to honor thee at this time--prepare me for my own dissolution."

CHAPTER VI.

HER DEVOTIONAL CHARACTER AND EXERCISES.

THAT Mrs. McFarland was a truly devout woman, every one acquainted with her believed; but few, even of her nearest friends, knew the manner in which she maintained so close a walk with God. This chapter in her Memoir will disclose the secret. 'Here we learn that RELIGION WAS THE BUSINESS OF HER LIFE. She sought first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Matt. 6: 33. Here we are made acquainted with her exercises on the Sabbath; in the house of God; at the communion table, and on days of fasting and prayer; we are introduced into her closet; witness her prayers and tears; can listen to her ejaculatory petitions, as well as to her songs of praise and thanksgiving. We are allowed to enter even the sanctuary of her heart, and be spectators of the sacrifices daily offered there. Every exercise of the christian seems to be exemplified in her experience. To those who may read these extracts and who are ignorant of those humbling and painful views of sin

which she often expresses, I would say,―That such views are not at all inconsistent with the highest evidences of piety and the sweetest comforts in religion;-rather they result from clear apprehensions of the holiness of God and the spirituality of his law. President Edwards, in his "Religious Affections," says: "The ' eminent saint, having a view of the high degree in which he ought to love God, perceives more clearly, not only the smallness of his grace, but the greatness of his remaining corruption. In 'order to ascertain how much depravity or sin ' remains within us, we must regard that height 'to which the rule of duty extends. The whole ' of the distance between that elevation and our 'affections, is sin; for in exact proportion as

we fall short of our duty, we sin and evidence 'the depravity of our hearts. Sin is an abomi'nable defect, and appears so to the saints, espe'cially to those who are eminent saints." Hence those whose sins appear few and small to themselves; who have no heart-broken confessions to make and no tears of contrition before God, may justly suspect the genuineness of their piety.

It should, moreover, be observed, that true sorrow for sin leads the believer to place a high value upon the atonement and righteousness of

Christ. This will explain the fact frequently brought to view in her diary, that Mrs. McFarland's most humble confessions of sin and lamentations over her own depravity, are sometimes followed with expressions of great joy and peace in view of the Saviour.

To the christian who shall peruse these passages I would say-Thou walkest on holy ground; be serious; be devout; let thy prayers ascend to God, that thou mayest be partaker, not only of like precious faith and love, of like penitence and humility, but also of like DILIGENCE and PERSEVERANCE in christian duty.

FAMILY CARES.

July 20, 1806. "Almost all my time is engrossed with the business of this life. Such is the situation of my family at this time, that I find but few moments in a day for private devotion. I have set apart a little time this afternoon to prepare for the Sabbath and for self-examination. Respecting the mercies I have received, I have the greatest cause of gratitude of any creature; situated as I am, with so many means of improvement in knowledge and virtue; my husband happy with his people; my family in health and peace. With regard to myself, what great reason

have I to bless God that he has laid his restraints

upon me. When I see a glimpse of my own heart, by some act of unkindness to others, or some sinful secret thoughts, I am astonished that I am not cut off. O God, grant me grace to be humble. Behold, I am vile! May I not rejoice that thou, Lord, seest me; and though infinitely impure, that thou art my physician, and canst heal my backslidings, is cause of joy."

A WANDERING SISTER.

The duty of admonition and reproof is one of the most difficult which a christian is ever required to perform. Few can do it without giving offence. Mrs. McFarland was known to succeed in it better than most persons; but probably the secret of her success is not understood. The following will disclose it:

Sabbath evening, July 21. "I spent some time alone in reading the word and in prayer. I thought the path plain respecting conversing with a wandering sister. Resolved to converse with her in the course of the week. Desire to wait upon God for an opportunity; and that he would dispose the hearts of herself and friends (should they know it) in such a manner as that it may not make me appear her enemy, and may