"Sept. 21st.-I feel to-day such a settled purpose to give up all for religion, that I think this purpose is made in the strength of the Lord, and that I shall find that all-sufficient.

"We trust not in our native strength,

But on His grace rely,' assured

'That with returning wants, the Lord
Will all our need supply.'

"I would that every feeling were subdued that ever has, or may, interfere between me and my God. Oh, that I could banish all these sinful doubts, but I will not listen to them. I will cast my care on Him who careth for me.

"I have been accused of bigotry and narrow-mindedness, because I have refused to read some Unitarian books. Is it so? O, my Heavenly Father, I beseech Thee, for Jesus' sake, to take from my heart all uncharitableness, and at the same time to preserve me from temptation to deliver me from evil. Teach me thy will. I know that I shall not become an unbeliever, because my trust is in Thee. O preserve me from resorting one moment to myself. Help me to give up every energy to Thee.

"Oct. 8th.-Last Sunday was communion-day. Oh, how different does that sacrament now appear to me! It at first seemed a solemn duty, but its performance did not afford as much pleasure as it now does. I did not deem it so much a privilege as I now do.

ever.

"I do think I am more deeply interested in religion than How much I desire the entire sanctification of my heart! How ardently do I hunger and thirst after righteousness! I shall be filled, I know, through the mercy of my Saviour. I wish I had more faith and earnestness. I have always so much to repent at the close of the day,―misspent time, always, and too often unchristian feelings and conduct.

CHAPTER IV.

1833.

Solicitudes for others - Wide and Lasting Results

The Christian in

her Family Letters to a Sister-Close of the Year.

WHEN the Apostle Andrew had been pointed by John the Baptist to the Lamb of God, and recognized, in Jesus of Nazareth, the long-expected "Consolation of Israel," his first impulse was to hasten to "his own brother Simon" with the joyful intelligence, "We have found the Messias: and he brought him to Jesus." When Simon Peter was himself forewarned of his approaching fall by his compassionate Lord, with the assurance that He had prayed for him that his faith might not fail, this intimation of eventual recovery is accompanied by the injunction, "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." When the Psalmist confessed his guilt, and implored pardon with such unfeigned contrition, the trust of his grateful soul in the mercy of God leaps forth in strong desires to make his fellow-sinners partakers of the same grace, "Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee."

Of the lesson inculcated in such passages, the lesson of real solicitude for the spiritual and eternal good of others, the desire to bring them that have no hope, and are without God in the world, to taste and see how gracious the Lord is, Susan Allibone was an apt learner. No sooner was her own heart cheered with the hope of pardon and heaven, than she longed to impart that hope to all around her. None could

hold intercourse with her, by word or letter, without being impressed with her fervent zeal and her love for souls. "The mind that was in Christ Jesus" was breathed into her bosom, and constantly shone forth in speech and action. Her missionary zeal was a steadily burning light, diffusing rays of holy influence, and enlivening many by its cheering glow. To win souls to Christ was pre-eminently her delight, and her heart warmed towards all, however humble their station, or separate from her own their walk in life, whom she might hope to attract into the fold of the good Shepherd. And God crowned her efforts with abundant success. Her intercessions were not spent in air. Her endeavors to benefit and bless those for whom she longed in the bowels of Christ Jesus, were not as water spilled upon the ground. In the comparative seclusion of her darkened room she not only cherished a missionary spirit, but did a missionary work. Many whose eyes will rest upon this page, have been indebted to her, under God, for the hope that is in them, and for counsel, encouragement, warning and consolation, for which they feel they can never be too grateful. Among those profited by her faithful and impressive teachings, some are now laboring in the ministry of reconciliation; and not only the ranks of the ministry at home, but the band of devoted foreign missionaries has been recruited by her unquenchable zeal. Of those whom she was the instrument of leading to Jesus, some have preceded her to the better country to which she had directed their hopes. The author ventures the assertion that his reader will be struck with admiration at the rare union of fidelity and plainness of speech, with tenderness, consideration and good judgment which mark her efforts. She was ever ready to embrace the propitious moment for reminding the impenitent of the claims of God, and of the great interests of the soul. She spoke the truth without concealment or reserve. And yet was she never obtrusive, or forgetful of others' feelings, or injudi

cious, or assuming. There was so much good sense and appropriateness, as well as humility and benevolence, in all her attempts, that none could take them ill. However disinclined any might be to the counsel, they could not but respect and love the gentle monitor. And whenever success was granted to any of her appeals, the whole glory was given to God. Vanity and self-esteem were never fed by the information that her efforts had been attended with a blessing. With utter self-renunciation every trophy was humbly cast, where she is now permitted to cast her crown of righteousness, even at the feet of Him who sitteth upon the throne.

While her expansive charity glowed for all sorts and conditions of men, and all souls were precious to her because Jesus had died for them, it will be readily anticipated that for those bound to her by ties of kindred, and endeared by intimate intercourse, this feeling was peculiarly vivid. In the sacred circle of home not only did her holy example shine with attractive lustre, but for its dear inmates her prayers were unremitting, and to them her conversations and letters were richly blessed. To her family she was a treasure beyond price. In cherishing her with overflowing fondness they were not like those who "entertain angels unawares," for none felt the unearthly purity and sweetness of her character like those who saw her most frequently and unconstrainedly. They will pardon such an exhibition of her feelings and affections towards themselves, as might else seem an invasion of domestic sanctity, for the sake of that Saviour's glory, whose living epistle she ever was in her own home. The Christian daughter, sister, kinswoman, may be introduced in these pages, acting the part for which the Lord designed her, and showing how perfectly and beautifully divine grace can adorn and sanctify the charities of the fireside. The same feeling which led Andrew to seek first his own brother Simon, directed her earliest efforts towards the salvation of those who were nearest and dearest to her heart.

She writes in her Diary:

"April 19th, 1833.-I have now such cause for thankfulness, that I ought never again to repine. One of my very dearest friends is very seriously impressed, and I doubt not will be, ere long, induced to accept the offers of salvation. I was very happy yesterday."

The following letters are among the first of her efforts to make her pen the medium of spiritual counsel:

To her Sister S.

"I think I shall not do wrong, my dear sister, in writing to you this morning, since it is my prayer that I may indeed be prevented from 'speaking my own words,' and that the Holy Spirit may influence my heart in alluding to that subject which I trust is most interesting to us both. I sometimes feel tempted to ask myself whether there is not some degree of presumption mingled with my attempts to benefit others in this way, and to shrink from the weighty responsibility I thus incur. The knowledge of the awful danger and sinfulness of speaking or writing on this subject in my own strength, induces me to pray very earnestly and very frequently that I may never be induced to do it; and I would not dare to commence a letter, or a conversation, on religious subjects, without a special petition that the Lord would be with me. And since I am conscious that it is only His Spirit that is able to implant in the heart the earnest desire I sometimes feel for the salvation of others, I am encouraged to believe that my efforts for their good, feeble as they are, come from Him, and will be blessed by Him, and to Him I would give all the glory. Oh! I wish that I could feel so deeply my own entire depravity, and be so impressed with a view of the infinite majesty and purity of the Lord of Hosts, that a thought of pride or of self-complacency might never again come nigh me. I see the necessity and the beauty of humility, and I feel that it is a virtue that I do not possess. I pray for it, and I believe that it will be granted to me.

"All this time I have been speaking of myself; but my object in writing to you this morning is to speak to you of the concerns of your own soul-a liberty that I feel myself constrained to take, not only by a sense of duty and the impulses of affection, but by the confidence you have placed in me, and for which I feel thankful to