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from his mouth. With the most appropriate truth she might have adopted the words of the Psalmist, "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because Thou didst it." "I was as one that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs." The trials with which she was assailed, appear, with the clearest evidence, to have operated like "the refiner's fire and the fuller's soap. They produced effects the very opposite of those which trials of a similar nature usually produce in unsanctified persons: instead of irritating her pride by wounding it, they led her to humble herself before that God to whose providence she referred them, and taught her to be particularly careful to exercise the utmost charity in judging of the motives and conduct of others. Indeed, of late years she was scarcely ever known on any occasion to betray symptoms of anger or resentment, or to utter an unkind word with respect to those by whom she conceived herself injured. Above all, her trials exercised her faith, quickened her prayers, and promoted her habit of secret communion with her God. The trials she met with in youth, in her father's house, gave rise to many of the most interesting exercises of her soul; and the greater trials she met with in after life, appear to have been among the most remarkable means employed by Infinite Wisdom to wean her soul from the world, and to promote her "meetness for the inheritance of the saints in light." It is commonly found, that where great progress is made in the Christian life, it is effected by means of sharp trials, which require large supplies of grace from that God who has said, "As thy day is, so shall thy strength be," and which keeps in vigorous exercise the grace which his goodness supplies. We are certain that she does not now regret her trials here, nor think them too many.

For six months before her decease, she was sensible of a decline in her health; and as death had

been familiar to her thoughts, she readily admitted a persuasion that it was near, though it was not till a much later period that her friends felt any serious alarm. When informed of the first severe attack of her disease, the Writer of this memoir went to visit her, with some apprehensions with respect to the probable state of her mind. Knowing how deep and affecting were her views of the majesty of God, of the hatefulness of sin, and of the importance of that change which fixes the soul in an everlasting and unalterable state, he was afraid that the approach of death might be peculiarly awful to her, and that her mind might be subjected to disquieting apprehensions. But these fears were quickly removed. Though aware of her danger, she was composed, resigned, and even cheerful. She expressed her humble trust in that Saviour, whose faithfulness she had ever experienced, and who says to each of his people, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." In the progress of her disease, she enjoyed habitually the same tranquillity of mind, and exercised the same humble confidence in God. At one time only, her mind seemed to sink under the weight of her sufferings, and the awful anticipation of approaching judgement; but the conflict was of short continuance, and she was enabled to resume the exercise of faith and hope. She often spoke of eternity as a subject which filled and overwhelmed her mind; as a state in the prospect of which, the world and all that it contains, sank into utter insignificance.

She repeatedly remarked, that the more she knew of her own heart on the one hand, and of the demands of the Gospel on the other, she felt the more how difficult it is to be a real Christian. She often spoke affectionately to her children, exhorting them to seek, above all things, the salvation of their souls, and expressing her hope that they would ever "dwell together in unity." During the sleepless nights that were appointed her, she employed herself

in meditating on the Scriptures, and in the exercise of prayer. And it may not be amiss to notice, that it was sometimes her employment to think over the questions and answers of the Shorter Catechism, and to convert them into subjects of prayer. On one occasion, when she was speaking of the solemnity and awfulness of death, a friend affectionately observed, that the recollection of a life so watchful and spiritual as hers, might surely afford her comfort in the prospect of death. She replied with some earnestness; "Alas! my life has not been of that description: I feel the necessity of looking entirely away from myself to that fountain which is opened for sin and uncleanness." Indeed, in the whole course of her illness, the atoning sacrifice of Christ was the sole stay and support of her soul. To this she looked with the earnestness of an awakened soul when first brought to a penitent sense of its sins; and such was her sense of her own imperfections, that she would not admit of any allusion to her attainments as a Christian. When her sister once asked her, whether she thought that her disease would issue in death, she answered, that that was hid from her; adding, "The Lord's will be done." At a somewhat later period, when I happened to be alone with her, she observed, that her dear friends still flattered themselves with the hope of her recovery, but that she was persuaded she should not recover; at the same time expressing her willingness to resign herself to God, whether he chose to prolong her life, or to take her speedily to himself.

In the course of the last two or three days, she rapidly declined, and was able to speak very little. Though tried with much pain, and sinking under accumulated diseases, she exercised an unwearied patience; praying much herself, and often entreating the prayers of her friends. In the evening preceding her death, she desired her sister to read the last two chapters of the Revelations; after this had been

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done, she repeated earnestly and affectionately, Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." She then desired that the xviith chapter of John's Gospel might be read, and spoke with much interest on that verse, "Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory." After prayer had been made in her hearing, she expressed an anxiety lest her friends should be injured by their unremitted attention. Some time after, she again expressed her confidence in the Great Physician of her soul. From this period, about twelve at night, she continued with little interruption in earnest prayer, in a voice for the most part audible, till within a few moments of her expiring pang, about three in the morning of the 15th of August, 1811; maintaining to the last a firmness of mind, a composure of soul, and a humble confidence of hope, which entitle her death to be ranked among the victories of the faith of Jesus.

In contemplating the death of martyrs, we are struck with admiration at the grace given them, and are confirmed in the faith for which they died; but we seldom consider them as models for imitation, since we are in little danger of ever being placed in similar circumstances. But, in reviewing the deathbed of a private Christian, we witness a scene which speaks more directly to ourselves, which presents circumstances in which we ourselves may soon be placed, and which affords a model which we are imperiously called on to be prepared to imitate. And how can we be prepared to imitate the saints in their death, but by diligently seeking that grace, and faithfully practising those virtues, which characterized them in their lives? "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." "Be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."

MRS. MARGARET MAGDALENE ALTHENS.

MRS. ALTHENS, whose maiden name was Jasper, was born of respectable parents, but shared in the vicissitudes so common in human life. Though brought up with better expectations, she lived in the capacity of a servant from October 1776, until a few weeks before her marriage, which took place in January, 1784. This humble situation, however, was so sweetened to her by the light of God's countenance, and so sanctified by the blessing of his Holy Spirit, that, in several parts of her Diary, she expresses great thankfulness to God for those dispensations of his providence, painful as they were at the time, which rendered it necessary. She was thereby secluded from many temptations and snares; and her state of dependence was not burdensome, because she depended upon the Lord, whom she served. We shall give her own account of her early life and conversion, adding a few extracts from her Diary; and subjoin four letters to her husband and children, written to be delivered after her decease.

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I was born the 23d of July, 1752. I can remember to have had, from early infancy, serious impressions of religion upon my soul. The awful thoughts of heaven, hell, death, and eternity, engrossed much of my attention. And I have often prayed, under the most alarming sensations, for mercy.

"My father died when I was two years and a half old. My mother being a German, I was educated in that language, as well as in my native tongue : and in the fifteenth year of my age, I was confirmed in the German chapel by the Rev. Dr. Wachsell. I must with gratitude acknowledge that he spared no pains to instruct me in the great principles of religion.

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