AFTER many Delays and Dijappointments, the Printing of the following JOURNAL is at last finished: But the Publisher being fometimes from Home, and at other Times burried, (the Proofs coming at unfeafonable Hours,) had not the Opportunity of correcting the Profe lo exactly as appears to have been needful; wherefore, we

Reader will excufe the many Defects which are to be found in it. In feveral Places it is wrong pointed, in others are no Points at all, where they are very neceffary; by which Means the Senfe is greatly alter'd; and where there should be Capitals are Small Letters, whereby the Work appears to a very great Dijadvan tage. It can't be expected, there being fuch a Multitude of Blunders, that all will be taken Notice of in the Errata: It may fuffice, if none that are of any ConSequence are omitted; and Care has been taken that it may not be the Cafe.

ERRATA.

N the SHORT ACCOUNT, &c. Page vi. Line 5, for 1751. Under read 1751, under. In the fame Page, Line 17, for prefect read perfect. In Page vii. Line 27, for in read into. In the EXTRACT, Page 17, Line 3, for Himdrances read Hindrances. In the fame Page, Line 25, for which read in which. In Page 18, Line 15, for Pfalm 54 read Isaiah 45. In Page 20, Line 7, for then read than. In Page 21, Line 18, for fat read fet. Page 24, Line 17, the Words, O! that thou wouldst ever, are no Part of the poetical Quotation which they appear to be the Beginning of, but belong to and fhould coclyde the Line 15, for Mercies read Mercy's. at Quotation. In Page 26, Line 8, for Pfalms read Pfalm. In Page 28, Line 3, for your read his. In Page 29, Line 13, read Catherine Parr, laft Wife to King Henry VIII. was born. In Page 22, laft Line, for My read And. In Page 34, Line 15, for Benefactor, for read Benefactor for. In Page 35, Line 26, for Corinthians read Chronicles. In Page 58, Line 27, for Years. When read Years when. In Page 64, Line 3, for Son's read Sons. In the fame Page, Line 18, for Forerunner read Forerunners. In the fame Page. Line 25, for R's read Rs. In Page 76, and laft Line, for Wish read Wish restore. In Page 80, Line 30, for Loadicean read Laodicean. In Page 81, Line 16, for comfort read comfortably. In Page 84, Line 22, for loved read loud. In Page 88, Line 11, for every read ev'ry. In Page 90, Line 20, for except read accept. In Page 93, Line 7, for a useful read an useful.

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TH

HE enfuing Account it is hoped may animate those who are in the Morning of Life, to a due Improvement of their Time, in remembring their CREATOR in the Days of their Fouth; fo that they may offer him the first Fruits of thofe precious Moments, in which they are Probationers for an awful Eternity: And which when paft, whether they have been employed in the important Tafk or not, are irrecoverably gone.

If it has this happy Effect, the defired End wlil be fully answered, which is, that God's Grace and faving Power may be manifefted, in additional In ftances, both of living and dying Witneffes.

Mifs MARY GILBERT, was the Eldest Daugh ter of Nathaniel Gilbert of the Ifland of Antigua Efq; by his Wife Elizabeth, both Perfons of good Families and eminent Piety, whose chief studyit

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was

was to train up their Children in the knowledge of GOD and his Ways, according to the chablished Religion of the Church of England.

SHE was born in the fame Island on the 28th. of February, 1751. Under the happy Circumstance of having Parents, who as they were wanting in no A of Care and Tenderness to their Offspring, fo tock care in particular to make them like young Timothy, acquainted from their Infancy with the Holy Scriptures. In the earlieft Dawn of Reafon fhe difcovered an extraordinary Capacity and uncommon Understanding; a great Willingness to learn, and a Defire of being inftructed, which often occafioned her to ak the most pertinent Queflions. Such a Genius was obferved by her Parents with much Gratitude, to him who is the Author and Difpenfer of every good and prefect Gift, Her natural Difpofition was a Mixture of Good and Evil. She was a frict Obferver of Truth, which appeared to arife from a Noblenefs of Mind, which made her incapable of thofe Meanneffes from whence the Vice of Falfhood fprings. Eut as every Flower in Nature's Garden, however blooming needs improving, fo did this Principle in her; for as it was Productive of fome Virtues, fo it no lefs occafioned the greatest Blemishes in her Temper; fuch as Highfpiritedness, Pride and Self-will; which notwithstanding the fhining Example of her Parents, and their care to reftrain, would, while he was very young often gain an Afcendency.

IN the Year 1757, her Father and Mother made a Voyage to England, (bringing this Daughter and their

So

their other Children with them) entirely upon a religious Account and in order to enjoy the Company of fome who were efteemed Perfons of remarkable Piety and extenfive Usefulness, and with them to partake of thofe facred Privileges, with which their native Ifland was not yet favoured. During their Refidence in England, the fhewed the greatest Delight in reading religious Books, and in receiving the Inftruction of ferious Chriftians, who were frequently entertained at her Father's Houfe. that what was recorded of the ROYAL PSALMIST, might be afferted of her, All her Delight was in the Saints upon Earth. Her Father's Affairs calling him back to Antigua, he, with his Family left England in the Beginning of the year 1759, taking with them a Perfon whofe Sentiments and Abilities they approved of, to whofe Care they committed the Education of their Children, for whom their Daugh ter MARY foon contracted a very tender Aleation; far from fhunning the Company of one that was to correct her Faults, and whofe Prefence muft reBrain the little Levities of Childhood. She for thefe very Reafons, delighted in being conftantby confined with her, even in thofe Hours which fhe might have spent at Play with her Sifters. Thefe Seafons the employed in improving her Mind, and having the Liberty of retiring in a Clofet within her GOVERNESS' Chamber, fhe would continue in it for a long Time every Day reading, praying, and meditating, and her Reinarks upon what the read, were often juft, and inflructive.

As foon as the had learned to write, fhe feldom failed noting down whatever appeared useful in any Author