more civil to me and kind than another, except a French woman who was in the family; she was one that was visibly void of religion, as also her outward behavior was most unsavory and unbecoming; notwithstanding of this, I put the best construction upon her I could, because she was a stranger. This person seemed to have a very great esteem of me; and many times she would bless the Lord that ever she was in company with me: yet I never noticed any thing she said, knowing her to be a very great liar. But there was one day, being Sabbath morning, she coming down stairs, singing to a little dog in her arms, at this I could not wink, but reproved her for so doing at which she seemed to be displeased, and wist not what way to be revenged on me; but, to make amends for a fault, when we went to church, she was wholly employed in mocking the minister, and shooting out her finger in time of sermon, so that a great many in the kirk took notice of her, were mightily offended, and told me, they wondered that such a person should be allowed to dwell in a family where better things were expected. I considering that the heads of the family were from home, I took it upon me to reprove her sharply on the back of this she turned the most outrageous, mischievous spirit against me, that she contrived the most horrid lies which could be invented: but the Lord of his goodness turned her malice to her own shame, and nowise to my hurt, but rather to the contrary yet this trial was somewhat weighty to me, considering this woman's reproachful tongue; but I was helped, first by the Lord, and then by all those among whom I dwelt, who, though they were strangers to me, yet their sympathy was beyond expression.

"I left this family in November, and returned back to the family out of which I came at last at the Inch; where I was received with very much kindness by all in it, and particularly by those who were my enemies before; in which I saw much of the wisdom and wise conduct of the Almighty, who does all things well: and this my soul knows to its experience: there being many things in my charge in this family, that now were made more easy in many respects. O the depths of his wisdom! I saw in this providence, beyond what I can express: yet, even at this time, I wanted not a strong body of sin and death weighing me down, and making me cry out many times with bitterness of spirit, 'O that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest,' from a tempting devil, a corrupt heart, a wicked world, and the sin that does so easily beset me.

"These things I would not so particularly record, but it is to let us see the care and concern the Lord hath about his poor people when in trouble, even with respect to their external concerns: he hath a fatherly and tender heart, he pities and helps in the most convenient seasons. I must acknowledge, that this dispensation of Providence to me, the vilest and unworthiest of all his creatures, was so remarkable, and exactly the return of prayer in all the circumstances of it; that I am more and more every day made to won

der at his wise conduct of Providence, not only toward my soul, for which he hath done great things, but also with respect to my lot in the world. But I may say with the Psalmist, He is the God that performeth all things (well) for me, spiritual and temporal.' I get nothing but what he makes me first cry to him for by prayer, and then in his own time and way he answers and performs what he hath made me believe. O happy are they that have so good a God to trust in !"

THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE

LADY ELIZABETH HASTINGS.

THE Lady Elizabeth Hastings was born April 19, 1682. Her father was Theophilus, Earl of Huntingdon, and her mother was the daughter of Sir John Lewis, of Ledstone, in the county of York, Bath, one moiety, and more, of whose very large estate came to her by inheritance.

There was a fine dawn of her future excellences in her tender age. A countenance that united in it something great, and something condescending; an ingenuous temper; a quickness of understanding; a benevolent spirit; a flexibility of nature; a devout frame and a solemn sense of divine things; were observable in her first departure out of her infancy, and her footsteps slipt not in the dangerous ascent of life, so that she was not only free from every stain of vice in her early days, but superior to the world, and its vain and trifling amusements.

Before she launched into life, she was fond of privacy and retirement, and was much in devotional exercises in her closet. In some contests between the Earl, her father, and Lord Hastings, her brother, she observed such a prudence in her conduct, that she preserved the kindness and affection of both, and after the death of the former, and till the decease of the latter, she would be doing good things with her substance, when her abilities were not so great.

Her ladyship's active life most conspicuously commenced soon after the death of her brother by the whole blood, the Right Honorable George, Earl of Huntingdon, already mentioned under the title of Lord Hastings, when her excellent virtues shone out by what has been the eclipse of virtue in others, the accession of a large fortune.

Then it was that she became known, and was observed to be something more than a lady of great beauty and fine accomplishments, of affability, and easy access, of condescension, and good nature, and of regular motions in religion. Her aims were set high, and no attainments in piety and goodness would content her soul short of perfection.

When she had not many months finished her twenty-seventh year, her singular accomplishments and merits were celebrated by Sir Richard Steele, the ingenious author of the paper called the Tatler under the name of Aspasia.

"But these ancients," says our writer, "would be as much astonshed to see in the same age so illustrious a pattern to all who love

things praiseworthy as the divine Aspasia. Methinks I now see her walking in her garden like our first parent, with unaffected charms, before beauty had spectators, and bearing celestial conscious virtue in her aspect. Her countenance is the lively picture of her mind, which is the seat of honor, truth, compassion, knowledge, and in

nocence.

"There dwells the scorn of vice, and pity too.'

"In the midst of the most ample fortune, and veneration of all that behold and know her, without the least affectation, she consults retirement, the contemplation of her own being, and that Supreme Power which bestowed it. Without the learning of schools, or knowledge of a long course of arguments, she goes on in a steady course of uninterrupted piety and virtue, and adds, to the severity of the last age all the freedom and ease of this. The language and mien of a court she is possessed of in the highest degree, but the simplicity and humble thoughts of a cottage are her more welcome entertainments. Aspasia is a female philosopher, who does not only live up to the resignation of the most retired lives of the ancient sages, but also to the schemes and plans which they thought beautiful, though inimitable. This lady is the most exact economist, without appearing busy; the most strictly virtuous, without tasting the praise of it; and shuns applause with as much industry, as others do reproach. This character is so particular, that it will be very easily fixed on her only by all that know her; but, I dare say, she will be the last that finds it out. *99

In order to assist her endeavors to reach the sublimest heights of honor and virtue, our lady commenced an acquaintance with persons eminent for religion, Doctor John Sharp, Archbishop of York, Robert Nelson, Esq., and Doctor Richard Lucas. Many years after the decease of all of them she has been heard to felicitate herself upon the privilege of her friendship with them, and how much she was esteemed and honored by Mr. Nelson in particular; and we have no reason to think but she had a like esteem from the others, is evident from a letter of his yet remaining, in which he applies to her the following text, Prov. xxxi. 29, "Many daughters have cone virtuously, but thou excellest them all."

In the place (Ledstone-house,) where her ladyship spent the greater part of her life, almost every eye beheld her with wonder. The higher ranks of mankind were by her acquaintance some of them charmed into the love of virtue, while others found their virtues heightened and improved. As to the lower part, they were guided by her wisdom, and, if they wanted it, were cherished by her bounty.

Such was the superiority of her understanding, that in matters of high moment hundreds would ask counsel of her, who were themselves well qualified to give it to others, for she was blessed with a rectitude of judgment, and could readily penetrate through perplexities, unravel them, and mark out the wisest and safest conduct, having ever for her ground the interests of truth, fidelity, honor, and religion. Her end was the glory of God, and the good of all men, keeping all her capacities, all her powers, and all her fortune continually upon the stretch for the benefit of her fellow-creatures; weeping with them that weep, rejoicing with them that rejoice; given to hospitality, distributing to the necessities of the saints, and to others that were less so; having joy at the conversion of a sinner, or any the smallest appearances of it.

Besides the wisdom which is called secular, as having for its objects the affairs of this life, her ladyship's mind was endowed with that wisdom which comes from above, and was so influenced by it, that whether she wrote or spoke, it was ever in consistency with it. Her will was in full subjection to the precepts of the gospel. She took her measures from them, and observed a close conformity to them. Her will also bowed to the Divine Will in her afflictions. Because they were the pleasure of God, they were hers too; and, when his arrows stuck fast within her, and his hand pressed her sore, she possessed herself in these painful parts of life with great cheerfulness, and preferred them in her whole judgment, and upon the most important considerations, to the days of health and ease." As to her affections, they were set upon things above, panting and longing after the pleasures that are there; or attaching herself to such employments as infallibly lead to them.

Her ladyship's attendance and apparel were such as became her place and station. Her body she knew was the temple of the Holy Ghost, and she possessed it in sanctification and honor. Her support of it by meat, and drink, and sleep, was ever bounded by necessity. The intervals that happened as to the last were improved in pious meditation or prudent deliberations what better measures to take in the duties of her Christian calling.

The word of God was a lamp to her feet, and a light unto her paths. Her delight was in his law, and she made it her every day's study. She held her Bible to her heart to receive its quickening virtue, and used it at the same time as she would a mirror to her face, to discover every spot and blemish. The other books that she used were well chosen, and they were much in her esteem, and often in her hands, in order to learn from them to examine herself by them, and to see what she had in common with the children of God, and if in any thing she fell short of them. She compared spiritual things with spiritual, she pondered with her own heart, and searched out her spirit, weighing herself as it were in a balance.