Sabbath School hymns testified of him; and she had, besides, been in the habit of learning passages of Scripture, which had reference principally to his death and resurrection. But all was now obscured; so much so, that she sometimes spent hours in crying to God, without making mention at all of the power of Jesus. I left her in the April of 1823. Then, for the first time, she told me she saw more and more the possibility of her salvation. She said, 'God can save me for what Christ has done, if he WILL !'”

For some time, the mere knowledge of such a tenderhearted Saviour existing, seemed to have soothed all her disquietude. Previously she had not understood, although she had heard of him, with the hearing of the ear. The possibility, therefore, of finding the sympathies she needed, was a wonderful relief to her harassed and vexed soul. But while she saw the suitableness of the compassionate Jesus to her condition, she knew not whether God had permitted him to compassionate her. It is obvious, there was still something wanting, and that the mere possibility of relief from his sympathies, could only for a season tranquillize her mind. Such a discovery was, indeed, a great contrast to her former ignorance; and although the light was faint that thus dawned upon her mind, she ceased to be full of such gross darkness. After such struggles, however, such throes and anguish of spirit in the pursuit of happiness; after such perplexing and sickening disappointments, she was not likely to be satisfied, but by something real and tangible; something, at all events, more definite than a mere possibility, she felt, was necessary to her peace and blessedness.

Thus a new fountain of bitterness was soon opened in her mind. "True," said she to herself, " he shall not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax ; but how shall I know, that he will not break nor quench me?" The possibility of obtaining a good, excites a delightful feeling in seasons of despair, or of dejection; but it is not needful

to show, how soon hope deferred sickens the spirit. Just
in proportion to the estimate we form of its importance to
our happiness, is the uneasiness or pain of uncertainty; and
this rule will be found, in an eminent sense, to obtain in
the great matters of salvation and eternity. So felt, at
least, Isabella: but, having suffered so much, she was not
afflicted beyond what she was able to bear.
God having
begun, proceeded in the perfecting of his good work in her
soul; and she was not, for a long season, permitted to re-
main in this condition of doubt and fear. The suspicion
she had entertained of the willingness of God to extend to
her case the compassion and sympathy of the Saviour, was
rebuked by her attention being directed to various passages,
descriptive of the comprehensive love of God; but more
especially, by her being enabled to hear, and understand
in some degree, the blessed invitation, "Come unto me, all
ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you, which is easy, and my bur.
den, which is light; and ye shall find refreshment to your
souls." The multitude of her thoughts concentrated, as it
were, around these words. While in the knowledge, she
had previously obtained, of her Saviour's character, con.
nected with the unlimited compassion which the invitation
expressed, she seemed to discover a sufficient warrant for that
hope which maketh not ashamed, that hope which is as an
anchor of the soul, sure and steadfast in the darkest sea-
sons; even when "deep calleth unto deep," when all the
waves and the billows of God threaten to go over the soul.

She was now satisfied, that the necessities of her miserable case were not excluded from the commiseration of Jesus, or his Father; since the words which he uttered, were addressed to all that are weary and heavy laden; and this conviction soothed and quieted her amid the misgivings and doubtings that still would disturb her mind. Her condition was now that of comparative enjoyment;

which indeed was visible in her outward demeanour, still grave and serious, but not sad and melancholy, as during the long season of her sorrowful estrangement from peace of soul.

She could, now, take interest in the happiness of others; as we find expressed in a note written, at this time, to her sister, who had communicated some pleasing information regarding her own condition. It is studiously evasive of any distinct statement of her views or feelings at the time; although this might have been expected from the nature of their parting interview, as well as the character of her sister's letter; but Isabella was very cautious, and she was yet without the consolation of any certain faith or hope.

66

My dear, dear Sister,-I may safely say, that the comfortable intelligence your letter contained, has filled my heart with joy and gladness. I have felt more dull, for some days past, than when you first went away; but all is right. I hope you are happy; finding, though separated from earthly friends, that yours is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. May it be your delight, my beloved sister, to glorify Him, and may you ever enjoy his sweet smiles.-Adieu, may the best of heaven's blessings rest upon you."

Still it is obvious, that a mind like hers, so excited by protracted and varied anxieties about her eternal interests, could not remain satisfied merely with the negative comfort, arising from the persuasion, that she was not excluded from the compassion expressed in the all-comprehensive invitation of the Saviour. The voice is to all," Come unto me." "Unless I go, how do I secure the rest and refreshment spoken of by Jesus? Have I gone?" she would ask herself. The absence of a real blessedness rendered

impossible a reply in the affirmative. "Can I go? How am I to ascertain whither I go?" and similar questions and ponderings kept her mind from time to time restless and disquieted, because still toiling to do something ; till, at last,

the words, "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely," terminated the long period of darkness, and doubt, and fear for ever; being brought home and effec. tually blessed to her soul by the tender-hearted Spirit of God.

In the day of their power, she was made willing to go; and she found refreshment in drinking of that fountain, of whose living waters, if a man taste, he will never thirst again.

Her agitation had now subsided, her struggles were at an end, the terrors that had distracted her were rebuked; the elements of her frame ready to melt in the fervent heat of her combat with the powers of darkness, in seeking for glory and immortality, if I may be allowed so to express myself, were moulded into a new and happy creation; and at the feet of her deliverer, the first-born of all new creatures, she now sat, meekly rejoicing in conscious security; believing, that Christ Jesus had died to take away sin; the Spirit witnessing with her spirit, in so believing, that she was a child of God.

She was now able to sing, "I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold upon me. I found trouble and sorrow; then called I upon the name of the Lord, O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. I was brought low, and he helped me. Return to thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling." Truly she had found that peace, which the world's friendship cannot give, nor the world's enmity take away. For she was at last acquainted with God. The light of a glorious knowledge had arisen upon her mind, disclosing his love to miserable sinners; and in that one blessed contemplation, her soul found refuge from all perils, and repose from all disquietude. The poet beautifully says ;—

"I'm apt to think the man,

That could surround the sum of things, and spy
The heart of God, and secrets of his empire,
Would speak but love; with him the bright result
Would change the hue of intermediate scenes,
And make one thing of all theology."

And certainly at this time divine love, to Isabella's eye, seemed every where, and was that which made all things new in her, and around her.

Then would her heart thus give vent to her feelings, (as she expressed herself to an intelligent friend, who has preserved notes of their conversation,) in the review of all that had passed. "O blessed be his holy name, he did not leave me to seek in vain. He heard the voice of my cries; in the depth of my distress I found the object of my anxious solicitude-I found the Saviour: I was led to look to him at last : I embraced him: I obtained the pardon of my sins: and was given to enjoy a sweet and delightful assurance, that God had accepted me in the beloved. The cloud which had hung over me so long, was now dispelled; and all my fears of the Divine wrath taken away, and my soul was filled with love to my gracious Saviour. O yes! Jesus now appeared to my mind as the chief among ten thousand; I felt that old things were passed away, and that all things were become new. I could take delight in nothing else, than in thinking and speaking of the glory of the Redeemer, and of his wondrous love, which he had manifested to a guilty world in pouring out his soul unto death." "No, (she continued,) I could not find language to express my sense of obligation to the blessed Redeemer, for the love wherewith he had loved me, in calling me by his grace out of a state of ignorance and condemnation, into a state of safety and peace. From that time till now, I have been enabled to live by faith in his precious blood, to glory in the riches of his grace, to confide in him for a complete victory