God, as they grow in knowledge, furnishes them daily with new instances; and therefore do not stumble at the want of the present sense of that light, but are quickened to diligence, excited to frequent cries for opening of their eyes, that they may understand the wonders, that by the knowledge of other parts of the Word, they are induced to believe couched in those parts, which yet they know not.' 1

1 Haliburton's Essay on the Nature of Faith. To the same purport Mr. Baxter writes :-' I think that in the hearing and reading (of the Bible) God's Spirit often so concurreth, as that the will itself should be touched with an internal gust and savour of the goodness contained in the doctrine, and at the same time the understanding with an internal irradiation, which breeds such a certain apprehension of the verity of it, as nature gives men of natural principles. And I am persuaded that this, increased by more experience and love, doth hold most Christians faster to Christ than naked reasonings could do. And were it not for this, unlearned ignorant persons were still in danger of apostacy by every subtle caviller that assaults them. And I believe that all true Christians have this kind of internal knowledge from a suitableness of the truth and goodness of the Gospel to their now quickened, illuminated, and sanctified souls.'-More Reasons for the Christian Religion, in reply to Lord Herbert, and supplimental to his great work in defence of Christianity, (12mo. 1672. pp. 135, 136.)

CHAPTER III.

GENERAL SKETCH

OF MISS GRAHAM'S LIFE

HER VIEWS OF STUDY-EXTENSIVE ATTAINMENTS AND ACTIVE DEVOTEDNESS TO GOD.

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MISS GRAHAM continued to reside in London for some time after her recovery from that awful snare, into which she had been permitted to fall. The remembrance, however, of this temporary apostacy was ever before her" 1 with all that holy shame and self-abasement, which attaches to the " purified" conscience of the pardoned sinner 2-humbling her in the dust, while yet faith, hope, love, peace, and joy, were the dominant principles in her soul. Deeply also did she feel the constraint of the command given by anticipation to a backsliding apostle-" When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."3 It was the great object of her "Test of Truth," to set forth her own case as a beacon of warning, an example of encouragement, and a monument of Divine grace, for the special use of those who might be

1 Psalm li. 3.

2 Ezek. xvi. 63. 3 Luke xxii, 32.

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brought into the same atmosphere of temptations. There is reason to believe, that her work in its original form produced its measure of conviction upon her principal correspondent; and we may confidently expect, that, as it obtains wider circulation, an answer to her prayers for a Divine blessing upon it will be abundantly manifested. During her residence in London, the ministry of the Rev. Watts Wilkinson, and a deep study of the sacred volume, were the ordained means of advancing her knowledge and experience of Divine truth. Her intellectual habits were a source of much gratification to her; and mainly contributed, under the blessing of God, to form her character into a mould of solid and permanent usefulness. It is however delightful to observe her Christian simplicity and watchfulness, to subordinate these valuable enjoyments to the primary object of the glory of God. Of this the following prayer, found among her papers, will furnish an interesting and edifying illustration.

'Before study of any kind, remember that it is but lost labour, except the Lord bless it.

SUMMARY OF THINGS TO BE SOUGHT OF GOD

BEFORE STUDY.

'I desire to thank Thee, my God and Father in Christ Jesus, for this and every other opportunity of improvement Thou hast given me. May the opportunity Thou hast given me be blest of Thee! Enable

own.

me to receive it with thanksgiving, and sanctify it to me by the Word of God and prayer. O let me know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified; and other things just so far as may be for my good and thy glory, and no farther. I would mourn before Thee the base ingratitude, with which I have hitherto abused my time and talents, by loving thy gifts more than Thee, and seeking myself, not Thee, in them. Now I bring all my things to Thee; for they are not mine, but thine Take that accursed thing self, out of them all, and condescend to use them for thy glory. I thank Thee, that the meanest employment is acceptable in thy sight, when done in the name of the Lord Jesus. May I set about this, in His name, and in His strength, and to His glory! May I not once seek my own things in it, but the things that are Jesus Christ's! Let me no longer lean to my own understanding; but may I so acknowledge Thee in all my ways, that Thou mayest establish my thoughts, and direct my paths! Suffer me not to be wise in my own conceit, nor vainly puffed up in my fleshly mind. Make me to lean from mine own wisdom. Be Thou my wisdom. Holy Lord God the Spirit, who dividest unto every man severally as Thou wilt, bless such of my studies, and in such a degree as may be most to thy glory. If it be thy will, prepare me by them for the work, to which I desire thou wouldest call and separate I commit this work, to which I would de

me.

vote myself, into thy hands. Prosper it or not as Thou seest good. Thy will be done respecting it, only take all self-seeking out of it get thyself glory, Lord, in all that I do; and keep me from ever wishing to rob Thee of thy glory. Lord, if thou wilt bless me abundantly, grant that in whatever Thou givest me, I may remember I have received it, and not glory as if I had not received it. I set myself to this employment in the name of Jesus: may I have fellowship with Him in it! Let it not become a snare to me; but may the Lord who is my confidence, preserve my foot from being taken in this net, which has so often entangled me!

'O Thou Glorifier of Jesus, take of the things that are His, and shew them unto me, and unto all Thy people, with such light and power, that our wills, desires, and affections may be quite swallowed up in His love. Let us have no will but Thy most holy will. Convince us that all things else are mere dross and dung, in comparison with that most excellent knowledge of our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, which do Thou give us every day more abundantly, making us to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. Even so, Holy Spirit, for the sake of thy great mercies in Christ Jesus, to whom with Thee and the Father, be all the honour, all the praise, and all the glory, now and for ever. Amen.'

In the same spirit, an extract from a letter to