Memorials of early piety. Occurring in the holy life & joyful death of Mrs.…

In one of her Diaries her words are, This Day I spent some time in Self-Examination; The Lord grant that I might have the infallible Marks of a sincere Christian; and grant that I may discern those Marks In another her words are, I hope God has made me a true Believer on Christ. I have given my self to Him; and I desire to have Him for my Portion. Very often she writes, This Day I spent some time in Examining my self. And frequently Concludes upon it; I hope I am a Believer! I hope I am Converted!

§ 6. SHE was no stranger to that great Article of the Christian Ascetics, To Retire whole DAYS, for Communion with God! To set apart Whole Days, for Prayer with Fasting, (at least so much Fasting, as the Feeble state of her Health would allow;) in Secret, before the Lord. On which Days, it was her usage, to Pour out her Soul unto the Lord, in the most Extended ⟨p. 21⟩Supplications; Confess her own Errors, and Implore the Favours of God for her self and others; And between those Devotions, intermix the Reading of such Things, as might blow up the Flame of Piety. The First Time that I find her Employed in the Fast of the Closet, is, when she was but Thirteen Years of Age. A marvellous way, for a Child to grow Grave, and Wise, and Holy; For a Child to be an Hundred Years Old. The last time save one, that I find any Distinct Record of her being thus Engaged, was upon the Proposal of her Marriage to a Virtuous Young Man, Mr. Peter Oliver, a Goldsmith in Boston. One in Good Reputation for a Skilful Artist in his Calling, as well as for his Piety. With whom she was like to have Lived Happily, he being very Tender of her. When her Marriage with that Person was like to proceed, she then writes, among other things; I would keep a Day of Prayer, to Desire the Direction and Blessing of God, and that every Circumstance of that Affair may be ordered in much Mercy. And that I may ⟨p. 22⟩be provided with the supplies I now want. And I would Repent of all the sins of my Single state before I Marry. And I would seek unto God, for Grace and Wisdom, to order my Temporal Affairs with Discretion; And to Glorify and Serve God, in all Relations and Conditions. The Lord hear me, and grant that my Soul may be Married unto CHRIST, and that both in Life & Death, I may be the Lord's. The last Time of all was just before she Removed from her Fathers House, to House-keeping, and about three or four Months before her Death.