We

The Christian reader of these extracts We will close this notice with a refleccannot fail to observe in them the breath- tion, which it naturally awakens. ings of a soul deeply humbled and peni- have seen that Miss Lincoln spent much tent for sin, and most ardently longing for of the early part of her life without enconformity to God. They recal to re-joying a large share of the comforts of remembrance in some degree, the experi-ligion. Her latter end, and especially ence of Brainerd and Edwards, with whose her death, were however triumphant. writings Miss Lincoln was habitually fa- During her whole sickness, she had not a miliar. doubt of her interest in Christ. Let this encourage those who walk in darkness, having no light, and let them learn to trust in the faithfulness of God. But let them keep looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith, and in the active and faithful discharge of the public and private duties of religion, wait for the salvation of the Lord. grace according to our day. Let us be God will give found doing his will, and humbly trusting upon the promises of his word, and in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

Her last sickness was long and distressing. It seemed a gradual decay of the powers of nature, the taking down of a tabernacle, which had been long tottering under the pressure of lingering consump

tion.

During the whole period of her illness, she enjoyed the utmost tranquillity, and at times triumph, in the prospect of death. Her chosen subject of conversation was the happiness of heaven, and sometimes her soul was enraptured with a foretaste of the glories that awaited her. Her Christian friends she consoled with the hope, that they would soon meet again. The impenitent she warned of their danger, told of the excellency and the happiness of religion, and urged them to flee from the wrath to come. At last, on the 7th of July, the earthly house of her tabernacle was dissolved, and she entered a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Sometime in March of the year in which she died, she seemed aware that the time of her departure was at hand, and wrote some directions, which were found after her decease, concerning the manner in which she wished her property to be appropriated. It was all devoted to the cause of Christ, to charity, and to affection, in the following manner :

To her youngest sister,

To a beloved friend,

To the poor of the Church to which
she belonged, to be distributed
at the discretion of her sisters,
To the poor whom she had often
visited and relieved, to be dis-
tributed by her sisters,

To be expended by her sisters in
the purchase of religious books
and tracts for distribution,
To the Boston Female Missionary
Society, to constitute her young-
est sister and five nieces, mem-
bers for life,

To the Penitent Female Refuge
Society, to constitute her four
sisters members of the Aux. Soc.
To the relief of two indigent
friends, at the discretion of her
brother,

Account of Monies received on account of the Baptist General Convention of the United States.

1826.

March 1. From the Widow Lois Button, of

Turbridge, Vt. for the Burman
Mission, being the Widow's two
mites-by Isaac Sawyer of East
Bethel,

6. From a friend of Missions, Ash-
field, Mass. by Elnos Harvey,
From an unknown hand, being
amount of saving resulting from
the use of ardent spirits for a
limited time, by hand of B. F.
Farnsworth,

7. From Rev. Josiah Houghton, for
the services of Mr. Boardman,
six Sabbath days at Newbury-
port in 1825, by E. Lincoln,
From the Society in Fairfield, Vt.
auxiliary to the Baptist Board
of Foreign Missions, by the
hand of Daniel Bailey,

From G. Valentine, Esq. North-
boro', Mass. being commissions
for
collecting for Christian
Watchman,

15. From Mission Society connected
with the Fairfield Association

for Foreign Mission, by hand of
Rev. A. Sabine, Sec.

18. From the York Maine Baptist As-
sociation, the following sums :---
From the Buxton Female Mission-
ary Soc. for Burman Mission,

6,00

11,00

4,00

30,00

5,75

30

41,28

4,00

20

From the Cornish do. do.

14,57

From the Lemington Fem. Miss.

Soc. for Foreign Mission,

7,68

From Miss Sally Johnson of Cor

nish, for do.

1,00

From a friend in Kennebunk,

1,00

A Contribution,

6,45

Received by hand of Rev. T. B.
Ripley, of Portland.

24. Cash, a bequest from Miss Eliza
Lincoln, deceased, for the For-
eign Mission, to be equally divi-
ded between the Burman Mis-
sion and the Carey Station, 1200,00
From The General Committee
of the Charleston, S. C. Baptist
Association," it being the half of
the amount contributed by that
body for Missionary and Educa
tional purposes,--by hand of
Josiah B. Furman, Esq. Treas.

450,00

HEMAN LINCOLN, Treas. 81783,03

To Correspondents.....The Poetry of "Newton," will find an insertion in our next No-Wo hope to be favoured with frequent communications from him.

OUR pages have seldom been en- || Boston, October 1, 1794. It was riched with the Memoirs of pious her happiness to be favoured with women. This has been partly ow- parents who were both pious. Of ing to circumstances beyond our her mother, as she has long since control, and partly to a fear, lest deceased, it may be proper to say, we might unintentionally exert an that an uncommon sweetness of disunfavourable influence on that position was associated with emimeekness and modesty of charac- nent and uniform piety. This ter, and those unostentatious vir- amiable woman watched the extues, which are the chief ornaments panding minds of her children with of the sex. We think, however, maternal solicitude; and in conthat in the exercise of a wise dis-junction with her husband imparted cretion, the Biography of Females may be rendered highly subservient to the cause of morality and religion. We would not, therefore, deprive our readers of the advantages which may be derived from a contemplation of whatsoever was true, and pure, and lovely, and of good report in those holy women, who have adorned Christianity in their lives, and enjoyed its consolations in their death.

If we are not mistaken, the following sketch of the character, and religious experience of Mrs. Mary Freeman, will amply requite an attentive perusal.

She was the eldest child of Dea. Thomas Kendall, and was born in MAY, 1826.

to them religious instruction. It is
believed that this instruction was
not in vain. At a very early peri-
od, the subject of this Memoir was
deeply impressed at times with the
importance of religion. When
about ten years of age,
her parents,
knowing that her mind was serious-
ly affected, and that she was in the
practice of retiring for secret pray-
er, indulged the most pleasing an-
ticipations concerning her. From
her own lips, however, they could
learn nothing. When she was ad-
dressed in relation to her own views
and feelings, her heart was always
too full to speak, and she only
found relief in tears. After this
season of hope, she did not for sev-
18

eral years appear to be the subject of very tender religious feelings, although her conduct was such, as would have done honour to a religious profession. Indeed, such was the early influence of Christian principle, or such was the native mildness of her disposition, that there is one, who with an afflicted but reconciled heart can say, "from her infancy to the day of her death, she never gave her father one disrespectful look; she never in addressing him used one disrespectful word; she never was guilty of one intentional act of disobedience What a testimony to youthful loveliness is here! How worthy is such an example of being imitated! How few daughters there are concerning whom so much can be said with truth! Yet there are few, it may be supposed, who would not wish such an eulogium from their surviving parents.

it impossible for me ever fe experience
forgiveness. The truth, that without .
pleading for mercy I should never obtain
it, was very evident to me; but the idea
of approaching that Divine Being for par-
don, whom I had so long persisted in of-
fending, filled me with terror, and I even
imagined to myself that if I did attempt
to offer even one petition, that instant
death would be the consequence! O how
deluded! How ignorant are sinners by
nature of the character and mercy, the
infinite mercy of God through Jesus Christ
our Lord and Redeemer. For several
months my mind was in this wretoned
state. I studiously avoided mentioning
The idea of
my feelings to any one.
again becoming that thoughtless being.
that I formerly was, occasioned more
dreadful sensations, if possible, than those
which at that time, corroded my whole
soul-but your patience will, I fear, be

almost exhausted with the recital of such
a tale of wretchedness.

I will dismiss this part, and turn to that which is rather more pleasing. About the middle of May, on a Sabbath morning, a morning never to be forgotten by me, I was ruminating on my sad state, and I thought that I would try to plead with God, that he would be pleased to make the preaching of his word, that day, a means of removing the darkness and mist which overspread my mind. Accordingly I made the attempt; but while

(as I afterwards found it to be, though at the time I thought that I was all submission) the thought occurred to me, that I was leaning on an arm of flesh, that I had often wished the same thing, and had always returned disappointed. I think I was then brought to see that my help must come from God alone, and I cx

But she did not imagine that her correct and amiable deportment entitled her to the Divine favour. So far from this, she became alarm-I was dictating to my heavenly Parent, ed at her condition, and sincerely lamented her sins. Although her conduct had been irreproachable, she feared that her heart had not been right in the sight of God. The change which she thought had taken place in her principles and feelings claimed, in all the anguish of despair, is well described in a letter which "Lord, save, or I perish." I felt that I could resign myself and all that I possesshe wrote to her maternal grand-sed, into the hands of a merciful Saviour, mother soon after she made a profession of religion. We are happy that we can give it to our readers.

Boston, August 25, 1814.

My dear and ever honoured Grandmother,

WHEN I last saw you, I intended to have written to you several times, before we met again, but we are short sighted creatures. My mind, through the winter past, was in such a distressed state, that was sensible a letter from me would occasion much more pain than pleasure.

In November, my attention was suddenly arrested by a Sermon which was preached from these words: "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." The enormity of my sins. and my ingratitude to God were so deeply impressed on my mind, that I thought

who would protect me. For several hours
I was insensible of the change which had
taken place in my feelings. I was per-
fectly composed; nothing troubled me.
I enjoyed my meeting unusually-but
still did not realize the cause. Next morn-
ing I was reading Doddridge's description
of the trials of the Christian, and it at
once occurred to me that I was willing to
endure all these trials, and could call it a
"blessed lot" indeed to be so highly hon-
oured. Then i found that my trouble
was gone. A friend of mine called in the
evening; I could converse with more
freedom than usual, for I could not feel a
wish to disguise the state of my mind any
longer. The Lord had been so merciful
to me, that I thought it would be an un-
pardonable sin in me to wish to conceal
it. In about six weeks after that time,
felt it my duty, (not by the persuasion of

calm, and I think I could say with the pious Watts,

Bless'd Jesus, what delicious fare,

How sweet thine entertainments are!

statement would be most satisfac torily illustrated. It would be seen that they chiefly wrote on subjects which had a relation to their own personal religion, or to the prosperty of the church of Christ; and that when separated, they mutually agreed on a given hour at which they would daily meet each other at a throne of grace.

Thus, my dear Grandmother, I have given you a brief account of what, I would humbly hope, have been the dealings of constantly on the public worship of Mrs. Freeman not only attended the Lord with a poor, vile, unworthy God, but she endeavoured to presinner. I find every day, that sin cleaves fast unto me. Oh! pray for me, that I pare her mind for a profitable hearmay be enabled by divine grace, to resisting of the word. the temptations of Satan, of a flattering duce a few remarks from her Diary, We shall introworld, and my own sinful, corrupt heart. simply with a view that others may I need the prayers and admonitions of all imitate her laudable example. God's dear people.

favoured this day with the means "June 26, 1825. I have been of grace. I have heard two discourses from Matt. vii. 21, to the

But I shall weary your eyes, if not your patience with such a long letter, and therefore I will close, praying that you may enjoy much of the presence of God, and the comforts of his Holy Spirit; with out which this world is a scene of wretch-close of the chapter. I have reaedness and wo.

Your affectionate and

ever dutiful granddaughter,
MARY KENDALL.

son to lament that I retain so little of what I hear. This morning I heard with pleasure. My thoughts As her conduct had been truly and I fondly hoped that it would were more collected than usual, exemplary before she made a pub- benefit me. lic profession of religion, it is not specting us, and the happiness of The will of God reto be imagined that she became less those who perform his will with a attentive to the precepts of Christi- view to the divine glory, were clearanity afterwards. So far from this,ly pointed out; and sinners were the active operation of religious principle seemed to give new life and beauty to a character, which before challenged our admiration and love.

It is probable that her growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was much promoted by the matrimonial connexion which she formed about a year after she joined the church. Mr. Freeman, to whom she was united in marriage, was not only a man of habitual but enlightened piety. Their intercourse, was the inter course of kindred minds, mutually encouraging and improving each other in knowledge and goodness. Were it proper to give specimens of their correspondence with each other during long intervals of painful but necessary absence, this

warned with much feeling. This afternoon I went with the expectation of much enjoyment, but alas! my thoughts were with the "fool's have made it my practice for many eyes to the ends of the earth." I years, after seating myself in a place of public worship, to endeavour to collect my thoughts, and || plead with God that he would bless the season to my soul. sometimes found great assistance I have from this, in driving away vain and foolish thoughts. To-day I was obliged to strive hard to gain the ascendency over them, and at last succeeded in some measure. Nominal Christians were warned of the inefficacy of an outward profession to save them from the just indignation of their Judge. Oh that it may deeply impress my mind. I do not

live like a Christian. I have much reason to doubt my own personal religion. As to my holiness, I dare not mention it; and this day only adds another in which I have been conscious of many aberrations from the precepts and example of the meek and lowly Jesus. O that God would in infinite mercy cleanse my soul from the sins to which I am prone. I cannot think aright, nor act in a manner suitable to my profession.

counsels and his gentle restraints with gratitude." But we have now the gratifying evidence that they were both workers together with God in forming the religious character of the young men who dwelt under their roof. The pious, discreet, and yet active part, which Mrs. Freeman took in promoting this object will be best understood by the following extracts from letters addressed to her husband.

Boston, Feb. 3, 1822.

the accepted time, and now is the day of salvation." It would require more time than I can spare, to give you a detail of our conversation. A little more, however.

Occupying the relation of a mothReturning from lecture last evener, she felt that she had important ing, I endeavoured to improve the opporreligious duties to discharge to- tunity which I have long desired of conwards her children. How she versing with C. respecting his views of acted under this conviction will religion. He readily admitted its necessity "to live as well as to die by," as he appear from a statement of her expressed himself. I told him that young own, which was not intended for people were prone to defer the consideration of religion to some future time. He the public eye, and would not now be made known, were it not for the said the present was the only time to be hope that some Christian mothers depended upon. I observed to him that there were no promises of pardon to those will be induced to "go and do like- who put off repentance to a more convenwise." She remarks, "for some-ient season. "No," he replied, "Now is time past I have been enabled to take my dear children by them selves. I have read with them, and prayed to our heavenly Father for blessings upon them. I would desire to be thankful that I have not felt it an irksome task, nor found any disinclination to it. O that these seasons may be blessed to their everlasting good." How rational and how scriptural the course she pursued. She put into their hands that book which is able to make them wise unto salvation, and by her own example and instructions taught them to reverence it as the word of God. And every one must be convinced, that she prayed with them under circumstances the most likely to affect their young and tender hearts

The solicitude which Mrs FreeIman felt for the salvation of her children, was also manifested for other branches of the family. It is mentioned in the Memoir of her beloved husband, that "several young men who acquired from him their knowledge of business will always remember his judicious

I remarked that Mr. had quoted his favourite author, alluding to Young's Night Thoughts. He did not quote enough, was the reply. He ought to have repeated

"Be wise to-day,--'tis madness to defer,
Next day the fatal precedent will plead,
Thus on, till wisdom is pushed out of life."

My dearest G. I leave you to judge of his situation. I cannot but hope that a conviction of the truth and reality of religion is fastened upon his mind, as a nail in a sure place. If it be, we know that the Lord will accomplish his own work. His conversation indicates to me that conscience has written

"A doomsday sentence on his heart." O may it be our united prayer for him, that he may never rest short of the ark of safety. Do you consider how much we have been favoured of the Lord respecting those who compose our family? When I reflected upon it last night, and cherished the fond anticipation of C- being brought to a knowledge of the truth,, I could not sleep. I am afraid to think my own thoughts respecting his conversion, lest it should be but as the "morning cloud and the early dew."

In two subsequent letters bearing date in the same month, she had