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adds a stimulus to imagination, in matters of religion, does, in fact, counteract the salutary efforts of reason and a sound mind to repress and tends to convert the religion of the gospel into the wild reveries of fanaticism. May not then the publications in question have a tendency to foster the imaginative faculty; and to induce a train of evils arising from the predominance of fancy over reason and revelation ?

But these reflections have led me into a length of discussion which I did not anticipate; and it is more than time that I return to the immediate subject of this memoir.

I was drawn into these remarks by stating that my beloved daughter was inclined to indulge in reading the productions of some of the modern school of poetry and fiction, beyond the limit which she afterwards thought to be safe: but I should do her memory great injustice, if I were to omit stating that her principal reading was of a religious character. She had studied various treatises on the evidences of religion;

and had read several histories of the Christian church. The works of some of our ablest divines were familiar to her; and she had made herself acquainted with some of the common subjects of controversy between Christians of different denominations. Sacred biography was a topic of peculiar interest, and she read with avidity whatever of this kind fell in her way. But her constant companion was the Holy Scriptures. A considerable part of it was committed to memory; and she could repeat by heart a great part of the Psalms. The marks she has placed against different passages of this blessed book, plainly indicate that her daily perusal of it was not a mere form. Not only did she notice those parts, which are most beautiful for their poetry, and most sublime in description; but more especially such as relate to fundamental doctrines, important duties, and encouraging promises. Whatever set forth the value of the soul; the nature of salvation; the evil of sin; the necessity of holiness; the promise of pardon; and the work of the Holy

Spirit; invariably arrested her attention, and received her mark for future meditation: and very few persons, I believe, had a memory better stored with the most beautiful and interesting passages of holy writ.

The book which she seemed to prize next to the Bible, was Dr.Doddridge's "Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul." This, like her Bible, exhibits numerous marks of her minute attention to its directions. Those passages especially, which enforce a close self-examination as to the effects of religion on the affections, temper, and predominant habits of life, were constantly before her; and were noted, as requiring the most serious consideration. The effect of this diligence was visible in her whole deportment. Her naturally somewhat hasty and susceptible mind was, at length, so effectually subdued, that she was seldom off her guard, or hurried into any inadvertent expression. When this was the case, she soon recovered herself, and was deeply grieved at her infirmity. Children, it is well known, are often careless in learning their lessons, and are with

difficulty brought to pay attention to their teachers, particularly where paternal authority is not immediately at hand to enforce obedience. Formerly she had shown considerable uneasiness with her youngest brother on these accounts; but so completely had she gained the ascendency over this irritability of temper, that, during the last twelve months, she never once betrayed any thing like impatience; but met every discouragement with calmness and com

posure.

Those passages also in this her favourite devotional author, which relate to the uncertainty of life, the suddenness of death, and the importance of being in constant readiness to meet the "King of terrors," were rendered prominent by double strokes of her pencil. I believe indeed that few days passed without serious thoughts on these most important subjects, for they were ever uppermost in her mind. She always had a peculiar dread of death; and she one day said to her mother, after telling her of

the confident hopes of a blessed immortality, which one of her most valued female friends had just expressed, "I think I shall all my life long be in bondage through fear of death." Whenever she heard of the happy departure of an eminent Christian, she seemed almost to envy his victory over death; and expressed her fears that this would never be her privilege.

Besides this invaluable treatise of Dr. Doddridge, there were many other books of a devotional kind, which she took delight in reading. She had a large assortment of psalms and hymns, composed or selected by various authors; and many of the most beautiful in poetry, and excellent in Christian sentiment, she had committed to memory. Here also, as well as in the books just referred to, are found indications of the predominant feelings and state of her mind. Such hymns as set forth the corruption of the human heart; the dreadful nature of sin; the necessity of holiness; the forgiveness of sin; and the influences of the

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