DISCOURSE 11. 75 honour and virtue, nor did she use to venture to the utmost bounds of what sobriety and religion might allow. Danger of guilt stands near the extreme limits of innocence. Shall I let this paper inform the world, with what friendly decency she treated her young companions and acquaintance ; how far from indulging the modish liberties of scandal on the ab- sent ; how much she hated those scornful and derisive airs, which persons, on higher ground, too often assume toward those who are seated in the inferior ranks of life? Is it proper I should say how much her behaviour won upon the esteem of all that knew her, though I could appeal to the general sorrow at her death, to confirm the truth of it ? But who can forbear, on this occasion, to take notice how far she acquired that lovely character in her narrow and private sphere, which seems almost to have been derived to her, by inheritance, from her honoured father deceased, who bad the tears of his country long dropping upon his tomb, and whose memory yet lives in a thousand hearts? Such a conversation, and such a character, made up of piety and virtue were prepared, for the attacks of a fever, with malig- nant and mortal symptoms. Slow and unsuspected were the advances of the disease, till the powers of reason began to faulter and retire, till the heralds of death had made their appearance, and spread on her bosom their purple ensigns. When these dis- orders began, her lucid intervals were longer, and while she thought no person was near, she could address herself to God, and say, how often she had given herself to him ; she hoped she had done it sincerely, and found acceptance with him, and trusted that she was not deceived. The gleams of reason that broke in between the clouds, gave her light enough to discern her own evidences of piety, and refresh her hope. Then she repeated some of the last verses of the cxxxix, Psalm in metre, viz. Lord, search my soul, try every thought; Though my own heart accuse me not Of walking in a false disguise, I. beg the trial of thy eyes." " I)oth secret mischief lurk within? 'Do 1 indulge some unknown sin ? O turn my feet whene'er I stray, And lead me in thy perfect way." 'She was frequent and importunate in her requests for the psalm- book, that she might reed that psalm, or at least, have it read to her throughout ; and it was with some difficulty we persuaded her to be composed in silence ; thus sincerely willing was she, that God might search and try her heart, still hoping well concerning her spiritual state, yet still solicitous about the assurance of her own sincerity, in her former transactions with Heaven.
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