THE SERVANT OF GOD. kindness, courtesy, and moral correctness of conduct, being at the same time regular in her attendance upon public worship. But, alas, her religious character was far from being as admirable as appearances promised. It was no love for her gracious, adorable Redeemer, her divine Friend, Guide, and Sympathiser, that led her to pray and to strive to keep herself un- spotted from the world. At this time, she was a total stranger to " the truth as it is in JESUS ;" and she shared largely in that self-righteous spirit which sullies the example of many who, at that period, professed a regard for religion. Superior in many ways to the generality of the patched and powdered beauties around her, Lady Selina Shirley was but too conscious of the fact ; and looking with much self-complacency on her own character and doings, she did not wish to hear of a Saviour who came " not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Not understanding or appreciating the infinitely pure and simple beauty of the Gospel, she fancied that her own good deeds, her prayers, her fasting, would commend her to the favour of the Most High and Most Holy ; nor did she choose to go, humbly and lovingly, even as a little child, to the foot of the Cross, and there, with penitent tears, acknowledge her own grievous imperfections. Imperious and impatient of contradiction, with a temper warm and sanguine, -" her predilections for some and her pre- judices against others sometimes too hastily adopted," 7
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=