DISÇ.SI.i THE WATCHFUL CHRISTIAN DYING IN PEACI. 35 herself all the polite diversions of youth agreeable to her rank ; nor did reason, or religion, or her superior rela- tives forbid her ; yet she was still awake to secure all that belongs to 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 friendlydecency she treated ber young companions and acquaintance how far from indulging the modish liber- ties of scandal on the absent howmuch 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, bow much her behaviour won upon the esteem of all that knewher, though Leonid appeal to the general sorrow at her death, to confirm the truth of it? But who can for- bear, on this occasion, to take notice, how far she ac- quired that lovely character; iri her narrow and priv to sphere, which seems almost to have been derived to hr, by inheritance, from her honoured father deceased, who had 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 rnalignant'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 disor- ders 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 hirn ; she hoped shehad done it sincerely, and found accept- ance with him, and trusted that she was not deceived. "The gleams of reason, that broke in between the clouds, gave her light enough tó discern her own evidences of piety, and refresh her hope. 'Then she repeated some of the last verses of the cxxxix.?sÍlzit in metre, vi.;. :"'Lord; search my soul, try every thought: Though mÿ own heart accuse me not, Of walking in a false disguise, I beg the trial of thy eyes.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=