God there was likely to be no child to expofe my dishonour. I began to read the Bible and other good books; made confcience of prayer evening and morning, and oftener when I had opportunity. I was impreffed with very ftrong convictions of my natural depravity, of my original fin, and my averfion to God; my utter incapacity to contribute towards my relief, and the abfolute neceffity of regeneration, and faith in Chrift, in order to falvation. Thefe convictions I endeavoured to cherish as much as I could; and I daily plied the throne of grace for the Lord's bestowing mercy on fo abominable a finner. I diligently attended the difpenfation of gospel ordinances, and received no little benefit by Mr's very evangelical miniftry. At length the Lord inclined his ear to my cry, brought me out of the fearful pit and miry clay of a natural ftate, and proclaimed peace and pardon to my foul. Since that time I have, through grace, been endeavouring to keep a confcience void of offence both towards God and man, living mindful of the one thing needful. I gradually recovered from my melancholy, and refumed my natural cheerfulness, as not thinking a little innocent cheerfulness inconfiftent with the fear of God, though I am now convinced I have exceeded therein. I have never fince been directly tempted to lewdnefs; but have had indirect attacks made upon me, which I refifted by flight. Several propofals of marriage have been made to me; all of which I rejected, through an averfion I had conceived to men, occafioned by my shamefull fall. I could never bring myself to marry a man, who was expecting to get a virgin, when I knew I was defiled. I now lay my account with death, which will fer me beyond the reach of all fnares and temptations, all fins and forrows."

"I asked her, if he had ever heard from her bafe lover. She anfwered, fhe was informed he was still living in London, unmarried, and led a religious life; but that he had never wrote her. Jenny, after this, grew daily worse, and had a very edifying and inftructive converfation. Ifpent as much time as I could fpare with her, and was not a little delighted with her truly Christian speeches, as fhe is a fenfible and intelligent young woman. At length fhe turned very low, was incapable of fpeech, and it could only be perceived that fhe breathed. She fell into a profufe fweat and long fleep, from which fhe awaked greatly refreshed. From that time fhe recovered daily; ftill praising the Lord for the exceeding riches of his grace, with fubmiffion to the Lord to fpare her, or remove her at his fovereign pleafure.

"One day, when the was fo well recovered as to be able to fit up by day, and walk through the room, and was propofing in a few days to return to her fervice; a genteel young man, neatly dreffed, called for her, and being introduced, while I was there, told her, that he had only come to town from London the day before, was very forry to hear the had been ill, congratulated her on her begun recovery, and affectionately afked her how fhe was. Jenny then faid to me, "This is the young man, of whofe fhameful and finful commerce with me I told you formerly." Then turning to him, fhe faid, "I have been fick nigh unto death; but the Lord hath been gracioufly pleafed to grant me a refpite. I can hardly look at you without blufhing, and deep remorfe for my fhameful and eafy compliance with your vile propofal. But as I hope the Lord hath mercifully pardoned that and all my other fins, I from my heart forgive the wrong you did me, and your bafely leaving me upon it; and I pray, that God

may

may forgive you, and bring you to a due fenfe of your fin, so as you may fly to the atoning blood of Jefus for pardon and cleanfing." He replied, "Dear Jenny, I was and still am forry for what happened. When I came to you that night, I had no bad intention, as I knew not a woman before, nor have done fince; but that night you looked fo charmingly pretty and beautiful, that I was in a moment fired with love to you; and the fury of my paffion impelled me to ufe you indecently; and your faint refiftance, together with my violent paffion, hurried me on to the commiffion of a guilt, which has been matter of great grief to me ever fince." She then explained the cause of her easy and shameful compliance, as fhe had formerly told me. Upon which he informed her of his uneafinefs and repentance; expreffed his hope that the Lord had pardoned his great fin and guilt in that vile affair; and then added, "Dear Jenny, you know that that night before my departure, I promised to marry you. As I am now returned to this place, I am ready to fulfil my engagements to you, and hope you will make me happy by fignifying your confent. I will fettle here; and as I have fome money, and good friends, I hope we fhall live comfortably together." She told him, that she had rejected feveral proposals of marriage, fome of them very advantageous; and that the would confider his offer, defiring him to call at her next day, at the same hour. After his départure, she asked my opinion. I told her, I thought the fhould accept the offer, and give him all decent encouragement. She earnestly defired that I would be prefent at their next inter

view.

"

"The young man called accordingly next day, when I was with Jenny; and addreffed her thus.

"I

"I hope, my dear Jenny, you have confidered the propofal I made you yesterday. I fincerely regret. the injury I did you; and your unexpected eafy compliance gives me not a bad idea of your virtue, as you have explained the caufe. I own I love you fincerely, and your concern about ferious religion increafes my regard to you. If you will be pleased to confent to my proposals, and fo rénder me happy, I will order the banns to be proclaimed next Sunday. I hope, my dear, you will not oppofe a project I have very much at heart, both for doing juftice to an injured girl, and gratifying my own inclination; and I hope this young woman, whom I take to be your confident, will not be an adverfary to me, in an affair upon which my future happiness depends." To this I very haftily replied, "Not, I, Sir. I appeal to Jenny, if, when she asked my opinion, I was not an advocate for you, and advised her to encourage your addreffes." He answered,

"Good young woman, I am obliged to you. Then, my dear Jenny, my deftiny depends upon you. Be merciful, and pass a favourable verdict." To all this, the fenfible girl replied, My dear John, you know I had a regard for you from the first day of our acquaintance; and had you not robbed me of my honour in an evil and unguarded hour, and thereupon abandoned me, we might. have been happy in one another long ago: but as we were then young and thoughtless, I adore the gracious providence of God, which hath brought good out of our evil, by awakening us both to a serious concern about our most important interests; and I hope, as we loved one another when in an unregenerate and carnal state, our love will be more lafting and permanent, when we confider ourselves as heirs together of the grace of life, and candidates for life and immortality.

mortality. I therefore, dear Jack, accept the propofal of being your wife; expecting you will never upbraid me with my former folly, but treat me tenderly and lovingly as an affectionate hufband, and as your beloved partner for life." Jack replied, "My amiable Jenny, I am in raptures on account of your admirable anfwer, and will think every day a year till I poffefs all my Jenny's charms. Will you therefore, my charming dear, confent, that the banns be proclaimed next Sunday [it was then Thurfday], in order to our being married on Monday?" No," answered Jenny;" as my health is not yet confirmed, as I am ftill in a weak condition, and have many things to provide, I would rather chufe to have our marriage deferred for a few weeks. At any rate, as you and I profefs to be Prefbyterians, as we fhould as fuch walk orderly, and as I hope we both heartily approve the laudable rules of the church to which we belong, I infift that our intended marriage be proclaimed for three fucceffive Lord's days." "Well," anfwered Jack, "though I can brook no delay, yet I confent to the three days, but will not wait one day longer for the completion of my happiness." He then rofe up, and most affectionately faluted her as his dear mistress, and beloved future wife. Upon this Jenny gave up her fervice, and grew ftronger every day. Jack vifited her frequently, fometimes when I was with her; and I was greatly pleased with their loving and inftructive conversation. Jenny prevailed on me to be her principal bridemaid. The Tuesday after the last proclamation of banns, this lovely couple, much about the

* Upon this Mally remarks, "I could not but ad-› mire the good fenfe and piety of Jenny, in this fine fpeech."

fame