Musing on the loss of her children, three of whom had died in infancy, she writes:—­

  Blest mother! thus to yield to God
    The gifts so lately given;
  Blest babes I for you have cross’d the flood,
    And safely ’scaped to heaven.

I have been very much harassed with temptation of an awful kind,—­to blaspheme the blessed Spirit.  My God, preserve me.  I shudder at the thought, and have necessarily been driven to God in prayer.—­I have to praise God for temptation; for seeking refuge in Jesus, my only defence against my enemy, I have a firmer confidence in Him as my Saviour.

  Whither, O whither, should I go? 
    To Thy blest wounds I flee;
  No refuge can I find below,
    My help is all in Thee.

“The illumination! a crowded city! many devices!  The face of the people seems to speak peace, but Thou, Lord, seest the heart.  Set my heart right.—­As the clock struck three I was awoke with the words; ‘Put on the helmet of salvation and the weapon of all prayer.’  For a time fear crept over me, lest my husband and child, both from home, should return ill; but as I meditated, the passage occurred; ’All things work together for good to them that love God.’  I was instantly delivered; and all I could titter was, Glory be to God.  As I lay praising and praying, these lines arose in my mind.

  If time is so precious, and death on the wing,
  Oh! shelter me, Jesus, secure from his sting;
  Now open the fountain, and wash out my stain,
  That to live may be Christ, and to die may be gain. 
  This, this is the honour to which I aspire,
  The grace to attain it is all I desire;
  Oh! fill me with heaven, through faith in Thy blood,
  Then crown me with glory, and lift me to God.

I have had a precious morning—­arose a little before five, and spent an hour alone.  God was with me.  Glory!  Glory!”

“How time hurries on!  Another year has almost stolen away.  Where am I?  What am I?  Thus much of time is gone; how much fitter am I for heaven?  I pause,—­am alone,—­but ‘Thou God seest me.’  On my knees, I ask Thy mercy, and implore Thee to be mine for ever.  Precious Jesus!  I feel Thee willing to save me, and a sweet confidence Thou wilt save me.  O! the sweetness of union with God!—­My mind is troubled about the future.  Sensible of my own weakness, my children’s welfare awakens my concern.  O my God, take charge of my little ones.  While attempting to instruct them to-day, my two little girls seemed affected.  O let this be the beginning of Thy fear in their hearts, that shall never, never, depart.”