Mrs. Graham was very partial to the works of Dr. John Owen, Rev. William Romaine, and Rev. John Newton, and read them with pleasure and profit.  One day she remarked to Mr. B——­, that she preferred the ancient writers on theology to the modern, because they dealt more in italics.  “Dear mother,” he replied, “what religion can there be in italics?” “You know,” said she, “that old writers expected credit for the doctrines they taught, by proving them from the word of God to be correct:  they inserted the scripture passages in italics, and their works have been sometimes one-half in italics.  Modern writers on theology, on the contrary, give us a long train of reasoning to persuade us to their opinions, but very little in italics.”  This remark of hers has great force, and deserves the serious attention of those who write and those who read on theological subjects.

On the two Sabbaths preceding her last illness she joined in communion at the Lord’s table.  On the 10th of July, 1814, at Greenwich, and on the 17th at her own church in Cedar-street.  On each week preceding these seasons she attended three evenings on religious exercises; on Thursdays at the Orphan Asylum, on Friday evenings the preparation sermons, and on Saturday evenings at the prayer-meetings.  She appeared lively, and expressed comfort in those religious seasons, and continued actively useful until the very day on which her illness commenced.

On the morning of the 17th she attended the Sabbath-school with her daughter and grandchildren.  Thus the Lord was pleased to direct that she should lead her children’s children into the walks of usefulness before she took her flight to heaven, and impose a pleasing obligation on them that they should follow her steps.  Of the same date is the last meditation in her diary.

“COMMUNION SABBATH, July 17, 1814.

“’Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls,’ 1 Peter, 1:8, 9.

“I had requested to be brought to my Lord’s banqueting-house, and to be feasted with love this day.  I ate the bread and drank the wine, in the faith that I ate the flesh and drank the blood of the Son of man, and dwelt in him and he in me.  Took a close view of my familiar friend Death, accompanied with the presence of my Saviour, his sensible presence.  I cannot look at it without this; it is my only petition concerning it.  I have had desires relative to certain circumstances, but they are nearly gone.  It is my sincere desire that God may be glorified, and he knows best how and by what circumstances.  I retain my one petition,

“Only to me thy countenance show,
I ask no more the Jordan through.”

Thus she arose from her Master’s table, was called to gird on her armor for a combat with the king of terrors, and came off more than conqueror, through Him who loved her.