did she deplore the conceit, the bigotry, and the bitterness of sect.  O that her spirit were more prevalent in the churches; that we could labor to abase our crown of pride; to offer up with one consent upon the altar of evangelical charity, those petty jealousies, animosities, and strifes which are our common reproach; and walk together as children of the same Father, brethren of the same Redeemer, and heirs of the same salvation.

“To these admirable traits of character were added great tenderness of conscience and a spirit of prayer.  Her religion, not contented to justify her before men, habitually aimed at pleasing God, who looketh upon the heart.  It was not enough for her to persuade herself that a thing might be right.  Before venturing upon it, she studied to reduce the question of right to a clear certainty.  How cautious and scrupulous and jealous of herself she was in this matter, they best can tell who saw her in the shade of retirement as well as in the sunshine of public observation.  Perhaps it is not going too far to say, that her least guarded moments would, in others, have been marked for circumspection.  At the same time her vigilance had nothing austere, gloomy, constrained, or censorious—­nothing to repress the cheerfulness of social intercourse, or to excite in others, even the thoughtless, a dread of merciless criticism after they should retire.  It was sanctified nature moving gracefully in its own element.  And with respect to the character and feelings of her neighbors, she was too full of Christian kindness not to keep her tongue from evil and her lips from speaking guile.

“These virtues and graces were maintained and invigorated by her habit of prayer.  With the ’new and living way into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,’ she was intimately familiar.  Thither the Spirit of grace and supplication daily conducted her; there taught her to pray, and in praying to believe, and in believing to have ’fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.’  She knew her God as the God that heareth prayer; and could attest that ’blessed is she that believeth, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.’

“Under such influence her course could not but be correct, and her steps well ordered.  The ’secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant, he will guide them in judgment.’  Thus he did with his handmaid whom he hath called home.  Wherever she was, and in whatever circumstances, she remembered the guide of her youth, who, according to His promise, never left her, nor forsook her; but continued His gracious presence with her when she was old and gray-headed.

“You may perhaps imagine, that with such direction and support it was impossible she should see trouble.  Nay, but waters of a full cup were wrung out to her.  She often ate the bread of sorrow steeped in wormwood and gall.  Her heavenly Father showed her great and sore adversities; that he might try her as silver is tried, and bring her forth from the furnace purified seven times.  It was during these refining processes that she found the worth of being a Christian.  Though her way was planted with thorns and watered with her tears, yet the candle of the Lord shone upon her head; and from step to step she had reason to cry, Hitherto hath Jehovah helped.