character whose moral and spiritual features I
am attempting to delineate.

It seemed to be the first wish of her heart to prove to others, what God
had already proved to her, that Jesus is "the way, and the truth, and the
life." She desired to evince the reality of her calling, justification,
and adoption into the family of God, by showing a conformity to the image
of Christ, and by walking "religiously in good works:" she trusted that,
in this path of faith and obedience, she should "at length, by God's
mercy, attain to everlasting felicity."

I had the spiritual charge of another parish, adjoining to that in which
I resided. It was a small district, and had but few inhabitants. The
church was pleasantly situated on a rising bank, at the foot of a
considerable hill. It was surrounded by trees, and had a rural, retired
appearance. Close to the church-yard stood a large old mansion, which
had formerly been the residence of an opulent and titled family; but it
had long since been appropriated to the use of the estate as a
farm-house. Its outward aspect bore considerable remains of ancient
grandeur, and gave a pleasing character to the spot of ground on which
the church stood.

In every direction the roads that led to this house of God possessed
distinct but interesting features. One of them ascended between several
rural cottages, from the sea-shore, which adjoined the lower part of the
village street. Another winded round the curved sides of the adjacent
hill, and was adorned, both above and below, with numerous sheep, feeding
on the herbage of the down. A third road led to the church by a gently
rising approach between high banks, covered with young trees, bushes,
ivy, hedge-plants, and wild flowers.

From a point of land which commanded a view of all these several avenues,
I used sometimes for a while to watch my congregation gradually
assembling together at the hour of Sabbath worship. They were in some
directions visible for a considerable distance. Gratifying associations
of thought would form in my mind, as I contemplated their approach, and
successive arrival, within the precincts of the house of prayer.

One day as I was thus occupied, during a short interval previous to the
hour of divine service, I reflected on the joy which David experienced at
the time he exclaimed: "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into
the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O
Jerusalem.