Christ appeared the chief among with him upon religious topics! ten thousands and altogether I went in the fear and strength lovely. The plan of redemption of the Lord, and found the affecappeared glorious indeed,-wor- tion and tenderness of the dearthy the triune God. I had newest of friends, who was appaviews with regard to the holy rently desirous of my temporal bible. It came home fraught and eternal happiness. No adwith internal evidence of its di- dition had been made to the vinity and energetic power upon church for a considerable time. the heart. I no longer needed Other good men appeared much the aid of philosophy or the affected with the narrative which powers of eloquence to recom- I gave of my experiences, and mend it; for I had received "the replied, "Clarinda, religion is a white star, and in the star a new glorious reality, how much soname written, which no man ever its professors may abuse it. knoweth saving he that receiv- If you are admitted into the eth it." church you must expect to commune with a set of imperfect creatures. We wish you may

excel in the Christian race. You must expect to be watched, and it is now of double importance how you behave yourself, before your former companions. Have you counted the cost of making a public profession?" To which I replied, I desire to take the profession upon me, and think I am willing to suffer whatever may come in consequence. But I have renounced all confidence in myself; and unless the Lord

"I was left to reflect with shame upon my past conduct, in treating religion, the one thing needful, with such neglect. I was much affected with this and similar texts of scripture:"Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." I was convinced that I had long loved the praise of men more than the praise of God; but now after having rc-work in me both to will and to peatedly and with the utmost seriousness and sincerity of my soul, dedicated myself to God, I resolved, through assisting grace and with the consent of the church, to make a public profession of religion. I esteemed it not only a duty, but a pleasure far surpassing any thing I had ever experienced in the circles of the gay. As conferences were attended weekly at the meetinghouse, I went one day with a res-that I had never found it so." olution to converse with my spiritual guide before I returned. And how welcome was an invitation from him to any one who had an inclination to converse

do, I shall most surely wound the holy cause. It is by the grace of God, I am what I am. I think I know in whom I have believed, and that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day. On being told that I must make one sacrifice, viz. that of attending balls; I replied, that I judged from my present feelings it would be no sacrifice at all, and

Soon after this, she united with the church of Christ in Bethlem; and her subsequent con, versation and daily walk evinced the sincerity of the profession

she had made. The wonders of the beauty and excellence of that redeeming love, and the glories "charity which seeketh not her of sovereign grace furnished the own.' The poor, especially subject of her most delightful those of Christ's flock, can testicontemplations, and a subject fy to the Christian liberality upon which she conversed with with which she was actuated. warm and rapturous emotions. She was employed in teaching Whilst she was teaching a school school for several successive in her native town, the season in seasons, after she professed reliwhich she obtained a hope, she gion, and took unwearied pains boarded a while in a family where to instil just principles into the the sweets of religion had never tender minds of her pupils. She been experienced; where even made it a constant practice for the form of godliness was dis- several seasons to pray with carded, and where the head of them daily, and to teach them the family not only appeared a the importance of remembering stranger to vital piety, but even their Creator in early life. Deepwarmly opposed to its essence. ly impressed with a sense of the But her conversation and heav-worth of time, she endeavored enly demeanor soon had a pow-to spend it in such a manner as erful effect upon him. They to be enabled to give up her fiwere the means which provi-nal account with joy. She was dence employed to open his distinguished for the strictest eyes. He became a subject of economy, and a considerable part deep conviction, and after long of what she procured by schooland painful struggling, he was keeping and other means, was hopefully brought out of dark-cheerfully devoted to charitable ness into God's marvellous light. He set up family prayer, and soon after united with the church. It is believed that God used her as an instrument of effecting a lasting change in several others. She was ex-ber, that in the 12th No. of the tremely fond of attending religious meetings. She was rarely absent from public worship on the Lord's day, or from conferences when it was possible to attend. Much of her time was spent in a careful and prayerful perusal of the inspired writings, and of the books from which divine knowledge was attainable. She often spake of the importance and efficacy of prayer, and it was judged from certain circumstanses that she was often employed in that delightful duty, pouring out her soul to him who seeth in secret. She exhibited

uses. The interests of the Redeemer's kingdom lay near her heart. For one in her circumstances she contributed liberally for the promotion of the gospel. The readers of this will remem

3d Vol. of the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, a letter was addressed to the Trustees of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, by a Female Friend of Missions. Mrs. Prentice was the author of that letter.

.She exhibited the practical power of godliness in an uncommon degree for several years. Believing that it was better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting, she frequented houses of sorrow, administered consolation to the sick and dying, and tenderly sympathized with those who

mourned. An attendance upon | pidly hastening to the period of

the ordinances of the gospel, particularly that of the sacramental supper, was a source of unspeakable joy to her soul. She observed stated times of fasting and prayer. The afternoon and evening before the Sab-cest mercies that I am so much bath, were generally set apart by resigned to my present situaher to prepare her for the solem- tion. If the light and fatherly nities of that holy day. She gen- chastisement which I have been erally abstained from food that made to endure be a mean of subevening, and often remarked to duing the corruptions of an obthose with whom she was inti- durate and idolatrous heart, I mate, that the most soul-satisfy- must count this one of the most ing joys were fruits of such precious seasons of my life.” fasting, &c.

dissolution. She then wrote to a friend as follows: "I presume there is not a creature that inhabits this earth, who has greater cause of gratitude than myself. I count it among my choi

Lan

In a season when in tolerable Her faith was several times health, she wrote thus: "I have tried, a number of years before but just returned from a conferher last illness. She was afflict-ence. I am too happy. ed with bodily indisposition, and guage must be more copious beapparently brought near the clos-fore I can express my gratitude. ing scene. But her confidence My M-attended the conference. in the faithfulness of God was She has been softening for some unshaken. "Her soul being fill-time past; and she was this eveed with virtue's light, shone ning dissolved in tears. What brightest in affliction's night." the event will be God only knows. During a painful illness toward Not three months since she opthe close of the year 1799, she posed with warmth. But the wrote to a friend thus, " My dis-grace of God is sufficient for the order increases, so that in all chief of sinners; yes, for those probability I shall not be permit- of the first magnitude, or I ted to taste the memorials of the should never have obtained merdying love of Jesus the next cy." On another occasion, she Sabbath. Since I saw you I think expressed herself in writing thus, I have conversed familiarly with" My friend, I invite you to rea death-bed. I am willing to joice with me. I have for some make my final exit. I have en-time been severely chastened, tombed the fear of death, the but trust I can say with sindread of every thing but the cerity, 'I count it all joy that I frown of God. I think there is have fallen into divers temptanothing which binds me to earth, tions.' Surely this is a morning but when I say thus, don't ima- to be remembered; for I humgine it arises from discontent: bly hope I have been with Jesus. no, not a moment but what Last evening I attended a concomes fraught with a rich bles- ference. O my friend, I can sing. If I have any thing of never be grateful enough for the which to complain, 'tis an un- affections with which I was then grateful heart." In the summer inspired. Unworthy wretch! of 1801, she was thought to be in can I ever forget the loving-kinda consumptive state, and to be ra- ness of the Lord, and again be

hard and unfeeling? Yes, un-needful," she would often observe," How painful to spend one's precious time in conversing upon the trifles of this world; how distressing to see dying creatures trifling upon the brink of the grave !" She was very solicitous that saving and

less Jesus guard me continually. Here is my only hope. They alone who have felt the power of religion, can understand when we talk of the rapturous emotions excited by a realizing view of a bleeding, dying Saviour; and shall I enquire why bestow-lasting benefits might accrue to ed upon unworthy me? The an- the people of Canaan, from their swer is plain, For the foulest of enjoyment of the instituted the foul he died.' The Most means of grace. Her prayers High is a sovereign and doth what to God for them were that they he will with his own. Were I might be saved, that pure relinever to experience sweet com- gion might flourish among munion till I had merited it by them. holy living, I should look for it in vain."

For a considerable time before her last illness, it was strongly impressed upon her mind, that she should not survive the painful scence before her. She

When called in Providence to contemplate an important change of circumstances, by entering the marriage state, she was deep-made arrangements accordingly, ly impressed with a sense of the greatness of the undertaking; of the trials incident to that endearing connection, and of the difficulty of filling that station with becoming dignity, which demanded uncommon prudence, distinguished piety, and many other qualifications, natural and acquired. After her marriage and removal to Canaan, she was very assiduous to discharge with Christian fidelity, the interesting duties which devolved upon her. And she soon obtained the friendship and esteem of her neighbors and acquaintance to a high degree. Serious people particularly, found in her an agreeable and instructive companion. Her conversation was ever upon religion, when circumstances dictated the propriety of introducing it. And when she had been necessitated to spend considerable time among those who were 66 careful and troubled about many things," and who disregarded "the one thing

and endeavored to be in readiness for the coming of the Son of man. From various incidents which took place about this time, and particularly from her conversation upon religion, death, and the solemnities of eternity, it appeared that she expected soon to share the joys of a blessed immortality. On the first Sabbath of March, she attended public worship, and commemorated the dying love of Jesus. It was a blessed season to her soul; and she expected it was the last of the kind which she should enjoy. A little before her last sickness, and in the view of its approach, she with her husband spent a season of fasting and prayer, after which she anticipated her approaching scene of distress with uninterrupted composure. When the hour of her distress arrived she appeared perfectly calm. God was evidently her refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. In the evening, to a

She however manifested

female friend who was about to |pired. retire she said, "In the wakeful entire resignation to the will of hours of night, when you call heaven, and not a murmuring your God to mind remember word escaped her lips. In famime." After having endured un-ly devotion she was much anicommonly long and severe mated, and by her request the pangs, she was at length deliver- scriptures were often read to her. ed of an apparently promising Divine truth was sweeter to her son. After her delivery, she wept taste, than honey or the honey for joy, and being desired by one comb. Contemplations upon present, not to indulge her feel- the glorious scheme of redempings so, she replied," I can't help tion, filled her soul with unit, I am so rejoiced." After her speakable joy. As she drew infant was dressed, and presented nearer the closing scene, her to her, by her husband, she ex-joys become more and more tripressed her feelings in the words umphant. The clouds which of Hannah, relative to Samuel, had partially obscured her pros"I desire to give him unto the pects for short seasons, entirely Lord, all the days of his life." vanished, and in some degree In the evening after, when feed-like Stephen, she had an uning the child, it strangled. All clouded view of the glories of present, (excepting its mother) that world to which she was were much alarmed under an hastening. This scene of uninapprehension that it would nev-terrupted joy commenced the er breathe again. On being week before her death. Early asked why she appeared so calm one morning, in that week, she whilst others were alarmed, she sent to her husband who was replied, "I felt composed on sleeping in another room, desirthis ground, knowing that if God ing him to rise and pray with saw fit to take it then, it was the and for her. best time, and I cheerfully resigned it into his hands." When the child was about twelve days old, it was judged expedient to put it out to a nurse, Mrs. Prentice being unable to keep and support it with proper nourish-covered their deception 'till it

ment.

On his entering the room, she observed to him in words to this import. "I feel that I have but a short time to continue in this world. Some have doubtless been deceived, and have not dis

was for ever too late. The tho't During a considerable part of of leaving the world, secure in her fatal illness, she was exercis- a false hope, is insupportably ed with acute bodily pain, which dreadful. It is possible I may she endured with that Christian be deceived through the prevafortitude and resignation to di-lence of indwelling corruption, vine disposals, which nothing but the presence of Jesus could afford. In the former part of her sickness she observed, that although her evidences of a union to Christ were clear, yet she did not experience that joy and consolation, after which she as

and the influence of a wicked and deceitful heart. I wish you therefore to pray for me, particularly, that a holy God, may search my heart and try my reins, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."