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PARTICULARS

INTENDED TO ILLUSTRATE ALLUSIONS IN THE

DIARY AND CORRESPONDENCE.

Lady M's Love of Retirement-from her Youth and elevated Rank, exposed to Temptation and Danger ―relinquishes her gay Acquaintances—connexion with Lady Glonorchy—they differ in religious Sentiment, but continue united in Affection-account of Lady H. Hope-the Manner in which Lady M— spent her Time-her Love to the Means of Grace -constant Thirst for full Salvation.

By

FROM the date of the last extract, Lady Maxwell's diary commences; and little more will be found necessary for a full developement of her heart and life, than to follow with attention her own copious and unreserved statements. daily self-inspection, by a habit of turning her eye inward, of watching the movements of her affections, of analyzing her feelings, and attending to the bias of her will; she attained to a power of discrimination, in the important science of self-knowledge, very rarely possessed. Hence, it is believed, that the enlightened and discerning

Christian will find in the following record of her experience, clearness, accuracy, and precision. But as her Ladyship has only noticed outward occurrences, so far as they had an influence on her mind and heart, allusions to different circumstances will be frequently met with, on which a few explanations will be deemed desirable. The following particulars may be here premised, calculated to throw light on different parts of the diary and correspondence.

'From the time Lady Maxwell became a widow, she resided in Edinburgh, or its vicinity; from which, however, as will be seen, she made occasional excursions to the south. But ever after her conversion to God, retirement from the busy scenes of the world was most congenial to her habits and pursuits. In the northern metropolis, she had her daily walks of benevolence, seeking to relieve misery in all its varied forms: in name and character she was well known to an enlarged circle of religious friends; yet, as a person figuring on the stage of the world, or as exercising authority in the church, she was not known. Her influence became great, and her usefulness extensive; but it was silent, gentle, and unobtrusive as the fall of the evening dew. Confined by choice to her native country, from which she seldom moved, but when business called, or health demanded, and then but for a short time; she lived in retired privacy, secluded from the gay and busy world. Being easy in her temporal circumstances, select and 'happy in her

acquaintances, her path through life was generally even, and her sky serene; presenting few if any of those varieties which are to be found in the lives of the principal actors on the stage of this world; nor of those whose path is chequered with every variety of light and shade, their horizon having experienced every vicissitude be tween the cloudless noon of prosperity, and the starless midnight of adversity. Her life had a sameness, the sameness of matured, established piety, a blessed monotony of being, and getting, and doing good.' This will in some degree account for a paucity of incident in the following Diary, which, in the estimation of some persons, might otherwise have been invested with an additional interest; but which need not be greatly regretted by those, whose principal view in reading, is, the improvement of the heart.

Lady Maxwell was frequently the subject of severe conflicts; the grand adversary diversifying his mode of attack according to her age, experience, and circumstances. When she first entered the field of her spiritual warfare, she was comparatively but a stripling; and from her elevated rank must have been exposed to imminent danger. If religion be at all times amiable and attractive, it is peculiarly so in the youthful disciple. It is here that it obtains its noblest conquests. When, through its sanctifying influence, we see the ardour and impetuosity of youthful passions kept within proper limits, and directed to noble pursuits; the vain blandishments of

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the world despised, that the consolations which flow from the cross may be secured ;-when we see the rich and honourable in early life, "choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season," we have indeed a convincing proof of the efficacy of grace, and are constrained to acknowledge, that, the gospel is "the power of God unto salvation." It was in the spring time of her days that Lady Maxwell gave her heart wholly to God. Being then in the bloom of youth, favoured with a person cast in nature's finest mould, possessed of a mind superior both in its kind and culture, each capable of raising admiration and commanding esteem; it is not to be wondered at, that she had to grapple with temptations from the world, or that, in prosecuting her determination to follow Christ, she was daily called to deny herself, and to take up her cross. The above qualities of body and mind procured her also various solicitations again to enter into the marriage state; by which she might have formed an alliance with the first families in the empire, and considerably elevated her rank: but whether from obedience to the apostolic injunction; "be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers," or on account of other reasons which cannot now be known, she never, except with regard to one offer, and that for a short season, entertained a thought of the kind. As her time and her talents, so were her person and affections offered a willing sacrifice

to God: nor can there be a doubt, that she ever indulged a temptation to revoke the surrender thus willingly made. In the contemplation of the Divine perfections as displayed in creation, providence, and redemption; in the possession of her God, and in recommending to others the Redeemer of men, she found all that was necessary to give suitable employment to the energies of her mind, and to gratify the pure, and elevated, and enlarged desires of her heart.

'But if religion opens a source of pleasure, at once pure and varied, rich and inexhaustible,adapted to human society, in all its varieties, and to human life amidst all its vicissitudes, so it likewise presents its difficulties. It has not indeed yet been proved that these are more numerous, or more formidable, than those which are met in any other pursuit, whether of know ledge, fame, wealth, or pleasure; and generally speaking, the Christian's difficulties gradually diminish as he proceeds on his way. As passion is overcome and controlled by grace,-the affections deadened to earthly good ;-as the will becomes accustomed placidly to submit to, and cheerfully to enter into the will of God, and the mind formed to virtuous habits ;-as the rugged asperities of nature are filed off, by the power of the Spirit, and smoothed to patience, long-suffering, gentleness, and contentment,-difficulties are found to be duties, and duties are relished with delight;-crosses form crowns, and tem