prayers. On Friday evening a number of heads of families used to meet at her house for prayer and religious conversation; so that every week some hundreds of persons met at her house for religious purposes. This gave constant employ to Mrs. Osborn, and called up her attention, and strong and constant exercises of mind, while she at the same time presided in a large school of children. Some of her exercises respecting her house being thus crowded with people for religious purposes, were as follows, taken from her diary:

"Tuesday morning, January 27, 1767.-О my Lord and my God, appear for my help now, as thou hast appeared for my help heretofore. Fain would I raise a tribute of humble praise and thanksgiving for thy condescenfion and grace to me in the year past; for the Lord himself has vouchsafed to be my protection from errors and confufions, amidst the throng he has gathered round me. To thee be all the glory forever. In July last the number had amounted to three hundred fouls. And now the Lord has increased it to five hundred and twenty five, who have statedly resorted here. And yet no evil has followed, though my fears have often been alarmed, with respect to Lord's day evenings; yet all is quiet, and every company more ferioufly composed and fettled in steadily pursuing after knowledge. Blessed be God, who indulges me with frequent tidings of Blacks and little ones being more concerned, and getting alone to pray. O that the Lord, in his infinite wisdom, will carry on his own glorious work, in his own gradual way which he has chofen; and confound all the wisdom of the wife. We have been lotting upon great and extraordinary impreffions upon fouls here, and by great and extraordinary means; but God will take his own way, and use what clay and spittle he pleases to open blind eyes, and cause the walls to fall, by what rams' horns he pleases. Amen. Let the most despicable worm upon earth be employed for God, that the glory may evidently be his own."

"Tuesday, June 2, 1767. - Blessed be God, who gave me opportunity to converse with forty two young girls last evening. The Lord seal what was faid and read for instruction; and hear my poor cries for converting grace. 0 have mercy on these fouls! Lord, fecure them for thine own: O take the prey from the mighty. Snatch them as brands out of the burning, I pray thee. Thanks be to God for the folemnity, assistance and refreshments of the last evening. O help me still to hope in thy mercy, under all discouragements, thou faithful, merciful God."

From the year 1770, to the time of the British taking poffeffion of Newport, the church, both male and female, used to hold their monthly meetings at her house; as this was peculiarly agreeable to her, and she lived in a convenient room. And there was a weekly meeting at her house of a number of profeffors for prayer; which continued most of the time during the war. Thus her house was indeed, and in an eminent sense, A house of prayer.

PART

PART III.

EXTRACTS from her DIARY.

Thursday, June 21, 1744. YESTERDAY very much overcome in God's house, at the folemn ordination of the Rev. Mr. Helyer. My heart was then filled with joy and praises; and God excited and enabled me to breathe out my soul in vehement cries to him for all needful grace, for his servant, and for his church. Rejoiced much to think I was once more to enjoy the glorious feast, instituted by my dear Redeemer. I longed to render a tribute of praise, and even to be swallowed up with praifes all my life long, because God had fo graciously given me the defire of my heart. But, alas! how short lived are my praises. All this day, with bodily indisposition and my own declining heart, I have been as water heated, returning to my former coldness again. O! it makes eternity glorious, that praises shall never cease.

Sabbath day, June 24.- This morning, through the goodness of God, to the satisfaction and comfort of my foul, I was engaged in the work of felf examination, to see how the cafe ftood between God and my foul, and found cause to bless him, that, by his grace, " I am what I am." Some time after that I was again

overcome with a sense of the amazing goodness of God to me, in giving me such a dear Pastor, and attempted to adore and praise him with all my powers engaged. This was a sweet seafon, for my heart was warmed. I went to the house of God, but was too cool there. In the intermission season I trust I was ferious, but not lively. But this afternoon, blessed be God, I was filled with joy, grief, love, prayer and praises, God's word being powerfully set home. I was enlarged, in pleading for grace and strength to be bestowed on my dear young Paftor; that, though of himself he is insufficient for his great and difficult work; yet, his sufficiency being of God, he might be made fuccefsful.

Sabbath noon, July 15.-Bless the Lord, O my foul, and forget not all his benefits. I have been to the table of the Lord, and he brought me into his banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. I sat under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. My foul said, It is good for me to be here. I was enabled, with all my powers engaged, to renew my dedication of myself to God, and rejoice in my choice of him. I was, in a measure, brought to behold his glory in the perfections of his nature. I was enabled to wrestle with him for victory over my fins, and to be made more holy. These seemed to be my chief errands; and as I was pleading that promise, "They that have clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger," this promise seemed to be whispered, I will strengthen thee,

H

I will

I will uphold thee by the right hand of my righteousness; and sin shall not have dominion over thee.*

In time of partaking of the element of bread, my heart seemed to be most broken for fin : When feeding upon his broken body, I was filled with astonishment, and made to cry out, " Lord, why me! Why hast thou given thyself for me!" His blood was sweet to me, as it was shed for the remission of sins. At last I broke out in a rapture, " I found the pearl of greatest price, my heart doth fing for joy." I longed to get still nearer, while I seemed to be resting and leaning on my beloved. Surely I did find him whom my foul loveth. O astonishing, allconquering grace! O happy earnest of more near and intimate communion! O what a feaft is this! O blessed Savior, for appointing fuch an ordinance! O my soul, bless God, for bringing