MEMOIR OF MISS E. HUMPHRIES. MISS Emma Humphries, the eldest daughter of Mr. William Humphries, of Frome, Somerset, was born on the third of July, 1802. From her earliest years she discovered signs of mental superiority, and as she advanced in life, they became more conspicuous. Her form was lovely; and her manners were very engaging; but these were only superficial qualities, which sometimes shed a transient lustre over the characters of the most worthless. Her prominent excellencies were of a higher order. She possessed a delicate taste, an acute understanding, and a heart susceptible of the tenderest emotions. Soon after my settlement in Frome, she acquired a powerful ascendency over my feelings, and became one of ry little favourites. In the parlour, the garden, and some of the adjacent walks, amidst the romantic scenery of the country, she has been my amusing companion; and often has the sentiment of the Poet been realized when attending to her enquiries; Delightful task! to rear the tender thought, To teach the young idea how to shoot, To pour the first instruction o'er the mind, The generous purpose in the glowing breast. Estimating her future importance in society, I feit very solicitous to impress on her heart, the elementary principles of pure religion. I endeavoured to exhibit to her view, the evil of sin, and the entire depravity of her nature. These representations usually produced a fixed solemnity in her countenance; but when the love of Jesus, in expiating human guilt and redeeming the forfeited inheritance, has been the theme of conversation, a joy unspeakable has been apparent, and the sparkling eye would betray the lively interest which this truth excited in her breast. Sometimes I knelt with her at the "throne of mercy," and implored the assistance of the Holy Spirit to enlighten her understanding, and renew her heart. On these occasions she was generally much af fected, and would arise from her knees expressing an earnest desire that the subject on which we had been speaking, might be resumed. To these moments I now revert with peculiar emotions of delight, and indulge the hope that my endeared companion, though admitted to a nearer access to God, remembers them, as the earliest seasons of her spiritual enjoyments; as the dawnings of that eternal life, which she now has with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. Her attachment to religious exercises was not occasional and transient, "as the morning cloud and early dew that passeth away," or "as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor; 22 but habitual and permanent. Being placed uuder the care of my sister, who kept a day school for young Ladies, she would frequently come much earlier than the rest of the scholars, that she might join in our family devotions. As she was never requested to adopt such a habit, the circumstance may be regarded as evincing the prevailing bias of her mind. That she did not come "to be seen," may be fairly presumed, because her natural disposition was too open and ingenuous, to admit the influence of such a motive. In the sanctuary, she was regu lar in her attendance, and from the replies which she often made to my questions, it was evident that she was not, like too many, an inattentive hearer. In July 1813, she was removed to Shepton Mallet, and placed under the care of the Misses Weston. Here by her amiable and obliging disposition, she soon won the affection of all; and the progress which she made in her learning, gave great satisfaction to her Parents. Knowing that a change of scene and society often proves injurious to the devotional habits and feelings of the youthful mind, I was apprehensive that her impressions might become less powerful, but on her return home in December, I was happy to find, that she was still anxious to possess a new heart and an interest in the merits of the Redeemer. The continuance of these desires, amidst the temptations to levity and amusements, to which in the company of a large number of associates, she must have been exposed, in any place or situation, I considered as a satisfactory evidence that she was under the influence of good principles. Principles, more powerful and operative than the most enlightened convictions of human reason. Principles which are too often reprobated, by the ignorant and profane, as the characteristic signs of a mean and deluded fanaticism; but which are the only security to virtue and religion, in the time of trial. During the vacations which she spent at home, I frequently repeated my former method of instruction; and as though I had been conscious of her approaching dissolution, I laboured, to the extent of my ability, to strengthen her habits, and to establish her in the faith. Meeting with no resistance, arising either from prejudices, indifference, or aversions, the pleasure I enjoyed was an ample compensation for my exertions, and I anticipated the period, when adorned with "the beauties of holiness," my Pupil would more openly "subscribe with her hand to the God of Jacob." In her the seed of the word met with a favourable soil, and as "the blade had sprung up," it was reasonable to expect "the full corn in the ear." Every circumstance justified it. In her ordinary conversation, and in her epistolary correspondence, there was an habitual reference to a First Cause, a presiding Providence, a day of final retribution, accompanied by those allusions to the Saviour, which decidedly proved the accuracy of her knowledge, both of his character, and the design of his mission. These references were usually made in her own forms of expression; without any servile |