rod, the chastisement is just-the discipline is needed. -Thou art righteous, I am vile; I kiss the rod; I welcome the stroke; I hear the voice-it is the voice of my God, the voice of my Father." the rod, "Hear ye I have already remarked, that it would seem impossible to fix the precise period when, or to point to the exact instrumentality by which, divine grace first took possession of her young heart. But as early as four years of age the "tender grape began to appear, and the pomegranate to bud," in the soul of this intelligent and engaging child. Her reading, of which she was remarkably fond, was wholly comfined to works of a religious character; and although the library of a barrack-especially at this period, when religious publications were not so numerous, or so cheaply and generally circulated as now-would be enriched with but few works of this description, she yet contrived to possess herself of several valuable ones, and among others, a volume containing the "Narratives of Pious Children." The reading of this book deeply impressed her mind. One day her mamma found her weeping. On inquiring the cause, Elizabeth replied, "I have just been reading the life of little Harriet, and she has made me ashamed of myself; she used to go to the kitchen to teach the servants to read the Bible, but I never do any good to any one." That the Spirit of God, the Convincer of + Song of Sol. vii. 12. * Mich. vi. 9. sin, was in this instance moving upon her young heart, giving her to know something of its hidden plague, and dissolving it in godly penitence, who can doubt? It was remarkable how all her thoughts and acquisitions at this early and almost infantine period, were associated with eternity. Thus, for instance, one day she remarked, in her sweet simplicity of manner, Mamma, I have been thinking what a fortunate thing it is that I have been taught music, for when I die and go to heaven, how awkward I should appear among the angels if I had not known how to touch an instrument!" Ah! yes, she had indeed been taught by the Holy Spirit to sweep the golden harp long ere she joined the heavenly minstrelsy, and in "Sweeter strains than angels use," she had learned to sing of redeeming grace, and of dying love. But her advance in life was the measure of her growth in grace. Her love for the Scriptures, and her tender yearning for the salvation of souls, now developed themselves as strong features of her Christianity. To witness a young girl, unblest with the preaching of the gospel, unacquainted with a single serious person to instruct and encourage her in the way of holiness, with no parental precept or example "alluring to brighter worlds," surrounded by officers, gay and thoughtless, and yet from day to day bending, often with tears, over the pages of the New Testament, and saying, as she once did, "I can never read of our blessed Saviour's sufferings, mamma, but my heart is almost rent," is a moral spectacle to a spiritual eye, of no ordinary interest and sublimity. At this time it was her constant habit and delight, with all humility of mind and most affectionate address, to direct her mother's attention to the beauty of the Scriptures, and the preciousness of the Saviour. One day she was heard to exclaim, with a voice of much earnestness, "Mamma! mamma!" On hastening to her, her mamma found her with her Bible upon her lap, and intently bending over its sacred page. "Oh, listen," she said, "to these sweet and blessed words of our precious Saviour, 'Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.'"* And when she read the sixth verse, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me," she exclaimed, "Oh, what would I not give to know some pious minister or serious person who could explain all these things to me!" But the Holy Spirit of truth was her teacher, and guided by Him, her * John xiv. 1-3. heart, thirsting for the word of God, was led into all truth needful for her present salvation and her eternal glory.* The holy shrinking of her conscience from sin, and the faithful yet gentle manner with which she was wont to reprove it in others, were remarkable features of her early piety. There was an old lady in the regiment, the paymaster's wife, in whom Elizabeth had felt a particular interest. One morning she called to ask if Elizabeth might be allowed to accompany her in the evening to the theatre. Horrified at the very proposal, Elizabeth seized the opportunity of pointing out to her aged friend the great sin of visiting such places of amusement, at the same time, with great earnestness and solemnity, enlarging upon the nearness of death, and the certainty of a judgment to come. The old lady laughed at the fervent expostulations of the holy child, and retired, saying, that "she feared Elizabeth Tatton had been among the Methodists!" When she was gone, the sweet girl turned to her mamma, and said, "Oh, how grieved I am to see that dear old woman ridicule everything that is serious! And yet, young as I am, an officer's daughter, and an only child, so that if any person were happy in this life, I ought to be that person, there is not a pleasure in this world. I would regret to leave this night, if it were God's will, except your darling self.-(Kissing her mamma.)-St *John xvi. 13. Paul's was a wise choice, 'having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ."" Another instance may be given of the pain which sin occasioned her. It conveys a severe though tender rebuke to those who are accustomed to indulge in unholy levity in reference to divine and spiritual things. Calling with her mamma to pay a visit, on their return, she said, with great solemnity, "Mamma, were you not shocked and grieved at Major 's blasphemous expression? When speaking of those three persons, did you observe he called them the Trinity, instead of the trio?" And yet, alas! how prevalent a sin, even with some professing Christians is this. The ordinary use which is sometimes made of sacred words, the light and flippant manner in which phrases are employed, which, if not inspired, yet, from their association with divine and holy things, have become almost so in our feelings of reverence and attachment; but more than all, the carnal use which is frequently made of the words of Inspiration itself, the interlarding of light conversation with Scripture phraseology, and what are intended to be witticisms at the expense of God's holy Word, are sins of greater prevalence and magnitude than, perhaps, many who are beguiled into their commission are aware. We can scarcely conceive of anything more grieving to the Holy Spirit of God than the manner in which some people deal with His inspired Word. Nor is the low spirituality which this solemn trifling with the Bible |