Memoirs of Mrs. Hawkes, late of Islington. By Catharine Cecil [pp. 239-271]

1-.Ienzoiirs of 3[irs. Htiawves.
weight in gold; and yet these choice sayings and sententious
aphorisms, we have heard, were secretly collected by a friend,
wvithout the knowledge or suspicion of the author. As little
did he suspect that his conversations with Mrs. Hawkes
woulld ever be communicated to the public. But here we
have his free opinions on various religious topics, just as he
uttered them; and they are so remarkably like what we
already have of this truLly great man, that it would seem
impossible that they should have proceeded from any other.
It has already been mentioned that Mrs. Hawkes' early
life was spent in the fashionable world. After her marriage
and settlement in London, she was visited by her sister,
Mrs. Jones, who resided in Birmingham, and belonged to the
parish of the Rev. Edwvard Burn. This gentleman requested her, while in London, to takle an opportunity of hearing
Mr. Cecil. Accordingly, she invited her sister to accompany her to St. John's Chapel, where they heard this man of
God, deliver his Master's message. The impression made
on Mrs. Hawkes' mind wvas deep, and abiding. "She
entered into the sanctuary as a woman grieved in spirit."
She returned thence no longer sorrowful, but with new
and powerful impressions of the efficacy of Scripture
consolations: and with earnest desires to become a partaker
of spiritual blessing;s. From this period, she constantly
attended St. Jchn's Chapel. But so retiring was her disposition, and so peculiar her domestic situation, that she made
no communication of her feelings, to the venerable preacher.
It was not until two years after this event, that her sister, Mrs.
Jones, herself pious, took the liberty of writing a note to Mr.
Cecil, and requesting him to visit her sister. This visit,
Mrs. Hawkes considered an important era in her life. She
writes in her journal. "Feb. 17, 1789. A DAY TO ME VERY
MOMENTOUS. I look upon myself to day, as having entered
the list of public professors of Christianity." The account
which Mrs. Hawkes has preserved of this first interview
with Mr. Cecil, cannot but be interesting to the pious reader. She begins with an account of her feelings from the
time of hearing him preach.
"For many years past I have been much stumbled by marking the spirit,
temper, and conduct of some professors. This may have been partly from my
own ignorance of human nature, and partly from erecting too high a standard
for professors in general. For though that religion cannot be real which does
not in some degree make old things become new, yet I have expected, perhaps,
that it should change men into angels. This view, however, has made me to
say to myself over and over, if ever I am religious, I will keep it a secret; for I
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