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

2l6Memoirs of Airs. Hawkes.
might have lulled us asleep upon'the enchanted ground.' But the Lord in
mercy sent something to rouse us. Our path has been rough, but I trust it will
be safe; and we shall one day say,' Ifappy affliction, which brought me nearer
to my God, or prevented any wandering from Him.'
"Again, sometimes the Lord honours his people by appointing them a great
trial. As He has given them to believe in his name, so also He gives them to
' suffer for his sake.' So far as he enables us to support affliction with cheerful
submission, patience, and hope,-so far the post of trial is a post of honour.
Thereby the reality and power of religion, the power and faithfulness of our
Lord in supporting and relieving, is exhibited to his glory, for the encouragement of believers and the conviction of gainsayers; and we ourselves are
taught more and more of the vanity of creature-dependence, and the all sufficiency of our great and unchangeable Friend, who has promised, that'If we suffer
with Him, we shall also reign with Him.'
"Let us cheer up, madam: the time is short, and shortening apace. Every
pulse we feel, beats a sharp moment of the pain away; and the last stroke will
come: then heaven will make amends for ail. I commend you to the Lord's
blessing. Dear Miss Catlett, though not quite well, is better than when she
first came home, and is again a great (comlfort to me. Pray for her, and for
"Your affectionate,
"JOHN N- EWTON."
From this time Mrs. IHawkes was, for the most part, confined
to her chamber. And her valued privileges in the house of
God, in which she so much delighted, were entirely cut off.
But the loss was made tip by the benefits of affliction. And
a new sphere of usefulness began to open before her, in the
opportunity of assisting,by her conversation and instructions,
many younger Christians. She took much delight in the
society of young persons, to whose affections she found easy
access, by the sweet and social temper of her own mind. One
after another resorted to her for the advantage of her counsel
or encouragement, and thus, by degrees, her religious acquaintance became extensive. She became also very useful
to several inquiring young females, by her correspondence as
well as her conversation. Specimens of her letters to such,
are given in this part of the volume.
In i803, it was judcged advisable that Mrs. Hawkes should,
for reasons connected with the nature of her disease, return
again for a season to Mr. Cecil's house. During the time of
her residence with this pious and hospitable family, her diary
is replete with accounts of spiritual conflicts, and comforts.
l1er faith and patience had evidently approximated nearer to
perfection, tinder the p)urifying fire of the furnace, in which
she was placed. W'e could fill many pages with choice morsels from the diary and correspondence of this excellent woman during several years, which we must necessarily pass
over.
In 1811, Dr. Fearon, hler esteemed friend and physician, of
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