Mr. Simeon, Dr. Marshman, Dr. Buchanan, and the neighbouring ministers, came to her house, she felt their fellowship “a little heaven below." The remarks of these men of God, as they stood on the summit of the Island of Inchtavanach and beheld the view of Loch Lomond and surrounding scenery, were a feast of soul. Thus spoke Mr. Simeon to his host:-"Sir James, you turn on this side and you say, 'That is mine;' and you turn to the other side and say, 'That is mine;' but I look up and say, 'Heaven is mine!"" Dr. Chalmers said, "I wonder if there will be a Loch Lomond in heaven!" On the neighbourhood around her the Lady of Rossdhu looked with Christian concern. She organized a Bible Society, visited the cottagers, to some of whom, and especially to one almost in despair, she proved a savour of life unto life; instituted an industrial school, whose influence for good was soon apparent in the improved manners and domestic accomplishments of young women of the district; and kept a Sabbath class, for which she prepared with prayer and study, and from which she had her reward in souls whose dying testimonies ascribed their new birth to this spiritual mother. These were no constrained efforts, they were her delight. While visiting her relations, particularly her married daughter in England, she sought similar opportunities, and left a hallowed memorial by her labours of love. Reader! have you a profession of faith, and an opportunity of serving the Lord by doing good to others? Embody your gratitude for divine mercy in a walk of usefulness. Tell to some others the story of grace, and rest not until you lead a soul to Jesus. In another way did her ladyship endeavour to bless society. She employed her pen. In 1822, she published a tract called Despair and Hope; a most affecting record of God's blessing on her labours. Next year came forth a larger work, Thoughts on the Religious Profession and Defective Practice of the Higher Classes of Society in Scotland. By a Lady. In 1825, she issued Impressions of the Heart, relative to the Nature and Excellence of Genuine Religion. These were all anonymous; but she had reason to know that the Lord blessed them. In 1835-6, a winter in which she lost her father, and became a widow, she published The Kingdom of God; to which she attached her name, in compliance with the wishes of the dead. In 1838, her last work appeared, entitled The World's Religion as Contrasted with Genuine Christianity. These productions all give evidence of a cultivated mind and an earnest faith. Their views of divine truth are thoroughly evangelical. They are frank and decided, and, as Dr. James Hamilton has beautifully remarked of them, "like the conversation of the compiler, they are genuine and inartificial, spontaneous and heartfelt; but still the utterance of a mind whose every tendency is upward, and whose every association is with things pure, and good, and elevated. *** Calm, cheerful, Christ-loving, no book could be more rightly named than these 'Impressions of the Heart;' for, according to the Indian's definition of writing, she who penned them has pressed her soul on paper.'" Lady Colquhoun took a great interest in the Church of Christ, aided evangelistic efforts in populous localities, and rejoiced in the revivals of religion which occurred in Scotland during 1839. The case of her ancestral Church lay near her heart, and she joined the noble band who, in 1843, seceded from the Establishment for conscience' sake. In the upbuilding of the Free Church she bore an active part, and contributed liberally of her means. It was ever a privilege to her to aid missions and young students at the uni versity; and long will she be remembered by those to whom her counsel and her purse were equally afforded. Her health now began to fail. In September 1846, she was obliged to retire to her bed of death. Feeble though she was, yet on the first Sabbath of her illness, when “one of the servants, to whom she had often spoken on the concerns of her soul, came into the room, Lady Colquhoun, after saying a few kind words, offered to pray with her. That prayer will never be forgotten. She gave solemn injunctions to her sons and daughters, and all her servants, individually, to seek the Saviour; and said of herself, "I die at the foot of the cross;-I know that my Redeemer liveth; -Christ is my hope,' should be my motto;-I rely entirely on his finished work." Thus prepared, she fell asleep on the 21st October 1846, and left, as her most blessed legacy, the fragrant memory of a life in Jesus. Lady Colquhoun was no courtier. Though her father and brother were much at court, her biographer does not know that she was ever presented. Her highest desire was to adorn the doctrine of God her Saviour, and to benefit those with whom she came into contact by her labours of love. She sought for herself the faith and love of the gospel; and from these twin virtues flowed all works of usefulness Reader! do you possess them? "Therefore love and believe; for works will follow spontaneous, Even as the day does the sun: the right from the good is an offspring, LONGFELLOW. CHAPTER VIII. THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON. "This woman was full of good works and alms-deeds which she did."ACTS ix. 36. "Lady, that in the prime of earliest youth Wisely hast shunned the broad way and the green, And with those few art eminently seen That labour up the hill of heavenly truth, MILTON. FEW in any age of the Church have exhibited Christian usefulness in an exalted station so illustriously as the Countess of Huntingdon. Her position in society, the character of the times in which she lived, the views of her dearest relatives, were all antagonistic to spiritual religion; yet none in the whole eighteenth century was more decided in faith, orthodox in creed, evangelical in sentiment, untiringly active, and extensively useful, in the cause of Christ. Such a life cannot fail to be an interesting study and a great encouragement, especially to those in high life. The LADY SELINA SHIRLEY was born on the 24th August 1707, at Stanton Harold, the residence of the Earl Ferrars; which title her father inherited ten years after her birth. She was married on June 3, 1728, to Theophilus, the ninth Earl of Huntingdon. Though of a serious turn of mind from her youth, it was not until after her marriage that the Countess became evangelically enlightened. She had prized moral excellence, and sought to attain it; she had delighted in beneficence, and practised it among her neighbours and dependants; she had valued religion, and attended to its duties but she knew not the necessity of being born again. Her married life brought her into high and courtly circles, which she was eminently fitted to adorn; but the best friendship she formed was with her pious sister-in-law, Lady Margaret Hastings, who was the instrument of introducing her to the Lord Jesus. At that period a new religious awakening had commenced by the preaching of the Wesleys, Whitefield, and others. The Ladies Hastings, while residing in Yorkshire, heard Mr. Ingham, and were deeply impressed. Lady Margaret first received the truth, and became the spiritual mother of the Countess of Huntingdon. This was done by a simple and almost unexpected word. In course of conversation with the Countess, Lady Margaret remarked, "Since I believed in Jesus Christ, I have been as happy as an angel." This statement made a great impression on the mind of Lady Huntingdon. She anxiously endeavoured to become more religious, and to deny herself; but the means of relief were not to come from within. "The more she strove, the more she felt that all her thoughts, words, and works, however specious before men, were utterly sinful before Him who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity." A serious illness succeeding to this concern, prepared the mind of the inquiring lady to appreciate the words of her happy sister-in-law. She sought the Saviour as a sinner, and found him to be her righteousness, and obtained peace and joy in believing. There are some characters so amiable that nothing more seems necessary than the use of the gifts they have, to make them everywhere beloved; but even these the gospel of Jesus |