hat which
becomes an humble sinner, who has a modest sense of propriety and
decency. The state of my mind was visible enough from the foolish finery
of my apparel.

"At length the clergyman gave out his text: 'Be ye clothed with
humility.' He drew a comparison between the clothing of the body with
that of the soul. At a very early part of his discourse I began to feel
ashamed of my passion for fine dressing and apparel; but when he came to
describe the garment of salvation with which a Christian is clothed, I
felt a powerful discovery of the nakedness of my own soul. I saw that I
had neither the humility mentioned in the text, nor any one part of the
true Christian character. I looked at my gay dress, and blushed for
shame on account of my pride. I looked at the minister, and he seemed to
me as a messenger sent from heaven to open my eyes. I looked at the
congregation, and wondered whether any one else felt as I did. I looked
at my heart, and it appeared full of iniquity. I trembled as he spoke,
and yet I felt a great drawing of heart to the words he uttered.

"He opened the riches of divine grace in God's method of saving the
sinner. I was astonished at what I had been doing all the days of my
life. He described the meek, lowly, and humble example of Christ; I felt
proud, lofty, vain, and self-consequential. He represented Christ as
'Wisdom;' I felt my ignorance. He held him forth as 'Righteousness;' I
was convinced of my own guilt. He proved him to be 'Sanctification;' I
saw my corruption. He proclaimed him as 'Redemption;' I felt my slavery
to sin and my captivity to Satan. He concluded with an animated address
to sinners, in which he exhorted them to flee from the wrath to come, to
cast off the love of outward ornament, to put on Jesus Christ, and be
clothed with true humility.

"From that hour I never lost sight of the value of my soul and the danger
of a sinful state. I inwardly blessed God for the sermon, although my
mind was in a state of great confusion.

"The preacher had brought forward the ruling passion of my heart, which
was pride in outward dress; and by the grace of God it was made
instrumental to the awakening of my soul. Happy, sir, would it be if
many a poor girl, like myself, were turned from the love of outward
adorning and putting on of fine apparel, to seek that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in
the sight of God of great price