Another  hint  to  forget  the  things  which  are
behind,  and  press  forward.  But  why  do  I  thus
detail  our  little  losses  ?  I  meant  not  to  do  it.
Rather  let  me  speak  of  the  great  gain,  the  ever-
increasing  comfort  of  the  promises,  and  of  our
Lord's  love,  who  in  every  trial  condescends  to
speak  such  peace  as  raises  the  heart  to  Himself
in  continual  thanksgiving.  When  I  think  of
what  I  deserve  I  can  only  wonder  at  his  gentle
deahngs.  He  often  says,  '  What  I  do  thou
knowest  not  now,  but  thou  shalt  know  here-
after ;'  and  he  graciously  lets  so  much  of  his
hand  of  love  be  seen  in  every  trial,  that  it  is
easy  work  to  trust  him  with  the  remainder."

Of  the  many  letters  which  Lady  Colquhouii
addressed  to  this  youngest  sister  "  in  the  king-
dom and  patience  of  Jesus  Christ,"  we  are  thus


142  LIFE    OF    LADY    COLaUHOUN.
precluded  from  offering  to  the  reader  any
specimen.  But  even  this  slight  record  of  so
dear  a  friend  may  reflect  some  light  on  the
character  of  Lady  Colquhoun.  It  shows,  at
least,  how  alert  she  was  for  opportunities  of
doing  good,  and  how  graciously  God  honored
her  consistency  and  prospered  her  fidelit3^  Nor
will  it  be  a  vain  digression  if  it  enkindle  in  the
reader  or  the  writer  aspirations  after  that
heavenly-mindedness  and  holy  skill  which
made  the  subject  of  this  biography  a  hving
epistle,  and  which  so  frequently  converted
morning  calls  and  evening  visits  into  "  walks
of  usefulness."


CHAJ^TER  IV


NO  CHASTENING  FOR  THE  PRESENT  SEEJIETH  TO  BE  JOYOUS,
BUT  grievous:  NEVERTHELESS  AFTERWARD  IT  YIELDETH  THE
PEACEABLE  FRUIT  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS  UNTO  THEM  WHICH  ARK
EXERCISED  THEREBY. HEB.  XII.  11.
