The Power of Faith

The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility. The Lord will destroy the house of the proud; but he will establish the border of the widow. PROV. 15:25, 33.

PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 150 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK: 28 CORNHILL, BOSTON.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by JOANNA BETHUNE, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Copyright transferred to the American Tract Society.

CONTENTS.

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CHAPTER I.

EARLY LIFE--RESIDENCE IN CANADA.

Foundation of the excellence of her character--Birth-- Education--Conversion--Marriage--Voyage to Quebec-- Doddridge's Rise and Progress--Residence at Montreal and Fort Niagara--Sails for Antigua--1742-1772, .................. 7

CHAPTER II.

RESIDENCE AT ANTIGUA--DR. GRAHAM'S DEATH.

Dr. Graham called to St. Vincents--His safe return--State of his mind--Death of Mrs. Graham's mother--Letter describing the death of Dr. Graham--Kindness of Dr. H.-- Reflections--Letters to Mrs. Grandidier and to her father-- Departure for Scotland--1773-1775, ............................ 22

CHAPTER III.

RETURN TO SCOTLAND--SCHOOL AT EDINBURGH.

Perilous voyage--Trust in God--Return to Cartside--Care of her father--Residence at Paisley--Depressed circumstances-- Peace in God--Singular investment and result--School in Edinburgh--Friends--Benevolence to poor tradesmen-- Dancing--Letter of Lady Glenorchy--Origin of the Society for the Relief of the Destitute Sick--Death and character of Lady Glenorchy--Letter to a daughter--Visit to Cartside and Paisley--Reposes all upon Christ--Removal to New York--Devotional exercises--1776-1789, ................... 54

CHAPTER IV.

SCHOOL IN NEW YORK--DEATH OF HER PASTOR, DR. JOHN MASON--LAST NEWS OF HER SON.

Voyage and reception at New York--Marriage of Mrs. Stevenson-- Anxiety for her son--He escapes a press-gang--Confidence in God--Sickness and death of her pastor, Dr. John Mason-- His character--Dr. John M. Mason installed pastor-- Devotional exercises--Letter to A.D.--Letter to her son-- Last intelligence of him--Reflections--1789-1794, ............ 82

CHAPTER V.

DEATH OF HER DAUGHTER--FIRST MISSIONARY SOCIETY IN NEW YORK.

Marriage of Mrs. Bethune--Death of Mrs. Stevenson--Strong consolation--Singular receipts and liberality--Devotional exercises--Anniversary of her daughter's birth and death-- First Missionary Society in New York--Reflections-- Acquaintance with Mrs. C---- near Boston--Letter and devotional exercises--1795-1797, ............................. 115

CHAPTER VI.

FORMATION OF THE WIDOWS' SOCIETY-- CLOSE OF HER SCHOOL.

Rise of the Widows' Society--First monthly missionary prayer-meeting--Letter to a young man on joining the church--The Essay on Man--Marriage of Mrs. Smith--Close of her school--Labors for widows and the poor--Letters to Mrs. C.--The yellow-fever--Death of Washington--Devotional exercises--1797-1800, ........................................ 144

CHAPTER VII.

BENEVOLENT LABORS--MRS. HOFFMAN-- CORRESPONDENCE.

Schools and labors connected with the Widows' Society--Her friend Mrs. Hoffman--Anniversary of the Widows' Society-- Visit to Boston--Want of evangelical preaching--Letters to Miss M---- of Boston--Letters to Mr. and Mrs. Bethune in Britain--Anxiety for them--Confidence in God--Church discipline--Dr. Mason sails for Britain--1800-1801, .......... 167

CHAPTER VIII.