The change in her from extreme worldliness to a life of piety and prayer
was deep and permanent. Hers was no half-way character. While she was of
the world, she pursued its follies with entire devotion of heart; and
when she once renounced it as unsatisfying, and unworthy of her immortal
aspirations, she renounced it solemnly and finally. Her ardor for
learning did not abate, but instead of being inspired, as formerly by a
thirst for human applause and distinction, it was now prompted by her
sense of responsibility to God for the cultivation of the talents he had
given her, and her desire to make herself increasingly useful. In the
sketch referred to she remarks, "I attended my studies in school with
far different feelings and different motives from what I had ever done
before. I felt my obligation to improve all I had to the glory of God;
and since he in his providence had favored me with advantages for
improving my mind, I felt that I should be like the slothful servant if
I neglected them. I therefore diligently employed all my hours in school
in acquiring useful knowledge, and spent my evenings and part of the
night in spiritual enjoyments." "Such was my thirst for religious
knowledge, that I frequently spent a great part of the night in reading
religious books." A friend says of her: "She thirsted for the knowledge
of gospel truth in all its relations and dependencies. Besides the daily
study of the scripture with Guise, Orton, and Scott before her, she
perused with deep interest the works of Edwards, Hopkins, Belamy,
Doddridge, &c. With Edwards on Redemption, she was instructed,
quickened, strengthened. Well do I remember the elevated smile that
beamed on her countenance when she first spoke to me of its precious
contents. When reading scripture, sermons, or other works, if she met
with anything dark or intricate, she would mark the passage, and beg
the first clergyman who called at her father's to elucidate and explain
it."