1. JANE COOPER was born at _Hingham_, in the county of _Norfolk_, in the year 1738. Her father died when she was very young, and some time after, her mother married again. She was a daughter of affliction from her childhood; her father-in-law meeting with many misfortunes: But rather than be burdensome to any, when she was about twenty years of age, she chose to go out to service. For this purpose she came to _London_, and undertook to do all work in a small family. What sweetened all her labour was, that she had frequent opportunities of hearing what she believed to be the pure gospel. But after some months, she judged it best to leave this place, though much against the desire of her master. She then lived with a gentlewoman in _Pall-mall_, who for a considerable time, used her more like a companion than a servant. Her mistress afterwards removing to _Brentford_, she remained with her till spring 1762, though exceedingly to the prejudice of her health, which continually decayed. When she quitted _Brentford_, finding her strength so entirely lost that she was no longer capable of service, she hired a lodging in _London_, by the advice of her friends, designing to work plain-work: but before she settled, she took a journey into _Norfolk_, to visit her friends and relations. Part of the time she was in the country was spent at _Norwich_, where she indeed “lived as an angel here below,” comforting the sick and afflicted, supporting the weak, lifting up the hands that hung down, confirming the wavering, and in every possible way _ministering to the heirs of salvation_. 2. Of her spiritual experience during this time, we have no account, but in some of her letters, and in her diary: part of which runs thus: (it is dated _January 16, 1762_.) “I received peace in believing four years ago. For some time after, I felt no sin, and thought I never should any more. How far it was owing to my unfaithfulness, I cannot tell; but it was not long, before I found my inward parts were very wickedness. I was amazed to feel, that notwithstanding this, I loved him who died for _me_, that I still retained my confidence in God, and had the witness in myself, that I was a child of God. But with all I thought, I should always have a carnal mind, which would sometimes be at _enmity with God_. “In this belief I continued, till about two years ago God brought me to hear the _whole_ gospel. Not long after, those words were continually on my mind, _Once have I heard, yea twice hath God spoken, that power belongeth unto God_; and I was deeply convinced, that I had in effect denied his power. Even after I had tasted his love, I limitted the Holy One of _Israel_: and from this time I began to plead the promises of sanctification; but I still set them at a distance, supposing the accomplishment of them to be afar off.