will be found lively in a state of grace; and the zealous in nature will be found zealous in grace; but lively in a different pursuit, and zealous for the attainment of a different object. When the heavenly principle is in dominion, this variety, which in fallen nature tends to disorder, is reduced into harmony, and forms a body, or whole, inexpressibly beautiful. How wonderful are the ways of Providence! How gracious his design! But when any of these temperaments predominate, unseasoned by grace, they cast a shade upon, or place in an unjust view, the ways of Divine Wisdom; the paths of pleasantness and peace.

The melancholic temperament appears occasionally to have prevailed in the author of the following Diary; which, when seasoned and regulated by grace, has been deemed the most favorable to a religious life, being in its nature fixt, retentive, and circumspect, prone to search, and anxious to ascertain, yet cautious. in receiving important truths, but when received, tenacious in retaining them; but which, in some instances, it is to be feared, produced in S. S. sadness, where joy might well have prevailed. But it is encouraging and instructive to observe, how, through all the conflicts and baptisms to which such a disposition appears more peculiarly liable, there lived that,

which many waters could not quench, or the grave retain; and this at times in SAMUEL SCOTT, beautifully broke through the dark clouds, and shewed that all beyond, was harmony and light; of which there is no doubt his afflicted anxious soul at length gained permanent possession, when the work was finished, and the tempeftuous waves for ever ceased to rage. "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires, and I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones."*

Here, reader, pause, and wisely consider that although "many are the afflictions of the righteous, the Lord delivereth out of them all." For "the Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants."+ By repeated trials and afflictions permitted or dispensed, they are induced to look at and duly appreciate, the things that can only be discerned by the spiritual eye of the regenerate, the things that are eternal; and are also prepared to receive, and retain, the unsullied joys of heaven. As affliction and trials, well endured, produce the peaceable fruits of righteousness, with quietness and assurance for ever, although grievous when they prevail; how Psalm xxxiv. 19. and 22

*kaiah liv. 11. 12.

will they be estimated when the work is finished? when faith is lost in fruition, and uninterrupted rewards are possessed. Can they be viewed otherwise than with awfulness and gratitude, as well expressed by a deeply-tried and experienced servant of the Most High, when on the eve of ceasing from his labours, and of receiving permanently glorious rewards: Many and painful have been the probationary exercises of this life to me. Ah! were there probability of strength, how I could enlarge, for my heart seems melted within me in retrospective view; but all the former conflicts, however grievous in their time, are lighter now than vanity, except as they are clearly seen to have contributed largely to the sanctification of the soul; as they are remembered with awfulness and gratitude before Him, who has not been wanting to preserve through them all; and as they seem likely to introduce, either very shortly, or before a very long time, to an exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' * When afflictions are thus viewed; when, as to duration, they are compared with the permanence of those joys which they may be said to produce; and as to severity, with that exceeding weight of glory which they ensure; great will be the encouragement to seek for patience during

* See Piety Promoted, Job Scott.

their continuance, and not small the desire, that the design, in their prevalence, may be fulfilled.

Considerations of this kind are well adapted to a state of probation, of infancy, and twilight; where seeing only as through a glass, darkly, we know but in part; and truly profitable, as they tend to prepare for an entrance into those realms, where they see face to face, and know, even as they are known; where that which is in part, shall be done away by that which is perfect being come.

*

R. P.

1 Cor. xiii. 12.