the latter occasioned by reading in the public papers of a wretched man, I think it was at Chatham, who had been swearing for a wager, that was stricken speechless and died in three hours.

"Jan. 3. 1782.-This afternoon being on a visit, as I stepped aside from the company, 1 overheard one of them saying, 'I love Mr. Fuller's company, it is so diverting. This expression moved me much. O wretch that I am! Is this to have my speech seasoned with grace? O Lord forgive me! Some humbling thoughts to-night for the above in prayer.

"4.-Tender this morning in remembering the above circumstance. Lord make me more spiritual in time to come."

(3.) Extracts relative to personal or family affliction.

"Nov. 14. 1780.-Being on a journey to Haddenham, [in Cambridgeshire,] I was taken very ill by the way: thought how sweet heaven would be to the weary, distressed traveller.

"17-25.-Having been under heavy affliction for above a week, and incapable of writing, I only observe, that some days I seemed to feel no material workings of sin, nor exercises of grace; sometimes I felt worse. One day I dreamed that I was dead: waking and finding

it but a dream, I trembled at the thought of what would become of such a sinful creature, were this dream realized! Here I stopped, painfully stopped: at length I answered, 'Lord I have hoped in thy salvation.' Here I wept, and thought I would hope still. O that it may not be in vain,

"Dec. 26-29.-Afflictions having returned, I think I might make too light of the former. This, though lighter on the body, yet seems heavier on the mind. I am sometimes pressed with guilt for my lightness under the other: sometimes ready to sink in a kind of despondency, almost like that of Jonah, that it will be better for me to die than to live.'

"Jan. 1. 1781.-Often dejected under my affliction; yet have felt my soul going out after the Lord, deprecating a life of distance from him.

“10.—Alas, my affliction, instead of taking away sin, seems to be attended with new risings of evil. O wretched man that I am! Surely it does not seem consistent, that an heart so full of stupidity and unholiness as mine, and in so constant a manner too, can be the residence of the Holy Spirit of God! Surely those great things said to be done in the hearts of the godly are not done in me. Yet I have found some out-goings of soul to God, after keeping and quickening grace. 'Keep back thy servant from presumptuous

sins, &c.' O Lord, I beseech thee deliver my soul."

Towards the close of January, 1781, he was greatly affected with the illness and death of his father.

“Jan. 22.-Visited my father to-day, who I fear will die. Found a strong inclination to converse with him concerning his soul, but did not.

"24.-To-day visited my father again, but he seems to have no thought of death. 1 found my heart much drawn out to-night to pray for him.

"26.-Much affected to-day for my dear father. Oh his immortal soul! How can I bear to bury him unconverted? Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me! I have had many earnest outgoings of soul for him, and some little conversation with him. Son. Have you any outgoings of soul, father, to the Lord? F. Yes, my dear, I have. S. Well, father, The Lord is rich in mercy to all that call upon him.' This is great encouragement. F. Yes, my child, so it is; and I know if I be saved, it must be by bim alone. I have nothing to recommend me to his favour: but my hopes are very small.

“27.—Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me! Give me some good hopes of the welfare of his soul; then I could almost be willing to part with him. This would be

T

letting the cup pass from me.

'But the

soul, that never dies, &c.' The woman of Canaan made her daughter's case her own, and cried, 'Lord help me!' Surely I may do likewise by my father.

"28. Lord's-day.-Affected with nothing else to-day but the thoughts of my father's death. This I know not how to bear.Preached somehow from Job xiv. 1. and Heb. ii. 14.

"29.-O he is gone! he is gone! for ever gone!

His course is finish'd now, his race is o'er,

The place which knew him knows him now no more; The tree is fall'n, and ever there must lie,

To endless ages of eternity."

He seems for some days following to have been absorbed in reflections upon death; and mentions having buried three of his own children in less than three years before this time.

(4.) His sympathy excited by the afflictions and death of others.

Many references are made repeatedly to the loss of his dearly beloved friend, Mr. Joseph Diver.

"June 23, 1780.-Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech! O my dear Brother Diver! Six months ago, like an Hur, he supported my hands; but now he is gone, and they sink.

O my dear sister K. Twelve months ago I witnessed thy patience and piety; but, ripe for glory, thou must stay here no longer: while I am yet in the chains of mortality, in a world of darkness and misery.

1

May

I follow you, who through faith and patience. inherit the promises. I bless the Lord for a solemn savour enjoyed, in some good measure, this day. O that my heart could be oftener engaged in meditation on the things of God. O how happy to be so.

"July 11.-O my dear Brother Diver! very pleasant hast thou been to me. I am distressed for the loss of thee. Earth seems a lonely place without thee! But, Lord, thy presence will more than make amends for his absence. Give me that, or I sink. The cares of the world have engrossed my attention this afternoon, but the cares of the church return this evening. Alas, how many instances of misconduct! No sooner is one reclaimed, but others decline. O now I feel the loss of my dear Brother Diver.

When

What

Our

17. O my dear Brother Diver! shall we recover our loss in losing you? disorders have we now in the church! hands, heads, and hearts, how full. O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof. Like Jeremiah for Josiah, surely I cannot refrain from pouring forth my heart in doleful lamentations.