the blessed Redeemer: how empty and frothy is it all, unless sanctified by the grace of God!

"18.-Much depressed in spirit to-night, on account of my little spirituality. Prayed at the evening meeting with tenderness of spirit. 1 sensibly felt my entire dependence on the Spirit of God, for the carrying on of the work of grace, as well as for the beginning of it.

"19.-Rode with Mr. R. jun. to Winnick, to assist the good people there in forming themselves into a church. Heard him preach, and the people relate their experiences afterwards, more privately.

"20.-Brother R. preached upon baptism, and Brother Sutcliff baptized seven persons. I felt tenderness and solemn pleasure, in addressing them on the nature of their present engagements. Preached in the afternoon, with some pleasure, on being knit together in love.'

"31.-Heard this morning that Mr. G. is dying. Last Friday night I saw him as usual, when he said to me, 'Remember and pray for a poor old man, for I cannot be long in this world.' I was much affected with the news. Sung Psa. xc. Felt tender in prayer, and in preaching from Uphold thou me according to thy word, that I may live, &c.' Preached this afternoon on the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, of Christ's love. Some sweet pleasure at the Lord's Supper. O te

know more of Christ, and live upon him! I feel very happy to-night; can hardly forbear singing as I go about, O for this love let rocks and hills, &c.'

"Nov. 12.-Feel my mind earnestly engaged in longing for the salvation of souls, and earnest for it in prayer. O what an awful thing does it seem to me, for sinners under a fatal disease not to desire a remedy!

"20-Returning home home from Gretton, I thought on the first Psalm, upon which I intend to preach to morrow; but how unlike am 1 to the character there drawn. My leaf seems to wither every day, and scarcely any thing I do appears to prosper. I feel selfreflection for want of walking closely with God. Surely I need, as it were, to renew covenant with God.

"26.-Some reflections of late in prayer, for my strange propensity to depart from God; and many discouraging thoughts with regard to praying and preaching for the promotion of Christ's kingdom. It seems almost as though the Lord, if he hath not forsaken the earth, had yet nearly forsaken me, and would not regard my petitions.

"27.-Some pleasure in thinking on the second Psalm, especially on the combination of joy and trembling.

"28. Much tenderness and pleasure in preaching on the above subject, before the

Lord's supper. Felt the like at the ordinance, especially in urging a thought from MaclaurinHow dreadful is it to be a mere spectator of the things signified by this institution, and not an actual partaker of Christ's benefits.

29.--Much dispirited on account of my carnal-mindedness and perpetual propensity to depart from God. My life seems to have been one continued series of departure from God. I can compare it to nothing but a great flood, or tide, that rolls perpetually along. The sins of my life are many; but the sin of my nature seems to be but one-one continual disposition to evil, and aversion to draw near to God.

Her

"30.-Visited Mrs. W. at conversation is almost always spiritual and profitable. Some pleasure throughout the day.

"Dec. 1.-Employed in writing out a sermon for Miss D. which was preached on the 7th of April, at her mother's funeral, on the All-sufficiency of Grace: felt much affected with some of the sentiments as I transcribed them.

"6.-An affecting meeting of prayer this evening, for the revival of real religion:- found much pleasure in singing, and freedom with God in prayer: prayed against my late sceptical feelings."

Like variations of his frame of mind are noticed through the rest of the month, which

I omit, on account of it's similarity to what has been already inserted.

31. He mentions having been much affected last Wednesday, while he carried his son in his arms, and wept over him, singing Dr. Watts's hymn—

'O may'st thou live to reach the place

Where he unveils his lovely face! &c.'

He adds, "If I die before him, let him remember this, and Sally the verses in the diary of August 11, 1780.

"Jan. 1, 1785.-Some emotions of affection this morning in reflecting on the past year. What good I have done I scarcely know. Great has been my sin against God. Behold 1 am vile.

"2. Lord's-day.-Preached this forenoon on Love to Christ, and in the afternoon a newyear's sermon to young people, from Psa. xxxiv. 11.-' Come ye children, &c.' Some sweet and solemn feelings, as I sat in the vestry, while a hymn for the new year, out of the Bristol Collection, was sung: felt my heart very tender, and a longing desire for the welfare of the young people: preached to them with some earnestness. Felt much also this day in reading Bunyan's Holy War, particularly that part where the four captains agree to petition the King for more force: felt a great satisfaction in my principles con

Y

cerning preaching to sinners, and a desire to pray, like them, for help from on high, to render the word effectual.

"3.-Felt very sensibly monthly meeting for prayer.

to-night at our How far off from a Christian life I live; how little real fellowship I have with Christ; how little of holy boldness can I use in prayer! Surely if I were more to frequent the throne of grace in private it would be better with me.

“8.—Much affected to-day in hearing my little girl say, 'How soon Sabbath-day comes again!' Felt grieved to see the native aversion of the carnal heart to God so early discovering itself. Was led to importune God at a throne of grace on her behalf.

"9.-A good day on the whole. In the morning preached on 'You hath he quickened, &c.' in the afternoon on the petition of the blind man, Mark x. in the evening expounded Acts vi. One verse in particular carries in it conviction to me-That we may give ourselves wholly to prayer and the ministry of the word.

“ 11.Sotne outgoings of heart in prayer to-day, for the revival of real religion, first in my own soul, and then in the churches in general. My own mental departures from God have been long and great! Went several times to the Lord, with some satisfaction, but found not such nearness of access as I could wish.