on Prov, xxviii. 14. Blessed is he that feareth alway.' Preached to-night on man's being abominable and filthy,' with much earnestness. "22.-Rode to Arnsby: had a very good time in preaching there this evening; but a sinful heart spoils all.

"27.-Very little spirituality throughout the day. I know not how to think a good thought. "28.-A pretty good Sabbath. In the morning from Psa. xl. Lo I come, &c.' and in the afternoon from Psa. xciv. 19.

"Sept. 25.-It can answer no end to write when there is nothing material to write about. In future, therefore, I think only to notice some of the most material exercises and events of my life, which I mean merely for my own use.

A

"30. We had a ministers' meeting at Northampton. I preached, and Brother Sutcliff, and Brother Skinner. But the best part of the day was, I think, in conversation. question was discussed, to the following purport: To what causes in ministers may much of their want of success be imputed? The answer turned chiefly upon the want of personal religion; particularly the neglect of close dealing with God in closet prayer. Jer. x. 21. was here referred to: Their pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord; therefore they shall not prosper, and their flocks shall be scattered.' Another reason assigned was, the want of reading and studying

the scriptures more as Christians, for the edification of our own souls. We are too apt to study them merely to find out something to say to others, without living upon the truth ourselves. If we eat not the book before we deliver it's contents to others, we may expect the Holy Spirit will not much accompany us. If we study the scriptures as Christians, the more familiar we are with them, the more we shall feel their importance; but if otherwise, our familiarity with the word will be like that of soldiers, doctors, or grave-diggers with death-it will wear away all sense of it's importance from our minds. To enforce this sentiment, Prov. xxii. 17, 18. was referred to'Apply thine heart to knowledge—the words of the wise will be pleasant if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. To this might be added, Psa. i. 2, 3. Another reason was, Our want of being emptied of self-sufficiency. In proportion as we lean upon our own gifts, or parts, or preparations, we slight the Holy Spirit; and no wonder that, being grieved, he should leave us to do our work alone! Besides, when this is the case, it is, humanly speaking, unsafe for God to prosper us, especially those ministers who possess considerable abilities. Reference was also had to an Ordination Sermon, lately preached, by Mr. Booth of London, to Mr. Hopkins, Dr. Gifford's successor, from Take

heed to thyself.

O that I

may remember

these hints for my good.*

* I well remember the discussion of this question, which fully occupied the evening. Another had been discussed after dinner, respecting village-preaching-What was a sufficient call to attempt introducing it into places where it had not been usual before? which therefore seems to leave no room for that ill-natured anecdote respecting my father and young Carey to have taken place this year, which is said to have been before the end of 1786; whereas my father had left Northampton before the Minister's-meeting in 1786. And I must consider it as very unlikely to have occurred in 1785, for several strong reasons. I never heard of it till I saw it in print, and cannot give credit to it at all. No man prayed and preached about the latter-day glory more than my father; nor did I ever hear such sentiments proceed from his lips as are there ascribed to him. It is true, he admitted the idea of a personal reign of Christ upon earth, between the first and second resurrection, in which he followed Dr. Gill, and supposed that this period is properly to be stiled the Millennium: but he also expected that long before this the gospel would be spread all over the world, and the fulness of the Jews and of the Gentiles be brought into the church; and I never remember his expressing an expectation of miraculous gifts being granted for that end. Joseph Perry, a Baptist minister of Flower, near Northampton, was the first writer of whom I have any knowledge, who distinguished between the spiritual and the personal reign of Christ. If the Scotch Baptists agreed with Dr. Gill on this subject, I do not see how their opinion, whether it be right or wrong, could prove any impediment to exertion for spreading the gospel. What they denominated the latter-day glory, or the spiritual reign of Christ, would be none the less desirable, nor less the object of exertion, on account of it's being followed by his personal reign after the first resurrection.

"Oct. 3.-At the monthly prayer meeting, I felt very tender, and was much affected in prayer. I have frequently felt thus at these opportunities, and yet I have so little heart to wrestle with God alone. I cannot tell how to account for this.

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5.-Rode to Corby, and preached with much earnestness and tenderness, from Isa. lvii. 15. Felt some encouragement on hearing of one person at this place to whose conversion it is hoped my ministry had been made instrumental. The sermon was on Jan. 22, 1784, from Matt. xi. 29.

"6.-Returned from Corby, and rode to Spratton, where I preached with much pleasure, on taking hold of God's covenant: felt a freedom in speaking to unconverted sinners.

"7.-Went home by Northampton: spake at their church-meeting, but with no manner of pleasure.*

"9.-Some earnestness this morning, on sin being a reproach; but a miserable afternoon, from Psa. xxxii. 6. Between afternoon and evening, I was told of a young man, to whom I had been made useful about two years ago, having a desire to join the church. I have for some time felt a kind of despair in

I know some of his hearers thought this discourse peculiarly striking. It was on the nature and advantages of true conversion.

preaching to sinners; thinking that on account of my being so carnally-minded, God would never bless any thing I said. This instance, and that of last Wednesday, seem to afford some encouragement, and to make me think that it is possible, however, for God to work even by me! and that when I think nothing can be done, then it is possible for God to work. I have long sown in tears: O that I might, in some degree at least, reap in joy! Preached at night with an unusual affection of heart, and sense of everlasting things, from Job xvi. 22. 'When a few years are come, &c.'

"10.-This evening 1 was visited by the young man mentioned yesterday: heard him speak of God's work upon his soul with some pleasure. "31. Within these last two or three weeks I have had some distressing feelings. Twice I dreamed that I had fallen into some great wickedness, and that it was known. Though I would not pay any superstitious regard to dreams; yet knowing what a weak and sinful creature I am, I fear lest it should come to pass. I wish the sense I then felt of the painfulness of guilt may abide upon my mind, and serve to keep me from evil. On Lord'sday, the 16th, I preached on peace in the morning, and joy in the afternoon: yet had but little of that about which I preached.