66 "to be clear. When wilt thou come unto me, "is frequently the language of my heart, though I cannot always call Him mine. "And the recollection of past experiences is "sometimes a lift to me during the passing "cloud. I call to mind the time, and place, " and the gracious manner and means, when, where, and by which the Lord hath hereto"fore comforted and refreshed my soul. So "that, like the wife of Manoah I am led to "conclude, if the Lord had not intended 66 66 mercy, He would not have shewed me all "things. And I always find that sweet text "of the Prophet to be consolatory, during the "heaviest night of this kind of trial; Who is "among you that feareth the Lord, that obey"eth the voice of His servant, and walketh in darkness, and hath no light! Let him trust "in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his "GOD." 66 "I rejoice truly, my dear brother," (replied the Poor Man)" in the testimony you bear to "the faithfulness of your GoD, under your sufferings. It is an easy thing to speak a. "word for God's goodness, when the Lord is "surrounding us with the sunshine of His 66 blessings. But it must be a gracious soul "indeed to rejoice in GoD, when he hath nothing else but His word to trust in. And "when GoD hides His face from His people; "stands at a distance from their prayers; seem 66 66 66 ingly thwarts all their desires; gives no an swer by Urim and Thummin; then, to hold 6. fast by GoD, and to lie passive before Him; "this is what the prophet felt, and what none "but those who are taught of GOD the Holy "Ghost can say with him; Although the fig"tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be "in the vines, the labor of the olive shall fail, "and the field shall yield no meat; the flocks "shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet will I rejoice in "the Lord, I will joy in the GOD of my sal"vation." I had entered with so much earnestness of participation into every man's case, as they related their several experiences one after another, that I was unconscious of the lapse of time, and felt not a little distressed, when I heard one of the company say, "our hour is 66 come, it is past eight o'clock."—The following hymn was then given out and sung; which appeared to be a very suitable conclusion to the solemn service: No more, my Gop, I boast no more Of all the duties I have done; I quit the hopes I held before, To trust the merits of Thy Son. Now for the love I bear His name, Yes, and I must, and will esteem All things but loss for Jesus' sake; The best obedience of my hands By pleading what my Lord hath done. But, if I felt myself pleased with the hymn, my mind was more abundantly refreshed and delighted with the concluding prayer, which followed it; in which the person who prayed, did not confine himself to general expressions; but, more or less, included therein the wants and desires of all the Lord's tried family; and in particular, the several cases which had been spoken of during the evening. Neither as a stranger and visitor in this little society, did the leader in prayer forget to mention me, at the mercy-seat; that the Lord would supply my wants, whatever they might be, out of the abundant riches of His grace, which are in Christ Jesus. all After withdrawing from the room, and taking leave of the friend who had conducted me thither, I retired to my closet to meditate upon what I had seen and heard. And the conclusion I formed upon the whole was this -I had discovered in the scriptures of truth, that in all ages of the Church, the Lord has had a seed which served Him. I no less discovered also, that this seed were distinguished from the rest of mankind by certain marks and characters. I observed very clearly in the little circle to which I had now been introduced, that its members were widely distinguished from the unawakened world, in all their pur suits, complaints and desires. I remarked yet farther, that, although their complaints and desires differed in their degree of earnestness; yet, like a family feature, there was a sufficient similarity in all, to manifest their relationship to each other. But what became my highest gratification, was the discovery, that, however unconscious of it before, their situation was my own. And I felt that union of soul, which the mind feels in a state of nature on the discovery of affinity, so as to be drawn towards them in the warmth of a lasting love and affection. I resolved therefore to cast in my among them, and to have the same portion. The sweet language of Ruth to Naomi, exactly speaks the feelings of my heart: Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee for whither thou goest Ì will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God, my GOD. Where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. lot My mind had been much exercised through the night, in reflections upon what I had seen and heard at the Prayer-meeting. And the morning had been just opened upon the earth, when I arose to prayer and medițation. There is somewhat peculiarly solemn in the first dawn of day, before the noisy world is risen. It very powerfully calls the soul to devotion. Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet MILTON. I felt the influence, and having bowed the knee before the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I entered upon the meditation of the subject, which had engaged my attention so much the preceding evening. The more I considered it, the more I stood convinced, that there is a seed in the earth, which the Lord hath distinguished from the world. And I felt no less conviction also, that it is Divine grace alone, which makes all that difference between him that serveth the Lord, and him that serveth Him not. But that I should be the object of His grace, when I sought it not, nor was even conscious of the want of it; here appeared the greatest mystery! I found my eyes overflowing, in the contemplation of such unmerited goodness of my GOD towards me; and was lost in the thought, when a call at the door roused me from my meditation. It was the Traveller, whom I have before-mentioned, and who had kindly introduced me to the prayer-meeting, who was come to inquire, what were my sentiments concerning it; and to offer me that assistance which I had requested of him at our first interview. I very frankly opened my whole heart to him upon the subject, and hesitated not to tell him, how much I felt interested in what I had heard; and particularly in the case of one who |