at a time, ponder over it; examine it in its connectionreference-bearing; try what you can get out of it. Where a preacher might draw many inferences, you may perhaps be able to draw but one or two; but if you persevere, you will every day get more and more from your Bible. If you should find these stated periods sometimes formal and heavy-yet go on-do not be discouraged-you will, upon the whole, obtain much benefit: for whoever makes a serious inquiry after religion, will always meet with an answer from the gospel.'

Ques.

Respecting withdrawment from the world." Ans. Christian courage does not consist in a disposition to retire from the world into absolute solitude; but in mixing with it, and yet living above it; in being in the world, but not of it; in making a bold stand for Christ; being as the salt of the earth. Yet retirement, at certain seasons, should be secured. We should endeavour to preserve such a spirit in society as to make us relish retirement; and so improve retirement, as to make us useful to society. Our troubles arise not from our living in the world, but from the world living in us. One part of the world is that of inordinately coveting the praise of our fellow-creatures.

Endeavour to go into the world, as far as you are called so to do, putting honour upon your Christian profession; and if any ask you a reason of the hope that is in you, tell them meekly, " It is the blood of sprinkling.”

"Mr. C. gave us an account of the death of a certain professor of religion, and observed,-' we have no right to expect a triumphant death-bed, unless we have walked with God in our life."

April 12.-" Thankful for being able to keep my mouth as with a bridle under much aggravation. I have

often occasion for the bridle; but I am not always able to use it."

Dec. 31, 1790.-"Many have been the mercies of this year, spiritual and temporal. Above all, the use of the blessed ordinances is my great mercy. Query.-Does my improvement keep pace with my advantages? Does my soul grow in grace ? Do I endeavour to conduct myself in my very trying situation with that wisdom and meekness, humility and patience in which I am so clearly instructed? Have I the charity which endureth all things? Am I a doer of the word as well as a hearer? Do I bring home the truths I hear so faithfully preached, and turn them into practice-or are they only as a pleasant song? pleasant to the ear, and even to the understanding: but taking no root in the heart. Alas! I might fill sheets of paper with heads of selfexamination, to which I can only answer, Cleanse thou me from my secret faults.' I have wept and prayed for this retreat, where I might, in some measure be screened from many painful and agitating occurrences to which I am liable in town; and where I might withdraw from such society as know not God, and be more able to cultivate a life of faith. All these things have been wonderfully granted me. 'Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits.' O send forth thy Holy Spirit to teach me to profit; or all these advantages will afford me nothing."

Jan. 9, 1791.-"My heart is sick to hear of the wanderings of one who has for many years stood high in the estimation of the Christian world. Alas! alas! this is what I have feared, lest I should begin to run, but not hold out to the end. It is He that endureth to the end that shall be saved.'' Hold thou me up, that my footsteps slip not!'

Jan. 10.-" A sharp trial this evening. O that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away and be at rest.' What though my troubles are like an overwhelming tide, yet my privileges are very great. The special favour of hearing the gospel, so purely and richly preached, should reconcile me to all my trials. And truly if it were not for the comforts God is pleased to bestow, I should soon be in wretched despair, for as to this world, every prospect of happiness is struck at the very root.

"The banks are needed when the billows roar."

Under the pressure of increased trials MRS. HAWKES wrote the following letter to her sister Mrs. Jones:

"I am sorry to find my dear sister like myself, infested with many anxieties, though of a different nature. Mine have been very heavy indeed of late. For some time past, I have not been enabled, (in the degree I have been graciously assisted heretofore,) to roll my burden on the Lord. But he saw me ready to faint, and mercifully vouchsafed me timely help. Let none fear trouble with such a compassionate Saviour for a sustainer: for verily he is not an High-Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but who hath a condescending and tender sympathy with us under them; which he will manifest in the time, and

manner, and measure, which His infinite wisdom sees best. As for me, I am quite ashamed of myself; truly it may be said, 'If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.' Small, indeed, is my strength, or rather, feeble is the hold which faith takes of an Almighty arm. I am willing to allow, (for who is not willing to make self-excuses,) that my trials are peculiar, and my present bodily weakness and langour does much towards enfeebling the mind also; yet I have still much to be ashamed of. Our great business in life is to glorify God, and to speak abroad his praise ;-and the fittest time to do this is under suffering. It is easy enough to sing when the sun shines: but when the heart and flesh fail, then to rejoice in the Lord, becomes the true servants of so good a Master. In the grave the tongue is silent. It can no more publish to fellow-sinners, and fellowsufferers, that, 'The Lord is good, a strong-hold in the day of trouble;' and that his tender mercies are more in number than the sand of the sea. It is therefore the living only that can praise him; and of all living, the afflicted believer, whose every trouble is sanctified, has reason to be loudest in the song."

In reply to her sister, Mrs. Jones writes:

"It is a mighty conflict; and if you had not an Almighty Friend to hold you up, your heart and flesh would fail. But he will strengthen your heart, and enable you to fight manfully. He has brought you into these trials that you may raise an Ebenezer to his name, and bear testimony to the truth, and write tried under the promise, As thy day is, so shall thy strength be.' God will prove his beloved ones, that they may be constrained to prove him. A good man used to say, that the same Almighty power which made the world,

was also granted to the Christian. You have an anchor, that will hold you fast. It is sufficient at such times as these, to endure, as seeing him that is invisible. By and by, you will reap the pleasant and peaceable fruits of these afflicting seasons and exercises. What a happy day will that be when this mortal shall put on immortality! but we should be willing to fight before we are crowned; and the Apostle says we do not fight‘uncertainly. Even the most unpleasant vacuities in life have their uses; we must be made to feel what we arepoor fallen creatures-that we may be thankful for that grace which transformeth us into a better image. The knowledge of our weakness must ever be attended with painful sensations; and I apprehend that we shall ever be increasing in that knowledge as long as we are in the body. But the more we feel our disease, the more shall we prize and apply our remedy. May you, with the strong arm of faith, be able to lay hold of the Saviour, till he perfect his strength in your weakness. I endeavour to bear you before him, and to entreat his mercy. I would not prescribe to him who loves you in connexion with your eternal interests. It is indeed difficult to believe that all this is for the best: but we cannot read God's dispensations aright; they are too high for mortals to spell them out. Faith and resignation are written in the most legible characters: may we consider them well; and may Jesus Christ work them in us."

Thus did He, "who giveth songs in the night," enable these two sisters to cheer and animate each other; by mentioning" the loving kindness of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord." And thus did they begin that song which now, in the paradise of God, they sing with louder and sweeter notes, to him who loved them and washed them from their sins in his own blood.