for the fulfilling of those given me long since, pleading that prayer, "Lord, accomplish the word on which thou hast made me to hope?"

As to my outward walk, Have I watched over my tongue ? David says, in Psalm xxxix, " I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not with my tongue. I will keep my mouth as with a bridle, while the wicked are in my sight." You who work among the ungodly, do you do so? Those words of St. James are very important: "My brethren, be ye swift to hear, and slow to speak." And in the third chapter he calls the tongue "a world of iniquity, set on fire of hell, and setting on fire the whole course of nature." Secondly, Have I watched over my appetites? Has my table been that of a Christian, or that of a beast? A beast only seeks to feed; but a Christian should make his table an act of devotion. "Whether ye eat or drink," says St. Paul," or whatsoever ye do, do all in the name and to the glory of God." Now this may be done in three ways. First, Some little act of self-denial should accompany each meal, as a check to intemperance. Ask yourself after each meal, In what have I denied myself this time? Secondly, Your table should be a time of godly conversation, if with others; of meditation, if alone. Thirdly, These blessings should raise your heart to thankful gladness, and increase your faith in that Providence, who, by thus providing for your body, gives you a proof how much more he will provide for your immortal soul. To help you thus to spiritualize your meals, use much attention and fervour in asking a blessing and returning thanks.

With regard to my neighbour, Do I strive to be faithful and diligent in my station; obedient to superiors; careful of, and tender to, my inferiors? Secondly, Do I pray and strive to love my neighbour as myself? Do I forgive as I hope to be forgiven? Do I do all I can for the souls and bodies of those about me? If I hear of the death of any neighbour, do I ask myself, Have I ever had an opportunity of warning that soul which I have neglected? Will that soul have a just accusation against me at the last day? Again, let us cast a look on those who are, from among ourselves in this last year, laid up in the garner of God. Have we honoured and served these saints of God? What a blessed opportunity we have

in this of serving the Lord Jesus! For if he takes as to himself all we do for his little ones at any time, how much more in their sickness and death? "For right dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." "I never hear of the death of a child of God but I ask myself that question, Have I done all I could for that person in every way? Jesus saith, "Make to yourself friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when you fail on earth they may receive you into everlasting habitations." How many do you think are thus waiting to receive you above? Let us this night awake to diligence. Let us be more earnest in seeking, and we shall be more enriched in finding. Good Mr. Frazer* observes, "Ever since I can remember, proportionable to my diligence in seeking was my finding : nor made I ever any extra aim at God but I got something extra. Also," says he, "I learn that a Christian's assurance, or faith, though it do not at first flow from holiness, yet it is, in its progress, ever in proportion to his holy walk with God." This is a great truth, for "the mystery of the faith” must be kept "in a pure conscience."

February 7.-How many have been called away lately! Three precious souls, three nights running, have I seen brought to the churchyard! The first was brother Brook, one of my dear Mr. Fletcher's first children. He has been a steady walker, but not clearly awakened to the work of sanctification till a few years ago. He dreamed that he heard a voice say to him, John, are you ready to die? He could not remember what he answered, but the purport was that he hoped so. Next day he was rather uneasy, and wished to have the dream again, that he might answer better. Some time after he thought in his sleep he heard the voice again. Then he said, Lord, am I ready? On which such a discovery of the evil of his nature was laid open to him that he cried out, Ah! Lord, I have all to do! I have to begin! From that time he felt a strong desire to be a new creature in the full sense of the word; and began to strive "to take the kingdom by force." But still he did not see clearly the way of faith. One night he dreamed my dear husband came to him, and pointing to a wall, said, John, you must get up above the top of

* A very pious minister of the Church of Scotland.-ED.

If

that wall. He replied, Sir, I cannot, it is impossible. Mr. Fletcher answered, Yes, John, you must, or you will perish. He immediately lifted up his heart to the Lord, and began gently to rise, till he was even with the top of the wall, on which he laid his hand to lean, when instantly he dropped down to the bottom, and awoke. This much discouraged him. But a second time he dreamed the same dream, and leaned as before, when he again dropped down. He had many thoughts about these dreams, what they could mean. After some time he again dreamed that Mr. Fletcher came to him, and, as before, bid him rise above that wall, adding, The reason, John, why you fell the other times was because you leaned on the wall. you but touch it you spoil all. Then he again lifted up his heart in faith as before, and gently rising till he was above the wall, he found himself in a most beautiful place, and his soul in a profound peace. From this dream he saw it was by "looking unto Jesus" that he was to "enter that rest which remains for the people of God." During a very long and painful illness he has been kept in a sweet, calm peace. In the beginning he was much tempted, but his confidence remained firm. In the latter end it was much increased. He said, a few minutes before his death, to a neighbour, "O, Tommy, this calls for much faith and patience;" but added, that his confidence was unshaken. He then cried, " Come, Lord Jesus!" and entered his everlasting rest.

The next night poor sister Smith was buried. She appeared to me more than commonly stirred up the last two or three times I met her in class. In her illness, which lasted a month, she was continually crying out for a clean heart; lamenting the unbelief she felt, which, said she, is as a wall. O that this wall of unbelief were removed, that I might have a clear evidence! O that the heart of stone were taken away! One night, about a week before she died, she called hastily to her son, telling him the Lord had taken away the heart of stone, and filled her mouth with praise. She continued in peace, though in much pain, till her spirit returned to God. lowing night a man was buried, who had been a suf. ferer for some years, but in that time brought home to God.

The fol

February 14.-My mind is sorrowful. It seems as if the Lord was about to take my Sally from me. She grows worse and worse; her legs swell much, her strength fails, and all means used appear unsuccessful. I have been so supported, as I could not have expected; not with great joy, but a determined resignation-a clinging to the will of God, be the event what it may. She has been as the tenderest of daughters to me; a spiritual friend both to soul and body; a most useful housekeeper, and the best of nurses in short, the staff of my old age. If I lose her, I shall be stripped of all that makes my life comfortable. We keep a kind of inn for the Lord's people; and I am so infirm I cannot supply her place in care and management. In the work of God she is also admirably useful, and together we get through a good deal. But left alone, what a poor creature shall I be to go through all these fatigues? But I will encourage myself in the Lord. We shall not be parted. She goes a little before, and I shall follow after.

March 9.-I have still a season of trial, but not without profit. My dear Sally is yet ill, apparently going into a consumption. I must now, as Abraham, lay the whole of my earthly comforts on the altar! But I cling to the will of God. Christ left all for me. O, my Lord, enable me to glorify thee in the fire! This morning, I was blessed in those words, "Casting all your care on him, for he careth for you.'

March 19.-This was our quarter day. I found in the morning a particular faith in devoting myself to the Lord, that his whole will might be accomplished in me, and by me that day; and I saw the immediate guidance of his hand in each particular. I felt thankful that our application to Mr. Young had apparently been blessed, and my dear friend was better, and enabled to assist me through the hurry of the day. We went to bed in peace, though fatigued. But in the night she spit blood again. This circumstance seems to take away, humanly speaking, all hope of her recovery. The discharge continued, though lessening all the next day and night. Blessed be God, I felt power to go through all that I was called to in the Lord's work, and to cling fast to his will by resig

nation.

March 25.-Sally is very poorly. The bleeding continues, though the discharge is small. Yesterday morning, Easter Sunday, I felt power to throw myself on the Lord, and was helped through the duties of the day. I asked her how she felt her mind when she began to spit the blood? She replied, she felt no fear of death, but a firm confidence that the Lord would finish his work if he took her directly. At the same time she felt tenderly for me. She added, "On Thursday, being in great pain, I dropped into a doze, and thought I heard the voice of my dear master, saying, as if he stood by me, 'The sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed.'" It was a refreshment to me to have, as it were, a message from heaven in this time of trouble. As I sat in my pew at church, I thought, I must now go to the table alone. Once I had my dear husband there, and my child at my side. Now, as Naomi, I must say, I went out full, but return empty. As I knelt at the table, it seemed as if her spirit was one with mine. On my return to the pew, as I was pleading in prayer that the Lord would order all, it came to me,— "Leave to his sovereign sway

To choose and to command;

So shalt thou, wond'ring, own his way,
How wise, how good his hand."

I said, Lord, look upon us! It was answered, The hairs
of your head are all numbered. I then said, My dear
Šaviour, our concerns are regarded in the court above;
I freely leave them there! It came with power, And the
care of them is with the Most High. That so melted my
heart, I could not help bursting into tears.
But they
were tears of gratitude. The Lord did not seem to tell
me what he would do with me; but patience must have its
perfect work.

May 8.-Many mercies and many trials have I passed through since I wrote last. My dear Sally is yet very poorly, and I feel myself called to stand on my watch tower, that I may gain all the good designed me in this trial. I desire to be in the posture of Abraham when he was going to Mount Moriah. What will be the end I know not, but it has been a time of much pain.

May 30.-The Lord hath in great mercy heard prayer