beams of glory which proceeded from our Lord, and touched every one of the glorified spirits, showing how all their glory sprang from their union with the supreme Good. His ecstasy was now so great that he cried out, and shouted the name of Jesus till he awoke. He told me that for about three days he scarcely knew where he was, his soul was so wrapped up in the heavenly vision. I felt my soul much refreshed by his conversation.

Sunday, March 30.-On Tuesday night I dreamed I was sitting by a table, on which lay the large volume of my dear Mr. Fletcher's Life. I was at that time very thoughtful about the printing of his Works, fearing any thing should be done that he would not approve. He came into the room, but I did not look up; and being desirous to be alone, I went into the next room and sat down. He called to me with his own well known voice, saying, "What, art thou so afraid of me as to go out of the room as I come in?" I started up and cried, No, my dear, I am not afraid of thee. I then returned, and sat down in my chair by the table; he sat on the other side. Then taking up the book he said, "There is no need for anxiety; I would have thee read this book; it will give thee pleasure. Take it up now; thou wilt find something that will encourage thee." Two days after I received a letter from Mr. Benson, informing me that a person in London had translated Mr. Fletcher's French poem into English, and they had some thought of printing it with his other Works, if found to be done in a respectable manner. Then I understood that my dear love told me of it, in order to prevent the uneasiness I should have felt had he not shown a degree of approval. I had no recollection of the poem; and that he should know I had not read the Life, and thus comfort me under the anxiety which I felt, was very pleasing to me. O how indulging is my heavenly Father!

May 24.-A thought has much dwelt on my mind for some days, that we should many times in a day ask ourselves, Am I now causing joy or grief in heaven? We are told there is joy in heaven over the sinner that repenteth, and, by parity of reason, over the advance of every child of God. Those words (spoken of our Lord) follow me much, In all their afflictions he was afflicted. He hath taken our whole nature, and so will abide eternally.

But his passions are all regulated by the Divine nature. So in the case of Lazarus it is said, He groaned in spirit, and troubled himself.* It appears then that he looks with delight or with mourning on his children. It is said, "As a bridegroom rejoiceth over his bride, so will the Lord thy God rejoice over thee; he will rest in his love. He will joy over thee with singing." And the idea that by turn. ing away from this hurtful thought I am giving pleasure to my Saviour, and resisting Satan, is a very animating conviction; but, alas! I cannot express it in words: it is as if Jesus said, "My desire is toward thee; let me not lose one thought.'

June 30.-Blessed be the name of the Lord for the answers to prayer I have experienced of late! One above all the rest demands my loudest praise. I have long been crying for my soul to be all eye, so that I should discern an unprofitable thought in its approach; and now I have, for one particular day, felt this power continually for about a month. I do not mean that my thoughts do not wander from the various objects which occur; but if a thought would present itself so as to take up the mind unnecessarily, in a moment I am warned and enabled to stand upon my guard. O my adorable Saviour! come and fully pos sess my soul, and give me such a measure of thy enlightening Spirit that I may clearly discern the things which are given me of God!

Monday, July 7.-Last night, when I came out from the society meeting, I found a letter from London, informing me of the death of my dear brother Samuel, who died about eleven in the forenoon on Friday last, the 4th of this month. I have had much encouragement in my mind about him for some days, and so have some of my spiritual friends. His death seems to bring eternity very

near.

August 14.-Three seven years have I walked in widowhood. O what a situation was I in this day twentyone years! What trials have I since known, but what mercies also! Yes, my gracious Lord, I find thou dost order all for me! This day I renew my covenant to be

* In the original it is so.-ED.

See Mr. Wesley's admirable sermon on wandering thoughts. -ED.

all the Lord's! I know not what bitter cups may yet be preparing for me, but I here cast myself wholly into thy hands! My body is weak with age, and threatened with many painful disorders; but I leave all to thy adorable will. Miss Tooth seems threatened with a consumption. This would be an unspeakable loss, for she takes off all care from me, and is in every way an abundant comfort and help; but this I also offer up to thee, my Lord.

September 12.-This day I enter into my sixty-eighth year. None of my family have lived to my age. Lord, what shall I do to live more abundantly to thee? O that I may take up every cross, and embrace it as a precious jewel! O, the great advantage of living in the will of God!

November 12.-A memorable day to me! This day twenty-five years I gave my hand to my dear Mr. Fletch. er. O, what a oneness of soul do I feel with him still! Lord, give me the meetness to partake of that joy he lives in! I have of late been convinced it would help my faith to consider deeply what great loving kindness and guardian care I have experienced from the Lord, since he hath taken my dear partner to glory. I may say indeed, goodness and mercy hath followed me all my days. What a mercy that this house is still my home! The vicar might have wanted it himself, or he might wish to let it to some other person. But in this Mr. Burton hath shown me much kindness, as also Mr. Kenerson, the patron; may God bless them for it, and give them both everlasting habitations! At this time I feel my soul drawn out after a closer union with the Lord.

February 13, 1807. Though offences will come, yet we have great cause to be thankful that the work prospers. Since the beginning of this year we have had seven tri. umphant deaths. One of them was Mrs. B. When 1 first saw her she was an object of great pity. She had lived in affluence, but was reduced almost to beggary. She had no bed. I procured a little one for her, and she praised the Lord abundantly. She had for more than half a year lain on the ground. "It was," said she, very hard, and my bones were sore; but I enjoyed such communion with God, it bore me above all." She has suffered much for many years, but always had the conso

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lations of God, and sometimes very abundant. A few weeks before her death, when her son came home one day, she said, "I have had such a manifestation of the love of God as I cannot describe. I think if I was in heaven I could not enjoy more than I do!" This continued with her to the last. She was one of the Lord's hidden jewels indeed, little known or noticed among men. Her appearance was mean, but she was glorious within. Another was a child not twelve years old, the son of W. Smith. He had a long and severe illness, during which the Lord brought him to rest in the will of God to a degree which amazed those about him, and much comforted his parents. Some time before his death, he had a wonderful manifest. ation of the love of God. He cried out to his father and mother to be all in earnest. "It is," said he, "worth your while. O, what do I see! how pretty! how sweet! how grand! how glorious! Then, as conversing with the Lord, he said, "Lord Jesus, shall I come now? Shall I come now? I want to be with thee. Let me come now!" He became silent for some time; then he said, "Not now, I must suffer longer." Three or four times after this he had glorious manifestations. In one of them, he told his father how his soul had been grieved to see their workmen play and trifle. "Sure," said he, "they forgot that God sees them every moment; and when I think of backsliders, it makes my heart ready to bleed to think there are any who do not love Jesus." He pointed to a chest of drawers and said, Father, if those drawers were full of gold, I would not take it for what I feel and see." When near death, as he sat in the chair, (for he could not lie down nor lean back, for want of breath,) he told them how happy he was, and yet how very bad. He then said, "Father, put the pillow, I will try to lean back." When this was done, he cried out, "Triumph! triumph!" He then fell into a sweet sleep for about three-quarters of an hour; when turning his face on one side, he died without any struggle. The others all died in clear light, but I have not the particulars.

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March 5.-Glory be to God, I see more and more his tender care is over me and mine. I have had a time of trial from Miss Tooth's illness this last fortnight, but much mercy was mixed with judgment. Lord, spare her, if it

please thee! Thou knowest I have need of her help; but thy will is the arm of the rock I cling to when the waves go over my head, and I know that rock will never fail me.

A thought has struck my mind, that from some things mentioned in the notes subjoined to the Portrait of St. Paul, edited by Mr. Gilpin, after my dear husband's death, he might be thought to favour the opinions of Baron Swedenborg. I therefore think it my duty to bear witness to the contrary. The first book which he saw contained but little amiss, and Mr. Wesley having observed concerning it, "I think it will neither do good nor harm,' ," Mr. Fletcher, soon after writing to his brother, who had mentioned it, observed that it was a book which he did not condemn. But when he had seen a little more of the baron's Works, he said to me one day, "Polly, I believe Mr. will be a Swedenborger, and I am very sorry for it." I said, Well, if he can believe that there are wax candles and feasts in heaven, he must have strange ideas. Mr. Fletcher replied, "My dear, thou dost not perceive the snake in the grass. These books deny the atonement, and so strike at the very root of all true religion." In the same mind he continued to the last.

April 3.-I feel within these few days a drawing nearer to the Lord; and a loving recollection of his presence to be the element in which alone my soul can grow. I feel an increasing expectation that the Lord will come, and take up his abode in my soul. That verse in Jeremiah, chap. xxxii, is much on my mind, "I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart, and with my whole soul." I look now hourly for this, that according to my former promise, I may "feed on Carmel and Bashan," and my soul be satisfied in a close communion with God.

August 14. This day twenty-two years my dearly beloved husband entered glory. When I awoke this morning, the first thought presented to my mind was,— How has my soul grown in these twenty-two years? I felt a deep sinking bofore the Lord, that it had not grown