more abundantly. I am sensible of a progress, but alas! it is very small when compared with what might have been. I place in Jesus my whole confidence. My hope is in him as my great high priest, and those words are very sweet to me, "The author and finisher of our faith." O my adorable Saviour, I am as the clay in thy hand; make me such a vessel as thou shalt choose me to be! Some things have occurred which, years ago, would have been a great trial. But I now see and feel a great beauty in the cross; and have such evident proof that he orders all, that I can leave all my cares in his hand.

September 11.-If I live till to-morrow I shall be sixtyeight years old, and my dear Mr. Fletcher would on that day have been seventy-eight. O how long has he been in glory before me! He was ripe, and sweetly gathered into the garner. Lord, prepare thy poor creature to follow him. I have had my niece Whittingham (my dear sister's daughter) with me for some time, whom I had not seen since she was twelve years old. I have found much satisfaction in the interview. Blessed be God for the work wrought on her soul, and for the pious husband the Lord hath provided for her. How much better is she off than if she had remained in the world! Truly, "Godliness hath the promise of this life, and of that which is to come. I am surrounded with blessings; I want no earthly comfort. O that I had a more grateful heart.

December 15.-I have been a fortnight laid aside from a bad cold, and much weakness on my lungs; but what cause have I to praise the Lord! I have experienced his tender care in many ways. One night, when more ill than before, I was offering up my soul and body for time and eternity, into the hand of my gracious Redeemer, and longing for a fuller preparation for that day, which I saw could not be far off; and being hardly able to keep in bed for want of breath, I found, all at once, as if I were surrounded, or overshadowed with a sweet and sacred power! I cannot describe it; but I felt as if I was so encircled by, and drawn into the presence of God, that nothing could approach to hurt me! I said, Not a thought can arise "to disturb my beloved till he please." It lasted about half an hour, and showed me how easy the Saviour can enclose the soul as an island in the midst of the sea!

December 31.-O my God, how do I close this year? I am still confined to my chamber, and mend but slowly. But I feel the Lord is at work on my soul. I pant for a more lively faith, and blessed be God, I found an increase since this illness. Truly, he makes all my bed in my sickness, and keeps me night and day.

January 1, 1808.-And do I see the beginning of another year? Yes, my Saviour! thou dost yet spare me. I have been some time in a near prospect of death. 0 that I may use every moment to gain more of thy likeness! I cannot be far from eternity. O my God, make me ready! I have not been able to begin this year with the dear people as usual, being still confined, yet mercy is in all my cup. How light are my pains compared with others!

February 9.-Blessed be the Lord, he hath wonderfully renewed my strength! I have been out these three weeks, and have gone through my meetings in the week as before; and praised be the Lord! I feel greater liberty than ever. The other day I found among some old papers a few lines I wrote many years ago. They were blessed to me; and, as I hope they will be a blessing to others, I transcribe them.

Saturday, July 18, 1761. We had a good time at the meeting this morning, at brother Biggs'. Mr. Fletcher was with us; and as I was speaking of my discouragements, he said, "Make more use of Jesus. The reason why you find a spark of faith and love when you repeat those words,On thine arm do I trust,'-which you do not feel at other times is, because at that time you make an act of faith; but you do not continue that act of faith, which is the reason you do not always feel the same. If our anchor is cast within the veil,' we must be casting it farther and farther, that we may draw our souls nearer and nearer to God. There is nothing which draws my soul to God like the consideration of his love to me; it is on that I must fix my eyes, and when I feel my heart has wandered, and I am cold and dead, and unable to watch and pray, this is my method,-I return just as I am to Christ, and cast myself again on his mercy, pleading, Thou art the righteousness of the ungodly, the strength of the weak, the helper of the helpless; thou art the friend of

sinners; in short, he is the God of fallen man." He again observed, "He doth not require us to stay for a broken heart; for what would repentance avail if he did not work it? We also lose much for want of thankfulness. We should praise God for every good desire we feel, though, perhaps, as yet, we have not power to put it in practice.

Mr. Maxfield was, at that time, a very blessed instrument among us, and great power attended his word. Although very painful things afterward occurred.* I do not think myself clear unless I bear testimony to that truth. I took down a few particulars of a sermon of his, which I will here repeat.

Sunday, November 2, 1761.-Mr. Maxwell preached on the history of the Israelites taking Jericho. He observed, "By what is said of Jericho, we may be instruct. ed concerning the evils contained in our hearts. It was theCaptain of the Lord's host,' by whose command Joshua acted-and this Captain was our Lord Jesus, who still goeth before every one who believes in his name.' But, added he," there is one thing very material to observe-Jericho was straitly shut up, none went out, and none came in.' Now, is this the case with your hearts? Are you watching over your ear, your eye, your tongue? Are you careful neither to see, hear, nor speak any thing, but what tends to draw your souls to God? Many of you will perhaps ask, Why did not the walls of Jericho, my corrupt heart, fall before the Lord, as I have been seeking so many years? I will tell you why--your Jericho is not straitly shut up.' It may be that every idle story your neighbour brings to your ears, or foolish imagination Satan suggests to your minds, finds a ready enter. tainment, and your minds are filled with unprofitable thoughts, which, like a crowd, get between you and your Saviour. You might seek thus for ten thousand years, and be no nearer. Every thought that doth not tend toward God, if indulged, stops the work of sanctification; and you will never advance toward holiness, till you exert with resolution the power which God hath given you, in

* He separated from Mr. Wesley, and did much harm in the London society.-ED.

resisting steadfastly every thought and word which would come between your soul and Christ. But those who are thus watching and keeping their hearts, so that nothing can find entrance till it be examined, and known from whence it comes-let them take courage. I am sure your souls thus waiting will not wait long before your 'Joshua will command them to shout!' Only let them believe, and continue to watch. The Israelites were bid not to shout, nor make any noise, till they were commanded; and when that moment should come was known only to Joshua. They believed and followed. So let us hang by a simple faith on Jesus, listening every moment what his Spirit shall dictate to our hearts; for the Captain of the Lord's host' is with us, and he hath his sword drawn in his hand' to conquer all our adversaries. And though you feel your sinful tempers, be not discouraged, for the inhabitants of Jericho were not only alive to the last, but in full strength. When the power of faith comes, the strong walls of unbelief shall drop down, and you shall go up and possess the good land! How little and idle

it would appear in the eyes of these enemies, thus to walk round the walls, blowing rams' horns! So we think our labour and spiritual thriving avail nothing; but only let us continue to cut off every word or thought which would give food to the old man, and thus obey, in firm reliance, that our Joshua will be the author and finisher of our faith,' and we shall find him faithful who hath promised, who also will do it.'"

March 3.-This was a good morning to me; the Lord was very present when I awoke; and I had such a view of the all-sufficiency of the Saviour as I cannot express! Such a safety in trusting in his arm alone! That thought struck me-many great kings have said, "I have no cause to fear, for I have vast armies, great allies," &c. But O, what a fly did it all appear to me, when compared to the power I felt in that simple word, "Jesus is on my side!"

March 18.-Yesterday I found an increase of faith. O, what repeated proofs I have that the Lord doth watch over his poor creature with guardian care! I had something to do in the work of God which was attended with difficulty; and yet I scarcely knew how to go out in the

sharp east wind. But O, how was every thing ordered! I found also such liberty in visiting the sick, as if every word was immediately given me. I had such a view into the way of faith-and the atonement was made so clear, as I cannot express. I saw also the Lord's tender care in a variety of other occurrences. What a freedom from care hath the soul who singly trusts in Jesus!

March 29.-I cannot be thankful as I would for the restoration of health which I feel. Cold as it is, I have been enabled to keep to all my meetings-seven or eight times a week; and my nights are as comfortable as when I was but twenty. I feel no complaint of my breath, when still, nor in bed. O, that I might use all my little strength to the glory of God! I see death very near, notwithstanding this amendment.

On looking over my journal, I miss some observations which I wrote on the death of my dear father in Christ, Mr. Wesley. I think I must have mislaid that sheet, or perhaps lent, and so lost it. However, I wish now to bear my testimony to the truth. Ishall have cause to bless God throughout eternity that ever I knew that precious and highly favoured servant of the Lord Jesus. He was indeed a star in the Almighty's hand, and a wonderful instrument of good to our nation. When I was very low, after my dear husband's death, among the many gloomy thoughts which came to my mind, one was, that I had not so profited by Mr. Wesley's excellent advice as I might have done; and I wrote to him expressing that sentiment; to which he gave me the following answer: "My dear sister I do not remember you ever disobliged me in any thing. On the contrary, you have for these many years done every thing in your power to oblige me.' Indeed I saw it my duty so to do, and must acknowledge my many and great obligations to that great and good man.

May 26.-How good do I find it to lie quiet in the hand of Jesus! All, all works for good. I have been ill with a cold three weeks, and trust I am laid aside for a season in order to gain the blessings of retirement. Some fatigues which have occurred from company rather threw me back. The providence of God appeared so clear I could only say, O how true is that word,