period when God will be vindicated from all the hard thoughts and speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him; when all wrongs shall be righted, truth brought to light, and justice done, where none here could be obtained; when the whole empire of sin, misery, and death, shall sink like a millstone in the sea of eternal oblivion, and never arise more; when God's whole plan shall be exposed to the view of admiring millions;when, 1 say, I consider it in this view, I cannot but look upon it as an object of joy, and wish my time may be spent in this world in looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of God."

CHAP. IV.

Extracts from his Private Diary, beginning June 3, 1780, and ending January 10, 1782.

CONSIDERABLE use has

use has already been made of this manuscript, in the preceding Chapter; wherein many extracts were inserted from it, indicating his tender regard for the people with whom he was first united, and his conscientious concern, when he found it necessary to think of leaving them, to do nothing contrary to the divine will.

I shall now make a more general use of it, to show in how remarkable a degree he watched over his own heart, and constantly maintained a conflict with indwelling sin; and also how anxiously he was concerned for the success of his ministry, and the spiritual welfare of his people,

I will transcribe the substance of what is recorded in the first two months, just in the order of time.

June 14, 1780.-Went out to visit some
Convinced that no art was

fallen brethren.

necessary in religion, resolved to proceed with all plainness and openness. Did so, and hope for good effects. Left each party with weeping eyes .. But O how liable to sin myself!

"16.-[He complains of dulness, but found more savour towards night.] Felt the importance of religion, and a desire of seeing the glory of Christ, and being conformed to his image. Saw a beauty in Eccles xii. 13.— 'Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole of man.'

"17.-Some light; but little life. A great part of the day, how dull! O that what little light I have had had been more transforming! Have been thinking on 1 Cor. iii. 18.-but O how little changed! I think I have seen one thing to-day-That speaking ostentatiously of any thing laudable in ourselves is the way to mar all the peace or pleasure that we enjoy in it. I think I see that this is a sin which easily besets me, and which needs being guarded against.

“18.—I found a solid satisfaction to-day, in preaching in a searching manner from 1 Cor. xi. 31.-'If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged:'-but wish to feel it more.

"20.-O how my days are spent! Grace how inactive! Sin how active! Surely exaggeration is a sin that easily besets we: may I be more upon my watch against it!

"21.-What! have the powers of grace and sin concluded a truce? I feel to-day as if both lay nearly still; as if I were strangely destitute of all thought; devoid of pleasure, carnal or spiritual; of sorrow, whether godly or worldly.

"22.-O that I might feel more of the power of religion; and know more of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge! I think I see a divine excellence in such a life! O that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast! I am going, God willing, to visit a friend to-day. O that a spirit of watchfulness, savour, and fellowship with Christ may attend me!

I

"24.-I see what a strait course it is, to steer between legality and libertinism. have been for some time trying to walk more closely with God; and now I find the sparks of self-righteous pride begin to kindle. I have been thinking to-day of Isaiah ii. 11. I have reason to be humbled, for having so little humility: yet I think I have tasted a sweetness in that plan of redemption which stains the pride of all flesh.

"25. Lord's-day.-Felt satisfaction in preaching, and in hearing J. F. relate his experience. O that I may feel more of the haughtiness of my heart brought down.

"26.-Dull and unaffected.

How soon do

I sink from the spirit of the gospel! I have

need of thine intercession, O Lord Jesus, that my faith fail not.

27.-O how difficult is my situation! Providence seems to go against me, yet I am in a straight what to do. Lord, and what shall I do? O that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me.

"28.-Have found my heart tenderly affected several times, especially to-night, in prayer respecting my critical situation. O providence, how intricate! If rough roads are marked out for me, may my shoes be iron and brass. I found to-day a peculiar sympathy towards poor people under under trying providences thinking I may have to go that road. Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God: thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.'

"29.-It is good to visit the poor, that we may know their cases, exercise sympathy and charity towards them, and learn gratitude, and many a lesson in the doctrine of providence.

"O what a horrid depth of pride and hypocrisy do I find in my heart! Surely I am unfit for any company. If I am with a superior, how will my heart court his praise, by speaking diminutively of myself, not forgetting to urge the disadvantages under which I have laboured, to excuse my inferiority; and Q