providential favours, I cannot but be ashamed of my ingratitude, of my cold affections, of my feeble services; of my forgetfulness, remissness, my pride and self-seeking; the many, many imperfections which have attended my best duties. How indulgent the providence that has watched over me and cared for me all my days; that has suffered me to want no good thing; that has given me a comfortable share of health; that has favoured me with many friends, and those from among the excellent of the earth! Oh, glory, glory be to the riches of discriminating mercy! May my soul never cease to praise the Lord! Several of my children appear already to be children of the covenant : let me see them all safe in the ark which thou hast provided, and then I would welcome the messenger that calls me from all that is mortal. Of all my father's house I only am now left. The feeblest of all has followed all the rest to the grave, and I remain a wonder to myself. May I not live unprofitably, nor quit the present, life without leaving a savour of the name of my God behind me. My much-esteemed friend, Mrs. C., is gathered home like a shock of corn fully ripe, Her sufferings were severe and very great; but the supports and consolation she received from above proportionably abounded, glory be to God.

The past year, we have been engaged in rebuilding, in order to enlarge the Meeting-house. Blessed be God who inclined the hearts of our people readily to engage in this expensive business. It is now nearly

finished. O that the glory of the Lord may be seen in it!.. God is my witness, that the chief excellency, and brightest ornament, in my esteem, is His presence and saving power. Lord, whatever I may want, may I never want thy presence, and the displays of thy grace! O fill this house with thy glory! Here satisfy thy poor with bread, clothe thy minister with salvation, and let thy people shout for joy.

1793.

Dec. 14.—Another year of this uncertain life is past! My days are fast numbering. My sun, long since past its meridian, is now declining apace: "Nor would I wish the hours more slow

To bear, me to my Love;"

to Him whom, I trust, having not seen, I love. My days and years, however, do not pass, without many affecting expressions of the mercy and truth of my covenant. God. He, blessed be his Name, is ever mindful of his covenant; and his providence and grace, revealed in past and present experience, contribute abundantly to confirm the truth of the promise he long since made me, saying, "I will surely do thee good." O that this solemn engagement were on my part observed with equal stedfastness! But O my deceitful heart, how it roves from creature to creature, and forgets its proper resting place! How easily captivated by the objects of sense, how soon forgetful of its most solemp vows, and the dearest pledges of God's everlasting

love! Many times, alas! how cold and formal am I in drawing near to God, even in those duties which he has often enlivened, and rendered delightful by the special tokens of his smiling presence! What a mercy it is that the progress of salvation in my soul does not depend on the stedfastness of my desires or endeavours, or the spirituality and suitableness of my frames. It is God's work; his sovereign mercy began it, and he will not forsake the work of his own hands. O my soul! he has not left thee without reason to conclude, that he has set his love upon thee and if so, he will rest in his love; he will save thee in spite of all the fury of thy enemies, and from all the guilt of thy sins, and from all the iniquity of thine heart. Lord, I would, I trust I would, yield myself entirely and without reserve unto thee. Do with me as seemeth good in thy sight; only bring me, and keep me near thyself. Rebuke and chasten me if it be thy fatherly pleasure; only give me grace to bear what thou shalt be pleased to lay upon me: let my soul be quickened in thy way, and be reaching forth towards those things which are before.

In the month of April, our new Meeting-house was opened. I trust it was a good day. God's presence was earnestly sought, and he seemed to reveal his grace, and shew us a token for good. Blessed be his Name, he has disposed the minds of many to attend, and to attend with seriousness. The congregation increases; the prospect of usefulness brightens. A meeting for prayer is instituted, and a spirit of prayer seems to be given.

Lord, receive thine own work! and in order to this, grant a warmer heart to one who wishes to be thy faithful servant!

This year the Lord hath seen fit to try me by a visitation particularly affecting. He has suffered my family to be visited with sickness and with death! My dear Elizabeth early in the year was seized with a bad cough, which gave serious alarm. Every endeavour to relieve proved ineffectual: disease increased: she was strongly attached to life, and wanted fuller evidence of her interest in the covenant. However, God shewed himself a prayerhearing God, granting abundant satisfaction to her and to us. Oh! blessed be God, who had so long preserved our comfort, and saved us from the approach of death! Blessed be God, that this first breach did not appear an angry breach! Blessed be God for a mind resigned to the will of Him who performeth all things for me! Blessed be God for the abundant hope I have in the death of this dear child! Great is the satisfaction I feel in reflecting, that just before her departure, holding my child in my arms, I gave her up to God, who received her with a smile: her blessed spirit took its flight, while her feeble lips cried “Joys!!" Blessed be God who so sweetly welcomed a child of mine to his eternal home and into his everlasting

arms!

.1

And now I am entered on another year. Lord, I desire, I trust, from my very heart, to yield my

self to thee; to do thy will, to be at thy disposal, and to wait thy pleasure. I am not solicitous to know the events of the year: it is enough to know that thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory! Lord, let me be kept near to thee; let me live to thy glory; let my precious time be carefully redeemed and my soul be preserved in a waiting posture, that whenever thou shalt call, I may be willing to obey! Even so, Amen!

1794.

Dec. 14.-Another year has been added to my mortal life, and it has been crowned with the goodness of my God in very many instances. Severe affliction has also visited me. I know O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that it is in very faithfulness I have been afflicted. By the springs of water hast thou led me. Thou hast tried my faith, to improve it. Thou hast taken a dear earthly comfort from me, to make me possess more of thyself. Thou hast loosed a cord by which I was strongly bound, and thereby enabled me to rise more habitually and sweetly in heavenly meditation. Thy manifested love has constrained me, and my heart has been with more ready zeal engaged in thy service. Thanks to thy rich grace that I feel my heart more dead to the world, and disposed to value life only, or at least chiefly, as the opportunity of serving the God of my salvation! Lord! suffer