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recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eye sight. With the merciful, thou wilt show thyself merciful; with an upright man, thou wilt show thyself upright; with the pure, thou wilt show thyself pure: and with the froward, thou wilt show thyself froward; for thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks."

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

MEMOIRS

OF THE LATE

REV. CORNELIUS WINTER.

PART III.

CHAPTER I.

EXTRACTS FROM HIS DIARY.

EVERY

VERY thing that habituates us to sacred retirement; that leads us to self inspection, and promotes self-acquaintance; that causes us to review past events, and examine what improvement we have made of them; that produces comparisons between our present and former experience, either for our reproof or encouragement-is confessedly valuable.

Hence good men have been accustomed to write diaries. It was known that Mr. Winter approved of such a custom, and I hoped that among his papers I should find a complete journal. But in this I was disappointed.

I saw in a letter to one of his friends, the following acknowledgment—" I have been guilty of a capital omission—the neglect of a regular diary." Even this did not destroy a hope that se

veral interesting portions of his life had been recorded by him. But all that has been discovered consists of nothing more than two fragments, began early in his public life, and soon relin quished.

Nor are these distinguishable by any thing superior in the subject, or the execution. The whole is too much in the form of the Methodistical registers of this kind, which, though they may be useful in a degree, are surely very capable of improvement. If it be proper to make daily observations, it is not always necessary to write them. For this purpose perhaps weekly retrospects, or annual reviews, would be preferable. By this means their sameness might be varied, and their dullness enlivened. They might be rendered less minute and more important. They might be extended beyond the detail of one class of feelings, and which are often misunderstood as to their cause and indications; for how frequently is it the case, that no distinction is made between the variations of the animal frame, and the operations of spiritual agency; between physical and moral inabilities and fervours.

Of the plan we would recommend, we have a pattern in Dr. Doddrige; and no one can help grieving that more of his diary was not made pub

lic. We there see a man not only looking backward, but forward; not only complaining, but resolving; not only praying, but striving; attentive indeed to his pains and pleasures in the divine life, but always connecting with practice-you see him investigating his moral character, as well as his spiritual state; you see what methods he took

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to conquer evil propensities, and to strengthen religious habits; you see how he kept alive the zeal that carried him through so many difficulties, and acquired the patience that supported him under so many trials.

Short and imperfect as these manuscripts are, I shall here present a few pages of them. They serve to show the pious state of the writer's mind, and may convince the reader that the exercises which he has often been led to consider as peculiar to himself, have been the familiar experience of the Lord's people: and should therefore prove way-marks rather than stumbling-blocks.

"Once they were mourning here below,

And wet their couch with tears;

They wrestled hard, as we do now,

With cries, with doubts, and fears."

"I find from a recollection of past circumstanees, I have been very remiss in not continuing a method of keeping a diary of the dealings of God with me, but now, by thy grace assisting me, I will remark thy goodness, O Lord, who art plenteous in redemption, and abundant in goodness and in truth. A more proper opportunity I cannot have than in the ever memorable instance of thy salvation, O Lord, this 25th day of October, in which I enter into the 25th year of my age, at which time the Lord was pleased to give me an humbling sense of my wretchedness, insomuch that I could not only help weeping much in secret, on account of my own unworthiness, and his all-sufficient grace.-Was much assisted in this

view by reading Gen. xviii. xix. Wrote to M visited a friend, and had reason to say, hitherto hath the Lord helped me.

"TUESDAY, 26. In the morning continued my usual studies; breakfasted with sister S―, there met a poor desponding woman; endeavoured to recommend the Lord Jesus Christ, to speak of his precious promises. Dined with Mr. S; our conversation was not light, but turned more upon the creature, than the Creator.-Received a letter from Mr. W-d, desiring me to return directly. In the afternoon visited poor Mrs. B-1, with others, where we sung hymns and prayed. I expounded the thirty-second chapter of Isaiah, first and second verses. Our opportunity was solid; there was something of the Lord's power manifested. I find it very useful to employ myself in those exercises among my friends, as it keeps out frothy conversation, and furnishes me with spiritual matter preparative to public work. In the evening supped with brother Hn; the evening was spent in reading the Scripture, singing, prayer, and narrations of the Lord's providence, which shows that he is good and gracious.

"THURSDAY, 27.-This morning set out for London; was much assisted in my meditation by the autumn season. Breakfasted as Mr. H—————'s, arrived in London at two in the afternoon; my time in the boat was spent in silent prayer and reading. I could not get opportunity, nor find freedom to speak to any of the company, all of whom were abandoned people, but not so intolerably outrageous as some I have been with there. Mr. Wreceived me kindly; when I came home with

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