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not forsake thee," is his gracious promise, and my experience confirms it. Even when deserted and left to feel my own deadness, he does not utterly leave me; I may well say, so foolish was I and ignorant, I was as a beast before thee:" nevertheless, would add, I am continually with thee-thou hast holden me by my right hand-thou shalt guide me by thy counsel." Feeble and faultering, and not without some hesitation, I express this to be my faith and hope, which the Lord ripen into assurance. Blessed with this view, it is my duty to wait and to submit. But, woe's me, the workings of the sin that dwelleth in me. Lord, how long; when shall the adversaries without and within me be bruised under my feet? when shall I rise above and be freed from the many that fight against my soul, and prevent me from lov ing and serving thee as I ought and wish to do? Am to preach to-morrow on Psalm cxvi. 9. "I will walk before the Lord," &c. Recommending a life of piety and circumspection as under the eye, in the presence, in fellowship with God, and conformity to his will, as the happiest and the best. And O that I may experience it in my Christian and ministerial services, thinking with delight on the things of God, speaking with power about them, and manifesting in my conduct a holy, humble, and heavenly conversation. I love my master, and will live and die in his service; and blessed be God, my attachment to his work is unabated, and will, I trust, rather increase than diminish.

Tranent, April 11, 1818. Saturday.-Have now done with my preparation work for to-morrow; but the Lord knows, and I may know, that without help from above, my labours are unprofitable. I

would not wish to serve God with that which cost me nothing, but there is danger of a spirit of independence and pride, from which I beg to be delivered, and taught to place my confidence on the mighty God of Jacob, who is the saving strength of his anointed. I tremble at the thought of being left to myself, I will not indulge it, since the faithful Promiser hath said, “ I will never leave thee.” Would God also that the young ones around me were taught of the Lord, and that those of mine own household were moved betimes by his spirit; I see nothing openly wicked in them, but O that there were more evident symptoms of the grace of God in them; as also in the members of our church, and in all to whom I minister in holy things. Am still insisting on prayer from Luke xviii. The duty is necessary and important; I would pray and recommend prayer in the name of Christ, and by the help of the Spirit, for the mercies promised to us in the covenant, and given to them that ask the God of all grace..

Tranent, May 2, 1818. Saturday.-It becomes me to acquiesce with the divine will. Have been indisposed this week; a pain in one of my sides, which had been giving me uneasiness for some time, rose suddenly to a violent height on Sabbath morning last, and made me unable for my usual services on that day. The congregation was dismissed after the forenoon worship. It has been and continues to be easier, and I ought to be thankful. Have sometimes, I think, a grateful feeling of the happiness of heaven, where the redeemed shall be fully adequate to utter the mighty acts of the Lord, and to shew forth all his praises, at least so far as they are competent to the work. For the present let us praise him in the high.

est degree, and let every thing that hath breath unite in the same exercise. Anticipating the songs of eternity, let us sing in the valley of tears, the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad. Have an assistant to-morrow-the work will devolve upon him: would wish to pray publicly if it may be conveniently done, this however is at present unresolved; the Lord will do, as it well becomes him, with his own what he will. Let David's language be mine:

Surely I have behaved myself, and quieted myself, ́as a child that is weaned of its mother; my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever."

Tranent, July 23, 1818. Fast-day morning.-Experienced much of the divine goodness on Sabbathwas supported in the public services of it, and even carried comfortably through them. "Not unto me, not unto me, but unto his name be all the glory." Let me take this is as a token for good, and an anticipation of continued encouragement in the work of the Lord. This day I feel pretty well in my bodily frame, but not without some derangement and confusion in my mind. Occurrences in the present imperfect state, both of a private and public nature, may be expected to give a minister uneasiness; but whatever they are, he hath a good master to whom to seek, and to whom to commit his cause. This is what I would do; casting myself in all my Christian and ministerial concerns on an almighty and all-sufficient arm which is able to bear, to save, and to help. As a poor sinner, I look unto the Lord for mercy; and as a weak unworthy servant of his, I hope in his promise, Lo, I am with you always."

Same day. Evening.-Yes, I have been endeavouring to give myself over unto the Lord, eating his flesh, and drinking his blood, and possessing that eternal life, which is the fruit of his purchase, and the happiness of his people. O what a felioity! But is it mine? an interesting inquiry. Let me not deceive myself; no, I am not in a delusion: the Author of this eternal life hath long been dear to my soul, the blessings it contains are the objects of my acceptance, the way in which it is communicated is agreeable to my mind, and the possession of it here and hereafter will, I am satisfied, be the essence of the happiness of its possessor. Adequate to his wishes, and commensurate to his duration, I consider it as a blessed attainment; interested in it as partially enjoyed in this life, and looking for it as the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ in the life to come. are my feelings and sentiments; my judgment approves of them as consistent with the word of God; and I rejoice in hope of seeing his face in righteousness, being conformed to his image, and happy, for ever happy, in his presence. Would God, my faith, my love, my hope, my joy, may receive additional increase and vigour on this occasion; while what is spoke on the subject, Jude 21, (action sermon text,) may be felt by the speaker and his hearers as a word in season to the weary. Amen.

Such

Tranent, July 28, 1818. Tuesday.-Nothing noted down since the fast-day; not imputable to indifference, but to a certain impediment not necessary to be recorded. I now sit by myself-the haste, the stir, and the company attending our sacramental solemnities, are past; the ordinances have been observed, and we are left to meditation, prayer, and improve

ment. The disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration were soon deprived of Moses and Elias, the cloud that overshadowed them, and the voice that spake unto them," and when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only." It is well, it is enough, if Jesus be still with us, when his ministers and people, the visible signs of his presence, are removed. On a general review of our past exercises, and of my own feelings in them, I see abundant cause of thanksgiving and joy-the Lord hath been a God of mercy unto me. Felt at the close of the services on Sabbath less fatigued than I often do on ordinary Sabbaths; nor was I unfitted to read and to make some transient remarks on the cxviii. Psalm on Mon. day; and was succeeded by a brother, who concluded the work with the usual benediction, " and may the iove of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with me, with the people of my charge, and with all our Christian brethren, from this time forth and for ever. Amen." I devolve myself and my charge on "him who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before his presence," Jude 24.

Tranent, August 7, 1818. Friday.-On Sabbath am to assist at North Berwick-no sermon at home. I trust to the Lord for a safe journey, and for his asassistance in my work abroad and at home. Have been this day looking over discourses for the service intended. As usual more anxious I am afraid, than humble and dependent, yet not without hope; the Lord will be my helper and deliverer, and will not leave me to myself. Am now less able to serve him than when in the possession of greater vigour-" he giveth power to the faint." I have my changes, and