tablished in his service, and favoured with success in it; not running in vain, nor labouring in vain, but made the instrument of much glory to God, and of much good to men. To-morrow I intend to preach on Rom. viii. 9. "Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ," &c. My design is, a view of vital Christianity in the heart, which cannot be experienced where there is a want of the spirit of Christ; "whosoever has not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his." I look forward to next Sabbath, and would have the people to examine themselves in relation to the work in expectation-the Lord countenance and assist. How encouraging to be upheld in my work, and to have the proof in myself that Christ's yoke is easy, and his burden is light; my feet standing in an even place, and in the congregations blessing the Eternal! compared with this, I would reckon every thing else little and inconsiderable, loss, and dung. Tranent, March 10, 1819. Wednesday.-The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad ; he hath preserved us in our church capacity, and kept us in possession of our Christian privileges. I think I have felt individually the meaning of the following words: "They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy." Nor have these in the next verse been unimpressed: "He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." These were consolatory considerations to my soul, accompanied with a persuasion that I have some interest in them. I cannot at this time speak in the lofty language of elevation, but must rather descend into the lowly walks of humility; cast down, but not cast off; faint, yet pursuing, and purposing to go on. My bodily in N firmities have been mercifully moderated; so limited, that they have not risen to a greater height; at present they are more pressing than they have been, but our God is merciful, and well knows my frame. Lord, mine eyes are towards thee; guide me by thy counsel, and grant me the cheering and invigorating light of thy countenance, that I may take pleasure in my infirmities, and expect that the power of Christ will rest upon me. Think in mercy, too, on all my poor people; I would hope they are not all receiving the grace of God in vain. May our heavenly Father give us his spirit for the most gracious purposes, and in the most abundant measure. Let us believe and pray, "If ye, being evil," &c. Luke xi. 13. (Action sermon text.) Tranent, March 14, 1819. Sabbath.-Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary, and all thy providences are consistent with thy promises. But how changing are thy dispensations! to me it is so-this day confined to the house, the doors shut, and the people scattered;-last Sabbath permitted to go out, to assemble with the people, and to preach and dispense the sacrament. Feeling much oppressed, and racked for some nights with the cough, I was persuaded to give notice of a vacancy. And why should I complain? God hath done me no wrong, he hath done much good. If I speak, it must be in the language of praise: "He hath not dealt with me after my sins, nor rewarded me according to my iniquities." O God, thou art my God, I will praise thee. In the solitary exercises of the closet, the duties of meditation, prayer, and praise, have been the object of my regard, though so poorly attended to, that I dare hardly mention them. But in prayer I endeavoured to make 3. a repeated surrender of myself unto the Lord, taking him on the footing of his word, to be my God; and requesting that he may be the God of my children, and my people. Nor will I despair; he is a promiseperforming God; and it shall be to his poor unworthy servant, the writer, according to his word; to which I add my name, and my amen, ROBERT SHIRREFF. Looking back on some of my notes of the same kind, it is marvellous in mine eyes that I am not taken away; so often chastened, yet not killed; so long dying, yet not dead; to the long suffering of God this is owing. How long this patience may be exercised is unknown to me; but my prayer to the God of my life is, and shall be, that I may be upheld in his service, and become more and more ardent and active in it, preaching the word, and travailing as in pain, till Christ be formed in the souls of my hearers -so help me, O God. Thus may I live; and when the time of my departure is at hand, carry me out of the world exulting and rejoicing. "O spread thy covering wings around, My soul arrives in peace." Tranent, March 27, 1819. Saturday, two o'clock.Have been trying to encourage myself in the Lordfeel the exercise very difficult, and at the best, as attempted by me, accompanied with many fears and forebodings. Thought of David's experience as recorded in the xviii. Psalm. Happy man! exulting in God as his rock, his fortress, and deliverer; assuring himself the Lord will save the afflicted people, lighten his candle, and render him triumphant and victorious. What will he not do? what duty will he not perform? and what enemy will he not resist? or what difficulty will he not overcome? God girded him with strength, and made his way perfect; gave him the shield of his salvation, enlarged his steps, and upheld him with his right hand, that he pursued his enemies, and overtook them, and consumed them. Well might he say, "Who is God save the Lord? who is a rock save our God?" He concludes the Psalm with these memorable words, pregnant with consolation to himself, and to his believing seed in every generation: "Great deliverance giveth he to his king, and sheweth mercy to his anointed; to David, and to his seed for evermore. Amen. Tranent, April 8, 1819. Saturday.-Have been moaning out my complaint unto the Lord, and shewing before him my trouble. Shall it be thus always with me? can I not believe? I cannot otherwise expect to be established. Unbelief is at the root of all my fearsfaith in the promises of God establishes, strengthens, and settles-it rests on a solid foundation, and renders the believer firm as a rock, against which the waves of trouble dash and break themselves. He is a wise man who builds his house upon a rock, and may defy the descending rains, the overwhelming floods, and the blowing wind. This, I hope, is what I have done; wherefore then, O thou of little faith, dost thou doubt? rejoice in the Lord, hope perfectly, and go on, strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might the lame take the prey. I have thought of some things for to-morrow on Nehemiah's prayer: "Remember me, O my God, for good; and spare me according to the multitude of thy mercies." The Lord, I trust, will be gracious; he hath dealt very mercifully with the children, three of them have been ailing, they are now in a hopeful way. O what shall I say he wounds and heals, he kills and makes alive; I trace his operations, and observe in them his loving kindness; but in all things I need the aids of his spirit, and will hope in him for them. ours. Tranent, April 10, 1819. Saturday.--Again moaning out my complaint, and presenting my request that I am so distrustful and so unbelieving, and therefore so heavy and languid. My request that the Lord would strengthen my faith, and rejoice my heart; feeling what in unmerited mercy I have often felt, that the Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. He was so on the preceding Sabbath, and he hath been so to us in all our late afflictive visitations; turning our mourning into joy, taking away sickness, and restoring health to us and They cry unto the Lord in their trouble, he saveth them out of their distresses: he sent his word and healed them. O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness." I intend, God willing, to-morrow, some thoughts on the four last verses of the iv. chapter of Job for lecture; and on the words of David in the xxv. Psalm, 7th verse, According to thy mercy remember thou me, for thy goodness, O Lord," for sermon. I know that the way of man is not of himself, and I wish to have no confidence in myself; but mine eyes are to thee, O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. Why not believe? God hath spoken in his holiness-I will rejoice. Fervent superlative love were a desirable attainment; I hope mine is real; Lord make it ardent, powerful, and operative, |