impelling me to any service or suffering for Christ's sake-all too little.

Tranent, May 1, 1819. Saturday.-It will occur; seasons of depression and discouragement; my experience tells me so-not forsaken, I will look to the Rock that is higher than I. Who else can relieve, support, and deliver, especially in the deliverance which is promised by a faithful God in the house of many mansions? I am hearing frequently of this deliverance in the case of others, let me expect it in my own, and may the prospect gladden my heart. It pains me to think that my exertions for the honour and interest of my Redeemer should be so few and feeble; but such things have befallen me, that I am dispirited, weakened, and cannot do what I would. The good master, whose I am, and whom I serve, will accept of the will for the deed, and not reckon that for a grievous sin which is felt and lamented as a disallowed infirmity. The power of God to punish sin is terrifying, but the mercy of God to pardon it is encouraging. He hath not, and he will not deal with us according to our iniquities. Expect two young men, incidentally in the place, to preach for me tomorrow; the Lord come forth with them, and speak powerfully and impressively on the hearts of all. Amen.

Tranent, May 5, 1819. Wednesday.-Wakened this morning a little before two o'clock, felt the cough severe, and my breathing difficult; suffered much uneasiness for a considerable time: sunk again into sleep, and was somewhat refreshed, but still agitated and enfeebled. Cannot go out as I was intendingbe it my attainment to submit to the divine will, and

to adore God in all his dispensations. Let this suffice me; but were it his holy will to strengthen me in body and mind for glorifying him on earth, and finishing his work, it would gladden my heart, and be an occasion of humble thankful joy in himself. Let me not despair; he hath delivered me in six troubles, and will not forsake me in the seventh. I will pray, "O Lord, be gracious unto me, I have waited for thee; be thou my arm every morning, my salvation also in the time of trouble." Were his present visitations to terminate in the dissolution of

my shattered frame, I would not curse God and die; I should, methinks, still mention my confidence in the God of my salvation, and hope to the end that he will never leave me. But, alas! in me there is much unbelief and little faith, and therefore a strong tendency to fear. Lord, be thou my helper, give me comfortable views of the safety of my state, and my interest in thyself. Amen.

Tranent, June 19, 1819. Saturday.-In thee, O my Lord, I put my trust, let me not be put to confu sion, let me not be ashamed. Feeling my own weakness, and emptied of all dependence on an arm of flesh, I place my hope in thee; and will, in the midst of felt infirmities, rejoice in the expectation of seeing thy goodness in the land of the living. The poor man shall not be disappointed, for his God has said, my servant shall never be ashamed." It were highly satisfactory to be aided in the work in which I am employed; never so active as I ought to have been, I am now disabled and enfeebled, and cannot exert myself in the work of the Lord. I stir a little among the people of my charge, and can preach a

little to them, but feel myself so much relaxed that it is not without much pain and difficulty; still, blessed be God, there is a better life before me. What should attach me to this, unless it were to serve God? O that I could serve him with all my might, and with all my heart, and have the sweet experience of his gracious presence always and every day, even to the end. Believe, O my soul, and thou shalt be established; God is faithful.

Tranent, July 3, 1819. Saturday.-I must record my painful as well as pleasant experiences. Felt last Sabbath in the forenoon as if bereaved of thought and recollection, and could hardly proceed; yet was upheld, and went on till I had gone over what was intended. Was somewhat relieved in the afternoon; but even in my distress these words occurred: "He shall not fail nor be discouraged." I must still go on in hope; the God whose I am, and whom I serve, will not fail me, nor forsake me: in this confidence I begin, and will perform the work to which I am called in the services of word, sacrament, and prayer. I ought to be humble and diffident, but would be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. He will be my rock and my fortress, my glory, and the lifter up of my head. He hath done much for me, and in the close of my life and labours he will not, I hope, cast me off. No, he hath spoken in his holiness. I will rejoice, and find much ground for it, whether with respect to strength or weakness, smiles or frowns, life or death. The following words are encouraging: "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever." Psalm cxxv, 2.

Tranent, July 17, 1819. Saturday.-I will love thee, O Lord my strength. Looking into the Song, what strong and striking expressions occur: I remark them, and would be happy to adopt them. I mean to-morrow a cursory view of the account which the spouse gives of her beloved in answer to the question, "What is thy beloved more than another beloved?" in chap. v. 9-15. I must go, in hope of his love filling my heart, and opening my mouth, to express his unequalled excellency. None but Christ, none but Christ, altogether lovely; of whom I would say, "this is my beloved, this is my friend." Let me reproach myself for my diffidence and distrust; he is a friend that loveth at all times, he will not fail me nor forsake me in a time of need; my praise shall be continually of him, and my boast not in the creature, but in the Beloved, who is the praise of all his saints; to whom I would say, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Hallelujah, hallelujah!" Amen.

Tranent, July 22, 1819. Fast-day morning.-To be publicly engaged in the evening. I take a half hour at present, expressing my feelings and desires ; I feel, or I ought to feel, my guilt, my pollution, my misery, and should bewail my case, and cry for mercy. Let me adopt Isaiah's lamentation: "Woe is me, I am a man of unclean lips." Present David's prayer: "Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin." I desire, and I hope my desires are sincere, that the Lord may show me his glory, and make all his goodness to pass before me, countenancing me in his work, and strengthening me for it; so ordering and disposing of every thing in it, that all may go on comfortably and pro

fitably to me and his people, and for the glory of his great name. I desire, too, to embrace this opportunity to make a repeated surrender of myself, my family, and my flock, to the Lord, and to do this in the most serious, solemn, and impressive manner. "One shall say, I am the Lord's, another shall call himself by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord;" which, if I deceive not myself, I do in the sincerity of my heart, ROBERT SHIRREFF, who says, 66 yea, mine own God is he," and hopes the Lord will not reject him.

Tranent, July 27, 1819. Tuesday.-Let Israel rejoice in him that made him, and be joyful in their King. These joys are not always felt in their fulness, but there is a solid and sufficient support communicated to the people of God, bearing them up, and carrying them on and through their duties and difficulties; of this I hope the poor writer is a witness, and should be thankful. My feelings were not lively on the late occasion, but there was something experienced which upheld me in my work. Had some comfortable views of the future state, and thought that nothing could separate us from the love of God. (Action sermon text, Rom. viii. 38, 39.) Knowing in whom I have believed, I would live and die in this faith. Alas! that ever there should be doubt or hesitation. The Lord hath been gracious, he hath not smitten us in his anger, he hath spoken comfortably in the ministry of the word, and much for our consolation and instruction. May his blessing succeed all for his glory and for our good; whether the instru ment is weak or strong, it is God who must work all in all. May he get to himself a name, and an everlasting sign, that he is Zion's comfort and stability,