and will build her up in the worst of times and places. "Who is God but the Lord? there is none like the God of Jeshurun."

Tranent, Sept. 11, 1819. Saturday.-I expect a brother from the south to assist me to-morrow; hope he will come and speak, under a divine influence, the words of eternal life. As for myself, such are my common impressions that there is none less fit for the important office; but to the praise of that gracious God, in whose service I have been so long employed, I am not despised nor shunned. I will still adhere to my work, and trust that he will uphold and deliver me, sensible of weakness and unworthiness; but he works as he promises, for his name's sake, and to him be all the praise, now and for ever.

Tuesday last our Synod met as usual. I was a silent member; I have neither confidence nor courage to speak out what I would wish to say, and which I often hear better expressed by others than could be done by myself; the Lord knows my heart, and will, I hope, pardon my weakness. It was an agreeable occurrence at this meeting to see some steps taken for promoting the union between the two Associate synods; a measure apparently very acceptable to both parties, and which it is expected will be in course of time adopted and acted upon. The Lord hasten it in his time, and all the happy results fully realized which are presently anticipated. He that scattered Israel will gather him and keep him as a shepherd doth his flock.

Tranent, October 28, 1819.-Set apart this day for thanksgiving, humiliation, and prayer; commemorating the goodness of God in the course of the season,

and anticipating the sacrament of the supper on Sabbath first. Have felt, I hope, some serious impressions, and presented some prayers to the object of our worship, neither unacceptable to him, nor unprofitable to ourselves. I must wait the issue. I am aware of my unworthiness, and know that my best services are polluted and imperfect, but they are to be accepted in the Beloved. I feel myself weak as well as unworthy, but my strength, as well as my righteousness, is of the Lord; it is in this faith I must proceed. Such are my feelings, that I cannot trust to myself; could I express them, they would only be a view of absolute dependence, not in an arm of flesh, but in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, for the salvation of my soul, and for carrying me on in the work in which I am engaged. It is done; the Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer. Amen.

Tranent, Nov. 6, 1819. Saturday.-Continuing still easier, I intend part of the service for myself to-morrow, and have the assistance of Dr. B. of which I mean to avail myself. I feel difficulties in the way of duty, and am often at a loss to perceive what is best to be done; not to preach would be a hard case, and even to give up any of the public services would be unpleasant and undesirable. I must therefore go on, looking to the wisdom which is profitable to direct, and requesting of God that he would shew me his ways, and lead me in his truth. O the advantage in knowing how to improve it, and to rely upon it; to have divine direction promised, and the benefit of it felt. "Thus saith the Lord thy Redeemer, the holy One of Israel, I am the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go." Good is this word of the Lord,

may it be fulfilled and experier ced in my case.

Amen.

This is a dark and rainy day; the heavens are clouded, the rain, often in the form of snow, is in-. cessant; but the wind is calm, and the atmosphere undisturbed. All things are of God; he is the ruler of the material world, saying to the snow "be thou upon the earth; also to the great rain and the small rain of his strength." We know not what may be on the morrow; but there is a kingdom which ruleth over all, in which all is well ordered.

Tranent, November 13, 1819. Saturday.-What! shall I be like a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke! Ought I not to learn obedience by the things which I suffer? let me behave and quiet myself as a child that is weaned of its mother, and let me hope in the mercy of the Lord from henceforth and for ever; he will not be always wroth. The morning cometh as well as the night; there is a God in whose hand I am, and whose are all my ways; he will pity, and spare, and help me. I will not despond; he is a great help, and hath no obstructions in his way but what are as nothing to him. I must, I will, and I do go to him; he will not reject me, he is ready to receive all that come unto him, nor will he put away his poor servant in his anger. It grieves me to think of inability for his service,-oppressed, and breathless, and spiritless, I feel unfit for the services of to-morrow, and have engaged Dr. Brown to officiate for me. This is a heavy providence to me, but if it is the will of God, let me cordially acquiesce, still thankful and hopeful, and expecting to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living; and may the Lord speedily interpose and command his loving kindness. Amen and Amen.

Tranent, Nov. 24, 1819.-Have been in heaviness for some days past; feel rather lighter to-day. May I not hope the Lord will be my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer? In the midst of my thoughts within me, may I be strengthed with strength in the inner man. Let me realize the subject of last Lord's day. David was greatly distressed, but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. Our distresses are both of a temporal and spiritual kind; but under them we are furnished with encouraging doctrines and promises, consolations, wishes, hopes, and expectations, review these, O my soul, and with them encourage thyself in the Lord thy God,-he will not fail thee. Have been chiefly for two days past glancing at Dr. Buchanan's memoirs: What an eminent man! distinguished in the providence of God for boldness, zeal, and activity. I feel much affection for such men, but how it pains me to think of my own inactivity and uselessness. Woe's me, my leanness, my leanness ;-but the Lord knows what is in me.

Tranent, Nov. 27, 1819. Saturday.-My God, to whom can I go, thou woundest and thou healest; I roll myself upon thee,-surely thou wilt not forsake me,-be mine arm every morning, and my salvation in this time of darkness and distress,-mine eyes are unto thee. I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to bear, to carry, and to deliver; and hope that he will be my strength and my song, and my salvation; in this confidence raise me above my fears, and let me rejoice in thee when in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. I am oppressed, O Lord, undertake for me; and, cast. ing my burden upon thee, may I feel myself sustained. This is intended to be the subject of discourse

to-morrow; and 'may I realize it in my own experience, and O let my Lord say so also. Amen, and Amen.

P. S. My case is not singular; David was in the depths, crying unto the Lord; Heman was afflicted, and ready to die; Asaph remembered God, and was troubled. Their troubles had a happy issue,-when they were tried, they came forth as gold, and are now shining as stars in the kingdom of our Father. May I cherish this hope in application to myself, though for a season, if need be, I am in heaviness; yet the thought will occur, "Wherefore is light to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul?" Job iii. 20.

Tranent, Dec. 7, 1819. Tuesday.➡I ought to be thankful. The Lord deals mercifully with me. I saw yesterday a boy in the depth of a fever, and a young man in the last stage of a consumption: that either of these is not my case, is in the sovereign goodness of God; to him be the glory, and to his glory may I live. O that his glory may be ever in my eye. I regret that I should do so little for this great object; but the Lord knows that it is not owing to aversion. Most gladly would I serve him with my spirit in the gospel of his Son; but such is my weakness, my diffidence, and distrust, that I cannot do the things which I would. Methinks it makes life a burden to me, and will make me more willing to leave the world, where I am for so little use. I am not however without hope that he who wounds will heal; he will bring me up again from the depths of the earth, that I may show forth his praise in the gates of Zion. The Lord hasten his word, to perform it. Whether he smiles or frowns, it is mine still to adore. Amen.