be the subject of discourse on Sabbath-the Lord enlarge my heart and open my mouth, and give me to anticipate what I hope one day to feel. Have been at this time particularly concerned for the outpouring of the Spirit, and directed to preach and pray on that point. I will wait on the Lord, and expect that mine and the souls of my hearers shall be as a well-watered garden. The needy shall not always be forgotten, the Lord is mindful of his covenant, and will not be forgetful of his people-" I will pour my spirit," &c. &c. Amen.

August 1.-Have been looking over and arranging the communicant roll; find it to be much as it hath been for some years past, about 200 and a dozen-a small yet a weighty charge; of these God alone knows who are and who are not real in their profession-of the virgins in the parable five were wise, and five were foolish-are we thus divided? The determination must be left to him whose eyes are as a flame of fire. It becomes me to judge charitably, and to act impar→ tially; the Lord knows them that are his. My request is, that he may enable me to preach his word, to be instant, &c. &c.-Nor can I effect any thing without the concurrence of his spirit. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, whose I am, and whom I serve, will not forsake me-I have declared my acceptance of him, and purpose through grace to abide in him; and I am persuaded, or I will endeavour to persuade myself, that he will not cast me off. In this faith I would wish to go on, so long as he has any use for me. Speaking to his honour, and dying with his praise on my lips, “To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." It affects me to meet with coldness and indifference from any to whom I am a friend—yet it

must be so in the present state. To the future I look forward, when friendship and love will be without mixture, as well as without end. My dispositions, I think, are peaceable, and my aim is to follow peace and holiness. I have thought it desirable never to enter into contentions with any man; and rather than do so, to submit to dishonour and to injury. Never anxious to vindicate my own character, nor to assert my own rights; leaving my name, my interests, and all my concerns in the hand of God, enabling me to do worthily in my station.

Tranent, Dec. 28, 1809.-Kept this day a congregational fast and thanksgiving-was alone in the pub lic services. Preached twice; the subjects were, "Woe unto us, that we have sinned." "It is a good

Poorly attend

thing to give thanks unto the Lord." ed; the congregation apparently not half assembled. This, though discouraging to me, is still worse if viewed as an evidence of inconsideration and inattention to the providences of God. Worldly engage ments and occupations may be an obstruction to some, but in the case of others, might they not be forgot. ten? Alas! our case is languid I have felt in myself much deadness and distress. In the close of the exer cises and since, my spirit has been flat, and my frame heavy, yet not lost altogether to a sense of duty-have at least a desire to be humble and thankful. As to myself, innumerable evils compass me about; in all my doings there is sin: none of my works are perfect, not one of them can be a ground of dependence-I betake myself to the pure and spotless righteousness of my Redeemer, and rest on the atonement made by him for all. I look on myself as a debtor to the great Benefactor for all my enjoyments; to whom I will

give thanks always, and for whose glory I would speak and act while I live. Such is his goodness, that I can never sufficiently extol it; and such is his patience and long suffering, that he is still bearing, and supporting, and delivering me. Now, after many years provocation in the wilderness, my complaint of a cough has returned this winter with considerable severity; yet so kept under, that it has not disabled me for my weekly ministerial services. "Bless the Lord, O my soul."

Tranent, March 1, 1810.-General fast, sacramental also with us.-Intending on Sabbath first to cele brate the dying love of our blessed Lord; officiated in the public services alone: found myself at times supported and enlarged to speak with earnestness. Blessed be God, I will hope in him. Be not cast down, my soul, he will not leave thee destitute. He is my God, and I am one of his people; he is my master, and I am his servant. Can I think he will send me a warfare on my own charges? Alas! that ever a dishonourable thought of him should arise in my mind: I will resist these enemies of my peace, and still try to encourage myself in the Lord my God. But is he my God? Yes: O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, "thou art my God;" as such I have chosen him, and will repeat my choice; and in life and death, through his grace, will adhere to it. In the sanctuary, and in the closet, and at the table of the Lord, I have made this choice; and as an evidence of it, I feel the bent of my heart and of my life to be unto him. No, it is no delusion, (if I dare speak my fixed sentiments and genuine feelings,) but the ground of faith in the promise, and the grant in it, the Lord thy God." Here I rest, setting to my seal

"I am

that God is true. Concerning the work that is before me, I will, both as a Christian and as a minister, go forward to it, with the glory of God in my eye, and with the grace and love of the Redeemer in my heart, not doubting but that he will give me what communications are best for me. What though I feel weak in mind, and feeble in my nervous system, yet the sufficiency of his grace is more than adequate to all my infirmities; and why may I not trust in the Lord, with whom there is everlasting strength? Yes, I will trust and not be afraid. Received notice this evening of the death of a friend. My time will come; O to be ready. Ministers are not suffered to continue; I too must resign; let me occupy till my Lord come, and be faithful unto death, and then receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away. So help me, O God. Amen and Amen. "So shall we be ever with the Lord," is intended to be the subject of discourse on Sabbath. I am now going to seek him, and express my dependence upon him-the Lord hear me.

July 29. Sabbath morning, eight o'clock.-Now I have done, I devolve myself and all my concerns the Lord, not deficient, as I think, in preparaupon tion in point of thought, study, &c. I am afraid of self-confidence, which I hereby renounce; and would commit my works unto the Lord, in hope he will establish my thoughts. Yes, the Lord Jesus, I hope, will be with my spirit, disposing and enabling me to speak the things that concern himself. Rev. vii. 17. (Action sermon text,) I go again to my knees, leaving myself and all upon him. Cheer up, my soul, the day of thy redemption draweth nigh; encourage thyself in thy God, and think of the Lamb in the midst of the throne, meanwhile, the Lord will

not leave thee destitute. Having been with thee in so many troubles, he will not forsake thee now-no, no; I will hope to the end, and expect that the faithful God will not suffer me to be tempted above what I am able to bear. Every day will not be alike. dreary; the morning cometh as well as the night, the one is necessary no less than the other; but THAT day will dawn when the clouds shall not return, nor the night succeed; the Lord shall be our everlasting light, and the days of our mourning shall be ended. What a pleasant transporting prospect! the thought of it ever be animating and invigorating. Amen.

Tranent, Dec. 27, 1810.-We were employed in the exercises of thanksgiving, humiliation, and prayer; combining these duties together which the calls of providence unite and require of us; the subjects were, Psalm lxv. 11. and Rom. xii. 4. The goodness of God in the course of the season was particularly insisted upon; and the evil of not knowing that it leadeth men to repentance represented as a cause of deep humiliation before God: to me it should be matter of deep regret, the want of feeling and affection, the want of faith and hope, the want of an ardent and operative gratitude. The Lord hath been a God of mercy unto me, he is dealing wondrously with me in all my concerns, and I am not without an impression of the countenance of his favour, for he hath said, "I will never leave thee." What manner of person then ought I to be?"but the good which I would, I do not:" Rejoice, my soul, in hope, the day of thy redemption draweth nigh. Meanwhile, as a monument of God's forbearing mercy, let me have much labour, pray much, praise much, preach much, and never count on any trouble or any expense for his sake,

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