A hint was lately given me in a dream, which I received as by the mouth of some kind messenger of my great Master. I was slumbering, but blessed angels were awake around me. I had lately delivered a charge at an ordination at Croydon, another on a similar occasion at Kingston, and was preparing a third for the designation of an itinerant at Godalming. On the morning of the day on which this third charge was to be delivered, I was roused from sleep by the sound of my own voice uttering aloud, "The man who lies the lowest at the feet of his Great Master, shall be recompensed by him with the greatest honours." It acted as a reprover. I suspected I had been too much pleased with what I had prepared for the solemn occasion. I was not possessed of sufficient courage to lay it aside, but determined to commit myself more fully than ever to the influence of the Spirit of God, from which I reaped abundant satisfaction in my exercise that day.

It is, I trust, my earnest desire to serve the Lord with my spirit, in simplicity and godly sincerity. But, alas! my deceitful heart! it is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. It often grieves the Holy Spirit; and robs me of the choicest comforts, the highest honours, the richest communications of Divine love! And what is worse than all, it robs my Saviour of the honour that is due to him alone! as if it were not the joy of my heart to see him wear the crown. Ah! how little have re

bukes and resolutions availed!

lies deep in my very nature.

conciled to the most painful

Pride is an evil that Often I have been reoperations, still yield

ing myself to the means of effecting a cure; but how soon the evil returns! Saviour, thy power display, and with thy stripes let me be healed!

My heart has been prepared to rejoice in the appearance of a revival in the Church and Congregation. Since the re-establishment of the Sunday school, two additional galleries have been built. The school now consists of one hundred and twenty children. There is also a school of industry, consisting of twenty-five girls, and instructed with great attention. The Congregation also much increases. Miss E. and Miss W. have been received into the Church, and several others seem lately to have their faces turned Zionwards; insomuch, that, although we have lost several families of the opulent, there seems to be more of the real spirit and power of religion than I have witnessed or heard of in this place before. The Lord be praised! He hath not withheld the return of prayer, nor shall any who hope in Him be ashamed.

My dear friend Mrs. L-has been some months with us, languishing under great bodily suffering, and distressful darkness of mind: no prospect of recovery, no sensible comfort, nor one hope beyond the grave! Yet, there is some reason to hope concerning her, and the supporting influence of that hope she evidently feels, and is often in a degree relieved

by conversation. O to see this gloomy night pass away, and the day return! I trust the Lord God of truth will appear in his glory before she go hence."

Blessed be God, that, amidst all the clouds which hover around our nation, we are not without a token for good. The Gospel of Salvation is by far more extensively preached in the land than ever, and in many places preached with unusual

success.

Divine influence remarkably appears on the minds of the young, and many are made willing to follow Christ. Very many exertions are made to carry the Gospel into dark places, at home and abroad. It appears that God is with us of a truth; and from this favoured country, His word is going forth into distant lands. Thus, while he shakes the nations abroad, he is exciting very many at home to aid his great design of gathering subjects into the kingdom of the Redeemer. This encourages hope, that, while thrones and kingdoms are falling beneath the arm of his righteous judgments, his guardian wing will shield our favoured country from the approach of evil.

Blessed be God! no breach has been lately made in our family, and God abounds in the bestowment of his mercies. Our dear children, in their several households, are in the enjoyment of his great goodness; and those engaged in the ministry of the Gospel are rejoicing in the presence and blessing of their Great Master. Thus far the Lord hath

me.

He

led me on: his mercy and truth are my constant companions. I know he will not fail me nor forsake Therefore, where he goes, I will go! will not fail to search out for me a resting-place at last, and therefore He shall be my hope and my joy by the way. "Into thy hands I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth!"James Bowden.

1809.

Dec. 14.-The year I have now to review has been rendered remarkable by some very gracious, and even surprising, dispensations. dispensations. God hath appeared in his glory, and shewn me greater things than I had before seen. The year commenced with the admission into the Church of my dear friend Mrs. C-, a child of many prayers. Her godly parents were not, however, favoured with seeing the return of their prayers while on this side heaven. God, in his wisdom, intended, in the circumstances of her conversion, to give an affecting discovery of the glory of his Name. Therefore, when he saw her wanderings, he was pleased to permit them, and suffer her to go forward in the way she had chosen, until the time, the set time, to favour her was come. Conscience, however, was not suffered to slumber. A sense of duty, the abiding effect of a religious education, often produced conviction: the blessed Spirit often carried home the plain and faithful address of the word preached to her mind. For a

considerable time, I found her without rest; not able to make a determined stand against the power of temptation; and yet deeply wounded by the word. A spirit of grace and supplication was at length given her. The Lord God of truth heard her prayer, and remembered his covenant. He saw her oppressed, and undertook for her. She was made willing in the day of God's power; and having subscribed with her own hand unto the Lord, she has hitherto shewn, that she entered into his covenant with all her heart and with all her soul.

This year has also been signalized by the admission of several others to the Church. Mr. and Mrs. R, were brought to be hearers. In great mercy the Lord was pleased to prepare their hearts to embrace the word of life. They were received into the Church three months since, and promise to be very useful members of our favoured society. May the Lord yet be merciful to us, and bless us, and cause his face to shine upon us! Our dear young friend Miss B has been also admitted into the Church: her sister also appears to have been made a subject of the grace of God. These dear children my soul rejoices over with exceeding joy. I saw the days of their early youth spent in the extreme of vanity: but when heedless of instruction. God was pleased to visit them with affliction, and thereby opened their ears to discipline. He saw their ways, and hath healed them. These are delightful manifestations of the Divine presence and