enjoyment of the sweet intimations of the favour of God more lively: only I think I do not possess that painful earnestness of spirit, which I have experienced. Lord, let me never rest but in the full enjoyment of thyself.

This year is now drawing near to a close, and I feel a painful conviction, that I have made comparatively but small progress in the Divine life. O that before it ends the Lord would come and finish the work begun in me, and let me enter into the rest of perfect love. Lord, hear the prayer of thy handmaid.

31. I have repeatedly to-day renewed my engagements to be the Lord's, in time, and to all eternity. At night, heard a sermon on "Arise, and depart, for this is not your rest." While attending to it, the Lord shone upon his work on my soul. My interest in Jesus was as clear, as if written in the most legible characters.

"Meridian evidence puts doubts to flight,

And conquering faith anticipates the skies."

O wherefore is the Deity so kind! Astonishing beyond astonishment! Heaven our reward above, for heaven enjoyed below!

1773.

Diary continued.

January 1. And is the former year gonegone, never to be recalled!-Where is it? Lost in the ocean of eternity! Awful thought! Not so the deeds I have done in the course of it, they are faithfully recorded in the Divine register. O my soul, how wouldst thou blush at the recital, were it not for the blood of Jesus.Blush, did I say, alas! how confounded wouldst thou rather be? In it would be found, ten thousand times more than enough to condemn thee to all eternity, were it not that Jesus stands between the Father's wrath and thee. O "Jesus my hope, for me offered up," how shall I,-how can I sufficiently praise thee! I lament the coldness of my heart. I would it were ever burning, Seraph-like, with love to thee; but, alas! how insensible is it to that vast love that "thee inclined, to bleed and die for me!" O for more love!

I awoke, and got up very early to begin the year with my immortal Friend; but through

affliction of body was prevented going to his house, yet the Lord made it a sweet day to me.

19. For these two weeks past, I have had cause every day to bless the Lord for his goodness to me. The additional power given me some time ago, to rely on him for the accomplishment of his promise, still continues; to which is united, a measure of faith, love, and zeal, for the glory of my God, and the salvation of others. This last week he has afforded me delightful communion with himself, in secret prayer, meditation, and conversation. I also experience that Christ is more and more precious. I seem to see more than ever the immense value of his blood, as a fountain to which I am permitted to have daily and hourly recourse, for the removal of fresh-contracted guilt; for continual short-comings; and for further degrees of sanctification. O Jesus, in thee is all I wantbut for thee, and my interest in thy complete atonement, where should I appear, or how should I appear! Confusion would for ever cover me, and my best deeds. In thee alone is all my hope, and all my comfort. Of late, my heart leaps for joy at the very mention of the name of Jesus. I can truly say,

"Jesus, thy blood and righteousness,

My beauty are, my glorious dress."

}

O how cordially does my soul approve of the whole plan of salvation; but still I grieve daily for my unfaithfulness, unfruitfulness, unwatch

fulness; these three evils are a source of much

sorrow to me.

26. For these seven days past, I have experienced, in various ways, the goodness of my God. The means which he has most blessed has been secret prayer: this I prove a holy preservative against the many snares of an evil world. By it I am fortified, and in some measure enabled to bear the trials which are constantly occurring in common life. There is no situation in life exempt from trials. To be "from all things that disquiet free," is incompatible with a state of humanity. To suffer so as to glorify God, is all we can ask or expect. Some weeks ago, I found meditation the way in which I enjoyed most of the presence of the Lord; but he varies this, as his wisdom sees best. I have felt the pressure of several trials for a long time, but have been allowed to cast my burthen on God; and, especially of late, he has given me an increase of power to trust in him. My faith in the promises is also sensibly strengthened; but still I lack that degree of it, which would enable me to lay present hold of them yet, I believe, "He that shall come, will come, and will not tarry." This forenoon, I found Christian conversation and prayer truly blessed. The Beloved of my soul drew nigh, and comforted me, and others with me. Several opportunities also occurred for the good of others, which the Lord enabled me to embrace; O that he may bless them. He is very gracious

in this respect, and as he knows I am prone to be discouraged, he sometimes condescends to let me know, that good is done by my feeble efforts; this animates and encourages me to renew my attempts. I seem to be in my element when acting in any way for God. My soul truly desires to be wholly His; but, O, how far am I from this. For some days I have enjoyed a calm abstracted frame of mind-free from creatures-cleaving to God.

February 14, Friday. Endeavoured to set this day apart as usual for prayer, abstinence, and self-examination. Upon the whole, it was profitable, though not remarkably joyful. This last week the Lord Jesus has drawn very near to me, and wonderfully manifested his presence; so that I have seen and conversed with him as a man with his friend: yet these visits of love were but short. O to have them more abiding. Were I more holy, I should enjoy more of God. It is this, (when we are accepted through the Beloved,) which capacitates our nature for the enjoyment of Him. The pure in heart see God. My soul desires holiness, but, alas! how little of it do I possess. I have cause to be thankful that my evidences of justification remain satisfactory, but this is not enough; I pant for the full image of God.

25. The accomplishment of a gracious promise on which God had enabled me to trust, appeared very nigh-just at hand. I have looked almost every moment for it, yet when attempting