has been pleased to give unto us the appearance of revival. Six have lately been added to our church: four of them in full communion; two only occasional. My soul would praise the Lord, and not forget any of his benefits.

I have now begun another year: perhaps it may be my dying year. However this may be, the Lord help me to work while it is called to-day! My heart's desire and prayer is, that when my Master shall come, he may find me so doing.

1806.

Dec. 14.-I have now the mercies of another year to review, and truly the Lord hath abounded towards me in mercy this year also. The God of my salvation hath kept my faith and hope alive; given desires to serve him, however feebly, yet in simplicity and godly sincerity. He hath awakened in me more than ever a fear of my own heart, and made me watchful against seeking my own things, when professing to seek the things of Christ my Lord. Alas! my deceitful heart! What unworthy principles and ends are often found to influence its measures! The more careful my search and observation, the greater reason I find to abhor myself, "and repent in dust and ashes." Lord! purify my heart by faith abolish this idol self; that first born of the seed of the serpent in my soul; that Goliah which has so long defied the armies of the living God! Captain of my salvation, thou anointed Chief, thine is the

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power! Enter the field, reveal thine arm, and bruise the serpent's head! O when shall I have one heart, have all my desires to point to one end, and all my labours influenced by one commanding principle! Well; as far as I know my own heart, if it be the pleasure of my Lord, I would be saved from this idol self, even so as by fire: it is my desire and prayer that He would sit as a refiner, until the dross and tin be purged away.

Blessed be God for family mercies this year! I have still to rejoice over my dear children: they are blessed and made blessings! Blessed be God! my pastoral charge presents an couraging appearance. Some additions have been made to the church. A lady, on a visit at a school, while I was addressing the children, though before an entire stranger to Religion, appears to have felt the power of Divine truth, and is become, I believe, an attentive hearer of the Gospel. O Lord, let this dropping introduce a plentiful shower of blessings! Into thy hands I now commend my life and my dear connections. Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth!

1807.

Dec. 14.-The revolution of another year is completed. My years are fast multiplying: at the age of sixty-two, I cannot but regard the time of my departure as near at hand. Blessed be God for continued health and strength for labour, and for

a heart constrained by the love of Christ, and made willing to labour, and I trust to suffer, as my great Master shall appoint! Blessed be his Name, he has not sent me to warfare at my own charges! I have not been called to labour unassisted and alone. His presence, his blessing, his influence, have made my work to be my wages. Faith and patience have been called to many a painful trial; but he has not been a wilderness to me, a land of drought his rod and his staff, his mercy and his truth, have still relieved the burden of affliction, rebuked my fears, and strengthened me with strength in my soul.

The sins which brought a devouring scourge on the inhabitants of the old world, and brought down a storm of furious vengeance on the cities of the plain, seem to characterise the inhabitants of our favoured country. Yet, blessed be God, there is hope concerning this thing. We have a praying remnant. We have our seven thousand, who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Some, I trust, we have, who have power with God: O that they were more! It is, indeed, a day of profession! It is a day, wherein a great deal of zeal for the Gospel is expressed, in outward devotion and liberal expenditure; but comparatively few appear richly endued with the Spirit of grace and supplication. Lord! when wilt thou pour down thy Spirit on British ministers and churches? When wilt thou unite them, and make them full of the Holy Ghost and of faith? When wilt thou subdue

the hearts of the impenitent, and bring prodigals and strangers home? Our sins and our slumbers are discouraging to our hopes: yet, there is forgiveness with thee, that Thou mightest be feared! Blot out our transgressions for thy name's sake; and exalt the glory of thy grace, in saving a people who deserve nothing but thy wrath! Whatever be the issue of the present conflict, in respect of our nation, let the Throne of our Redeemer be exalted, and his kingdom grow! Oh! let me and mine, and all that put their trust in Thee, have a covert in thine infinite perfections and everlasting love!

Blessed be God, for abounding mercy shewn to my dear family, over whom I can rejoice as richly blessed and made blessings! He has put great honour on most of them. He has been, and will be, I trust, a Father and a Saviour to them all.

The war, now commenced with Russia, threatens great disadvantage; but the Lord sitteth above the floods, and he will perform all things for us. I would enter the ark with all my dear family, and make his promised all-sufficiency my refuge and defence. "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation."

Among the people of my ministerial charge, the Spirit is abundantly manifest; the number of hearers is increased, and more seriousness is very generally evident among them. A very encouraging change has, for some time past, appeared in one of our

young friends. From an extreme devotedness to the vanities of the world, she has come out from the vain and trifling, and is separate: she seems to be an earnest inquirer after salvation, and devoted in a remarkable degree to the instruction of poor children in our Sunday school. May the Lord carry on and perfect what seems to be his own work! In our villages, likewise, we have seen much of the Divine favour and blessing. Lord, leave us not! Whatever discouraging circumstances we have to lament, whatever perilous times we have to apprehend, O bring me, my dear family, iny ministerial charge, and all thy people near to thyself, and provide for us a hiding place! Amen.

1808.

Dec. 14.-I have now to review a year signalized in a remarkable manner by the mercy and goodness of God. No bodily illness has once interrupted my public labours; and I hope not my body only, but my soul, hath prospered and been in health. Truly, my work has been my delight, and I have felt not a little solicitude, that my heart should be upright before the Lord therein. But alas, how often does my treacherous heart deceive me! Appearances are sometimes fair, as if its direction were simply to the glory of God; yet, at the very time, I find it dissembling, and turning aside to a point which I should be ashamed to acknowledge. Lord, make my soul sincere!