happiness I hope soon to enjoy, Surely my God is near, and he will turn again my captivity. 1 have expected every time I have gone to prayer, that he would burst my remaining bonds asunder, and deliver me out of the hands of my enemies, that I may henceforward serve him in true holiness, without fear, all the days of my life. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. ·

December 18. The Lord has been gracious this week in restraining my enemies, and allowing me a measure of communion with him. self; in blessing his word in reading, and by inclining me in every possible way to act for him. He has indeed made this a very comfortable day. In the morning I was tried, and for a moment I was ready to yield, but quick as lightening came the Lord to my assistance. I endeavoured to give the cause of the trial to himself; he comforted me, and has removed it. How tenderly does he deal with his children ! He also to-day strengthened my hands, by my helping others in different ways; especially in conversation and social prayer. In the former, when speaking of the Lord's second coming, he made me to rejoice with joy unspeakable; and while employed in the latter, I was made to mount upon the wings of faith and love: God the Father felt benignly nigh. The joy of the Lord in a peculiar manner, this week, has been my strength. I have walked up and down in his Name, rejoicing for the consolation. He has heard my prayers, and answered them, both for

myself and others. On Tuesday, I asked earnestly his comfortable presence, when intending to meet with a few Christian friends for prayer and religious conversation; and he was unspeakably gracious to us all. O how good is God! But satan has varied his temptations. When much distressed in body and mind on many accounts, he tempted me to despondency and unbelief; now that the Lord is gracious, and has enlarged my borders in a spiritual way, he'tempts me to selfapprobation. But my soul abhors the thought: the Lord has made me as fearful of this abomination as of hell itself; nay, more. I have cried to the Lord against it; I have repeatedly fled to the blood of Jesus, and endeavoured to lay very low before my God, and the force of the temption is abated.

29. For some time the Lord has been exceedingly gracious unto me. Last week, he made me walk more immediately in his presence appealing to him for what I did and left undone. My fellowship in a low degree was with the Father and the Son. My love to secret prayer, and power to abide in it more than usual, still continues; and though I do not always obtain immediate answers, I reap generally the fruit of it afterwards; by finding when with others a power to keep my mind stayed upon God; to hold communion with him, and ability to converse with profit: it also keeps me more sensible of his presence wherever I am. He has of late condescended to bless serious conversation on VOL. I.

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religious subjects to my own soul and others; and also afforded me many opportunities to act for him, by doing good to my fellow-creatures. This, I thank God, is still my element; not from any expectation of gaining heaven by it; that I. know is the alone purchase of the blood of Jesus; but from a more noble principle-love to Jésus, and a desire to glorify God. I would that all I have and am were devoted to him.-Yesterday the Lord taught me a useful lesson. I had gone to his house with large expectations; and after waiting upon him in the use of the means, without feeling more of his power or love than I had brought with me, I grew dissatisfied, and felt a fear lest I should lose what I already possessed immediately I felt a deep conviction, that it was my duty and privilege to cleave as close to God when dry and barren, as when full of Divine consolation. This, as if coming from above, penetrated to the centre of my heart, and brought with it a power to comply, which led me to hope it was from God, and it has in some measure abode with me until now.

1774.

Remarks on Providence-Diary continued.

DURING several months of the last and present year, and indeed at different periods of her life, Lady M― appears to have been greatly exercised, by being called to pass under dark and mysterious dispensations of Providence. She was habitually accustomed to adore Jehovah in his government of the world. She firmly believed, that every event, small as well as great, was subject to his sovereign management and controul; that the operations of his hands ex · tended to all the minute circumstances of her life; and, therefore, gratefully relied upon the consolatory declaration, "The very hairs of your head are all numbered." This, with her, as we shall have frequent opportunity to observe, was not an idle speculation, but a practical principle. She, therefore, diligently sought to know the will of God; not only as it related to the interests of her soul, but also to the arrangement of her temporal concerns; by studying his word; by persevering in prayer; by attending to the indications of his providence; and,

in short, by acknowledging him in all her ways. Yet, at different seasons, she was permitted to wander through a tedious night of providential darkness, before she received the accomplishment of the promise," He shall direct thy paths." It is in this way the Lord frequently "trieth the righteous," and calls into exercise their patience, their fidelity, their fortitude, their resignation. Yet his promise cannot fail; if they endure as seeing him who is invisible, he will bring them forth as pure gold. The Christian believer should, therefore, never despond; should never give way, no, not for a moment, to dishonourable thoughts of God. Though all around be gloomy and portentous, though not a single ray of light dart across his path; yet, let him remember, that all is under the guidance and direction of that Almighty Being, who has never once failed to deliver his people out of all their troubles.*

January 17. Upon a review, as usual, of the

* The following judicious and practical remarks on this sublime subject, by a Lutheran Divine, † deserve the most serious attention. "Providence displays the wisdom, goodness, power, and other attributes of God; we should therefore study his perfections in it. The providence of God governs us with cool and consummate wisdom and goodness; we should therefore avoid all rash censures of it. God governs us with uncontrollable power; we should not therefore attempt to resist his government, as if we

+ Vide Sohnii Op. tom. ii. art. 19, de providentia.