this hour of difficulty. Peace, O speak peace to thy weakened servant, now on the bed of sickness. If thou seest fit, restore her to us in health and comfort. If thou hast ordained otherwise, give me and mine hearts submissive to thy will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

13.-My beloved- through God's mercy, is much relieved to-day: I had the happiness to hear her voice, which I have not done since Monday. I praise Almighty God for his goodness in restoring her to us, and may His blessing attend her recovery!

19. Very unfit for study in mind and body Have mercy on me, O Lord, and in thy great goodness ordain the termination of this sad trial, if it be thy will; but οὐχ ὡς ἐγὼ θέλω, ἀλλ ̓ ὡς σύ

23. Read the lv. of Isaiah in the Hebrew. Nothing can exceed the affecting mercy of the invitation to sinners in the 7th verse.

is וירחמהו

scarcely rendered by "He will have mercy on him." It expresses the tenderness of the Father of the prodigal,- -"He will receive him with open arms, and affectionate tenderness."

26. Read the lives of Cecil, Cadogan, Bacon, and Newton. That of Cecil is greatly the most interesting and pleasing. The Quarterly Review, No. LXII. has found great fault with the life of Newton, accusing his biographer and himself of imputing to extraordinary visitations of the Holy Spirit effects which may be traced to ordinary causes. Newton, however, no where denies the

early advantages of private instruction, and when his heart was opened by the providence of God, for I can think no less, to "the things belonging to his peace," he acknowledged how much he owed to the excellent parent, who, under the blessing of God, had sown in his heart the seed, which, though for a season hidden, at length sprang up, and bare an hundred-fold. I am no friend to enthusiasm, and still less to spiritual pride, but I do think there was much of especial mercy in the case of Newton.

27.-Prayed with my beloved, and read the 12th chapter of St Matthew. I am always struck with the exemplification of faith in the case of the man with the withered hand. Had an ordinary physician bid him stretch forth his hand, he would probably have answered that he could not; but when Jesus commanded, he made the attempt, and in the attempt was healed. Our powers are as inefficient and worthless as the man's withered hand; but if in faith we endeavour to make the commanded exertion, the Lord will, for Christ's sake, accept this testimony, and in the attempt we shall be healed.

It has been sometimes questioned whether "the sin against the Holy Ghost" can now be committed. The answer to so awful an inquiry seems to be this. In the malignity of corrupted hearts that imputed Christ's miracles of mercy to the interposition of the enemy of mankind, the wickedness of the Pharisees consisted. Now it

is a solemn question to be put to the hearts and consciences of those who accuse the evangelists of our blessed Lord of imposture, how far they approach a guilt not very dissimilar to that of the Pharisees, when we consider who he is, who was a liar from the beginning, and is the author or instigator of all falsehood.

30.-Lecture IX. On the example of Christ as an evidence of the authenticity of the gospelhistory. I think this evidence is much stronger than is generally observed. It was impossible for the evangelists to have conceived such a character as that of Jesus Christ.

31.-The first thing which occurred to me this day was to receive the most gratifying intelligence of the worth and diligence of my beloved May that almighty and merciful hand, which has been over him for good, still preserve and guide him for Christ's sake. I cannot find words to express my humble and earnest gratitude to the Giver of all good. Innumerable and continual are God's mercies to me, and this mercy is above all delightful. I have been permitted to thank God with my lips, -may I be enabled through His grace to thank Him with the service of my life.

February 1.-0 quam inanes hominum curæ, quantis angoribus vexatus est animus meus,-præterita revolvens,-de præsentibus anxius de futuris solicitus-quam vellem Davidis instar me meaque plenissima fide in Dei Optimi Maximi

manus tradere: ut de me secundum voluntatem suam semper misericordem et benignam decernat. Quam vellem molestiis quibus indesinenter crucior silentium et pacem imponere! Ιλάσθητί μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ, ὁ Θεός.

February 12.-And thus I close this book-a record of-nothing! Except in as much as it contains the acknowledgment of mercies received, for which may He who can guide the heart of man make me thankful,-and of prayers for spiritual benefits which indeed I want. O Lord, O gracious Father of mercies, hear me, and pity me, for Christ's sake, Amen. Ihάonrí μοι τῷ ἁμαρτωλῷ, ὁ Θεός.

February 15. Tuesday.-During my breakfast I read the 51st Psalm. I think our version

of the 4th verse is mistaken,—and I have the authority of Horsley to translate the words in the simplest manner.

That thou mayest be just in thy sentence. That thou mayest be clear in thy judgment. March 6. 3d Sunday in Lent.—Read a most affecting discourse of Cooper's on the sacrifice of God. Grant, O Father of mercies, that I may be enabled to offer unto thee this sacrifice, acceptable through Jesus Christ, and that I may be for His sake accepted.

March 18. John iv. verse 14.-The figure of a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, I endeavoured to explain at our evening worship.

It is a most beautiful and affecting symbol of the purifying and exhilarating influence of the Holy Spirit.

April 5, Easter Sunday.-Our public services at this holy season are now concluded. I bless and praise the goodness of Almighty God for enabling me to perform its duties with more comfort, and with less suffering, than I have known for many years. O gracious and merciful Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, accept, for His sake, the poor and humble offering of my life devoted, if Thou wilt grant me grace, to Thee, for its short and uncertain remainder. O sanctify and guide me,-Lead me, because of my enemies, make Thy way plain before me.

1

28. Saturday. Negotiis quibusdam nugatoriis, necessariis tamen, implicitus, majorem diei partem consumpsi, multis, eisdemque haud opinato accidentibus, doloribus vexatus fui. Remedium quiddam applicandum est vespero, antequam omnem recuperandæ valetudinis spem abjicio. In D. O. M. manibus sum. De me juxta misericordiam suam decernat.-Quædam de punctis Hebræis Masoreticis didici. Psalmum primum legi Hebraice.

May 28.-Doloribus assiduis et severis vexatus. quid de me?

29, Trinity Sunday.-Preached on St Matthew xxviii. 19.-a passage declaring this mysterious doctrine in the most authoritative manner. When we contemplate the time at which