faithful? No furely: it is the LORD alone that can impart the Bleffing of a faithful Heart, then I will. wait upon Him for it, and He has promifed, Those that ask hall receive.

Monday 18. I was in a ferious praying Frame. In the Evening Mr. M--- preached on John ix. 25. My Soul was exceedingly bleft, and I feemed just ready to lay hold on the Bleffing. How I loft it, I am not fenfible.

Sunday 24. Mr. Me preached in the Morning on, Do all to the. Glory of God. 1 Cor. x. 38. When I came home and retired, I found-fome Liberty in Prayer. O how good is Goo to me, and how undeferving, how unfaithful a Creature am I. Lord pardon the past, and give me Strength for the Time to come.

Tuesday Dec. 3, and Wednesday 4. I was rather. in a cold Frame. O that the Lord would deliver me from a lukewarm Spirit! For I find that an Inlet to all wrong Tempers, and therefore it muftbe hurtful to me, and difpleafing to God.

Saturday 7. I was much caft down on Account of having yielded to many wrong Tempers the Day before. In the Evening, I went to Preaching without the leaft Expectation of a Bleffing; however as I was under the Word, bemoaning my helpless Condition, the Lord in a Measure comforted and encouraged me to trust in Him. Indeed I am often pained that my Pain is over fo foon, aud grieved that I can grieve no more!

Sunday

Sunday 8. In the Morning Mr M-- preached on Rom. 1 17. For the Fufi fhall live by Faith. My Thoughts were wandring under the Word, and when I came Home and retired, I found no Life nor Liberty in Prayer. O when shall I be enabled to come with Boldness to the Throne of Grace thro Jefus the Mediator of the new Covenant, and to call Him, my Lord and my God.

Thursday 12. My Uncle's Text was Prov, xxiii. 23. Daring the firft Part, my Mind was pretty much stayed, but towards the latter End it was much drawn off by a Thing which probably may never happen. O for a flayed, and compofed Mind in waiting upon God! Surely it is a great Sin to have the Mind wandring upon foolish Things, when so immediately in the Prefence of God.

Saturday 14. This Day, as well as the Day before my Body was much difordered. In the Evening when I retired, I was neither humbled under a Senfe of paft Mercies received, and my own Unfaithfulness to God. Sometimes I am all alive, I am fo in earnest, fo diligent in the Means, and take fuch Delight in them; then one Thing, or another fleps in, is yeilded to, and deprives me of all my Life and Earneftness. And tho' I do not neglect the Means, yet how are they hurried over, and how flightly performed! And indeed I am often glad when they are finished. LORD, what is Man? what am I ? What a poor unftable Creature! LORD, quicken me! Make me more alive, more in earnest. LORD make me, and keep me, what I ought, what I want to be.

Saturday

But alas! I do

Saturday 21. All this Week, I have experienced a Stayednefs of Mind, and a Degree of Recollection for which I defire to be thankful. not find that Earneftnefs, that Hungering and Thirsting which I did. Lord what is the caufe? O remove it whatever it be! Remove the accurfed. Thing, which feparates between Thee and my Soul. On Saturday Night, the Lord was pleased to fhew me the Thing which had quenched that Earneftnefs, and I am not fenfible that I have this Week yielded to it. O what a good GoD is ours! He fhewed me my Sin: He gave me to feel Remorfe for it, and then imparted Power to fubdue it. LORD give me a thankful Heart.

Sunday 22.

This Morning I was much affected in reading the 15th Ver. of the 4th Chap. of the Heb. For we have not an high Priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our Infirmities: for He was in all Points tempted like as we are, yet without Sin. O what comfortable Words, efpecially when the Enemy is pouring in Floods of Temptation upon us, at fuch a Time how fweet is the Meditation upon fuch Words! How comfortable the Reflection that our GOD knows, and not only knows but fympathizes with us in all our AfAictions, Diftrefies, and Temptations; and will af furedly deliver us out of them! O may this Scripture be ever prefent with my Mind, and may it prove a Comfort to me in Trials, while it alfo hine ders me from yielding to my ípiritual Enemy, by affuring me that Jesus is ever able and willing to help me.

Wednesday 25. I was impreffed with a Senfe of Gratitude to GOD for fending his Son into the World, to be born of a pure Virgin, and in a mean Manger, and all to refcue me from endless Woe. O that my Heart may never for one Moment, lofe the Senfe of this great and inestimable Bleffing.

Thursday 26. I continued in a serious Frame, and found a Degree of Liberty in Prayer.

Sunday 29. I was not very well, and stayed as Home with my Friend Mifs H----- who was in great Affliction for the Lofs of poor, or rather happy little Ned H, He died of a Scarlet-fever a Week ago. O that I was as fafely landed on the happy Shore! But alas! I am ftill in an evil World, and liable to Croffes and Temptations: Yet liable to fall from Grace when I get it, and perhaps to be loft for ever? LORD preserve me, and when I die, Olet me die unto Thee.

Tuesday 31. The Watch-night was to last till. halt paft Twelve: But we came Home between Ten and Eleven. I would not go to Bed till near Twelve, spending the Time in Prayer and Meditation. LORD make me truly thankful for thy Mercy in bringing me to the Conclufion of another Year, and grant that I may fpend the ensuing Year to the glory of thy bleffed Name through JESUS CHRIST.

Wednesday JAN. 1. I awoke in a lukewarm State, and tho' I endeavoured to pray, yet it was not with that Life and Fervency I defired. O how many have been cut off in the laft Year, and I am yet upon praying Ground! LORD spare me

yet

yet another Year, and O let it be fpent fo, as wil fhew my Gratitude to Thee, for this undeferved Mercy.

Thursday 2. I was to my great Concern overcome by a trifling Spirit. O how is it that I am fo foon off my Watch, that the Enemy fo frequently gets the better! O GOD give me, I befeech Thee for thy Son's Sake, a recollected, ferious, praying Spirit.

Friday 3. My Soul was in a more recollected Frame than the foregoing Day. LORD make me *thankful even for this Mercy.

Saturday 4. I continued much in the fame State as the Day before. In the Evening Mr. R's preached on Lam. iii. 22. It is of the Lord's Mercies that we are not confumed, because his Compallions fail not. Had it not been this, LORD where fhould I, and all the rebellious Sons of Adam, have been at this Day?

Monday 6. I found my Mind in a ferious Frame, but it is feldom that it continues. O that GoD would make me more ftable, that I may not be like the Sea continually fluctuating, and driven about with every Wind of Temptation: but like the Sun which conftantly rifes and iets at the appointed Times, and never fails to bring a regular Succeffion of Day and Night, according to the Command of that GoD who made him, when He fent him forth with a Commiflion to rule the Day, and to be for Signs, and for Seafons, for Days, and for Years.