SECT. V.-Diary and Letters during 1782.

The first idea commonly suggested by the new year's day is the transitory nature of all things below,that the world passeth away. There is nothing pleasing in this thought, but far otherwise. To a soul which naturally aims at something that is permanent, it must be greatly distressing. The only subject calculated to relieve it, is the eternal world: and if it be in a progress of preparation for that world, the relief obtained will far more than compensate for the gloom produced by a view of the fading nature of this world. The pious mind slides imperceptibly from the one subject to the other, finding nothing in the one but emptiness and desolation, and in the other every thing that comports with its wishes and desires, every thing that can interest an immortal spirit. The following thoughts on Eternity, taken from the Diary, are the effusions of a mind full of its subject.

"Jan. 1. 1782. How fast do fleeting years carry me towards eternity! Lord, help me to live with the awful prospect continually in view. When eternity draws near, the world, with all its pomp and vanity, sinks into nothing. It stamps madness and folly on all my plans and schemes for futurity, and throws contempt on those things which before my fond imagination was enamoured and delighted with! Did I live with eternity in view, how it would soberize my mind, cure the natural madness of my heart and elevate my soul above all mean and earthly pursuits. It would diminish into nothing all my troubles and all my joys this side the grave, and render it insignificant and indifferent

whether I grieve or rejoice for a short span of time. This awful sight changes the appearance of all sublanary things. It puts the rich and poor, the miserable and the happy on a level. Every thing is utterly insignificant but that which is eternal. Why should I sink under troubles and trials? They will soon be at an end. Why should I rejoice in any earthly felicity? For this also is vanity, and will soon be ended. May my joys and sorrows be excited by nothing but by what is eternal for the future! Why does my mind shrink back at the near approach of eternity? Is it not my home? Is it not the end of my weary pilgrimage? True: but still there is something awfully solemn in the thoughts of eternity. With God, eternity and our sins in view, what can support the soul but the infinite merits of the Son of God! Lord, strengthen my faith, and eternity will lose its terrors. I must coverse more familiarly every day with the other world, have my thoughts and heart more there continually, think of it often as a weary traveller of his home, and the labourer of his rest at night, and by degrees we shall become more familiarly acquainted. But faith only can support the soul.

"When I reflect on God's goodness and my ingratitude, the year past, I am ashamed and confounded before Him. I can no otherwise live, but as a guilty sinner, on the Son of God. When I look forward (which I have no business to do) God's faithfulness to his promises is my only support. "Greater" says St. John, "is he that is in you, than he that is in the world"-greater in every view-greater in wisdom, greater in strength, &c. &c. And this greater one is not at any time absent from us, but in us, always present to counteract the spirit that is in the world. -Major, hoc est, fortior sit qui in nobis est, quam qui

in mundo. Nam ea est nostra infirmitas, ut, antequam manus consecramus cum hoste, succumbere oporteat Sumus enim impliciti ignorantiâ; ideoque expositi ad omnes falacias: Satan autem mirus ad fallendum artifex. Si sustinuerimus ad diem unum, obrepat tamen ancmis nostris dubitatio, quid cras futurum sit : Ita perpetuo erimus anxii. Admonet ergo Apostolus, non propriâ nos sed Dei virtute esse fortes. Unde collegit, non magis nos vinci posse quam Deum ipsum, qui nos su virtute ad finem usque mundi instruxit. Atque in totâ spirituali nostrâ militiâ insidere cordibus debet hæc cogitatio,-actum protinnsfore de nobis, si nostris viribus pugnandum esset; ceterum, quia nobis quiescentibus Deus hostes repellit, indubiam esse victoriam.* Calv. in loco.-With my heart well established in this reviving truth, help me, O Lord, to buckle on my armour, and press forward, notwithstanding oppositions and dangers."

Revelation suitable to the wants of sinners.

"Jan. 5. The revelation which God hath been pleased to make of himself in his word, is exactly suited to

"Greater, that is, stronger is he who is in you than he who is in the world. Such indeed is our infirmity, that it behoves us to yield before we join battle with the enemy. For we are wrapt in ignorance, and therefore open to all kinds of fallacies and Satan is a wonderfully cunning contriver in the work of deception. If we should hold out for one day, yet a doubt as to what will be to-morrow would creep over our minds. Thus we should be perpetually in a state of anxiety. Therefore the apostle reminds us, that we are made strong not by our own power, but by that of God. Hence he concludes, that we can no more be overcome than God himself, who has furnished us with his own power till the end of time. And with respect to the whole of our spiritual warfare, this thought should rest on our hearts,That we should instanly lose the day, if we had to fight in our own strength; but that victory is certain, for while we are resting still, God repels the enemies."

the various wants, exigencies and miseries of helpless sinners. Are we odious, abominable and unlovely? He loveth freely. The motive of his love is not in the object but in himself. Are we destitute, forlorn and helpless? In him the fatherless findeth mercy. Have we treasured up for ourselves wrath against the day of wrath? He is rich in mercy, his treasures are unsearchable. Are our sins numerous? He is plenteous in mercy. Are our sins great and heinous ? As the heavens are higher than the earth, so great is his mercy towards them that fear him." Are we ever and continually sinful, guilty and depraved?" His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting:", he keepeth mercy for us for ever. Ps. Lxxxix. 28. It" follows us" and "compasses us round about on every side." Psalm xxIII. 6.— XXXII. 10. All this mercy is freely bestowed on sinners: not because we are in any degree deserving of it; but because he " delighteth in mercy." The motive and cause of it is wholly in himself.-Sensible of my great and continual need of this mercy, help me, O Lord, to be continually applying to thee for it with confidence and importunity.

A good wife, a gift from God.

"Jan. 17. Blessed be the Lord for his goodness, I have found myself of late very submissive and resigned to God's will concerning me and all my affairs, and thankful also for the many undeserved mercies I enjoy. Unforeseen difficulties occur and prevent my possessing for the present the dear object which for these two years past hath engaged my heart and affections. The will of the Lord be done in and by me."A prudent wife is from the Lord."—When I marry, if ever, I hope the Lord will let me see clearly that the person is brought to me by him, as Eve was to Adam;

and that I shall be enabled to receive her as his gift. Were I tied to the most excellent woman on earth, if she was not the Lord's gift to me, she would be no blessing. Had a strong belief of this truth always influenced my mind, I should have been more calm and easy and experienced less trouble and vexation. Could I believe at all times that God in wisdom and goodness overruleth all things, great and small, and that his holy will, is always best, what could give a moment's uneasiness? A little of this faith is comfortable to us and honourable to God: and the want of it is certain misery. At present I feel willing to be where the Lord pleases and earnestly desirous that he should be glorified by me and in me, in the way and manner he thinks proper. I am blindness itself and can see nothing before me. But to him the concatenation and consequences of all events, are at all times perfectly known. He seeth the end from the beginning.-O help me in all things to deny myself and follow the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night till I arrive in Canaan."

God's covenant-Review of past mercies.

"Jan. 20. This day I have been receiving from God the seal of the covenant at the sacrament. I was in the morning at the table very insensible and unaffected. But in the evening I had a most comfortable meditation on the gracious covenant which God hath made with Christ on behalf of his people. Its freeness, stability and richness, are full of consolation when viewed by faith. I found myself willing and desirous above all things to receive Christ and all his fulness, as my Saviour, Lord and Master. And there is nothing my heart so much longs after as to be entirely his in time and eternity, to live and die for and to him, to