from these words, "I will hear what God the Lord will speak."

I performed the journey from London to Fareham in a single-horse chaise, in stormy weather, and alone, with more ease than I could have ex, pected; but I had not come in view of the sea from a hill a little out of the town, before I felt the return of the oppression on my lungs, attended with the relaxation of my nerves. These effects of the sea air prevailed so much that the short sermon I preached on the next day was delivered with great difficulty, and two days after I appeared like a person far advanced in a decline. On the evening of that day (Tuesday) I took an affectionate leave of my endeared friends; and there joined with them in a very solemn and cordial surrender of each other to the keeping and direction of our God in covenant.

While staying with my friends in Wiltshire I received a letter from Dr. Wilton, expressing a difficulty, which some of the members of the Church at Tooting had offered, respecting their inviting me to be their pastor, unless the church at Fareham would concur in giving me up. That difficulty the providence of God had removed by the remarkable circumstances attending my last return to Fareham.

May 1, 1776, I arrived at Tooting as a probationer; and after preaching three months, received an unanimous call to the pastoral office. August 25, I publicly accepted the call, preaching from these words; "I determined to know nothing among you

save Jesus Christ, and him crucified." On the 15th of September, I was solemnly set apart to the pastoral office at Tooting, when Dr. Wilton preached from these words; "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord."

Oh how many mercies have I seen! Bless the Lord, O my soul! and forget not all his benefits. He called me to follow him when I knew not whither I went: but he hath not failed me nor forsaken me. He hath healed my diseases, and opened my lips again to show forth his praises, and still encourages me, by the richest experience of his kindness, and by his most precious promises, to rest in the persuasion that he will never leave me, and that he will never forsake me.

1785.

Dec. 14.-I have been this day calling upon my soul, and all that is within me, to praise the Lord, for all his abundant and long-continued goodness to me. Through very many dangers he has brought me, and from the very borders of the grave, from time to time, hath raised me, and from year to year attended me with renewed displays of his mercy. For forty years I have been cast upon him, and all those years have tasted that he is good. I was cast upon him by my praying parents, who embraced the covenant promise, and pleaded it on my behalf. In early youth, his rich and precious grace enabled me to plead the same promise on my own behalf; and after twenty

five years' experience or more, I find abundant reason to acknowledge to his glory that I have indeed served a good Master: whatever difficulties have threatened me, he has never left me without some gracious discoveries of his fatherly care. Truly God is good to Israel. I cannot review the experience I have had of his goodness, without astonishment: and O what poor returns have been made, how little has my hard heart been warmed and constrained even by the mercies of God! My obedience and services, alas! have been little more than a desire, though a sincere desire, to glorify God in my body and spirit, which are His. O Lord, quicken thou me in thy way form my heart anew let me be anointed with fresh oil: direct my roving heart into thy love! Let it be my heaven upon earth to do thy will; and if it be thy heavenly pleasure, own me as thy servant.

1789.

Dec. 14.-I have again this evening been reviewing the way in which the Lord hath led me, and O what mercy presents itself to my view! It is now more than twenty years since I was placed at the head of a family; when I opened my mouth unto the Lord in a solemn covenant engagement, and made Jacob's vow my own. Blessed be God, he has been with me, and kept me: he has given me bread to eat, and raiment to put on: he has ever been mindful of his covenant, and given me of his choicest blessings. I know of no one more deeply indebted to his goodness

than I am. He hath confirmed my feeble constitution, and given me a happy share of health: he has blessed me with many kind and endeared friends : he has given me a suitable companion of my cares and labours, of my sorrows and my joys-an help meet indeed-a true helper of my faith and joy. He has blessed me with healthful, obedient, and affectionate children: he has blessed me with an affectionate and attentive people: he hath enabled me to be, I trust, faithful and affectionate in dealing with their souls about their eternal interest: he has graciously set his seal on my ministry, and has given me some to be my joy and crown. Blessed be his Name, he hath given me the souls of my children, one after another: he has set his love upon them, and revealed his Son in them: and then he has, in his most indulgent providence, opened a way for their very comfortable settlement in the world. The heart of one of them he hath inclined to the ministry, and given me reason to hope, that when my lips shall be silent in the grave, his mouth shall be open to plead the cause of my dear Redeemer, and proclaim his love: and by the serious disposition of my younger children, he has caused me to hope, that not a "hoof shall be left behind;" that every vessel in my house shall be a vessel of honour; that every child shall be a jewel in my Redeemer's crown. Amen and amen! my heart shall say. It is the sum of my most ardent wishes. It is indeed the highest ambition of my soul, that I

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and my house may be wholly, and for ever, the Lord's.

But who am I, O Lord God! and what is my father's house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? Why is this profusion of goodness? Methinks I am reaping a harvest of blessings from the precious seed my pious, my prayerful, parents sowed, who are now in heaven. Their prayers are come up as a memorial before God, and the richness of the blessing seems to centre in me; and, blessed be God, it is a goodly heritage, better than thousands of gold and of silver. But more than this; I have an interceding Saviour in heaven: He bears me upon his heart-the Lord will be mindful of his covenant. O that my returns were more suitable! O how little have I done, and how defective is all I have attempted! Lord, give me a warmer heart, render me more fervent in spirit, and let my life praise thee!

1790.

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Dec. 14.-Another Ebenezer I am now directed to raise, in grateful commemoration of the great goodness of my covenant God, in helping me through another year. The past has been a year various experience. It pleased the Lord this last summer, and after a very long journey, to visit me with alarming illness, and to call me to converse familiarly with death. Adored be His name in whom I have believed, I found nothing to fear in death;