which may animate my faith and my prayers. Thus I left the place at nearly half an hour past two, with some cheerful persuasion that my prayers were heard, and that I shall see the outgoings of my God and king in the sanctuary.

A SEASON OF RETIREMENT, APRIL 6, 1751.

As my cough is returned with some violence, I was under the necessity of lying in bed much longer than I should have chosen, and was detained by Mr. But I thank God, that I had a comfortable time in the devotional lecture, on Rev. iii. 3. "Remember how thou hast heard and received," &c. I came to the vestry before eleven, and after charging a sense of the Divine Presence upon my soul, I spent most of the first hour in prayer, humiliation, and self-dedication, on the whole very comfortably; I was much affected with the beginning of the 14th of John, especially with those words, the way ye know. I saw Christ as the way to the anticipation of heaven in a very particular and striking manner. I then reviewed the last memorandums, and reflected on the conduct of God towards me, and of mine before him, for the last month. Among the divine mercies, I found reason to reckon the addition of that very promising youth, Mr. Alexander, to the list of my pupils, and the prospect there is with regard to Mr. —, who has declared his readiness to go as a missionary to New York, though his mother and Thomas Howe oppose it; such is the weakness of their faith and love. I hope I can truly say, that should God put it into the heart of my son to go under that character, I could willingly part with him, though I were to see him no more. What are the views of a family, or of a name, when compared with a regard to the extending of the Redeemer's kingdom and gaining souls to Christ? Mr. F's generous scheme of carrying on the interest of Christ by an augmentation of the second tutor's salary has encouraged me so far, that Mr. Urwick

has been engaged to take Mr. Lucas's place in some measure, and that I have some uncertain prospect of a schoolmaster coming among us; that my dear Polly is better; that Messrs. Proctor and Holland were added last sacrament, and Robins and Ward proposed now, these are all matters of thanksgiving; and that I have discovered in Mr. H. some appearance of good, and in Mr. Johnston continued hope, and that several Christians have been much refreshed, particularly good Mrs. Hopkins. Afflictive providences demanded my thoughts, particularly the terrible stroke on the nation in the death of our promising Prince of Wales, on the 20th of the last month, and about the same time the death of Mrs. Walker, and now Mrs. Avery. I have also reason to lament, that I have failed in several of the good resolutions recorded last time. I have visited and registered but little, and although I have selected letters to be dispatched, yet I have made but very little progress in them. Till near one, I addressed myself to God in suitable thanksgivings, humiliations, and confessions, alluding to these things; then nearly three quarters of an hour was spent in prayer for the increase of the church; in pleading many select promises before God, and interceding for my brethren and their Societies, as well as for my own; nor shall it I trust be altogether in vain. Then till twenty minutes past two, I drew up some maxims agreeably to what I had intended to think of in relation to my daily conduct in general, and as to my behaviour as a husband, father, master, tutor, pastor, and correspondent, and some miscellaneous purposes, which then I turned into prayer, beseeching of God resolution and prudence; and concluded by recommending to him the labours of to-morrow. Memorandum.-To review these maxims on the next day of this kind.

AN ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL OF THOSE MAXIMS, UPON WHICH I PROPOSE TO PROCEED IN FUTURE LIFE, UNDER THE FOLLOWING VARIOUS CHARACTERS.

1. As to the conduct of every day. To breathe out my heart to God before I rise; to pray while dressing; to make prayer the first work if possible before I read one word; to make the Scriptures the first book; to do something every morning at monthly letters before breakfast; to begin every lecture in time, with the watch before me, and not to run on so far as to preclude those of the junior class; to get out soon in afternoons; to be at home at evening prayer: to expound when I can; not to exceed a limited time at a place; to be animated in conversation, providing useful materials for that purpose; to take notice of children; to keep a register of my visits; to relate religious remarks then made to the elders; to write before supper; to prepare social entertainment, and demand it; to sup moderately; to go to bed before eleven when I can ; if the prayer be slightly passed over in the morning, to introduce it again in the evening; never to acquiesce merely in praying with my wife, without some fervent, though short petitions alone; to get a little time for meditation on Friday evenings.

2. As a Husband.-To be more careful to keep up the spirit of religion in conversing with my wife; to avoid pettishness; to make great allowance for the tenderness of her constitution; to reflect often on her distinguished wisdom and goodness; blessing God for her; recommending her to the divine blessing, and begging the continuance of her life, as one of the greatest blessings that life can afford, and that on which, under God, most of my own depend.

3. As a Parent.-To intercede for my children daily; to converse more or less about religion with each, weekly; to pray with them once a fortnight, and endeavour to dis

pose them for communion; to endeavour to oblige them; to drop short hints, when there is not room for long discourse; also to speak on religious subjects to the servants, at least once a fortnight.

4. As a Tutor. To maintain a strict inspection; to inquire after each from his respective tutor; to have expositions, prayers, and devotional lectures, as suitable as may be; to exhort and pray with each before the vacation, where it has not yet been done; to get a society of lads established if I can.

5. As a Pastor.-To review the state of my flock if possible, at least in town before the vacation; to visit, exhort, and inquire into family religion, &c.; to inquire after every village; referring to the last visit in the catalogue ; to pursue a plan for monthly sermons, keeping four schemes beforehand in the book of such papers.

6. As a Correspondent.—To be exact in the catalogue of letters with regard to dates; to review that catalogue to determine when, and in what order to write; to guard against excessive length; to use as many assistants as I can, to get clear before vacation as far as possible.

7. Miscellaneous matters.-To draw up a scheme for every week, and then for every day, to be reviewed the next; to make my will; to adjust the account of the lads' society, and to fix on thirty letters at the beginning of the month, to which one hour a day, if possible, is to be given: to read over these maxims once a month.

SOME ACCOUNT OF A SEASON FOR RETIREMENT IN THE VESTRY, MAY 4, 1751.

I HAD, in the retirement of the morning, written out the maxims recorded in the preceding page, and given a devotional lecture on those words, "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." I admonished with great solemnity, and

prayed fervently; then, about a quarter before eleven, I came to the vestry, intreating the divine assistance, but being something indisposed for devotion. I looked into the preceding part of this book to search after a plan for a day of fasting and prayer. While I was searching after it, I found and read many remarkable events at Harborough, in that sad, inconstant state in which I was during the years 27 and 28. And, upon this, I took some time, more solemnly to humble myself before God, confessing those and all other sins, intreating the mercy of God to pardon what is passed, and the sanctifying influence of his grace more fully to renew my soul. This was the chief of my employment till forty minutes past twelve. I was much affected to think, that yet notwithstanding those inexcusable transgressions, God should honour me as the instrument of so much usefulness. I was enabled to cry earnestly for pardon; and then reviewed late mercies, in which view I found cause to reckon the happy death of dear Mrs. Billingham, the steady, ardent faith of Mrs. the patience of good old Mr. Mason, and the addition of Mrs. Ward to the church; the proposal of my dear Mercy, and the hopeful religious state of Mrs. Johnstone. I then renewed the solemn dedication of myself to God, and was earnest in praying that I might be honoured as an instrument of usefulness. After this, till three quarters past one, I reviewed the memorandums of the visits of the former month, blessing God that I had been enabled to be so faithful in that part of my scheme, and praying for every family and person I had visited as their circumstances required. I then recommended to God, my family, children, and pupils, by name, and all in the list of my friends with true affection. I particularly prayed for dying Christians; and for my son; and intreated for myself, the spirit of prayer, and a heart more constantly devoted to God: I then offered a few petitions for the Public, and proposed to make a cata