Would to God that many of my dear friends, who I sadly fear are walking in darkness through this vale of tears, might be convinced before it is too late, of the misery of their state, and not cease from prayer till God had been pleased to pour into their hearts this oil of divine grace; then would they walk in the light of their lamps, and be found ready when, at midnight, a cry shall be heard, and all shall be summoned to attend the bridegroom. God grant of his infinite mercy, that we, my friend, may be amongst that blessed number, whom Jesus will know on that day.'

Friday 26.-We had a most delightful conversation. He began by asking why we had never spoken to him in the winter, on the subject of his awful and miserable condition as a lost sinner. 'How tremendous was my state, and only to think how I trifled away in vanity and folly, those eight months after I returned to England, which for aught I knew, might have seen me close my eyes in time, to open them in eternity. Oh tremendous thought! with all my sins about me, and a heart unchanged, and far from God. Why did you not talk to me?' Here he suddenly paused, and then said; No, God's time was not come, and

*

until he saw fit, and touched my heart-until he had prepared the ground, no seed that could have been sown would have taken root and flourished; and then again, he no doubt saw it was necessary to try me in the winter with all those perplexing thoughts, those doubts and fears, for the punishment of my sins, and all my past neglect; he thus caused me to be in much heaviness; but how full of love, and how gracious was his work of mercy; how gently did he lead me when cast down and sorely troubled― when I sought my Heavenly Father, and cried earnestly unto him, then did he hear me! He turned unto me, and gave me a believing saving knowledge of my precious Saviour. changed my heart! He made me a new creature; he gave me a new heart, new inclinations, new desires, new thoughts, new views. what has he not given me! Oh, let us unite in praising God, for "He hath done marvellous things!" I never shall forget the first time I received the Sacrament after God had worked this change in me; that, which had till then, alas! been only a form and an outward ordinance, I found to be indeed precious to my soul! how thankful was I for that Sacrament morning; then I prayed! and I received

He

Oh!

strength. I always strive earnestly, and fervently pray, that on these occasions, more especially, I may be enabled to realize the presence of God. "Jesus, Himself, standing in the midst." Towards the end of our drive, returning through a narrow lane, we came to a part where three posts unequally divided the road we had to pass; pointing to the broadest of these divisions, he said, before God warned me of my danger, by sending me this illness, that was the path I was walking in, following my own evil inclinations, thinking not of God; but serving and pleasing the creature more than my Creator. It was a broad and a well trodden path, but it was leading me to destruction! but now, blessed be God, it is my earnest desire in that narrow way to walk; it is in this path that all God's saints must walk; it is their desire, it is their privilege. O my Saviour, may I henceforth walk in this holy, but narrow way. Jesus says, "Few there be that find it."

nite his mercy, then, to have

How infi

guided me

a poor miserable sinner into this

Saturday, 27.-Not much opportunity for conversation; but twice in a low tone he said,

though you see me so weak, I never felt so happy-my spirit seems nearer heaven-my bodily strength is almost gone, but Jesus gives me inward strength; He is my all!'

No. 15.

Neither you nor any of my kind friends can for man idea how very very happy I am; nor how many delightful thoughts I enjoy throughout the day; for God has now given me to know and feel, that "to live is Christ, and to die is gain." My constant thought is on death; but now, my friend, blessed be my most merciful Father, there is no bitter sting in the thought. I know neither the hour, nor the day when my joyful summons shall arrive; but, oh! may I but be found in the posture of serious expectation. Though I know not the time when God shall come to call me, yet I feel that the day is hastening on apace, and my declining strength loudly warns me to "prepare to meet my God."

How horrid,* and how distressing is it

6

to me to hear people speak of their indepen

* Alluding to a conversation with a worldly young friend, since converted, and called to her rest.

dence,' and that there is plenty of time for them to become religious; or, the time will come when they shall think seriously. O, how distressing, how very shocking is their state; and only to think that, even, such an one I was once! but let these read those awful words in our blessed Saviour's Parable of the worldly minded man; "Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee," and what will they then say! where is now their security, and what will their vain-boasting avail them, of what profit is all their fancied prosperity, and false independence. My earnest desire and maxim is to pass through the daily business of each day with tranquillity and composure, giving to the various interests and occu-. pations of each hour, such consideration only, as they ought to claim from beings whose inheritance is not amongst them, keeping my soul steadfastly fixed on that heavenly country, where all true believers shall assuredly find an everlasting rest! I hope by prayer, through the assistance of Divine grace, and for the sake of my adorable Saviour, that God will forgive and pardon all my sin, and then receive me to eternal glory.'

Tuesday, 30.-Were I to live a hundred