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alterations proper. of the Scripture, in the first place, with suitable reflections, and prayer, as above: then to read a hymn or psalm after this, to enter on self-examination, to be followed by a longer prayer than that which followed reading, to be formed on this review of the day: in this address to the throne of grace, to intreat that God would pardon the omissions and offences of the day; to praise Him for mercies, temporal and spiritual; to recommend yourselves to His protection for the ensuing night; with proper petitions for others, whom we ought to bear on our hearts before Him; and, particularly, for those friends with whom we have conversed or corresponded in the preceding day.

I should advise to read a portion

2. The sentiments with which we should lie down, and compose ourselves to sleep.-Now, here, it is obviously suitable to think of the Divine goodness, in adding another day, and the mercies of it, to the former days and mercies of our life; to take notice of the indulgence of Providence, in giving us commodious habitations and easy beds, and continuing to us such health of body, that we can lay ourselves down at ease upon them; and such serenity of mind as

impertinent ?-Has my heart this day been full of love to God and to all mankind? and have I sought, and found, and improved, opportunities of doing and of getting good?

"With what attention and improvement have I read the Scripture this evening? How was self-examination performed the last night? and how have I profited this day, by any remarks I then made on former negligences and mistakes? With what temper did I then lie down, and compose myself to sleep ?"

leaves us any room to hope for refreshing sleep ;—a refreshment to be sought, not merely as an indulgence to animal nature, but as what our wise Creator, in order to keep us humble in the midst of so many infirmities, has been pleased to make necessary to our being able to pursue His service with renewed alacrity. Thus may our sleeping, as well as our waking hours, be, in some sense, devoted to God. And when we are just going to resign ourselves to the image of death (to what one of the ancients beautifully calls, its "Lesser Mysteries"), it is also evidently proper to think seriously of that end of all the living, and to renew those actings of repentance and faith which we should judge necessary, if we were to wake no more here.

DILIGENCE EXEMPLIFIED

IN THE CHARACTER OF DR. DODdridge.

(FROM HIS LIFE, BY ORTON.)

THIS was the most striking part of his character, and must be, in general, visible to every one who is acquainted with his writings, and considers his relations, as pastor of a numerous congregation, and instructor of youth intended for the ministry. He applied himself with great assiduity to his studies, while a pupil, and during his retirement at Kibworth: yet so intent was his heart upon the work in which he was engaged, that, while others applauded his diligence

in that period, he deeply laments his mispence of much time. I will insert one of his mournful reflections on this subject: "Upon reviewing the last year, I find that I have trifled away a great deal of time. Not to speak of that which hath been lost in formal devotion, and an indolent temper in the dispatch of business, I find, upon computation, that I have lost some hundred hours by unnecessary sleep: I have lost many in unnecessary visits, journeys of pleasure, or of business prolonged to an unreasonable length, and by indulg. ing vain roving thoughts while travelling. A multitude of precious hours have been lost in unprofitable discourse, when I have been necessarily engaged in company; for want of taking care to furnish myself with proper subjects of conversation, or not making use of them, or not attending to opportunities of introducing profitable discourse."

In following years he laments the mispence of time in his youth; and reflects, what superior improvements he might have made in learning and piety, and how much more useful he might have been, had he exerted more diligence in those days, when he had fewer avocations than when he lived in a large town, appeared under a more public character, and his labours and connexions were increased. He endeavoured then to make up what he thought his culpable deficiency, by habitual diligence in his proper business. In this view, he rose up early, and sat up late. He reckoned the smallest parcels of time precious; and was eager to seize every moment, even while he was

waiting for dinner, company, or his pupils assembling

gether, that he might make some advance in the work he was about. Doing nothing was his greatest fatigue. He thought, and often told his pupils, that one good work was the best relaxation from another; and therefore he would not allow any chasm between the several kinds and branches of business he was to transact. He found it an infelicity to have his thoughts divided between two affairs which lay before him; and observed, that as much time had been sometimes spent in deliberating which of the two should be entered upon first, as would have finished one, if not both. To prevent this, he laid as exact a plan of business as he could, at the beginning of every year; but as this alone was too complicated and extensive, he had also his plan for every month, and sometimes for every week, besides what was to be done in his stated course of lectures and public services. He contrived to have a few hours every week, to which no particular business was allotted: these he set down, as a kind of cash-account, in which any unexpected affair was to be transacted, or the time lost by accidental hindrances, might be in some measure retrieved, without breaking in upon his general plan.

Through all his riper years he kept an exact account how he spent his time; when he rose; how many hours had been employed in study, or the more public duties of his station; how much time was really, at least in his apprehension, trifled away; and what were the causes of its loss. Under this last particular, I

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find him lamenting taking up a book, with which he had no immediate concern, and which yet engaged his attention, and so broke in upon the proper duties of his study. He laments, on another occasion, pursuing too long some abstruse mathematical inquiries, the advantages of which were by no means an equivalent for the time employed in them. He often complains of the loss of time by some visits, which civility and good manners obliged him to pay; and resolves not to make himself such a slave to the customs of the world, as to neglect more important duties out of regard to them. He found even friendship a snare to him; and that the company of his friends produced some ill effects, with regard to his business and religious frame. "While I have had company with me," he writes, my work hath been interrupted; secret devotion straitened; the divine life reduced to a low ebb, as to its sensible workings, though my heart continued right with God." At another time: Too much company, though very agreeable to me, led me to neglect some part of my business; and turned that, in which I so much rejoiced as a very pleasing circumstance, into a mischief, rather than a benefit. Had I been resolute, to have commanded an hour or two in the morning, I should have been less embarrassed through the day. I will, therefore, be more watchful and self-denying on this head." He was desirous to do the work of every day in its day, and never defer it till the morrow; knowing there would be business enough remaining for that day, and all the days and

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