tant reflections engage my attention at the close of every day.

Retired from the world and all its engagements, the silence of evening invites to meditation, and the recollected soul hears with certainty, the still small voice of the Divine Monitor within. O thou, whose days are passing as the shadow, listen attentively to this instructive principle:

"Conscience, distasteful truth may tell,

Yet mark her sacred lessons well."

Among other errors of the past day, find myself not quite clear of that shameful one, detraction; or an undue liberty taken in conversation, with the character of a neighbour. I see the importance of harmony in society, and the evil consequences which my unguarded behaviour may have upon it; and therefore, under strong convictions, earnestly beg, that my God may be pleased hereafter to preserve me from every tincture of this sin.

10th mo. 11th.--Passed the fore part of this day in a comfortable degree of regularity and watchfulfulness; but the evening, in undue indulgence of levity. Have often been affected with sorrow, on observing its prevalence in the world; and though many indulge in it, I believe it to be an error of very pernicious consequence. My proneness to fall under the dominion of this light, jesting spirit, has often, as well as at this time, cost me many bitter reflections. Alas! how often have I been weakened by it! How oft has it spread over me, and effaced every serious impression, leaving the soul impotent, and exposed to the evil suggestions of the grand adversary!

My soul, mayst thou ever remember its baneful influence; and, by daily watchfulness, strive to overcome thy propensity to it.

Lord, my expectations are centred in Thee! Thou alone, canst enable me to surmount every evil bias.

A DIARY,

Begun 1st month 1st, 1788.

My mind hath often been seriously affected, on reflecting, that time is ever silently on the wing, and age insensibly steals upon me. Year after year pass

eth over, too much unnoticed, and silently measures out the time of my continuance here.

As I have considered these things, and remembered the important change, either to happiness or misery, which awaits every mortal, I have been anxiously desirous, that my time may not be mispent. In order that I may be stimulated in a more ardent engagement, to live a life of piety and virtue, this work is undertaken. May Providence bless my feeble endeavours, for without his assistance, all our labours are in vain.

1st mo. 1st.-Passed through this day with some degree of regularity; but a more watchful frame of mind was necessary. Have wanted patience this evening, and felt the prevalence of a peevish disposition, that enemy to social life.

2d.-Mentally poor. Erred through unwatchfulness in the morning. At meeting, sat poor and distressed. In the afternoon, the Trustees visited my school; my conduct not sufficiently sober. Too un

guarded in discourse with a young man who called to see me in the evening.

3d.--Felt my mind impressed with a sense of Divine goodness this morning, when I arose. At noon, took a game or two of hand-ball with the boys, at which I was full of laughter and folly. How oft does my evening close with a cloud!

4th.-Mental faculties oppressed through the labours of a full school, whence induced to repeat yesterday's folly, and the afternoon passed in bitterness of mind:--a fit reward for breach of duty.

5th.--More regular to-day.--Mentally poor.

6th. At meeting, a time of favour; though to me less so for want of more patience in waiting.

7th.--Conduct too unsteady.

8th.--A season of favour at Monthly meeting, wherein the desponding traveller was much encouraged..

9th. Not sufficiently watchful.

10th. A game of ball at noon; lost ground by unwatchfulness.

11th.-Comfortably regular through the day, but too much levity in the evening.

12th. The folly of the 10th repeated. In retirement, this evening, am anxiously desirous that my days may be spent with more circumspection.

13th.-Exercised at meeting under a deep sense of my numerous infirmities; my fervent amendment.

prayers are

14th. A day of folly and unguarded conduct.

for

15th. More circumspect.

16th.-At meeting, greatly exercised on account of my many imperfections; particularly a proneness to laughing, and levity in discourse.

17th.-Preserved in a watchful frame of mind, for which favour am humbly thankful.

18th.-Relapsed:--a game of ball, attended with unseemly mirth. Alas! unworthy me!

19th.-Felt very desirous this morning, of spending the day in watchful sobriety; but through a lamentable degree of weakness, was led to repeat yesterday's folly at ball. The day closed in vanity.

20th.-Afflicted with a pain in my back. At meeting, a low painful time;--enabled to wait in a comfortable degree of patience;-returned home with. peace of mind, and spent the afternoon in retirement.

21st. Still unwell.-Too unwatchful in some respects.

22d.-Health improved. The day passed in a good degree of regularity;-though I believe more steadiness in conduct to be necessary.

23d. At meeting, humbled under a sense of my weaknesses; but through an unmerited extension of Divine favour, left the meeting in a solid, comfortable frame. Too unguarded in conversation in the evening.

24th.-Felt my mind calm and retired, this forenoon; but through unwatchfulness, have grossly erred on several occasions; and have to close the day under a sorrowful sense thereof. Lord, I am oppressed; I am as one bruised all the day long!

25th.--This day better spent; but not well enough. 27th.-Uncommonly distressed in mind at meeting, on account of the prevalence of a restless spirit, and a forgetfulness of God among us.

28th.-Irregular and vain.

29th.-Comfortably regular;-for which preservation, am thankful.

30th.-Mind remarkably humbled, and preserved in a patient waiting frame.

31st. A return of weakness,--a game of ball.

2d mo. 1st.-Preserved from folly and vanity; for which am humbly thankful.

2d.--Sober in the morning; but in some part of the day, unguarded, to my sorrow.

3d.-Have been ruminating on the irregularity of my life, with anxious desires for amendment.

4th.--Comfortably circumspect in conduct.

5th.-At Monthly meeting; Abraham Gibbons attended, and expressed a desire in his ministry, that we might become experimentally acquainted with the nature of true religion; the want of which is too evident.

6th.-Mentally poor;-preserved in a good degree of watchfulness; for which favour, am thankful.

7th.-Much as yesterday.

9th.-Desirous of living the life of the righteous. Laboured for an increase of circumspection.

10th.-Yesterday's desire still in view. A con