body of sin, hard blows that make him stagger and reel: we there by get great ground and footing against him.-While we live without great instances of mortification and self-denial, the old man keeps whereabouts he was; for he is sturdy and obstinate, and will not stir for small blows. After the greatest mortifications, I always find the greatest comfort.

Supposing there was never but one complete Christian, in all respects, of a right stamp, having Christianity shining in its true lustre, at a time in the world; resolved to act just as I would do if I strove with all my might to be that one, that should be in my time.

Tuesday, Jan. 15. It seemed yesterday, the day before, and Saturday, that I should always retain the same resolutions to the same height; but alas! how soon do I decay! O, how weak, how infirm, how unable to do any thing am I! What a poor, inconsist- . ent, what a miserable wretch, without the assistance of God's Spirit! While I stand, I am ready to think I stand in my own strength, and upon my own legs; and I am ready to triumph over my enemies, as if it were I myself that caused them to flee; when alas! I am but a poor infant, upheld by Jesus Christ; who holds me up, and gives me liberty to smile to see my enemies flee, when he drives them before me; and so I laugh, as though I myself did it, when it is only Jesus Christ that leads me along, and fights himself against my enemies. And now the Lord has a little left me, and how weak do I find myself! O! let it teach me to depend less on myself, to be more humble, and to give more of the praise of my ability to Jesus Christ. The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?

Saturday, Feb. 16. i do certainly know that I love holiness, such as the gospel requires.

At night. I have been negligent for the month past in these three things; I have not been watchful enough over my appetite in eating and drinking; in rising too late a-mornings; and in not applying myself with application enough to the duty of secret prayer.

Sabbath-day, Feb. 17, near sun-set. Renewedly promised, that I will accept of God, for my whole portion; and that I will be contented, whatever else I am denied. I will not murmur, nor be grieved, whatever prosperity, upon any account, I see others enjoy, and I am denied.

Saturday, March 2. O, how much pleasanter is humility than pride! 0, that God would fill me with exceeding great humility, and that he would evermore keep me from all pride! The pleasures of humility are really the most refined, inward, and exquisite

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delights in the world. How hateful is a proud man! How hateful is a worm that lifts up itself with pride! What a foolish, silly, miserable, blind, deceived, poor worm am I, wken pride works!

Wednesday, March 6. near sun-set. Felt the doctrines of election, free grace, and of our not being able to do any thing without the grace of God; and that holiness is entirely, throughout, the work of God's Spirit, with more pleasure than before.

Monday morning, April 1. I think it best not to allow myself to laugh at the faults, follies, and infirmities of others.

Saturday night, April 6. This week I found myself so far gone, that it seemed to me, that I should never recover more.

Let God of his mercy return unto me, and no more leave me thus to sink and decay! I know, O Lord, that without thy help, I shall fall innumerable times, notwithstanding all my resolutions, how often soever repeated.

Saturday night, April 13. I could pray more heartily this night, for the forgiveness of my enemies, than ever before.

Wednesday, May 1. forenoon. Last night I came home, after my melancholy parting from New York.

I have always, in every different state of life I have hitherto been in, thought the troubles and difficulties of that state to be greater than those of any other that I proposed to be in; and when I have altered with assurance of mending myself, I have still thought the same; yea, that the difficulties of that state are greater than those of that I left last. Lord, grant that from hence I may learn to withdraw my thoughts, affections, desires, and expectations, entirely from the world, and may fix them upon the heavenly state; where there is fulness of joy; where reigns heavenly, sweet, calm, and delightful love without alloy; where there are continually the dearest expressions of this love; where there is the enjoyment of the persons loved, without ever parting; where those persons, who appear so lovely in this world, will really be inexpressibly more lovely, and full of love to us. How sweetly will the mutual lovers join together to sing the praises of God and the Lamb! How full will it fill us with joy to think, this enjoyment, these sweet exercises, will never cease or come to an end, but will last to all eternity.

Remember, after journeys, removes, overturnings, and alterations in the state of my life, to reflect and consider, whether therein I have managed the best way possible, respecting my soul? and before such alterations, if foreseen, to resolve how to act.

Thursday, May 2. I think it a very good way to examine dreams every morning when I awake, what are the nature, circumstances, principles, and ends of my imaginary actions and passions in them, to discern what are my chief inclinations, &c.

Saturday night, May 4. Although I have in some measure subdued a disposition to chide and fret, yet I find a certain inclination, which is not agreeable to christian sweetness of temper and conversation: either by too much dogmaticalness, too much of the egotism; a disposition to be telling of my own dislike and scorn, and freedom from those that are innocent, yea common infirmities of men, and many other such like things. O that God would help me to discern all the flaws and defects of my temper and conversation, and help me in the difficult work of amending them; and that he would fill me so full of Christianity, that the foundation of all these disagreeable irregularities may be destroyed, and the contrary sweetnesses and beauties may of themselves naturally follow.

Sabbath-day, May 5, in the morning. This day made the 47th Resolution.

Sabbath-day, May 12. I think I find in my heart to be glad for the hopes I have, that my eternity is to be spent in spiritual and holy joys, arising from the manifestation of God's love, and the exercise of holiness and a burning love to him.

Saturday night, May 18. I now plainly perceive what great obligations I am under to love and honour my parents. I have great reason to believe that their counsel and education have been my making; notwithstanding, in the time of it, it seemed to do me so little good. I have good reason to hope that their

prayers for me have been in many things very powerful and prevalent; that God has in many things taken me under his care and guidance, provision and direction, in answer to their prayers for me. I was never made so sensible of it as now.

Wednesday, May 22, in the morning. Memorandum. To take special care of these following things: evil speaking, fretting, eating, drinking and sleeping, speaking simple verity, joining in prayer, slightiness in secret prayer, listlessness and negligence, and thoughts that cherish sin.

Saturday, May 25, in the morning. As I was this morning reading the 17th Resolution, it was suggested to me, that if I was now to die, I should wish that I had prayed more that God would make me know my state, whether it be good or bad; and that I had taken more pains to see, and narrowly search into this matter. Wherefore, mem. for the future most nicely and diligently to look into our old divines' opinions concerning conversion. Made the 48th Resolution.

Friday, June 1. Afternoon. I have abundant cause, O my merciful Father, to love thee ardently, and greatly to bless and praise thee, that thou bast heard me in my earnest request, and

hast so answered my prayer for mercy to keep from decay and sinking. O, graciously, of thy mere goodness, still continue to pity my misery, by reason of my sinfulness. O, my Redeemer, I commit myself, together with my prayer and thanksgiving into thine hand.

Monday, July 1. Again confirmed by experience of the happy effects of strict temperance, with respect both to body and mind. Resolved for the future to observe rather inore of meekness, moderation and temper in disputes.

Thursday, July 18, near sun-set. Resolved to endeavour to make sure of that sign the apostle James gives of a perfect man, Jam. iii. 2, If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Monday, July 22. I see there is danger of my being drawn into transgression, by the power of such temptations as fear of seeming uncivil, and of offending friends. Watch against it.

Tuesday, July 23. When I find those groanings which can not be uttered, the apostle speaks of; and those soul-breakings for the longing it hath, the psalmist speaks of, Psal. cxix. 20, to humour and promote them to the utmost in my power, and be not weary of earnestly endeavouring to vent my desires.

To count it all joy when I have occasion of great self-denial, because then I have a glorious opportunity of giving deadly wounds to the body of sin, and greatly confirming and establishing the new nature: to seek to mortify sin, and increase in holiness: these are the best opportunities, according to January 14.

To improve afflictions of all kinds as blessed opportunities of forcibly bearing on in my christian course, notwithstanding that which is so very apt to discourage me, and to damp the vigour of my mind, and to make me lifeless; also as opportunities of trusting and confiding in God, and getting a habit of that, according to the 57th resolution. As an opportunity of rending my heart off from the world, and setting it upon heaven alone. To improve them as opportunities to repent of, and bewail my sin, and abhor myself; and as a blessed opportunity to exercise patience; to trust in God, and divert my mind from the affliction, by fixing myself in religious exercises. Also, let me comfort myself, that it is the very nature of afflictions to make the heart better; and if I am made better by them, what need I be concerned, however grievious they seem for the present?

Friday afternoon, July 26. To be particularly careful to keep up inviolable, a trust and reliance, ease and entire rest in God, in all conditions, according to 57th Resolution; for this I have found to be wonderfully advantageous to me.

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Monday, July 29. When I am concerned how I shall perform any thing to public acceptance, to be very careful that I have it very clear to me, that I do what is duty and prudence in the matter.

Wednesday, July 31. Never in the least to seek to hear sarcastical relations of others' faults. Never to give credit to any thing said against others, except there is very plain reason for it; nor to behave in any respect the otherwise for it.

Wednesday, Aug. 7. To esteem as some advantage, that the duties of religion are difficult, and that many difficulties are sometimes to be gone through in the way of duty. Religion is the sweeter; and what is gained by labour is abundantly more precious; as a woman loves her child the better for having brought it forth with travail. And even to Christ Jesus himself his mediatorial glory, his victory and triumph, his kingdom which he hath obtained; how much more glorious is it, how much more excellent and precious, for his having wrought it out by such agonies!

Friday, Aug. 9. One thing may be a good help towards thinking profitably in time of vacation is, when I light on a profitable thought that I can fix my mind on, to follow it as far as possibly I can to advantage.

Sabbath-day, after meeting, Aug. 11. Resolved always to do that which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. As for instance, sometimes I argue with myself, that such an act of good nature, kindness, forbearance, or forgiveness, &c. is not my duty, because it will have such and such consequences; yet when I see others do it, then it appears amiable to me, and I wish I had done it; and I see that none of those feared inconveniencies follow.

Tuesday, Aug, 13. I find it would be very much to advantage to be thoroughly acquainted with the scriptures. When I am reading doctrinal books, or books of controversy, I can proceed with abundantly more confidence; can see upon what footing and foundation I stand.

Thursday, Aug. 29. The objection my corruptions make against doing whatever my hand finds to do with my might is that it is a constant mortification. Let this objection by no means ever prevail.

Monday, Sept. 2. There is much folly, when I am quite sure I am in the right, and others are positive in contradicting me, to enter into a vehement or long debate upon

it. Monday, Sept. 23. I observe that old men seldom have any advantage of new discoveries; because they are beside a way of