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I Tannan Presbuterlan flssoGlatlon I

Tappan Presbuterlan flssoclatlon

LvIBRARY.

I Presented by HON. D. BETHUNE DUFflELD. |

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A BRIEF HISTORY

LIFE AND LABOURS

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REV. T. CHARLES, A. B.

LATE OF BALA, HERiONETHSHIBE.

REV. EDWARD MORGAN, M. A.

Vicar nf Sgilim and Bafeme-m-the.Wrtkt,
Leleaitrthht,

THE LATE fllGHT ROD. EARL VBBBERI

TV rifiUanu iball bt i» enrlatOng nmembraH

ftonbon :

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r, if oiif , wlU bt giten tt nwu eharUatU imUlnllim

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The character of the individual intended
to be exhibited in the foUowiDg pages, is
not inferior in interest to that of any of
; our modern divines. He moved indeed in
a sphere and in a part of the country, vrhich
precluded that publicity which others have
attained. The Welsh had among them but
very few, and indeed scarcely any until very
lately, of those who possessed the ' pen of
a ready writer,' and none, till within the
last few years, of those periodical publica-
tions, by which the deeds of the good and
the great are made known to the worlds
They labour as a people under peculiar
disadvantages. None of those nurseries of
learning, none of those establishments which
encourage and remunerate the efforts of ge-
nius, are to be found among them : though
when we consider their distinct language,
their distance from the English Universities,
and their comparative poverty, we cannot
fail to conclude that such institutions are

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as needful for them as for the inhabitants
of Scotland and Iretanc). It is true that
many schools, ably conducted, have for
years existed in that counti-y ; bnt a Col-
lege, which of all institutions affords the
most powerful encouragements, is not to
be found within its precints. Lately in-
deed a noble building, bearing the name of
St. David's College, has been erected at
Lampeter, Cardiganshire : but contrary to
the eicpectations of many, it is defective in
one of the main things which excite the
energies of noble minds : it confers no
degrees. This defect, it is hoped, will at
some ftiture period be remedied.

The Welsh have been favoured the last
century with few individuals, the memory
of whom ought to have been preserved to
the last geueration. The effects of their
labours are still visible, and will probably
continue so many ages: but their names
f/i\\ ere long be forgotten, there being no
records of their lives, excepting a little
more than a bare notice of them in some
of the periodicals of the day. This may be
said of the Whitfield of Wales, the Rev.
Daniel Rowland of Llangeilho, Cardigan-
shire, the father of the Welsh Methodists,
now by far the most numerous denomination
in Wales, and who no doubt have done more
towards evangelizing the country than all

other denominations pat together. Row-
lend was allowed by all who knew and
heard him, to be a most ■ extraordinary
preftcher. He possessed in a very high
degree every qualification necessary for we
purpose of arousing a dormant people, sunk
in ignorance and ungodliness. But no de-
tailed account of his labours has ever been
poblished. The same has been the case
with respect to several of his fellow-la-
bourers. One of whom is entitled to par-
ticular notice as having been the Watts
of Wales, the sweet-singer of Israel. We
allude to the Rev, W. Williams, late of
Pantcelyn, Carmarthenshire. His hymns,
as to deep experience and glorious views of
the Redeemer, have few to equal them in '
any languE^e : and they have been emi-
nently blessed to the edification and comfort
of thousands.*

The fate of these men and of many of
their highly gifted fellow-helpers, had well
nigh happened to Mr. Charles as far as the
English public are concerned. A short bio-
graphy of him appeared some years ago
in Welsh ; and in this respect his memory
has been more attended to than that of his
predecessors. But no account of his life,
except some brief notices in some of the

* He composed not lest than 860 hfaiDB.
3a

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ini^azines, has been published io English*
Believing that his name should be had in
remembrance in England as well as in
Wales, being persuaded that his example
may be generally useful, and having in my
possession many interesting documents, 1
thought it my duty to set before the English
reader the following sheets. That I am not
able to do full justice to the character I am
endeavouring to exhibit, I am fully consci-
ous. 1 have therefore throughout the whole
as far as practicable, introduced Mr. C. as
the narrator of bis own history.

The documents which I have are his
Diary, contained in two quarto yoluraes,*
and a large collection of his letters. I have
also perused his Welsh Memoir, drawn up
soon after his death by his intimate friend,
and, from the beginning of his career in
Wales, his companion in labour, Tho. Jones,
Ruthin, Denbighshire. I have availed my-
self of every thing conducive to my purpose
in this work. But my materials are con-
siderably larger than his were. — The great-
est part of the first volume of the Diary will
be given in the following pages. The second
contains not much that is suitable to our
purpose : it consists mostly of what may be

*.The first is a small 4tO Hize, conlajaiiig 144 pages r the
«ecODd, a larger quarto, containing 126 pnges.

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termed Essays or Thoughts on different sub-
jects. They are very interesting and very
useful, containing a happy intermixture of
doctrine and practice. There is in some parts
a considerable decree of originality; but
what is most remarkable in them is the deep
spiritual experience which they display. A.'
very instructive volume might be made
from these materials, intermixed with some
of the numerous letters still unpublished ;
and may at some future time be made
public*

One of the most interesting acts of Mr,
Charles's life, was the establishment of the
Circulating and Sunday Schools: especially
as these schools led eventually to the forma-
tion of the most glorious institution ever
known in the world — The Bible Society.
The course of events was simply this: —
When Mr.C. began to travel about to preach
in different parts of the country, he ob-
served that the mass of the people was
deplorably ignorant. This circumstance
deeply affected his mind. He thought, he
prayed, he consulted with his brethren.
The first step he took was to form daily cir-
culating schools. In a few years after,
Sunday schools were introduced, both for

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children and adalts. People having been
taught to read, they wanted bibles. Ap-
plications were made to the Society for Pro-
moting Christian Knowledge ; but with no
success. The demand for bibles was urgent.
The people had not only learnt to read, but
had been most powerfully impressed with
the truths preached to them. In this diffi-
culty Mr. C. consulted with his friends in
England and when in London conversed
with them on the subject. Much prayer
was offered up to the Giver of all good : and
they were led to the idea of forming a new
society, which was eventually called. The
British and Foreign Bible Society, the no-
blest institution ever set on foot by human
beings.

Had there been nothing interesting in
Mr. C.'s life but this fact, that'be had been
the mainland principal iostrument in the
hand of God in the work of forming the
Bible Society, 1 should feel myself justified ■
in the attempt of making the present and
future generations acquainted with his cha-
i-aeter. But this is not the case. His life,
independeDtly of this circumstance, is wor-
thy of being recorded. He fully deserves a
place among those illustrious men, justly
called the Reformers of these latter times,
Milner, Robinson, Romaine, Newton, Cecil,
Venn, Scott, &c. having been eminently

asefut in his generation, and perhaps more
extenaively blessed than any ot them.

The Biographer may be mistaken ; but
he firmly believes that there is scarcely any
memoir extant which exhibits such a vari-
ety of useful matter on the great subject of
spiritual experience, and such instructive
and practical thoughts on scriptural truths
in general, as this now presented to the pub-
lic. ITie Christinn will find here opened to
his view the deep depravity of the human
heart (not indeed in its luxuriance) the va-
rious, subtle and deceitful actings of sin,
together with the insidious attempts of the
greatenemy of souls. Hewillalso see here
unfolded the means by which he i.s to en-
counter, resist and overcome his enemies ;
and besides, the resources of his strength,
blessings and consolations. He will per-
ceive the different and wise measures, though
often for a time very mysterious, which in-
finite wisdom adopts for training up, dis-
ciplining and preparing his children for
usefulness here and for glory hereafter. And
the impressions which, the perusal of the
whole, it is conceived, is calculated to
make, are these: — that sin is a great evil,
the cause of all our sorrows, sufferings,
fears, doubts and miseries, — that there is
no way to deal with it but to mortify it by
the Spirit, — ^that this is a work which re-

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quires continual watchfulness and prayer,
— and that God is a God of inconceivable
love, the only source of true happiness, infi-
nitely gracious through his beloved Sod,
infinitely wise, merciml and longsuffering
ill all his dealings with his people, — and
that his great object in all his dispensations
towards them is to make them holy as he is
holy, and render them wholly dependant on
himself, that they may ultimately shine forth
in the regions of light as illustrious monu-
meDts of his unfathomable grace. If these
impressions shall be produced or deepened
iu any by what is here written, the labour
that has been taken will not have been in
vain.

Those parts of the Diary and letters
which describe in a strong language the
corruptions of the heart, the temptations of
sin, or the insinuations of satan will pro-
bably be objected to by some, while others
perhaps will by no means approve of the
glowing terms in which the transports of
a soul favoured with lively and realizing
views of eternal things, are delineated. But
the probability of such objections has not
prevented the introduction of such passages.
The object was not merely to unfold the
character of him who is the subject of the
Memoir ; but also to convey to others what
may be useful, instructive and profitable.

Similar trials and difficulties may be felt in
their fall extent by some still. To see and
know that others hare found the same depths
of wickedness in their hearts and the same
hardships in the spiritual conflict, will tend
in no small degree to comfort and support
as. What is more likely to conrince us of
the rfeality of those consolations which faith
in eternal truths is capable of imparting,
than to find that some of our brethren have
already experienced them? This will ex-
cite us tb labour for the same realizing faith.
While one may derive no benefit from these
things, another may. Let not him that does
not, condemn that which may be of advan-
tage to another. We are too apt to reckon
as useless what does not exactly suit our
own taste. What is this but to set up our-
selves as the only proper judges of what is
beneficial to mankind; which is the same
degree of folly as it would be for a man to -
consider his own taste as the only true test
of what is a proper and palatable provision
for the table. Our standard is the scripture.
If there be any thing in the following Me-
moir inconsistent with the word of God,
let it be condemned: but if this connot be
proved, human judgment is worth nothing.
— The di^art^ing views of one's self, the
strong representations of the desperate cha-
racter of sin, and the vivid though un-

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adorned description of divine things, which
are to be met with in this volame, had they
been clothed in fine and elegant expres-
sions, would probably give no ofience.
There is a refined mode of phraseolt^ too
prevalent in the present day. Many truths
are thereby rendered palatable, which other-
wise would not be so. Like the Grecians
of old, we are pleased with what appears in
a fine garb, bnt dislike it when set forth in a
simple, plain manner. This is to love the
truth for its dress, and not for its own self;
to be pleased and delighted with a fine-
coloured shell, and to have no taste for the
precious kernel which it incloses.

i have to acknowledge, that I have
been niaterially assisted in this work by an
intimate irieDtl.

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CONTENTS.

CHAP. I.* Mk. C.'s earlt Lm till an Okmnation.

1. Sect From bia Childhood till he entered College . . 1

2> Sect. From his entering College till hia Ordinatioa . . f

CHAP. 11. Frok Mr. C/b Okdination tiu. his bbhotil to

Wales, 1778— 17S3

1. Sect. His Onliiiatioii,&c .. .. .. Ig

2. Sect. Diary und Letters doriiu' 1779 . . . . 28

3. Sect DiM7 and Letters during 1780 .. .38

4. Sect. Diary and Letters dnring 1781 . . 73

5. Sect. Diu7 and Letters during 1782 .. US

6. Sect Diary and LeOers during 1783, till the month of

Angiut .. .. ..163

CHAP. UI. From Mr. C.'s rsmoval to Wales till tub
Year 1B04.

1. Sect. Diary and Letters from Aug. 20, 1783 to I7BS 183

2. Sect. Mr. Cs laboors, &c. &om 178a to 1795 ,, 316

3. Sect Mr. C.'i Ubours, &c from 179S to 1804. . . 2fi3

CHAP. IV. From 1B04 to Mb. C.'i Dbath in 1814.

1. Sect From 1804 to 1807 . . . . . . 283

2. Sect From 1B07 to 1812 .. .. .. SOU

3. Sect. From 1812 to 1814 .. .. .. 333

Appendix .. .. .. .. 3fi3

laaei .. :. .. .. .. 389

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V/e «re not told
With reverence
Spirit of unceasing
Safe in the haren
For any prefennenta
They hought gliUBea
The tree fruitful
Therefore an arbitrator
Sereral, fourteen milei off
HariDolh
Proper place

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A BRIEF HISTORY, &c.
— —9-»-% — ■

CHAP I.

Mb. C.'b eably Life till bis Okdination.

SECT. I.— From bU Childhood till he entered
College.

All the tnie Berraots of God are equally the objects of
bis love and favour, though some of them are employed
ID more dUtinguished serricea than others. Their dif-
ferent works and stations are aesigiied to them by
inlititte wisdom. To fit them for arduous situatione
aiid exteDGive usefulness, they have geuersUy to pass
through (preat difficulties. Severe trials are frequently
their lot. By these God humbles them, makes them
sensible of their own weakness, and teaches them to
renonnce self, tmd willingly to rely on his allsnificieiit
strength. Trials are indeed inseparable from the life
of a Christian in this world : they seem Indispensably
necessary for carrying on the good work in the soul j
and they generally bear a very near proportion to his
activity and niefniness. No great man, as a Christian,
has been without great trials. All have not the same :

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some feel the inward conflict mostly ; others, the out-
ward troubles of life. The former was raore particokrlf
the case with the subject of out memoir. Both his
Diar)- and his letters shew that the inward couteat was
often very arduous and severe ; by this he was no doubt
prepared for his great work and important labours.

Another trait observable in the dealings of God is
this : — He frequently endows those in the lower stations
of life with great gifts, and makes them instrumental
in conferring the most OKtensive benefits on mankind.
Society is far more indebted to the middle and lower
classes of the community than to the higher, for im-
provements, both civil and religious. The great bene-
factors of the country, especially in religion, have
generally been men raised from comparatively low
stations in society. A noble pedigree was not what
the subject of our memoir could boast of, though his
parents were respectable in their station. His father
was a farmer in the parish of Llanvihangel, ten miles
from Carmarthen, South Wales, '("hough not illustrious
by extraction, yet he became eminent, and very emi-
nent, by the benefits be conferred on his native country,
both by his ministerial laboors aud by his writings.
The value of his exertions is incalcnlable. Few, very
few, perhaps not more tliau two besides, since the time
of the Reformation, have done so much for the moral
and spiritual improvcmeut of the inhabitants of Cam-
bria. He laboured among them for nearly thirty years
with great success. His actiiity and disinterestedness
were equally conspicuous. He received no remunera-
tion for his labours. May his example stimulate others,
that they may became, like him, a blessing to their
country.

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Of Mr. C.'s early life we have no baowledge, nor
indeed mnch of bis after-life, except what is conveyed
by hia Diary and his letters. U'e shall therefore
proceed to give extracts from the Diary, and shall
intermingle them with such letters of similu' dates as
may be interesting. Thus we shall see the general
strain of his private thoughts, and at the same time
the general character of his confidential communica-
tions i wbich are means of information more satisfac-
tory than scarcely any other.

His Diary has this motto prefixed to it : — TtcVTX
ffuvsfysi iig aya^ov, " AH things work together for
good." To live under a real and permanent conviction
of this truth, is a high attainment. — ^The Diary be-
gins thus ; —

" I was born Oct. 14th, 1755. My parents sent
me to school as soon as 1 was capable of attending to
any thing. When I was about ten or twelve years of
age, they entertained thoughts of bringing me up to the
ministry ; and with that intent sent me to school to
Llanddowror, two miles off: where 1 continued three
or four years.

" During that time 1 first felt serious impressions.
The first cause of any thoughts about my soul I do not
recollect. My convictions of ain were for a year or
more but very alight, and at intervals : but I had
almost continually, though sometimes weaker and
sometimes stronger, powerful impressions made on my
mind, inclining me to attend the preaching of the
Gospel, to read the fiible, and the best books 1 could
get. I would walk alone with great pleasure to any
reasonable distance to hear gospel-sermons : and no
time was tedious in reading good books. But what
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was moat blest to me at that time was John Bunyan's
Treatise on the two Covenants. That part, wherein
he shews the dreadful state of those who are under the
covenant of works, affected me verj- much, and made
me several times to cry bitterly.

" I recollect I thonght »very body religioos who
went pretty constantly to Church : but I often won-
dered I never heard them talk any thing about religion,
especially on a Sunday. I had not one spiritual person
to speak to for some time. At last Providence brooght
me acquainted with an aged, holy and pious man, by
name. Bees Hugh, a few miles off: on whom I cMi-
stantly called once or twice a week ; and his conversa-
tion was much blessed to me. Sometimes he was filled
with great joy and comfort in talking to me ; and when
that was the case, I never was unaffected. I loved" him
as long as he lived, as my own soul, and always looked
upon him as my father in Christ. The remembrance of
him will be pleasing to me as long as I live. He was
an old disciple of Mr. Griffith Jones, Llanddowror,

" During this time I had but very little knowledge
of the Gospel scheme. My religion consisted principally
in earnest longings and strong desires after something
which 1 had not hitherto obtained, together with a deter-
mined resolution to continue to use all appointed means
to find it. — I made now a public profession, went to the
sacrament, aud endeavoured to introduce religion into
my father's family. I hope also that my feeble attempts

ineffectual in the end. Consideriui

my age

and my little knowledge, the authority 1 maintained in
a family so large, generally about eighteen, was sur-
prising. What was deficient in other things, was
supplied by my earnestness and zeal. My temper and

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dispOBition beiug naturally mild, I was always gene-
rally beloved by all my relations : this helped me greatly
in passing through many difficulties."

The zeal of this youth is a lesaon to many. The
shame generally felt ivhen serions religion is first
avowed, he overcame, and tet np family worship iu his
father's hoBse. What a reproof does his conduct convey
to many ? How many heads of families negleet this
duty ! Religion must indeed be at a very low ebb, when
the morning and evening sacrifices of praise are not
offered to God. Ijet all who neglect this duty remember
that there is an awful woe denounced on them ; God
has threatened to "pour his fury on all the families that
call not on his name."

"When I look," continues Mr. C. " into the rock
whence I was hewn, and into the bole of the pit whence
I was digged, how distiDguiahing and astonishing does
that free grace and mercy appear, that observed and
pitied a poor, vile, ignorant child, lying in his blood
helpless ! May a sense of my own nothingness ever
keep me humble ; and may a sense of the divine good-
ness, so uudeservcdly and graciously shewed to me,
constrain me ever to live to God."

" O may 1 breathe no longer Ihui I brMtbe
My soul in pruse to bim, wbo gave m; soul.
And all ber intinite of prospect fair."

"When I was about 14 years of age, my father sent
me to the Academy, at Carmarthen : where I went with
much fear and dread : and my oid dear friend was very
fearful and anxious for me in my new situation. He
prayed earnestly with me and for me before I went.
And 1 have often' thoDght that 1 have received many
blessings in answer to his prayers to God for me.
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" At Cannarthen my connectioa vaA acqnaintaiice
in the religionB world, were considirably eolarged. I
soon joined a society of Methodists there, in which I met
several very pione persons, whose conversation was ex-
ceedingly blessed to me. But all had been well nigh rained
by s set of careless, highspirited professors, with whom
I contracted too mnch intimacy soon after 1 went there.
Bnt the Lord gracionsly opened my eyes and delivered
me out of their snare. At this time a friend put into my
hands Mr. Herrey's D!al<^es, which were made very
useful to give me a clearer knowledge of the doctrines of
the Gospel, concerning which I had hitherto been very
much in the dark. Many other nsefnl evangelical books
came in my way, and were helpful to me. Bnt of all
othermeansreligions conversation proved most beneficial.

"On Jan. 2Qth, 1773, (in his eighteenth year.) 1
went to hear Mr. Rowland* preach at New Chapel.
His text was Heb. iv. 15. A day much to be remem-
bered by me as long as I live. Ever since that happy
day I have lived in a new heaven and a new earth. The
change which a blind man, who receives his sight, ex-
periences, does not exceed the change which at that time
I experienced in my mind.

*' The earth receded and dUappeared ;

Heaven opened to my eyes ;

My ears with sound Beraphic ntog."

It was then that I was first convinced of the sin of unbe-
lief, or of entertaining narrow, contracted and hard
thoughts of the Almighty. I had snch a view of Christ
as our Hii^h Priest, of his love, compassion, power and
y, as filled my soul with astonishment, with

TheCleqTmanmen&med in the PreFftce.

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joy unspeakable and full of glory. My mind was over-
whelmed and overpowered witb amazement. The troths
exhibited to my view appeared (for a time) too wonder<-
folly gracioBs to be believed. I could not believe for
very joy. The glorious Bcenes then opeued to my eyes
will abondaDtJy satisfy my soul millions of years hence
in the contemplation of them. I had some idea of Gos-
pel truths before fioating in my head ; but they never
powerfully and with divine energy penetrated my heart
till now. The effect of this sermon remained on my
mind half a year ; during which time I was generally in
3 comfortable and heavenly frame. Often while walk-
ing in the fields, I loolced np to heaven with joy, and
called that my home ; at the lame time ardently longing
for the appearance of the glorioas Saviour to take me
forever to himself. At times doubts would come into
my mind, and' I would say, wiChin myself, 'Can it be
possible that these things are true Y The Lord wonld
reply. "I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger;
1 will not return to destroy Ephraim j for f am God
and not mtm." " Praise the Lord, O my soul ; and for-
get not all bis benefits."

"About this time also Luther's Exposition of Gal.
i. 4, was very much and particularly blessed to me, as
it has been many times sioce. — During the whole of mv
stay at Carmarthen the Lord was in general very pre-
cious to me. I enjoyed very abundantly the most power-
ful means of grace, and also much of the divine presence
in them. At the same time I was not without great
temptations and snares, which more than once bad well
nigh mined me. But in all, God's invisible hand pre-
served mcj the everlasting arms were underneath.

"In the year 1776, Providence very nnespectedly

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and very wonderfolly opened my way to Oxford ; what
neither my parents nor myself nor aAy of my relations
had any the tenst idea of till just at this time. But now
all obstacles were removed, and it was determiaed that
I shonld go. The manner in which the Lord opened my
way to go thither, gave me great satisfaction and stroDg
assnrance that I should be kept by God's grace from
being barnt in that fiery furnace; thongh my spirits were
rery often ranch oppressed with fear and doubtful appre-
hensions of my future safety, fiat he who can keep us in
one place, can with the same ease keep us in another,
' There are no difficulties with God. Difficulties wholly
exist in oar unbelieving hearts. — In May 1 set ont on
my journey thither. On the road the Lord gave me
very comfortable views of himself, as my Father in
Christ ; yea, that Christ's Father was my Father, and
his God, my God. What could 1 want more } Here was
power suf&cient, »nd compassion enough ! The follow-
ing words sounded meiodiously in my ears — "I ascend
niito my Father and yonr Father, and unto my God and
your God." 1 was enabled through grace to commit ray-
self to the custody of my heavenly Father and to yield
myself cheerfully and submissively to the guidance of
his Spirit and Providence."

He, who had such thoughts, views, feelings, fears
and hopes, liad made no small progress in the divine
life. The whole of the foregoing extracts are of a very
superior cast. His life was eminently the life of faith.
He rec(^ized God in every event, attributed every
good to his free grace, acknowledged and deplored his
sins and infirmities, depended wholly on divine strength,
and resigned himself entirely to the disposal of his God.
How very few enter into what he calls the " fiery fur-

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nace," so well prepared with means nf safety ! The
defence of the Almi^ty is the only sure protection. —
It must not be supposed that it was intended to L-ast a
reflection on that noble seat of learning by the terms
— fiery farnace : No, the design do doubt was no more
than to express in strong terms the dangers and temp-
tations of the place. And those temptations are in a
degree unavoidable even under the strictest discipline.

SECT. \l.—From the time Mr. C. entered College till
he «as ordamed. 1775—1778. ^^e 20—23.

We shall proceed with the Diary: — "1 was matri-
culated May 3ldt, 1775. f soon got acquainted with
several serious, piuns yonng gentlemen ; which coold
not but prove a very great comfort and profit to me.

'' But about two yeirs after 1 was entered, 1 was
brought into very great strait and difficulty. My sup-
plies from Wales were at once stopped ; nor was there
any one resource to which I could look with any pros-
pect of success. This happened too, when I was in-
debted to the College ^20. Things remained in this
state about a fortnight; during which time my mind
was mach distressed and perpleiced, quite at a loss what
to do. At last I resolved to iiiformj the College how
matters stood ; and go into the country to get my live-
lihood any how. I found my mind perfectly submissive
to the Lord's will, and satisfied that he should order all
my <x>ncerne aceording to his own goodness and wisdoui.
But 1 was exceedingly puzzled to account for those con-
curring providences which opened my way thither ; nor
was wholly without some secret trust that the Lord
would bring me through some way or another.

" One morning as I was writing to my friends in

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Wales, infonnlng them of my difficulty and my conse-
quent resolutioD, an intimate friend called on me, ta
whom I immediBtely explained niy situation and the
resolution I had formed of leaving Oxford. He an'
Gwered, that he did not doubt but that by some mean
or other I should be assisted, and desired me to make
myself perfectly easy about the matter. A few days
after a gentleman sent for me to dine with him. I
vreut; and before we parted, to my great surprise, he
produced the ^20. 1 wanted j and at the same time
told me, that 1 should not want during my stay at
Oxford. I rejoiced much, and was very thankfal.
The gentleman was as good as his word. This intro-
duced me into a new connection, and considerably
enlarged the sphere of fny acquaintance."

I'he interposition of Providence in his behalf, when
his pecuniary resources failed, was very remarkable.
How wonderful, on many occasions, are the ways of
God ! A fountain was opened, and his servant draak
of it ; but before his wants were fully supplied, it was
closed, it was suddenly shut up. He looked around
with wonder, and knew not for a time what to do
The Lord tried him, and taught him thus to depend
more entirely on himself. As soon as submission and
resignation were produced, the Lord opened to him
another fountain, which supplied his wants till the end
of his course. How this instance teaches us to depend
on the Lord, and to be resigned to his will, whatever
difficulties may meet us on our journey. All obstacles
will soma time or another be removed by patience and
resignation to the will of heaven. There are no diffi-
cnltiea which cannot be surmounted by those who trust
in the Lord.

" Xn the year 1777 I spent the summer vacation

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with Mr. Newton, at Olney. Tlie visit proved verv .
comfortable and very profitable indeed."

A few extracts from the letters which he wrote
about this time to two valuable friends, Hhall be now
presented. The next thing in his Diary refers to his
ordination. — Letter to the Rev, W. Wilkinson, now of
London.

"Olney, Aug. 8lh, 1777. — Having a Newton to
be instructed by, both by edifying discourses in the
pulpit, and by conversation in the closet, what place
or situation can I be in, more pleasing and delightful?
I formed in my mind great ideas of him, but really he
has exceeded my most sanguine expectations. Though
in my opinion he excels moit in the closet, yet he is by
no means indifferent in tbe pulpit. Mr. M. talks of
your coming down. I wish you would I am sure you
would like both the shepherd and the sheep. 1 never
pass my time with more pleasure and profit, than when
I am in conversation with poor sini pie-hearted Chiis-
tiana, who pretend to know nothing but a little of their
own hearts and the way of salvation through Christ.
There is something pleasing and comfortable in (lie very
sight of those with whom you hope to spend a happy
eternity. 'I'hat my lot may fall among tbem here and
hereafter, is the very utmost of my wishes.

" But with no small pleasure 1 inform you that the
great Romaine stopped here two days, and gave us two
very excellent sermons on Christ's glory in his person
anj oifices, and on his precionaness to a ruined sinner,
when he is enabled to lay hold of him through faith. I
was vastly delighted with his manner of preaching ;
which, though particalar, yet seems to roe the most
simple and best adapted to the capacity of the un-

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learned. As to the matter, it was e.rce!lent indeed, and
delivered in audi a feelini^ and pathetic strain, that
even my cold, hard heart coald not but be t
little with his fire. Had 1 the stroogest coi
and the best advantages to make myself mat
the branches of human literature, yes, of all
both sacred and profane, yet 1 am perfectly »
that all this would b« much too little to ni
gospel-preacher. Speak a great deal one may,
very orthodox ; but uniees he has a little of
tioo from the Holy Ghost, he might, for ongh
as well be tilent. This is what I want in m]
studies and meditations. And that God woi
vou and me a great share of it, when
to act in a public capacity, shall, I hope, be tl
prayer of your nfiectionate friend, T. C."
Letter to the Bev. Mr. Griffin, now of Ipsw
" Oxon. Coll. Jesu. Dec. llth, 1777-— I
Allwise God has been your Counsellor and D
it (some important affair;) and pray that
eventually prove mnch to your comfort and Gi
Our true happiness and hia glory are inaepai
jiected together : and it is madness ju us erer t
to sever them. He " who will not give his
another," has eternally secured our happiness.
Sir H. — T. accompanied by Mr. Brewer
us with a visit about a fortnight ago, and was
received by theTice Chancellor and all his
luaintance. — It was the first time of his coi
after he began his eccentric motions. He is
serious and agreeable Sir Harry, whose lips
cated such refined and es<)uisite entertdnm
when we were together, — only, a warm, soi

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bigoted IndepeDdeot. Those of bis party exnlt in the
rich prey they have caught. He seemed much affected
with the rcmemberance of past scenes all the time he
was bere : and Mr. H. conjectured that he was got into
the Btool of repentance. —

" I long to see Zion the glory of the whole eartb,
and am not very anxious about the means God shall
employ for its enlargement ; bnt think it a Fery onde-
serving favour, though I hope I can say, it is all my
desire, to he exercised in some corner in extending its
borders.

" It grieves me to inform you that poor R , of

Brazen-Nose College, has had his degree refused to
him by the Society on account of his Methodistical
principles ; which at once deprived him of the honours
of the University and of the fellowship which be was
sore of as soon as he had taken a degree. Perbaps be
acted indiscreetly in some things i but that can never
justify the rigorous severity of their persecuting spirit.
By wliat he told me be seems to have performed what
he thought to be his duty in an upright, sincere, con-
Bcieucious manner ; though 1 should not think it my
duty to act as he did."

In a letter to the same, dated Oxon. Jan. 22, 1778,
Le mentions a correspondence with Mr., afterwards
Dr. Haweis about the curacy of Aldwincle, Northamp-
tonshire. A title was offered to him with j£50 a year.
To be near Mr. Newton and within reach of his friend

G , at Leicester, was a great inducement to accept

this offer; but Mr. Haweis making an annual inter-
change of duties with him at Bath an indispensable
condition, induced Mr. C. to decline the situation. He
hod heard tbroagh Mr. H. of two other curacies, Mr.

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S , of W , and Mr. D , ofS . He

was advised by his friends to apply for the former, aod

writes to Mr. G , for bis opinion. These HeDtimentit

occur in the letter : —

" Sometimes, I hope, I can say, that God's glory
and the lalvation of precious immortal souls are my
greatest concern : though at other times, I most, with
grief and shame, confess myself gailty of harbonring
and caressing a traitor to heaven and an enemy to my
own peace andcomfort. I mean pride or selfioterest, —
an enemy, of all others the most bold in his enterprises
and the most covert in his plots, aims at nothing less
than dethroning God himeelf, and frequently under
pretence of extending God's dominion, erects an empire
of his own. 1 find him so entwined about me, tliat I
almost despair of ever disengaging myself. But praised
and forever adored be .lesu's name for that precious
scripture — " He muft reign till he has put all enemies
Tinder his feet." He is no king upon terms. I hope
you will pray for me."

In another letter to the same, dated Oxon, Feb.
19th, 1 778, he states the failure of his application for
the Worcester curacy,

'■ It seems to me that the Angel of the Lord, with
a drawn glittering sword in his hand, obstructs my
way to Worcester. TTte tBtllofthe Lord be done. I
have reason to be thankful for this grace among many
others, — that I have no choice at all of ray own, I
hope to follow the fiery, cloudy pillar wherever it may
lead : then, though the way may be unknown to me, I
am secure, and beyond the possibility of wring out of
the right way.

" Whilst I revolve in my mind the lively and faith-

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cl
ful characters you gave of them both, (two miDieters
who made high professiODS of Berioue reli^on,) 1 can-
not but admire yonr iagennity as a Portrait-painter j
yet a kind of involuntary gloom overspreads my luind.
What! Are these the blessed messengers of the
humble Jestu! the tender and compassionate shep-
herds of Christ's simple and weak lambs ! Where is
the Spirit of their meek Master gone? These are the
qneries I frequently pot to myself : but humanum
eat errare.

" Numerons, various and incessant are. the trou-
bles and distresses of every Christian whilst here. Oar
troubles frequently arise too from quarters that #e
expected far otherwise from. Our most intimate friends,
who in a particular manner are intended to sweeten the
bitterness of life, and ease our heavy burden, often
like Judas lift up their heels against ns, and become
the source of our most pungent distresses : by which it
is intended that we should learn to lean not on any
earthly support, but to fly to and confide in the Lord
alone."

There is recorded in the same tetter an instance of
dissimulation and hypocrisy, scarcely ever equalled.
How necessary is caution in the selection of our asso-
ciates. To disgrace religion, the Devil often makes
bis own servants for a time very religions. Their
extreme zeal is one of the surest marks by which they
may be distinguisfied.

" A young gentleman of your acquaintance, who
made great professions of religion, talked much and
prayed fervently, and seemed to turn his back on all
worldly advantages and honours, and follow Jesns with -
simplicity of heart, — this distiDgnished person has kept
C2

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\ 16

coiDpaoy with a noted bad character — for more than
twelve months past : and to complete his own rniD
Htid the affliction of bis parents, at last married bei. —

Tliis miserable and infatuated person -is W , of

Q . You may depend on the truth of this afflict-
ing intelligence."

It appears from a letter to Mr. G , tiearing

date Oxon. Apr. 24, 177S, that it was through him
.hat he finally succeeded in getting a title for ordera.
The title was on Qaeeo-Cainel, in Somersetshire. His
Incumbent's name was Newman. After expressing a
hope that their intercourse would " prore comfortable
to themselves, and eventnally much to the furtherance
of Gods cause and the display of the Saviour's glory,"
Mr. C. proceeds thus in his letter : —

" 7Sw point (the furtherance of God's cause) we
should keep continually in view, and should be the
ultimate end of all our actions. No other object is
worthy a moment's notice. Every thing that promotes
our reai happiness is included in it. They are insepar-
ably connected. But when 1 look within my oan bosom,
I find many reasons to be bumbled and to prostrate
myself low in the dust at the feet of Jesus. Daily and
painful experience teaches me that to deng myaelfaad
take up the cross, is not an easy and a momentary work.
There is hardly one thing that I engage myself in, but
that on examination I find that self is acting its part,
in an insinuating but busy manner. And will this
cursed thing follow me to the pulpit? I tremble at
the thought. J hope you will pray for me."

Some idea may be formed of Mr. C.'s qualiftcaCions
for the ministry from the foregoing extracts. His
style of writing shews his attainments to be consider-

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able, and his communications evidence a mind much exer-
cised in divine thin)^. The sentiments are worthy an
a^d Christian. We could scarcely expect them from a
Tonng man not quite 23. Few are so well prepared for
the sacred office. Many are miserably destitute of what
is most material for such a high employment. Their
defects refer not so much in general to literary attain-
ments ; nor to a theoretical ac^oaintaoce with the dif-
ferent branches of Divinity. None of these things
constitute the grand requisite. What is most necessary
in one who undertakes the sacred function, is an ex-
perimental knowledge of the subject of his message, a
heart Influenced by divine grace. It is greatly to be
lamented that this matter does not form a prominent
pnrt of the examination of candidates for holy orders.
It should no doubt be the main and principle subject of
enquiry. Such a proceeding would be a great benefit
to our Church, as it would prevent from entering it
many unfit and unworthy characters. And it is a pro-
ceeding fully justified by the tenor and express words
of the formularies of- our Church. The candidate is
asked, whether he believes himself to be " inwardly
moved by the Holy Ghost" to take upon him the office
with which he desires to be invested. And is this
qnestion so trifling, of so small an importance, that it
is not necessary to examine the individual respecting it
previously ? Would satisfaction be given on oiker
points by a mere naked answer by the candidate ?
Would it be deemed enough for him to say, "I know
Greek and Latin, I have obtained my degree at College,
1 liave got in my possession testimonials regularly
signed, &c. ? No, he must be examined, he must pro-
duce his credentials. Why should he not be examined
C 6

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also as to hia mothet and Cirutia» egptnence f The
time, it is hoped, is not far distant, when nooe shall
be admitted into the Church but such as shall give a
reasonable evidence of their being moved by the Holy
Ghost, of their having anch views and feelings on t&e
important subject of the ministry as Mr. C. most
clearly possessed.

CHAP II.

Fbom Mr. C.'s Oxdination till bib behoval to
Wales. 1778—20. Adg., 1783. Acb 23—28.

SECT. \.~HU Ordination, %c. 1778—1779.

Thb day of ordination is a memorable event in the life
of a minister. The precious secret devotion of himself
to the most important of all works is then made public
and ratified in the most solemn manner. He is hence-
forth to consider himself as a peculiar person, set apart
for a peculiar work, which he is to prosecute with
fidelity and diligence. Intimately connected with his
work is the eternal welfare of immortal souls, and also
the hononr and glory of our Great God and Savionr
Jesus Christ, Who then is sufficient for this awfnl
undertaking i Its great importance was deeply felt by
onr departed friend, as It appears from his Diary and
from a letter which shall be subjoined.

"On June 14, 1778, I was ordained Deacon! at
Oxford. I felt an earnest desire that the Lord would
enable me to devote myself wholly to his service the

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remainder of my days ou aarth ; and was not a little
impressed with the sense of the great importance of the
citarge I had taken npon me and of my great laability
to discharge it faithfully and in a dne manner. May
the Spirit of the Lord Jehovah be upon me evermore."

Letter to G .

"Oion. Jnne 27, 1778. I have the pleasure to
inform yon that I am in orders since last Trinity Sun-
day. Messrs. Mayor, Bridges and Crouch, were
li)iewise ordained.* — My dear friend, tbit is the most
awful and solemn time 1 have as yet lived to see. My
anxious thoughts about the holy fnnction I have taken
upon me and the most weighty work I am engaged in,
frequently oppress my spirits very much. That solemn
exhortation and charge of St. Paul in Act. \x. 28,
thunders in my ears day and night. Is the Church so
dear and precious to Christ that he purchased it with,
his moat precious blood ? What bowels of corapaasion
and mercy then should I exercise towards every one
even the meanest individual in it? How solicitous
should 1 be about their welfare? How anxious about
their salvation? May God of bis infinite goodness
enable me to be faithful. — At the same time it comforts
my heart when I reflect on God's gracious dealings
with me in making it my continual employ, my voca-
tion, to think and speak abont the forever astonishing
scheme of salvation and the glorious author of it.

* The Rev. Mr. Mayor, late of Shavbnry, now dead. Dr.
Bridges, now of Bristol, and the Rer. Mr. Crouch, now of
Nirborougb, Leiceslerahire. These, vith the Rer. Mr. WHkio-
■OD, of LoBdon, and the Rer. Mr. Griffin, of Ipswich, were his
prindpal frienda at College. Of the six, two are gone la their

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What tbeme more sweet and raTisbing ! Wkat topic
raore spiritual and aublime ! Let my heart and tongne
and every member 1 liave, join with St. Pan) and all
the Angels iu heaven in glorying in the cross of Christ
and be determined to know nothing else.
The Diary :—

" i was engaged to a cnracy in SomerECtshire but
as my Rector did not want my assistance before
Michaelmas, 1 accepted an invitation from my friend,
Mr. Lloyd to go and spend a month with him at Bala,
Merionethshire. 1 stayed with him about five weeks ;
during which time we made a tour through moat parts
of North Wales. He went with me to South Wales.
We made Llangeitbo in our way, where we stayed three
or four days, and heard daring that time two sermons
from Mr. Rowland with inexpressible pleasure. — Au-
gust the 13th we arrived safe at my father's, and found
all ray friends and relations well : most of them going
on in their usual way. I looked on those little corners
in the house and sequestered hedges in the fields, with
inexpressible pleasure, where my soul in former days
struggled with God in prayer and obtained his blessing.
I could not but view those sacred spots, in which I
enjoyed refreshing communion with God, as holy
ground. My father's farm wore the appearance of
Paradise. The memory' of the various blessings at
different times enjoyed, Ailed my heart with joy and
praise.

"On the 16th I preached at Llanvihangel. 1 was
very comfortable and very earnest. My heart exceed-
ingly rejoiced to see once more my old very dear
Christian friend^ Reee Hugh. I could have ahnost
cried for joy. It was the last interview I had with

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!!1

him in this world. In a month afterwards he went totci
lieaven. — Abont Michaelmas I went to my charge."

All the preceding part of the Diary seems to have
been written about this tide, immediately after be
entered on his curacy. This appears clear from the
manner in which it was afterwards carried on, and the
substance of its contents ; they beiug evidently after-
wards in a great measure the daily records of his views
and feelings, of his hopes and fears, of his comforts
and trials. — After he settled on his curacy, he wrote a
letter to his friend W , dated Sep. 28, 1778.

'■' My long silence is not owing to a want of incli'
nation nor forgetfulness, but to a variety of eng^e-
ments to which my visit to my friends subjected me.
You know the sweets of free and gracions pardon,
having experienced it often sealed from the court above
to your guilty soul. You will therefore, I am persnaded,
find but little difficulty in extending forgiveness to a
weak brother, when through his manifold inftrmities
he offends against you. Oh ! what a glorious sight it
is to see the handwriting nailed to the blessed cross,
and onr bonds all cancelled ! This puts ns under a
sweet obligation to pardon even oilT very enemies : for
we had a full and free pardon granted us, when we
were enemies, nay worse than enemies, traitors, who
had rebelled against and betrayed the kindest and the
best of friends. Our case would not have been so
notoriously bad, had we not tasted of his infinite
goodness and experienced his favour. Oh, shall we
ever forget snch an amazing mercy ! My ingratitude
is the sin of all others that lies heaviest on my consci-
ence. It embitters the very comforts 1 receive from ray
gracious and tender Father. Being burdened I groan
under it.

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" I came here about a treek past. I fiod it a aweet
and an agreeable sepaestered retreat after a long and
fatigaing journey, like a safe and peaceful haven to a
weather beaten inarluer, I know you would ask me,
how does preaching agree with you ? My friend, it is
a bard work, t find I have to do with two enemies,
each of whom ia much my superior ; that is, with old
j4dam, aud the old Serpent. The one is hardy (unfeel-
ing) and obstinate ; and the Other is cunning and crafty.
When I attempt to work upon and affect the hard, stupid
and dead heart of a perverse sinner, the Devil sever
fwls to devise a scheme to disappoint me. Yet weak
and iguoruit as i am, I despair not of obtaining a com-
plete and glorious victory at last; for the Lord of
Hosts has promised to be with me. " Lo, I am with
you," — this is all my comfort aud support ; and indeed
I want no more.

" Hitherto I very well approve of my situation.
Futurities I leave to bim wbo overrules all tbiugg to
his own glory. 1 am an abject worm. I am in bis baud
as the clay in the band of the Potter. Ob ! may hfs
glory be my only end in view in every thing I do.

We pass now from what is for the most part his-
torical in the Diary to what ia mostly experimedtal.

"Nov. 6. My beloved batb withdrawn himself. My
soul mourn a. I seek bim, bat cannot find him. I call upon
bim) but he gives no answer. However I am not wholljr
comtiuUese ; for be hath assured me, that he will turn
again and have compassion upon me." Mic. vii. 17-

" 7. This morning in riding to my curacy, I bad
some comfortable meditations on God's sovereignty. I
found myself disposed to lie down at bis feet, willing
that he in all things should dispose of me according to

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his iufinite wisdom and goodness. Do thou dispose tem-
poral and spiritual blessings to me according to thine
own will and pleasure. Only wheo the vision tarries,
support my soul and enable me to wait patiently.

" 8. My soul bdng mnch depressed with tbe
sense of my inability aud insufficiency for the woik of
tbe ministry, fearful lest any gout should perish through
my ignorance or negligence, and lest I should bring
Teproacb upon the glorious gospel, the Lord was pleased
to apply the foUowini; words with great power to my
soul, — " 1 will instruct thee, and teach thee, in the way
which thou shalt go -, I will guide thee vr Jtb mioe eye."
Help me, O Lord, to rely on thy sure word of promise
and to look to thee in all things, who perfecCest strength
in tbe weakness of thy people, and from whocn alone
is their sufficiency for every work,

" 10. I was deeply humbled this morning nnder
a sense of my extreme unworthioess and great ingrati-
tude for many undeserved blsssings. Lord keep me
and transform me more into thine image. My corrup-
tions are strong and my enemies are numerous : bnt my
Father is greater than all. If God be for us, who tan
be against us ?"

The following views oil /rienrfsiip and disappoint-
menu in a letter to his friend W are very ex-
cellent.

" Skipton, Nov. 16, 1778. 1 was just going to
Church wben I received your last kind letter ; for
which I sincerely thank you. Never did any thing come
BO opportunely, when I was about addressing myself to
lost, perishing sinners. It kindly reminded roe of the
inestimable worth of their never-dying souls, of tlie
intinite importance of eternity, of the glorious truths

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I was going to preach and of the strict and awfiil ac-
count I must one day give. It took off the veil and
exposed the eternal world to my view, which I am too
apt to lose eight of through the dloiDess of my eyes
and the enmity of the Devi), who raises up thick black
clouds, if possible, to conceal it from iny sight. To
attempt strengthening the eyesight and dispersing
the darkness, is, in my opinion, the kindest office
one friend can perform for another. Happy for ns
when both our conversation and correspondence tend to
animate and invigorate oor languid souls in the good
ways of the Lord, when we are, whether absent or pre-
sent, to each other, as " iron sharpening iron." It
endears ns to each other here and will in heaven be
reflected upon with satisfaction and delight. When a
person's fire is out, he runs to his next neighbour and
rekindles It again. Let Christian friends do the same.
When my heart is frozen with northern chilly winds,
disheartened and cast down by the severity of the win-
ter, let some kind learm friend revive, cherish and
comfort my drooping soul, and by his zeal rekindle
mine. I am sure I need all attainable assistance to
keep my heart alive and stimulate me on in tlie weari-
some journey. . Help me with your letters, your coun-
sels and prayers. 1 shall heartily thank you ; and I
hope to exert the little strength I possess to retaliate
yonr kindness."

"I am sorry for yonr disappointment : but it may
be best for you. Look to that overniling Providence,
which in consummate wisdom, orders and directs all
sublunary affairs to the glory of God and to the good
of his people. Your heavenly Father may graciously
intend mortifying your desires and subjecting yonr heart

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to his wise dUjMsals, before he bestows on you what
you wish. If so, 1 am sure you must eee.goodnees and
tender mercy in his now dark aod mysterious conduct
towards you. He is not couteuted to gratify you with
temporal mercies, but he inast at the same time enrich
your soul with spiritual ones. Isaac, you know, was
the son of promise, the fruit of many fervent prayers.
To try Abraham's patience and aubmissioa, God long
delayed answering his prayers ; and granted his recjuest
when he least expected. Isaac, when born, was so
much the more endeared, and God's goodness the more
magnified. — Be earnest in prayer to God. He may
accomplish your desire in a way and through means,
you little think of at present. May tlte Shepherd of
Israel be your friend and guide in this and in all other
concerns. You can never trust him too much, nor be
lao «nbmissire to his disposals. He is our Father, and
has our interest near at heart. He never cau forget us
without denying himself. His faithfulness and troth
are engaged in our behalf. "

The remaining part of the Diary for this year shall
close this section. It shews a mind much exercised in
the spiritual contest, sometimes elevated and gome-
times depreued.

"Nov. 15. My mind this morning dwelt with
edification and comfort on the firmness and stability
of the covenant of grace and also on its soitableness in
every view to the various wants of fallen sinners. " It
is well ordered in all things and sure," — In returning
from my curacy my weary sool ardently longed for my
Father's house, my eternal home. when shall 1 be
there ? When shall I see him as be is and be like him i
When shall I sit at the marriage-«npper of the Lamb >
1 am weary of sin and fearfnl of falling into it.

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" ID. 1 have much need to pray for {{race to en-
able me to deny myeelf. Self-love, aelf-wUl, and self-
interest prevail too much within me. Indeed I am
eometimes fearful lest they should be the only apring
of all my actionE. But through grace I believe I am
leas nnder the influence of self than I vens. May the
liOrd deliver me from the sin of malting a god of myselfj
which we always do when we follow onr own wills
instead of God's. — Meditations on God's absolute
sovereignty I have often found a great means of mor-
ticing self-will-

"21. My soal eameitly longs and panta after
purity of heart. Nothing bat the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit can cleanse the thongbts of my pollnted
heart. There is an acerea taalorvm within (a heap of
evils) and God alone can deliver me from them. The
very attempt of cleansing myself is but labour lost.
But I am comforted to think, that God Jehovah hath
taken the work into his own hands — "I will cleanse
them," aaith He, Jer. xxxiii, 8. Purge me, O Lord,
with hyssop and I shall be clean : wash me and I shall
be whiter than snow. Had I to choose the richest
blessing on earth or in heaven, my soul wonid say, ^
pure heart, Lord. Stamp thine image on my soul.
When the Lord shall have washed away my (Uth and
purged my blood by the Spirit of judgment and the
Spirit of burning, then I shall be called holy. Isa. iv.
3, 4.

" 25. As the hart pants after the water-brouks. so
thirsts my soal after thee, O my Saviour. Help me to
wait patiently, till thou be pleased to shine upon me
with the light of thy countenance. Providences at
present appear dark. Thou, O God, art " my strength
and portion." To thee i must look; and thou at alt

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times seest me. Every thing will be unfolded in dne
time. Help me to watch and pray.

"Dec. I. God is always the same, in my best
and worst frames. His covenant is well ordered in all
things and sore. His love is unchangeable. His '
Btreugth nerer decays. iDcrease, Lord, my faith and
dependance on this firm fonndatioD.

"3. I have been enabled to make a total sur-
render of myself this morning to be God's forever and
ever. As my Creator and Preserver, he has antbority
over me and unalienable right to me, to all I am and
to all I can do. And O ! I have been purchased also —
pnrdiased by the blood of his Son ! What a price !
Make me thine forever. Take fnll possession of my
heart. Lire in me and be honoured and glorified by tne.
" 6. I have been enabled to poar out my aonl at
God's throne this moroiug. It is now seed time. I sow
iu tears : bat shall 1 not reap in joy ? Silence uabelief,
and 1 will by faith say, yea. Bat I mnst wait patiently
apoi) the Lord. This is difficult, very difficult ; wa are
BO self-willed. Comparatively speaking, it is easy to
be active for the Lord ) but the most arduous thing in
the world, is to be passive in his hand, as the clay in
the hand of the Potter.

"11. The hand of the Lord is upon me, carrying
on the blessed work of renewing my soul after the
divine image. make me thankful that 1 am not
hitherto forsaken by thee, and that thy promise is,
" that thou wilt never leave me nor forsake me." O
bappy day when I shall be delivered from all my cor-
ruptions. Help me, Lord, to perserere to the end.

"29. It rejoices me that my name is cast out as
evil for the Lord's sake. I hope I am enabled to ekoott
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to snfTer affliction with thepeople orOod father than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a leason. All my desire
is, Uiat 1 may be enabled to fight the good fight, to
eep the faith, and to finish my course with joy and
triumph."

The soul which could hare uttered such things as
the foregoing, must have held frequent intercourse with
heaven. To be ioiy, seems to have been its strongest
desire; — a proof, of all the most decided, of a renewed
state ; the distinguishing mark of trae conversion.
There is no true religion bnt were there is a nature
or a principle, which hates sin, longs for a deliverance
from it, and feels it as an annoyance, as a burden, as a
grievons burden, — a principle which loves God, pants
after communion with him, and earnestly longs for the
full enjoyment of his glorious presence. These feelings
may be weak; hut they invariably exist in ever]' child
of God. The more like God we are, the stronger they
become. It is this iolg nature that causes the Chris-
tian to be wearied with a sinfnl world, and anxious for
a better, for that country wherein dwelleth righteons-

SECT. II.— Z>iflry md Letter* during 1779.

We enter now on a new year. The Diary contaios
the following appropriate reflections on its commence-

"Jan. I, 1779. Another year is forever gone, to
be seen no more! bnt uot so all its actions. A day is
coming when they must all be reviewed. — Anpther year
have I been kept by the power of God. He hath uot
left me. His grace has been at all times soAcieut for

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me. I bare hitherto obtained tnercjr and found grace to
tielp in time of need. Why then should i aaapect God's
faithfulnesH, and the safiicieDCy of bis grace for the
futare i Is he not forever the same God ? Many have
been mv offences the last year against a being of infinite
compassion and love : bnt his boundless mercy has par-
doned them ail. Praise the Lord, my souL May I
ever walk hnmbly with God in the bitterness of my
sool. I most cheerfully and sincerely sorrender myself
and all tboo hast, bestowed upon me, (for I have nothing
else that is good) to thee and thy service this new year
and forevermoTe. Behold, 1 am thy servant : help me
to serve and glorify thee. 1 am thiue ; keep me. I am
thine ; never leave me. May I never be permitted to
dishonour thy dear name. Amen."

The following extracts present us with a variety
of subjects. A heading shall be prefixed to them.
The life of faith di^cult.
" Jan. 29. How difficult do I find it practically
to believe those doctrines, of which 1 have a notion in
tny head. 1 want " to be cast into the mould of the
Gospel" and to breathe pure Gospel air, having pnt on
the Lord Jesus Christ, being dismantled of all legality
and self-righteousness. To live upon Christ, as a
guilty, polluted sinner, for righteousness and grace,
is the most difficult thing in the world.

j4 review of God's goodies* to him at College.
" March 14. I have just returned from Oxford,
where I have been to take my degree of A. B. I am no
longer a member of the University. God's goodness and
mercy to me while there, were very great indeed ! May
my heart be ever duly humbled and filled with praise
when I reflect on the mercies I received, f was suit-

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ported there by vajs and meani of God's Anding oat,
Bod by aDch as clearly manifested his invisible hand in
ordering and disposing of tbem. The temptstions of
various sorts I encountered there were strong and na-
merons : but the Lord kept me in the " fiery furnace ;' '
and I hope, with my " bair nnsinged and coat na-
changed." These mercies were bestowed in answer to
prayer; which doubles the btessiug. May this be &
further euconragement to me to ask in faitii, notbiag
doubting, in all distresses and difficulties. " Ask and
ye shall have," is thy command and promise, gracionsly
joined tngetber. All the dispensations of God's provi-
dence towards me, though dark and mysterious at first,
and through my unbelief, the canee of mncb uoeastuess,
yet when in due time unfolded, were full of wisdom,
grace and love. Help me to see continually the invi-
sible hand that wisely orders tdl things, and to pnt at
all times my whole trust in thee.

Human dependartoe, viun, — grieving for iniquity.
"20. I h^ve lately removed (to Qneen-Camel) to
live near my curacy. May my light so shine before men,
that they seeing my good works may glorify my Father,
who is in heaven. The godly are scarce. My bodI
dwells in the habitation of Dragons. May my conver-
sation be such as may administer grace to all around me.
— 1 tind that the Lord is graciously determined to bring
me from every thing to lice only upon him- t depended
on a broken reed and it hatb pierced me to tbe heart.
At present I have no friend bat the Lord Almi^^tv.
And is he not enough ? Yes ; my soul desires none
besides him. He is my strength and portion.

"April 4. How long must I dwell in Mesech?
My soul is sore vexed at their iniquity, who are enemies

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to God. Surely the fear of God is not in this place.
How welcome will heaven be ? where all discord forever
ceases, and all ia nnion nnd harmony ; where there is
perpetnal rest withont any trouble ; and into which no
unholy thing shall ever enter. There are no ungodly
sinners there. — May the liord bless my poor labours in
this nngodly neighbourhood. Who knows bnt that the
Lord may have moch people here. — ^Fhe Lord's promise
to Jacob, when he went down to Eg^pt, is a great sup-
port to me — " Fear not to go down to Egypt, for I will
there make of thee a great nation." In Eg\'pt, id bon-
dage and captivity, they grew exceedingly. The God
of Jacob will tbns, 1 hope, deal graciously and bounti-
fully with me. I am now in Egypt, among God's
enemies ; yet I trust that the Lord is with me and that
be will bless me and enlai^ my coast, and that his hand
will be with me to keep me from evil that it grieve me
not. 1 Chron. iv. 10.

Trials. — Sin lamented.

"April 19. Lately the enemy baa been permitted
to attack me in every quarter — Good name, worldly
honour, worldly interest — all at stake. 'Bnt, blessed
be the Lord, [ cheerfnlly and willingly part with them
all, and choose rather to snfTer affliction with the people
of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a Bcason.
— Welcome reproaches, if my faith be but strong in
God's promise, and if the sky be clear to see the pro-
mised inheritance. Eternal weight of glory is enough
to outweigh all sufferings here below.

" May 7. In me, that is, in my flesh dwells no good
thing. My heart is a fountain of corruption. Lord,
cleanse it. There is not a day bnt 1 have reason sorely

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to lament an evil heart of nobelUf, departing from the
living God. Create in me a cleao heart.

On the 12tbof thie month, Mr. C. sent a letter

to Mr. O , in which he declines the offer of a cnimcj'

preferable to hia own for reaiotu which have little
weight with the world in general. It contuna also
some excellent thonghts on other subjects.

" I conid never want motives to leave my present
situation, while I have the prospect of living near yoo :
yet, as the servant of another great and good master,
I should divest mynelf of all selfish interest and have
his glory alone in view in all my actions. When a per-
son is once settled in a place, and as he thinks, by an
allwise Providence, he should, in my opinion, be very
cautious in exchanging that for another, though more
agreeable to flesh and blood and much more lucrative.
My present situation is indeed a.tpretent by no means
desirable. I have no Christian friend to speak to within
fifteen miles. Mr. N.'s unexpected behaviour has pro-
duced a coolness between us. AH these circnmstances,
t<^ther with the fair prospects your kind proposals
hold out to me, strongly incline me to accept your
offer. But would this be taking up the cross) Is
this a proof of that undaunted fortitude which a Gos-
pel-minister etpecially should be possessed of? Or ia
it not rather shaking off the cross impatiently which
God in consummate wisdom has laid upon me ? When
Providences appear dark and mysterious, we are not
to be dejected and murmur ; but wait patiently ou the
Lord,' who knows best what weather is most suitable
to our constitutions. 1 am persuaded that few roogh
storms are moch wanted to rouse me : though the Lord

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Icnows bow weak I Ain to bear them. He has promised
that strength shall be proportioned to the day ; and
this ia my stay and comfort.' — For these-reasona, 1 And
myself, ftfter some thought and prayer, at least some
attempt to pray, disposed to declioe the offer, lest,
influenced by sellish motives, 1 should disbouoiir God
and quit that post be has assigned me. Whether this
reasoniog is conclusive I leave you to jodge. Were 1
bnt convinced it were the will of Providence, I would
most gladly embrace the offer. At present 1 am strongly
persuaded that God sent me here: for what end it does
not yet appear very clear. I hope you will pray for
me. I trust if 1 knew the Lord's will, he would give
me grace to comply with it ia ail things.

" I was heartily glad to hear of the comfortable,
though bnt temporary, support which Providence lias
provided for yon. In whatever situation you may be,
may the smiles of bis countenance brightly shine upon

you and Mrs. G ; in which alone our present and

futnre happiness consists. Earth and heaven without
thif, would be but m gloomy hell to the Christian : and
whatever temporal mercies he may think proper in his
infinite wisdom to deny his people, he never can long
deprive them of thi*. He has eternally secured it by
his infallible promise, confirmed by an oath. And
when he does conceal himself under a black cloud for
a time, it is only to endear himself the more.

" The very thought of his goodness humbles me on
account of my ingratitude. O the infinite mercies I
daily enjoy with an unfeeling heart ! The reflections
on them stiog my soul and cover my face with confu-
sion. If you love me, praise the Lord for me for his
patience; I cannot, my praises freeze on my lips.
that I might taste more of his love, and lie lower at

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bis fooUtoo], &nd find him more exalted on bis tbroDe
in my heart. O that I coald speak in a more feeling
wanner to perishing ainnerg of their extreme danger and
of the full, free and glorious Balvation purchased by
Christ. May God enable yon and me to fight the good
Agbt, to keep, however difficult, the faitb, and to finish,
however long, oer courses j and may we at last receive
the unfading crown of glory."

In th% nest entry in the Diary, *loth and low of
the world, are deplored.

" May 14. I have been this day very careless and
negligent, slept too long in the morning,* and did not
begiD the day with God. Sloth is inexpreesibly pr^n-
dicial both to body and sout. Where it prevails, no
progress can be made in the divine life. We must
deny ourselves in this respect and keep under the
body. 20. How difficult it is to be careful for no-
thing, and cast our ceres upon God, who careth for hia
people. This difficulty in a great measure proceedB from
the love of the world. We want to be richer and
greater than God thinks proper we should -. then we
are uneasy because we cannot arrive at that pitch of
greatness we aim at. O God, pnll down more and
more these towering imaginations in my heart. Choose
for me at all times, and make me contented with what
tbou beatowest npon me. Bring my heart to my sta-
tion, then I shall be happy.

* " Avoid." 8a<^B Archbishop Leighton io one of hii lie-
turea to hit studeDts, " too much sleep, which wB^teB the
roomuig hoara, ih&t are most proper for Btudf, aa well ai
for the exercises of religion ; and elupiBei and enerrates the
strength of bodf Euid mind." — Of sll habits, this is the moat
injuriouB to the improvement of the mind as well m to the
health of the body.

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Providence acknowledged, ^e.

" 13, This day I exchanged my lodgings, and
have seen the hand of the Lord very remarkable in
providing a place for me. I was much afraid and dis-
tressed, having no place to go to. Bat all hearts are
in the Lord's hand ; and we shall never be disappointed,
if we believe and trust in him. May I be enabled to
spread the savour of the Gospel in this family, — It
strengthens my hands and encourages my heart much to
refiect on Col. i. 6. ; which proves that the Gospel is
never sent in vain to any place ; bnt that it will " bring
forth fruit every where, and in all the world."
Tha Mtnilei of the world daageroue.

"Jnly 22. The smiles of the world are always
more pernicioas to the sool than its frowns. Its
smiles, like a soporific dranght, sooth the soul into
carnal secortty, whilst its frowns drive ns to God. I
think 1 have fonnd this truth lately verified in my
own experience. — 2^. I was last week afiaid, lest
the smiles of the world should stupify my soul, and
draw me into a conformity to it. fint the world, it
seems, like its god, only smiles that it may fall upon
yon afterwards with more fury. But 1 hope, through
grace, to disregard the one as well as the other. May
I ascend out of the wilderness, leaning on my Beloved>
till I arrive at last to b land of peace and rest, where
every danger will be over, and all will be qoietness
and serenity.

Diitrett and Comfort.

" Aug. 22. 1 have been of late in very great
distress of mind. All is dark and disconsolate within —
corruptions very strong, and I am without strength.
Lord, have mercy upon me.

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Thy blMB'd effulgcncr ran di>p«l

The clouds of borrot and the gloom of hell.

" 26. How suitable is the revelation God has
made of himself id the scriptnres to the miserable con-
ditioD of falleD siuDers ! My thoughts have dwelt this
day witli comfort and profit on his glorious perfections 3
and I Lope 1 fonnd my heart drawn out in love to bim
and desire after him. May my soul be enlai|^ Jm
receive out of his fnlnesE.

Tender C<m»cienee.

" Dec. 24. 1 often compare myself to some mu-
sical instrumeut, which sounds well when in tune, but
the least thing will put it out of tone ; nor is it without
some expence and trouble that it can be brought t«
play well again. So have I often found my soul put
out of order by things that might be looked upon as
of no great consequence. For instance, not reproving
sin in others, has often left a kind of guilt on my soul,
and brought a cold chill over all its powers, which
sometimes is accompanied with very perutcious ef-

f^am attempts to avoid tlte croas.
" Dec. 4. Many are forced to bear the cross, who
would be very glad, if practicable, to shake it off. But
to take it up out of choice is utterly contrary to the old
man ; and nothing bat the grace of God can enable us,
with Moses, to chooge affliction with God's people.
When distressed and afflicted, we often comfort our-
selves, not with the promises of God soited to our
iiartieular state at the present time, but with our own
vain imaginations and contrivances. But when those
frnitless contrivances prove abortive, as they always do,
we are then plunged deeper than ever into distress, and

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it ma; be at last, into despair: whereas if we hitd im-
mediate recourse to the sure promises of God, we should
infalitbly find sufficient present sapport; nor ehould
we ever in the issue of tilings be disappoiuted. We
are apt to think every thing more likely to extricate
US than patient waiting and reliance on God. Soch an
aversion is there in onr corrupt nature to every thing
that belongs to God, however suitable to our present
condition."

We have in the foregoing passages a specimen of
what the life of a Christian is. It .Is a life of trials,
temptations and distresses, as well as of enjoyments
and consolations. Both are necessary according to the
plan of God to promote and secure the great end — the
manifestation of his own glory in the restoration of a
■infui creature. His gradoal recovery, accompanied
with trials aud difficulties, carried on in the midst of
enemies, and effected notwithstanding all their opposi-
tion and malicious attempts, mill far more fully display
the divine character, thiin if it were immediate, made
perfect at once. This shonld not only reconcile the
Christian to the hardships of his warfare, but make him
even thankful for them. Paul could never have so fully
known the gracious power of God, had he not such
trials as made him feel his own utter weakness and flee
for help to Him who had promised to support him.
What silenced all his discontent under his trying cir-
cumstances, was the view of God's power and grace as
manifested id sustaining him. " Most gladly there-
fore," said he, '' will 1 rather glory in my infirmittet,
that the power of Christ majf rest upon me." His
weaknesses would occasion the display of divine
jpowsrj and this satisfied him. Tlie more God is sees

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and knowD, the greater will be bis manifested glory,
snd the larger the eojoymeDts of hia glorified creatures.
To know him ie life or bappioess. The more we shall
Icnow him as the God of grace, wisdom, lore and
power, the greater tinally will be our eternal felicity.
Then let us join Paul and say. We " take pleiuure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecn-
tiong, in distresses for Christ's sake : for when wr
ABs ivBAK, then are we strong."

SECT. m.—Diari/ and Letten during 1780.

Wc meet again with reflections on the nea year*
day. The occasion was the same as before, but it
gave rise to a different train of ideas. There is not in
nature a greater variety, than in the thoughts of the
human mind.

"Jan. 1, 1780. ^found last year the following
promise remarkably fulfilled to me — " Fear not, I am
with thee , be not dismayed, I am thy God : I will
strengthen thee; yea, 1 will help thee; yea, 1 wilt
uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
When thou passes! through the water, I will be with
thee : and through the rivers, they shall not over6ow
thee: when thoa walkest through the fire, tbou shall
not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upoD
thee." If thou hadst not been with me, I mnst have fallen
and perished : but, blessed be the Lord, the everlasting
arms were underneath me. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Gratitude for thy numerous and undeserved mercies,
both temporal and spiritual, bestowed on me last year,
cannot but powerfully influence my mind to devote my-
self most solemnly and deliberately to thy service this

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year also, O God, give me the privilege and IiappineGS
of living to thee. I trust I have been in thy family
these seven yeare} nor would I change my Master for ♦
ten thomand worlds. His service is perfect freedom,
and the only happiness in the an'werse. Astonishing
the grace that first called me from the world : but
more amazing, if any thing can be so, is the grace,
mercy and patience, which hath since borne with me
and pardoned my sins, and is still compassionate to my
daily inlinaities. Lord, continue thy strengthening
grace and thy refreshing presence to me this yearalsO'"
It appears by a letter written the 12th of this
month to his friend W , that lie had notice, Michael-
mas before, to quit bis curacy, unless he consented to
serve it for ^630 a year. His salary at first was *45.
It had becQ reduced before to ^40, but at this time to
£30 ; a sum far too small even tbeu for a decent sup-
port. The first reduction, thongh made about the time
i^LCIi tt ^^<1 ^" "ff^"" **f * better curacy through Mr.

-, before-mentioned, dia i

'iducehim to leave

._.! situation: but the second, which lesseatu ^l*^
salary so much, rendered him doubtful as to the courBC
it was his duty to follow. He was therefore in a great
strait, not willing to leave on the ground of pecuniary
considerations, and yet being distressed, having not
sufficient means for a livelihood. He was providentially
relieved from this difficulty through the kindness of a
friend, the Rev. Mr. Lucas, whom he knew a little
when at College, and who had just come to reside on a.
living in the neighbourhood. His own account in the
fore-ioentioDcd letter is the following ; —

" When the time came that I was to determine one

way or another, Mr. L , in order to enable me to

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•t«Y, rery generously proposed to cootribote towardi
my snpport. Next Lady-day I am to go and live at
MUboum-Port, as a bind of an asBistant to hiai (thongh
he vants no assistance at present) and tie promiseB to
ftiroisb me with a borse to serve my cnracy, nbicb is
eight miles off. — After all I am in hopes that the whole
will end well, if I have bnt patience to wait tbe Lord's
good time. I know of nothing that could be more agree-
able to me, and by the blessine of heaven, be more
beneficial to me than to spend a few years with a per-
son of Mr. L 's good sense, learning and piety. I

spend a great part of my time with him now : and the
more I know him, the more 1 like him."

Mr, C. had ever afterwards considered his inter-
conrse with this gentleman as one of the happiest and
most advantageous circumstances of his life. His conn-
aels and communications had been most useful to him.
How trne it is, that our comforts often arise from onr
distresses, and our gains from our lossea. M». C was
in a great disttesi'. This very distress was the means
of ir.trodacing him into the society of a most valuable
man, of whom he never aftewards could think but with
the highest respect and sinccrcst gratitnde.

We meet in tbe letter from which we have already
quoted, with these observations on pataive obedietce to
the will of God.

" 1 find it much easier to be active for Christ than '
tc be passive to his will, by yielding myself up to his
disposal and resting satisfied with the issue. For by
the honour derived from activity the pride of the old
man within, is gratified ; and self hopes for something
to feed upon. But to have my wilt one with his, to
comEuit every thing that can affect either soul or body

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or (diaract€T, simply and nnteaervedly intn his hands,
to liTO truly by faith alone, without the hope vhich
senee and human reason can supply, — thus to live is
That the grace of God alone can teodi and enable ns bo
do. When I am enabled to orertook eeeond causes and
to see the invisible hand of God in all things, oidering
all erente and influenciog tkeir efficient causes accord-
ing to his own wise counsel and the pleasure of fais own
will, all distracting thcmghts and nmrmaring ccunj^nts
are quieted and silenced ; and I feel a calm serenity
within, which depends upon, and therefore can he af-
fected by, nothing sublunary. Tben 1 can adopt the
Psalmist's language — ■" I will not fear, though the earth
be removed, and though the nountains be carried into
tlie midst of the sea : for God is my refuge and strength,
a vf^ry preteni help in trouble." Here is a firm fonnda-
-tion ! Here is an inexhanstible source of the richest
comforts ! I am surrounded with -enemies, and hare
no strength to o|^09e them : but God is a awe refoge
for me, and strength too. What can 1 want more? He
\sApTMent help. This is enough."

The picture he gires, in the same letter, of his
parish is not very inviting.

" The people here shew me all the outward civili-
ties I could expect, but a very great contempt to the
Gospel and godly livjog. After all I am in hopes that
the Lord hath blessed and mil bless my ministry among
them. Great many highly approve of the doctrines of
the Gospel and of those who live godly in Christ Jesus ;
but the fear of an opprobrious nanae and worldly con-
tempt, operates so strongly on their minds at present,
that they cannot openly profess what they believe to be
right. Religion is a new and strange thing here, and
E 3

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opentes variously according to the different tempen
and interest of tlie persoDs who hear it. J3ut mott look
npon it as sometliing very bad, though they know not
what it is ; and they are exceedingly afraid of taking
the infection. — I have lived in a place this last year
where I believe charity itself cannot find one truly seri-
ous perBon." — We shall now proceed with the Diary.

" Jan. 20. Every return of this blessed day (when
be heard Mr. Rowland in 1773) is refreshing to my
■oul. The remembrance of the mercies which J re-
ceived, can never be forgotten. Pardon me, O God,
that my heart is not more sensibly affected by thy
goodness to me an unworthy creature.
Discontent lamented.
" Feb. 20. At times I found somewhat of the
mnrmoring spirit which characterized the Israelites of
old daring their journey through the wilderness, in-
stead of thankfulness for the many, many nodeserved
mercies which I enjoy. I imagine ten thousand wants,
and view blessings which are not at present in my
possession ; and if they were, they would most pro-
bably prove detrimental both to body and soul. Were
my wants real, nothing but pride and unbelief could
tempt me to murmur: for the promise of God is — ^"Ask
and ye shall have." Had the Israelites reverently asked
God those blessingB they wanted, they would donbtless
have been granted, and been made real comforts to them.
But when they murmured, God granted their requests,
but it was in "his aagerj" a curse accompanied then.
Jjord, make me more humble and more thankful."

The first letter of the many that are still extant,
which Mr. C, wrote to Miss Jones, of Bala, Merio-
nethshire, afterwards, bis wife, is dated the first of

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March, this year. The acquaintance probably com-
menced when he visited Bala, nearly two years before,
with his friend Mr. Lloyd. The whole correspondence,
till they married in 1783, is singularly interesting,
containing nothing light or trifling, notliing but what
is of a eerious and insttnctire character. Some of their
nioBt nseful contents shall be given ; for were the whole
transcribed, it woald till a volume. From the letter
above-mentioned, we extract the following observation b
«n love to the brethren.

" God has diffused himself through all his crea-
tures ; and wheu we enjoy him in his creatures, then
they answer to us the end for which they were created.
So that the love of God and his creatures are not only
consistent, but inseparably connected. For this rea-
son, so much stress is laid in scripture on the duty of
loving Christ's true disciples, our Christian brethren. It
is spolien of as a sure and infallible sign of our being the
children of God. God has more highly and wonderfully
honoured and has put infinitely more value upon a true
believer, however mean in the eyes of the world and des-
. pised by it, than any or all his other creatures put toge-
ther. And God's perfections are more illustriously mani-
fested in him than is all his other works. How is it
possible then for any (hat love God to hate him, who is so
unspeakably dear to God, and in whom so much of God
is to be seen ? It atnnot be. As God hath loved his
children here in duit and ashes, with a love soperior
to that which be bears to all his other creatures, (a
love so amazing anii wonderful as to sta^^er out belief
by its greatness,) n the like manner does one Chris-
tian love another. He loves him neat to the Alm^igbty.
Hence, as yon observe, ' Christian friendship is tie

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best we can wish to commetice,' thoagii not tlie 4m/y
one / desire to know ; but a friendBbip by no ineaB*
repugnant to it, but groumded upon it. For I ssnre
yon, were all the perfections of your aex united ia yoa
and the wealth of the Indies in yonr possessioti, and I
bad no reason to believe you were an adopted child of
onr heavenly Father, by the help of God's grace I shonld
hope never to deeire formiag any connexion with yoa.
But I have reason and every leason to believe that thta
is your happy case. It is therefore tny sincere desire
and prayer to God that I maysncceed."

The same letter coDtaiuG some nsefol thoughts on
^e fear of death.

•' I feelingly, sympathize with yon when yon ioform
me that ' the thoughts of death are alarming to you.' It
was the case with me for many Gorrowfnl years. But
through the abundant goodness of ray heavenly Fath^',
it is not generailff the case with me at present. That
scripture, 1 Cor. xv. 25, 26, has been very remarkably
blessed to me for removing all the very alarming and
anxious thoughts abont death, whish till then deprived
me of all lasting comfort. Dwth is considered there,
not so much our enemy as Christ's : and He mast reign
till he hath put mil enemies under his feet ) and thongh
death will be the last enemy, yet death ntiut be de-
stroyed. I saw that /had nothing to do but to enjoy the
victory : Christ w engaged to conquer. The vktory is
obtained by the arm of Omnipotence : and we shall ere
l(»ig bear the palm io our hands as the token of it.
Till that happy time arrives, may it be our constant
care and study to live in the few and to the glory of
Him who hath thus loved us and vanquished our strvng
enemies for ds. O 1 it is pleasing, it is comfortable, to

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Tiew Christ in the field of battle, bearing tlic weak
believer on his shoulders through whole legions of
hellish foes, to the blessed mansions in bis Father's
house. Not one of thera shall be lost. His Father and
our Father is greater than all; and none shall pluck
one of his sheep out of his hand. O what a Saviour !
O what a salvation bath God provided for us ! Shall w«
not praise him 1 Yes. I hope you and I shall join out
songs through the boundless period of eternity in prais'
ing God and the Larab. It is all we can render him
for bis marvellous lovingkindness."

DiART. — Meditation, kt necestily.

"March 4. Almost every thing 1 find depends,
with regard to our progress in the divine life, on th«
manner our retired moments are spent. And nothing
can enable ns as infallibly to dertermine where and what
we are, as the natural bent and free course of our
thoughts during those solemn important seasons. 1
have often been troubled and interrtpted by reflenting
on the thoughts themselves, till I had lost the object
which before engaged my attention.

"12. i have just returned from a visit to my dear

Mr. L . When there 1 believe we spsnt too much

of our time together. Nothing can supply the want of
private converse with God. However agreeable and
edifying the conversation of Christian friends j yet we
roust deny ourselves therein, if it encroaches too moch
on tbe time (usually) dedicated to meditation and pri-
vate prayer j or we shall in the end be great losers.
This is the life and sou) of every other duty j and when
it is neglected, the sonl must be stupid, barren and
sapless. None but God can always satisfy j and here

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oaly we are ODt of danger of excess. And the more
we converse with him, the better fitted we are to con-
verse with oar fellow-creatures. When we have re-
ceived out of his fulness, we have wherewith to com-
municate to others : otberwise we are nothing bnt
emptiness ; and when emptiness meets with emptiness,
there can be no edificstion."

On the 27lh of ^pri! he removed to Milbonru-
I'ort, the residence of Mr. L . " Repeated expe-
rience," he says on the occasion, " hath taught me
that DO change of situation can add one grain to my
happiness withont the concurring blessing of the God
of all grace and comfort. Bot bis presence can cheer
us ill the most dismal sitnatioDS, support us in onr
greatest difficalties, and encourage us in the face of
all our euemii's. Lord, be with me here, and help me
to glorify thee by doing thy work."

Some account of his/rtentf and of the »latt of the
country, is given in a letter at this time to his intended.
The former p„,r tnii.mloS S5iiie very glowing thoughts
on oii." obUgatloM to God for hit great love and some
striking remarks on unbelief} and it would not be
right to withhold it.

" I am under such infinite obligations to divine
mercy and compassion, that they can never be fully
expressed through an endless eternity. The least I
can do, and indeed all I can do, to express my gratefnl
sense of such boundless love, is to lay myself at bis
feet, willing to devote myself and all I possess to his
service and glory whilst I live. A soul saved from hell,
saved at such an amazing expense and by soeh won-
derful means, shonld forever glow with the most ardent
love, and be at all times infloenced by the most active

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zeal in promoting his glory and sounding, bis praise,
who has thus "loved and washed as in his blood." But
at last, all we can do in grateful returns to him, falls
infinitely short of what he hath a right to demand, who
is a6ove all blessing and praise.

" Your obserration is very just, ' that nothing bat
unbelief doubts his wilitngness to save." And it is sur-
prising that unbelief could find a place to shew itself
with so unblushing a conntenance, when we consider
and view the astonishing proof Christ hath given \)f
bis willingness, by ehedding his blood for us on the
cross ! The greatest proof that heaven itself could
give ; and a greater proof even unbelief cannot ask. 1
find it, by daily experience, absolutely impossible to
enjoy any permanent and satisfactory comfort, without
at all times, having a clear apprehension of the infinite
worth and value of the great satisfaction made on the
cross for sin — a satisfaction sofficient alane eternally to
recommend to the favour of the offended Majesty of
heaven, millions of rained souls, as unworthy in them-
selves as you or 1 can possibly be ! I hope, God the
Spirit, who alone must do the whole of the work, will
give you such a clear view of the great salvation by
Christ, as ivill forever silence, if not banish, unbelief,
with all its clamours from your heart. Unbelief is the
very worst enemy we have to do with : at the same
time, it adds strength to every other subtle foe. It
weakens the soul by drawing it from the living God,
the source of all our life aud comfort. Therefore the
"apostle exhorted the Jews to take heed, lest there
should be in any of them an evil heart of unbelief, in
departing from the living God. No other enemy can
separate onr souls from him." — ^Tlien Mr. C. proceeda
to speak of his friend, &c.

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" 1 sm now settled at Milbonrn-Port. — Mr. L-

lived at Oxford for twenty jeara, and is, without excep-
tion, one of tbe most ingeniooH, sensible, leuued and
pious men that 1 ever met with. I had some sli^t ac-
quaintance with him at Oxford ; bnt since he came to
reside at his living, lately given him, it has been
renewed and improved, and I hope will continne to
flourish nndecayed as long as we live. Ainongft our
brethren, the Clergy, we are "speckled birds." Bet
throagh the grace of God, I hope, we shall neither fear
their insignificant frowns nor covet their empty smiles.
—Tbe iamd in which we live presents a most dismal
prospect — a prospect suffirient, 1 think, to excite
the compassion of tbe most obdurate. It ia a fruitful
valley, but like that in Bzekiel's vision, " full of dead
bones, very many, and very dry." The enlivening
sound of ttie Gospel of salvation is a strange thing
among the inhabitants. Religion has been in a manner
banished for many years, and iniquity is come in. like
a flood and has delnged the whole country. I hope the
Lord will enable us (pray for us) to lift up a standard
against it, and that the Spirit will make successful our
weak attempts to stem the torrent."

Tbe following passage from his Diary, Apr. 29,
though short, ia worthy our attention as containing ob-
servations highly important : — " i find there is no such
thing as living godly in Christ Jesus witliout/or»aAi»g-
all, and takingup the crosa (^ai/y. The pnnci;i(i/ thing
in religion is ta have our wills subdued to God's will
in all things, to be willing to be actuated, governed,
guided and led by him. Lord, help me to be mora
resigned to thee, more watchful unto prayer and more
circoDSpeet in all my daily walk," — ^That one, having

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these views of Kiiat he oug^hl to be, sboold use snch
strong language reBpecting his ownself, as is fonnd in
the next letter wbicli we shall present, is no wonder :
nor is his case as described at all unintelligible to
those who Iedow spiritually any tbing of themselves.
Writing to Miss J , May 12, be thus proceeds : —

" Though I can adopt, with the greatest propriety,
the language of the hymn which I sent yon ; yet it is
not from the conscious guilt of any one Dotorious sin I
have been permitted to fall into; but from a feeling
sense of the most horrid depravity of my sinful heart.
Through grace, u)d that alone, I have been hitherto
preserved from being guilty of any one open scanda-
lous fiin, once in my whole life : yet 1 do not look
upon myself in the least degree a better man in the
sight of an alUseeing God, than those who have. Though
I have not been Buffered to make any considerable blot
in my profession, during the time I have been num-
bered among the Lord's people; yet I have nothing to
boast of herein : but 1 hope to go softly all my days
under tbe remembrance of many things, for which
I bare as much cause to be deeply abased before tbe
Lord, as if 1 bad been left to sin grievously in the
sight of men. How can 1 look into my false, deceitful
and abominable heart, without crying out " O wretched

man Uiat I am!" But this is my present comfort,

and shall be. my theme, and the burden of my song for-
ever — ^To Him that loved me, (a rebel, an enemy, a
polluted sinner,) and washed me in bis blood, be all
praise and glory !

" 1 well remember that when tbe Spirit of God first
convinced me of my sin, guilt and danger, and uf the
many difficulties and eoemiee I must encoDuler if ever

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I intended setting oot for heaven, t wm often to tbe
last degree frightened ; the prospect of those maiijr
BtroDg temptations and vain sUnrements, to which my
youthful years wonld nnavoidably expose me, greatly
discosT^ed me. And 1 often used to tell an aged sol-
dier of Christ, (see page 4.) the first and only Christian
friend 1 had any acquaintance with for utveral yeara,
that I wished / had borne the burden and beat of tbe
day like him. His nanal reply was — ' That so long as
l/eared and was kttmiiy dependant upon God, I shonld
nevtr fall, but certainly prerail.'* I have found it so.
O blessed be the Lord, that 1 can now raise np my Ebe-
nezer and say, " Hitherto hath the Lord npheld me."
And still more. He hath promised " never to leave me
nor forsake me;" and that^liis grace shall be sufficient
for me. 1 should be is the last degree discouraged and
dismayed, were it not for these gracious promises."

Of the same tenor is another letter sent about this
time to tbe same person. It presents very knmblmg
mew* of one'* telf, and very glonoiu views of the So-

" Your lut kind letter contained so mnt^ of the
language of Chiistian experience, that I have perased it
Again and again with peculiar pleasure. 1 know of no
liappinesB next to the enjoyment of tbe fellowship with
the Father and bis Son Jesne Christ, superior to that
which Christian friends partake of by cemmunicating
to each other the dealings of God with their sonls.

* The greatest learning in tlie world can prescribt no better
ineani fcH- our preservation, than what vai lecommcDded by tbe
puor umple-burled Reea Hugh to bis jouthTul friend, — (ear of
falling, «nddt ' "" ""'

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Often do tbeir hearts born within tbem vhile they talk
by the way, the Spirit of God in tite mean tiineopeniDg
to them the Bcriptures. — Among the great unmber
who make high pretenaiona to religion, you seldom meet
with maitjf (at least I have not) who are snfficiently
acquainted with the horrid hell of wickedness and nn-
fatboroable depths of misery within them ; and iriio,
on the other band, have bo much experienced the won-
derfnl efficacy of the salvation of Christ, delivering
them from all, as to be able to converse with any
profit or to any purpose on these things. Many there
are who can talk with great volnbility abomi religion;
bnt very few who talk religion itself. But when we
meet with any who are not only concerned ahout religion;
but who also are deeply concerned in religion, they
cannot be too highly valued and careGsed. Such are
the excellent of the earth and the darlings of heaven, — •
bnt rare h'trdt in every age. However, when they shall
all meet together and lodge in the branches of the tree
of Life in the heavenly paradise, there will be a glori-
ous and innumerable flock of them, melodiously singli^
the wonderfnl exploits of their mighty Redeemer. O,
my dear friend, it sometimes comforts my heart to
think of that happy time; and the future prospect of
it, drives away effectually ail my present lukewarm-
ness, deadness, &c. These are indeed precious, but
with me very rare opportunities. In general I can
better talk of a cold frozen heart, stnpld insensibility,
shocking ingratitnde and mnrmuring complaints,—
qoalities indeed purely oar own. Blessed be God for an
effKtnal remedy for all these, otherwise iaXiA diseases.
Yon bare certainly fonnd it out, — ' a view of redeem*
ing h)ve.' Jesus dying on the cross can powerfnlly
accomplish all."

F 2

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llie seqael of this letter refer* to two eminent
preachers then in Wales, the Rev. D. Jonet, of Langan,
and the Rev. D. Rowland, of Ijangeitbo.

" I know enoogh of Mr. Jones liighly to esteem and
lore him for his work's sake, I am very happy to hear of
the sQccesa of the everlasting gospel amongyon. Ithink
with you, that not only Bala back, (dear Bala) hnt Wales
itself is a highly favonred country. Thftt aged herald of
the king of glory, D. Rowland, is and will be an eternal
honour to it. 1 seldom can apeak of him in moderate
terms. 1 love him dearly and hononr him as my father
in Christ ; and not without reason ; for to him under
God 1 am indebted for whatever light I have into, and
experience I have of, the glorious salvation throng
Christ. I hope to see him onee more, if the will of
God he so, before he takes his flight. I shall never
foi^t a sermon I heard him preach from Heb. iv- 15,
Jan. 20, 1773. 1 remember the blessed time \vith infi-
nite delight !

On May 21, be was ordained Prieat at dxford.
How it happened that he was two years in Deacon's
orders, we are told. He wrote thus in the Diary on
the occasion : —

"May 21. I was this morning ordained Priest,—
when 1 most solemnly and with my whole heart devoted
myself with all I have to the service of God, Time,
talents and all, I hope, I have been enabled to lay down
at his feet : nor would I, on the most serions consider-
ation and in my most deliberate moments, wish to
retract one word 1 have spoken. I hope 1 can say that
the constant and rooted desire of my soul is after God
and his service." — Then follows this beautsful prayer.
Its Rowing fervor mast be perceived by all who may
read it.

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" O Almighty God, wbo hast given me the will,
" grant me also power to perform the same. Accom-
" plisb the work which tbon haat begnn la me. Endow
" me with a double portion of thy Spirit, aod clothe me
" with pover from on high. Increase my love to aouls.
" Impress my mind deeply and cooataiitly with a sense
" of the solemn accoant, 1 must one day render to thee,
" of my Btewardsbip. Enable me to exercise the gifts
" given to me. Lift np my bands whenever they hang
"down; and strengthen ray feeble knees. Help'meto
" be in Ihy hands as the clay in the hand of the Potter,
" willing to be fashioned, ruled and employed by thy
" godly wisdom, in the manner and in the service tbou
" thinkest proper. 1 am nothing in myself : mine eyes
" are directed to thee in whom the fatherless find
" mercy. O nerer leave me : thou art a faitbfa) Ood,
" who never fsilest those wbo depend upon tbee."

The following extract from a letter he wrot« the

same day to Miss J , shews still further the views

he had of the responsibility of bis office and of bis own
atter insnfficiency.

" Having now devoted myself entirely, by a most
iolem» oath, to the important service of my great Mas-
ter, I hare the utmost need of the greatest and mosi
abondant supplies of grace to discharge the office cheer-
folly, sincerely and faithfully. 1 hope, my dear, thai

yon aod my dear friend Mr. F will join in hearty

prayer for the poorest and weakest creature that evei
took such an office upon bim. I never asked any fovoui
more sincerely from yon. The Lord, it seems, will al-
ways put bis rich treasures in earthen vessels, that the
glory may be entirely his."

IVbat bat nsefaluess and enccess coold be expected
F3

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from the Ubonn of one who had thus devoted himself
to bia Ood, ondcr such a deep sense of the need he had
of the continml aid of dinne grace ? O that all minis-
ters were so sensible of their own iosufficency, so de-
pendant on the strength of God, and so anxious to be
faithful in their bigh office !

By a letter to W sent the 12th of Jone, it

appears, that the kingdom at this time was in a very
disturbed state. Riots took place in London and some
other great tovns. A general gloom spread itself over
the whole conntry. The state of poblic affairs, U
seemB, ^s generally supposed to be very bad; and
universal confnsion was greatly feared. Mr. C. ex-
presses himself as a good and faitbfnl citizen, deeply
concerned for the pablic welfare. He traces the evils
uid disturbances which prevailed to their tme sources
— the immoralities and ungodliness of the age.

" Sfaoold a kind Providence," he says, " whicti has
often in former times interposed in oar favonr, work
ont a salvation for us from ttie suspending caUmities,
it would be an event, which we coold by no means ex-
pect, being a nation, which has forsaken God and
deserves to be forsaken by faim." — Tbe Lord tUd gra-
ciously interpose at this time, and in after as well as
in former times, in our favour, notwithstanding oar
great sins as a nation. So ttut we must attribute our
present state, wliich in every thing that forms the glory
of a country is unequalled in the annals of the world,
entirely to the nndesrared ttmmi of heaven.

In the same letter he congratulates his friend on
his Bnrriage. "To ennmenite no particulars, I sin-
cerely wish you and Mrs. W — all the comfort and
felidty, which pilgrims at a great distance from tiieir

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liome, in a atrange country, in a chengrable world foil of
misery, can poaaibly enjoy ti^etticr." — It were well (or
ChriatianB in every atate of life, to bear con»tantiy in
mind, that they are pilgriroa, aojonmiDf; to another
world, their eternal home.

He felt, as moat feel on anch occaaiona, the danger
of setting hia affections too muck on the abject of his
attachment. Thia he aAnowledges in liie Diarj'.

"June 29. How difficult it is to use God's crea-
torea and not abuse them ! The use of them ia Tawfol ;
bnt the abuae of them is sinfol. Every thing is abased,
when it is not kept in its proper place of due subordi-
nation inonr minds, and when we employ them not in
BQcb a manner as may tend to draw us nearer to God.
Every thing in the place which God hath appointed for
it, ia proper, innocent and comfortable. I am now in
danger of immoderate affection." — And yet it ia delight-
b\ to see with what reaignation he contemplated the
disappointment of his wisbea, had that been the will of
Providence. " Were I persuaded," he says in a letter,
dated July 5, " that this my application to yon ia con-
trary to the will of onr heavenly Father, or woold in the
iasne tend in any degree to your prejudice or discomfort,
however anxiona 1 am about it, I would not remove a
Straw to bring it about, could that do iL" — ^The aame
T^ard to the divine will is observable in the following
passage in the Diary : —

" JnL 2. To know aaaaredly that I am where God
would have me to be and engaged in hia work in the
manner he wonld have me, ia a very great thing
towarda obtaining settled peace and comfort. The diffi-
culty I meet with in performing hia service is nothing,
when I am peraaaded that it is hia service, and that I

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am eagiged in it in bis Spirit and not my own. But
this freqaeatly ia not an easy thing to be ftiKy utiafied
in. A tbiog may be proper at ana time, tbougb not at
Bootbsr i and in one manoer right, ttiODgb in « different
. manner, wrong. Id every thing I want divine di-
rection."

He records in bis Diary a visit be paid the object
of his attachment. He started the 'Ith of Sep., arrived
at Bala on the flth, and returned home by the SOtii.
His prayer on this occasion was snch as became a ser-
vant of God. " May the Lord be with me, comfort me
with his presence, support me by bis power, and direct
me by his Spirit, preventing me from taking one step
without consnlting him and knowing bis will."

Soon after bis return from this visit be wrote a most
valuaile letter, which we subjoin, to Ur. Fonlks, the
stepfather of his intended. From Mr. G.'s account, Mr.

F was a man of intelligence and of great piety.

The letter is oa/aic^ and auarance.

" In examining the Boole of Homilies, I find there
are two, somewhat different, definitions of saving foith
given. One is that which yon mentioned; and it occurs
but ome. The other is repeated several times, and is
expressed in the following terms — "The right and tme
Christian faith is, not only to believe that boly scrip-
ture and all the aforesaid articles, are tme ; but also
to have a sure trust and confidence in God's merciful
promises, to be saved from everlasting damnation
through Christ : whereof doth follow a loving heart to
obey bis commandments. Hom. on Sal. Part 3rd.

" Again more particularly, — " This (&ith) is nqt
only the common belief of the articles of our faith, bat
it is also a true trust and conbdence in the mercy of

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God tkroD^ our Lord Jesus Chriat, and a steadfut
hope of all good thiugs to be received at God's hand."
Horn, on F&ith. Part Ist. — We meet with a similar
definition of faith in au excellent book, published in
the year 1540, jost at the dawn of the Reforniatiou,
entitled " A necessary Erudition for a ChriEtian man."
The definition given there is as follows : — " Faith sig-
nifies a sure confidence and hope to obtain whatsoever
God has promised for Christ's sake, and is accompa- V
nied with hearty love to God and obedieuce to his
commands." — We often find definitions of faith to this
pnrport in the writings of onr pions Reformers : and
upon the whole I think a person of a peaceable Jtum of
mind will find but little room to qnarrel with them.

" The passage you mentioned is this : I will tran-
scribe the whole of it that you may see the connection ;
— " The right and true Christian feith is, not only to
believe that holy scripture and all the aforesaid arti-
cles of onr faith, are true ; but also to have a sure
trust and confidence in God's mercifnl promises to be
saved from everlasting damnation by Christ ; whereof
doth follow a loving heart to obey his commandments-
And this true Christian faith, neither any devil hath,
nor yet any man, which in the outward profession of
his mouth and his outward receiving of the sacraments,
in coming to the Church and iu all other outward ap-
pearances seemetfa to be a Christian man, and yet in
his living and deeds sheweth the contrary. For how
Can a man have this true faith, this sure trust and cou-
fidenc0 in God, that by the merits of Christ his sins be
forgiven, and he reconciled to the favour of God, and
to be partaker of the kingdom of heaven by Christ,
when he liveth ungodly, and denieth Christ in hia

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deeds) Surety no socti ungodly man can have this
faitb and trast in God."

In the Lambeth articles, this polntis carried still
liigher and expressed in stranger terms. These articles,
nine io anmber, were published in the yesr 1595, about
seven years before the death of Queen Elizabeth, At
which time oar Divines in the Church' had lost almost
alt that moderation in doctrinal principles, which so
eminently adorned oar great and pioas Reformers. At
the same time those who ventured to differ from them
were in great danger of feeling the destructive force
of their bitter persecuting spirit. Tliose who had
power in tbeir hands carried things to their greatest
heights, and were determined to malce all, if possible,
to believe as they dirl. The article I am allodiog to
(the 6th) is thus expressed, — " A justified person has a
/uil assurance and certainty of the remission of his sins
and of his everlasting salvation by Christ."

" Without making any remarks on these quota-
tions, 1 will explain, in as a few words as possible, my
idea of justifying faith. I do it, l>ecause I love all
freedom and simplicity in declaring my sentiments ; by
which means I often have had the benefit of being cor-
rected by the better judgment and longer experience of
others. We all very often want light, and 1 have found
this openness, nnder God, a gracious means of inform-
ation to me, both in saving truths and in prudential
directions.

" Jnsti^ing ^th then I conceive to be: — 1st
A full persuasion of the all-sufficiency of ChristV righ-
teousness and atonement, wrought by the Spirit of God
in the heart of a sinner, (founded) on the express decla-
ration of God's word :• — and therewith, 2ndly, through

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the same Spirit, & coosenting or uqniescence of the
heart therein, mbmitting to the righteonsaesa of God
and letting go every other hold. — 'Va this I ^ink no-
thing can be added without impairing the natore of
faith; which is to go OBt of ourselves, quitting our
own rigbteo«8ne«3, to obtain acceptance with God oat
of his mere mercy. For which reason I conceive the
apostle Gaith — " It is of faith, that it might be by
grace." It conid not be by grace any other way thna
hj/aiih. And if ^-ou add any thiog to the accouut
given of jnetifying faith, it doth not aiipear to be by
grace. If yon add astarance to it ; this, iDasmuch us
it is Bomethiog in ourtelvet, makes ng look there for
acceptance : whereas faith, ae described, looks out of
ourselves, entirely to Christ for acceptance! >uid so
justification continoally appears to be by grace. — And
I beg leave to observe further, that after this Jlnl snh-
mission, the believer hath always the same ji]stifyin|;
faith. So that should we suppose a time iu his future
life, wherein he doth not ground his acceptance with
God this very way, that is, a time when he is without
this full persuasion of Christ's ability and acquiescence
initial, you immediately acknowledge him to tie no be-
liever. Consequently, as at first, so always we must
carry with us a sense of our own utter unrighteous-
nets, a fall. pereuasioD of Christ's sufficiency and a
acquiescence in him for the favonr of God.

" As to auurance, that has not so much to do with
Christ's snfficieacy and ability, aK whether toe are or are
not interested in bis all-sufficient merits } or, in other
words, whether we havt or nor, justifying ^ih. Now I
think faitfa is in no other way to be kuown but by its
fruits and effects. The immediate fruit of fidth ii hve.

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Tbey are Dnited together ; and this not omee, but always.
Nor can there be any divine love but what springs from
this fwth. " We love God, became he first loved us."
I understand love, in the Urge tenae of the word, as
the soul's conformity to God ; which foHows immedi-
ately upon the act of jnstifying faith, so that the man is
sanctified " by faith in Christ," — As faith grows, onr
conformity to God proportionably increases, and the
fmits of the Spirit abound and flonrish within ns. And
those increasing; effecu of faith give as an increasing'
atnrance of onr being troe believers or real Christians.
In roy preiietit opinion, every other idea of assnrance
tends to starve and distress the soul, or leads to licen-
tiousness. And the reason why so many are distressed,
uncomfortable and unfruitful all their days, is, partly,
I (irmly believe, because they do not seek " life and
peace" in God's scripture method, by bein); " spiri-
tually minded," and by " mortifying the deeds of the
body by the Spirit."

"They live in idleness under the dominion of gpirituai
tloth, expecting, they know not what, some extraordi-
nary impulses, which God never promised in the mom-
ner they expect. Understand me well, I do not mean
by what I have said, that God does not at times break
in npon the soul in an extraordinary manner and fill the
believer " with joy unspeakable and fall of glory," and
give him, if E may so speak, a direct intmtliee assnrance
of bis xins being forgiven, and of Christ, with all bis
inhnite sufficiency, being his. Bat this is not generally
to be expected and reckoned upon ; for we are to "walk
by faith and not by sight." These Bethel* and Penueh,
thonghabove all thing desirable, are seldora yrequenth
granted, bnt to some extraordinary persons, intended

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•1

and fitted for tone txtraor.diwary work. Such, ht
instanee, ai Mr. Whit&eld and Mr. Weslejr, who, m
it appears from their letters and jonmala, fleemed to
lire with anutant itauhma witbio. being ezpoaed to
such coQstaiU rough storms and tempests wittntut, u
- they coaM not otherwise bare been able to bear under,
" As to the degrees of comfortt which we are to
e^joy on our pilgrimage, that pught to be left to the
aovereign and wise Disposer of all things. Our bnai-
neas, our utmost diligence and care, shooUl be, "to
morti^ through the Spirit the deeds of the body," If
we are holy, ne eiUMot be unhappy. And wUhMt holi-
ness, even God himself (with cereraoce be it spalcen)
cannot make as happy. 1 firmly believe at prebeot, that
our assurance of faith and peace of mind are in propor-
tion to the boUness and purity of our hearts and bves.
1 am ashamed that I dn not press more earnestly after
what is W. infinitely valuable and so freely obtained, I
hope I can, through grace, say with sincerity, that I
earnestly desire it more than any other thing which
G»d can beatow on me. What honour, what resplen-
dent glory can our highest ambidon desire, anperior
to (the privilege of) bearing the magt of God on our
■aula, " to be like him f Those are blessed words of
St. John—" We shall be like him."— May the good
Ijord be forever adored for tbe *ure hope of this glory.
The smallest degree of it, is htaven bc^un in the soul.

" Help mc^ dear sir, with yonr prayers, that I
may be still pressing forward and be enabled to live
more to tbe glory of my divine Master. Yoa can do
me M greater kindness. I am anre tiiere is nothing
worth living for in this world, but to be active for God.
And when I caunot in some (mall d^ee do that, I shall

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det-ostly wish to know all in another world, where I
" shall see him at he Is," and (comfortable thought) "be
like him."

The excellency or this letter ia a sufficient com-
pensation for its length. The modesty, judgment and
loandness of doctrine and practice, displayed in it, can-
not but be admired. — We ehall now quote three passages
from the Diary ; the' one shews the profit of meditalieit ;
the other, the evil of tiain converaation ; the thiid, the
necessity of tpiriival mlndednett.

"Oct 22. 1 found my soul very comfortable this
morning in private meditation. My soul went out in
strong breathings and earnest lon^ogs after the living
God and the complete restoration 'of bis image upon me.
I have found myself through grace, for these several
weeks past, more crucified and dead to the world than
eter 1 did before. — 1 desire more earnestly than ever to
be entirety his in time and in eternity, to do and to
suffer bis will."

" Oct. 24. I have this morning been much hurt
by vain and unprofitable convergalion. When will our
social hours be spent profitably to our souls and to
God's glory ? 1 earnestly long and pray it may be so.
But 1 always find it utterly impoasible auloog those'
who have a little of religion in their heads and none in
their hearts. " Should b wise man utter' vain know-
ledge, and hll his belly with the east wind ? should he
reason nitb nnproli^ble talk, or with speeches where-
with he can do no good."

"Nov. 5- 1 have experienced this day great
<;almuess and serenity of mind, and great comfort in
resigning myself entirely to God my Father. Whether
I think of my temporal or spiritnal concerns, I am very

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happy in thinking that all is managed for the best hy
mj tender Father ; whose disposals of me aad of my
concerna I find always the beet. — I mast bear in mind
that euthly objects, however lawful in tbemselves, if
the mind dtrells long and intensely on them, infallibly
stupify the BOnl; and that nothing but the habit of be*
ing constantly spiritually minded, of baviog spiritual
objects for onr minds to contemplate and to dwell npon,
is "life and peace."

We can never attach too much importance to this
last observation. There is no enjoyment nor progress
in religion without spiritual mindedoees. If earthly
things engage the mind, it cannot but be earthly. To
derive comfort from above, our loiuds oust be set and
fixed habitually on things that are above. It has been
said, that before any one can excel either in art or
science or in any pursuit, his whole mind must be «»'
grosted by it. The same is true in spiritual things.
We can never make any progress in tfaem, till they
engage the main attention of the mind. Besides, our
lafely B^inst the attacks of corruption, depends on the
spiritual frame of our minds. To be spiritually minded
is to be strong aud safe j to be earthly minded is to be
weak and liable to all dangers. While tlie mind is
spiritual, nothing can succbssfully assail us : .while it
is otherwise, the weakest foe, the smallest occasion of
sin, will be too much for us. The following complaint,
in the Diary, of the prevalency of auger and impatience,
would never have been made, had the mind been iu a
spiritoal frame when the temptation occurred.

"Nov. 8. 1 have been this day most sadly dis-
tressed with the strong workings of anger and impatient
spirit : which proves that I am in no small degree under
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the iDflnence of pride, uid hare f[re«t need to prets
afttr hamility, patience, meelcnebs and longsufflering.
When one of these corraptions once step into the
throne in the heart, what a world of work it is to get
it nnder again ! And how miserable is the distressed
son), whilst it l>ears the swaj' t It is a little bell on
earth. — How comfortable, how glorious is the libeify
of the sons of God ! " Those whom the son malceth
free are free indeed." The working of my corraptiooa
in this inatance, has been, I hope, overroled by the
blessing of God for good. It hadi confinned me more
tlian ever (in the persuasion) that I am not nndcr the
rioroinion of sin : (for) it made me quite miserable, nor
cotild I rest till it was brought under ; and when it was
fcroo^fat under, 1 found myBetf thankful to the Lord for
bis -goodness in perfecting his streugth in my weakness:
for witiiout him I can do notliing, Hbaolatelj nothing . It
«aniforta me that I feel the hand of the Lord upon me.
Though levere to flesh and blood, ytt it brings sure peace
and comfort in the end. Carry on thy work, O my God,
"bf wbate^-er means tbon thinkest proper."

Tlie anxiety he felt about settling in life probably
unhiu^ at times his mind. By drawing his attention
too moch from spiritQa! things, it rendered hiui more
exposed to the workiu^^s of sin. Whraever a Christian
it drawn oat from his strong hold, from a sptritnal frame
of mind, he is at the mercy of erery enemy that may
aieet him. That Mr. C. fdt very ansioua at this time
about his intended union with the lady with whom be
rorresponded, appears evident from bis letters to his
Minds.

"Year friendly cMtion," says he in a letter to
W , "comes verj- fleaaonable. It is difficult indeed

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to lore the warld as not abusing it. I find it so. To
love the creature in tbe Lord, to be thankful for tbe
comforts of life, and at the same time to sit loose to
them and place no degree of happiness in them. He
labor, hoc opuM — (this is labour, this ia work.) My
judgment at all times informs ine that nothing earthly
can compensate for the loss of heavenly and spiritnal
comforts : bnt it is ofteD no easy matter to bring my
head and heart together, and preserve a consistency be-
tween my jodgmeat and practice. — I strire to mnster
as mnch patience and submission as I can, till some
happy torn malces way for tbe accomplishment of my
heart's desire."

His attachment was strong; created both by na-
tnral and spiritual endowments. There was piety and
strong piety, connected with a sensible mind, great
amiableness, and the sweetest disposition. What re-
tarded tiieir union wns the want of a suitable sitoation.
Mr. C'a curacy was small, too small even to support
one in single life. What he and his friends wished was
a sitnation in North Wales. Bat this is a subject which
Tve shall hereafter have to consider -, we must now pro-
ceed with onr account. — Miss J had been ill. Mr.

C. wrote to her. The subject of two of his letters is afiic-
tioH. The following extracts will be read with interest :

" Oct. 30. Whilst tbe Lord doth not put upon us
more than we are able to bear, we have no room to
complain j and tial he never did, nor tBill do : he loves
his children too well. Few Buffered severer trials than
Paul} bnt he calls them "light afflictions." To flesh
and blood trials and afflictions are indeed grievous : and
corrupt nature is apt, too apt, to mnrmnr and complain
under them. But I firmly believe that we shall not this
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aide tbe grave experieuce but few thiofa that are in re-
ality greater blessings to hb, through the lore and good-
ness of our gracious Father. When our warfare is
ended, we shall then see that what oar short-sighted ig-
norance ODce called adversities or trials, were in reality
gracious blessings, — that nothing befell ns withont cause,
— that no trouble came on us tooner, or pressed on ns
more heavily, or continued with us longer, than our
case required. We shall then be fully sensible that our
many afflictions were each in their place tbe means em-
ployed by God's wisdom and grace, to fit, prepare and
bring ns to the possession of that " exceeding and eter-
nal weight of glory" which the Lord hath prepared for
them that love him. We cannot too well consider, nor
too firmly believe that passage — "All things work to-
gether for good to them that love God." But how is
that ? Why, Christ, who is their head, knows how to
turn every thing to their advantage ; and so all things,
without any exception, must infallibly work for their
good."

" Nov. 13. Is it not our honour to bear the cross'
Did not our dear Redeemer bear it before us > Yes,
snd took out of it all its bitterness for us. And surely
it is the highest honour we can be capable of here on
earth to be in this respect conformed to him, in whose
footsteps we are to tread. — If we meet with crosses
and afflictions, let us not forget, that " onr light af-
flictions, which are but for a moment, work out for na
a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. —
Light affiictiotu are as so many arttficert sent by Pro-
vidence to make tbe crown of the believer more massy
and brighter. They are, at work and make him smart ;
but at tbe same time, they are at work about bis crotrm.

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It would be a sovereign support under eJI tlie changes
and chances of this life, could we look od them always
■0 this view.

'' How can that soul be diacouraged or discom-
forted, which sees, that in every case all is miDtstered
to it for its adranccmeut in holiuesa and greater fitoess
for glory ? No, when a soul, which, as it may be
supposed, truly loves God aud hungers and thirsts
after righteousness, JainU and complaint under trials
and troubles, it is either, because it prefers present
ease to growtii in grace, (which 1 belive to be at times
the sad case of a true believer,) and wonld be better
pleased to be qfiet than to be holg, (which is also some-
times the case, though a very dad sign ,-) — or else, be-
cause it is not at tiat time steadfastly believing that
trial is sent to promote its spiritnal good. We onght
not as Christians to think that any thing falls out
to us by chance; bnt to be perfectly sensible, that
every, the minutest, circumstance attending ns, is un-
der a divine direction, and that in the nicest exactness
to the wants of onr soals. Those who have their
senses exercised to a spiritual discernment of the
ways of Providence, clearly discover this in past dispeo-
sations; and they see it with admiration and thankful-
fulness. It is therefore no wonder, that such an
enlightened sool should draw hence the strongest ail-
ments fbr resignation and thankfalness under every
pressing trial and temptation.

" 1 freely confess, that there is not a single cross
or trial which 1 have hitherto experienced, wfajdi 1
wish to have been without, however severely it pressed
at the time. I am persnaded that they are the richest
jewels in the believer's crown. Thongh possessed of

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tbii peranadon, I have the ntoHMt canse to he deeply
bombled and ashamed that I bear tbem no better, I
have that lessoD atill to leain in part— to deny myself
— my own eaie, indnlgCDce, interest, &c., and to for-
sake alt. When this is learnt Keli, I shall be better
able to say with one of the holy Martyrs, — " Welcome
the CTOiB of Christ." Nothing will ever suffer by the
erosB, hot onr corrupt natnre ; and that mnst be cru-
cified.

" We are under Als care, in whom are ' hid all the
treasQtes of wisdom imd knowledge." He must there-
fore know better than we, the plague of our hearts,
what it is, — the subtleties of our corruptions, — the
strong holds on which sin leans, — the devices of satan
and of every other enemy. He most also Decesaarily
know the most eSectaal method of mortifying corrup-
tion, of strengthening grace, of disappointing the
designs of onr spiritoal enemies, and of making every
thing to work for his people's good and advancement.
Let him carry on his blessed work and make use of
what means his wisdom thinks proper. If we feel
his hand at work within ns, it is all well. We
have his infallible word to depend on, which is as well
as grace in possession, that we shall not be " tempted''
or tried " aiooe what we are able to bear."' O what
provision is there in the scriptures for onr peace and
comfort ! Precious promises ! They are of more value
to a guilty (inner, than worlds of the richest mines.
Bat you are troubled and distressed with doubts and
fears concerning your interest in these promiies. Wby
are yon thus dubions ? Are they not as free ai they
are precious and desirable ? Yes i they cannot be more
free, and that to the most gnilty and unworthy. Con-

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tinne to gm all diligence in the nac of «// meut tnd
wait patiently opon God j and be most perfectly u-
•nred, ttint in his own gvod time. He ' nbom you are
wilUng to ptead to be yoar Sun,' toUi sbiae on yon in
his oOTB greet splendor >nd glorj'. " He will retnra
B^un tind have oonpauion on yoa." Mitr. vii. 19.

Some rary wke remarks will be found in the fol-
lowing letter to one labouring untieT gplritual detlitulMn,
longing for the joy of Ood's salvHtioii.

"Nor. J5. "Light is lown for the righteous, and
gladness for the aprtglit in beurt." Doth the hua-
bandraan, after he rasts his seed into the earth, imme-
diabriy, the next day, the nest week, expect it will be
liarrest ? Or doth he immediately say, " 1 have laboured
in rain, here is no return, I will pull up the hedge of
this field and lay it w'aste?" No, this ii neither the
language nor the practice of an experienced husband-
man. He wailfti, as St. .lames sayg, and hath long
patience, until he^ receive the early and the latter rain.'
And is light town for them that are in dnrknesB, and
ahnll they sunpress the seed under the clods aud tipoll
the tender blade that is springing up, or refuse to
wait for the watering and the dews of the Spirit, which
roay bring it forth unto perfection } No. With pleasure I
bear yon reply — * If I periith, may 1 perish wsitifl^ for
-hn salvation, and the Hght of his countenance.' It is
a noble resolution. Light it eerlainlg Mtra. Waitj
aad it will spring up'; it will shine with effulgcut
splendor : darkness will flee before it, and be dia-
perted. " It will shine mors auri more onto the per-
fect day." It is as much onr duty to matt palientli/
the fnlfilment of God's promises, as to believe the truth
oftheia. Im)tatieiute and weatinett tre enemies which

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we Dtnst be very watchful agsiiut. If m contiane to
wait for the naion of pesce, it will cone, it will not
tarry loDg. Bnt God is not to be limited, nor hit
times prescribed to him. We know oar wajr, and the
end oi oar jonmey : bat as lo onr stations of especial
rest, we most wait till God points them out aa he did to
the Israelites b the wildemess. When David comes to
God in his distress, he says to him — "O Lord, thoB
art my God ; my times are in thy band." His times of
trouble and of peace, of darkness and of light, be ac-
kuowtedges to be in the hand, at the disposal of God.
I neref Lsve been diimppointed when enabled by faith
to cast myself, however my feelings might be, on hi*
promise, and with humble patience and resignation, to
wait for the enjoyment of the thing promised."

The two last entries in the Diary for this year are
the following. The one accounts for the other, llie
'effects of the tptrituat »loth mentioned in tiie first, are
described niid lamente'l in the second.

"Nov. 19. 1 have great reason to be more watch-
ful against spiritual sloth and carnal ease. — [ thank God
I daily find my longing desires stronger after God. 1
can say that his service la perfect freedom. But I am
not sufficiently importunate in secret prayer.

" Dec. 27. I asi JQst emerged ont of a most dis-
mal state of spiritual darkness ; in which I have been a
whole mouth enveloped. 1 was brought into this miser-
able state by sin acting in varioas ways by sloth, care-
lessness, earthly mindedness, &c, having been nnwatcbful
and bsving lost in a great d^ree the spirit of increasing
prayer. I walked defenceless and exposed to the incur-
sion of every enemy. I was brought out of this state in
the following manner : 1 was one evening lamenting my

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misenble cooditioD, seeiog nothing withio me but tbe
utmost confusion and disorder, erery member of the old
man actbg as strong as ever, and myself totally unable
to make ady vigoroas stand sgainsl; its operations.
Thus exposed like a ship without a pilot to the iitertj
of the boisterous vind of temptation, I wondered that
tbe Lord bore tvith me, a wretch bo vile and nngodly,
and did not dash me in pieces at once, or leare me
wholly to follow my own devices. 'Why is it, Lord,'
said I, 'that lam thos spared' Surely, I muBtha^'e
wearied infinite patience.' He replied with infinite
condeecension and lore — ^"Thon hast an advocate with
the Father, Jesus Christ the righteons, who is a propi-
tiation for thy sins.' It is impossible to express the
effect which the aetonishiog sight of the Saviour thus
presented to my view, had on my raiod. I wept, I re-
joiced, 1 adored and was greatly hambled under a sense
of my sinfulness, abhored myself and repented in dust
and ashes. My darkness was immediately dispelled,
and all was order, peace and joy within.

" From this dispensation of (lod's providence to-
wards me, I hope, I bB,ve learned the following lessons
more perfectly tiiao I was before instructed in them :— -
1. That in mc dwelleth no good thing; — ^2.- That it
is absolutely impossible to keep up intercoarse and
communion with God, without unremitting watchfnl-
ness, without being instant in prayer, without being .
spiritually minded, without having the affections fixed
on things above, without having on the whole annoar of
<)od and making a continunl stand against the world,
the flesh and the devil ;— 3. That without Christ I can
do notliiDg; — 4. That he who walketh in darkness and
bath no light may safety trust in the Lord, and stay

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upon kb God J for the liaionwill oone «o4 will not'
tarry. God ii abnndaot in trath nod will never diupr
point any tiiat depend on his proraiiea.''

All this will appear to niuiy as tlie effnion of
ntednesB, the confetsion of a deranged mtiid. Bnt the
same cha^^ may be made agaiost the Paalmist. For
dift he not monrn when God hid from Lim the light of
his conntenance, and did be not r^oice ■vhen God re-
stored to hiu the joy of bis salvation ? If wc by our
words or actions were to offend one. on whom allonr
h^ipiness in life depended, and were such « one to
withdraw his support and refuse to us tbe eujoyuient
of his society, what would be oar feelings! Or were a
dutiful eon thus to draw on biiDSelf the displeiuiire of a
kind Father? would not sorrow and sighing fill his
heart > And what would be the effect produced od bis
mind by regaining his Father's favour ? Hta heart
would expand with joy, his countenance would brighten
with delight. Are actions a ud words tbe only things
that offend God > Are not the actions of the mind as
nuch linown to him as those of tbe body, and are
they not as much noticed by him ! The greatest sins
that we commit are those of tbe mind and heart.
The alienation of the affections from God, is of all
the greatest offence, that excites bis displeasure. To
give way then to any thing that may teud to alienate
them must be dispteasiog in bis sight. " Neglect of
prayer and worldly mindednesi, the sins conplaiued of
above, have clearly this tendency. No wouder then
that his servant was deprived of his comforts. There
is nothing in his case bnt what is iu every respect rea-
sonable, perfectly consistent with scripture and even
with coaimOD sense. To thoee who have never known

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. God, never bald any communion wit)t bim, what ia said
is perfe<;tLy uniDtfilligible. Marvel not, ChrittiaD,
if a blind world ridicule thee, as well as hate thee, and
cottqt thy life madness : for wisdom is not ju8tilied>
not owned as right and just, but by her own children

5ECT. IV. — Diarn and Leilertdvrmg 1781.

^t the beginning of e^'ery year we tind that Mr.
C. entered some nseful reflections in hb Diary. There
is scarcely any other season more calculated to suggest
ferious and profitable thoughts. To record such as
may oct^r, may be of no small benefit. It is a good
WE^y to impress them on oar minds. The best thoughts
are often lost by our not having taken the trouble to
arrai^e and write them down. A we II -regulated mind,
who^e operations are attended to, is itself a rich li-
brary. Its ,th,p^ghtB, properly directed, will collect
together ij^ge ftores of valuable materials. But the
difficulty is to direct them, to put them in a right
course and to Afep them in it. To rule an empire is
8D e^si^r matt«r than to rule the thoughts : but it is
an attainment at which every (.IhristiaD should assidu-
ously .^m. If it be not needful nor desirable to have
them at all times exercised with intetiseness and regu-
larity 1 yet it is both needful and desirable, it is both
our duty and our interest, to have them at ali times
employed on what is osefgl and profitable ; and this is
^.ff^ ^*^y ^ prevent them from being engaged in
vain,. empty ana sinful things. To pre-occnpy the
ground is much better than to havt; the trouble to re-
4^n it from intniders.— It is not often that tbe new
year's day sc^gests to our minds ideas as suitable and
as excellent as the following.
H

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"Jan. 1, 1781. Another year is put! How faith-
fol is God to bis promises ! He is abundant in good-
uess and tnitL He hath preserved me ooe year more,
like the three young men in the fiery furnace. Lord,
what shall I render to thee for all thy benebts ! — What
progress havs I made the last year in the divine life }
Any at all } Are my cormptions weaker and the graces
of the Spirit grown stronger withia me i I hope I can
say, that in general the power of ray corruptions
is in some degree weakened ; thongh at particolar sea-
sons the enemy makes most terrible inroads and threa-
tens my utter destrnctioD. This calls for continual
watclifulaesB and prayer. 1 am never safe, but when
I live near to God and depend by faith on him only for
safety.

" Am I pleased and satisfied with my Master and
bis service } I can truly answer, I am : nor would I
change either the one or the other for millions of worlds
I see nothing here below worth living for, but serving*
God by doing good. My heart, unless it deceives me,
desires supremely and continnally no other glory, ho<
nour, or happiness than what is to be found in God's
service. He is a 'good Master. I love his service.
Lord, nail mine ears to the door of thine house forever.
O that 1 could love thee more and serve thee better ! I
am slothful. ] am negligent. But the Lord hath hi-
therto borne with me. Give me the honour and privi-
lege of serving thee and living to thee forever. Enable
me to double my diligence this year, and press more
earnestly after holiness ; and live more wholly to thy
giory ! Aman."

In Mr. C.'e correspondence at this time there are
evident proofs of the difficulty he found in restmning
the exorbitancy of his afiectiona towards the Lady who

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had gained his attachment. Ilie attachment bad beeo •
formed for some time : but drcumstances unfortunately
prerented their onion. To keep within proper bounds
that which it in itgelf lawful is much more difficult than
to resist what is obvioasly sinful. It is by no means
prudent to expose ourselves to a trial of this kind, if
it can possibly be prevented. It ia a trial which gives
no small advantage to onr grest enemy, and impedes
materially oar advancement in divine things. It is a
temptation of the most iogidions, insinuating and en-
snaring kind. It would be well for all and for ministers
especially to avoid every thing that may lead to such
an attachment, except there be a reasonable prospect
' of bringing the matter soon to a termination. The care
ofMr. C. clearly shews the prudence of what we re-
commend. The great difficulty he often found in
maintaining a steady and constant intercourse with
heaven, arose no donbt in part from the advantage
which his corruptions and the enemy of souls derived
from this affur.

But notwithstanding the strength of his attach-
ment, he could shew the tcttdereat regard to the feelings
of others. Thongh his affections were strongly fixed,
yet they were restrained from such an excess as to ren-
der him indifferent to the wishes of all besides himself j
as is the case too often when they are immoderately
indnlged. He would not have himself gratified at the
expence of others. " It is true," says be in a letter

about this time to W , " that dear Mr. Newton

kindly recommraded me to a curacy in IVales, (South
Wales,) ami I entertained some thoughts of accepting

it ; bnt when I came to consult with dear Miss J 1

found it would not do. She is an only child of tender
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and affectioDate parenta. Wbeo it camti to the point,
1 found it would be worse than death to tbem to Im
separated from her, whUst tbey live, to any considet*-
able digtance. Indeed when I saw how their minds
were affected with Ae thought of it, i immediately
laid adide every «nch idea : for I would not for the
world be the instniment of bringing their grey hairs
with SOrrAw to the grave. Every thing therefore must
remahi as it is, till I meet with a situation within a
convenient distance t6 the place where they live lu
North Wales."

I^ is remarkable how little is said about marriage
itself by Mr. C. in his letters to his intended. His
main object seems to have been spirttaaf instruction.
There are a/eur letters which contain some thoughts on
that aobject. In one be gives the sentiments of Mr.
NewloH, and in another, those of a namitess friend;
both of which shall be transcribed. — How lias it hap-
pened that so much levity has become connected with
an affair of so much importanpe > As in other things,
it IB the abuse of it that hath associated it with this
feeling. It is the ordinance of God. It is t/imt instra-
mentally to which #e Owe out existence. fVhy then
should it be a subject of laughter and merriment }

" A few days ago I received a lettW from Mr.
Newton. The following cnrious passage I cannot he^
transcribing: — "I understand yon h&ve marriage in
view. The Lord, I trust, has shewn yon the right
person. May he bring you together, and bless the
^onnectidii. It is a weighty business : but when put
under the thani^ment of faith, prayer and phidence, it
is a happy business. A day, which will have a power-
ful influence oh every future day and clrcomstaitce of

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diildrea we shall never enjoy an; thing, however small
tad trivial, as the children of the world do. We must
recgivfl it by faith, keep and use it by faith. Faith is
as necessary for ns duty as the air we breathe and tbe
food that supports ns. If we live at all to God, we
mnst live bjfaitk. And then the blessing thns received
is donbly sweet and precious. It is like a tacrament to
the believing sonl, a sign and proof from heaven of
God's goodness to ns, good-will townrda us, and care
over US. Thus in inlinite mercy he trains up his people,
to live like children, on the affection, love, care and
table of their Father. I have often thought of an ex-
pression Mr. Rowland dwelt a good deal npon in the
' last sermon I heard from his eloquent tongae — "God is
good, and does all things well, and for the good of his
children." I coxild wish to have it at times engraved on
my heart."

What he wrote in bis Diary were not merely tran-
sitory thonghts; bnt sudi as dwelt on his mind and
engaged his attention. This appears from the circum-
stance of bis having commnnicated in his letters to his
friends the same ideas as occur in his Memoranda.
TIus was frequently the case, llie strong expressions
he employs when he describes the evil of his heart, or
the consolations of the Spirit, proceeded no doubt front
the deep impressions of his mind. The account he
gives in bis Diary the 24th of March, of the overwhelm-
ing views he had of the lovemtd kmdneti of God to him,
is snbstantially, though not verbdly the same with
what appears in a letter of the same date. — In what an
enviable state must that soal have been, which conld
thns express itself: — "I travelled forty miles quite
alone ; bat I can say, " that I was never less alone than

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when Klofib" It was a mnt precious tiaia to me
indeed'. — Had a very comfortable renew of all the
Lord's past goodness and loving Idndnees to me. Uy
hard heart melted within me, and was filled with grati-
tnde and praise. O that I conld love him more, and
serve him better. My mind is oppressed with a eeiwe
of his goodoeta. It comforts me to think that angels
have better harps than mine is, to sound the praises of
tiie Lamb tiiat was alaia; and I heartily and joyfully
say. Amen, to their londeat hallelujahs."

Many Christians of the present day have but few of
the peculiar requisites of tme religion. They adhere
too closely to present things, and feel but little of the
attractioQS of things eternal. How few can read the
following thonghts on lomng the appeartmee of Christ,

in a letter to Miss J , withont being consdona of a

deficiency in one of the essential traits in the character
of his true followers ?

"Apr. 7. It is laid dovrn in scripture as a certaio
proof of the sincerity of oar love to the blessed Saviour,
that we " love his appearance," that is, the manifestation
of his glory to onr soals, whether in this or in the next
world. God's fovoar alone is the believer's life ; and
his gracions presence, sensibly manifested in Christ to
the soul, is the proof which he gives of his good-wilL
It is this which satisfies the soul with marrow and fat-
ness. It is thb he pants and longs for, as " the hart
after the water-brooks," when he has lost it. It is this
which is all the believer's support ; without which he
bints ; sustained by which be goes forward in duty and
in his way r^oicing — By a cold, careless and negligent
walking, the believer often so far grieves the Holy
Ghost, who alone can shed abroad God's love in the

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life, mty traljr be deemed important. Sacb is the
wedding-day. However I shall be glad to hear that
yon are enroBed in the honourable rank of husbands.
It always pleases me to hear that a minister ii well
married. There is lOmediiDg in domestic life that
seems snited to improve onr meetneas for speaking to
onr people. The growing soul, when doubled in wed-
lock, and mattiplied in children, acquires a thoasand
new feelings and aenaibititiea ; of which the solitary
bachelor is incapable ; and these teach and dispose as
to feel for others, and ^ve us an interest both in their
pleasures and in their puna. And this sympatiiiziiig
temper is a happy talent fbr a minister to possess ; it
mil give him a deeper place in the hearts of hie people,
than some more shining accomplishments." — ^The very
just thoDgfats of a friend, not named, on the choice of a
partner axe Aese : —

" Sbe most be one, with whom there is a prospect
of bringing up children in the fear of the Lord, and also
of living with to the mutnal society, help and comfort,
that the one onght to have fhtm the other. Conse-
qnently, it is one in whom you find these tkre* things
in the order in which they stand: — 1. Grace, — 2.
Somewhat that engages pecoliar affection, — 3. Gom--
petency, that is, together with what 1 have of my own;
BO that we may live agreeably to onr station in a due
dependence on Providence. — fist suppose it so be, that
the person thought of bae grace, and there be no pecu-
liar afiection, is it warrantable to proceed ? No. Sup-
pose grace and affection and no competency, what then }
If it be an incompetency that is absolute and evident,
the point is clear, the matter should stop : bnt if it be
an incompetency made ont by the pride of life and nn-
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belief, it is otherwiie." All the three reqaisttet, it
seems, miut go ti^ther : if om be wanting, the matter
moBt not pioceed- It would be difficult to give a
plainer and a better direction on the aobject. Wene tt
observed, a great deal of unhappineas and misery in a
married state would be prevented. — We shall ytas now
to other subjects.

TTu 20lh of Jim. is again noticed in the Diary.
" O happy retam of this blesBed day ! a day much to
be remembered by me : for on it the light of the glorious
gospel first shone with brightness on my soul in the
face of Jeans Christ. On the return of this sacred day
may erery other thought give way to gratitade and
praise. Praise the Lord, my aont, and forget not
all his benefits, who foigiveth all thine iniquities, and
healeth all thy diseases. May I ever be enabled to shew
forth thy praise not only with my lips but in my life,
by giving up myself to tby service and living to thy
glory. Amen."

It was probably his own case that lead him more
puticnlarly to contemplate the snbject of lm»g by
faith, which he thus strikingly describes : —

"Jan. 27. Every blessing must be tike Isaac, a
child of promtte. God gives ns reason to believe, that
he will give as each a thing; then he exercises onr faith
by throwing a variety of difficulties in the way, and by
postponing to accomplish his purposes till both our
faith and patience are almost exhausted. Then atonoe
an nngxpected turn brings ell to an issue. He also fre-
quently so exercises his people, as to make them from
the heart willing to part with their Isaac, and likeAbra*
ham to slay him with thdr hands, before they have the
full enjoyment of the desired blessing.— If we are God's

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- 81

heart,u tooDKhim to withhold from bim the seiiBible
manifeBtetkiii of God's lore in Christ. But when in
tiiis ud state, can he be comfortable and easy i Can
any thing in the eompass of the whole universe supply
the want of this in any d^ree ) No ; as well might
darkness softly the ^sence of light j or misery the
absence of happiness ! He counts ali other thin^, in
competition wilih this, bat loss and dui^. Hergectsand
abhors them. And in proportion to the degree of bis
love to God, is his aneashiess at his absence. In sacfc
a conditiony how do we find David's soul, breathing,
panting, longing after God. " His heart and flesh crierf
ont for the living God." The sponse in the Canticles,
when throagh her carelessness and sloth she had caused
her Beloved to withdraw from her, felt all the misery
which distracting passions conld inflict ^ which are al-
ways heightened in proportion to the excellency of the
object on which they are tixed. She called, but he gave
her 00 answer. Her sonl lainted. She soogfat him, bot
could not find him ! A distressing condition indeed 1
What can be conceived more so.

" blessed Saviour ! how can a soul who has seen
thy loveliness and glory, who has Usted of thy goodness,
Mpport existence without the smiles of thy counte-
nance i The sight of God manifested in the flesh is the
roost gracions taid lovely sight that the eyes of sinners
con ever behold. O how can their heart help burning
widi gratitode and love ! It is indeed so mystenonsly
wonderh), that the angels can find nothing in heaven
IBce it ! and therefore, as it were, forget the proper
glories of their own station, to look into, admire, and
adore this unparalleled instance of love, condescensioii
and grace. They sing, at the view of it, " glory to God
in the highest."

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"It is tbis that overpotrera the ifurt of the
believer, dwells npOD hia sool, bears all earthly things
away before it, and fills him, with real gratitode and joy,
that be could do any thing, anffer an; thing, lose every
thing, for Jesna's sake. He is waiting, expecting, long-
iug for the tranaportlDg day when Christ shall appear
to hia longing eyes with fnll glory, vrhen he shall lee
him, and be forever with the Lord ! Forever with the
Lord ! comfortable words to the sonl that sincerely
loves him ! Forever with the Lord ! Tbis is the ut-
most extent of bis wishes. This is the happiness of
tbe believer, that is, to do and to suffer for Christ here^
and to be forever with him hereafter. May this happi-
ness be yours and mine. Experience convinces me,

that if 1 am not enabled to live the few days I have to
live on earth, to, the glory of God, 1 shall infallibly
carry a hell of misery within my bosom. " Necessity
is laid on me.' 1 have no alternative left me. My
heart rejoices at the thought ! My eyes overflow with
tears of joy. O tbe privilege, the hononr of being Ood's
lervoHtt! How infinitely more so, to be his sons and
heirs !"

The purpose of the next letter was to console &
female friend who had itflt a near relation. It was sent
to Miss J .

" May 9. — My heart feels much for our dear af-
fiicted friend. — ^A person in her distressing sitnatioo
demands every thing that sympathy and compassion can
do to support her grieved mind. But I hope she is
persoaded, that she must look far beyond what the im-
potent aids of feeble mortals can administer, for sub-
stantial comfort, and permanent ease of mind. None
can heal the wounds and aasnage the anguish of a bleed-

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ing heart, but he vho endured more than conceivable
pangs of grief and angnish of soul for us helplett sin-
ners. He was made perfect tbrongh soffering, and he
can, with infinite compaasioD — a compaetion of iriiich
we can have no idea, feel for all liia dear brethren when
afflicted. Could our dear friend bnt have a view of htm,
it would infallibly brighten her gloom, cheer her de-
jected spirit, and, notwithstanding all, fill her heart
with joy and gladness. And 1 doobt not, for he is
foithful that promised, but that in his own good time
he will do that for her, which nooe but he can, — that
he will give her calmness of mind and resignation to
bis will. — With great feeling, and verj' sublime senti-
ments be refers in the same letter to the death of a
mutual religions friend, at Bala.

" How death at once puts an end to all the fond
schemes and pleasing permits of vain mortals ! When
at Bala last, I anticipated with no small pleasure, the
happy time when yon and I should be making an excnr-'

sion to visit our two dear friends Mr. and Mrs, D ■

How agreeable, thought I, the time would pass, when
Somestic happiness, spiritual comforts, and eternal
felicity, would delightfully employ our tongues ! But
this felicity (the will of heaven would have it so) is to
exist no where but iu my imagination. Our dear friend
would not stay ! Could I wish it ! No : but 1 rejoice
in bis now infinitely superior happiness. He is entered
into the joy of our Lord ; he drinks forever rivers of

pleasure at God's right hand. Surely Miss Ll loves

him too mnch to wish hits back again to a world at best
full of misery. He is arrived at the blessed haven of
rest, never, never more to face storms and tempests.
Let us who are behind crowd our sails and steer to-

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wards the same port, nor think of any tbing bnt •tomu
till we arrive on yonder shore, where caltnqeu and
■erenity forever prerail. Thrice bappy those vho are
landed safe in glory ! happy we who are steering
towards the saioe blessed coontry, gnided between the
rocLs and the qnicksaads by so experienced a Pilot 1
May. heaven indulge me, the ooly favour 1 aak ot an
earthly natnre, to sail in the same veaael with jrov over
the tempestnous waves of this world, and to be the Gnt
to welcome yon in the land of bliss !"

What Chrintiaa is there who feels not the aad
effects of that too prevailing habit, complained of below,
— the habit of indolence ?

"May 28. I sihcerety thank yon for tarning indo-
lence out of doors. He is always a very bad compaoion,
and deserve* no mercy. He hath done me, I am certain,
irreparable injury. What advances iai|^t I have niwle,
by the blessing of God, in knowledge, spiritoality and
the divine life, bad it not been for these ensnaring,
soul-raining enemiee, indolence and tloth ? 1 believe
they have dune roe more injury than all other euemies
put together. They disarm the sool, and expose it de-
fenceless to the rage, malice and cruelty of our infernal
foes. Whenever the sool permits them to prevail, it
pays dear for it, and deser^'edly. When aloth prevails,
Christ is sure to withdraw himself and hii refreshing
comforts. So the sponse found it. Cant. v. 2, 3, 4,&c.
— Bnt alaa '. though 1 have found by sad experience, a
thousand times, that spiritual peace and elotk can ne-
ver dwell together in the same soul, yet I have not to
this very day been taught to be sn£Bciently watchful
against it. I am a very doll scholar in spiritual things
and have need to have the same lesson taught me over

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again and again, and to have the instruction enforced,
b; severe chastisemeDte, to make me bear it in mind.
At tbc'very time I Icaew 1 shonld suffer for tt, I have
cried ont — "A littfc sleep, a little slamber, a little
folding of the hands to Bleep ;" so wholly depraved and
corrupted are our hearts ! The Saviour knows that I
am a dull scholar; therefore he gives me "line'npon
linet and precept upon precept." O ! He is exactly in
all things such a SsTionr as I stand in need of j and his
salvation completely Halts me : and with yon, 1 woald
ask no more than to be in bis hand. To find that he
carries on his ivork in my soul, though the means he
makes nse of be ever so trying and severe, comforts
my sodI ; and I can with joy cry out — ' Go on, blessed
Redeemer, with thy work, thongh my flesh should suffer
and my heart &il."

"The devil bath made a complete bavock of us.
His work is perfect; he mined us totallt/, and etentallj/
too, did not mercy interpose. Bat the Son of God bath
appeared — where did he appear} Among transgressors
on earth. But to what end ' O glory to God in the
highest; for be appeared to destroy the works of the
devil. 1 hope he is engaged about this gracious work
in my heart t and my comfort is, that he who bas taken
the arduous work in hand is the Son of God, therefore
omnipotent lu power, to whom nothing is impossible,
nothing difficult. He will make a complete work. We
are told that bis-" work is perfect." Deut. xxxii. 4. As
when paying our enormous debt, he had strength
enough to endure the wrath of God on the cross, till
he could say — " It is finished ;" so will be not cease
working on the hearts of his people, till he can say tck
the Fa^r — ' " It is hnished," admit them into the joy
1

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of tbeir Lord.'— -When the topstone ts brongfat forth, O
what ahoatin^ will there be of — " grace, grace !" "—

Letter to MUs J

At the end of this letter be expreBsea the joy he
felt at hearing of the neeeu of, the go»pcl in fFalet,
and allndea at the attempt then made to reprett the
zealont eSbrti of the evoMgeltcal clergy,

" It doei my heart good to hear that the Lord's
work prospers in any part of the globe, especially io
Wales. Hov refreshing must the pleasing prospect be
to those aged serrants of the living God, now jost ripe
for glor)' ! 1 am afraid the prosperoas g^e will carry
some of tbeu to the hai'en where they would be. I
should be very giad, if the will of the Lord were so, to
see once more the old venerable prophet (Rowland)
before he takes his flight. Well, be it as it will, it is
a comfort enough for ns, that CkrtMt is still on earth,
and that be has promised not to leave M that are be-
hind. Sooner or later we must be contented to part
with every thing bat himself. However it is not in the
power of any thing or ait things, to separate na from
him. Well, dear Lord, this iscnongh.

" Yonr Exhorters (Lay-preachers) have no occasion
to be alarmed at the notice given tbem by the Magis-
trates and Clergy. It is not at all intended to ii^ore
them. The blow is 'aimed at the serious Cle^y of the
Chnrdii whose zeal in their Master's' cause, tiie Lord
bas been pleased signally to bless, llie storm has been
gathering these four or five years past, and was conti-
nually expected to fall. Now the time is come. How
it will end, we do not know. It will make some of m
very circnmspect, and cause others, doubtless, to com-
mence dissenters : and where is the harm ! Every

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thing is pemitted for some wise porpoee. It is enoiigb
for OS, that Christ is head over all things to the Church.
All the malicioQS designs and the deepest schemeg of
the prince of darkness will, in the issue of things, be
overmled for good."

From January till Jnoe, there are bat few obserr-
atioDS entered in the Diary, and those not very iote-
resting. The following may be excepted : — " Withoot
continnal inflaence from above I can do nothing good.
Yet alas, though thus convinced in my judgment, 1
often act, as if 1 were something considerable. When
will my head and my heart agree ?" — " We can scarcely
have any regard for any object in the world, without
idolizing it} so prone are oor hearts to depart from
God. Bat in proportion as creatures possess oor hearts,
we are miserable. There is no happiness but in God.
O liord, possess my heart more entirely."

The KxcwKK. af faith, the gift of God.

" June 7. I found this morning at the sacrament,
(ut ordinance generally full of comfort to my sonl,)
that not only faith, bot also the exercise of it, is the
gift of God. I endeavonred to believe and rejoice in
Christ as my Saviour, my all in all: but my attempts
were ineSectual. I could not do it. Sin and guilt
prevented : neither of which coald I remove uiy more
than I could create a world. The Lord denied me the
aids of his Spirit } without which I can do nothing : and
thereby convinced me what a sore thing it is to grieve
his Spirit by trifling with sin. — It is no easy matter to
rest, as a naked guilty sinner, on the all-snfficiency of
Christ. I am too apt to look for something in myself
to recommend me to his notice and favoar. Lord, make
me more evangelical and watchful."
I 2

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The foUowing remarlcs in a letter to a frieiid whose
chartcter hul been malicioutlg slandered, are as stiik*
iDgaB tbey areJDBt.

" June 8. I have Bomevhere read of a king who
wanted to send a great man abroad as his ambassador :
bnt be desired to be escased on account of some affairs
which demanded, his presence at home. The king re-
plied — " Do you take care of my business, and I will
take care of yonrg.~ So the Lord says to ns. And if we
are enabled to be anxions and careful for his honour
and interest in the world, and possess a single eye to
his glory in all oor actions, we may be fully assnred,
that he " will take care of ours"-^>f onr good names —
characters and interest, and whatever else that is dear
and valuable to us. We are never in a sorer way of
preserving everj' thing that is desirable, than when we
are willing to part with it, and commit it to the Lord's
disposal and custody.

" I myself well know what it is to live among
those " who every day wrested my words," and " sharp-
ened their tongues like a serpent." But their tongues
are in God's bands ; nor can they give them the least
motion iviliioat his permission : and if we are enabled
in silence to wait patiently, and know that be is God,
the issue will be very gracious and comfortable. I have
always found it so.' — Cast your bnrden upon the Lord.
He is very gracious and very strong, and will joyfully
bear it whotlg, if we cast it wholly upon bim : and he
will give you a blessing besides for thus honouring him.
This trial is one of the a// things which work together
for your good. When consequential te//* would inanage
all affairs, what can be expected from such an idiot but
blaoders and inconsistencies. But when we are will-

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ing to commit all to the hoid, we may Bafdy expect
the isene will be good, beAttiD^ his infinite gooduesa
&nd wisdom. A aingle eye to God's glory, in all thiogs,
is a very great streogthener under trials and crosses.
When a messengei of satan nndeserredly blackens our
character and robs lU of onr good Dame, if we could
but believe that God can, if for his glory, with infinite
ease, bri^teu the one and restore the other, we should
be at once contented and satisfied. He kuows where
and how we can glorify him most, whether in honour
or dishonour, prosperity or adversity, enjoying good
report or evil report } and what glorifies him, ought to
. satisfy ns. It requires more faith and grace to bear
-silently and wait patiently the Lord's pleasure under
trials and crosses, than to be active for him in bis
work. Self may take a consideiable part in the one ,
but notiiing but grace can enable and fit us for the
other."

His wishes for a sitnation in North Wales were
well nigh being gratified at this time : but he was even-
tnalty disappointed. He writes thus to hie friend

W : — " A vacancy happened and a Cnrate was

wanted at Oswestry, in Shropshire, just on the borde/s
of Wales, exactly situated according to our wishes.
I applied for it ; and the pnispect waS promising for
some tim«. But the moment the Vicar heard that I
was tinctured with what tbey call Methodistical prin-
ciples, he would have nothing more to say to me."' —
'He felt his disappointment much ; but his reflections on
.the subject are very pleasing :-;-'; I hope I shall,
through grace, be satisfied with the Lord's disposals
of me in every thing. Bat submission to the divine
will is of all difficult things the most difficult to put in
13

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practice at lorofl inBoiiB and id some ooncersB ; tnd
perhaps in nothing more mi thui in >iioh an aAur aa
that wherein the affection! are much enga^ and in-
terested. — It pierCea my very heart to think t^ thne
■boald be a motion within me contrary to the dirine
will or any thing like dicaatiifoction witA the Ixai'M
wilt and ways. But «o alas it often U ; thoxi^ at pt^
seDt I am tolerably eaay, 1 can say with yoo, Mat
nothing hath contribnted so mnch to bring me to
painted with my own heart as the varions trials 1 have
met with.in this affiur."

What explains the difficulty miHitio&ed above is
the fact, that there is in the heart a principle which it
opposed to God, in its nature hostile to him, being sub-
ject neither to the kw of his comman&nents nor to Hit
will of hii proviileBce; Tho actings sod nature 'of this
principle, generally called indmeUwg (m* are Teiy
correctly described in the following portions of Ike
Diary.

" Jane 17. Though I hops I find the strength of
sis weakened by grace, and that it hath lost its domi- .
nion OD my heart ; yet 1 bid aiso that sin dteeihti in
me, and that it hath lost none of its prepertie* : but is
^iU enmity against Ood and what belongs to fain,
beii^ constantly active in unwearied of^raaittqa to
every holy uid spiritnal thing. The fle^ so lusts
. against the Spirit, that when 1 would do good, evil is
present with me in aU its malice and enmity agwut
the good intended. — It is a warfare ; I see no prospect
but that it mast continue lo. fiat, blessed be Ood,
we are snre of rictory ; for God hath said, that his
grace shall be tmffivient for ns in entry timti of nMdj'^
Sometimes the engagement is so hot, and tks battle so

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teperate, that from i sraue of my own wnknote, I
UK ready to be &}nt-]iearted and give all over for lo>t!
but God ia alwaya bithfol to his promise; and I alvays
find'^nce to bdp in timo of need. Thongfa I alvays
find God thns abanduBt in tnth, nerer failing to fnlfil
bis promises in due time, and though 1 rasolre never
to mistrost him again ; still I find my nnbcliering heart
is apt to be too faint and disheartem^M^n bnn^bt to
apoiat of nrlreme dWenlty, leurfd leat the Lord ahonld
sfit ^pear in my bclmlf ere it be too late.— ^f all dif-
ficnlt tilings, this is-oae of the BMt, — to depead dieer-
fally and with tmabakea confideace on the grace a^icb
is in Ohrist JtooH, fflien 1 feel nothing bat ain and
niiery i» myself: Bat tUs is Ute Hfe of fiutb. The
beDerer is by degrees broagfat to live, tboi^h empty in
himidf, on the fUnsss which is in Christ Jetns, But
this is sooner sud than done; nay, I think it to be
the handest thiag in the world. Repeated experirace
threogh the infinenee of the Spirit mast bring us to it.
" Jnaa 2$. 1 'find it a great thing to have a prae-
tioal conviction, that we can do nothing that is either
pleasing to God or profitable to onrselvei, withont di-
vine assistance. Bat this we can nerer leani by being
teld 80. Repeated diiappointments when depending
OB oar own strength, aiid successes when depending on
him who is mighty to save, mnst and only can convince
ns of it, Alas ! how little am 1 practically eonvinced
of the tmth <rf the Apostle's assertion, that " we are
net sufficient of ooraelvea even t» think a good thoi^fat,"
much leas to do a good action. This is net the case
only with reprobate sinnan, bst also with the true
Chiistian. He has not a jvorf thought or a good de-
sirs wittin him; hot what immediately proceeds from

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God. W«e we duly influenced with the humiliating
•erne of onr own weakness, we should live much more
dqiendant on God, and also more thaokfol to him, —
dependant on him for what we neither Lave nor can
haTe without him — and thankful for the least good be
is pleased to communicate to us.

" Naturally " in our flesh dwells no good thing."
There is not the least mixture of good within as ; bat we
are as devoid of it as the devil himself : and our nature
contains the eaenct of all those evil principles with
which he is continually influenced. We are the child-
ren of the devil) and as such, must partake of his
diabolical nature : and whilst influenced by his nature,
we cannot but natarally do his work. — O what a mercy
in God, that there is a possibility of deliverance from
this wretched condition ! This is the deliverance that
my soul longs for — a deliverance from the nature of
the devil. How can I think and reflect so coldly and
indifferently on this wonderful deliverance and on the
gracious Author of it! My ingratitode in this case
Bums up aiid completes my guilL O what guilt ! how
heinous 1 But the blood of Christ cleanseth from all.
Comfortable thought ! What should I have done with-
out Christ? Alas! that 1 love him so little. I am
ashamed and grieved at myself. I groan, bdng bur-
dened — ^bordened with — guilt shall I say ? or rather
with tiifi mercy that removes it"

To view every event in connection with Provi-
dence, is right, useful and profitable. There is some-
thing in each which may teach us some lesson. God
instmcts us by his providence as well as by his word j
and his mind is sometimes as clearly seen by the former
as by the latter. An universal sovereign, governor of

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all, regaktor of all events, wbo htffi promised to
make all things to work for good to Buch as love hitn,
can be viewed as acting Jn no other way. Not only
what happens to oarselvta, but also what happens to
those eonnected with ns, should be coDsidered as in-
tended to instmct us. Just then mast be the view
taken by Mr. C. on what had occurred to his intended.
She had been in danger of her life in a storm, having
been suddenly snrrouDded by an impetaous torrent of
water, wfaicb was owing probably to the bursting of a
cloud, which sometimes takes place on the bills* " 1
Goald not belp thinking," be gays in a letter to her,
^'that it was m^ gailt that brought yon into that dis-
tressiug sitDBtion, through my want of thorough sab-
mission to his holy will : and by if the Lord has cod-
nnced me what he can do, if my stubborn heart still
rebels againat him."

Every thing eonnected with religion, especially in
bis native country, deeply interested him. Its success
cheered him : what impeded its course or disgraced it,
distressed him exceedingly. The following extract from

a letter, sent to Miss J , shews his good sense as

well as his concern for religion. \,riotoiu duturbamvoj
it seems, had recently taken place in North Wales, on
political grounds, (an vnusal occurrence in that conutry)
bended by a person wbo had made a profession of seri-
ous religion.

"July 11. I Bra most (a«f/y grieved at the riot,
methodhlicat, as it is called, which happened with you.
Tbe enmity and rage of the world never give me a mo-
ment's uneasiness : but when a brother, true or false
,one, by bis scandalous conduct, brings a reproach on
religioo itself, and gives- au apparent cause for the

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enemy to trininph kod blupheme, 1 feel mv heart sink-
ing withia me, Knd & gloom of despondency beclonds
my BpiritB. I Lope your people m ■ body will onani*
mously take tke oiost effectual metbod to wipe off this
stigma of reproach, by ditcanjiog and disowning a
person poeseseed of such nnhnmblM and rabellioos
spirit as to fly in the face of lawful authority. If our
religion bath not that beneficial inflnence upon us, so
as to make ns fulfil all the relative duties, as magis-
trates and subjects, maaters and servants, parents and
children, busbands and wives, better and more consci-
entiously than we did in our natural state, there is not
a doubt remaining but that our reli^on is utterly Tain,
— is of no real benefit to. ourselres, nor honourable to
God, whatever high pretensions any one may make to
it. I have knoten some professors who thought that
religion itself countenanced the breach of every duty
which in their several stations they owed by divine com-
mand to their fellow-creatures. I very sensibly feel for
those among yon who have the spirit of true religion.
Snch an affair as tbis must distress them mncb: But
however the Lord will overrule every thing for good
some way or other. Tha was permitted for some vu«
porpose, though unseen at present by us. When I
look to him on every occasion, all is calmness and peace
within me. St. Paul was " in perils among false bre-
thren," and why siionld we expect to be exempted from
that peril also ?"

He had a pressing request at tbis time from I^dy
Huntingdon to take upon him the care of her Chapel at
Bath. Which he declined to comply with, not thinkt
ing it to be "a call from Providence," being then fully
employed where he was, " My engagements," he says, '

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"an mom u muneroae u I can possibly disdurge
coDBcientionBly."

The insight which Mr. C. sometimes bad into the
secret worlHog of corrnptioD within, and into the evU
of that corrnption, was remarkably deep. Words can
scarcely give ns stronger views of the deep-rooted CFJl
of the natural heart and of the evil of sin, than are to be
foDod in the letter that follows. All tme Christians
know by experience a great deal, if not all, of what is
here said. The more we know of our own hearts, the
more acquainted we are with the iypocrin/ and toioked-
neiM which are in them, that it, with respect to God.

" Jnly 18. There is nothing more difficult to dis-
tiognish tlian the precise difference between the hypo-
critical, nnsoondprofessor and the real Christian. And
tiiere are a few tbiogs with which the piind of the real
Christian, — who is apt to be Tery sasplcioas of himself,
is more perplexed. The workings of the old man are
BO various, and so disguised ; and the devil assumes so
many different forms and shapes, that we have all the
utmost reason to be very diffident and suspicions of
ourtelres, and also watcbfn] against the devil in every
thing. I freely confess that I find so much of the old
man remaining and working within me, and that satan
hath so much power over me at times, that I really am
often at a loss what to make of myself. Sometimes I
think there is nothing within me but sin and misery,
darkness and confusion: at other times F verily be-
lieve myself the greatest hypocrite that ever existed.
At all times, I may well adopt the appellations the
pions martyr, J. Bradford, gives himself in some of
his letters — " The most miserable sinner, hard-hearted,
ontfaankfol. T. C. — i-The painted hypocrite, T. C."—

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ThoDgk I have nut, thromgh merey, ever been per-
mitted to fall into any one gross act of scandaloiii bid,
yet I hare not the least doubt but that I am ra fact &
much greater siooer than ever tbe thief on the cross
wai : for he nerer sinned against so mndi light, so
mnob grace and amazing goodness, as / bare and daily
do ! And I am sure, if [ ever enter into heaven, I shall
be a much greater monoment of grace and love than be
is. Indeed 1 am astonished and amazed at the l<ord's
continual patience towards me, and how he bears with
me a rebellious creature so long ! But at the same
time, what would appear' very strange to those who
have not experienced tbs same thing, 1 am not in ge-
neral much troubled with doubts and fears ; thoagh in
myself' I have every imaginable reasoa for both, yet
the infinite freeaess. completeness and all-sufficiency
of Cbriet's salvation, leave no room for either. At tbe
si^t of his wonderful salvation, all my wants are sop-
plied, all my doubts solved, and all my fears vanish at
once. Had 1 the united guilt of all the world upon me,
what conld I require more. — Sometimes I really fear
ray confidence is only presumption, fiut still how can
I doubt when there are infinite reasons — all the reasons
that God himself can give — to believe.

" llie following words have been modi impressed
on my mind of late — " lliis man receiveth sinners."
The most Invalnable words ! Though I should have
been presnmptDOusly confident, and hypocritically re-
ligious all my days, yet these words take me in now in
Buch a manuer as to leave me no room to escape. For-
ever blessed be the Lord for Jesus Christ! I am snre
I find him precious to my soul. — Had I the same view
of myself, of my sin and guilt, which I have now.

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wiAoat aoBc little dtscoray of Ckritt' u omutiMid
by the F^her va ftll-saffident S«vioiir, I ^oKld in «
ilegree feel tbe misery of the inhabtuuiti of bell. Bnt
a bavA disflorery <A a preciont Savievr brioga ai^eua cf
hope, full «f tbe most transp(»rtiiig comfort end joy.
To see lim in all its siofultievs sod Chriat in his ^ory ,
is a sight KwfaUy comfort^le and dreadfully pleaaiog.
Bnt they are two views which always go together in
the real Christian. When the Spirit coeriDces of um,
it convinces tl the same time of rigkteomtnen, and
each is proportiened, tbe one to theother; whichkeeps
the sinner humblg dependant, and enablei him to re-
joice witb trembling. — To live daily on m«r« wiercg is
rery hombling indeed to the noteral pride of oiur de-
praved hearts ! Bat it is loeU that we can lite anyhow !
diat there is abondant mercy for us ! O free Mlratioa,
how reviving, how ^suitable to o mined aimer! Msy
tbe Spirit ef God j^re yon aad me daily more tntimtte
acqn^ntsnce with it."

His trials were not only &om the workings of a
sinfal nature, bet aleif from the ilaiidtn of a wicked
world. The spirit with which he speaks of tbem in his
Diary is delightfal.

" Sept. 22. I have been lately a little cvposed to
the reprcwdi of tongues, set on fire by bell} and that
innocently on my part. Bleiaed be tbe Lord, I fonnd my-
self under all humble, and thankfully reaigned. If a
good name should be «f any reel service to me, or to
dw interest of my Master, be ean in eiMte of hell pvc
it : if not, why shonld I denre if Perhaps the Lord aeea
a net9e»ity fbr Gambling me; nay, deiAtless theee
is canae enough. May the Lord bless it (repreedij
and enable me to learn instnctioD from it.-—! fmad
K

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ayMlf thii anrning sobmUiin and contented to t>«

nethinf in every view. 1 aak bat the fivonr of living
to him bere, and with him hereafter. It is heaven «i
WTtb to live to him. It is heaven above, to be forever
with him. O God, make and keep me humble. May
humility inflaence al) lay coDvertation in the world."

InstTDctioa is scarcely ever more effecthally con-
Tcyed to the mind, thao by the assistance of an exam-
ple. The reader will have this advantage on the subject
of the heart* tnteiuibUilif hy perusing the following
: account which Mr. C. gives of an instance in his own

case, in a letter to Miss J .

) " Oct. 6. It is astonishing how Insensible sin
hath rendered the heart of man. I recollect the time
when I viewed, with the clearest appreboaslon, heaven
and hell, the glotj of the one and the horrors < of the
other, — when I had present in my mind things that uo
Dio«t awfully terrible and most gloiionsly lovely and
desirable, and lay heart was at the same time as in-
sensible as if I thought on the most indifiCTent- things
in uatnre. I recollect once iif particular. I vna as-
' saulted by a temptation so strongly that I thought
sorely 1 should have been overcome by it. I eodea-
' voured to weaken its strength by representing to my
mind the awful solemnities of the jndgntent-day and
the solemn accoDut 1 should have to give then of thai
sin if committed. But what amazed me moch was,
that such awfully terrible thoughts had not, as farns

11 could perceive, the least effect to weaken the strength
of the temptation or to diminish the power of sin. I
fell on my knees with fear and amazement, and in some
poor manner I intreated the Almighty, who alone I
was at last convinced could do the work, to effect, by

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hU Spirit, my deliverance. I felt at once my bond! and nj.
chains looaed and my soul aet at fhll liberty. — Bleseed
be the Lord for grace in the time of need, ffltiout it
we can do nothing : with it we can do every thing.
Were onr dependaDce always mare npon it, our Bocceii
against cormptioDs within and temptations withonti
would be more certain and apparent : and in proportion
as It is BO, we are anre of bucgcsb; for God can never
diiappoiot us. — ^The truth is, we are not Bofficiently
convinced in a practical way, that without the constant
inflnenoea of the Spirit, we have wisdom for no work, ^
■access onder no trial, victory over no temptation, nei-
ther peace nor comfort in any condition, single or
married, rich or poor, in prosperity or adversity."

The divine life ie ardtiout, though it has enooghto
■vpayforallitsdifficDlties. It is a continual warfare. Tbe
following qnotations from the Diary will give ns no
faiot idea of what kind of warfare it is, and of the means
of carrying it on. They are the efinsions of one de^ly
and yigoronsly engaged in it, of one who bad . " connted
the cost" and was resolved to persist till he shonld gain
the victory. The aobjecta are, — the nccesBity of cm-
Auiat telf-denial and of growth in grace, and the evil
of uuetuAility and unbelief,

"Oct. 12. Nothing is more troe than that the gate
is Btnut and the way narrow, which lesd to heaven.
I Hesh and blood cannot endore it ; therefore we must'
deny onreelves. A life of communion with Ood is a
life of ooMtiKital Belf-deniaL Our progress in tbe divine
liie is the effect of daily strivitig, watching and fight'
ing. 1'ime most be conacientioosly redeemed, the body
kq>t nnder, corroptions daily watched and snbdned, and
the mind continually witbdnwu from the world and the.
K 2

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100

Aiags of tb« world, vnrj {(ood tl w gfal dMrkbcd, ttA-
lowritiy with God enliintcd, and every tbing wbidi
tetb an; tendency to ntarrapt it laid aftide. In all
theie thiag* I fall greatly sbort;. and conseqneBtly 1
poaMM net that ooDtianal franw of tpiritoal mindedneM
which ny tool ardently looge aftn-, and which iraay I
believe do attaia to.— O Lord, incraue my faith. Here
b the defect My faith i« weak; and whilst it is M,
the other gnKcs, growing npoa it, nmat be weak aleo-
O that 1 Urad mere to God ! I'kiB is heaTN on earth,
tbe Ughett Avoer God cut co«fer od as in tbis world.

" 1&. My heart ii hard and inscntible. I aai Ihll
of iadigpatien agaiait myself' I wish 1 ooidd Jt» mj
mind Uid thongfats on God in Cbrist. It is the oily-
wky uf pfoaoting tbe work of graee in the heart sod of
grCM'hig in bolinesi. This glorious view, kept fixedly
n the sigbt of the renewed nan, inaeDsiUy wedtena
th e y t n i r «t sin and strengtheos weak grace. Bnt bow
dull 1 be able to set my bewt fixedly on God ) I nut
awt« earnestly stnre and seek after iL But the Spirit
al Ood sileoe can do it.

" 18. This moniiBg I experienced great loagiogs
after growth in grace imd in the divine life. To pro-
mote this in myself and others, is tbe only thing worth
living for in this w«rld. I mnst w«it patiently on God
and yetsetete diligently io the use of aH menns of fan
qipointment. I am eOmetisaea apt to nnhnar against
God, benuse my corrnptions are so Strong and grace so
weak, i find K difficult to believe that he can and will
pMserre mc from being overcome by then, if thtfy cok-
thMW slfll in their strength, Bnt this is altbgeUw
untaellsf. For had not his invisible hand pre se rved me
in timet .{kan, I aiaet have been minDd ; and be is stiQ

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103

•cjv tke ipoitle, " bftvfl cracified tke Anb, with its affec-
tions and linta." 'Dajieth or the whole body of lin
within na, in its principle, i> first to be crucified ; then
its actings in iti affectiong and Inst will of coarse sub-
side. — O Lofd, teach my hands to war and my 6agcrs
to 6fla/l in this spiritoal varfare.

Tlie i»ve*»ant uofkagt of^n imnentad.
" Dec. 8. The power, sobtlety, deceit and nttwea-
riad aCtirity of sin within me, daily griere and amaie
IM. But it is still mere amazing that 1 hare not been
mined by it. When 1 think I hare obtained some peace
and^rest to my mind, sadden iniurrectiea within will tf
once pat all in a tamnltaons aad disorderly state, and
deprire me of all my rest and peace. When I cry
" peace, peace, then anddea destrnntion oosetfa." When
By mind is got a little abore the world, and my affee-
ti^a seem to \Mfited<m things abore, ein ha^^acight
hi it whidt aoon pressea me down again. And though
I tay aside every tteigkt, its removal is generally but of
« short continaance. This evil is present with me ia
ererything. I ca» do nothing good, but it acts in op-
position to it. When I would believe, I find nnbelief
preaent with me. When I woald love God with all my
heart, 1 find tbe natural enmity strongly opposing it.
Wben I would obtain good confidence and strong hope,
diaconnging apprehensions and desponding fears dis-
tract' ray mind. Presamption exposes humility, &c, —
in shtHt, soma member of the old man opposes the cor-
responding member of the new man in all its operations
■Bd actings. I can do aotbing, bat this insidiona enemy
thwarts and ensnares me. How do the Tigilance, ac-
tivity aad strength of this intestine enemy, call for all
wntdifolness, earnest striving and ceasdess prayer

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104

agninrt hiin. Lord, give me more gnet. Help to
bockle on the umonr, that 1 may fight the good i^t
•nd ftoi^ my coarse with joy."

Renuunein JN leateking the thimgktt.

' 12. 1 moflt be more watchful againit sloth and '
more carefbl in improving my time, f have not had
a Bvffident guard over my thonghti this day: by
which my mind was disgipated aad made wholly nolit
for hoty cncerciwfl. — I eameatly pny that my heart may
be etteiluhed more with grace, and that my thoa^tt.
may be continnally fixed on God. This, I apprriiend,
ia wuUMf with fled."

7^ mporlance oflivmg to God.

" 13. I feel strong desires and longings after
more devotedness of heart and life to God's serrice.
Help me, O Lord, to deny myself. Every thing else ii
utterly vain and unprofitable in this world, but spend-
ing every thing we possess in the service of God and in
doing hII to bis glory. Whal will it signify a few yean
hence whether Iwasa kingot ab^gar, wbethet- 1 lived
in affineoce or penary, in prosperity or adversity ? Bnt
it will be of the lajst importance, whether 1 lived to
God. My comfort here and happiness hereafter wholly
depend on devoting all to Ood. May » lively sense of
this always remain on my mind ! It is strange how
soon some trifle or other wipes off every impresBi<m
made do the mind by spiritoal and eternal things. Lord,
continually renew them.

Detiring to depart.

" 15. The Lord hath been pleased to lay his hand
slightly on me and to vbit me vtty gently with his rod,
Sorely this world wonld go on very well witbont me. TTicre
is not one single wheel of the vast machine pnt in vta-

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tbe isine. He is the iirength ftod tbe pofi'um of hit
people — ettength to usist theiil effectually againft tbeir
enemies, — and a portion to make them iufbitely and
etwDaUy happy in himself. To live on God as my
strength and portion is tbe life of faith hera on earth,'
and to eojoy as soch is the perfection of glory above. O
God, swallow me np in thyself- Take full possession
of my heart evermore. Amen."

The oommandt and doctrinet of the gospel arc both
from Ood j and both are approved, loved and valued bj
the renewed loal. They~ who seem to make mach of
the latter, and m^ie light of and diiregard the fiirmer,
give a most decided proof that their reli^on is only a
same. A cortfie/ approbation of the doctrines of reve^
latioD, is invariably accompanied with a lore to and
delight in its commands. This snbject is beautifally
treated in tbe following portion of tbe Diary.

"Nov. 23. To a renewed heart the eommands of
tbe gospel are not grierons ; and the doctrines of the
gospel are not strange. The bent and inclination of tbe
mind, when renewed, is towards those things which
are commanded, like instinct in animals. And in the
performuice of those daties, even of the most difficslt
of them, the mind finds real satisfaction, joy and del^ht.
It then acts agreeably to its nature and lives in its own
element. And when any holy and spiritual daty is neg-
lected, trouble and sorrotv naturally take hold of the
soul : it can find no rest nor peace, becanse prevented
from acting agreeably to its natare. — So also are the
doctrines of the gospel ; they are familiar and suitable
to him. He sees wiwlom, beauty, glory and usefolness
in the most spiritual, mysteripus and snblime truths;
and he labonra more and more to comprehend thein,
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because tf their glor^ and exedl«Dcy. Thue gtoriMa
trathB thos receirod have'a transfwistng eSlact oa Urn
aoni : H is cait into their moahl, and ii changed into
tbe aaiBe rrBoge froin glory U> giory. CbriM is the ex-
prets im^ of the Fattier ; and tlie floctrima of tW
gotpel hold forth tbe gl«ry of ChrlM t» tbe eye of faith ;
and by tbni beholding the glory of Chrirt in tbe glasi of
the gospel, we ue changed into the imafte of God.

"I hombly hope that I know something experi-
• mentally of this trirtb. 1 think that I hate foond that
delight in tiod's ceamandntents, which hath btonghi
fall tetisfHCtion to tiie sovl, and made me long after oo«-
fOrAiit^ in heart and life to then «M«e than sAot my
<ibily food. — ^Ilie doctrines of the gospel also apperir to
■ae with aoch marks of wisdom, besnty alid gtory, U
fill my heart wHh admiration and asMnishmfflit, and
with the moat eantett desire after a more full compre-
hension of their most myWteriona depths. Lord, help
my unbelief. Increase Uy tta& md lore.
ffow to mortify tm (ffectnally.
" Nor. 28. To weaken any (We particidar membor
of the old man, tbe whole body of sin mnit be mortified.
I fear I bare not been sufficiently attentireto tbis truth,
bnt have been more solicitoos about subdningswne par-
ticnlar shiB tlian the deatmction of the whole body. No
wonder therefbifl If my endeavoiin that way have been
in the end Tain and fmitless. For I believe no one rin
ever itak or ever will be tmly mortified tiis way. Bnt
if we labour to improve nniYersally the principle of bo-
Itness, in ail instances of holy obedience, and also to
morti^ tbe principle of sin in all the ways of its ac^igt
and operations, particnlar sini and temptations to then
awt of conrse be weakened. "Tliey that are Chriit'i,"

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tm» by DM. I Bore dbneatly than ever loag to be
gione; I Bin iMory ol tinning i and I long to see God u
be it and to be wholly like him. when will the bappy
day urive vhem \ ibait be liice onto God, — all love
witlwiit any enmity! O what bappinoss ! Then all
the motionl of my bouI after God will meet with no ep-
potitioD. Then the fleab will no looger lost agaioft
tb* spirit: bnttbat nature which is born of the Spirit
■ball wholly poBsesa my sonl and shall actnate and in- •
flnence me in all things — an event devoutly wished
qieedily te take place, if the will of beaveo be ao. Till
then I hope that I shall have mote grace than ever to
lire to God. Tbroegb mercy the world daily dimi-
nishes in my eeteetn ; and all ita objects lose their
betnty and valae."

Tht .excellenoiet of faith.
" 17. Faith is the sabstance of things hoped for
asd the evidence of things not seen. It realizes thiuge
that are foture, noseen and in expectation. It partakes
somewhat of the oatore of God himself, to whom all
things are prvent. WhilU in the midst of storms,
ftitk brings to mind the haven of rest, towards which
every storm drives the believer. When under the cross
and oppressed with tribulation, faith can unite the
«own bo the cross, and eternal rest to the greatest tri-
bnlation. When the Lord corrects and chastens oa, it
b for Mr good, that we nay be partakers of his boli-
nws : God looks on the end and the means hither. So
also-4oes faitfa. Under the rod, it eyes the peaceable
freUs of nghteousaess, its sore e^cU. Faith, like
tbs hasbanditian, is r^ardless of present troable and
toil, having continnally a plentiful harvest ux view.
Under all the dispensations of God's providence, though

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at present not joyous bnt grievom, the Iwlierer, bmiig .
the end fer which they were intencled in view, feeh in-
expressible patients, resigiiBtion and comfort j nor is
he desirooB that Ood would remove then), bowerer ex-
cmciating to flesh and blood, till the end is fully
answered. He would lay — " Go on. Lord, iu thina
owD waj and manner, whatever my (eelings may be,
and make me partaker of thff kelimest" He loves hoti-
nesB flnpremely, infinitely beyond bis present ea<e,
happiness, comfort, credit and interest. And if he
perceives be is groiring in holiness, he is tbankfol and'
joyfal, whatever be the means the Lord makes lue of to
accoiDpiish his gracious pnrpose and design. Thus h«
is enabled in every thing to give thanks, because he
>ees all by the eye of faith working together for his
good. And if faith at any time is enable to perceive
the particular end intended by any dispensation of Pro-
vidence, it can commit all to God and patiently wait-
the issue in God's good time. Faith can trust every
thing to the wisdom, and goodness of God, and let As
matter rest in tiis hand. Joseph conld not see the di^
nity and glory to which bts prison led him. But I
donbt not, bnt that he conld patiently commit all to
that God whom he was afraid of offending by sinning
against him. O Lord, help me tn look more on things

" I hope 1 can say that I love holiness in sincerity
inexpressibly beyond my present ease, interest, &c:
And I generally feel myself patient under everything,
when I think it hath a tendency to make me metre holy.
A particnlar dispensation lately happened to me, di-
rectly calculated to bring down my pride. 1 saw tha
great necessity of it and fonnd myself exceedingly

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thsakfal, foil of sdmiratioii of the Lord's can orer me
land goodnesB towards me. Praise .the Lord. O nj
. Bool.".

TalemU, iowever tmaU, ought to be improvtd,
"20. Why doe* oar Saviour, in the puable of
, the taleDts, inBtaace the abose of the trnat cominittedj
io him who received one talent, and not in him who
received the five or the tiDO ? Are they who receive
few talents in more danger of abusing them than those
who receive many ? Are they more tempted to orer-
look and despise the gift and therefore to Delect the
diligent nee of it, and at tlie same time to harbonr hard
thoughts of God, because he has not bestowed his gifts
so liberally on them as on others ! The following words
. seem to countenance the supposition : — " 1 knew that
thoo wert a hard man, reaping where thou hast not
sown, sod gathering where thoa hast not strawed.'-
He seems to looli on the one talent which bis Lord gave
as nothing, as what was not worth the using. — ^This
parable however ewfnlly instructs, ua, that not only
great gifts but tmail ones also are to be accounted for
to the Lord at last. The servant who has received one
, talent must be accountable for that 0ire ; as well as be
who has received five. It signifies not what we have
received, bnt the great point is, wiat tM« we make of
what is entrusted to us. He who made good use of the
two talents was rewarded as well as be who had received
^re. — Here is encouragement also to those who have
received bnt few talents, and a great spur to the dif-
ferent use of them. For if we trade with themt they
will increate, Our two will become foor, &c, by dili-
gent and constant use. We must not despise the day
■ of imatl ^hings, but look on it as a motive to industry

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and diligence. Bnt tkon wko ds not employ liir tlie
use inteuiled tbe talent conitDitt«d to then, will aaan
loM what tUey have: their mm talent will be taken
froiD them and giTen to him wto hath tea talents. Our
talents will never multiply bnt by vtiing them.— O
Iiord, lenstbly arid cooataiitly iinpreM ny mind with
a lively sense of this truth."

Lovt active.
"21. Love, wbererer itpreTula, is aoconlii^ to
its degree active and laborious. JVam^am amor oimmm
ell; epertttUT mum magna, netl: & vera operariremiit,
lumetlamor. (Love is never idle; for if it exists, it
will work great things ; but if it refuses to work, it is
not love.) If we love God, ve cannot bat keep his
commandmentB. This love, in proportion to its strength
and fervor, engages the whole sonl in his service and
interest.— So a)f>o if we love Hie brethren, this love is
active in promoting their interest and wel&re. It en- ~
ga)[es OS in offices of charity and kindness. Unless its
fruits are manifest, onr love is not red and gennine.
■ Love can never say to the naked and destitnte — "Depart
in peace ; be ye warmed and filled ." but it gieeth thit
which is needful for the body. Lore cannot be lifeless
and inactive. It is heat, fervor and life itsdf. It easily
■armonnts dif&cnlties, and is nnwearied in its opera-
tions. It seeks for and watches every opportmiity to
exert and sbew itself. — Those therefore who imagine
they love the brethren or love God, and at the same
time, can be idle in the service both of the one and of
tbe other, deceive tbemselves. To possess this love is to
be lil« Ood ; " for God is love." But his love is not
iuectivB. 1 John, iii. 16. Dent. x. J8. He loves and
givtt. " God so loved the world, that he face hia only

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begotteo Son." He loves mnd doetk good, makiDg " hta '
SDH to riae on the evil and on the good, and sending
rain on tLe JDst and the nnjnst." If I partook more of
tbe divine natare, I should more imitate the Almighty
in the frnits of love. I could bless them with tbe same
pleasure as 1 receive blessing from God. tio also 1
could pardon and do good with the same delist as I
receive pardon and goodness from God. This is iu
truth to be partaker of the divine nature. Lord, give
me to possess more of it."

Zeal for God's honour.
"22. When we are zealons in God's canse and
jealous of his honour, he will be zealous in our behalf
and take our cart& upon him. In our own cause we
should be calm, quiet and easy, resigning all to God.
When slandered aud reviled, we ought to be as a dead
man, who bath neither eyes to see, nor ears to hear,
nnr understanding to perceive, nor hands to revenge
any wrong done to him. This is to be mortified, and
dead to the world, and to ourselves. We we not our
own; therefore should " take no thought" about our-
selves, but leave the Aliaighty to take care of his own,
and do with it what he pleaseth. If we are hit, our cause
is his : aud with him let it rest, who has said — " Ven-
geauce is mine; I will repay." — But when God is
offended and dishonoured, then let Phinheas's zeal fire
our bearts. David bore with calmness and patieoee
the cursing of Shimei, when only his ow» character
and reputation were concerned : bnt when he looks on
the wicked, the froward, the proud, the liars, &c. aa
those who were engaged in dishonouring God, in what
language of detestation and revenge does he speak of
them > " They shall not dwell in my house ; they shall

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not tarry in my sight ; I will early destroy all the
wicked in the land, and cnt off all wicked doers from
the city of the Lord." Peal. ci. Moses was so, offended
at the idolatry of the Israelites, and so zealous for
(lOd's hooonr, that be threw down-the tables of stones
Oh nhich the law was written and broke them. Bnt
when Aaron and Miriam rose up against him, he only
|irayed for them and ieft God to vindicate his cause. —
This is to be little in onr own esteem and to have the
Almighty eiralted in our hearts; and this is always our
conduct, when we look on ourselves as the chief of
sinuers. — O blessed humility, thou art the proper soil
and nourishment of every grace. — O Lord, convert me,
and make me as a little child."

The great excellencies of the foregoing portions of
the Diary are so apparent, that they need not be point-
ed out. What is written in it for December is given here
nliole and entire. The materials for some months are
more scanty i for a few months, no more than halfadozen
lines ; and for a month or two in the year, none at all.
This irregolarity proceeded no donbt from various cir-
ciimstances ; and probably in some degree from what be
frequently complains of — sloth. At the same time a
Diary, to be interesting, cannot be at all times r^ular :
for life itself is not regular in its incidents and varieties.
Ill a letter written the last day of this year he gives an
account of a fit of ilittett with which he bad been visited.
Some of its most interesting contents are these : —

" Dec. 31. Id my last I gave some faint description
of the contest and contrary workings of corruption and
grace. Since then there has been a j^ospect^-not nn-
pleasing — of its being for ever at an end in me. Bat

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Ill

however now the scene seems to be chatiged and thhtgs
begm to wear a different aspect. Mf disorder, which
has not yet quite left me, is very singular. I have had
no fever at all ; nor am J in any considerable d^ree of
pain I only feel an inconceivable weakness of body, as
if my strength were gone and all my spirits exhausted.
Nothing refreshed me, or seemed to do me any good.
I was generally a stranger both to sleep and appetite.
However I am now through mercy on the mending
order. — Eternity never appeared bo near to me before,
nor do I remember ever to have experienced such earn-
est longings and strong desires to know all in the other
world ! O how did this world, with all its proud and
pompous vanity, sink into nothing at the approach of
eternity. It stamped madness and folly on all my
schemes and plans fer futurity and threw contempt on
every thing, which my fond imagination was before
enamoured and delighted with. It changed the aspect
of every sublunary thing. May 1 alKaya live with the
awful prospect in view.

" The following words of the apostle conveyed
something inexpressibly great aud glorious to my mind —
" ff^e shall be like him." How mysterious, how glori-
oDS, how sublime and how comfortable the ravishing
truth contained in these few words ! Heaven never
appeared so desirable to me before. " We shall be like
him." — What is He? The apostle answers — "God is
light ■" and again — " God is love." To be like Him
therefore is to be light and lov« ; and this is to be par-
takers of the divine nature. This is the heaven my
soul longs after, that is, to have my soul wholly posses-
sed of the divine nature, — to be filled with divine love,
and to be light without any darkness, that is, boHness
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withoDt any impurity. — God is lore, and love is an
active thing. Its'waruitb was so intense in the divine
breast, that its heat is felt at inAoite distance — eren in
dust and ashen heie on earth. If we are partakers ef
the divine nature, it will operate. Id proportion to its
degree, in a similar manner in us. — Alas ! bOw little do
1 know of the workings of this divine nature within
me ! — Just enough to make roe know the comfort of it,
aud earnestly long for more.

" But in heaveo " we shall be like him" — all love
without any enmity — so filled with divine love as neither
to wish nor be capable of containiug any more. AH the
motions and desires of our souls will meet wiih no oppo-
aitiou. The flesh will DO more lust against the spirit :
but that nature which is born of the spirit will wholly
and forever possew the soul. O blessed event, devoutly
to be wished ! What a heaven will this be ! Our hearts
and mind will forever dwell on God with ever new delight,
without any interruption or intermission. Envy, hatred,
malice and all micharitableness will be forever banished
from our breasts. — But to see all these blessings pro-'
ceeding tons throngh the death and sufTerings of the
Son of God, will infinitely heighten their value, and in-
conceivably increase our joy. OwUataheaven will this
be ! Is it not worth striving after, and forsaking all to
obtain it } Blessed be God, we can. id part enjoy it here
on earth. When I can forgive and love enemies, do
good, spend and be spent for God, I have a heaven wMin
me. But my misery is, that hell is within me at the
same time. O happy day, when 1 shall see all these
Egyptians, these diabolical dispositions and tempers,
buried in the red sea to rise no more! In the mean
time, full of the glorious hope, may we live to God,
struggling with and striving against sin."

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SECT. V.—Diarg and Letlert during 1782.

The first idea commonly suggested by the new
year's day is the transitory nature of all things below, —
that the world paiseth away. There is nothing pleas-
ing in this thought, but far otherwise. To a soul which
naturally aims at something that is permanent, it must
be greatly distresiiing. The only gobject calculated to
relieve it, is the eternal world .■ and if it be in a progress
of preparatiOD for that world, the relief obtained will
far more than compensate for the gloom produced by a
view of the fading nature of this world. The pious
mind slides imperceptibly from the one subject to the
other, finding nothing in the one, but emptineas and
desolation, and in the other every thing that comports
with its wishes and desires, every thing that can inter-
est an immortal spirit. — The following thoughts on
Eternity, taken from the Diary, are the effusions of a
mind full of its subject.

"Jan. 1. ]782. How fast do fleeting years carry
me towards eternity ! Lord, help me to live with the
awful prospect continually in view. When eternity
draws near, the world, with all its pomp and vanity,
sinks into nothing. It stamps madness and folly on all
my plans and schemes for futurity, and throws con-
tempt on those things which before my fond imagination
was enamoured and delighted with! Did I liva with
eternity in view, how it would soberize my mind, cure
the natural madness of my heart and elevate my soul
above all mean and earthly pursuits. It would diminish
into nothing all my troubles and all my joys this side
the grave, and render it insignificant and indifferent
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whether I grieve or rejtuce for a 8b<wt span of time.
This awM sight cfa«nges the appesnuice of all Hnbloa-
ary thiogg. It pots the rich and poor, the miserable and
the bapp; on a lerel. Every thing ie utterly insignifi'
cant bat that which is eternal. Why should I sink
under troables and trials } They will soon be at an end.
Why shonld I rejoice in any earthly felicity ? For this
also is vanity, and will soon bf ended. MIJ- my joys
and sorrows be excited by nothing but by what is eter-
nal for the fatnre ! Why does my mind shrink back at
the near approach of eternity ? Is it not my home ? la
it not the end of my weary pilgrimage ? Trne : but
still there is something awfully solemn in the thooghts
of eternity. With God, eternity and onr sins in view,
what can support the soul bnt the infinite merits of the
Sou of God ! Lord, strengthen my faith, and eternity
-will lose its terrors. I must coverse more familiarly
every day vrith the other world, have my thoughts and
heart more there continnally, think of it often as a
weary traveller of his home, and the labourer of his rest
at night, and by degrees we shall become more famili-
arly acquainted. Bat faith only can support the soul.

" When I reflect on God's goodness and my ingrati-
tude, the year past, I am ashamed and confonuded
before Him- I can do otherwise Uve, bnt as a guilty
sinner, on the Son of God. When I look forward
(which 1 have no business to do) God's faithfulness to
his promises is uiy only support. " Greater" says St.
John, "is be that is in you, than he that is in the
world" — greater in every view — greater in wisdom,
greater in strength, &c. &c. And this greater one is
not at any time .absent from us, bnt in as, always
present to counteract the spirit that ia in the world.
— Major, hoc est, fortior sit qui in nobis est, quom qui

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in mu&do. Nam ea est nostra iofirmitas, ut, anteqnam
manHS consecTEimaB coia hoste, saccumbere opotteat
SumuB enim iinplJciti ignoraDtifl ; ideoqoe eipositi ad
omnes falacias : Satan aotem mimH ad falteadum
artifex. Si sustianerimus ad diem unum, obrepat
tamen ancmis noetris dubitatio, quid eras fntunim sit :
Ita perpetuo erimus anxii. Admonet ergo Apostolas,
nOD proprift qos sed Dei virtute asse fortes. Unde
collegit, non magis nos rinci posse quam Deum ipsum, y
qni DOS eu^ virtute ad finem usque mundi instmxit.
Atqne in totH spiritoali Dostrg militia insidere cordi-
bas debet haec cogitatiOi-^actum protioiisfore de nobis,
St noBtris viribus pugoandum esset : ceterum.quia nobis
quiescentibns Dens hostes repellit, indubiam esse tic-
toriam.'* Calv. in loco. — With my heart well esta-
blished in tiiis reviving tmtb, help me, O l/jrd, to
bnckle on my armonr, and press forvrard, notwith-
standing oppositions and dangers."

Revelation tuitable to the vanti o/amnert.
"Jan.5. The rerelation which God hath been pleas-
ed to make of hinuelf in his word, is exactly suited to

* " Greater, that ia, Mronger is he who i> (n jon thxn hq
irhd il ID (be world. Such indeed is our infirmity, that it be-
bores us to yield before we join battle with the enemy. For we
sie wrapt in ignornnce, and therefore open to >ll kinds of Alla-
eles : and Satan is * wondRrfolly cunning contriver in (he work
of deception. If we should hold out for one day, yet k doubt as (n
what nil be to-morrow would creep overour minds. Thus we
Bboold be perpetually in a Btate of inidety. Therefore the apos-
0» reminds ns, that we are made ntroDf* not by our own power,
but by that of God. Hence he concludes, that we can no more
be overcome than God himself, who has furnished us with bis
own power till the emi of time. And with respect to the whole
of oar ipiritusl warfare, this thought should rest on onr hearts, —
That we should 13110017 lose the day, if we had to fight in our
own strength ; but that Tictory is certain, for while we are
Mttitig atiU, God repeU the enemies."

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the varioni wuiti, exigencies and miseries of helpless
sinaers. Are we odious, Bbominabte and unlovely ?
He loveth freely. The motive of his love is not in the
object but in himself. Are we destitste, forlorn and
helpless ? In him the /alherlett findetb mercy. Have
we treasured np for onrselves wrath against the day uf
wralb ? He is rich in mercy, his treasures are nnsearch-
able. Are oor sins namerons ? He is plenleoui in
mercy. Are onr sins great and heinoas } As the
heavens are higher than the earth, " so great is his
mercy towards them that fear him." Are we ever and
continually sinfal. goilty and depraved ? " His mercy is
from everlasting to everlasting :"« he keepeth mercy for
nsforever. Ps.LXXxix. 28. It " follows m" and "com-
passes ns round abont on every side." Psalra XXIII. 6. —
XXXII. 10. All this mercy is freely bestowed on sin-
ners : not because we are in any degree deserving of
it i but because he " delighteth in mercy." The motive
and cause of it is wholly in himself. — Sensible of my
great and continual need of this mercy,) help me, O
Lord, to be continuaUy applying to thee for it with
confidence and importnnity.

ji good wife, a gift from God.
" Jan. 17. Blessed be the Lord for his goodness,
I have found myself of late very submiasive and re-
signed to God's will concerning me and all my allairs,
and thankful also for the mai>y undeserved mercies I
enjoy. Unforeseen difficulties occur and prevent my
possessing for the present the dear ottject which for
these two years past hath engaged my heart and affec-
tions. The will of the Lord be done in and by me.-^
" A prudent wife is from the Lord." — When 1 marry, if
ever, I hope the Ijord nil! let roe see clearly that the
person is brought to me by him, as Eve was to Adam j

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Knd that I shall be enabled to receive her ae his gift.
Were I tied to the moat excellent woman on earth, if
she was not the liord's gift to me, she would be no
blessing. Had n strong belief of tbis truth always iu- .
fluenced my miad, 1 should hare been more calm and
easy and experienced less trouble and vexation. Coald
I believe atall times that God io wisdom and goodness
orerrnleth all things, great aod small, and that bis holy
will, is always best, what could give a moment's un-
easioess } A little ol this faith is comfortable to us
and honourable to God : and the want 'of it is certain
misery. — At present I feel williog to be where the Lord
pleases and earne!>tly desirous that he slioald be glori-
fied by me and in me, in tlie way and manner he thinks
proper. I am blindness itself and can see nothing before
me. But to him the concatenation and consequencee
of all events, are at all times perfectly known. He seeth
the end from the beginning. — help me in all things to
deny myself and follow the cloud by day and the pillar
of fire by night till I arrive in Cauaan."

GoiTt covenant — Review of pa»t mtrme».
"Jan. 30. This Hay 1 have l>een receiving from
God the seal of the covenant at the sacrament. I was
in the morning at the table very insensible and nuaf-
fected. But in the evening 1 had a most comfortable
meditation on the gracious covenant which Goil hath
made with Christ on behalf of his people. Its freeness,
stability and richness, are full of consolation when
viewed by faith. I fonnd myself willing and desirous
above all things to receive Christ and all his fnlness, as
my Sftviour, Lord and Master. And there is nothing
my heart so much longs after as to be entirely his in
time and eternity, to live and die for and to him, to

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glorify bim with my soul aad body, talente, time and
poasesaioDB, with all I am and all I have. — I have had a
pleasing review of all the Lord's past goodoeea to iny
soul, having recalled to miad the various steps by which
he graciously led me to the knowledge of himself. My
heart melted and was overwhelmed with gratitude. O
bless the Lord, O my soul. Sorely no one hath more
reason to praise and eternally adore divine goodness.

"This is a day (see page 6) much to be remem-
bered by me in partif^olar. How glorious was the
discovery of diving troths to my mind on this day !
Through mercy they are glorious and as precious now
as ever. They are always new and always reviving. O
may I live and feed on them more and more ! May I
be enabled to dive deeper daily into their glorious mys-
teries ! May my mind never contemplate them withont
feeling their power and energy on my heart, that I may
be cast into their mould."

A reatonfoT Humility.

"Jan. 26. How difficult it is !« have our hearts
duly impreseed with a sense of our utter noworthiness,
and with the conviction, that if there be any diiFerence
between ns and others, it has been wholly and entirely
effected by the grace and goodness of God ! Were 1
always sensible of this, I should not. be impatient at
what I deem childish and foolish in others. Impatience
is always the offspring of pride. More humility there-
fore would produce more patience, longsuffering, kind*
ness, gentleness, &c. My judgment allows it to be
true, that the Lord only maketb me to differ in any
thing : hot it is another thiug to have my heart always
deeply sensible of it.— If I may judge by the effects,
I have a great deal of pride to be subdued."

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AllfuUeMi of grace in Chrut/or hit people.

"Jan. 29. 1 feel myself poor and lean; but,
through grace, hungry. And 1 can see, not without
some degree of Joy, an unsearchable treaaur« in Christ.
He knowB my wants, and will, 1 believe, freely com-
municate to me when he sees necessity requiring it. I
am satisfied that " it pleaseth the Father that in him all
fulness should dwell." It is not in us, but in Urn, it
is that all fulness dwells: aud from him it is freely to
l)e communicated to us in every time of need. He is
our .loseph, who has the key of all the storehouses of
God : and he will not fail to open them when the famine
waxeth sore in the land. In obedience to thy commanH
O Lord, help me to go to Joseph in all my spiritual
wants. Are not all his riches mine ? Hast thou not
given thy Son with all his fulness to me 1 Help me
therefore to live on the treasnrea that are laid up in him,
as if they were in my own possession. — "All things
that the Father hath," saith Christ, " are mine." All
the grace and mercy, that are in God as a Father are
given to Christ, that he may give them to his people.
All pardon and all grace, which we can want or God
can give, are stored up in Christ for the use of his
people. All the grace and mercy which dwelt in the
Almighty, when full of the counsels of love and intend-
ing his own exaltation by way of grace — all the grace
and mercy which Christ by the effusion of his most
precions blood could purchase—all this is treasured up
in Christ and abound in him infinitely, to be Communi-
cated freely to us a« our wauts require, and as we are
capable of receiving it. O Lord, enlarge my heart, and
empty me of every other thing, that f may be able to
receive more abundantly out of Christ's inconceivable
fulness."

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Ktiown tin prevent* peace.

" Feb. 1. Known sin indulged in a»!/ degree will
iDfallibly interrupt onr communion with God. It brings
guilt on the sonl ; and the sense of guilt, till removed
by the blood of Christ, damps and chills it, and ren-
ders the heart callous and insensible. Tliis is the case
with my soul at this present time. O Lord, return
again, 1 beseech thee, according to the multitude of
thy tender mercies. Keep me in future in thy fear all
the day long."

Some of the ideas which occur m the followirig
letter have ■ appeared before. But the whole of it is wi
superlatively excellent, that no curtailment shall be
made. Its subject is the design of God in the trial*
and afiietiona of hU people.

" Feb. 6. We find in the history of the PatrJarchs-
that every new difficulty and trial, with which they
meet, administered a fresh opportunity for God to mani-
fest himself, to renew his coveuant and confirm bis
promises. And God never appeared but when urgent
necessity called for bis presence, either to support
them under pressures and tiials or to call them to new
duties for the manifestation of their grace in its effects
and of bis glory. As their difficulties abounded, their
supports and comforts were multiplied. O blessed
exchange ! Onttvard ease and tranquillity for spiritual
joy and growth in the divine life. Who that has any
hatred of sin or any love to God in bis heart, would not
daily wish to carry on an exchange so comfortable and
so advantageous to the soul ? No outward trouble, I
am sure, ever did or ever can give me so much uneasi-
ness and sorrow, as the incessaut workings of my cor-
ruptions continually do. 1 hope therefore to be evei more

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thankful for every cross, disftppointmeDt, sickness,
troable, &c. Sic which hath the smallest tendency to
weaken my corruptions, to make me more dead t» the
world and myself, and more alive to Ood and things of
God. There is within me somnch pride to be snbdned,
■0 much worldly- mind edness to be destroyed, so much
unbelief to be abolished, and bo much self to be denied,
that my heart should overflow with gratitude, when I
feel God's hand npon me, however heavy it may be,
carrying OD the work of holiness in sobdaing or weaken-
iDg any of these sinfnl tempers and dispositions, and
nccomplisbiiig that glorious work to which my feeble
strength is uneqnal. 1 hope to look more to the end
than to the means, to look beyond the rod and the chas-
tisement to " the peaceable fruits of righteonsness which
it yieldeth to them who. are exercised with it." As
nothing but holincBs will be of any value or of any reni
service to me at the end, may I be thankful for every
thing, however unpleasant and grievous now, which
may tend to promote it in my soul. So the end is but
obtained, I am perfectly satisiied with the means which
infinite wisdom, influenced by infinite goodness, may
think proper to appoint.

" God hsB not, like earthly parents, any foolish-
tendemeas or fondness which may prevent him from
usiug the rod when necessary for the benefit and real
interest of his children. He delivered Job into Satan's
band from love to him ; foreseeing how he would
bring him out of the furnace like gold purified in the
fire. As God therefore never on any occasion prefers'
the ease of his children to their holiness, I hope in every
thing to be of the same mind, always Tet^iving every
. thing with thankfoluesB from his gracious hand, who
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has assnred me that acny thing shitll work together for
good; precious promiBel It is like the tree wbicfc
Mosee cast into the waters of Manh. It makes the
bitterest water of affliction sweet and wholesome. Like
' the philosopher's stone, it turns every thing into gold.
When I find BCtnally and experimentally all things
working for uiy good, 1 feel gratitude in some d^ree
■uflDencing my heart : but when 1 do not find present good
issuing from present evil, 1 often find it very difficult
to believe the promisee and to rest satisfied that it will
certainly be so in the end, however unlikely the event
may at pereent appear. Our nnbetief however makes
not the faith of God without effect. He remains faith-
ful, and will abundantly sccomplish all his promises.
It ccunforts me therefore to think, that it will be so,
thpngh my faith in that truth is often very weak and
feeble. His promises depend not on my faith, but on
his own faithfulness, whic his eternal and onchaJigeKble
like himself.

" There is a prorision made against all our cormp-
tions. Torment na they may, but they shall never de-
stroy us. Torment us in the most distressing maimer
indeed they daily do ! The thought of being soon forever
delivered from tbem, gave me in my last illness the sin-
cerest joy. It was a prospect nnspeakably deli^tful.
Well, 1 have no reason to complain. My illness has
been blessed to me, thongh not so as to dettroy finally
all these my worst eitemies ; yet I hope, so as to weaken
their power and fill me with more holy revenge against
them and hatred to them. All things work together for
good. This is more than enough. Hiou^ we are not
at home, yet if every thing works effectually to bring
ns nearer daily iu the temper of our minds and in the

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frune of our kearts, whet cause for thankfolDeis '
Bleated is that cross which hnmbles oar pride, — and
&Kt disappointment which makes db more resigned to
God'a will, — and that sickness which cmcifies us more
to the world and the world to ns, — and that povwty
which makes as richer in grace. — and that contempt
Aon the world which makes us clcKTe more to Ood and
value more highly his favonr and approbation j yea^
Uessed is that event which takes away all the props
which we in any degree depend on for the smallest por-
tion of ODT happiness and brings ns to depend aad live
wholly on God. Till then we shall never be happy n<v
glortfy God ofir Redeemer in any soitable manner.
When we make him only onr strength and portion, we
are never disappointed, bat ever abundantly satisfted as
with marrow and fatnesa. I long to be swallowed np
entirely in bim, and be possessed entirely by him. The
hope of such a desirable event is big with transports of
joy."

How varioos and changeable are the frames of the
Christian's mind * There are times when he feels a
desire to take his flight to another world, having twA
views of its glories and snch a foretaste of its pleasures.
At other times his sool cleaves to the dnst ; all is dark
around him, and all ia dead within himj no light from
above, and no enjoyment of religion in the heart. This
latter state of mind not nnfreqneutly sncceeds the
other, and haa often throng sin, been occasioned by it.
Great elevations we cannot enjoy long in this world
without injury to the soni, A continual sunshine would
not suit oUr condition : even an occBsional sunshine,
titougb necessary to prevent despondency, is scarcely
ever vouchsafed without its being abased in some way
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or other by the baay working of sin. Pride or spirittwl
■loth will insinuate itself, and convert the highest
ftTOort of heaven into the greateat evils, Hiig wonld
have been the case with Pan], when favoured with a
sight of things ineffable, bad not Qod anticipated the
evil effect by a temptation which made and kept him
Bensible of his own weakness. Pride would have
otherwise crept into his sonl, and might have been Uie
canse of on awful downfall. As soon as Uiis enemy
shews himself, a cloud veils tbe glory before seen, and
the " feast of good things" is withdrawn : aud thus what
he is attempting to convert into an occasion of sin, is
removed. There is nothing that cleaves to man more
closely Ulan self and pride.. He is ever aud ever dis-
posed to attribute to himself what does not belong to
him. Self-dependant be is tempted to he even in spi-
ritual things. But when this spirit creeps in, God by
irithdrawiug his influences, makes him know that he i*
nothing. This dealing of God is spoken of in the
following portion of tbe Diary.

" Feb. 9. Self-sufficiency and telf-dependattce are
the most natural and most destructive of all sins. We
are never poorer than when we think we are rich in oar-
eelves : nor ever in more danger of falling tiian when
we think we stand. Such thoughts as these greatly
weaken every grace and strengthen ev«y corruption.
1 have fonnd this truth verified in my own experience
lately, and that to my great sorrow. " He that trust-
eth his own heart is a fool," even when his heart is in
its best, most heavenly and spiritual frame. When we
feel the graces of the Spirit working with .some degree
of strength, the Lord only can keep ns from depending
on them, instead of him, who is tbe strength of his peo-

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pie. If bith exerts itself in some small iegne, in
what danger do I find myself of making my faith my
■uTionr. To depend, in the midst of all my comforts,
joys, triumphs, as a weak, helpless, gnilty sinner, on
an all-Bnfficient Savionr, is not an easy thing. Tliii is
one reason, I believe, why my seasons of comfort, are
generally but of short oootinoance. 1 soon bc^n to
lire on the fnlness within myself, and not oa the falness
lud np in Christ for my nse. " The jast shall lire by
feith}" and when he seeks to lire otherwise than by
faith, his life immediately begins to decay, bis strength
waxes feeble, his rigonr languishes, his joys depart,
and his soul gets leaa and barren. To live by faith is
a strange, mysterious aud snpematnral life, that no
creatnre in the universe knows any thing of, but the be-
liever : and it is not without the greatest difficulty that
he is brought to make any proficiency in it. I am never
out of danger. Lord, keep me."

7^ff oharacttT of an utefiil a»ut emnent Chrittiam.
" Feb. IS. The Christian who is meek and hum-
ble, patient, fwbearing, kind and useful to all,— who
condescends to the ignorance and infirmitiee of others,
and can pass by provocatioiis and injnrtes, slights and
contempt, with patience and with silence, unless when
the cause of tmth and the glory of God call for a vindi-
cation, — who can look on the failings and miscarriages
of others with pity,-^who loves all men and what is
good in all, and is free from jealousies and evil sur-
misings ; — this is the most Me/v/ Christian, and who, of
all others, most eminently adorns the gospel and glorifies
Ood in the world. These tempers and this frame of
mind, constitnte the image of Christ on the soul, ex-
actly opposite to the workings of corrupt nature, which
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we all iaberit u the dtildrcn of fUlea Adaa. To attain
to thii fraow of mind conatitotee the principal difficalty
IK religiwi ; aad in which, to make uiy ptogn^s, all
wslcbfnlnesB and penemance in prayer for grace to
help in oar continoal time of need, are iBdiapensable.
Pride, wrath and eavy, bitter zeal and calling fur fire
frem hearaa or fetching it ap from hell, — this temper
aad di^MMitton is not from Ood bmt from the 'devil, and
■• toB image on the Bonl. And where it [n^Tail*, there
peace, joy and epiritoal coiMoUtitms euutot abide. To
deitroy theae works of the devil is the office and em-
ploymrat of the Son of God as manifested in the flesh.
He alone is equal to tike great tod ntceaeary work :
and my basiness should daily be, to call on him and
apply to hira to effect their dettmction taoie and more
in ny heart. And in pn^ortion as I tbns tqiply to him,
is he actoally and truly my SaTioor."

fforldljf lo»»tt, a tjnritital gain,
"Feb. 19. I have been this nKHniDg to see a
fimuly that is ia a vOy distressing situatios. The has-
bud lies dead in the hoese, havii^ left b^iind him a
widow and eleven children and another expected every
hour. My heart was aoeh affected ; and I found great
eomfort in committing them to tiie Providence and cai«
of God. I coald not help observing what an effectsal
nethod the Lord hath t^oi to administer comfort to
bb people nnd^ all thmr losses and trials. He ofers
Mmtelf in the place of every thing taken away by him }
which makes ^ the loss abaadaatiy and makes an ex-
dkange troly desirable. He docs not promise friends ex
another husband to the widow, or to nuae up an earthly
pvent to the fatherless, thoogh he does these things
often ; but his pramises are mtae suitable to his own

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liberality and glory. " A fUker to the fatherlesi and
' judge of tbe widuw is God in bis holy habitatioD." "He
relieieth the fatb^less and widow." And " in him tbe
fatherlesa fiodeth mercy." He takes them more Imme-
diately under hia own jtrotection and care : aiid he will
maie up their deficiency of ontivard comfort and bless-
iBga, Thus when he takes away an earthly he gives
them au heavenly hleaeitig. When Chriat comntaDded
tbe yonng man in the gospel to aell all that be bad, he
promised him a treasure in heaven. When hecalkd
Abraham to forsake bis own country and kindred, be
pTomiEed iimtelf to be bis shield and exceeding great
reward. When Joseph was separated from hia frieodt,
his father and bis fatber's house, it is particnlarly added
— " and tbe l<ord was with Joseph," that is, in an es-
peci^ maitner. He more peculiarly than heretofore
mraifeeted hiinaelf to him, supported . and comforted
him, and gave him also favonr in the eyes of all he had
to do with. He made his dnngeou u palace to him, and
ttie very gate of heaven. — ^Thns when God takes away
any earthly comfort, he proposes an exchange for on«
that is heavenly and spuitnal. He offers himself to ns
in the room of all. — O bleaaed God, thon art enot^h.
My soul ia satiafied."

Ghrying in tribulation*.
"Feb. 21. That we r^oice evermore and in every
thing give thanks, is tbe will of God in Christ Jesns
CtHicerning ns. In conformity to which the Apoatle says
of lumself and his brethren — " We glory in tribuliitiona
also." They not only r^biced but gloried in them.
And why) "knowing," Baitb he, "that trilmlatioa
worketh patience; and patience, experience j and ex-
perience, hope ; and hope makeA not ashamed." He

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knelt that tribnUtion, by the blesui^ of Ood, wu em-
iaently useful U> pix>oiot« the divine life in the son), to
atrengthen and increase every pace j therefore eateem-
ing growth in grace the most vaJnable of all bleesioga,
■nd the most desirable of all events, he gloried, be
exnltfid, he triumphed in tribQlations, Did I value
groffth in grace u much as he did, I shonid also with
joy welcome every cross, every trial, and every disap-
pointment my heavenly Father may be pleased to send,
and should glory in them as special lokena of his good-
will and loving-kindnesB to me in Christ, When we
view things with the eye of faith, every thing that God
sends is received with thankfulness, being fully per-
■uaded that nothing but goodness can proceed from
him ; for by this he is always influenced in all his deal-
ings with his people. Unbelief, pride, self and love of
ease, are the causes of all murmurings and complainings.
And in proportion as these cleave to ns, so are we in
every thing unthankful and unbvmbled. Where these
are not, tribulations and afflictions lose their force and
efficacy to diatresa qs and disturb our peace of mind :
bat they are received by faith with thankfulness from
that God, who sends them, not for his pleasure but for
onr good, that we may be made partakers of his holi-
ness. How gracious, how gloriooB the end aimed at !
to be partakers of his holiness ! How great, bow in-
valuable the blessing ! God forbid that I should ever
murmur at the means made use of to make me partaker
of it."

Croeteg mutl be ejepecled.
"March 2. The folly of onr hearts can never be
enough bewailed for exptc^ng to be without trials and
affiictions. This makes them heavier and more trying

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when they come. For when we expect them oot, we
are unprepared for them aud are taken by surprize, llie
nry^rst thing that Christ requires of them who would
be his disciples, is, that they " deny themselves and
taie up the crow." But we would be disciples without
the cross, and children used as bastards without chas-
tisement j we would be gold but not tried and purified
as gold, ajid would conquer without Aghting j we woald
have the reward without bearing the burden and heat
of the day. Bnt this is the language ef corriipt nature,
and not of grace. Cormpt nature is for sparing itself
in every thing; but grace spares itself in nothing.
Grace sees all sufferings for Christ howuraile, and en-
dures them with joy. Hence the apostle rejoiced that
they were "thought worthy to suffer shame for bis
Dame." All the glory and honour in the world sink into
nothing when compared with what they possess, " to
whom it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to be-
lieve in him, but also to suffer for him." God has a
great cause in the world, in which the glory of his
name, wisdom, goodness and love is concerned. What
greater honour can be conferred on any of the sons of
men, than that God should single them out and appoint
them to confirm, and bear testimony to, this his great
cause by sufferings ? As grace looks on them as honour-
able, so also as highly profitable. — Grace says of every
thing, as Joseph said of his brethren's treatment —
J " God means it unto good." It therefore patiently waits
the issue. Though God sometimes moves before in a
cloud, and sometimes behind in the pillar of fire ; yet
in both, in the darkest cloud and the most intense fire,
grace sees God and follows him in the one as well as
in the other, and says — " God means it unto good,"

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every thing leads me fbrnrsnl towards CuiMa : both the
doud and the pillar move in the same way." The dia-
pensations of heaven are sonietliBes very dark, — God
goes before in a cloud: at other times the way is clear,
but trying lilce fire. Under both grace follows God,
truata iu hiu while moving in the cloud, and rqotcee
in him while in the fire."

Tie shame ofbehtg tuhamed of ChrUt.
"March 3. How is it that lam not always rqoicing
"with exceeding great joy, when I snSer reproach for
Christ i wbeu in every condition he is with his people and
is not uahamed of them } No oaworthiness, no misery,
shall prevent Christ from owning his people and
openly avowing them his brethren. He is a brother
born for adversity, a friend to the friendless and bther-
Jess. He is ashamed of none but those who are
ashamed of him, however unworthy and miserable tbey
may be. His people are often the offscouring of all
things : the world rejects, persecutes and hates then ;
but their elder brother, the Lord of glory, is not ashamed
of them. Let the world and the men of the world take
their course and do their worst, let the devil rage and
the powers of hell be atirred np in fury against them ;
loaded with reproaches and sconi, covered all over with
the filth and dirt of false accosations, in rags, in dun-
geons, and in the most shameless deaths, — Chriak ia not
ashamed of them; nay, he owns them and says — 'Snrely
these are my brethren, the children pf my Father.' He
will not past tham by in poverty and want : no, bnt be
will own them and glory in them. And shall / be
ashamed of Christ, of his gospel, or of any that bears hia
name ) God forbid. He came into prison and into the
famane to owq us ; it cost him all he was worth ; being

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ricb, ft>r oor sale he became poorj he l«t his life in
Ae most shameful manner bj owuing ns and in our
-caase; being the etariral God, blessed fore^, holy,
powerful and alUsofficient io himself, he is not ashftmed
of 'Bs poor worms of the earth, but owns us as bis bre-
thren : and can it be that 1 nbonld ever be aBhamed of
him ! — Nothing but grace can enable me to profess and
own him before a gainsaying world.~ —

" I hope to be more armed with the same mind that
was in Chiist, and to suffer willingly for him who en-
dured all things so willingly for me. That it may be
so, the love of Christ most be increased. Were we to
lere Christ as much as he loved and doth still love liis
people, we shonld suffer for him as willingly as he did
for OS. Bot our love, our sufferings, and our willing-
ness in enduring them, are nothing compared with his :
his were infinite. The more I contemplate his love and
his sufferings, in their immensity and infinity, the more
I shall possess of the one, and the more willingly I shall
endnre the other. Paul eshorts us to do this, as the
principal means of oor support aod comfort, when he
directs ns to " look onto Jesus, the author and finisher
of our faith ; who, for the joy that was set before him,
endured the cross, despising sbame." The more we
cmitemplate him, new mysteries, new fountains of re-
freshment and joy will continually open to oor view,
tilt we come to be satisfied with their endless fulness to
^1 eternity. It is in sufferings and under the cross that
the believer has the largest and sweetest foretaste of
heaven : beeanse then he is most conformed to Christ
and sees most of his^lory. O happy safiering, O happy
cross, that is the sanctified means of giving ns more
ckar and sted^t view* of Christ's glory."

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l%e h«»efiu o/ohterving the mallett evenU.

"March 10. Were we to' observe more miautely
God'a dfiliDgB with db in erery particular instaoGe and
in everj circa m stance he brinf^ ub to, it would tend
g;reatl]r to strengthen our faith and fill «■ with admira-
tion of his infinite wisdom and goodness in ordering at
all times every thing in a. manuer most suitable to our
present frame of inind, and to his purpose coDceming
us. Hia eye is never taken away from his people, bat
constantly and very narrowly observes the workings of
their own hearts and brings them into snch circnro-
itances as are best suited to improve their graces and
mortify their corruptions. — Job had by his sore and
leavy trial both his impatience discovered, and bis
>atience improved. His latent corruptions of pride
ind of its offspring, impatience, were before anobserved :
lat his trial brought them to light. It was exactly
aited to accomplish God's purpose respecting him, and
lis improvement in patience and humility. It brooght
<ut, by the blessing of God, the traitors from their
ecret recesses, and exposed tbem to view in all their
ileoess and deformity ; and Job in the end was enabled

pot bis feet on the oeck of those his dangerous and
reacberoos enemies. — Sometimes a circamitance, in
tself insignificant and trifling, I have found, will pro-
Dce amazing effects. A great blessing on a thing of
ought, will make it great and really important in its
Dnsequences. We should view every thing, not as it is

1 itself, but as it is in the band of a great God, who
lakes use of " things that are not, to bring to nooght
bings that are.". If we let things pass, however email
nd of little importance, as if they happened by chance,
e must not expect to have any support nqder trials, or

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get any lasting iroprovSment by tbem. Bnt when we
see a)l and every thiog, even the least, under a divine
direetioD, ordered with the best and kindest design, we
are led to form great expectations from the issue of
things, and to wait patiently to see the end designed by
God. Thusthe sting of every trouble is taken away,
and B doe improvement of a quiet acqaiesceuce under it
is greatly promoted. Thus it was with Job. He saw
the hand of God in all his sufferings and trials. He
doth not say, " The Lord gave, and the Sabeans and ^
Chaldeans hare taken away :" but " the Lord hath taken
away." His eye was single and (ised only on God in
every thing."

MinUterial tempttU'wiu.
"March 16. I almost constantly find the follow-
ing temptations, the one or the others assaulting me in
the discharge of my office as a minister : — 1st. If I think
that I am unsuccessful, 1 am in danger, through an
unbelieving despondency, of being discouraged, of be-
coming rsmiss and cold and more indifferent respecting
the success of my ministry. Though this should have
a quite contiary effect } yet this is the use which the
devil and my own corruptions try to make of it : — 2ndly.
If 1 am or think I am succeEGful,-~tbis also hath a ten-
dency to take me off my ^ard, and to make me less
careful in watching agunst sin, and in morticing nni-
veisally its whole body. Spiritual pride, 1 suppose,
comes in through iny ancceas and applause, by drawing
a &voarable compnrison between me and others, as if
1 were better than they.' And in proportion to my
traot of constant thoughts of my own vilenesa in the
eightofiGod, and to the good opinion 1 have of myself,
is alw«ysmy remissness and want of vigilance and ever-
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tions to press fonrard. — I see now the wisdom of the
cautioD which the apostle gives toTiiiiothy.Dot toadmit
a novice, ooe who hath but little experieuce of the
workings and deceit of sin, and hath made bnt little
progress in the ways of God — not to admit such into
the office of the ministry, test he shonld be lifted up
with pride and fall into the condemnatioii of the devil.
The apostle himself was not withont some danger from
this qnaiter. 2 Cor. xii. Considering the greatness of
my danger, how shonld J work ont my salvation with
fear and trembling ! None but the Lord can keep me."
Sorrow and sympathy for tinner):

" March 22. All the graces of the Spirit donbtless
bear some proportion to each other. Like the members
of the body, they grow together, and all of them gain
strength in a proportionable degree. There is in all
the works of God, order, symmetry, beauty and pro>
portion. We cannot but observe this in all, from the
smalleEt spire of grass to the tallest cedar, from the
meanest reptile to the great leviathan. This donbtless is
no less conspicnous in the new creation, in the renewed
man. A Christian is not monstrous in his form, bnt
throaghont beautifally proportioned. Faith, hope and
love reciprocally influence each other, and gradually
grow together. One grace, it is true, may he called
forth into exercise more than others, and may thereby
gain more strength : but still the other graces will bear
some proportion to it. It is never alone.

" 1 have been led to these thoughts by reflecting on
the grief and sorrow of heart, which, as the scripture
every where represents, the abounding iniquity of the
world, always gave to the godly. I doubt whether I
find this growing within me : 1 am suspicions of myself.

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If I am trufy growing in grace, I mnst also gtow in this.
If my love to God and my neigtibonr increaiea^ this
godly sorrow most in Bome proportionable degree in-
crease also. I endeavour sometimes to work np my
heart to thia pity and godly sorrow j but then I find it
rather forced than flowing naturally from an i'ngeuuous
heart. — Wherever I turn my eyes, what do I see but an
overflowingfloodof iniqnity abounding every-where ? If
I read the history of past ages, what does it in general
contain bat an account of a succession of pride, atnbi-
tioD, selfishnesa.lust, covetonanesB, oppression, cruelty,
&C. Slc. } The fane of the world now also is marked
with the same hideous characters. We meet with sio in
every place. Little else is to be seen or heard of in the
world. Bat how is it that every sin, I either see or
hear of, does not pierce me into the very heart and
overwhelm me with grief and sorrow ? How can I at
any time relate a dismal tale of madness, wickedness
Mid folly, " without rivers of waters running down
mine eyes ?" — Where is my iove to God, expressed by
my great concern for his glory } When the people made
a molten calf in tiie absence of Moses, how was the
spirit of that faithful servant moved 1 His anger waxed
hot and he brake the tables of the covenant. How the
same spirit appeared in Panl and Barnabas, when the
people of Lystra were going to do sacrifice to them :
they rent their clothes. Nothing surely so intimately
affects the true believer as the dishonour done to God
in the world by sin.

** Where is also my hoe to my neighbour, if I am

not very aensibly grieved for the preienl and fvture

misery which sin brings upon him 1 The effects of sin

in thia world are great and severdy felt. Sin makes

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«innen tlieir owd asd each other'* tomntorB.— Bat
then add the/ulure rvM which sia will inevitably end
in. Sarely then onr sorrow ibotild know no boasda.
8t. Paul was carried into an extremity of distreM at
the thoDfht of his country men's lamentable condition."
I have great heaviness and contiDnal sorrow in my heart."
The coBsideration of the miserable state of their soals,
of their approaching et»nal destnietioD, begat in hin
the greatest heaTJnese of heart and filled him with cen-
tinnal sorrow. Sboold not every iDdividnal einoer ia
ti>e world be equally as dear to ne, and afaoald not my
heart be equally affected with their approaching oiieery'
" Sin is that which the believer hates ; bnt what
can he see in a world lying in wickedness font sin and
its direfol effects — the dishonoor it brings on God, and
the misery it brings here and hereafter on sinners. If
any thing can melt our hearts, fill us with heavineaa
and sorrow, sorely this consideration mnst. Let my
tears be forever dried, if on such an occasion they flow
not in rivers of water. What zeal, what earnestness,
what continual sorrow, should influence my heart, when
addressing sinners and speaking to them of the evil of
sin and of the greatness of the misery it brings with it
hereafter. Bnt the dishonoar sin brings upon God
should above all things affect my mind."

Peace of mind restored %* the way of kolinen,
"March, 25. The Lord baS in some neasnre hid
his face from me. " Doobtless my sin separated betwem
mc and him. I do not wish him to return to me, but
in the way of hoUnest. And it comforts my mind to
reflect that this is the only way in which be has in his
word promised to return. "He will turn again; ho
will have compassion upon ns i he will tuitltte our

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imigvitiet" In thii way he ^ercig«f his c(wipuEion and
mercy, and reetores joy and coiafort to our disconsolate
sodIs. He first reoMves the ctrase of out distance aud
Beporation ; and then gives ds to enjoy commnnion with
himself. He doth the whole work himself. He doth
not wait till we have snbdoed oar iniqititieB ; and thtu
return to as. In that case, I fear, he woold have t»
wait forever to no purpose. But he hath compassion
G>n ns, and returns in &e power of his <ADnipotent grace
and destroys by .the strength of his arm the works of
the devil ; subdnea effectually our iniqaities, and casts
all our sins into the depth of the sea. And to those
whom he thus makes pure in heart, lie manife&ts his
glory — they »ee God. In this manlier my eool waiteth
and longeth for him : and 1 stwll not wait in vain. Be-
fore 1 ask, he has promised to satisfy the desires of the
longing soul, and fill the hungry soul with goodness.
If he will fill it with gvodneit, be must take away iair
qaity ; for we cannot \x filled with good and evil at the
same time. This he doth : he " taketb away all inl-
' qoity;" and in its stead fills as with grace, holiness
atid goodness, — with joy unspeakable and full of glory-
It is this whicfa matces heaven supremely desirable to
my soul, — that therein I shell enjoy perfect and eternal
freedom from all sin and the perfection of every grace."
Comfort derhed from the freexem of divine lovt.
" Apr. 27. This morning my heart was deeply
itnprMsed with a sense of my great unworthiness, which
seemed to increase rather than dimiuish, and that I was
more abject and undeserving, everj- day, of the Lord's
increasing goodness towards me. I felt some uneasy
apprebenstODt lest' I -should in the end weary out the
Lord's great patience, and cause bira to withdraw bis
N3 ,

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great goodness from me on accoant «f the continiia] oii'
grateful retoms ffbich I made. When I looked forward
atao and consideied the desparate wickedDesa and de-
ceitfnluesB of my heart, the strength and activity of my
corruptions, I dared not fl«tter myself with any pleas-
ing resolotions of a more worthy condnct io (iitore. In
the midst of these gloomy thoughts the words of the
apostle came into my mind with some degree of clear-
ness and efficacy : — " That yon may be able to compre-
hend with all saints what is the breadth, and length,
and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ
which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all
the fiilDess of God." — The word, length, struck me in
a particular manner. Length as well as breadth belongs
to his love. It has no be^nning : it will have no end. —
He loved me at first when I was ungodly and a sinner,
totally devoid of the least goodness. He doth not love
me now, because there' is any goodness in me, though
he loves the good he hath pot within. His love is nn-
changeable, because the cause of it is nnchaugeable ;
that being in himself and not in ns. As to its cause
and source, his love is the same towards the perfected
saints in heaven, as to the most unworthy ot^ect of it
here in this sinful and miserable world. His love to os
is the cause of all goodness that is in ns, and not the
effect of it. He loveth ns, not becanse we are holy,
but in order to make us holy.

"" When we were yet without strength, in dae
time Christ died for the ungodly' — "God commendeth
his love towards us, in that while we were yet tkuten
Christ died for ns." Snch are the objects of Christ's
love — the ungodly — sinners — and such as are without
Strength to make themselves in any degree better. He

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loved lu, not when we had repented and foculcen osr
sins ; bat before we had the least thought of any snch
thing — when we were yet tintten. God against whom
we had sinned and rebelled, — thia God himself — " coio-
inendeth" — illustrionily maoifeateth his love towards
us. Knowing our great backwardness to believe so
strange and so mysterioos a truth, he (.-ommendeth it, —
givetb clear evidence and maoifestation of it in all its
glory, cansing it to shine forth like the snn in the
heavens with full blaze, that we may notice it, believe
it, and feel its efficacy and power. And how has he
oianifested his love to sinners ! By giving his only Sou
to die for as while yet sinners. Hie death and atone-
ment was not the cause of God's love, any more than
any thing in us, but the effect of it, and the way by
which it is made known, and its fruits communicated
to OS. But we may judge of the canse by the effect.
The gteatness of Christ's condescension, illustrionsly
manifests the greatness of God's love. O how deep it
is, how high, how broad, and how long ! — as deep as
onr misery and as high as God himself — as broad as the
utmost bounds of my nuworthiness and as long as my
heart can desire it to be. The difficulty of parting with
bii only Son was infinitely more than that of bearing
with my nuworthiness and ingratitude. He spared not
hia own Soni how shall he not with him tiao freely
give ns all things.— Here is the firm foundation of my
h<^ ; here is my triumph. — The belief of this love in
its froenesB, immensity and eternity, only can give me
fall assurance of perseverance to the end in the face of
comptions within and of temptations without."
Holy anger.
" April 29. How hard it is to be angry and sin

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not As mndi U Odt noger ii mixed with »«lfy it ia
donbtlew sinfal. It is m far without ein, «a it is ex-
cited by the love of God, u it is the tffeel of lore.
Does trne gospel {'(|Aoe rnffle the temper and tesve any
pertorb&tion behiod it? I betiere not. It must be
perfectly consistent with meekness. It is aiofn) if not
scconpanied with compassion. " He looked roond
about npon them with indignation, being gneoei for
the hardness of their hearts." Onr zeal and onr meek-
ness bear some jnst proportion to onr humility ; and we
have most of true holy, zeal and least of sinfal anger,
when we are most deeply humbled nnder a sense of oar
sins. Pride is a parent ein, and humility is a parent
grace. -And the offsprings of both are aomerons; and
directly opposite in their nature. May the Lord make
and keep me humble.

All GoSi dealmga craeUy tuitaMe to our teaiUt.
" May 8. On a review of the Lord's past dealings
with me, 1 find in every thing a great cause for thank-
fnlnesB. What goodness, what wisdom do 1 now see
displayed in those Providences, whidt whilst I was
nnder them, I thonght grievous and knew not how to
bear } and was ansions and fearful about the issne of
them. 1 see now that the Lord in every instance or-
dered my temporal concerns in a manner best suited
and must calculated to profit my soul and to keep me
from fallingaway from him, and following my own folly,
Inst and vanity. When I was at any time itraitened,
there was necessity for it : and when 1 absolately
wanted, 1 was never denied. How often have I planned
schemes, which, if I bad ability to accomplish, woald,
to eay the least, have destroyed my peace, and put an
end to all my oeefulness in the worid. 1 have no less

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cause to foe thaoltfa] for what tbe Lord hath denied me,
than for what he hath given me. The Bame love and
the lame goodnesa intliieDced him in both. How ^ie-
vonaly therefore have 1 sinned by murmnring agaiost
mny of his diRpeasatioai ! I have mDrmured against
dispensations, all ordered in love and kindoess ! O
bow shall I hamble myseir sufficiently for a sin so ag-
granted ! a sin great, in proportion to the greatoess of
the love i^inst which it has-been committed. But
what shall 1 think of the mercy that freely pardons a
■in of eo deep a dye ! It overpowers my soul when I
think of it. I ahall have more suitable thoughts of it in
the other world. Till then, may the Lord keep me
ffom a mnrmnring spirit Amen."
7%e t'mgh »ye.
"May 14. It is difficult to have a single eye in
every thing. Before this can be the civse with as, self
mnst be denied in every way ; our interest, ease and
wiadom, moat be willingly parted with ; and onr wills
and tbe Lord'a will, whatever that be, most be one ; so
that we may be determined to submit and be fully satis-
fied, as soon aa we are coDTinced what bia pleaaore ie. —
Tliis is onr reasonable service, and our only way to
tme happiness : for when the eye is single, the whole
body is foil of light — fnll of divine knowledge, doubts
and fears and perplexities are banished, and the path
in which we ^ould go, and the work we are to do, ere
dear before us. The lehole body — all w« are and all we
do, ahall then be full of light — full of holiness and fnll
of happiness. Tlie eye being single, having but one
ungle ot^t in view — tbe glory of God in Christ, we
ehdt be more and more filled with the love of God and
made more holy and more bappy. — I have often observed

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respecting mi^Mlf, that the want of thia lingle tyt
hath been tbe cause of til my |ierpl«itieg aad fean.
When I lookBd forwards Etnd saw clonds gathering, my
heart haa been filled with fean. Bat why ! BecaoM J
bad my own ease, interett and credit at heart and knew
not itow to part with them. Had my eye been taken
o£r from theae things, and fixed on Ood only, my fears
would at once have subsided, and calmnesi and confi-
dence wonld have pOBSesq^d my sonl. 1 have fonnd it
so. When God was tbe only object in view, in the
midst «f thick storms and tempests, I have been calm
and serene. So true it is, that when the eye is single,
the whole body is fall of light : bat when it ia not
single, the whole body Is fall of darkness — fiill of un-
certainty, ungodliness and misery."

Onr quotations from the Diary thas far for this
year hare been on a larger scale than usual : and yet
. several portions of it have been left out. The first
Toluue ends here. The second, though larger, supplies
' but few materials that can be employed in a memoir.
Some of its contents will be given.

God't pTomitei, a tufficttttt iupport-

"May21. In the midst of all my perplexities
and troables, from without and from within, from in-
ward corruptions and ^m dark providences, my only
source of comfort is bis foithful promises who is nn-
changeable— that " his presence shall go with m%"—
and that " he will never leave nor forsake me." The
belief of this calms my mind in the midst of stonns,
donbts and fears, gives peace, stability and firmnesa to
my sonl. If he is mtk me and for me, who can be
against me? All most be well in the end. His lore,
bis wisdom, his power and his mercy, are safficientj

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ye« more than sufficient, to comfort the feeble bodI, in
the bee of the world with all its temptatious and diffi-
celtiea, and of death with all its horrors, — in the face
of principalities and powers, and of things present and
things to come, of height and depth and of every crea-
ture. Having God with him, he needs not care where
he goes. He asks nothing but this, well knowing that
without God, every difficulty would surpass his strength,
and that nothing would succeed j bat that with him,
difficulties would be at an endj for all things are equally
possible to him. — Moses desired not, that the journey
of the Israelites might be shorter, or through a plea-
aanter or more plentiful country, or that they might
meet with fewer enemies ; no, nothing of all this was
requested ; notbing but the divine presence. But tbis, '
notwithstanding their sins and unworthiness, he asked,
he soDght,aud as it were, demanded. To this the Lord
<^s«ited; he dwelt among them, and gave them two
tpmboU of his presence, — the one ordioary, and tbe
other extraordiuary — the piilar of clood and fire, — and
his own glory, which occasionally filled the tabernacle.
— ^Thns God is with his people in every instance now.
He wiH never leave nor forsake them, till he brings
them safe in the right way."

A vein of pleasantry is sometimes to be met with
in Mr. C.'s letters. An instance of which shall be
given, contained in a letter to his friend W. — But we
Bce how soon this sally of facetionsness ends and gives
place to something didcIi better. The operatrons of a
gracious and an ungracious mind, proceed in a direc-
tion completely contrar)- the one to the other. How-
ever good add excellent may the first tbooght be, which
occurs to a mind under the prerailing inflaence of sin.

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it will surely deteriorate, and end in what is light, vaim
and triflitig, if not in Bomethiug worse. Bat a miad io
which grace predominates, will in genervl improve tbe
thought that may catch its attention ; and though U Bay
be ill itself insignificant, a trifling event, a common
operation of nature or an innocent snggeation of a play-
ful fancy, it will yet he made subservient to some use-
ful and salutary reilectiosB. — Mr. C. begins with some
humourous remarks bearingon tbe subject of the popitk
indulgence i and this seems to have suggested to hia
mind the precious doctrine of free forglveneu ,- on
which he speaks as one who knew its value and expe-
rienced its comforts.

" July I. I am afraid when my friends ask for-
giveness of me, they tacitly include indulgence also,
and make a Pope of me before I commence Cardinal.
Permit me therefore to assure you. that though I can
deal out the first very freely, I utterly detest tbe last,
and will never have any thing to do with such traffic.
His Holiness shall enjoy the trade unmolested by me.
Where there is tme repentance, no indulgence i» ouce
desired : and to such for^veness is easily granted. In
this respect the conduct of God and of the devil, is, as
in every thing else, directly opposite. God gives for-
giveness, but no imlnlgence. The devil, on thc'con-
trary, indulges, but has no forgiveness ; but will be as
highly pleased hereafter in tormenting, as he is now
busy in tempting. Our owdoct, yoa know, should
resemble that of the Master whom we serve. Let us
therefore forgive till seventy times seven, but grant no
indulgence either to ourselves or to* others. Whilst we
forgive, let us reprove sad exhort, well knowing that
holiness is happiness.

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" Having touched niiairares on this sabject of for-
gheMM, I know not how to leave it. It is a raoBt
pleasing theme to ob sinners. Without tliat glorious
hope given of it in the gospel, despair would bring the
gloom of bell on my soul, and ( gbonld anticipate all
the horrors and misery of tbe abodes of darkness, where
sin and death reign in eternal triumph. But the gospel—
the gotpel, my dear friend, opens a door of hope ! There
forg^veoesa ^o rebels, to traitors, to enemies, is re-
vealed; and tuch forgiveness as we stand in need of!
HO free, so large, so eternal ! — a forgiveness, I shall not
say, as great and boondtess as oar sins, but as inftnita
as God himself. Great and numerous are our sins, wide
and extensive are the powers of onr imagination, great
is the distance of the east from tbe west, and high are
tbe heavens from the earth ; but that forgiveness which
is n ttli God for penitent sinners is still greater and wider.
It indeed suffers dimiotition from coniparisons, and
faatb no bounds but those of infinity. Could I see limits
to it, it woatd bring me little or no comfort. 1 shonld
fear every moment to transgress these limits, and find
myself beyond its reach. But when I consider what
Oiid is, tuid that bis lore, mercy and grace to pardon,
are w great as himself, I And anffictent relief against all
my fears. In this vast ocean I can stretch forth my arms
without any apprehension of tooching either the bottom
or the shore. Tbe woman that was a sinner found this
oeean wide and deep enough for her to swim n without
any fear bat with abundant joy, >It is large enough for
u* also, even for me. blessed be God for mercy so
great, for love so eternal, and grace so infitiite 1 This
is all my hope ; and indeed I want no more. Here is
lujKunl grace. Let ns deal with God about tbe bles-
O

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ting* of his grace id a manner worthy of himself, and
not measure him by oar thonghts and by our ways, or
think, because we find it difficult to foi^re our pence,
that he finds it difficalt to forgive talenU. He'is God and
not man. And this idea gives infinity and an incon-
ceivable boundlessness to the blessings of pardon and
, grace, far, far above all oor thoughts. This pardon
. and this grace in ^1 their Infinity I every day stand in
. need of and seek constantly. But unless I deceive
myself much, I desire no indulgence. Deliverance from
sin is the heaven my soul longs for. Without this the
thonght of heaven brings me no comfort O happy day
when I can say — " O death, where is thy sting !" I am
weary of sin and of sinning from my heart. Eternal
deliverance from it will be a glorions rest Indeed. May

the good Lofd hasten the blessed time." In this and

, indeed in all Kis letters to W — , he desires to be very
kindly rememt^Ced to Mr. Newton and Mr. Foster, two
London friends vith whom he was very intinate ; and
their intimacy- coatinued through life. — The Diary diall
supply us with the itott materials.

.4 general knetelfdge of thing* imufficient.
" July 8. 1 believe^ we are often much deceived by
geueial thoughts »bont religious matters without d^
scending to particulars. General thoughts abontthings
keep them at a distance from us ; whilst particnlar
thoughts bring them home to the heart. €^1^9!
thoughts about denying ourselves and living to^odt<
are attended with no difficulty : but when we descend
into particulars, and think of denying oarselves in this
or that tbiug, then the difficulty occurs. So also a
general knowledge of ourselves as sinDers, and of the
corruption of our oiitiire, is wholly ipefbcavioas and

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QDhnmbliDg : it ib not felt, and leaveB no nseful im-
pression on the heart. It is the same with respect to
Christ and his salvation. We have no value for them
until we apply then to the particular esigencies of the
sool. When urgent and particular necessity calls with
pressing importuoity for Christ and his grace, then
the; are esteemed and applied as they are intended hy
the Almighty. — Christ is too often looked upon more
as a Physician against a fntore time of sickness than as
one to whom we have daily need to apply, and on whose
skill and care we depend every moment for the
sonl-health we enjoy. I hare known many who thus
rested tn generals all their days. Bat { never knew
one of them, who seemed to make any progress in
the divine life. They knew the doctrines of the gospel
well enough, and led very decent lives ; and many have
felt, at their first awakenings, something of the efficacy
of divine truths ; but nothing afterwards was to be
seen, all seemed to have evaporated and become I ost. —
Gospel miniBters are in great danger of dwelling only on
generals in their public ministrations. This is com-
monly the case when religion is more in the head than
in the heart. But their sermons, when this is the case,
are lifeless and nneavoury, totally destitute of that io/i/
unction, which is the beauty and glory of gospel preach-
ing. May what is amiss in others be observed by nie
only with a view to avoid the same myself. O Lord,
teach thou me ; for those only are well instructed who
are taught by thee."

T^e evU of tin very little known and felt.
" July 15. How little do any of us see and feel of
the evil of sin ! It does not appear to be sin, to be it-
self. It assumes a different, a more pleasing form. It
O 2

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appears to be Bometbiog else not eo dreadfully bad.
Some (^reat sius indeed ehock every one ; thoogb to an
onawakened soul even these do not appear to be what
they really are. Bnt wben sid ia seen as sin, then tbe
least rising or working of cDrmptiou in any way ap-
pears to be xad vicepto\y\v afMijiluXog, beyond all ima-
gination tinfttl. So that the miDd is overwhelmed
with the vastneas of its baaeness and guilt. Then the
least working of pride is viewed as iDclodiDg id it all
the atheistiol enmity agsinat God which ever did or
shall appear in earth or in hell. Pride ia the fmitfal
womb in which all thia enmity has been conceived, the
parent that has brought it forth, and the breast that
baa nourished and given it strength. Did sin appear
to be sin, then the least emotion of Inat in the heart
wontd be looked upon as comprehending in it all the
opposition to God's holy Law that has ever appeared
in the world by all the open breaches of its command-
meots. Did sin appear to be sjn, in what light woald
we view a careless neglect of God and disregard to his
Dame even for one hour of onr life or for the emallest
part of that hour ? lliis would appear to us nothiug
lees than practical atheism. To think of him at alt
without the profonndest reverence, the deepest hniniUty
and self-abhorrence, without the most ardent love and
a mind moat aubmiasive to his sovereign will, would be
considered by us as a contempt to his honour and a dis-
regard to his hnly name. Did sin appear to us aa sin,
any frame of mind, which might betray sinful levity,
obduracy, or estrangement from God, would be exceed-
ingly lamented. O what sinners are the best of us
every day ! The little notice we take of sin is not the
smallest of oar sins. What sin it is for such sinners

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not to be filled with tbe deepest faamility and for oot
hating their hearts melted into monrning and godly
Borrow !

" Whence proceed all our ease and security ? Not
from the peace of Ood, but in a great measure, with.
respect to ever^ one of us, from the quietness of a car-
nal mind. Surely, did sin appear .as sin, nothing but
A ¥iew, by faith, of the all-sufiioieut merits and satis-
faction of Christ, could give ns one moment'a ease.
We coold then have no peace without baring the grace
of Christ with ua in all it£ infinite sufficiency, as our
refuge, our support, our life, our all in all. When we
see not the evil of sin, we Can live without Christ ; but
when sin appears as' sin, nothing bnt his grace can bring
OS any peace or tranquillity of mind. It will not satisfy
DS then merely to tallt of Christ ; but he must be ours
with all his fulness. There is much more false peace
and carnal security in the World and in ourselves also
than we are apt to imagine. All is so, except what
proceeds from a believing view of Christ in all his suf-
ficiency as our Saviour, as our all in all — as our alt
agaiQst sin, guilt Bud the fear of wrath — aG onr all in
temptations, trials and difficulties — as our all in pros-
perity and in adversity — as our all in life and death — as
onr all in our prayers and in our duties — as our all tor
tbe foundation of onr faith and hope. Did sin appear
as sin, nothing else Would suit us ; he would be, not
something, but every thing in our esteem ; he would be
all in every thing, in every state and condition. We
would then, with the apostle, "Count all things but
loss and dnng for the excellency of the knowledge of
JeSuB Christ our Lord,"

" But when sin dees not appear as ain, we can live
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honra, dayi and weeks, tolerably well without Christ,
without feeling mnch need of him, without actiDg sny
faith on him and without exercising any love towards
him : we have nothing that we want him to do for ni,
no sin to be taken away, no gnilt to be removed. Not
BO, when sin appears as sin. We cannot then lire one
moment withont him. Bnt is not this evil always pre-
sent with ns } and does it not at all times and erery-
wkere, moat easily beset ns i And what hafe we to
oppose to this present evil, to this besetting sin } Is
there any thing else either in heaven or on earth, ex-
cept the righteonsness and strength of the Redeemer i
St. Paul conld find nothing else ) and therefore his most
earnest desire waa, " to be found in him." Alas ! alas !
what little account have I hitherto made, and still make,
of sin, and of the Redeemer, the only deliverer from
sin and its consequences. How blind and unfeeling
am I respecting these things ! Where shall I go to
hide myself? In what dnst aad ashes can I lie low
enough ? I abhor and loathe myself in every respect.
It is strange that the Lord should take any notice of me
or shew me any goodness. — He is God, and it seems,
will act as nek.'

Entered in the Diary in this place are copies of
two letters (an nnnsnal thing) which Mr. C. had sent
to his Brother. Thedateof thefirat is Ang. 21, 1782;
and of the second, Oct. 4,1782. They occupy no less
than sixteen pages, very closely written. Were they
not so long, their snperior excellency would have en-
sured their insertion here. Their subject is the same, —
' The way and means by which a person in the depths
of distress for sin may recover peace and comfort.' The
subject is handled with great plainness j and yet the

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ability and penetratioii displaced are by no means in-
considerable. Tbe word of God and experience are tlie
gnides wbich he follows. In the first letter, the Savi-
our in his infinite snfBciency, is pointed out as tbe only
way of peace to a sinful being. A view of bis bound-
less love, of his infinite power to save — to save the
most sinful, tiie most unworthy, — a believing view of
the ineffable worth of his death and of the a^Z-sofficiency
of his merits, is represented as indispensable for the
obtaining of true peace and .comfort : and such a view
is set forth as being capable of removing every guilt, of
dispelling . the thickest gloom, of raising a convinced
sinner from the lowest depths of distress, even from
the darkest ciiambers of despair. There is in the se-
cond tbe most powerful reasoning employed to shew the
necessity of a most active and diligent attention to the
use of all appointed laeaat, in order to obtain that
glorions view of the Saviour exhibited in the first.
The two letters would make a most useful tract : con-
taining as they do ench a glorious exhibition of the
Saviour in all his infinite greatness, folness and dignity,
as is seldom to be met with, t<^ther with the most
energetic arguments, founded on scriptnre and reason,
to enforce and encourage the doty of activity and
diligence in prayer, in reading tbe word of God, in
meditation, and In the use of all the means of grace.
Indolence and spiritual sloth, are represented as in the
highest degree injurious to the welfare of the soul.

Owing to circnmstances which neither the Diary
nor the letters disclose, Mr. C. formed the resolution at
this time of giving np bis cnracies. He tbonght It his
dnty to do so. He bad his reasons for taking this step,
though they are not now known. What considerably

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relieved him at the id^ of Itttnng bis BttiiBtion, was
the pnwpect of secnring it to a perso'n who &ittfally
and lealoaily preadied the goepel. " As I am appre-
hensive," be says in a letter to Miss J—, " of no diffi-
culty in getting my churcbea for another, I can leave
tbem witb satiifection." He asBttres Miss J—, that it
was on grounds noconoected with his intention respect- ~
iog her, that he fbrroed this resolution. " I find com-
fort in the thought of giving np my situation to another
that wonld be more useful here, supposing yon ont of
the question. Yon have therefore no reason to be
nnder any apprehension on this acconnt." He speaks
»f himself as being " tied and boond with shaclcles
whieh he was iintd>le to shake off." And " where"
be adds. " is the and of living in the world, if we live
not to be of some nse" Wbat those shakles were, we
are not told.

Instances, in which any great tmtb is exhibited,
are always interestiug. They tend to impress it mcve
deeply on our minds. A pi-actical and a beentifnl illue.
tratiOD of two great troths, of God's faithful care tot
his people when in want and distress, and of tie com-
Mtiiuim of sm»ti,w\\\. be fonnd in the following acconnt
which Mr. C. gives in a letter to Mias J — of an inter-
view be providentialy had with an old acqaaintance.

" Sept. 11. Saturday about ten o'clock, f set out
from Bristol. Jast as 1 came thtf ontslde of the gate of
the city, I met a dear friend, and one whom Jesus lover.
I was exceedingly glad tosee him : for I never expected
to see him this side of eternity. He had been in a
dangerous decline for this half year : but now tbrongh
mercy he is wonderfolly recovered. He has nothing to
depend on bat Providence: and the Lord hadpntit

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into the heart of a rich merchant in the city to support
and proTide for him amply during the whole of his
illnesE. So that possegsiug nothing, he has everything
to enjoy. He tnrned his horse back with the inteotioit
of accompanying me a mile or two. We talked : and
our horses carried us one mile after another till we rode
fifteen miles : and both onrselves and hbrses wanted
some refreshmeut. His conrersattoo was exceedingly
BBvoory and truly prolitable, suited to one who had
been, in his own apprebeosion and that of others, on
the borders of beaTen. 1 cannot look on our meeting
bat as a particular appointment and blessing from Pro-
vidence. We stayed two hours together at the iun ;
and parted at last with much regret. Yoa would have
smiled to see our eyes fixed on each other till distance
obstructed our eight. Communion of saints is a bless-
ing indeed. I would not have it for any thing expunged
fromonrcreed."

The love of God in Christ was a subject which
Mr. C. delighted to contemplate. He dwells more on
this than on any other. He itroperly viewed it as of
all the most useful and moat powerful in its effects.
The wonders this love produces, when seen by faith,
are strikingly delineated in the following lett«r ; espe-
cially the »u6aiiuion to the divine will, the kumiiitg,
and the holtnest, which proceed from a clear apprehen-
sion of its true nature and extent,

" Sept. 18. Nothing will bring us, as I find daily,
to be thoroughly submissive and resigned to the liord
in every thing, but a belief and a firm persuasion of his
love to lis iu Christ. " We love him, because he first
loved ns," — that is a persuasion of his love to us pro-
duces love in us to him: and onr love continually

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iitcreaMi in proportion to tbb strength of onr fiutti in
this Hivine and mysterious tmth. And u our love
iiicreKsee, bo will our conMence in bim increase. And
where tliere is coufidence, there ii commnnioD, and
resigiiHtioD of all to hie monagement. Bat to prodnce
these blessed effects, there must be a constant, steady
and cleat view of God's love to ns as manifested in his
!Son — B clear view of it in all its freeness and immensity..
We most see it as it really is, free, eternal and infinite
as God himself. The notion of this in the head is
nothing : the belief of it in the heart is every thing.
O hoff it humbles ! how it breaks the atony heart to
pieces ! What sorrow, what joy, will it produce !
Howamazingly it transforms the soul! How efficaciously
it subdues the natural enmity within, and roots ovt all
Hie sinful tempers and dispositions of the heart < In
short, it transforms a devil into an angeL

" f believe we generally attend much too little to -
this important truth — that a belief of Ood's lore to us
only can produce the fruits of the Spirit in our hearts.
We may be clear in our heads abont it, and yet contra-
dict it in our experience every day. How often do we
look for the fruits of the Spirit as the ground of this
love. We view it, as if it were the love of a creature
excited by the ptoA qualities of the object toved. "niis
is not the love of Ood, but an image of our own brain.
It is not God but an idol we have is view ; and to
worship it is idolatry. — God is love, and to have a
wrong idea of bis love is to have a wrong idea of him-
self, and to " change the glory of the incorruptible God
into an image made like to a corruptible man." We are
no less sinners, if we entertain this false notion, than
the heathens who worshipped carved images. The only
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■difference is, we worship an image in oar beads, and
the)' in wood or atone. We must believe God's love as
it really exists in him.— O for-grace to see him now by
fiaith a* he it revealed," — The following extraet which
speaks oifaUe and true peace, is from the Diary.

"Oct. 7. The following petition in the litany hath
dwelt a good deal on my raind all this day — " O Lamb
of God tiiat takest away the sins of the world, — grant
aa thy peace'' I am fearfnl of taking peace or receiv-
ing it from any but Christ ; or in any other way than
by having my sins taken away. I believe much of the
ease and quietness of my mind daily, proceeds rather
from false peace and carnal seeuritj, tban from the
peace derived from Christ. Time often wears otT guilt,
and accusations of conscience frequently die away.
Attention to other things o^n drives my sins into ob-
scurity end forgetfolness. And hence proceeds my
peace of mind. This I fear has been the case too often.
1 see and feel the danger of such tilings happening.
The artificeB of satan and the deceitfulness of my own
heart, can find no means more ruinous and fatal to my
soul. Hence proceeds my daily neglect of Christ more
or less. I am healed without him ; and therefore he is
not sought after. 1 hope to be above all things watch-
ful against this ruinous evil in future. 1 will endeavour
to keep my sins in view in all their guilt, and to have
acontinued feeling setise of what is due to them, till the
Lamb of God take^ them away and grants me his peace.
1 think that I ^i^y prefer any misery to this false peace
and carnal se^ir^ty ; and would willingly live without
peace, nn}es^I receive it from the hands of Christ.
What, Htqeivf^jg^f &from the devil ! God forbid. Ra-
ther \ef._. yi^'f^tef gfrf misery from the hand of God.

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Our dealiDg shonid be with Ood only ; nnd we sbould
receive notbiiig bat what he ia pleased to give. Onr
ears shoold be open to none bet Christ, whom the Fa-
ther liath commanded as to bear. When he speaketh
peace, tben and not till then let ns receive iti Let ni
seek and wait forit; bat never tnke it till tfae Lamb of
God takes away sia and grants ns bis peace. When we
receire it from him, it is effectaal. It comforts, it le-
freshes, it strengthens the soul : and it will eiidare in
the sight of sin, goilt, death and hell. fiU peace is
peculiar : no one can either give or take it away. It is
worth seeking and waiting for."

What is here said of falsepeace shonid be attended
to by every Christian. The tranqnillity enjoyed on-
dont^edly proceeds in many instances frod the causes
that have been mentioned. Time, worldly business and
other things, bary onr sins in oblivion. They are not
brought before the throne of f^race, confessed, con-
demned and lamented, and forgiveness thereby obtiuned
for them. The evil of this neglect is two-fold :— No
true peace ia enjoyed, nothing but a dead security, a
morbid calmness, unaccompaoied by any lively sensations
of joy and gratitude : — It enfeebles the soal too, anrl
renders it more liable to be overcome again by tfae same
sins. To GOttdema the traitors, as it were, in the pre-
sence of God, and to solicit forgiveness for entertaining
them, and withal to receive forgiveness for having done
so, are circumstances which will raise the strongest
barriers against any future intmsions. All these
advantages are lost, when guilt is done away by forget-
fiilnees, and not removed by the application of the blood
of sprinkling, by the peace which Christ gives. — This
view enables ns to discover the true state of many

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CbriBtiftiis. They enjoy s serene and quiet state of
mindi bat no joy, nor any suitable degree of gratitude
to God for his love and mercy. Their sins cnase them
no great sorrow or trouble of mind j and they are fre-
quently orercome by them. The tmtli is, their peace
is not what ChrUt bestmrs. They are not in the habit of
bringiug their sins in prayer before God and of earnestly
soliciting hia pardon and forgiveness, and of stririog;
for the blessing, lilce Jacob, until tbey prevail. The
oODsequeiice is, they ueitlier have tme peace nor strength
to resist future temptations.

Mr, C. bad another prospect at this time of obtain-
ing a situation in Nortii Wales, which he much wished.
Bat as in the former instance he eventually failed.
The pJace was Mallwyd, about twenty miles south of
Bala. It seems to have been lost through the remissuess
of a friend, who was commissioned to treat for the
sitnation. " If I had not that moment, says Mr. C."
sean the hand of God in it, i should have been very

angry indeed with Mr, ." Every thing is under

the coolicfiLof the all-wise God. To see and believe this,
will make us perfectly easy and resigned even in the
greatest disappointments. How tme it is — " That he
that believeth in him, shall not be moved." And wiiat
a blessed thing it is to obtain firmness and stability
which nothing can shake; no, not even the wreck of
nature.

The Diary now becomes very difFaee. Its contents
^sume the form of treatises. But there are some por-
tions which may still with advantage be transcribed.
The fitfficuUy of believing Gait free love to »inner».

" Nov. I. To believe God's love to us as sinners,
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and angodly enemies, in order that we may be made
holff — bow atrange a poaitiou ! To believe hia love to
u» wheu we are made holy — this ia rational : but to
beliere his lore to ne. wheu, we were yet sinners — here
reason must give place to faith, which delighta to be
conversaut aboat mysteries and things to reason incom<
prehensible. And yet how different' is this work of
believing in this Tree love of God nhen we sensibly feel
the burden and guilt of sin ! and we never believe it
without a sense of oargailtand nnworthiness. No-
tbingbot the Holy Spirit can enable Iheguilty soul to do
this. The sou) endeavoars to put it off, till it !■ a
little cleansed, aod purified, and rendered more
worthy of this love. It knows not bow to believe such
love to it as it is, so deformed and depraved. But this
putting off in all concerns of the soul, is always moat
dange^o^B^ In every thing, the sooner the matter is
brought to a point the better. The kingdom of heaven
sufferetli violence, and the violent take it by force. The
whole powers of the aoul must be exerted in every step
of tliE way to heaven. If we pat the matter off now,
wilt it be more easy sometime hence! In no degree :
but the difficulty will daily increase. So I have always.
found. By not bringing things to a point immediately
[ have found my soul insensibly weakened, grow more
indifferent and less earnest about the matter. — But the
iieliever cannot but have found and daily finds this truth
abundantly proved to him, that is, that as be believes
in Rod's love to him, as a guilty depraved sinner, so do
all the graces of the Spirit thrive and grow, or wither
and decfty- May the Lord keep my eye of faith strong,
and give me divine light to look with more open face

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and with more steadiness on the face of Christ, the glass
by which the diTioe image is to be seen and viewed by
na sinuere."

fFalking with God,
" Dec. 21. CommuDion with God is frequently
set forth in scripture by the wordi — walking mth him.
They express every thing that a Christian either diMS
or enjoys whilst in this world. His employment is
valhing ; and his happiness proceeds entirely from
him with whom he walks, that is, God. Walking im-
plies life, strength, activity and a way to walk in. lliere
can be DO socb thing as walking without these four
things. — By nature we are dead to God and alive in sin.
While Ita this state we are walking indeed, bnt not with
Gad bat from him, and in sin. That we may walk
with God, we must have another life, we must be bom
of God. Then we become dead to sin and alive vnto
God. — To walk in the narrow way, there must be
atrength — health and vigonr of soul ; no lameness or
. halting, bat perfection of parts and uniformity of
conrse. llie nnderstanding must be clear, and tbe
inward man freely and earnestly breathing after God
and the things of God, and also free from tbe incum-
brance of worldly lusts. Care most be taken that
Christ be continnally the bread of life, and that we be
daily partakers of the sincere milk of the word. Other-
wise, oar life will be weak and laDgoishing, unprofit-
able, to others and uncomfortable to onrselves, and we
•ball be totally onfit for any holy exercise, for any
B|Hritnal work ; for striving against corruptions aod
resisting the devil : there can be no walking, no pro-
gress in the spiritual life j there may be some faint
weak desires ; but they will die in the birth, there
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will hB DO strength to brio; fortb.-~\\'hne then i>'
■trcDgth. there will be activity. Contiuaal exerlWB is
as iudiapeiisKbly necessary to keep the aotil id health aa
it IB for the body. There is no other way to preseire
and iDcrease the strength we hare already attained orto
nmfce any progress in'tbe divine life. Spiritual life^wi
.strengtli are given b>r this very purpose, that we may
always rtiound in the work of the Lord. Spirituat
sloth, if indulged, will infallibly rain the soul, at
least it will speedily ruin all its strength, peace and
comfort : and itastead of the graces of the Spirit, seDsna],
lusts and comqitious will inwardly prevail, and dis-
order the whole soul as bad humours the body. Tbo
mere form of religion may peths^ he preserve, but
all Walking mid communion with God will be entirely
ovei*. To walk with God, there is reqnired a readiness
of mind to engage cheerfully in any thing he commands
and to fallow him whithersoever he leada, wliatever
obstmctions there may be is the way and' whatever
self-denial niH.y be required. — a willingness to shake off
albth, to part wit)i our own ease and to give up onrselvei
to God and his work. Indeed a sodI that is healthy,
ingorouB and strong, finds neither comfort dot happness,
but in'ttoii^ something for God. Though the believer
dora not enquire what he shall do to be naved, yet ha
tB sedntous to know what be shall do to glorify hira
who ha» gracionsty aad fredy saved him. — "V^teayit
Christ. It is a new and Imng way. In him only w«
Meet #ith Ottd ; and as we wslk in bin. w« walk with
6ad. "As ye have received Christ Je&ns the Lord" Says
tbeapostle, "»o walkye in hia." We may n^lk indeed
and ex«tt ourselves much ; but if we walk not in him,
we are after ^1 walking from God and from heaven.

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and t9 eternaJ misery. — L^t me especially remember
one thing — That those gnljr wto walk m Christ walk
with God."

It is not usual In ttw present day, for people to go
far tft hear the gospel. A mile or two is considered &
great distance. Pour or five miles are viewed by many
as a sufficient escase for neglecting a place of worship
«lt(^ther. This of course is the case only with
those who are strangers to spiritaal things. But tiie
hunger and thirst for divine blessings are not now so
great even in real Christians, as they were in former
times. What would we iu the presflnt day think of
going &fty or sixty miles to bear the gospel preached.
Snch was the case formerly; as it will appear by the
letter we shtill next introdnce. When the late Rev. J>1.
Rowland Vy the mighty powers of his extraordinary
eloquence roused some of his countrymen, from that
lethargy into which the whole country had sunk as
to religion, snch was the value attached to his preach-
ing and such were the benefits derived from it, that
many flocked to hear him from every part of the prin-
cipality. There were on some Sundays at Llangeitbo,
the place of his ministry, persons from almost every
county in Wales. On sacrament Sundays, which were
observed monthly, the multitude assembled was im-
mense, filling an area of about sixteen hundred square
yards. The communicants every mouth were between
twelve and fifteen hundred, and sometimes nearly t«o
thousand. Those from great distances could not regularly
attend; and therefore all who belonged to the communion
never atteudedat the same time. One or two sermons from
this great and good mafl, it seems, fully satisfied them
for the toilsome jonmey of fifty, sixty, seventy or eighty
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■ilea, (hr »mj vf tlWB gum on foot) m ttrt tbej
went koine iqoicing tnd often awde the hiHa rad valleya
echo with their hallelajahs. — Theee facte Bofficiently
prove hiB greet telentau a preacher. An aged wellknown
etergyHBD, sow raudfent ia England, who hu beerd
the greatest preecAera in this coantry, haa (dtea aiid,
' tiiat he never heard but one Rowbnd,' meaning thereby
tfaat he far excetled alt that be bed ever had the opper-
lanity of bearing. Bnt we are dive^ng from onr
p(unt^— Partiea from Bala, about sixty milea or more
from LUogeltbo, from twenty to thirty in nnnber,
aome on foot, ud aome on boraeback, were often going
there. The lady whom Mr. G. afterwards married, oe-
caaionaUy formed one of the company. The foUowii^
letter was written to her after her return.

" Dec 2fi. I am ^ad that yon retnmed safe firom
Uugutho. Now ^Bt yon are retamed, I em mry
glad that yon have been there. I join yon moet heartBy
hi wifllung 1 had been there also. The remembrutce 6l
tbe sermMiB I beard there aix or eight yean ago, does me
more good than any thing I have since heard. When
at sdwol at Carmartiien my excnrsioos there in tiie
holidays, twice a year, were more profitable to me thui
all the sermons I heard in the intervals between. 1
have ther^ore every possible reason to think highly of
that great and good man of God. It was a greet dig-
af^iMment to me not to bear him last summer : and
there is nothing I so wdentty long for as seeing him
beforo he dies. 1 thank yon mach for the excdlent
■Gconat you have given me of bis sermon. I can evi-
dently trace that great man in 'the ontlines yon sent.
And there is also something of the Llangeitho taste
and reli^ in Hm twoai edition given by yon. I evi-

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dently perceif e tiiat yon htae not been there In nin ;
bat tbat your jonrney answered the parpoae. A spiri-
tual blessing ia worth obtaining, were w« to go for it
on a pilgrimsi^e to Jerasalem."

SlfiCT. VL—Dtarp Md Lellert during 1783 till th9
Momth 0/ August of the same year.

Thete are no tfaongfats in the Diary on tlie first day
of this year : the only instance of nef^ect dnring the
time it was written, loterrals of inattention are inci-
dent lo the most actire minds. The most sednlons
occasionally let pass unnoticed seasons and opportnni-
ties capable of being advantageously improred. This
nerer happens without some loss to the spiritoat int^
rest of the soul ; as the neglect of attention to any
worldly concern is to our worldly advantage. Labour'
tnd profit, attention and improvement, are as connected
and dependant on each other in spifitnal as in temporal
tfainga. " The labour of the rigfateouB tendeth to life."
" TTie hand of the diligent maketh rich." Such is oor
proneness to neglect or forget improveable opportoni-
ties, that it is well sometimes to have customs or
ttSBges to obtrude them on our attention. This is the
case in somfe parts with respect to new year's day. Di-
vine servine is DBUBlly had on tbe'occasion. And for
several important seasons of the year, particular ser-
vices are enjoined by onr church ; which is of no small
advantage, being means of conferring great benefits and
of preventing that foi^tfnlness go incident to oor
depraved minds. We shall begin with the Diary.
The good and /ruilfvl ground.
"Jan. 16. That grace may thrive and grow in

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OBT heart!, uid that we may aboflDd in all tLe fruitK of
the Spirit, it mnit hare /•// poMestion of our heartt, it
must grow *i*gly there, with no " root of bitttsTDeH"
growing Dp with it. Hence in part the church ia called
" a gardeil enclosed }" where nothing ia permitted to
grow but what is planted tfa«re for real ute, profijt and
delight. — The teed of God's word will not grow together
with " cares, pleaBures and riches i" bnt only in a
jingle heart, which is entirely appropriated to it only.
It is not the passing of these things throngh the niind,
that prevents the growth and perfection of grace, but
their taking root there and growing as in their own
proper soil, peculiarly suited to them. " Cores and
riches" do often fall in the way of a Christian : and he
is sometimes obliged to handle these " thorns" to his
great uneasiness. Bnt they mnst be carefully kept out
of the heart, that no such bitter roots may grow tiwre.
The thorns and briars exbanet the soil and prevent the
infiaences of the sun. Though the good seed may have
taken root and grow, yet it will bring forth no fmit unto
perfection : there will be only appearances of fmit in
the ear, bnt no real grain. If the cares, or the riches,
or the pleasures of the world, no matter which, whether
singly or together, are rooted in the heart together with
the word, the fruits of the Spirit cannot thrive. Can
love, joy, peace, grow with the riches, pleasures and
cares of this world ? No : they are as different and as
opposite to each other aa light and darkness. Who has
ever yet seen meekness, patience, longsolTering, good-
ness j gentleness, temperance, &c. growing and thriving
with such " thorns and briars )"

" We may have been enlightened and may have
tasted of the heavenly gift, the good word of God, and

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the powers of the world to come ; yet if after all this
rain from heaveo, \fe bear thorns and brian, we cau
receive no blessing from God, bat be nigh to a cnrsiiig-
Tbe only Hoil which produc^B fruit is " the good and
honest heart," the enclosed garden> well cnltivated and
manared by tbe heavenly husbandman. It is not like
the wayside where the seed is trodden and devoured by
birds : but where it is kept. Nor like the stony ground
bard and shal low ; but tbe word is vndenlood and n-
vewed; it enters deep into the heart, is rooted and
fixed in its very centre; and being so deeply rooted, it
cannot be plucked op by satan, nor scorched by tbe
lieat, which ioKtead of causing it to wither, makes it
grow tbe faster. Nor is it like the thorny ground, where
no frnit grows to perfection ; bat is free from tborne
and briars, cares, riches and pleasures of this world;
which though they may necessarily at times engage the
mind, are not allowed to take root in the heart.— IIm'
fruits of the Spirit only prove the heart to be good and
tionest. Where there is no love, joy and peace, there
is no good soil. — Where these fruits grow, they grow
ibigiy; nothing else can spring up with them, — O for »
ringle heart and a single eye ! Without this we are uo-
Aable in all enr ways, uncomfortable and unfruitful,
asking; it may be, a fine appearaure, but bringing no
iVnitunto perfection."
Strehgti according to the dag — Contimtai progren.
"3«a. 20. The believer marvels no less than his
taemies.that he,apoor,weftkand contemptible creature,
Stiontd have been able to staad his gronud so long anil
persevere in his coarse. He has been often fearful that
A\ was over with him. He being so weak and his «ne-
uiies so strong, he has often expected to be cast down

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to ciHe no more. . Bat tliere haa been alw«y> grace to
help in time of need ; and he still goes on from strength
to strength. Thoogh he is going on from oae tempta-
tion to another and from one difficulty to another ; yet
he IB also going on from one strengtit to another.
Wherever he meets with a difficulty, ha meets also with
help exactly proportioned to it. He has not the strength
of to-day to encounter the difficaltiea of to-morrow j but
when to-morrow comes, he finds strength sufficient for
him. He Is still going on to strength as well as to dif-
ficulties, and to what is equal to the day and to its evils.
Thus the righteous lives daily by faith. He is tcarcelg
saved : he has just strength enough, but none to spare.
Indeed we want no more than t^at/y- bread for our souls
as well as for our bodies. In spiritual as well as in tem-
pOTal things, we are to take no thought for the morrow:
for the morrow, whea it comes, will take thought of tlie
things of itself. 'I'o think for the morrow, is to antici-
pate its evils ; as if the evils of to-day were not suffi-
cient aud as much as we could bear. We must remember
the promise — " As thy days, so stiali thy strength be."
If tlierefore we anticipate to-day the evils of to-morn>7>
we must grapple with them in our own strength; for
God has promised only strength sufficient for the enls
of to-day. For bread aud strength for to-day we have
the sure word of promise to depend 'on, even sufficient
for our greatest need. This is enou^ for our peace and
comfort. If our journey will not be at an end to-mor-
row, we shall still have strength to support ns under
its evils. Our Saviour compares the increasing snpplies
afforded by the Spirit daily to the believer, to a " well
of water springing np into everlasting life." It affiirdi
supplies enoi^h for to-day, so it wilt for to-morrow j

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yea, it will spring up ioto everlasting life. Hiough we
dry up the streams ofto-day, yetthewcllitself can never
be exbauated : it shall be i» ns, - and will to-morrow
Spring Dp as abundantly as ever. It is an inexhansti-
ble well : therefore the believer's supplies of strength
aiid comfort can never fail; bat from strength to
strength, from faith to faith, he will go on in holiness
and in the divine life, till he appear before God inZion.
This view sets forth beautifully the believer's perseve-
rence in opposition to temptations and difGculties, and
also bis continual progress in holiness : be goes On from
strength to strength.

" But this is not all ; for the apostle tells ns, tliat
he goes on too " from glory to glory," His glory has
a duJy addition made to it. The sight he hath of the
glory of the Lord becomes still clearer; aud the effect
on himself is greater; it is from glory to glory. He
sees new glory in the person and ofBces of Chi'ist, The
truths of the gospel become through the increasing
light of the Spirit daily more glorious. And in pro-
portion as he discovers new excellencies in these tran-
Bceodent and nnsearcliable mysteries, be is himself
changed from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord.
He is cast, as it were, into the mould of the gospel;
and his soni is more and more transformed by every
renewed impression. What he has already seen of tlie
Lord's glory, makes him long to see still more. He
sees glimpses of greater glory still, which he wishes to
attsin to. And when his desire is obtained,- lie rests
not, but would still go on to glory. He digs deeper
and deeper into the unsearchable riches of Christ. He
would comprehend more fully what still he finds pass-
eth knowledge. To make progress, to go on from

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glory to ^lory, it what he daily Rtodiet. The kmnr-
ledge of Clirist never ^vrs old or stale, bat «t ill new,
refreihing and more gloriou. It is osly in this way
that the believer can daily be changed into the diviBe
■mage : it is by seeing by faith the glory of the Lord ;
and hia growth in holiiieas depends on his growth id
the knowledge of Christ. — Great was the glory whicfa
I aaw, on this evei^memorable day, (see page 6) in the
doctrises of the gospel and in the person of Christ : and
through mercy I hope 1 can tnily say, that I see abna-
dantly more eirellencj' in the knowledge of Christ Jeags
now than I did then. Through infiaite mercy 1 have
gone on from strength to strength, and I hope nlso,
tiom glory to glory. But I find a more earnest desire
than ever of leaving what I have attained to, of for-
getting tliinss that are behind, and to press forwurd.
Blessed be the Lord for what I have seen and do enjoy,
fint O still for more! Lord, fill me with all thy
fainess."

Few Christians can speak from the heart the
langQHge of the followiag extracts from the letters of
Mr. C. to his ioteuded. We general];* think far too
highly of the riches and bonouis of this world : and
why ? becBQse we know but little of the value of eter-
nal riches and of that honour wliitJi comes from God.
Mr. C.'s sentiments ou this subject exactly corresponds
with those of the late venerable Mr. Scott, who, as it
'iq>pears from his Life, would not even bear of any inten-
tion on the part of his sons, to marry what is called
a lady of fortune, being deeply convinced of the danger
which always attends worldly riches.

"Feb. 10. 1 really rather dread than seek great
IhingB fair myself. Worldly things and earthly great-

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ness never did good to the soul of any Christian : but
they bave been the min of maoy thousands. Whatever
we have beyond " food convenient for us," is almost
sure, in a more or less degree, to become food to our
bists. Riches are a talent, which [ am, for some time
past, BO far from coveting, that I dread the possession
of them. The abuse, 1 fear, of the little 1 have, brings
guilt often on my conscience. Why should 1 then
covet more of what makes me unhfippy in the propor-
tion in which it increases? My heart deceives me
much, if in any way 1 look after or seek for snch things.
There is nothing of an earthy nature I desire so much
as to be united to yon; nor any happiness or glory in
the world but that of living to God, where and how be
pleases." — And in another letter he says, " The idea
of marrying a great fortune, as they call it, is so de-
testable to me that I cannot bear to hear any body talk
of such an abomination." This language is strong : '
bnt what he had no doubt in view was marrying mainly
for the sake of money in the absence of other reasons
which should ever prevail in forming such a connection,
— a conduct, especially in ministers, which deserves
the severest censures that words can convey.

Every Christian has abundant reasons to complain
daily of his manifold short -comings, and often of the in-
sensibility of his heart : but he may carry his complaints
too far, at least he may be satislied with making them
without striving against the things which cause them.
He may look at the dark side too much, withont taking
soffident notice of the bright one. This evidently was
the case with the person to whom the following letter
was written.

"March 14. — You say that you are witkovt all

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tente SLttd/eeltng in relig^ion. I might uk you as the
Ivord did Jonah — " Doest thou well to complaia ?" Is
there not abnndantly more cause to be thaokfijl ? TbiDk
of the IiOrd's goodness, love and mercy i and this will
effectually give you both sense and feeling. I oftea
find myself in the frame of mind yon describe. But
wheu so, if I can but take (and I have been often able)
a small obscnre view of the Lord's goodness to me so
nnfeeling a creature, then my heart begius to melt, and
I begin to recover in some degree my spiritual senses.
It was GO with me a few days ago, when these words of
Eliho affected me exceedingly — *• Behold God ismighty
and despiseth not any." Job xxxvi. 5. I did not know
previously what to do with myself, feeling myself to-
tally devoid of every thing good. But these words —
" despiseth not a«ty" — so mnch affected me, that I could
not but go to the Lord, notwithstanding my coldness
and insensibility ; and repeated the words as my apology
for coming. " Thou despisest not any, and ther^ore
I will and most come to thee." He did not &own upon
me for my boldness, but filled mo with good things. —
Think as bad as you please of yourself; but be sure to
think well of God.

" Is there not a cause to think well of him> Doth
he not give yon food and raiment i nay, and innu-
merably more blessings ? What blessings are these to
creatures so sinful as we arc > What a heaven does the
most miserable of us enjoy here on earth, compared
with that bell which we have all deserved. Granting
you are not interested in the inestimable blessings of
the gospel (how big with misery is the thought !) yet
surely a creature who is fed and clothed comfortably
every day has cause to think well of God. I have often

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found, that to begin with theiw leaser blessings, wben I
ilovbted or ^intly believed my interest in those that
are 8|iiritaal, did me inexpressible good. And I have
been enabled to asceod at last from the one to tbeother,
and have in the end been filled with joy unspeakable
and foil of glory. We cannot dispute onr interest in
these blessings which we every moment enjoy. Let ns
behold hie goodness then where we can ; and it will infitl-
libly do us good. And the lower we are, the more
will the Lord's goodness in every thing enlarge before
our eyes. A cnp of cold water or crumbs from the
Lord's table will fill ns with wonder snd praise, when we
are sensible that we are less than the least of his mer-
cies, than the least of these, as we imagine, little
blessings.

" Sometimes I think surely that a creature so ot-
terly nnworthy of every cromb he partakes, can never
have the blessings of salvation bestowed on bim. I
seem to admire their glory at a distance from me, bnt
how can they ever be mine ? I see tliey esactly suit me :
they are the very blessings 1 want, and those of less
value and excellency would not suit me. 1 view them
— I caJinot believe for joy and astonishment ! 1 eee
the hand of God holding them forth even to me. I
would receive them and fully enjoy them ; bnt I find
my heart too narrow to comprehend blessings so infi-
nitely great and glorions. 1 long then to be clothed
upon with the hoase which is from heaven, when I shall
be able more fully to comprehend their immensity. O
UeBs«d be the lx>rd for his kindness to one of the least
of bis brethren ! Matt. xxv. O let us hasten to be
forever with him ! ] am tired of this world, becanse,
for one reason, I cannot comprehend what I would fiilly
Q2

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enjoy. I am, u it were, grasping at inbDity, and
longing for an object vhich my soul is not unfficiently
capacious to contain, I long to be ont of this prison,
that my Bonl may espaod itseir and be enlarged. O
when shall I comprdteud with all saints in heaven the
height and depth, the length and breadth of the love
of CbTiBt ! i know, I feel it passeth knowledge. In
this boundless ocean may yonr soul and mine be forever
drinking with joy and refreshment !"

No one could scarcely ever have less mixture of
thoughts about the world and its affairs with religions
subjects iit his letters than Mr. C. Religion was his
main and almost his e>Lclusive concern. It was to hini,
and it ought to be so, especially to a minister, what a
secular trade or business is too often to many a poor
worldling, the absorbing thought, the centre of attrac-
tion to all the powers of the mind. His numeroDS let-
ters contain nothing even of a worldly kind but what is
viewed in the light of religion and made a subject of
some nseful remarks. This proves the prevailing bent
of his mind, and shews the asceudency which the one
thing needful bad attained !□ bis heart. — Having pre-
viously spoken of "the single eye" which we should.
possess in all our concerns and proceedings, he thus
writes respecting a party who aere going to emigrate
from Nortii Wales to America :■ —

" March 26. I hope that those yon hinted at as
intending to ^emigrate to America, possess this single
eye. It will be of more use to them in steering tbeir
course across the Atlantic than the polar star : and
without it they bad better eat barley bread or oaten
cakes on the barren rocks in Wales, J. E. I suppose,
is the captain of the host, the head of the emigrating

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tribe. I hope he will go beyond the confineB of the
American Republic, that he may be sufficiently indfr-
pendent. A friend of mine b dissenting minister,
(Reader,) in this country, who is about publishing the
sabstance of a correspondence between him and rae
abont some parts of the Revelation, imagines that
America is intended by the wilderness in Rct. xii. 6,
into which the woman, the chnroh, is to flee at some
fatare dreadful persecution, which ia to come on the
true followers of the Lamb. I conld not help thioking
of this observation, when your letter informed me that
some of your good people were going there. If they go,
I hope they will erect a standard in the name of the
Lord of hosts, and not think that they are going there
only to get rich and great. I shoold be glad, if the
will of Uie Lord were so, to pay them a viiit and see
how they go on in the way towards Zion. As to the
world, whether there or here, I doubt nothnt that tliey
shall have food convenient for them, and more is not
necessary, nor as far as I know, desirable."
To itaprovt a^iclioni ia one of the most important parts
of the Christian's duty. They are seat by God for the
very parpose of doing us good. They may be viewed as
express messengers from heaven dispatched in an espe-
cial manner for our benefit. In this light did Mr. C.
regard them. He speaks thus in his Diary : —

" April 15. How true it is that " the keeper of
Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps 1" He has bis eye
always fised on his people and is ever watchful over
them. He foresees every enemy and every temptation
afar off, and provides a way of escape for the honr of
temptation. How gracionsly did he lately lay bis band
on me, that my sonl might prosper ! He provided a
way of escape indeed \ O that I couhl trust him, love
O 3

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him and pr&iae him more ! I am OTeTwfaeliaed with
Uiaskfolnesa for bis gracions rod. How much more
comfortable it is to endare any bodily affliction than to
feel the workiogs of inward corrnptioD. Who would
not pray with one of the ancient fathers — " Give me
tbe headach again rather than enffer last to work and
prevail witbin me." It aflbrds me a comfortable proof
that sin is sincerely hated, and that it bath not dominion
over me, when I find myself thankful for any means tbe
Lord is pleased to make use of to restrain and sabdne
it. Though tbe flesh snffers and the ontw«rd maq is ia
pain and Borrow and in a manner decaying, yet I feel
abundantly thankful, and rejoice to find that the inward
man is strengthened and renewed. — Any thing, I<ord,
but sin r* — How seldom is bodily affliction viewed in
this light ! What do we hear from moat but complaints
and murmurings ] If God afflicts with tbe gracious
design of purifying us, of killing sin and of promoting
holiness, which undoubtedly he does with respect to
his people, how tfaankfnl should we be when afflicted ;
instead of complaining, we should rejoice ; instead of
fretting and indulging hard thoughts of the Almighty,
we should more entirely confide in him under a stronger
conviction than ever of his parental care and loving
kindness.

We shall close this section with a few extracts
from letters written at tiiis time. ,

7^ Divine pretence.
" May 6. J can with sincerrty of heart adopt tbe
lines you quoted — "Aed y ddaear ffbrdd yr elo, — Aed i'r
sawlsyddamienbryd;"*^ — andalsoadd— "DigODidigon,

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difon yvF,— Dy kyfryd bresenoldeb gwrn.'* It is
iadeed enough forever. In the enjoymentof it I expect
all my happiuesa in this and in the other world. This
only carried the saints of old through &11 their difficat-
ties} and this conatitntes their bkpptnesa now after
baving landed safe in the heaven of eternal re«t. On
enrth they chose none besides God ; and in heaven their
language now is — "Whom have we but theeV On
earth he was their shield ; and in heaven be ia their
exceeding great reward. Let us follow after tbem,con-
Ading in the same God, treading in the footatepa of the
flock and donbt not of obtaining the same rest with
God," Letter to Miss J — .

7^ libtrality and abundance of Go£i forgiveneu.
" May 10.— God giveth pardons and giveth tbem li-
berallyi and he npbraida ns not with oar ains and nnwor-
tiunesB. It is well, my dear friend, that we have to do
with snch a God. Mercies and forgivenesses belong to
bim ; not one mercy, bnt mercies that cannot be num-
bered to eternity. He is rich in mercy and his riches
are nnsearchable. He baa forgivenesaea alao as namer-
ODB. He abnndantty pardons. These mercies and for-
givenesses belong to him in the same boundless extent
as wisdom, power, majesty and glory. O let na daily
keep Dp an Interconrse with him, and deal in these pre-
cions blessings which we so mnch need. — This inter-
conrae is an pleasing to him as it is profitable to ns. He
is not difficult of access nor backward to bestow his
mercies : bat he receivesall who come with open arms
and entertains tbem with joy and gladness. When

• Eoongh, eiKm^, roongk, is Oy ddighthd and lovdy

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tlie Prodigal returned, " Let os eat end be merry," taid
the fstber : " ye&, it is meet," said he, " for this my
eon was lost and is found." He ffove liberally, and
upbraided not his god with his undntlful condact. Once
we And our Savionr upbraiding his disciples for not
believing the glad tidbgs of his resQirection ; and at
another time, the cities wherein most of his mighty
worlfB were done, becaoM they received not his me6-
BBge, and rejected his blessings. But never was it heard
yet that be upbraided any that came to him for mercies
and forgiTenesses. No ; but bis heart Is ever enlarged
towards them ; and he anpplieth their wants with infi-
nite delight. O for faith to keep np continnal inter-
course with this God of mercy." Letter to G — .
The excellency of Abraham* fmth.
"May )3. I have thought much lately of Abra-
ham's faith when he first began to follow the Lord. The
Lord did not promise him the laud of Canaan for an
inheritance when be first called bim from his own
country. He was to forsake all and follow tbe Lord,
without knowing whither he was to go or what was to
follow in any respect. "He went out, not knowing
whither he went." He rested on the Lord's promise,
qoite satisfied, that God wonld go before him and bless
bim. He knew not whither he went, nor what he was
to meet with ; but it was enough for him that God had
said — " I will bless thee." How many graces shine at
once in this obedience of Abraham ! Faith alone is
mentioned, because It was the root of all the rest. But
do we not see also an eminent degree of self-denial,
deadness to the world, singleness of eye, ardent love
to, as well as great confidence in, God ? Faith, where
it is genuine, is never alone. Being the queen of

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gracea, all the rest give her atteDdance. When ihe
Cometh, like Gad, "a troop cometli." — Is it uot our
highest honour aod hnjipioess to be the children of
faithfnl Abraham, heirs with liim of the same trials, as

well as of the same promise." Letter to Miss J .

RemonMtrat'mg with one m doubts andfean.
"Jane 11. But why do you dwell still in the
gloomy rale of donbts and fears ? It is a most inhos-
pitable country. Every thing iu it dislionours God, and
starves the soul. You have dwelt there too long. Haste
away and bid eteroal adieu to it. There is a more fniit-
fnl and delightful country before yon ; and you will
there poll your harp off the willows and change your
notes. Why fear } Why doubt ? What cause is there
' for either } Is there uot rather abnndiuit cause to
beliefe, to love and to rejoiee. I really think myself
sometimes the worst sinner that ever was.' Yet, when
salvation, " so great salvation," comes to view, [ cannot
but believe, rejoice and triumph. How can I doubt
and fear when the Lord shews me love so free, so great,
so immense ? How can 1 disbelieve when he shews me
a Saviour with merits so suffieient, with grace so full 1
And hath he not shewed these things to you ? You cau-
not deny it. Pray for another and another view of them
in their glory, and your doubts and fears will at ouce
be banished. Do not harbour these gnests, as if they
were of any service to you. They never did any soul
one grain of good yet ; and I believe, never will. No ;
they came not from heaven ; but they are the emissaries
of Satan, sent to disturb us. Believe, and bid defiance
to corruption, to the world and to the devil. Why not
believe, when God has given us a command to believe ?
It is the greatest command that God over gave : and

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dwobedknce to it is the very sommit of sia utd gnilt
God the Spirit help yon and me to believe."

Mr. C. had made arrange raeuts to leave Melborn-
Port at midsummer. His aocceBBor vae a Mr. Owea,
a clergyman of trnly evangelical principleB accordiog
to Mr. G's. accoiiDt. He eatertained a high opinion of
htm aa a mioister lihely to be usetiil. He expresses
himself as in uo small degree gratified in haviog snch a
person to succeed him. Had he not been snccessfu] in
this point, neither his own conscience nor his friends,
as be bad Frequently declared, woatd have suffered him
to give up his situation. After having paid a visit to
his old friend Mr. Griffin, at Little-Hftf wood, Bucks,
and to his old friend, Mr. Mayor, of Shawbury, Shrop-
shire, he went to Bala, Merionethshire, and soon after
married the lady with whom he had for some years car-
ried on the interesting ciHTespondence, which has been
partially given in the {ireceding pages. The delay had
been trying to him ; and yet beneficial. " You may

sappose," he says in a letter to G , " that an affair

of a nature which 1 have had pending for go long a time,
must have caused a good deal of nneasiness. So indeed
it has. But on the whole it has done me much good in
several respects. To mention but one.^it has caused
me to apply to my studies more closely : for that was
the greatest relief 1 found ; because it necessarily kept
my mind hora dwelling on an object which at snch a
distance could afford me but little (.timfort."

Tilts chapter inclndes the period of five years. The
incidents it records are bat f^w : but the subjects it
embraces, are varied, usefel and important ; calculated
to interest such as are acquainted 'with the trials «d4

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difficoltiee, coinforU and eiyoymeata of the spiritoal
life. Others of coarae will And nothing in theio at all
suitable to their taste. The carnal iQind tuuinot relish
nor comprehead the things of the Spirit. Heoce the
enmity to Divine things ; and hence also the charges of
fanaticism, absurdities aod folly often made by the men
of the world. Let ns bear with tbeiu : they know not
" what they say nor whereof they affirm."

The eiperieoce of Mr. C. cannot perhaps be
viewed as common. Few (iod the inward contest so
hard, and few are favoured with such spiritual conso-
lations. These two things in general go ti^ether. The
sweet is by Divine mercy proportioned to the bitter.
The lower we are driven by the scase of our depravity,
the higher we are exalted by the view of Diviue grace.
From whatever caoses, the spiritual conflict is evidently
different in different Christians. It is essentially the
same in all ; but it varies in the degrees of its diflicul-
ties. This maybe owing in some measure to thediffereut
cast of the uataral disposition, or to a difference in
the powers of the nund. Some have a stronger intellect
^D others, and therefore more liable to the operations
of pride. Some excel in firmnees ; which when it exists
in a depraved being, is obstinacy and perverseness,
Tbe more inveterate the disease, the stronger must be
the remedy. To cut down a hard oak requires much
greater labour than to fell down a soft willow. Not «
little may b^ owing also to the circumstances of our
situation, and station in life. These may be more or
less suited to bear on oar peculiar weaknesses, or to
excit« our strongest corruptions. To prevent combus-^
tibles from bnrning when fire is put to them, is very
difficult; and to keep them separate wheA placed near

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each other, requires continual TigiUnce. We may still
perhaps attribute the difference to other things besides
these meDtioDed, especially with reference to ministers.
They in geoeral experience the hordshipB of the spiritual
warfare more than others. Being, as it were, the
officers of the army, tliey are more attentively watched ;
and their life or their capture hecomes a greater object
to the euemy. It is besides needful that they should be
much exercised in the Hpiritaal struggle, much ac-
quainted witb the workings of sin, the assaults of Satan
aud the temptations of the world, that they may be
capable of sympathizing with their people, and of
admintsteriDg help, instruction and comfort to them
under their trials and difficulties.

But there is one more reason which may be stated.
When God intends a person for some great work, he
prepares hiiu for it. He makes him know and feel what
be is in himself, sinful, depraved, weak, devoid of every
spiritual good and fall of every evil. He brings to his
view the depths of wickedness that is within him ; and
Buffers him to feel the power of temptations. In this
way he effectoally convinces him both of his sin and of
his weakness, and that for the double purpose of mak-
ing him abhor himself anil to be tmly hnmble, and also
of leading him to depend entirely on his own almighty
arm. VVhea thus prepared he is ia a fit state to be em-
ployed without danger to himself and without disho-
nour to his God, iu any important service to which he
is destined. Having a suf&cient ballast, the ship may
be committed to the sea with full sails. It will bear up
against the swelled billows and the boisterous winds,
and DDder the guidance of a skilful Pilot will reach io
safety the desired haven. In this light may the case

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of Mr. C. be viewed. He was destined by hearei) for
great «Dd glorious servicea. He waa now undergoing a
coarse of hard discipline to fit him for hie worL Tbe
inccess he met witU in after-life, and tbe bononr be
mttained, would liare found in the pride of the heart too
ready a combustible, which might have proved bi>
ruin, bad not thai pride been previously mortified. He
might have attributed to himself the great benefits of
bis exertions, bad be not by experience learnt that in
him dwelt no good, tbatof himself be coald do nothing.
For want of knowing previously tbe wickedness and de-
ccitfulnesa of ttie heart and the great evil of sin, and
the intrigues of oar great enemy — for want of expe-
rience in combating with these foes, many have been
ruined by popnlarity. Elevation will sorely turn the
head and make it giddy, except it be kept clear from
tbe fumes of our natural corruption. 'If self and pride
increase in proportion to our fame, a downfall will be
tbe consequence. Tbe reverse of this was the case with
Ur. C. } self decreased, as bis repntation increased. The
higher be was in tbe public estimation, the lower he
was ID his own. The foundation of bis humility was
deeply laid : and it was laid no donbt during tbe first
years of his ministry by the realising viewe he h^ of
bis own tin and nnwortbiness. A tree planted shallow
in tbe ground will be blown down by every wind : bnt
if it be set deep, it will stand against all storms, and it
will grow and flourish t tbe winds having no other effect
on it but to promote its growth and fruitfninesa.

Bnt tbe difficulty of tbe spiritoal contest was not

the only extrkordjuary feature in Mr. C.'s oharacter

dvriDg this time. His joys, lus comforts, and even his

triampb* were >)•» on some occuimiB singularly great.

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So mlising were Mmetime* his views of eternal things,
M transportintf the glimpses, with which be was
fkTonTed, of the glory of God as manifested in his Son,
that his boqL seemed too small to contain hiu joys, too
narrow to admit what be ardently desired to possess.
Discoveries already made created a strong desiie for
more. The foretaste be had of heaienly enjoyments
made him often wish to 'know all,' as hc^ expresses it,
■ iu another world.' The beams of redeeming loTe,
darting iifto his sodI, were at times so powerful., that
be was overwhelmed with wonder and amazement, and
more, if possible, than filled with gratitude and praise.
The beaoty of holiness appeared 4o him at times so
attract^e, that be ardently longed and panted for an
entire tonformity to thrf holy image of God. His
breathings after holiness were no less intense than after
happiness : indeed he did not expect the latter in any
other way than by attaining the former. That sncb waS'
at times and indeed frequently the state of liis mind,
appears evident both from his Diary and from hifl let-
ters. The divine porpose was no donbt the same both
in the deep insight given him into his own depravity, '
and into the unseardiable riches of the Redeemer. It
was to prepare him for usefulness. And we shall pre-
sently see this well*trained soldier called forth lot»
active service.

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CHAP III.

From Mb. C.'s KP.HdVAi. to Waleb tili
1804.— Agk28— 49.

SECT. l.~Diarff and Letlert/rom Aug. 20, 1783,
to 1785.

The day he left Klelboani-Port is recorded in the
Diary. It was the 23cl June. The time that intervened
. between that and bis marriage was spent partly among
hia friends in England and partly at Bala. The con-
nection which be was abont to form was moch on his
mind. He viewed it as important and prayed much for
the divine blessing. Perhaps no man entered that state
from bett«r motives and for holier purposes. The state
of his mind will be seen from what he wrote in his
Diary on the occasion. '

" Aug. 20, 1783. This morning 1 was marrifid}
and I hope I can with tradt say, " in the Lord." 1
have seen much of the goodness of the Lord both in' the
person he has bestowed on me and in his mannet of
giving Iter. The person is the most snitable of any f
have ever seen. And the manner, in which she has
be«n given me, was the twst calcnlated to bring me to
Mk and receive her from my heavenly Father in a right
■pint. Every obstacle in the way has been abondantly
useful ; and the delay, though to me exceedingly tedions,
WM most beueficial and ■ ^solntely necetsBFj-. The
Lord will not allow bis people to have the little of
R2

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eutblf tbingi, which he ii pleaded to bestow on thein,
in tbfl ume manner with worldly people. Trials,
crowei and disappoiutmeots shall be sent to drive them
to the throne of grace, and to bring them to deny them-
Klvea, to be resigned to bis Borereign will, and to
beliere beTore tbey possess. I'hey shall live in every '
(liiDg by faith. — I do not know of any one, from whom,
to my apprehension, I could eipect moie happiness.
Vet, blessed be the Lord, I hope I can say, that I
espect nolAin^ from her; bat every th'iog from the
Lord ; at leaht I endeaToor to have a single eye to hiaa.
A sitigle eye looks to the Lord onlif for every Ibiog,
and has his glory principally in view in the use and
aojoyTnent of what he receives. Every graio of comfort
or happiuesH, f hope to enjoy in the married state, I
expect to come entirely from the Lord. And whatever
crosses 1 shall meet with, 1 hope to receive them also
from the same grarious hand. Whatever is good, is a
gift that cometU from the Lord. If we continue to love
and to study each other's temporal and spiritual welfare,
— it is a gift which we mnst daily receive from him.
However sincere and properly regulated our affection
for each other may be for one day ; yet, if the Lord is
not pleased to continne it, it will not be so fanother.
I am thankful that the Lord has made ns both in some
degree sensible of this, and that we have been enabled
cheerfully to commit all to his hand and disposal.

" W» expect the cross in faith ; and under every
cross we bope for a blessing, — that whilfet we are travel-
ling together on earth, we may be also travelling tc^ether
towarda heaven. " In the world ye shall have tribula-
tion," taya oui SavioDr,-~DOt in this or tbat place, nor
in thia or that state, but in the world ; wbatevei nay

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185

ba the place or state yoD are in. Bat in every state
•ud in every place, let ns be of good cheer, for " hm
faath orercome the world." In every place aud state we
shall have " peace in him." O may I be enabled by
Mth to look from all and every creature to him, in
vbom the infallible promise asmres me, that I shall
kave peace. All the promises centre in Christ : and to
him we must look for their accomplishment. It pleased
the Father that in him all fulness should dwell. Whal^
ever therefore we expect to receive from God we most
look to Christ, in whom it is stored op for ns. " In
me," aaiih he, " ye shall have peace." Not in any
particaJar sitnation, not in the enjoyment of any earthly
thing, not in the love and friendship of any creator*
whatever; no, bnt " in nte" — in me it dwells — it is a
treasure hid in me : to me therefore yon oHist look for
it. It ie his gracious design to bring us altogether
from every creature to look to him entirely fpr every
thing — to bring ns from all, that he may be onr ali in aU.
Not onr all in. some things, iu some circnmstances and
conditions ; bnt onr all in all. Not tomelhrn^ to ns in
every thing j but oar alt in eneiy thing. An arm of
fleah, whatever appearance or promises it may make, if
depended upon, will surely in the end disappoint us :
and in every thing except in God, we shall have tribniation
in proportion to the triist we shall pat in it. Bnt in
Christ there is peace and rest to the weary sonl. No
tribnlation ever come from bim ; though it comes from
the world on his account often. As we abide in him,
- ao shall tiiis peace of God, which passetii all under-
standing, possess our sonls. This peace is in him, aud
when we «re in faim, then we are in real possession of
it. In bim may 1 dwell ) on him and to him may ! ever
1>« enabled to live.^

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186

In the niM month ha wrote t« his fiimd G— Mid
^Te him an ucontit of an attodation at Llangaitha, and
«f hh MifTiaf0. The letter begins with aome pertiocA
•btemtiooB on sooin/ intercomne.

" I think of the time I ap«nt with yon with eomi-
fert. It is bat too MkJom that our Boclal honra an M
fpent, thtt the review of them affordt latigfaetioB ia
onr moat leriou momenta, when every thing Ib weigtwd
between as and God. Shame and confusion in gehertal,
rather than comfort, accompany the reflection. When
therefore I spend a little time with any of my friends,
which bis been profitable to my soul, I cannot bat
value it, and look on it with pecnlisr satisfaction. With
what sorrow have I often ported with even pions and
dear friends, when I reflected on the precioos time.
which mi^ have been spent for the nge of edifying,
but which had been consamed at best in canity, and
, perhaps in something worte. Being nnwatchfnl, and
nnipiritnal in onr minds, comption in cme brings forth
the cormptioD of the other, till perhaps before we sepa-
rated, we were all become vain, foolish and earthly in
onr minds, wholly estranged from Giod, devoid of any
sAne of divine things and unfit for any spirituJ service.
1 have min^>to answer for in this respect. May the
Lord pardon me, and make me more watcbfsl.

" When I arrived here, I bad the pleasure of find-
ing all my dear friends weiL And as soon as matters
coold be settled, attending an affair of that natnr^ we
were married the 20tb inst. in the mean time 1 attended
an association of the Methodists at titangeitho, Hr.
Rowland's residence. There were at the asaociation
about twenty clergymen, and between sixty and. eighty
lay-preachers, though not all that arfi iu the c&nAexJon.

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yos tiisy snppoae how glad f was to hear unce moratha
(^ grey-beaded Ellijah proclaiming the deep things of
God with that pathos, perspicuity and enerf^y peculitr
to himself. 1 heard him twice, and three clergymen
besides, and. also sereral lay-preachers, endowed with
excellent gifts. Preachiug began on Satnrday and last^
till Wedaesday uoniog ten o'clo(^k. I shall add do
nore, but that it was good to be there."

TheAillowing paragraph from the same letter shews
DS the f (of? of religion then in the church in the vicinity
flf Bala, — a correct specimen of what it was then, and
of what it is too mui^ still, everywhere in North Walea.

" I to)d yon I believe that I was engaged to sore
a church in this conntry. When I served it for two
Sandays, a long letter was sent to me, genteely eiccns-
- {ng my attendance for the futnre. Since that time 1
' have been aasistiug Mr. Lloyd, who is bat in a poor
state of health. However last Sunday, the whole parish,
with two or three of tlie principal inhabitants at their
hetd, came to me and accosted me in a roogher straia
than I ever have been nsed to before. They insisted on
ny preaching no more in their cbnrch ; for they added
— "Yon have carsed as enough already." I took every
care that aotfaiog bot the plain simple tmth sboold give
offence : nor is there any thing else laid to my charge.'
—He concbdes in a fine strain ; — " What the Lord
means to do with me, 1 know not; but 1 hope 1 shftll
know soon. 1 am comfortable and easy in my mind, and
through mercy, am willing to be'where, and to do what
be pleases. I am happy to think tiiat I am not at my
own disposal. He is my Master, and I desire to be dis-
posed of by him as his servant according to his ow*
■rilL I bless bim, his consolations are many; and his

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pronitei still greoter. 1 hope to lire to him and mpet
him. Pray for me, my dear friend, that 1 may cleaye
to the Lord to the end with foil porpose of heart, and
nay be fonnd faithfol iiithatirhich ia comniitted tome."

The obaerratioDe whi<^ follow taken from the
Diary, were not intended to encourage any degree of
esCDK for Delect of exertioni on our parti ; bnt to
teach where to look for continual help in alt that we
do. That we can do nothing that ia apiritnally good
of onrselves, can never be too deeply irapreased on
our minds : bnt aa soon as this troth relaxes labour md
•triving, diligence and importanity, it ia abased ; and
what is meant for our good is awfolly converted into
the worst evil.

" /flthtut me ye eon do notMng."

" Sep. 1 1. How slow are we in learning what we
are often taught by the word as well aa by our own
daily experience, — that of ouraeWes we can do no spi-
ritual work.' " Without me," says the Saviour, " ye
can do notling." He does not say, you cannot do
some great things, you canuot work miracles, heal the
sick, raise the dead, remoie mountains, or stop the
sun in its course; no, but " ye can do notking-' We
have neither wisdom, nor power for even the smallest
work of a spiritnal nature. Wo are " unskilfQl" and
" without strength." We cannot see, bear, nor speak
to God or man, we cannot walk the path of life, or
work the work of God ; in short, we can do nothing
without him- If we'think of God at all in a proper
.manner ; this thought mast come from him. If we de-
sire to enjoy his favour ; this very desire in every
degree of it must come from above. If we speak /or
bim, it must be given ns in that hour what to speak ;

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or onr talk will be ansavoary nnd nn profitable, and
•dmiaisteriag no grace to the hearers. If we apealc to
him also, it will only be offering the sacrifice of fools,
if not taoght from aboye. " We know not what to
pray for as we ought," saith the apostle. Though so
eminent n saiat, yet iu this respect he puts himself ex-
actly on a level with the weakest and most ignorant
believer. " ffe" be says, including himself, " know
not," &C. He had laboured abundantly in the gospel
with great success, God had owned him wherever he
went, he had wrought miracles and cast out devils,
-^yea, he had been in the third heaven ; and yet after
all, be confesses that be cannot of himself pray for one
thing as he ought. He that could do all things through
Christ that strengthened him, knows nut of himself in
any one single circumstance what to pray for u h*

"Our inbrmities, even of the best of ns, are so great
and so nameroDS, that of ourselves we know nothing, we
can do nothing, as we ought. It is tbe Spirit only that
can teach us this, that can mabeus sensible of our infirm-
ities. We must be humble in every thing while we
live under his teaching, that we may make any progress
in the divine life. We know not what to pray for but
as the Spirit belpeth onr infirmities. Prayer ts tbe
breathing of God's Spirit, acting on the principle of
grace within. And we can no more breathe spiritually
in prayer to God without the Spirit, than we can
breathe naturally withont air.' — "V/t know not what to
pray for as we ought." What we ought to pray for
one day may not be what we oaglit to pray for another.
Onr wants change as our situations and circumstances
change. We know not the present state of ftur own

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hearts without diTine light, nor what tempt at ions fty
be before ns for wliich we ought to be prepared. What
tritis, what HifficultieB may be in the womb of futurity,
are to us att«rly unknown. How can we know there-
fore what to aek to prepare us to meet them ? — We may
indeed pray for aumetbitig, but it ma; be what we
ought not to pray for, what if bestowed would rather
strengthen than weaken oar disorder. We have there-
fore need to take heed how we pray as well as how we
hear, aud beware lest we grieve the Spirit by rejecting
bis aids and ottering our own fqllies. — How tender aud
bow gracious is our heavenly Father ! Our i^noraut
babblings be calls by no harsher a term than " our in-
firmities." However foolish they may be, yet if they
' proceed from a humble heart, be is not displeased to
hear them ^ but graciously pities them and sends his
Spirit to help the infirmities of his poor iguorant chil-
dren and to teach tbetn better."

He then speaks at some length of the Spirit u
" in every view qualified for his office:" — that his un-
cbangeab'e love leads him to " bear with onr infirmities
with diviue forbearance, to teach ns patiently by little
ftnd little, aud to draw us on as we are able to follow," —
that "he fully comprehends our wants," being able to
" search the heart," to unravel all its deceit, to fathom
■11 its wickedness however desperate, to penetrate every
corner though it may be as dark as faell, to find ont .
every evil, however disguised, and to unmask and shew
it in its own colour j and must therefore be intimately
acquainted with all our wants, diseases and infirmities ;
— and that he " also kuoweth all the rich stores whence
our wants are to be supplied, " searching" as he does
" all things, yea even the deep thinf^ of God," being

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U iDlinite perRon, possessed of a miud in finitely com-
prehensive, perfectly understanHlng tbe mind, will and
pnrposes of the Fattier and Son, and all the unsearcb-
able riches of grace and mere; provided for sinners."
Having tbns spoken of the Sjiirit's qualifications for bis
office, be shews the importatjce be attached to the doty
of tludg'mg in a proper spirit and with right views
what is revealed respecting tlie character and offices of
the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

The benefit of »lady'mg the doctrine of the Trimlff.
" How incontestably do the foregoing considera-
tions prove the divinity of the Holy Gboat ! Would it
not be blasphemy to say of any creature that he " search-
etb all things, yea the deep things of God." Is it poS'
sible that any Antitrinitarian can enjoy 'any of tbe
blessings or consolations of tbe goapeU Let others
believe and say what they please, tbe doctrine of the
Trinity is the foundation of all my hopes, tbe life and
sonl of all my comforts. The more I study it and medi-
tate on it, in connection with tbe gospel -scheme, the
more of heaven I find i[j my soul, I can freely nod
heartily join with tbe great and pious divine who says —
" It is much to be lamented, that believers in general
take so little pains to get a clear knowledge of tbe doc-
trine of the ever-blessed Trinity. For want of which
their faith is unsettled ; and they are liable to many
errors both in judgment and practice. I would there-
fore most earnestly recommend it to all who are weak
in futh, to be diligent in hearing and reading what in
scripture is revealed concerning the Trinity in Unity,
looking always np for the inward teat^hing of the Holy
Spirit." — ^The infloence of the Spirit mnst indeed teach
us this as well as every thing else to any effectual pnt-

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IPS

pOM. A bams ipecnlatin abont thew things u h -
different from the teaching of the Spirit aa darkncaa
from light. I find daily that I may aa veil endeavoor
to take op the watera of the ocean trith my pea, aa ta
comprehend spiritimlly in the anal leat degree »ny ot
the "deep things of Ood," withont hii teaching, wh«
" •earcheth all tbings."

Being now unemployed, baVing been deprived of
the cnracy which he first had, be was by no means easy
in bis mind. , One so impressed with the value of tool*
■nd so deeply sensible of the reaponsibJlity of hit office,
f could not but be uneasy. Hit letter at this time to his

friend W , sbowt this to have been the case with

him. U disclotet the ilrong detirt At had to conttmu is
the Church, and the ptrplexilg of bit mind on tha
gronnd of bb failure to get employment.

"Sep. 29. 1 am now waiting to see what the
Lord has to do with me, making ose of every means in
my power to procure tome place in the established
cbnrcb to officiate i not for the sake of any emoluments
I might have, but from a principle of coatcience. lean
live independent of the church ; but 1 am a churchman
on principle, and therefore shall not on any account
leave it, unless I am forced to do so. But yon can well
conceive how disagreeable and uncomfortable it is to be
doing nothing. I never felt before in the same dqpree
the force of these expressions — " Woe is unto me, if I
preach not the gospel," ( feel that a necessity is laid
upon me ; and that my life would be perfect misery,
without engaging in the work with all my powers.** — He
tfaaa dwells on the need which ministers have of th«
oomtkimed tmelihg of the Spirit, that tbey nay be ablo

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1&3

to teach others, and ctnckdes by referrint^totbeawfal
sin 4^ Ivkewarmnen.

" Bnt, ray dear friend, who ia enfiicient for these
thiogfi ? Unless coalinitalfg taaght by God, we are no
more At or able to presch the gospel than a bliod man
to be a guide, or a dumb mau to teadi languages. St.
Paul was sent forth to bearwitnesa to those things which
be' bad seen, and to thoee things in which the Lord
would appear to bin. It was not anfficient thftt the
Ijord had appeared to him ; hot it was necessary that
the Lord should appear daily in those things which he
was to testify toothers. When the [.ord appears to our
souls in dirine truths, he teaches na more tn one quarter
of an hour, than ten thousand years' study without his
teadnng. None can teach like him. When the Spirit
teaches us dirine truths, then we see them as th«y are,
in their own glory and excellency; and we are changed
into the same image from glory to glory. This keeps
iifis in our soals, and prevents the power of godliuets
from dwindling into a mere lifeless, inanimate forin.
May the Lord keep me in this school while I lire. 1
dread more than death to be turned out of it, and to
become a mere walking, talking skeleton in religion, as
Doctor Owen very emphatically expresses it.

" There are none, 1 believe, who dishonour Christ
and his grace mora than such dead carcasses. He spues
them out of bis month. In temptation, the Lord, who
is compassionate, pities ns. In persecution he suffers
with those who are afflicted. In sudden and anexpected
Burpriials, he intercedes for his people. Bgt in a cold
lifeless frame, he severely threatens: "because thon
art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spue thee
out of my month." Words enoagh to make the best of
S

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at to tremble ! If spued out and tbborred by hhn, hi
wbani belong mercy and comp&Bsiou, where can we fa
for comfort? Who n-ill receive na ! None, donbtless,
but those who are in the like frame of mind with our-
selves. — My dear friend, I hope you will pray for me.
1 am endeavoDring to commit all to the Lord utd to
possess myself in coDStaiit readinesB to follow ium
wherever his Providence may lead."

Shortly after this be obtuned a. temporary ea-
ploymeot at Sbawbary Id Shropshire. He commenced
Lis sen'ices there aboot the middle of October, and
continaed there till nonie time la Jaiiaaryin the follow-
ing year. Rather than to be idle he would serve a
(burcb at the distance of between forty and fifty miles
from home. Bala was his residence, though be would
occasionally spend a week or more with Mr. Mayor, tbe
incumbent of the pariah. This appears from his letters,
while be was employed there, to Mrs. C. VVhen he
made any stay, he nanally wrote to his dear partner.
The ardour of sffection which his letters display is
remarkable : and it was not temporary ; for itcontinned
during life. His correepoodence wltb her before and
after their union, and during the whole period of it,
shews a degree of attachment by do means common.
Tbe endearing terms in which he addressed her under-
went no change, except it be tbe adoption of SDch as
were more endearing. Tbe main ground of bis love was
religion : and as that shone brighter and brighter in
her, bis love increased rather than dimmiahed. Alt
attachmenta, not founded on what is permanent and
progressive in excellence, are sore to decay. There is
nothing that can so closely, unite man to man, as that
which unites man to bis God, which is trae religion.

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What next follows corresponds with wh&t Mr. C
had before said respecting the beoefit of tutdymg prac-
tlcailg the doctrine of the Trmty. It is a part of a
letter to Mrs. C. while on a risit at Chester,

" Oct. 7. I hope the Lord has preserved you on
yoor jonruey. 1 cannot bnt be anxions for your safety.
Bat it comforts me to think that you are under the cns^
tody and care of one who is always near and is i^Ie to
protect you eSectnally, and who loves yon infinitely
more than 1 do or can. O, my dear, it is worth while
to be the objects of his love. He is so rich, so powerful,
so nnchangeable, and so near at all times and in all
places, that those who are the objects of his love, can-
not but be inexpressibly happy and infallibly safe. — I
firmly believe that nothing ^ effectually promotes
holiness as a true belief of it to us in particolac. I
have foubd this afternoon - more comfort and joy than I
have experience for some time past, by reflecting on the _
love of each of the divine persons engaging themselves
respectively to accomplish the work of redemption:
The Father loved ns freelyaad gave his Son. The Son
loved ns freely and gave himself for us. The Holy
Ghost loved and still loves us freely and comes to sanc-
tify and comfort us and to dwell in oar hearts. The
love of theSpirit dwelt upon and affected my mind most
particularly. As no unworthineBs prevented the Son
of God from coming to redeem us, so also no depravity
prevented or prevents the Holy Ghost from coming to
danvtify and comfort bis {leople and to dwell forever
with them. He has loved tlem freely from eternity in
their sin and abomination : he therefore comes to them
and abides with tbem forever. Christ came freely to
do all for them ; and the Holy Ghost comes as freely to
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do all in tbem ; and all bi> irorkiii|i in thcia are inA-
nitdy free from beginniiig to cud. May the I<oril help
ns to believe this. 1 experience the difficolty of it this
moment. This single couiideration ii ^1 my preaen
comfort when I think oi the great work I am engaged
in — ' The Spirit can do every thing, and he works
freely."— The thonght of being an instmment in bis
hand is comfortable indeed; bnt to think of the mini-
stry withont that, 'w beyond expression daik and dismal.
1 donbt not bot tbat yon, my dearest, pray often for
me. What shall L say ? Have I Bot an Advocate with
the Father also ! a blessing worth ten thonsand worlds."

The following portions of two letters written from
Sbawbory to Mr*. C. at Bala, embrace vny interesting
sutiiiectH, whid) are hai^^ in a very interesting manaer.
Divine guidance and direction,

"Oct. 24. BBfectual fervent prayer performed
gnat things in former days : it is as effectnal now at
then ; for Ciod is the same and as ready to hear. Let as
continue to pray and have a single eje to him ; and I
am sare tbat we shall be guided in the ri{^t way. " He
tbat trnsteth in the Lord, mercy shall compasi him
about. Whatever we tnist in him for, mercy is sore to
bestow it. However nnwortliy, poor toA despicable,
yet if in the midst of all misery and in the face of aU
Bin, we trust in the Lord, DHTcy is ready to atteud us,
\uif and relieve ns : it will compass as about ; it Will
be before and behind, to lead and protect ; on tbe right
hand and on the left, to keep as from every evil, and
from ifandering out of the narrow way. 1'his merGy
which thus encompasses God's peopte, is as rich and
omnipatent as God himself ; it has all grttce to bestow,
all power to protect, aud all wisdom to guide. All the

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Attribotea of the Deity sra in this oase at the cammand
(if mercy. If the poor, blind sinner wants direction,
mercy hu divine wisdom at command for bis relief. If
he iranis strength and protection, dirine power is
eqnolly at her serrics. And if be wants consolation,
all the grace which the heart of the Father contains,
and all the merits which an infinite Person conld pro-
cure, are all at her disposal. This mercy, thns fur-
nished, encompasses those who tmly trnst in the Lord.
It is not said, — Those who are eminently holy, eminently
useful, who have done and soSiered mnch for the Lord,
(though they are not excluded) bnt, " him that tnuteth
in the Lord." Though sensible of the greatest guilt,
depravity and misery, tboogh they abhor themselves
and are ready to sink into the earth under a sense of
their vileness ; yet mercy does not despise tbem, bnt
embraces them. Well might David say — " Blessed is
the man that trnsteth in the Lord."

" I have found mnch of the divine presence with
rae to-day, I conld say with David — " As the hart
panteth for the waterbrooks, so longeth my soul after
thee, God." I bad two things principally on my
mind: — I. That I should have his presence with me
whilst in this wilderness ; — 2. That be would guide me
and. enable me to live to him whilst I live. I saw. inex-
pressible happiness and glory in these two things.
What are all earthly things to be compared with them T

Hoa kiubmtd and wife are to live religiotitly.

" Oct. 26. I hope the Lord will continue his ten-
der mercies to us in an increasing d^^ree. Ve must
not forget him, lest he forsake ns. We are no more to
each other than he makes as j nor can we hsve any
comfort from each other but what proceeds from his
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bleuing vid inRjieaee. I beliere we are both guilty in
not studying to have spiritnal thJDgB more theentgectB
of o«r conrenatiaii in private. I hope nothing in me
is a cause of restraint on yonr part. If it be, be rate
to tell me. For my ovn part I am not in tho smallest
de^ee straiteoed towards you. Bnt an nnwatchful
, frame of mind, together with a ftmduess for yon, insoi-
sibly c»Ty away my mind and tbonghts. Let as
endeavom to watch and pray more for the fature. W«
onght to wateh over each other as over onr own selves,
and endeavour to ^ve a helping hand to resist and mor-
ti^ every cormption that may seem on any occasion to
make its appearance. May the Lord teach as to Hvs
tc^tber in hia fear, to his glory, and to onr mutoal
edification as well as comfort. I believe that praying
often vitk as well as Jbr each other, wonld be some
means, by the blessing of God, to keep ns in a holy
and spiritual frame when together, and make us man
ready for spiritoal conversation."

There Is nothing written in the Diary for October
and November, and only one arUcle for December,
wbich is on the necessity of waiting God's time for
what we ask. Its length prevents its insertion. We
shall therefore proceed to what it contains on tiie nfst
new year's day,

TTiougiUontheJlril day of the year.

"Jan. t. 1784. Another year is past. When I
reflect on it, I find more comfort in a)DsideriDg what
Christ has done m me than what I have done/bi> him.
1 can perceive that his huid has been npon me, givii%
me to see a little more of the total sinfaloess of ny
nature, and the exceeding sinfntness of sin. He deceit
and gnile. I have not been also without some glorioBi

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fino of ChriBt in hit ptfSM and offices ; more so (ban
I erer experienced behre. But alu ! hew little still
d» I know of these profoand mysteries — the mystery of
iniquity ud the mystery of godliness. 1 ought to be
h)w in the dost hot blesMd be the Lord, be contimies
to give me a tittle dtvine light, 1 bope^ in an, increasing
degree. But O ! how little have I done Ji»- him. I
ought in thia respect to be ashamed and oonfonnded
ndeed ! I hmg to be as Christ was here on earth,
" a/r«jw abonnding in the work ^ the Lord." If I
live another year, I hop* a double portion of the Spirit
wiJl enable me to doable my diligence. There is no-
thing in this world I desire Aore than to sgnnd and to
be spent for the Lord. I begin to ask it of the Lord as a
&voar. May he direct and strengthen me. We. most
not only be sapplied with strength to work, but alao
be tang^t ocmtinQally and be directed kow to work
and where to work.

" Being the serrsat of another, I ong^t not in
any diing to follow my own will,- pleasure or wisdom ;
bat in erery thing fallow the will and pleasure of
God. Dot that I may thos deny myself and be wilt-
ing to be led where self would not at the pleasnre of
:«B0ther~I must first be made a child ; else I cannot
sabmit to this. However I cannot work the work of
God comibrtaUy till this be the case. I shall never
idtooae the work of the Lord as my only employment
jatd happiwsa, till hia wiU is mine. A reBdiness to
do and saffer his wUl, at all times, is the true spirit of
a €hristwlk Bat the popwer of God immediabely and
directly iaflnencing our miiids can at Any time prodnce
Als. It nmst be every day a day of God's power to
make and keep us willing — willing to deny onraelTes
and follow hin. Psalm ex. 3. I endeavour to look to

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Chrict Je«u for cDntininl renewed ttniigtfa to lire to
God tfaU year, if I live n loDg.

" I iee that the world, the flesh and the devil are
agsitut mfe ; bat I hope in the atrnigtb of grac^ having
on the whole annovr of Ood, to go on conquering and
to cooqner. It comfort* me to think that Jeaoi Christ
is the same yesterday, to-day and forever, — the same
thii year ai the last — the ume in bis gracious parpose
of saving sinners— the same in love and mercy — the
same in wisdom and power, and is m willing and u
able ai ever to save and help bis people in every time
of need. It refreshes the sonl in the midst of ^I dis-
couragements to look to him in the glory of bis person,
and in the snfficiency and fnlness of bis offices and
grace. May the Spirit of God keep my mind fixed
steadily on him, as one " made of God to me wisdom,
and right eoosness, and sanctification and redemption ;"
and enable me to live on biu by faith as my all in all —
my all in all my wants — my all in all my difficoltieB.
There is no living to God without living by faith on
the Son of God : and in proportion as we do the one,
are we foond also doing the other. — I have the year
past nndergone a great change both as to my state and
■itnatiou : and I traat I can say that I have in all seen
the invisible liand of God directing me. It is difficalt
to wait the Lord's time, when onr time is come. Bat
tiiere is nothing more safe or more comfortable than to
•ee the clond moving before ns. Tilt then waiting is
VtM greatest speed that we can make. Bot faith mnst
vrork this patience in ns. " He that UUeveth shall
not make baste." May the experience of God's past
dealings with me work this faith and patience as well
as hope in me more and more."

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The 2Qth af Janaary is again noticed. " ever-
memorable day when the Lord appeared first to me in
the glory o( his grace ! What a heaven will it be when
I shall see him as he is, witliODt intermission, id the
glory of bis M^esty and love ! My soul longs for tbe
blessed time. Hastea it. Lord. Til) thea, streDgtheo
faith and patience that I may endure unto tbe end.
^men."

The state of bis mind at this trying season when
he was looking out for some permanent employment,
may be seen by this passage in a letter to Mrs. C : —

" I found this morning an earnestness of spirit in
praying for us bnth, more than I have found for some
time past. J felt most fervent brenlhings for grace to
enable us to live in tbe frame of our minds near to the
Lord, and to glorify bis name in tbe whole tenor of our
lives. 1 am indeed iio day witboat these deaires in a
weaker or stronger degree : but Bometimes my whole
soul is, as it were, taken up with them. H'hilst I am
looking out for a church, we are not without danger —
at least 1 do not find myself so — of being influenced
too much by unbelieving and tuorldlg motives. A single
eye and a simplicity of spirit are difficult to be attained,-
and as difficult to be kept. May the iiord keep ne from
every evil." — Is it wrong <h- improper to communicate
to each other an account of the state of our minds iu
spiritual things ? Some perbaps would view this as ob-
jectionable, savonring of boasting. It may no doubt
be done in such a way as to be so : but it may also be
doue ID a manner as not to be liable to this objection.
How A) D^en act in worldly things? They tell on^
another their views and feel iugs/ their expectations ^nd
fears and the state of tbeir circumstances. And why i

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To draw sympathy, to solicit help, or to c<HBimnHGite
pleasare and Batisfaction. Wliy may not the sane rea-
sons jaatify the same thing iu splritnal matters ? Besides
this, the very act of recording our view! and feelinga is
a means of rendering them inott permanent. To vrtte
down what we have experienced, impresseB it deeper on
uor miuds, and frequently recalls into exercise the
former operations of gjace. There is a fake delicacy
too prevalent on this subject, which is nearly allied to
that worldly politeness which proecribei every cmver*
satiou which at all bears on what is serious and spirit-
oal in religion. Bnt let a Christian be a Christian
wherever he is. The worldly man is worldly at all
times. He is at all events consistent and faithfol to
his ruling priuciples. Bball he in this respect excel
those who profess principles higher, better and more
glorious ?

The possession of superior advantages does in
general engender han^tinesi and pride. Riches, ho-
nours and talents an scarcely ever foond unconnected
with them. This proceeds from the ignorance and
depravity of man — ignorance as to the source of all that
he is and possesses— «nd depravity in giving way to
feelings which partake so much of the nataro of fatin
who is the father of all evil. Spiritual blessings,
which constitnte a superiority infinitely greater than
any worldly things, inspire no pride, bnt on the con-
trary destroy it. He who enjoys God's favour and a
hope of inheriting a kingdom that fades not away, is
not ignorant of the difference — of the unspeakably great
difference between him end the men of the world. He
possesses what be would not change for milUona of
worlds : and yet instead of being prond and haogfaty,

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ht is meek wd humble, exhibiting such lowlinesB of
mind as if he possessed nothing and expscted nothing.
Some iadeed/ancy that they have a share in the Chris-
tian's possessions and hopes, Hod are swelled with pride
VBi look down on othu's with a supercilious contempt.
But the very feelings they harbour prove clearly that
their religion is vain, a shadow withoot the substance.
The real possession of divine things is prodnctive of
the very opposite effects. Humility and deep humility
is the most prommettt feature in the diaracter of a true
Christian. What in part produces it will be seen from
the following extract from Mr. C.'s letter to his wife.
Having alluded to some whom he kuew, who appa-
rently Heed in ignorance of God, he thus proceeds ■ —
" \^'heo their worldly goods and comforts depart
from them, I fear they may say with Micah, that " their
gods are taken away also." How dtatressing the
thought ! What can be more so ! O what wrelcLes
are we without God in the world 1 Sooner or later,
all things that sinnera trust in and from which they
derive their comforts, will be forever taken away from
tUem. And then naked and destitute of every comfort
they fall iutu the bands of the living (iod, guilty, ap-
palled and self-coodemned. What reason have we
to rejoice if we have knowu any thing of the Lord, and
experience any tokens of his continued love to us 1 And
why hath he made any difference ? Why us and not
others ? Were we not in the same gall of bitterness
and bond of iniquity > Were we not hating God, loving
sin and the world as much as others ? Nay, wherein did
we differ from the chief of sinners I And take away
the grace of God, by which we are made less than the
least of all saints, wherein do we now differ ! Do not

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we feet the same stnfol luata m ut, wfaidi role and
govern tliem ? And who keepa them under id ua ) Who
prevents their sitting on the throne ! We } We may
as well say, that we keep life in onr bodies, that we lire
and move in onrselves. No ; did not one strainer thav
we or all the de^'ils in hell, put forth the greatness of
bifl power in onr behalf, instead of feeling these lasts
making insorrectitHiB and attempting to aasame the
goverutnent, we sfaonld be entirely in every thing
tlieir slaves." — Snch views as these, which are in evoy
respect correct, andermine the very fonndation of pride,
and laythe Christian, where he ongfat to be, inthednst.
However great ureliis prrilegea and his hopes, lieattri-
bntes them all to the free, undeserved, sovereign grace
and mercy of his God. And the clearer tbe views he has
of the greatness and value of his privileges, the lower be
sinhs in his own estimation, tlie more ardent is his
gratitade to his gracious Redeemer, and the loader
are his praises.

Abont tlie end of Janaary Mr. C. had the curaey
of Llsnymnu-ddiry, aboat fomrteen miles sontb of Bala,
No distance or any other inconvenience [vevented him
frtim undertaliing any situation in tbe church that offered
itself; so ansious be was to continue hia services in it.
He served this church from Bala. The road to it front
that direction, is perhaps the most hilly, the steepest
and the most dangerous in the whole principality. He
yet travelled there often on foot through frost and enow
ill tbe depth of winter. He revived there the ancient
and excellent custom of catechising tbe yoang people
ill the afternoon on Sunday. This gave offence to some,
tiiough it was approved by others. His faitbfalness
and diligence in the parish were bleaeied to many.

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Sereral were awakened and converted, fiat some
"' guDsayed," opposed and revile. "The people," be
m;i in a letter to his' wife, *' seem a little afiected mtfa
divine truths, and 1 anderttatid most of them ; thongh
■wne contradict, and ere dispose to hear none of these
things. Some threaten to behave as bad as they know-
hpw, Bot all IB in the Loid'e handB."

His continnance at Llanymawddwy was not long.
A Gomplaint was sent by those in the parish who dis-
liked his preaching to the rector; who either without
exunitiing the troth of the allegations made against him
or not approring of his diligent and faithful labours,
eent him notice to quit the curacy. A petition wai then
drawn op by those who liked his ministry, witb an
inUnticHi of sending it to the incumbent. It was given
toa perstm in the parish to be forwarded to him.
Bnt it never reached its destination. The devil always
carriee on bis work in a manner worthy of Ikimself, con-
eistent with hia own character. Thrsnf^ the influence
of (Mie Individaale <rf the parish who were inimical to
Mr. G. the person to whom the petition was entroitedf
ma prevailed npon to destroy it on the road to the rec-
tor's residencei as be himself afterwards confessed. No
MVOcatien'oftfae notice ^ven having taken place, it was
coBoladed &t petition had no effect. Mr. C. was obliged
todisoontinne his service* at this chnrch abont the end
erf April. " I understand," be says when writing to
Hn. C." that low Easter Sunday is my last here, my
qautSf being out that Sunday. My sncceseor means to
be here the day after, the 25A of April. Attempts have
been mftcle,' be ^ds, " by tbe great folks abont Dinas,
(R village OetftigDOBS to Llaaymawddwy) to stir np the
poiiahtenete against me ; but in general without effect.

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It i> enoagh for n* tbat the Lord roletli , utd to naaa-
ber " tb&t wben bther and mother fonaket ui, the Lord
will take ns ia." I am happy ia the I^rd. Fray for ne :
and in the midst of every thing rejoice in the Loid."-—
The great folks as Mr. C calls them, are in general tb«
greatest enemies to the gospel. So it has been in every
age. 'Ilie chief priests, acribei and pharisees, irerethe
most i&Teterate in their hatred to our Savionr. The
common people heard him gladly, while the phuiseea,
who were the rich and respectable portion of the com-
munity, watched his words, and incessantly opposed
and persecDted him. One of the best testa of faithful-
ness in gospel-preaching is the approbation of the coin-
roon people and the disapprobation of great folks. The
reason of this is apparent. The rich and the great have
a great deal more to feed and strengthen the CMmpttons
of the human heart than the poor and those in hnmhle
atatioDB in life. The more powerful the machine, if
employed for a bod purpose, the greater is the mist^iief
it will produce. — We are glad to see a different state of
things in the present day. ,

Being once more deprived of the opportunity of
exercising his ministry, Mr. C. felt no amJl perplexity
of mind. If he was predisposed to leave the chnrch
he would have done so before now : but the truth appears
to be, that he c(»)templated soch an event with pain
and sorrow. The many pastagei which eccur in hia
letters, written at this time respecting self-denial and
resignation to the will of God, were evidently occasioned
by wtiat he was foreseeing wonld in all probabilUy be
the final issue of hia repeated disappoiDtmeata, And
we may easily conceivo tbat to quit a divrch whose
doctrineG he cordially ^^roved, and which commanded

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IfeMTsl respect, kod to be coDBected with a despised
people, WM B step which reqaired no small degree of
self-denial. Id doing this he had also to go s^nst the
cnrrent of former habits and prepossessions. — An appli-
cation to the bishop of the diocese was made abont tbig-
time. Of what nature It was we are not able to learn.
His letters only allnde to snch a thing as haviDg been
made. Erery inflDeoce which his wife's fomily and hie
own friends conld command, was eserted in his behalf.
Soon after he left Llonymawddwy, ho visited his
friends in Shropshire, evidently for the pnrpose of oon-
snlting them as to the coarse tie was to take. The state
of his own mind, and the character of the advices he
received, can only be now ascertained by his letters to
hie wife ; some extracts of which shall be given. The
time he wu in Shropshire on this occasion was about
(be end of April and the beginning of May. " 1 have
the pleasure of informing you that [ arrived here safe.
Uy journey was not uncomfortable. My mind was
quiet and' composed, calmly endeavouring to examine
into God's design in the late dispensation.*— " Mr.
Mayor woold be glad to engage me as before : but I
have refused ; for I see clearly that I must con&ne my-
self chiefly either to Wales or England, else I shall do
good in nuther. And I feel myself much inclined to take
Wales, as I did my wife, " for better for worse, tilt
death us do patt" — ^During a later visit this year, the
date of which cannot now be ascertained, he writes thus
to his wife : — " There are no tidings of a church. But
all friends here seem to give me up for the chapels in
Wales ; whilst at the same time they are much satisfied
with my condoct in waiting so long. All 1 can say ll,
that I desire, I hope sincerely, to be where the Lord
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would have me to be.: — I cuoot cury a gnilty Mnicietic*
may longer about me; wbicb [ most do if my days are
GODSumed io vauity."

The foUowing letter to bii friesd W— conreya
more infoniutti(» reapectiag the anxiety of his mind at
tliia time than any that are fband to be extant.

" Jone 12. I am in a itrait between two thingt.—
between leaving the cburcb and covtinoing id it. Being
tnnied out of three churches in this conntry without the
pToepect of anotbeTj what eball I do ) In the last chorch
I Berved, 1 ccHitinned tbrtt monllu. There the gospel
was much blessed as to the present appearance of ^ingg.
The people there are calling ou me with tears to feed
them witb the bread of life. What shall i do t Christ's
words contiDoally sound in my ears — "Feed my lambs."
1 think 1 feel my heart witling to engage in the work,
be the consequences what they may. But then I ought
to be certain in my own mind that Ood calls me to
preach at large. This stimulates me to try all meana
to continue in the church and to wait a little longer to
see what the Lord will do. — I thank the Lord, I want
nc^hing but to know bis will, and etreDgthtodothe
same. The gospel spreads here and thouiands flock to
hear it : and 1 believe thousands in all parts have re-
ceived it in its power, I tremble [est the Lord sbovld
find me ttofaithful, when I see so much work to do. I
often thinkl hear my dear Master saying to me—" Why
StandeBttbonherealltliedayioagidle?" This thongfatis
still sharpened, when I consider that the n^t is coming
OD a pace when no man can work. Your own fwUnga
will tell you tliat my mind must be eased one way or
other. ! to be clothed with power from on high, and
to be faithful unto death. Pray for me, my ever dear

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friend. It is tlie greatest kindnesa you can do me. — I
endeavonr to give myaelf np entirely to God, willing
that be flhonld dispose of me just as he pleases. Were
he to give me to turn the scales, 1 should be afraid to
throw in a straw, lect I shonld throw it iato the wrong
one. Ood only knows how to dispose of as : and my
comfort is that he has graciously promised to " instmct
and teach ns in the way in which we should go, and
guide as with his eye." I trust, I beliere, he wU] do
BO. — I shonld be obliged to you for a letter soon." — He
Gonsttlted also Mr. Newton ; bit what advice he received
from ^ther Mr.N— or Mr. W— we have no means of
ascertaining.

Dreams in general are worthy of no notice, arising as
they do often from the state of our bodies. But to deny
any importance to any of ttiem, to say that there is no
dream that has any meaning, is to contradict experience
and to assert what is inconsistent with the word of God.
Ur. C. had abont this time a remarkable dream, and it
produced great effects on his mind, lliese are facts.
Let the reader account for the dream as he pleaaes.
The dream was this : — ^The day of jndgmeut with all its
awfal acoompaniments appeared to him. He saw mil-
lions assembled before the Jndge : and what attracted
his notice particularly was the trial of the idle and
slothDul servsDt, as recorded in Math. sxv. He imagined
that he heard these dreadful words uttered from the
jndgment-seat — " Take him and bind him band and foot,
nod cast him into onter darkness ; there shall be weep-
ing and gnashing of teeth." He thought this a repre-
sentation of his own cose : it seemed to say tu him, as
Nathan said to David, " Thou art the man." When he
awoke, be felt greatly alarmed. The dream distressed
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Um exceedingly. The fear of being like the idle ^ad
&iiprolitBble Mrvant, greatly harasied his mind. Hav*
iog such a dream when he was doing nothing, he could
not bnt be mocb affected by it. It bore every appesN
aBCe of being a warning to him.

His active mind woold not allow him to be wholly
anemployed. The ignorance which prevailed among the
yonog people at Bala excited hie sympathy. He invited
them to his honse to give them religious instruction and
to catechise them. He had them together on the Sunday
evenings. How wonderful are the ways of Providence !
Mr. C.'s want of employment led him to this work of
love ; for which be then probably acquired that taste
and aptitude, which afterwards rendered him so dis-
tingnisbed, and his labours in tiiis way bo beneficial to
the whole country. Of what extensive good has the
Almif^ty often made the trials of his people productive !
He can bring ont the greatest benefits from the greatest
erils.^Mr. C.'s mode of treating the children waa pecn-
liarly kind, affectionate and attractive. The love and
tenderness with which he addressed them melted them
often into tears. Man, whetheryonng or old, is sooner
wrought npon by kindness than by any thing else. Drive
him, and he will instantly resist. Draw him by kind-
ness, and he will willingly follow. — His house becamo
soon too small to contain those who attended : His kind
manner won their aflection wonderfully, so that they
rapidly increased. He was o^red the use of the chapel
by the Calvinistic Methodists, who were then and for
s long time after, connected with the Eatabli^ed
Church, as the Methodists were formerly in England.
This offer he accepted. And there he tbatmcted and
catechised the nnmeroos children that attended. Tbe

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troric was tha del^ht of hu beart. This waa in fact tbe
commencemeDt of tbe Sunday schools, being anterior
in time to any established in England. — What do we
bence learn, bnt that a mind bent on doing good will
altraya find in every place and noder all circnnutaDces,
•omething useful to engage its attention. — ^Let na do tbe
good we can, and we know not to what great resnlts it
may eventually lead.

How long it was before Mr. C. had finally made up
liis roiod to connect bimself with the Methodist s, is n ot^
Imown. It was towards the end of this year, 1784, or
tbe beginning of tbe next, that he commenced preach-
ing among them. His own view of this step may
be collected from letters which many years after he
wrote to a clerical friend who was under circnmstatices
somewhat similar to his own. The extracts are the
following : — •

" 1810. In reply to yoor favour I have bnt little
to say. I feel for your perplexity. But I have no
doobt that if yon look up simply to the Lord, he will
gracionsty direct yon in the way you should go. Bnt it
is not forme to determine. Providence, I am fully
convinced, led me in tbe way in which I move : for I
never thought of it. Unbiassed by prgndice, self-inter-
est, the love of ease, or the honour which comes from
men, lift up yoor eyes to the hills from whence our help
Cometh, and the Lord will guide yon safely; and in his
own good time, you will see the way clearly before you-
I feel cautious in advising tbe servant of another. Tbe
IjOrd only knows what' he has designed and fitted yos
for. Many formerly were ready to advise me : but the
most forward were widest the mark. " Gwell pwyll
nac aur" (prudence is better timn gold); " ond tan eow

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pwyll fe ddaw tiryll" (bat under the guise of prudrace
deception comes). These are very wise Welsh ad^ea.
I moat sbcerely pray that you nifty be directed." — In
another letter to the same be says :■ — " Yod are much
wanted in the eatabliahment, if suffered to continue in
it, and permitted to be /aith/ul. On the other side,
there is work enough for you out of the chnrch, if called
Mid gifted to proceed on the itinerant plan. As yon are
already in the church, I thick rather yon onght to con-
tinue in it, if not forced ont of it. When I.bc^n to
itinerate, it was because they would not employ me in
the charch here in this county. I intended removing to
England as soon as ctrcnmstancee admitted of it, witii-
ont being in any degree deteriorated by a few eicnrsioDE
on the itinerant plan. I got by degrees so tax into the
work, that I could not conscientionvly recede and leave
it. The leadings of Providence towards me are no rule
for others." — A third letter in the same year supplies
UB with these obaervationa : —

" I am glad you hare it in year mind to do good
and to promote by ail means in your power the eternal
aalvation of immortal sonla, who are perishing all
.aroand us. The woik of the ministry and not emo-
lument, is our honour, and ought principally to engage
our attention. I might have been preferred in the
church 5 it has been repeatedly offered me : but I really
would rather to have epent the last twenty- three years of
my life as 1 have done, wandeiring up and down oar cold
aud barren country, than if i had been made an archbishop.
What good 1 have done, 1 know not ; but it is a satis-
faction sincerely to aim at it, and to labour unrestrained
by any consideration and embarrass meet. It was no
choice of mine : it was Providence that led me to it-

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Others' lins of oMfnloesi may be very dilferent : but in
every line and in every sitiutioii it i> required that we
should bo /aithjvi, " abonndiDg always in the work of
the Lord." We are at best hot very ioanfficieat for so
important a ministry: bnt sloth, inactivity and care-
lessness in it are very sinful ; and to be deterred from
the feithfnl discharge of it by the fear of man, or by tbe
luve of the world, will appear awfnlly against ns the
last day. I do not mention these awful considerations
as if they applied with any pecaliar force to yon any
more tiian to myself. Bat they are considerations whidi
more or less perpetually occupy my mind. I am in as
great danger as yon are of improper biases influencing
my conduct. And were I not sensible of it daily, I
should think myself already hllen. It is my only com-
fort, that God is able to keep me from falling .and to
present me faultless before the throne of his glory. I
hope you will kindly remember me in your prayers,
whilst i tmst I shall not be permitted to forget yon."

The conduct pursued toward this faithfnl servant of
God was wholly nnjnititiableas well as impolitic Zeal
in the cause of his Master seems to have been erery thing
hud to his charge. The doctrines he preached even to
his very last days were those of the church. To shut the
door of the church against him for no jost reason, for
no immorality, for no false doctrine, for nothing bnt
foithfolness, — how preposterous as well as unjost ! The
hct was, the cler^ were sleeping on their posts, and
they did not like to be disturbed. I'hey wished to take
their rest and sleep on, heedless of almost every thing
connected with their ki|^ office. To have a stirring
neighbour, who by working would make stNue noise, and
who by his diligenc« would east a reflection on the idle^

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and by the purity of his )ife would convey a reproof to
the imiDOral, was an annoyance which they coold not
eodnre. Rich, self-indnlgeDt uid idle, is too moch sti)l
the character of the North Wales clergy. The living!
are generally good, — too good, too rich to allow any
great eipectations from such a« enjoy them. They raise
the clergyman too much above the general level of his
parishionerH, and afiord too mnch food to the corruption
of human natare. They become also otgectb of attrac-
tion to persons who are more the lovers of wealth andt
of pleasure than lovers of God, who enter the chnrch
for no other purpose, than to live in ease and idleness.
Thus the c'barch becomes the occasion of sin and temp-
tion, and indeed of the most barefaced hypocrisy, if
hypocrisy properly designates the conduct of snch aa
avow intentions and motives to which their whole life
proves that they are entire strangers. The riches of the
church undoubtedly occasion these evils and great evils
they are, wholly destrnctive to its spiritual intoest. It
will generally be fonnd, that the richer the living, the
more negligent and worldly the pastor. It cannot be
otherwise while the church presents such a temptatioa
to men who love the world and its pleasures. A provi-
sion, which is a mere competency, would not be accom-
panied with these evils. The great abuse which too
generally prevails, wonld not then exist.

But the manner in which Mr. C. was treated was
not only unjust, but impolitic also. The church of Rome
would never have been so unwise and regardless of com-
mon prudence as to shut its door against such men as
Mr. C. How many difiisrent orders or. denonuoatitHiB
of friars, tJiouj^ on some points opposite to each
other and otgectionable too to the regular dergy, did

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Slfi

the head of that churcli patronise > It was doubtless
a wise policy, promotive of the general interest of the
choTch, though not pleasing to some of its members. It
was to accommodate itself to that variety of predilectioos
and taste always prevalent among mankind, and to en-
gage in its favonr and in its service the talents, the seal
and the es^ioos of all who seemad anxions to advance
its interest. . This , was doae by the church of Rome,
thoogfa it had to combat with no dissent, because it
allowed none How mnch more necessary tben is snch
a condnctwhere toleration exists.Bnd where the oppres-
sed iodividnal has an opportunity of connecting himaelf
with an opposite party and of employing his zeal and
talents in its canse } To what are we to aitribnte the
vaitneis of dissent in the present day? to what else, as
to its main canse, but to the scowling and oppressive
treatment which Mr. C. and others met with from the
bishops and clergy 1 They blindly thought to silence
them, by preventing them from being employed in tiie
church. How could it have been supposed that men
who had the great ottjectg of their office so much at heart,
could have been thus silenced. The command to preach
the gospel is of greater authority than any hnman inter-
dictioD. God must be obeyed rather then men. Not
to repress bnt to encourage zeal, diligence and faithful-
ness, is the way to promote the true interest of the
church. Happily for onr times, a different course is
generally pursued. Zeal and diligence are not only
encounigpd, bnt even practised by many of those who
rule over us. May their labours be abundantly blessed.

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SECT. II.— Wr. C't labMT*, tfe. from 1785 to 1795.

We aball hare now to record Mr. C.'a labours in «
new field. His zeil, before repressed, hmd now a suf-
cient space to expand itself. When the simplicity and
disinterestedness of his intentions, the honest ardoor
of his prayers for dirine direction, his deep resignation
to the will of God, and his great and incessant ansiety
for the welfare of immortal sonis — all which appear
evident from what has been already extracted both from
bis Diary and Letters, — when these things are iinpBr-
tially weighed, little donbt can be entertained bnt that
he was led in this instance by a wise and gracious Pro-
vidence. Bnt as he himself most jndicionsly said,
" The dealings of PrOTidence towards him are no rule
for others." His case is no precedent, except there be
a combination of the same circnmatanceB, connected
with the same purity of motives and the some anxions
desires for the epiritnal interest of Christ's kingdom.
A seperatioD, which proceeds from an itching desire
after uoTelty, from a morbid scmpnlosity abont insigni-
ficaat things, or from the chagrine of great disappoint-
ments, receives no conntenance from Mr. C.'a condnct.
He was quite satisfied with the church as it was ; he
has recorded no olgections to any part of either its doc-
trines or usages ; he never looked to any preferments.
He wonld have officiated in it for nothing, if he was
allowed employment. Bnt to be idle, he could not ea-
dore. He felt and deeply felt that he was bound to
preach the gospel and to be active u the service of his
Master.

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When be began hU laboars among the Mediodista,
he 80OU became bo employed, that he was unable to
carry on his Diary. There are ouly three entries made
is it this year. It closes with the 3tb of July. It had
been carried on for seven years, that ie since the year
1778. What is written for the Jst and the 20tb of
January sbaJI be transcribed ; the last article being not
of so much interest.

RefievtionH on the New Year't Day.

".Ian. 1, 1785. lam beginning thia day a new
year. God only knows whether I shall see the end of it.
May I always be found with my lamp burning, watch-
ful and doing my Master's work : th^ all will be well,
whenever he comes. When I reflect on the last year, I
see great cause for tUsnkfolness. I have reason to
believCj that the Lord has in some degree blessed my
poor ministerial labours. I never found satan so busy
in tempting me to nn faith fulness in my Master's service
since I have been in orders. It surprised me much :
for the temptation continued in strength for some time.
It caused me to pray more fervently, to be humbled more
deeply, and to see more of the fear of man and of the
lure of the world in me than I wan aware of. Blessed
be the Lord, that I was enabled every time to overcome
and not to act unfaithfully. This aSbrds me now greet
comfort. 1 believe satan acted more violently than ever,
because the Lord blessed my ministry more than ever.
The more active and successfnl we are in God's work,
the more opposition we must expect from the devil. But
1 have fonnd by repeated experience the truth of these
words — " Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

" In the course of last year4 met with trials of dif-
ferent natures j bnt not one tiiat was not wanted : and I:
U

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trust I can aay also, not one bnt worked farther for
good. The Lord's principal design in them all seemed
to be the mortification of a worldly spirit in me. O
blessed design ! How gracious is the Lord in taking
the work in hand ! We cannot possibly enjoy divine
consolation or live to God in the world, but as our
worldly lusts are mortified. We cannot enjoy the com'
forts of God aod mammon, any more than serve God
and mammon. In proportion us we depend on the world
or on any creatnre in the world, we live independently
on God. If we tmet in man and make flesb onr arm.
oar bearts in that case depart from God. Jer. w-ji. 5.
Hie prophet compares a person in sach a case to barren
heath in the desert. He shall not see when good cometh-
All the son and the rain which the heavens can afford
will never make the heath of the desert fruitful, or to be
of any service but for the fire. Good things do it do good -,
refreshing showers revive it not ; streams may mn by it,
bnt it will not thrive the more for that. So is the man
who tmstG in any thing besides God. He ie cursed.
Divine consolations and beaTeuly graces he knows
nothing of. The most evangelical, powerful, heart-
searching ministry is of no use to him. Whilst others
are feeding he is star\-iog. Whilst others are growing
aud are fruitful, he is unthriving and barren. I really
believe this to be the secret cause of the unfruitful state,
of many who profess religion ; they live on something
in the secret man of the heart besides God, For the
acriptnres assure us that he who trusts in the Lord, ia
whose heart worldly lusts are mortified, " shall be as &
tree planted by rivers of water ;" which ceases not from-
yielding fruit. What ahall we say then of those who
yield no frsit, but that they trast in something besides

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At liOrd. A trorldty and a self-ri^teoos spirit—for
tbey both always go togetfaer — bare domfaion over
tltam.

" For doing this |>Tincipallf,' t^e haitd of the Lord
lisa been, I trost, on me last year, that is, for tfae pur-
pose a{ mortifying a worldly and self-rigbteovs sjririt. I
never had before such glorious views of the holy law of
Ood, and each a view of ray own inexcusable condnct
and odioDB character when seen in its light. It ia holy,
just and good in its demands as well aa in its curses ;
when it coodemnB as well aa when it jnatifiea. God
deserves to be loved infinitdy ; and the law is just in
deiaanding that love which he deserves. And if God is
infinitely wOr&y of love, how jnexcnsable is iBy want
of love, how odious is ray enmity against him, and bow
JQst is the law in condemning for it to eternal woe. It
is in this way tliat conviction is carried home to the
heart, tJiat is, when I see the law infinitely holy, jost
and good in demanding perfect love to God, and ray own
enmity against hira infinitely inescnsable and blame-
worthy. Mliatever I am, if 1 am deficient in this point
of loving Ood as he deserves, the law justly condemns
me. How does this hide pride from man ! ^^liilst we
thus see ourselves in the glass of the law, spiritual pride
and self-righteous spirit can have no place. The root
of all evil is our want of love to God and our enmity to
that God who deserves infinitely to be loved. 80 that
witliout love I am, in the just estimation of the law,
nothing; I am deficient in the principal thing it re-
qnires: — and I am inexcusable, because the object which
I should love is infinitely deserving- My want of lov«
is evil in proportion as God dsserves it, that is, infinitely.
1 mnst confess that hitherto my view of the law has
U2 '

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been far (ron being joit. I did not sufficiently consider
ita glory, and see bow holy, jast and good ita demands
are. My ideas were dark and coofnsed: but now, blessed
be Ood for this additional light, I hope I s«e a little
of its beauty and glory. What continual uecesaity have
I to nse that prayer — " What 1 know not, teach thon
me." How carefnl and diligent ought I to be in search-
ing the scriptures, lest I should view any divine truth
in a wiong light, or at least see it not in its glory, A
teachable spirit is a great blessing — a spirit suitable to
us and precious in the eight of the Lord. O may I lire
under the teachings of his Holy Spirit, who alone can
take of the things of Christ and shew them to us. What
cause fbr thankfulness that God has not taken his Holy
Spirit from me. Though I hare resisted, qnencbed and
grieved him; yet he still continues through infinite
mercy to teach, illaininate, comfort and sanctify me.
My prayer this day is — Take not thy Holy Spirit hon
me; this year work more gloriously than ever in and 6jf
me to the glory of thy holy name."

Divine love and enmity of tin.
" Jan. 20. It ranch confirms me that the Lord
has wrought in me a saving change, becaose be conti-
nues to me the communion of the Holy Spirit, who
takes the things of Christ and shews them to me.
Through mercy 1 can say that I desire no other food tbati
that which the gospel affords. But my heart is much
humbled this morning, while reflecting how little
transforming influence my knowledge of the doctrines
of the gospel has upon me. To know the love of Ood
in Christ ongbt to produce a corresponding effect.
But alas ! in this respect what am I but the chief <it
sinners! The old enmity is still alive and strong.

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Wb»i I tpould love, enmity is present with me. I be-
lieve that God deserves to be loved j and yet 1 da oot
believe, otberwise I sboold love him. I would, because
God commands it, love my neighbour as myself. But
alas ! I find a law in my members warring against the
law of my mind. As love is the fal&lliDg, so enmity is
^aV0(u»f^" the transgressing of the law." Love is the law
written in the heart: enmity is the life of the whole body
of sin, which is directly opposed to it in all its opera-
tions. This enmity is the life and sonl of every lust.
For did we not hate God, we woald not lust after other
things. We hate God and therefore we love ourselves and
the world. There is infinite fulness in God : but we
love not the water in the living fountain : and Uterefore
seek for it muddy in broken cisterns. This enmity ren-
ders us exactly like the devil himself. His whole spirit
is (ecvDfiid! XXI tx^px tig deov ;) " lawlessness and en-
mity to God," so is (to ppoviifwt t»k iricpKOc) " the
minding of the flesh" in ns. It is this view of my-
self that makes me principally to cry out — " O wretched
man that I am !" The various, continual and secret
workings of this enmity towards God in coldness, hard-
ness of heart, irreverence, &c., and towards man ip
little heartburnings, suspicions, envy, &c., are a conti-
nual sorrow to me. I see hereby that 1 am indeed (c%fip<i
luu KvoiLtay " enmity and lawlessness."

" I believe God exercises my love as well as every
other grace. He has often brought me into situations
which ^yoold fully prove how much I had of love, and
whether it was of the right sort, snch as the law re-
quires. If I did not meet with something disagreeable
in others, how should I know that I did not love them
because tbey pleased me, and not because God com-
maiided me to love them. If I did not meet with en-
U 3

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mity, how slunld I know that I did not love them
because th«y lored me, which is not the lore which tbe
law requires :' for it oommaMtfl ns to love where there
18 no love, and cosdemRS as for eonity even totrmis
those iriio hate os. The fo^cl sets bd'ore m the ex-
ample of God himselt— of the Father in his providett-
tial f^oodHem,— of the Son ia his redeeming love to ene-
mies,— ^d of the Hely Spirit in hii oomiog lo oMemiea
to make tbem Mends And to make his at>od« with then.
Tlie example of the Triune God reaches every circus-
stance in which we can be. If we meet with hatred
from the world at large ; yet we are to retram good for
evil ; for God causes his sun to rise on them, &c If
WB meet with hatred and things nnlovdy from those we
live with and are most closely connected with ns } so
did Christ fjrom his choK^, and so doea the Spirit ftom
those in wh<Hn be dwells. We ahoold look on every
thing of this sort aa trials of odt lore, and not.as an
excuse for not loving. The law admits of no esciffie :
and the spirit of the gospel is snAcienUy able to pro-
duce confbrmity in onr hearts to the law. A legal
spirit is at oooe discouraged by the opposition it meets
with from the body of sin within : but an evangelical
spirit is diBconraged by nothing; it loves conlonaity
to the law, and hates enmity its opposite ; and there-
fore goes to heaven liar grace to become poBsessed of fbe
one and for strength to destroy the other. God hates
(ttvofumxM ej^pxv) "lawlessness and enmity," and
when we are of the same mind mth him, he is with
US and engaged in our quarrel. An evangelical spirit
sees this, is mightily encouraged, considers not the powqr
of its enemy, but iooka vp atedfostly to God, who is
greater than ail.

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" Ai God ii love, his very natnre it Bgainat eDmity,
irticb (NriginaUj proceeded fnira th« devil. £very per-
fflction of God is a^nat sin and those who love it.
Hwogfa hiB wisdom, goodness and mercy have contrived
a way to save sinners ; yet they are all wholly ^inst
sin as much as his holiness and justice. God is not
dirided. He is one simple pore essence, having all
possible and more than conceiv^le perfections. He ie
^together for the penitent sinner : bnt wholly ag:>inst
ttie impeititent. He is ^together for grace in the peni-
tent and altogether against tin in him. Though God
lores his peo{de} yet bis love is holy, and will finally
destroy every nnholy thing in them. In Goil therefore
who is love is oor only encouragement against the enmity
within na. And the more communion we have with
him, the more we are changed into his imnge, which is

It was now that the career of bis active labours
commenced. He was at Una time about thirty years of
age ; and therefere in the prime of life ; and not a novice
either in religion or m the ministry. Twelve years had
elapsed since the time at which he dates the beginning
of his acqaaintanca with the tme' nature of the gospel.
And he had been now more than seven years in the
ministry. The progress he had made in the divine life
was considerable, far greater than is made by many dar-
ing the whole period of their lives. He had passed, as
we have -seen in the foregoing pages, through a series of
DMntal conflicts with the evil within, not often experi-
enced. He had been also at times favoured with such
transporting views of eternal things as are not commonly
enjoyed. The trying circumstances In which he was
involved after his marriage, were a paA of the same

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prepantory process. He wu well trained for hia work.
The hiBtory of the long uid hard discipline he under-
went, has through the meaDs of his Diary and letters
beea in a great d^ree preserved. But the history of
his labours cannot he detailed bnt with great imperfec-
tions. He has left no written account of his long and
toilsome joorneyi, nor of his frequent preachings, nor
of the trials, difficulties, ill treatments and hardships he
endured while "wandering up and down," as he expresses
it, "that cold and barren conntiy," to preach the erer-
laeting gospel. The benefits of his labonrs are still
visible in the great increase of namber to the people
among whom be was, in the superior scriptoral know-
ledge and in the improved practice to which they have
attained, and especially in the efiorts every-where made
throughout the country to teach children not only to
read but to understand the troths of the bible. The
final results of his labours will only he known at the
great day of acconnt. That they will be great, there
can be no donbt. — Many, yea many thousands in all
probability will acknowledge him as the instrument of
their eternal salvation. "They that turn many to
righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever,"
while those who now cast oat their names as evil, who
revile, oppose, oppress and despise them, shall be
sunk down to the lowest state of degredation and misery
and be filled with everlasting shame and confosion.

The field in which he was now to work was very
extensive, and for the most part very barren, wild and
dreary. True religion had forsaken the country. There
was nothing like the semblance of it in the church : nor
was there much of it among the fewDissenters, that were
very thinly scattered here and there, l^sc who pos-

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§essed a little of its true spirit were the fev who had
been ib differeut parts converted, piuicipally by the la-
bours of Dl. Rowland, M, Davis, Howel Harries, and
W. and P. Williams, who occasioDally came op 'from
Sooth Wales and itinerated through the coantry. This
labour of love commenced about the year 1740. Though
their converts^ collectively considered, were numerous ;
yet compared with the number of the inhabitants, they
were but few. Many parts of the conatry never heard
the sound of the gospel. The work therefore which
Mr C. was ttow eugaged in was in a great measure a
missionary work. No more knowledge of God or of hie
word was to be found la most places, than in an hea-
then land. The immoralities and [ungodliness which
prevailed were such as might be eicpected from this
state of spiritual ignorance. The bible was almost an
unknown book, seldom to be met with, especially in
the houses of the poor, la many parishes not even teo
could be foond capable of reading it ; and in several
parishes in Anglesea not even two or three. — Where
darkness exists, the works of darkness will be carried on.
In the summer of this year, 1785, Mr. C. attended
the annual association at Llangeitbo, then the principal
place ot resort to all the religious people througbont the
principality. He preached there, and the great and
venerable Rowland heard him. The old saint had a
good deal' of penetration and instantly percdved that
Mr. C, was a man of no common worth. His remark
on the occasion, which was ottered in. his neoal concise
manner, has been fully verified. "Charles," sud he,
" is a gift from the liord to North Wales." Had he been
a prophet, he conld not have said what afterwards
proved more true. He certainly has been a gift of- the

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greatest val>e to tint portion of the country, snd ia a
Ronsiderable degree to the principality in general, lliere
waa at this time no clergyman in North Wales belong-
ing to the Metliodists, though there were a few lay-
preachers, and some that were highly gifted. Mr.
Rowland, however well be might have thonght of some
of these preachers, always shewed a predileetion for
clergymen. That North Wales shonid now have one
in Mr. C. no donbt gratified him in no small degree.
Like Mr. AVhitheld, he never wished his people to
separate themselves from the establishment. The state
of things then he viewed as occasioned by the evils
which prevailed in the diarch ; and he had hopes and
even expectations that the time woold come when those
evils should no longer esist, and when an end shonld be
pot to the temporary irregnlarities to which necessity
had compelled him and others to resort. Had the re-
vival of religion in the church taken place sooner, his
expectations would in all probability have been realised.
His death-bed charge to his owu son was, never to
leave the Established Chnrdi i and he said too, that he
had a fiill conviction on his mind, that Ood would agigp
revive bis cause in it and make it prosperous.

And these are the men after all who are repre-
sented aa the enemies of the choich. That they arc
enemies to the spiritual deadness, sloth, negligence,
irreligioD, pride and worldliness ofmanyof its members
and of its ministers, is very true : bat that they are
enemies to the doctrines, formularies, discipline and
spiritnal success of the church, is a. charge wholly on-
fbanded, and can only be made by sach as are either
ignorant of their sentiments and character, or blinded
by inveterate prejudices. The cbnrch in the estimatiM)

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of many ia fici more than an estahlisbment whicb ^ords
a conveaieot and an easy proviEion for life, whicb im-
posaes no otber duties tban to baptise children, bnry
the dead, and to read prayers and a short, dry moral
essay on Sundays. If this were really the church, no
one poa^essed of a ^''^'i' of ^^^ religion, coutd do otber-
wise than pray for its downfall. The irreligion and de-
pravity of man has indeed rendered it nothing better
than this in many places. But this ia not the chnrcb.
None are to enter that which is really the church as
ministers, except they lay, that they trust that they
are "inwardly moved" to do ao "by the Holy Spirit,"
except they promise to be " diligent in prayers and in
reading of the holy scriptures," and to " lay aside the
etody of the world and the flesh," and declare that they
" think ift their heart, that they are iruly called accord-
ing tO'the will of our Lord Jesus Christ." Every one
vbo is admitted as its minister, ia exhorted by bim who
admits him, to " apply himself wholly to this one thing
to draw all his cares and studies this way, to pray con-
tinnally to God the Father, by the mediation of our only
Saviour Jesus Christ, for the heavenly auittance of the
Holy Ghost," to teach and premonish, to feed and pro>'
vide for the Lord's family, to seek for Christ's sbeep
that are dispersed abroad, and for his children who are
in the midst of this naoghty world, that they may be'
saved through Christ tor ever," and " to forsake and set
aside, as much as possible, all worldly cares and
studies," and " to fashion himself after the rnle and doc-
trine of Christ, that he may be a wholesome and godly
example and pattern for the people to follow." (see the
ordination service). Now this is the real Church of
England : and it was for doing the very things whicb

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the biBliap, ,wlien they were ordained, required them to
do, that mch men as Rowland and Charles were pre-
vented from employing their zeal and talenta in ita ser-
vice. Of ihit church all men of similar Bentiments
wonld most cordially say — Eulo perpeitia, may it pros-
per till the end of time. — But we must return to our
subject.

The writer of the Welsh Memoir records Eeverol
instances, and records them as an eyewitness, in which
the preaching of Mr. C. at the very first, was much
blessed. He mentions a sermon wliicli Mr. G. preached
in September this year, 178.5, at LonMr, Carnarvon-
shire, as having produced apparently very great effects.
Many were melted into tears. No less apparent was
the power which acconipanied hia preaching soon after
at an association held at Bontnchel, near Rnthin, Den-
bighshire. A divine auction seemed to accompany his
words. Those were remarkable times. The power which
occasionally attended the preached word, was very great.
Convictions of the strongest, kind were produced, llie
most hardened sinners were broken down and made to
weep loudly and to " abhor themselves in dust and ashes.''
Those depressed under a sense of their sinfulness were
also made to rejoice in the salvation of their God, being
tilled " with joy unspeakable and tall of glory." The
scene at times was most interesting and most affecting :
scores, if not hundreds, melted into tears ; some mourn-
ing with a godly sorrow ; others weeping for joy, exult-
ing in their gtorioas Saviour. Some countenances
betrayed the deepest grief, such as became those who
were crying out, " What must we do to be saved." The
countenances of others, though bedewed with tears,
were yet glistening with expressions of transports, ae if

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itlumiDmted with the beams of divine glory. Theae
elTects were produced, not by any fEmcifnl or exagger-
ftted statements, hot by tbe wordi of soberness and
troth, DO doubt Hccompnnied by tbe power and demon-
stratioQ of tbe Spirit.

Mr. C. was not a man that conld be long in any
place without endeaTouriog to atcertaio in what state it
was as to spiritual things. He bad an active and iaifai-
sitire mind, always planning and contriving something
to forward the interest of true religion, lliere have
been many good men who did not possess this qualifica-
tion. The state of society around them bad never
attracted mncb of tbeir attention. This is no excel-
lency, bnt a defect : it is no proof of the power but of
the wealtness of their iaitfa. Tme religion is of an ex-
pansive nature. Love and benevolence is the essence
of its spirit. And there is nothing so compassionate,
and 80 solicitous for the welfare of others as love. This
love was a prominent feature in Mr. C.'i religion. It
evidently influenced his mind wherever he was- The
present mode of hie ministry afforded him opportunities
to become acquainted with the state of the country. Of
these opportunities he availed himself. He made enqui-
ries wherever he went r and the result was most appall-
ing. The prevailing ignorance as to religion was to an
extent scarcely conceivable in a coontry which was pro-
fessedly Christian. Having thus acquired a knowledge
of the religions state of the community at large, he felt
SDxioos to provide some remedy. The evil being so
extensive, the disease being so widely spread, it would
have at once damped tbe efforts of many and prevented
them from making any attempts. Bnt it produced no
such effeet on him. The plan he thoilght of was the
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eatabliahtaent of drcnlating Mboots, tnoraable from one
place to another at the end of three qnartera or twelre
months, or lometimeB more. The idea was probably
suggested by what had been done some years before by
the Rev. G. Jones, of Llaoddowror, Carmartbensbire ;
who through the liberality of a lady, Mrs. Bevao, formed
a considerable number of clrcolating schools in different
parts of Wales. But these schools bad at this time
ceased, otring to Mrs. Bevan'e beir'-at-law claiming the
property left to support them. An appeal was made to
the Conrt of Chancery : and the matter contimied there
nutil within the last few yean, but finally decided in
favour of the schools. The property originally was
£10,000. Itaccumulated to £30,000,3 per cents. And-
the Btihooli are now kept.oD in different parts of Wales
and are no doubt doing great good.

But Mr. C. had two difficoltiei to surmount, and
they were not small difficulties — To raise money to snp-
)iort the schoolB,>— and to procure teachers. The latter
was as great as the former ; which appears erident from
the measnres to which he resorted. Some of tie fint
le*cheTt Ae taught Mouel/. The money be raited by
subEcriptions and cttntribotions from some benevolent
friends in England ; to wbicb he added the sacrament
mouey collected at the chapel at Bala. He began with
one teaclier. A small beginning indeed ! What 1 is tiiia
the way, many might have said, to remove the thick
darkness tvbich spreads itself oniverBally over the whole
country ? Even faith itself conld have scarcely aatici-
jfeited the great and glorious resnlttof this small ban-
ning. These schools increased, and snpplied teacfaen
for the Sunday acbools which soon after were set on
foot, and which conld not have been carried on, except

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teadtcn hsd been prepared for them by the former
■cbooli : mud now there is no comer of the country
withont the menna of learning to read and to know the
word of God. The first single teacher was the imall
original spring, which by means of tributary streams
haa increaaed into a Tery large rirer ; whose streame
now fertilizes the whole conntry.

An account of the commencement of this work, of
ittpragreis and of Mme ofilt hleued fruits, shall be set
before the reader as detailed by Mr. Charles himself.
It ia contained in letters written by him ata much later
period ; but they shall be here introduced as tliey refer
to things which began to take place at this time, 1785.
This was the year when the circulating schools began ;
the Sunday schools did not begin till the year 1 789, four
years after.

Tde oikculating Schools.

" Bala, Sep. 12, 1608. In my travels through
different parts of North Wales about twenty-three years
ago, I perceived that the state of the poor of the country
in general, was so low as to religious knowledge, that
not one in twenty in many parts was capable of reading
the scriptures, and in some districts hardly an individual
coold be found who had received any instrnction in
reading. I found then and still do find daily proofs of
the ignorance of the poor people who cannot read, and
hare nerer been catechetical ly iostrncted, even where
constant preaching is not wanting. This discovery
puned me beyond what I can expresa, and made me
think seriously »f some remedy, effectual and speedy,
for the redress of this grievance. ! accordingly pro-
posed to a few friends to eet a anbacription on foot to
pay tiie wagei of s> teacher, who was to be moved cir-
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cnitoul; from one place to another, to inBtrnct the poor
in reading and in the 6rBt principles of Chrietiaiiity by
catecbiaiug them. This work began in the year 1785.
At first only ooe teacher was employed. As the fnnds
increased, so in proportion the nmnber of teachers, till
they amounted to twenty. Some of the first teachers I
was obliged to ioitmct myself, who afterwards instructed
Others sent to them to learu to be schoolmasters.

" The fmits of these circolatiiig schools are onr
numerous Bunday schools all orer the country : for
without the former, we coald not have found teachers
to carry on the latter. Altboogh tbrongh the present
general pro'alency of Sunday schools, conducted by
gratuitous teachers, the circulating schools are not so
much wanted as formerly, yet 1 find still we caonot go
on witbout some of them. There are yet many dark
places in different parts of the country, where none are
foQod able or willing to set up Snoday schools. My
only remedy therefore is, to send there the circulating
schools, with a view by degrees of laising up Bunday
schools to succeed tbem, and to keep on the instrnctioa
progressively after they are removed. Besides I find it
absolutely necessary that the circulating schools sbonld
occasionally revisit those places where the Sunday
schools are kept, to revive them and reanimate the
teachers and people in the work of earrying tbem on.
Else in time they gradnally decline in country places,
where the children are scattered far from one anotber.
So that now I constantly employ from six to ten
teachers i and several more might be asefolly employed
did our finances enable ns to engage an additional
number.

" Since the liberal collections made in Wales for

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tfafl British ftod F«reign Bible Society, all the Bnbscrip-
tions and donatioas from fingUnd have ceased, with
tfae single nception of two guiDeas anoualiy from ijie
Right Hon. Lord Barham ; jny kind frieods Buppoaingi
I preBome, that there was ao occasion for assistance in
ftcoontry wtiere so mnch money was wAiected. without
difficulty, for that partienlar purpose. But it may be
iwcessary to (^serre, '^at that was a rery particular
oecasion. The minds of the public -were tnnch sur-
prised with the novelty, as well as affected witti the
importance, of the noble otgect. The fnnds of the
sdHHtls at present «k very low, and not adequate to
half the expense I am under for this year. At fint 1
hired teadiers for £6. per annnm. I pay new £}5.
So that 1 could Iteep twenty ttten nearly at tfce expense
of hm BOW. And I sm griered that it is not in my
power to employ more teacher*, as tfae want of them is
very evident in dHforent parts of the country." — The
following details eearly the same Uiings ; only it speaks
store fnlly of the g-ood done by the schools.

" S&U, Aug. 5, 1798. 1 have received your kind
anbscription towards the support of the drenlating
schools. May the Lord abundantly reward you. I bej
leave to say a few words as to their nature. About
tiiirteen years ago, w;hile travelling through diftrent
parts of tfae country, I found very lai^ districts be-
tween the moontains of North Wales, sunk into total
ignorauce of divine things ; few if any could read at all,
and no bibles in their bouses. 1 anxiously began to
think how it was possible to remedy so great an evil.
No practicable plan occnrred to my mindj but that ol
employing a teacher or teachers, as my finances would
allow, to teacti all freely, that would attend, to read
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tbeir bible in Aetr natire language, aiid to ivtract
tbcm in the &rat principles of Cbristianity. By the
aasiitttince of a few generoni frieodi, to wboin I oom-
nnnicated my tiioDgbtfl, tbe plan was set oa foot, »n(l
■iicceeded far beyond my expectation!. Tbe calls for
teachers became numeioos. Tbe cliange in the prin-
ciples and morals of the people where the schools had
been, was evident. The unmber of teachers increased
at last to twenty. I set np Snnday and night schools
for thoee whose occupations and poverty prevented them
from attending the day schooL

" Whatever we attempted of this nature succeeded
wonderfolly i till the whole coantry was filled with
schools of some sort or another j and all were tanght
at once. The blessed effects were correspondent. A
general concern for eternal things was manifested in
saany large districts. Many hundreds were awakened
to a sense of sin and of their need of a Saviour ; and are
uoWj I have every reason to believe, his faithful fol-
lowers. The schools are. still carried on 3 and the
effects the same in a greater or less degree. The num-
ber of teachers increase or diminish, according to my
finances. All the income from the chapel 1 serve, I
devote wholly to their support ; being supported myself
by the industry of my wife. I pay every teacher £ 12:
per annum. . Tliey continue half' a year or three quar-
ters in aplace; and then they are removed to anoUier.
" Three quarters of a year are found fully sufficient
to teach onr children to read their bibles well in the
Welsh langnagfi. I visit the schools myself and cate-
chise them poblicly. 1 have the unspeakable satisfac*
tion to see the general aspect of tbe country most amaz-
ingly changed. The wilderness blossoms as tbe rose, and

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tiie thirsty land is bocome springs of water. Throngti'
the Bcbools and the preaching of the gospel, the spread
of divine knowledge is become nniTersal. Bless the
Lord, O my soul. I hope, dear madam, that this little
account of the origin and outlines of a plan which yon
haTO so generonsly supported, will prove in some degree
satishctory. As no other can keep our roonntainous
country from sinking into its former ignorance, I am
determined to go on as the Lord enables me. Assist
me with yonr prayers. ■ Grace and peace be mnltiplied
to you." — Their blessed effect! are again referred to in
the following letter to W — .

" Bala, Jan. 10, 1803. Yonr kind letter inclosing
a bank note of — towards our schools, came duly to
hsnd ; and for- which I return you many thanks, llie
■ottools are as prosperous as ever, and I think much
good is done by them in our country : many parts of
which wonld hare been in total darkness to this day,
had it not been for the light conveyed by the simple
means of these little seminaries, and the blessing of the
Lord upon them. Tbey hare been snpported merely by
the liberality of friends for these seventeen years past.
And scores, if not hundreds, of thousands have been
tanght to read their bibles in them. Many who have
received their first awakenings in them, are now, we
have a good hope, in heaven ; and many more are on
thdr way thither."

Had we not known otherwise, we might have sup-
posed, that the foregoing proceedings had taken place in
a heathen country. What a contrast does here present
itself to ns between Mr. Q. and tbe clergy of North
Wales in general. He laboured to instract the poor
and ignorant, while they spent their tjfne io idleness.

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or M arii^ f«r tb« world, or in nin mnrnttntt.
The work whidi they owfkt to turn done wm ioat br
hiai. They irf re well payed, and did notbing : he d^
erery thing id hU power, tbongh not payed M M. &>t
the GcntraU ia atill more etrikiDg. The little he had
for hia pnechiDg at Bala, he gHVe all away to carry tm
the work which they neglected. The large iacoiDei
which many of them recuved, they appropriated wholly
to themselrei and not a penny to Hie proper object. To
whom did the duty of eatabliahing achoola and at pay-
ing the teachers properly belong ? To him who was no(
allowed to occupy a aingle palpit in the chiurdi to
yiwit the gocpel ? Sorely not t bvt to them who re-
ceiTed po mnch from the t^UFch, nod received it too foK
tho very pnrpoae of ite being in part employed in in-
fltrojctiug the poor and ignorant. And what effect bod
thl« noble example on th« <^rgy in general i Could
they bear to we a diaintereated indiTidnal xealouly
engaged in removing the groit ignorance which pfOr
raited, without feeling ahame and self-reproadi ? Did
a senie of disgrace compel them to do that which the
■ense of dnty bad bjkd to effect ? Did they come for-
ward and tike the work into their own hands and render
it nnneceiury for «nother to incur expeneee, to nnder-
take toilsome journey, to qwod lui time and hie
jstrei^th in doing the work which properly belonged
to themselves ! No, nothing of this kind took place.
Seventeen years bad passed, and even twenty-three,
when Mr. C. was still under the neoessity of joliciting
hi* charitable fri^s to attist him in snpporting the
schools. The same apathy and iodifierenoe to the spi-
ritual state of the pe<q)|e prCT«il still to «n alaraiing
extent in tha^ part <tf the country. Some indeed ace

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landably applying tbemMlvea to tbe work: and may
they go on wicU that energetic earnestness aod deep
concern for the spiritual interest of their people, which
may, by the blessing of God, ensure aucceas.
Sunday Scbools.
It waa in 1789 that these schools begau to be sys-
tematically carried on. They were set on foot Arit by
Mr.C.and increased very rapidly. They soonspread orer
the whole country. He Availed himself of every oppor-
tnoity to enconrage them. At tbe meetings, both
monthly and qnarterly, be urged his brelhreu to for-
ward the work. Tbe interest he took iu the schools
wu very great. He had a. peculiar talent for examin-
ing and catechising tbe children. He possessed in m
high degree that tenderuess and sympathy for them,
which appeared so eminent in onr Saviour. His fatni-
iiarity took away every restraint, and his condescen-
sion and kindness engaged their tenderest feelings. Ha
never seemed to enjoy himself so much as when he wu
surrounded with children. Affection generates affec-
tion. They loved him as be loved theip. The sduwls
being tbe very delight of his heart, and being means in
his view of doing immense f;ood, he was incessant in his
endeavours to promote their establishment. His en-
deavours were crowned with amazing snccess.

What soon became very peculiar in tbeir schools wai
the attendance of ac^v//*.* Grown op people attended as
scholars. Tbe children having been taught not only to
read but to understand in a measure the doctrines of the
gospel, those grown into maturity felt ashamed of their

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igtMmtDCe. Many pareota camo and submitted to btt
tanght. From attending tiie examination of their child-
ren, they were by degreea rendered aaxiooa to be
taught themaelTes. Bat what more especially prodnced
this happy reanlt, was the constant practice of Mr. C-
at this time of urging upon all of every age the doty of
being able to read the word of God. In the pulpit, in
examining the children, and in his conTersations with
the poor people be met with in bis travels, this was the
■object.

if he met a poor man or woman on the road, he
would stop bis horse and make the enquiry — " Can yon
read the bible V He was so much in the habit of doing
this, that be became every-where known from this prac-
tice. ' The gentleman who kindly asked the poor peo-
ple about the bible and their sools, was Mr. Cbarlea.
His fame reached far beyond the circle in which he was
personally known, Meetinf; one day with an old man
on one of the mouotaiDS, he said to bim — " Yon are an
old man and very near another world." ''Yes," said
he, "and I hope 1 am going to heaven." " Do yon
know the road there — do yon know the word of God }"
" Pray, are you Mr. Charles," said the old man ? He
suspected who he was from his questions. He was fre-
quently thus accosted when asking the poor people he
met witii abont their eternal concerns. " Pray, are
yon Mr. Charles," was often the enquiry. When fae
had time he scarcely ever passed by a poor man on the
road witbont talking to bim about bis soul and his
knowledge of the bible. When he found any ignwuit
of the word of God, not able to read it, he would r^tre-
■cnt to them in a kind and simple manner the duty and
necessity of becoming acquainted with it, and feelingly

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and compassionately set before tfaeui the awfnl state of
those who leave the world withoat knowing the woni of
God and the way of sariDg the sonl. He sometiniea
BQCceeded in persnading tbein to learn to read; and
the good he thus did was no doubt very great. The
happy inqtreseion which be might have made on one,
might have been conveyed by that one to another and to
many others. And every instacceof success in inducing
them to learn, wonid operate powerfully and exteusivelv.
The example of one old man undertaking the task, the
annsual task of learning to read his bible, tended more
than any thing else to induce others to make the same
sttempt, — What could hare been a more practical imita-
tion of him "who went about doing good," than tbia
coodnet of Mr. G. ?

Not a few o/iJ people attended these schools. Some
whose eyes were too dim to see to read, vere so im-
pressed with the necessity of becoming acquainted with
the divine word, that they brooght glasses for the pur-
pose of learning. This was the case in all probability
in the first. iustaoce with those whohad been prevloQsly
awakened to a sense of religion by the preaching of the
gospel } as we can scarcely think it posible that a per-.
Bon advanced in years, uoimpressed with the value of
the biUe, could be persuaded to undertake the great
trouble and difficulty,' — and great must it be to old peo-
ple,— of iMMiing to read. Example might aftertrards
induce others.

The tuccsM of these schools and the manner of
conducting- tbem, will be seen by the letters which thai!
now be introduced. As in a former Instance, they
were written posterior to the time at which we have
yet arrived. But for the sane reason as before, they
riull be given here. ,

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" Bala, 1S08. In addiUon to my former letter
girtiig an account of the tucoeu tsi tbe Sonday Bchoola
in Walea, 1 Lave now the pleaaore of fDroistiing a few
more intereating particulars reapectiog tbetr progresB.—
Ail the scliools then exiating are still well supported :
and all the oseful practices of learn iog chapters from the
bible and of pablic catechiiing, are still continued with
as mitch vigoor as erer. In many of tbe achoola the
DDDiber of teacbera and scholars is mnch increased. The
teachers have improved theraselves consiiierably, and
tbe scholars have made a proportionable improvement.
1'he increase in the number of schools, especially in
Sooth Wales, has within these nine months been very
great. Aud the progress mode in these new schools in
learning to read their own native language and in be-
coming acquainted with the word of God, far exceeds
aoy thing 1 hare before witnessed, and woald appear
incredible to yon without great confidence in my vera-
city, were 1 to detail particulars.

" The spirit of learning has rapidly spread among
young people and children in large populons districts,
where hitherto it had been wholly neglected ; and the
reformation in their morals has been generally eHdent
and satisfactory to all. Their usual profanation of
the Sabbath in meetings fbr play or in public houses,
has been forsaken : and the Sabbaths are now spent in
the schools or religions exercises. The attention is
engaged with such intensenesa, that in some instances
whieb I have known, the greatest part of tbe night is
spent in learning chspten or in searching the scriptnrei
on points given them to be elucidated by scripture paa-
nvget. All will easily perceive how rapid the progress
in tbe acquisition of divine knowledge must be, when
the mind is bo attentively engaged, if assisted by pro-

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per inBtrnctioii. It haa been grett and Tcry npid. 1
hare known young people emerge at once aa it were,
from a state of idlenees, profsueness and ignorance, to
diligence, sobriety and pleaaing attention to dirinc
things. They are delighted with the work : and yon
may distiugaUh those who are thus engaged from the
idle and ignoraut, by the comfort and joy manifested
in the cheerful aspect of their countenHnces.

".We have also this year held associations of lie
(Uffertnt school*. They meet in some central places to
be pablicly catechised together. Three meetings of
this nature have been held in North Wales, and three
in Sooth Wales. A subject isgiven taevery school, on
which they are to be examined, and which they are to
elucidate by repeating appropriate passages from the
flacred writings. At the appointed time, generally a
Sabbath-day, the children of the different schools
assemble, accompanied by their teachers. Some of the
schools have walked teu milee by eight o'clock in the
morning. The children being scattered in their differ-
ent habitations over the country, for they dwell not
together in hamlets as in England, they meet all at an
assigned place, and at the appointed hour pray and sing
a verse of a hymn together ) and then march cheerfully
and orderly for the place of their destination.

" As no place of worship is spacious enough to con-
tain the immense concoorse of people which attend on
these occasions, we have been obliged to erect stages
eat of doors, in the fields ; a large one for the children,
two or three schools at a time : another for the cate-
diists, opposite to that of the children, at fifteen or
eighteen yards distant : the space between is for the
nsseiobled congregation to hear. We begin the work
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early in the morDing ; and the wboU day ■■ spent n
theie examiuiatioDS. Every examinatiou lasts three ot ■
fonr Lours, and is generally conclnded by an address to
the children and the congregatioii. lu the short inter-
vals between the examinations, the children of eacb
school are conducted by their teachers into ft room,
engaged for the purpose, to partake of a little refresh-
ment : and at the appoiated time they are reconducted
to the place of meeting. We have had on these occa-
sions from iifteen to twenty schools assembled together.
Hitherto these associations have been most profitable.
The previous preparation gives employment for two
months to all the youths of both sexes } in which they
engage with great eagerness and delight. The public
examinations, we have every reason to conclude, arc
also very profitable to the hearers assembled. Hub is
clear from their great attention, and the feelings pro-
duced by hearing the responses of the children. I bavB
seen great raeltiiigs and tears among them. — When the
wort of tiie day is over, the children are recondncted by
their teachers to their respective homes, or committed
lo the lare of their parents. Every thing has hitherto
been conducted with great order and decorom : and their
utility has been beyond a donbt ascertained, lite
schools acquire publicity and importance by these public
exhibitions. They animate both teachers and children.
They bring others in who have been hitherto negligent}
and powerfully excite people to set up new schools
where there are none.

" in my intercourse with the children I have met
with m&ny instances of uncommon quickness of intellect
and strength of memory. I have met with more than
one, who at the age of three years would learn any

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oommon tnne in a very gliort time ; and otbera at the
■Bine age, who woatd very soon commit to memory long
chatters withoot any apparent ditficulty. There is a
little girl only five years and a half old, who can repeat
. distinctly above one hnndred chapters ; and goes on
learning a chapter every week, besides the catechism,
and searcliing the acriptnres for paBsagea on different
points in divinity. We have many blind people who
treasure np the word of Ciod in tbeir memory. One
blind lad commits a whole chapter to memorx' by having
it read over to him about four times, — I have also met
with many melancholy instances nf very great ignorance
among grown np people ; which has indnced me to press
them earnestly to attend the Sunday schools. 8nch
instances shew the necessity of pastors and teachers of
all denominations exerting themseWes to spread divine
IcDowledge by catechetical inatmction, in addition to
public teaching. I jind that through their ignorance of
the holy scriptares, the terms which we commonly use
in preaching, convey no idea to the bulk of our congre-
gations. Let any one take the trouble of examining
them, and he will soon be convinced of the truth of
what 1 assert.

" Tboogh the Sunday schools have done and are
doing immense good in different parts of the country,
yet 1 find that thousands and thousands are still perish-
ing for lack of knowledge. Though we have prevailed
with many old people to attend these schools and
hondreds hare learnt to read at an advanced age, yet
tiiere are hut few compared with the thousands that are
■till ignorant and negligent. No minister, who wishes
to see the success of his ministry, if he knew the satis-
faction it wonld give himself and the advantage it would
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be to otiiera in prepuing tbem for eternitj far beyood
his mere preaching all bis daft, but would immediately
wt aboot teaching hii people to read, and catechisii^
tliem. It 18 very difficalt to teach knowledge to people
who cannot read, and enable them to understand preach-
ing without catechising them. — 1 shall conclude this
long letter by adding, that many children and also
grown np persons have manifested a serio>ue concern for
their Bonis as the effects of the instmctions they have
receired in the schools; and some bondreds in differeat
parts of the country have joined onr religions societies.'

The happy effect* prodoced by the public exnmlnt^
titma of the schools, are further developed by the cos-
tents of the following letter.

" Bala, Nov. 27, 1808. Though my jonmey to —
in September last was attended with con sequences very
painfal to me in my late illness, yet the effect of that
meeting and of public catechising of the diildren in the
open street, before the largest inn in the town, have
proved most beoeficial indeed to that [dace. It i» ou
of the most drunken, ignorant and profligate towns in
Wales ; and has been so for two centuries past : aod it
has been too a very persecuting place. We have now
there, in consequence of that day's work, a Sunday
school, attended by above one hundred children ) and it
is continually increasing. There ore also in it a great
number of grown op persons, altogether as ignorant as
the children : and the tidiags from there are more
favourable every week. As soon as 1 shall be able to
take the field, 1 meaa to pay them another visit. The
last was a very solemn one indeed.

" Last Sunday fiMtnight we had an sssociatimt of
diildreD at Bala. To attend it was the first thing f did

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bAst my illness. Oar large cbapelioTerfloTved : and the
effects of the work of ih&t day are very evident both in
town and neigbbonrbood. And titer* is a desire in diT-
ferent parts of tiie country for similar meetings next
spring, as soon as I shall be able to move abont. 1 never
knew of any means bo successfol to bring all the grown
Mp people to engage in the work of learning the scrip'
tsres. Their whole attention is at present engaged in
preparing for another meeting i and nothingelse is talked
of bat the bible, and what ecriptnres are applicable
to the points in hand. The points are — The duties of.
parents and children, of husbands and wives, of masters
and servants, of pastors and people, of magistrates and
sobjects, and of buyers and sellers. They are to 6nd
ont scriptures which direct ns in all these important
particulars. We have already treated on the first prin-
ciples and most fundamental points of Christianity.
These are new and very interesting subjects ; and are
taken up with great eagerness."

Some further information may be attained from a
letter sent by Mr. C. to the Secretary of the Tract
Society.

" Bala. Thoosands of young people all over the
Goantry,hare at this time their attention engaged about
divine things. They are learning catechisms and chap-
ters from the bible with wonderful facility. It has
been my delii^tful work, since 1 left London in Decem-
ber last, to catechise publicly every Sunday, and to
hear them repeatingchaptersbefore thousands of people;
besides preaching generally twice every Sabbath, and
sometimes thrice In different places. In order to give
you some idea of the work, I will just mention a few
particulars which are strictly true: — ^.Whole families,
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yotBg and old, the gomBors swl the gorerned, teu>
the catecfaiBiM >nd cbaptera of the biUe ti^dier. Thef
hire Ajqwared {mblicly together a«d repeated alter-
nately what they hare learnt. All the grown ap yosng
people in Bome of ow locietieB have done tiie aame.
BojB and girla, from eigid to •ixteen.leam i^ole booha
el the ecriptiirei, aad repeat irtiat time permits ng t»
hear; nidi aa the whole qiiatls to the Epheaiana,
Hebrewa, be. Otbera learn lelect chapters to aa
aatoniihii^ anmber; snch as ten, twoity, thirty, &c
Ooe little girl learnt serenty-two psalms and diapters ;
another, the astonishiog nnmber of 93 } the list of wbidi
I bare in my possession. Now w<e want to feed thia fire.
flo happily Idndled in their minds, by patting into their
hands a few nsefel tracts in the Welsh langoage. The
five thoasand scripture extracts which yon sent, were
nearly all disposed of in one day : and onr yonng peo-
jit is busily learning out the whole. 1 otn jest come
from our chapel, where I heard two disptere of the
Bcriptnre extracts lepeaieA pablicly. In the coarse of a
few weeks onr children will learn the whole of tin
tmct"

Soch proceedings as are here detailed have perhaps
never before been witnessed in the world, lliey are so
wooderfnl that had it not been for the known veracity
of the relater end for what is carried on still by the
Methodists, it wonld not be easy to believe them. Tba
Sunday schools and the pnblic examination of them,
have nndonbtedly done wonders in Wales ; and have
succeeded in some places in moralizing the people when
all other means failed. One case in particnlar of thil
kind had been very evident. There was a certain town,
which seemed to grow worse and worse, increasing daily

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ia all kinds of wickedneaB, though tiie gospel bad be«n
regularly pretched there for more tfaao twenty yean.
I'he young people as well bs old, beuBme more and more
depraved. They ran into all inanDer of escesMB, espe-
dslty at the annoal wakes. The most faithfal and awful
wsmiogs were delivered from the pulpit, but with no
efiect. The state of things here was mentioned to Mr.
C. Having considered the subject, he made np hii
mind to make an attempt to storm this strong-bold of
■atan in a way different from that of preaching. Abont
two months before the wakes, he sent word to tho
teachers of their Sunday school, requesting them to get
the children to search the bible for tests which pro-
hibit directly or indirectly such evil practices as dano
ing, dmnkennesB, fornication, &c. and to commit them
to memory; saying too, that they might expect faim
there at the feast to catechise the children. The yonng
people set to work ; and there was a great deal of talk
in the town and neighboarhood abtuit the snbject. When
the time arrived, Mr. C. went there j and most of th9
people of the place, led by curiosity perhaps in a great
measure, went to hear what the children had to say aa
those subjects. The meeting began aa usual with sing-
ing and prayer. Then Mr. C. began to ask them qnea-
tiws on the polnta given them to learn. " Is dancing,
my dear children, a sin ?" " Yes," said one emphati-
cally, " it was owing to dancing that the head of John
the Baptist was cut off." — " Is it set forth as bad and
alnfhl in scriptare?" "Yes," answered another, and
repeated these words — " Woe unto them that follow
- strong drink, that continne until night, till the wins
inflame them ! and the harp and the vkil, the tabret and
pipe, are in their feasts ; but they regard not the work

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of tlw Lord, neither consider the operations of his
bjLnda." Is. v. 11, 12. In this way he proceded with
them aa to the other sins, and the answers were given
with great propriety and serioasness. The people began
to hold down their heads and appeared to be mnch
affected. Observing this, be addressed them ia the
kindest manner and exhorted them by all means to leave
oB their sinfal practices, to relioqniih the worlu of
darkness and of the devil, and to attend to the concerns
of their never-dying sonls, to learn the word of God
■Iter the example of the children, and to try to seek
superior pleasures and a better world. The effect was
so great that all went home, and the houses of revelling
were completely forsaken, — The following day ' the
harper was met going home by a person on the road,
who, snrprised to see him leaving the place so soon,
asked him what was the reason, " Some parson,' said
he, " with a black cap on (Mr. C. wore a black cap,)
has been catechising there and persnaded the young
people not to attend the feast." Poor fellow, lie went
home qnite disappointed. The parson with the black
cap, deprived him of the hire of his iniquity,

EXTRAOKDINAKT AWAKENINOS.

The effects produced by the circulating and Sunday
schools have been partly mentioned. But there are let-
ters of Mr. C. which still further detail them. Two
years after the Sunday schools were established, that
is, in the year 1791, a remarkable awakening as to
religion took place, especially at Bala and in its neigh-
bourhood ; which was initrcmentally owing in a great
measure, according to all appearances, to these schools. -
We shall introduce Mr. C.'s own letters on the subject. -

"Bala, Sep. 1791. You enquire about the ital«

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of the churches in Walet. 1 have Qotbing bnt what is
fafonrable to communicate. We had lately a very com-
fortable association at Pwllheli. Some thousands at-
tended J more than ever was seen before. And here at
Bala we have had a very great, powerful and glorious
outponring of the Spirit on the people in general, esp6-
cially on children and yoang people. Scores of the
wildest and most inconsiderate of young people of both
sexes, have been awakened. Their convictions havs
been very clear and powerfnl ; and in some instances ao
deep as to bring them to the brink of despair. Their
Bonsolationa also have been equally strong. If the Lord
should be graciously pleased to continue the work, as it
has prevailed some weeks past, the devil's kingdom will
be in ruins in this neighbourhood. Ride on, ride on.
thou King of glory, is the fervent cry of my soul day
and night. I verily believe that the Lord means to giv*
the kingdom of darkness a dreadful shake t (or he takes
off its pillars. Those that were foremost in the service
of satan and rebellion against God, are now the foremost
ill seeking salvation through the blood of the Lamb. U
is an easy work to preach the gospel of the kingdom
here at this time. Divine truths have their own infinite
weight and importance on the minds of the people*
Beams of divine light, together with divine irresistible
energy, accompany every truth delivered. It is glorious
to see how the stoutest hearts are bowed down and the
hardest melted, i would not have been without seeing
what I have lately seen, no, not for the world.

" These are the blessed things 1 have to relate to
yoQ, my dear brother, respecting poor Wales. Tha
charity schools here are abundantly blessed. Children
that were afora time like jewels buried in rabbish, now

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appear with divine laitre ttnd tnnscendent beauty.
Little cbildren from six to twelve years of age, ars
affected, astooiahed aud overpowered. Their yonng
mindt, day and night, are filled with oothiug bat bouI-
coucerni. All I say it OMtter of fact. 1 hare not ex-
aggeratod in the least degree, nor related bot a smalt
part of the whole. 'llieLord bath done great thinga for
ns, and to him be all tlie praise."

An eminent miDister from Scotland, saw a copy of
this letter -. and wrote thus to Mr. C. for furthw infor-
nistioD on the subject : —

"Edinburgh, March II, 1792. Some short time
ago I was favoored with a copy of a letter of yonrs to a
brother in your owo country, dated about September
last } in which you give a. most favourable and delight-
ful account of the state of religion in your neigfaboor-
hood. What I now request in my own name and at the
instance of many Christians here, is to be informed, if
those persons, who were brought under conTJctiona
some months ago, are continuing to. give evidence of a
true worlc of gr«e ; and if the work has been farthtv
exteiided. — No doubt you know that a similar revival
took place in this country about fifty years ago. Many
were at that happy era broDght to the knowledge and
real experience of the truth. But there were some who
afterwards turned away from feeding besides the Shep-
herd's tents : thereby declaring that their former pro-
fession was not altogether sterling, giving occasion to
many, ready to quarrel, to condeqin the whole that was
then'done : though in some measure I have seen several
living incontestable witnesses of the solidity of the work;
whose Christianity I doubted less than my own. It is
amazing bow some, even of the Lord's people, love Iq

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catil and carp at that which others admire and praise
the Lord for."
Mr. Cs. answer : —

"Bala, May 2, 1792. Continual absence from home
aboat my divine Master's work, is the oiilyrcasan of my
not having answered your letter sooner. This will form
to you a. sufficient apology. By this time you have per-
haps seen another letter in the magazine reBpecting the
late work. That it was the work of God I am not left
to donbt in the least decree. It carries along with it
every scriptural satisfactory evidence that we can poi-
■ibly desire ; snch as deep conviction of sin, of righte-
ousness and judgement, — great reformation of manners,
— great love for and deligljt iu the word of God, in
prayer, in spiritual conversation and divine ordinaaces.
— These in particular in young persons occupy the
place and employ the time that was spent in vain di-
versions and amnsements. No harps, but the golden
harps, of which St. John speaks, have been played on
in this neighbourhood for several months past. Th6
craft is not only in danger, but entirely destroyed and
sbolished. The Utile stone has broken in pieces and
wholly destroyed these ensnaring hindrances.

" liut I am far from expecting that all those who
have experienced these impressions, are savingly
wronght upon and really converted. If that were the
case, all the conittry had been converted; for at one
time there were but very few who had not felt awful
impressions, from the Lord's hand on their minds, pro-
ducing foreboding fears respecting their future existence
ID another world. It was a most solomn time indeed !
1 never »aw a livelier picture of the state of men's
mitids at the day of judgment, Mcording to their respec-

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tin conditioiM. That awfnl dispensatios lasted bnt for
■ fev weeks- But the miaistration of the word ii itill
lirely [and powerfDl ; and fresh awakenings taka place,
thoDgh DOt so numerous as at first. Perhaps it wilt not
be knowD till the day of judgment how many of these
new coDYerts are sctnally brought into a state of salra-
tion ; nor wlio they are. Bat hitherto we have eve'ry
reason to be thankful for the good progress they con-
tinue to make. Among so many there most be great
Tartety ; and we may hare better hopes of some than
others -. but hitherto none have have turned away from
feeding besides the Shepherd's tents.

" As to the farther spread of the work, the pros-
pect in onr conntry is in general very pleasing. In
Carnarvonshire and Anglesea, the coagregatioDS are
very numerous. Thousands flock together at the sound
of the gospel trumpet, and bear with great earnestuess
■nd attention. Awakenings also are frequent. But as
to any extraordinary outpoaring of the Spirit, there is
none at present, but in two places besides this neigh-
bourhood : and in those places, it does not carry with
it the strong marks of power irresistible and convincing
demonstration, which attended it here. The report of
what had beeo going on in this place, awakened the
attention of the whole country, and filled the churches
erery-wbere with the spirit of thanksgiving and prayer.
The beginning was so glorious, that 1 cannot think but
that it precedes great things. The churches every-where
are, if I may so speak, in labour; and I cannot hut ex-
pect that a " man child is to be bom," They are pre-
|iaredj they are praying; they are waiting and longing
for his coming. He has indeed done already great
things in this principality. Within these fifty years

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there fa&TC b«en five or sis very great Bwakenings. A
land of darlfnesi and shadow of death hath seen gttM
lifht. O may we live to see still greater thiogB.

" Vour saying that & siwilar work took place in
your country about lifty years ago, bu enkindled a
spirit of prayer in me for the return of yonr jubilee. I
am persuaded that except we are broured with frequent
revivals, and a Btron)[ and powerful work of the Spirit,
we aball in a great decree degenerate, and have only a
" name to live j" religion will lose its vigour ; the mioit-
try wiii hardly retaiu its lustre and glory, and iniquity
t»ill of course aboutid. I am far from supposing this to
be the case in your country. I am only speaking of the
tiling itself. Scotland, I know, in ages past has been a
bi^ly favoured country. I hope it still continues so:
but I am perfectly ignorant of the present state of reli-
gion in it. May the good L«rd hasten that blessed time
when the kingdoms of the world shall become the king-
doms of the Lord and bis Christ. — I beg my love to all
Cfaristian friends with yom : and I beg an interest in all
your prayers. Blessed be God that I have an Advocate
with the Kather. He sees, commiserBtee, and can re-
lieve aud soccour as necessity requires. Prom this joy-
ful coDsideratioo alone, proceeds my resolution and
eoorage to go oo. Yon may well suppose that while
Ood is anoug us, satan is not asleep. He is alive aud
goes about, possessed of his usual diabolical disposition.
In the church and out of the chnrcb he is always plotr
ting some mischief. I woold wish to be watchful to
•besrve all bis motions and machinations. The God of
peacA shall bruise tpim *^tij/ under his feet. — I am your
vnworthy companion in tbe kingdom and patience of
Jwns Cbriit."

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-fhe ume miDiater wrote to him again on the nva
aubj^ct : —

Edinbargh, Sep. 27. 1 792. I should be eice«d-
iagly obliged to yon, ir ;oa would write ine any addi-
tional ioformation that yoo can recollect respecting the
work of God at Bala, &c. You can soarcely conceive
how eager Christians in this place ure to obtain farther
intelligeaoe respecting it. 1 accoant this a token for
good, t^ho knows but the Lord may also work mar-
Tetloasly here. It is the prayer, I am sore of many ;
and the prayers of the saiDts will not always remain
vnaoswered. Jehovah will remember Zioo, and those
who pray for her prosperity and peace. Generation
onto generation shall praise his name. The gospel is
no where more ably and plentifully preached than in
Edinborgh and its environs : bat it is not apparently
nccompanied with that power which our fathers havo
told us it used to be. At the same time the servants of
the Lord seem to be wonderfully assisted in boldly de-
claring the gennine grfspel of Christ. The differeDce
between the English and Scotch preachers is amazing,
I mean as to their plan. The discourses of the fbrmer are
simple and unadorned, apparently without much previ-
ous laboured study, lliose of tiie latter are aecnrate,
methodical, and in general the 'product of much study.
Every word is previously wrote and committed so ex-
actly to memory that several of them told me, that in
the delivery they scarcely alter a word from what they
wrote. One advantage resulting from this, may be m
greater variety in their subjects, and goiug father deeper
into doctrinal points. Undoubtedly the other mode hu
its advantages.

' "If I could say any thing to encourage yos in yovr

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nttal and bonourable work, I am sure I would do it.
Bat the Lord remembers ZioD and the labonrerB in ber,'
sod in doe time will give them abupdant rewards or
grace, though oot of debt. An boar's comrnnaion with
God is more than a sufficient reward for the labours of
a Panl or tbe lore of a John. WJio can tell the valve
of an eternity of such hours, yea, Dospeakably more
exalted hours. O sir, pray for me and poor Scotland,
that tbe Lord may do ns all good."

It is to be regretted that the answer to thii kind
and Christian letter, cannot be found. But a letter from
Ur. G. about a year and a half after to the same minis-
ter, may be viewed as supplying in a dei^ree at least the
loss of its information : and the account it gives is more
latisiactory, because a longer time had been afforded to
prove tbe soundness of tbe work which had been
wrought.

" Bala, .Ian. 1794. I have received your favour
•f Nov. 24, and must request your pardon for being s<J
■low, in ausweriug you. My only apology is my very
many avocationg, wbieh are so numerouB and crowding
on me daily, that 1 have not that time to pay proper
attention to friends which 1 could wish. — As to the pre-
tent state of religion in this country, throngb distin-
gniahing and unspeakable mercy, I have nothing to- com-
plain of; unless I complain of myself; for which there
is abnndant cause. — In the course of last year \ht
almighty power of the gospel has been most gloriously
manifested in different parts of our country. I think it
aever in general presented a more promising aspectL
There was la«t year a very great and general awakeniBf):
through a very large and populous district in Camar-
Tondure. Id tbe space of three months some hundreds
were bron^t under concern about their souls. I travel*
Y 2

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led ImI Marcti tfatoogk tltat put oi the eovitiy; uA
tbe procpect itill continues dcligbtfnl inileed. Ab ! ny
4caT tir, it is & melodiou soaud, yet in the esn ^
Deity hiniKlf, to bear poor perishing simoen bj scores
crying out — " What nust we do to be saved i" Bvt
this was the BOand I beard in almost erery congr^ation,
as I lately passed thioagh that part of the country. The
subjects or this work are mndt the isine as bere at
_ BaU — children and yonng people, from eight or (en tft
thirty years of age. The effects also on the conutry at
Urge are very similar — a general refomation ofman-
ners— the moat diligent attendance ou the means of
grace, )>rivate and pablic — thirst after diTine koow-
ledge, lach ai is practical and ipiritnal, The sovnd of
the gospel brings heaven to tbeir tbiraty sonls, whilst
the miserable captives of sin and misery are set at
liberty.

" Here at Bala we still throagli mercy go on well,
and have macb caase for thaiikfuloess ; though not
bvoured with the wonderful scene* with which we were
gratified this time two years. Most of those of whom
we had any saHtfaction ss to a work of deep eommetic*
on their minds, and not only a terror for tiie moment,
have stood their ground ainasiiigly well. We have lost
very few of them. And many respecting whom we bad
no satisfaction at first, have come on well. At first
pcrb^is only a little terrified, yet being by this fright
bfODght to attend the preaching of the word, they have
been graduslly enlightened and wrongbt opoo, and are
now hopeful characters of our church, lliere is a work
goiog on still among us, though not so powoful as at
the |)eriod allnded to above. We are continually increas-
ing, and our congregations continue as large, if not
larger than ever i and at times the word seems to hava

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267

».w«»d«rW rffect.— I must also add with wrrow, tiut
«, great many, who have feU moat imwerful impreisioM

,.pn their minds, hmve been entirely lost, they are qnite
fallen off. They will still come to hear : but bearing
is all. Some even of them have been again visited by
tba Lord, more effectually than at first : and we hare
raeeived them again with joy. We have had many
jiutancea of young thildren, who having had once ei-

. perienced these powerful impressions, have had them
agnin rented, and are now in the chorch comforting
l^nr hearts with very promising hopes.

"I must not omit informing you, that one great
meaaa of promoting the work of Gotl among our. young
people, is the circulating schools ; which have been
«apported among ns, for the last nine years, entirely by
the •n.bscriptions and charitable donations of the friends
of Uie gospel. We have now about twenty school-
m»sters in different parts of the country. To each we
pay £ 10. a year. They are moved from place to place
apd teach gratis all that will attend, rich or poor. Half
a year is sufficient to teach a child of moderate capacity

,. » read the bible well in Uie Welsh langoagc. The only
iptention of these schools is to teach children to read in

; their own langu^e and to instruct them in the first
principles of religion, and to impress their minds with
the importance of divine truths. It is impossible to

.express the blessing which has attended these little

.seminaries, and still continues to attend them. 1 visit

.them myself and catechise the children publicly. Some-
times the congr^ations have been so large on these
catechetical occasions, that I have been obliged to fr-
form the whole service in the open air,

"I have draws up a little form, comprehending the
Y S

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3S8

int principlei of CbriBtianity, accardiog to wbidi ttiey
are Instroctcd. In some of the schooli we have bad
geaerBl evrakeDings among all the children. They bare
b«D the great means of tobenziog the oindi of young peo*
pie, of drawing their attention to the bible, and of gir-
ing them a taste for reading : and the next step will be
to attend preaching, which is seldom withoot prodncing
some effect on their minds. We take great care that
the teatchers be men of piety and of zeal for the con-
ranion of sinners. We have bot one point in view in
these institntioDs, that is, the salvation of their souls.
We endeavonr to set this point before them in all ita
in&nite importance, far snrpasaing all other matters
whatever. This is what we aim to do : but alai 1 How
little wonld all avail, were it not for the powerfal
agency of the Holy Spirit. Blessed be God, we
iW bim evidently and gloriously at work among ns—
never more so than at the present time, taking the
country at large. Bleas the Lord on our behalf, and
, pray for a contiunance of bis loving kindness.— My love
to all who love the Lord Jeaoi. He Is oar common
friend. O what a friend ! ! Blessed be God for bim.
He is our all. Who wonld not serve him and live to
him. He deserves more than we can give him to
eternity,"

The late Mr. Newton f sentiments respecting the
glorions work that has been described above, may not
be unacceptable to the reader. They are contained in a
letter to the Scotch minister, who has kindly favoured
me with Mr. C.'s letters, and to whom they were
Mtdreseed. Mr. N— 's letter was dated, London, Feb.
20, 1792.

" The revival at Bala demands thsnkfalness. llie

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260

l/ord Recording to his sorereign pte&snre, now and then;
Vouchsafes Btich seuong of refreshment u draw the
attention of many. Bnt hitherto they hare been nsunlly
local and temporary. I remember one in Scotland abont
fifty years ago. The moat extensiTe; 1 think, took plac^
in America about the same time ; and was first observed
under Dr. Edward'a ministry at Northampton, lliere
is generally mach good done on snch occasions of power :
bnt tre must not e:cpect that every appearance will
nnswer onr wisbes. There are many more bloaaoms db
the tree in the spring, than apples in antnmn, yet w«
are glad to see bloiaoms, because we know, that if there
be no blossoms, there can be no fniit. — Yet when sud-
den and general awakenings take place among people
Whs are ignorant and unacquainted with scriptnre, they
are more or less attended with blemishes and misgnided
zeal. The enemy is watchful to sow tares among the
wheat. Tbiu it has always been. U was so in the
apostles* days. Offences arise ; and they who watch to
find something at which they may stnmble and cavil, by
the righteous judgment of God, have what tbey wish
for. Bnt they who love the Lord, and have a regard
for precious sonls, will rejoice in the good that is really
done, and can account for the occasional mixtnre from
the present state of onr oatore. — ^That the good work
at Bala may flonrish, and extend to London and Gdin-
borgh, if the Lord pleases, is my sincere prayer, ai I
doubt not it is yours."

These awakenings were new things at Bala and its
vicinity, bnt not so in South Wales, under the ministry
of Mr. Rowland. Many, at different times, bad taken
place there, and some far more extensive than these in
North Wales ; for they extended generally over sevenl

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sao

cavKtics. Thej were not recorded, txc^ hi b9»wi |

•ad therefore we have now no paiticolu knowledgp
•f tbem. The history of the Ubonn ol that
cxtnonliiiBry man, Mr. R.* — bad it been written,
waeld acarcely have fonad a parall*! in the aoaals of
luognphy. There are no donbt thonaandi, yea biradieda
of thooiandi now in heaven, who acknowledge him af
their father in Christ. — Bnt what moit we tay of tbes*
■Ktraerdinaiy awakenings ? By what power were tb^f
pradoced ? By human power } By human agency sff
doobt, bat net by hnmaa power. If the preachera' el9r
^nence, earnestneM and zeal, or what the adversary
woald call, vehemence and violent ardonr, had effected
them, how was it that the influence of these means waf
not DDiversal, instead of being so occasional, at the
distance of several years, and confined often at one time
to this part, and at another to that part of the coontry,}
No, we must refer tbem to Uie power of Him who;

* It niBj not be amiii to Uf a vord or two of this truly
great nu-j. A friend of mine once aiked&D old gentleman of am-
■ideraUe iatelligeDce, nor dend, who bad often heard botk
Whitfield and Rowland, reipectiog the>T comparatiTe meriU afl

fireiicbers. He decidedly gave the preference on the whole to the
alter. Whii&eld. he aiud, vas fireiter perhaps in the power of
alarming the unEoncerned. But Rowland excelled in building op,
strengthening and comforting the Chriscinn. His Mrmons wera
more methodical and contained more matter and move point.
W.'a aermons wonld be soon forgotten ; but those of R. woold
be remembered and retained throngb life. This I believe, wax
true; for I have beard old people mentioning often what they
beard from R. though be has been now dead nearlf fot*f year*.
There is another point in which the superiority, according to
this old g:entleman's opinion, belonged to R. Whitfield, at ^nies.
when much animated, lost his mMter, hia feelinga Impeded the
operations of his mind. But this was never the case with Bow-
land ; Ae more animated he Wa», the greater was hia matter,
the more weighty wm wbat he said ; which is the saninit of all
•xcllency in an orator.

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" worketb all things after tlie coonsel of his own will."
We are confirmed ia this opinion by tbe chaiscter of th«
impressioDs produced and by their effe<^s. Deep con-
TtetioBS of BID, heart-rending concern for the son), lelf-
^horreiiee,self-at»uement, earnest entreaties for mercy,
importunate 8 application h for reconciliation with God
through the merits of the Ssvionr, followed, after per-
severing prayers, by the enjoyment of peace, comfort
and gratitnde, — what are these, but the genuine impres-
sions of that gloriooB Spirit who cbaogetli the heart and
reaewi the soni after the divine image. And what were
the effects manifested in the life and posterior condact i
Exactly soch as bore the same marks and proofs of «
divine power — departure from iniquity and hnmble
walking with God.

These awakenings then wera mbHantially the same
with what all true Christians undergo, however gradual
and varied in manned. The difference is only in things
'that sFe circumstantial, — in the number awakened at
the same time, and in the atreugth of the feelings expe-
rienced. With the exception of these minor points,
there was nothing in them but what proved them to be
the common genuine operntions of tlie Spirit — opera-
tions without which there can in no case be any thing
like true religion. O that we were to see such awaken-
ings in the present day, snch manifestations of tbe
divine power, snch evidences of the divine favour ! O
that every part of the country were to witness them,
England as well as tVales ; and not only England and
Wales, but the whole world ! What is the " nation**
that is bi be " bom in a day," bnt the effect of sacta
simultaneous awakenings widely extended ) Tbe few
extraordinary occurrences of this kind, that bare already

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been leen, are do more than imall specimetii and pre-'
lodes of tboie wonderfiillj^ great and extensive awskeii-
inga, wbich, aa we hope, are on the eve of taking place,
when a second and n still more glorious pentecost shall
be esbibited before the eyes of a wondering world, to
the exultation of saints and to the confnsion of sinnen-
Oreat preparations preceded those awakenings which
we bnve been recording; schools were established, the
people were instructed, the gospel had for some time
been powerfally preached, earnest prayers were offered
np to heaven for auccets. The Lord heard ; and showera
of blessings were ponred down ; and a glorions harvest
was vouchsafed. What do we see now in the Christi&D
world } What but similar preparations, but on a mnch
larger scale. If there be any thing wanting, it is the
strong and earnest crying for the powerfnl visitations of
heaven, far the outpouring of that Spirit, without whom
nothing effectual can ever be done. May then the spi-
rit of prayer be more oniversol ; may its entreaties be'
more ardent ; and its importonities increase nntil they
prevail. We shall then witness " the arm of the Lord
revealed," the almighty power of liis grace made knowit
and a nation born in a day.

These singular awakenings, as we have already
•aid, began first under the ministry of Mr. Rowland*
The very first took plaoe, while he was officiating in
the church, and occurred, perhaps many will be snr<
prised to bear, while be was reading the litany, and
that passage of it aad the following, which b^in thns—
" By the mystery of thy holy incarnation, &c." — ^The
effect was astonishing. ' The people were melted inie
tears and wept londly. The impression spread widely
fa the whole neighbouihood. The most powerful

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■wakeniiiKS took place in the three cUnrcbei whieb be
served : and many were savingly inipressed. The next,
according to' my ioformatioo, commenced at a prayer
meeting held at Llaugeitbo chapel. So that the two
first had their beginning in prayer, which of all meang
ifl the most effectual to drair down npou ns the blessings
•f heaven. Not less than six or seven of these extra-
ordinary awakenings took place in the lifetime of Mr.
Rowland; and were all the means of la^ additions to
bis people : most of whom usually stood their ground,
though not M'ithont some instances of defection.

And what is remarkable, several of them occnrred
at the interval of seven years. There are now old peo-
pie living who have a perfect recollection of three of
them snccessively occurring at this regnlsr distance of
time. One great awakening is mentioned, from its
having been more extensive than any otherj duri«g
which many hundreds, and even thousands were, accord-
ing to all appearances then and afterwards, uvingly
impressed. Whatever may be thought of some things
tiiat attended them i (for what is ever done among and bj
men, which does not in a utessare partake of their
weaknesses uid depravity) .yet they- were most clearly
the productions of a divine power, and the evidences
of adivine.favonr.

SECT. III.— Mr. Ct labourt, tfc/ram 1795 «o 1804.

Mr. C. htid an enlarged heart. When the state of
the heathen world had attracted the notice of the reli-
gions pnblic, his sympathy was excited and bis exertions
were not wanting. The London Missionary Society Was
estftUished in the year 179&. He cordially approved of

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ita plans anti sotered vory warsnly int« iU views. la
his sermonB, at tba quarterly nwetingi, c&llsd assocu-
tioDi, aod by bis writingi, hf made koown tbe atete
and Dfgetl the claims uf tbe heatben world. Tb« feel-
iags excited were very pleasing. Prayers were offerod
np for the heathens ; and cousidering the eoinparativ*
poverty of the inhabitauts, their coalribatiotts were
very liberal. To know onr own wants will teach ns to
feet for tbe wants of others. The soul that has tasted
that the Lord is gracions, feels ansiona that otiiers
■kould know bim and partake of his blessings. Onr
anxiety for the salvation of others is invariably iu pro-
portion to the power and vigour of onr piety. The more
we feel the inflaence of divine things, the greater will
be onr concern for tbe eternal welfare of onr fellow-
creatnrcs. To promote therefore effectually an interest
in* the deplorable case of the heathens, tite first ol^ect
which ministers shonld have in view is to make their
people feel deeply the importance of their own salvation.
Every interest created in any other way, will be soper-
licial and evanescent. The soil in which the tree of
nissioaary exertions will alone grow and permanently
loDriah, is tbe deep spiritual experience of divine
things. The only way to make tbe tme fmitfal is to
fertilize the soil. That the soil was good in many parts
of Wales at this time, appears evident from the acconnt
given in the former section. And hence the facility
with which Mr. C. suceeeded in making the people feel
for ,lhe heathen world, and la drawing forth thnr
liberality.

The following letter to his friend G— shews tbe
annetji he felt fir mouU, and the deep interest be took
in mtivnarjf labour: He was at this tine in Londoa.

L)ii.:e..yG00<^Ie '

S65

. "' 8pi Fielda, Aug. 15, 17!)6. I received yoar last,
anil-.was much pleased md surprised at tbe very singa-
kr Proviileuce which led you to M — . ] bare no doubt
bnt that this importaut event will prodacc very import-
ant -Gonseqaeuces in the Lord's good time. 1 think no
piSraoDg in tbe world should be more dead to their own
wills tbau ministers of the gospel, 'If they carry a mea-
aage from the Prince of Peace to perishing sinners, let
Mm direct where and to whom. I am glad that yon
oooiplied with what appeared bo evident as a call of
Providence. May the Holy Ghost be poared down
abundantly on yon, and on the people through your
ministry, that you may rejoice together in the salvation
of Ui« hord. He is promised and received by the
preaching of faith, l^et us extend onr views and enlarge
our expectations. Who knows what great things we
may yet see in the world, even wonders of grace. Oar
divine Master bas glorious designs of grace and mercy
to accomplish. And to be employed in furthering bis
gracious purposes, is our highest honour, next to the
hnving of our names written in heaven. Tbe very occn-
pation of our lives is his service in the salvation of sin-
ners. Our course here will be soon finisbed, O for
grace to be faithful for a few days, and abound in tbe
work of tbe Lord with all meekness, patience and long-
sotfering ! I feel a desire in my mind to submit to every
thing, to bear all things, so that I may but succeed ia
the salvation of souls. Did onr Master die for themj
and shall we not cheerfully become all things to all
men to save some t 1 am unworthy ; 1 am insufficient :
I feel it ; but still in his strength I would go on with
the'wof'^ '■> some degree I see the importance of it,
and cannot but glory in its soccess.

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" Amidst all the ahaliiqgi of the nations, 1 trngt
that tbe " deiire of all natioDs" U preparing a way for
his coming amoi^ them Id all the glories of hia graoe
and mercy. Let his name aloue be exalted. It will be
so. — I diued this week with Aor old friend W — ; where
1 met F — , and spent a very comfortable afteraooD
together. Your letter was read ; aud all rejoiced at tke
combination of favourable circumstances which directed
your path' to your present situation. J saw Scott yes-
terday, who is well. Cecil is poorly and aeta off next
week for Bath. Mr. Newton is not in town ; and
I feel disappointed in leaving town withoat tbe nanal
annual interview with him. fie is engaged in writing
tbe life of Grimshaw : and Cecil is writing that of
Cadogan. 1 trnst that we shall have something edifyii^
from both. Dr. Hawois is preparing tbe misaionary
voyage for tbe press. The vessel is getting ready for
another voyage to convey misBionaries to other islands
in the great sooth sea, and to visit those already there.
I one day dined on board the Duff, and mach pleased I
was with the thooght, thttt amidst all the hundreds of
vessels I saw in the river trading to different parts ef
the globe, carrying the perishing things of this world
from one nation to another, there was one trading for
heaven, et^faged in conveying the everlasting gospel to
benighted heathens periebing for lack of knowledge.
Perhaps tbe first vessel that in any age of the worid that
was solely eo employed. 1 thought the nation hi^i^
honoured by the event as well as tbe penona principaUy '
concerned."

The following letter refers to what Mr. C. hwt ;
done to interest his conntrymen in tbe canae of miiaioMj
and records a strikii^ iMttame •fiibtra^.

UjL.:e..iG00'^lc

3ff7

"Bsk, Mbi^ 30, 1799. H^ letter Iih been
priited ID tbe Weleb laognage, giving an acctniiit of the
niBMonary nadertaking and iU success. It baa had a
very wide circolatioD | and its effects have been very
bsiefieial. Perveiit prayers and praises have been pnt
up by onr people, yibo knew nothing at all of it before,
or of Ae state of the heathen world. Their hearts
being warmed towards the cause, ^eir purses begin to
open. After pnblisbing it in oar chapel, and saying
that a collection was intended to be made, one good
woman bronght me Jiv« guinea*, bedewed with tears of
joy that the possessed so much money, and had lived to
give it to so good a cause, I expect I shall have the,
pleasare, of sending you soon a decent sam. We are
comraNcing a Magazine in the Welsh langnage, in
which an account c^ mbsiona and other religions intel-
ligence will be regularly published every quarter. Whilst
yon Boppllcate the tJirone of grace for onr brethren in
distant islands, do not forget the poor Uritons among
tkeir barren monntains. The glory of the \iaiA is mani-
fested among them, and tlioasanda of them flock aronnd
the gospel atandard. As it is the very joy of their sonls,
they cannot but rejoice e!t every prospect of success to
its cause."

TbeME^aaine mentioned above was called Trf-
lona ytprgdol (Spiritoal Treasury ) The writer of Us
Welsh memoir assisted him in this work. Contriba-
tions were sent by otbers, especially by the author of
*' Noah's Portrmt," U continued to come ont qoar-
lerly for three years } that is, from 1799 to 1802; and
the whole forms one volume. Its price was nspence a
number ; and it was about the same size with the
Chriitiaa Guardiiw in English. It was resnraedby Mr.
22

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C himself in 1609 wd contiaaed to 1613. llie anm-
ben tbcn published form another volume, called the
aecond tmok of the same pablication. The good done
by this Magazine was uo doubt very coasiderable. It
was the first thing of the kind, which was carried on
to any extent, in the Welsh language, The spirit of
reading was just commenciDg j which has stace wod-
derfnlly increased : for oow there are not less than
eight or nine Welsh Magazines circulating moDtbly
>n the principality, — a far greater namber than in any
other part of the world, in proportion tothepopolatioD:'
and all these, with one or two exceptions, retigiom*
pnblicationg. The exanple and the first excitement,
were doobtless given by Mr. G. The conteuts of his
Magazine were valuable, judicious and interesting. It
contaiaed among other things bic^raphical sketches,
explanations of difficult texts of scriptare, some ac-
connt of the revival of religion in Wales, and brief
notices of the state of the heathens and of the exertions
made by diff^ent denominations to evangelize them. It
contained also a great deal that was intended for the
Sunday schools, — mles, directions, warnings, exhorta-
tions and encouragements Id form of addresses and
letters to the teachers and to the taught. These
addresses were remarkable for their simplicity, faith-
fulness and wisdom, no less than for the tenderness.
affection and love which they displayed. These are of
permanent interest. It would be of no small service to
the Sunday schools, to collect and publish them in a
tract. Some well-wisher to bis country, it is liope^
will undertake this trouble.

But what renders this Magazine moat peculiarly
valnable, is the account, it contains, of some of ^ks

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discnisions ht the UBOciations. They are the minutes
of what was said by different miaiBters on subjecrts that
had been before-hand proposed, taken by Mr. C. The
practice of diBcassiiig giren aobjecta was introdaced, u
we QDderstand, by bim. The private discaseioDB at
inch meetings, were before occnpied only in points of
experience and anch matters as might accidentally come
under their notice. The coDvereation became then of
necessity often desulotry. Observing this, Mr. C. pro*
posed that some interesting subject should be previously
proposed, and maturely considered by the preachers,
and then discossed at the next meeting. This plan was
most beneficial in its effects. Mr. C. was in the habit of
writing an abstract of these discnssioos : and occa-
•ionslly inserted it in the Magazine. Some of these
epitcnnea are of a very superior kind. Scriptnral tratba
are most correctly and judiciously set forth, handled not
cnriously, but soberly, not specnlatively, bat practi-
cally, not in a format bnt familiar manner, and in
connection with the experience and practice of tbe
Christian. Many of these minntes, amounting to a
considerable number, as we nnderstand, are still nn*
published, contained in manuacr^ts left by Mr. C*
If those unpublished are in any degree proportionate
in valne to those wh^ch have appeared, it wonld be do-
ing service to the public to publish them. They wonld
ia all probability make a body of useful practical divi-
nity.

* " From tbe year 1793 to 1804, Mr, C. had written the
■Dbatsnce of all the matters dtscusied in tl>« ■asocintioni held b^
tbe CalTiniitic Methodirts in North Walei, which unonnt to
forty or more. Some of these minutes have appesred in th«
"Spiritual Treasary," bnt by far the leaat number." Wileh
MeoHiir, page 22ti.

Z 3

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About thu time Mr. C. met with ui afflicting di*^
yenaation. Hia pieocbing and catcchiaiog excaretoH
were freqnent and attended with great labour, and re-
paired a great deal of aclf-denial. The accratmodatiiuis
he met with in some of the moat remote and mouotain-
ous parte of the coniitry were verr indiffereot, t^
inhabitants being poor and very humble in their mode
of living. Beaidea, aome parts are very high and htUyi
aad in winter extremely cold. Wbile traTelling, iq the
aotoinn of the year 1799, over mount Migneint in Car-
narronshire, on a freezing night, one of bis tbomba
l^ecaiae frost-bitten, ft was so severely affected, that
he was taken very ill ; and so moch to that his life was
in danger. He was ill for a considerable time; and to
prevent mortification, it was deemed neccaaary to have
it amputated. This affliction was very trying both to
kis family and to his people. When he was considered
to bQ in a dangeroas state, a special prayer meeting
vas called by the members of the chapel. Fervent
Snpplications were offered up in hie behalf. Serial
prayed on the oticasion : and one person in particnlai'
was much noticed at the time for the very urgent and
impwtnnate maimer with which be prayed, Alluding
to the fifteen years added to Hezekiah's life, he with
unusual fervency intreated the Almighty to spare Mr.
C.'s life at least fifteen years. He several times r^eat*
ed the following words with such melting importanity
as greatly affected all present — " Fifteen years more, O
liord. We beseech thee to add fifteen years more lo
the life of thy servant. And wilt thou not, O our God,
. give fifteen years more for the sake of thy church and
thy oaose r—Mr. C. heard of this prayer ; and it made
a deep impression on bis mind. He afterwanU fre-

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fMotly menttoned it as & rcuoR wby he shoald mate
the best ase of bis tjme, saying, that his fifteen yeara
would soon be completed. The Isst time he risited
Sonth Wales, when asketj when be shoold come again,
his answer was, at least to some, that bis fifteen jeara
Vere nearly up, and that he shosid probably never risit
thein figain. He meDtioned tbis to several of his friend*
. jUie last year of his life, and especially to bis wife
^■d what is Temarliable, his dealh eccorred just at the
tarouoatioa of ^he fifteea years. And what is still not
\eu reiaarbab]e, it was during this time that be per-
ionned the most important acts of his life. The moil
Talnable of his works were written doting this time.
The complete and efficient establishment of the Knnday
/Kbools was effected during this time. He originated
the Bible Society dorioK tbis tine. He bad been the
Beans of doing great good botii to Ireland aitd Scotland
daring tbis time. What great and glorious resnltfl bare
|iToeeeded from the EsrveDt prayer of a poor, simple,
old Christbn pilgrim at Bala ! !

What his {leople did for him in bis illness, we have
■ttffi- Tbey prayed, and they were beard. We are
anxious, it may be, to know bow it was with him in his
affiictkm,. bow be felt. In this we may be gratibed.
Hie letter wbicb follows was written by him to a friend,
when he was reooveriag. It is a translation from the
Walsh Memo».

" I have leceived your two last kind letters; for
which 1 feel very tbankfol, and beg to acknowledge my
•bligalbns. lliat you and the brethren remember me
before the tiirene of grace, is to me a cansa of great
joy. I GOTwider the prayers of the church on earth to
be next to Ute intercession of Christ in heaven. Those

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* gTMningt that eunot be uttered " the lu|piaga and '
Toice of the Holy Spirit in the beuts of his people, are
aweet, poverfol, and moit effectual with God. "The
•Sectnal fervent prayer of a righteous man aTaileth
nnch." And there are no limits to this — " mocb," ex-
cept " asking amies." That the church is praying for
me is a great honour. Tliis cheers my mind when most
d^ected -, tboogfa at the same time, it fills me with
■hone that 1 know not where to hide my wortbleaa head.
It is a pleaanre to me to think, that I shall have to
spend a joyful eternity with my brethren, who are ob
earth so dear to me. — All things are well ; I could not
wish them better.

" It is tme, the dispensations of my heavenly
Father towards me, appear to me mysterions ; ^et while
viewing them, wonder, joy and gratitode fill my mind.
His ways are unsearchable; and yet all his works are
glorioDS. He can by the same me^ns kill and make
alive J be can draw life from dead things, and fill with
joy unspeakable and full of glory, a sool that is ia tbo
midst «rf clouds^ the darkest and the most threatening ;
yea h« leads his people into the wilderoess for the pur-
pose of speaking peace to their souls in a manner moat
adTButageooa to their good. — I do not think it becomes
me to speak much of myself, leat I should become a
boaster before God } which I dread to be. There arc
some of God's dealings with his people, which it
is not lawful for us in this world to make known in all
their circomstaAces. Tbey will in the next be knows
to all, to the eternal praise of the Redeemer. Vet it is
my delight and it is my duty, even while here, to bear
my humble testimony, together with thousands of my
brethren gone before, that God is faithful, and that

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notbing lias failed of all that the Lord hai spoken in liis
«9rd, that ail lias come to pass. He has remembered
me in. my low estate and afflicting circa m stances, end
has given roe strength according to roy day. He has
manifested so mnch of his glory and of the glory of his
salvation throngh his Son, that my spirib has become
Bnbmiesive under his hand with joyfnl seienity and
ratmness. 1 fully believe that he who gave his life a
ransom for me, cannot bat do me good in the end.

" A believing view of Christ crucihed has made me
iriiole. He has told me again &nd again, " My cot'eu-
ant of peace shall stand." I have felt the stability of
the "two immutable things" ( O the importance of har-
ingsomething immutable in the day of trouble) sufGcient
t» support my soul, and to raise me above all my fears,
mahling me in a degree to obtMn a glimps of the iocor'
mptible inheritance that fadeth not away. Viewing
these wonderfyi things, I felt my soul drawing nearer
the heavenly country, desiring and in a measure longing
to enjoy it fully. All things below receded from my
view in a degree 1 never found before. There wa« bnt
very little, I thought, between me and the full enjoy-
ment of the purchased possession. These views, and
the serenity which resulted from them, continued in a
d^;ree without any change during all my illness. To die
seemed more pleasing and more delightful to me thau to
live : and the country beyond the grave appeared to ms
extremely desirable, and the company and the employ-
ment suitable to my taste. 1 viewed the eternal happi'
ness of heaven, as enjoyed by the glorious hosta above,
to be that of worthipping God perfectly, with all the
heart, — of worshipping him the only wortliy olyect of
worship, and of praising him unceasingly, who loved
and washed them from their sins in his own blood.

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" I would Mtt^nei tarn my tight htm tbete ob~

jecti, munre being aoKble to bear viewa lo enraptnnma.
I isniiot expreta to yoo, how I longed, aoae momentB,
tp bave no more to do with any other thought or work
ttnt tiie delightful work above. Jesoa wm ajl, and he
waa fully Bufiicieat. All I knew, ex<^t what f knew
of him, i^tpeared wholly DBeleaa, and altogether worth-
Iwa. I felt u;iBpe«kable gratitnde for the little I knew
of him : fAa< waa eternal life to my poor and guilty
soul. There appeared, and still doea appear, a pecnliar
excellency in the knowledge of him, and every thing
eJae leemed bat " dang aod losa." It was a comffnt to
me, that I had tried to apeak a little of him to sinners :
but I felt ashamed that I had not spoken better, more
clearly, more powerfully, of sue to inhoitely worthy of
being exalted, the knowledge of whom is bo necesauy
to siunerB. My soul rejoiced with exceeding great joy,
that tongues, as it were, of fire, were speaking of him
to a world of lost sinners. And it gave me pleasure ta
think that the Bride wonld not feel the need of me,
inasranch as her Beloved has the fulness of the Spirit.
Tbong^ I Uiought it an unspeakable privilege to obtain
the lowest place in the chnrdi ; yet it comforted me to
(hiak, that the glorious canse could go on without me ; and
that though I and thousands with me, were laid in tbe.
dust, the canse of Christ would still prosper ; for " the
government is ou his shoulder." This was a cause of cob-
tinqal joy to my mind.

" What is Cod's desigp and purpose concerning me
braeaftai, 1 know not. But 1 am quiet and still in hit
haud ; let him do what soera«th him good. If be bo
glorified in and through me, all is welL — Quit yoU' like
wen and be strong, my dear brethren. We shall soon
end our courae j and we aball kav« a joybl eterai^

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tagetbtr, uid with thoasands more of our (eilow-lng-
thren. Tb« cftDie h in the tiaod of J.esne ; and thougb
afipcaninces may be anfavoarable, yet Jesus livte, aii^
his caoBe must live and prosper. When I look to meB,
1 BometimeB feel indignaiit, and sometimes disbearteued :
but wben ! look to Jesus, exalted 'on liigb, 1 see that
every thing is well ; and 1 receive great encouragement.
— Forasmuch as the Lord has incliued you Co remember
me in yoor prayers, I thought it my duty to tell you of
his goodness to me, that praise also may be giren to
bim. — My liand is healed, but not restored to its usnai
strength. My health is in general belter and improving
daily. But I have still some degree of laugnor, though
without pain. I cannot bear mnch cold or wet. Dry
and warm air cheers me much. Farewell. Continue to
pray for me, your unworthy brother."

We shall transkite a part of another letter written
on the same occasion.

" My strength is gradually recovering, and 1

•m a wonder to myself, if not to many others. The
good Lord, who has been, as it were, slaying me, is
BOW again making lae alive. 1 doubt not bot that be is
wise and good in all his dispeo sat ions. I found him to
be so, — a ready help and an effectual support in my
lowest estate ; and his strong consolations sustained my
mind in a degree I never before experienced. It was
«asy to be patient, and comfortable to submit. 1 have
been many times dying in my own judgment, (utd ac-
cording to the wish of my heart. And I found it as easy
to trust in Jesus and iq his consummate ria^teouBesE,
IB death as in life. I had nothing else but Jesus, and 1
felt the need of nothing eUe. I wished that every other
«bject were baniifaed forever from my sight. 1 enjoyed

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ptaee which pugeth all niulentanding through the Mood
of Jnas. Sometimes I longed to take nnotber step, M
ht forever with the Lorrl. 1 am bosnd to bear my
hnaible testimony to tlie goodness of the [lOrd. I reckon
the loss of a thomb ai uotbiiig, compared with the con-
solations the liorll afforded me in my afflictioa."— A
few words from a tlilrd letter, dated Dec. 27, 1 799,
shall be added : — " O may tlie good Lord enable ns to
be faithful in oor iniportaut office the few days ne Iiare
behind of onr pilgrimage. I at times feel the terrors of
the Lord on my mind. Sinners are periaiiiDg nruund me j
' atid shall they peiisb through my negligence ? God
forbid. But when I reflect on uhat is passed, it seems
to me that I have as yet done nothing. 1 hope to
double my diligence and faithfulness in future, lu warn-
ing all in season and out of season."

That any one on earth should have more of heaven
than Mr. C. seems to have had in bis illness, can
scarcely be conceived possible. In what a glorious state
of mind must that individual be, when, not from the
tortures of afflictions, bnt from the consolations of the
gosjiel, he desires, and even lougs to be gone, to be
forever with thel^ord. Before this can be the case,
there must be an identity of views and feelings with
those which prevail above, a high degree of conformity
to the divine image. The objects of his wishes were
not fanciful and undehoed. He saw, he knew what he
dexired, what he wished to enjoy — to engage with alt
the heart in adoring and praising the God of his salva-
tion. — ^The effect of this a£Biction we see in the last
extract, — an increased concern for the salvation of sin-
ners. He viewed his former labours as nothing, though
in the estimation of others very great } and felt an

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tasiein derira to be doobly more diligent in his worir.
O that this were noivdrsaHy the effect of every afflic-
lioa with which the ministers of the g08i>el may be
Tieited !

Id the year 1600 the snperiuteDdence of the Rer.
P. .Oliver's connection at Chester devolved on Mr. C.
Mr. O. died that year, and left Mr. C. a trustee for the
places of worahip be had established ; and he wai ta
overiook and manage the whole concern. Hie career
of Mr. 0. bad been similar to that of Mr. d- He had
been excluded from the Gharch on account of his leal
and faithful D ess. He was a man mnch devoted to the
■ervice of his Maiter. His ministry had been blessed
to many at Chester and in its Wcinity. Chapels bad
been bailt there.whichheiuconaection with some of his
friends served. Mr.C. occasionally assisted him in bis
lifetime: and it was owin^ to the high opinion Mr. O.
entertained of him that he appointed him his trustee.
This concern added considerably to the labours of Mr.
C. and not a little to his anxiety. Difficulties are in-
variably connected with great undertakings : and in all
onr transactions with mau, we shall have always to
combat, inad^ee, more or less, with pr^ndicei> ^od
oppositions. - This it seems was the case at Chester.
" (n this," says his Welsh bi<^rapher, " as well a*
in other ports of bis work for God, his diligence and
faithfulness were very remarktible, though be did not
escape the opposition and calumny of some, who were
too much influenced by a selfish, proud and conceited
spirit. Bnt this was one of the " little things" in bis
view, when be considered the great work be - had- in
band."

There wm nothing particniw that transpired b*-

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tmen fkii tiew uid the yaar 1804, wilb Ah taaptioa,

that he established « jmHfii^ jwiom at Baku 1893)
which had bees principally eagaged from that tina to fau
death ID printing elementary books for the BcbooU, aad
hin writinga, especially bis scriptural dictionsry, which
we shall hereafter notictt. The elententary hooks, m
w« are told by the Welsh biographer, page 226, west
throngb fifty-bve editions in eleven years, that is, fra^
the establbhment of the press till the death of Mr. G.
Therr nomber in all amoanted to 320,006. There is.a
particDlar acconnt of tbem, he sayR, which may now bs
Men, kept by the pnater. The onoiber of these booki
gives ns some idea of the extent of the Sanday Bchoob.

The exertioDi of Mr. C. which led erentnally to th«
formation of the Bible Society shall be detailed in th«
next chapter. We shall now conclude this by inserting

two letters sent to his friend W .

Spirilual convene. — 7^ Spirit't infiiunoe.

•' Bala, Jan. 10, 1803. I felt much disappotnted Mt
my retom from London by not baviDg more fellowih^
and spiritual iaterconrie with you and Mrs. W — ; as I
had foond it in limes past both joyous and prefitaUe.
From many religions characters, no ^ritual cooverseis
to be expected, as they hare aot attained to bot Utdi
spirituality in their own wuls. But when I know
persou to whom that grouod is fomHiar, 1 feel gntni
and disBppoiDted, if I get not a little comrannion wilk
them in the green pastnresBiid by the still waters. I
am thankfbl to the Lord that yoo think of me, a poor
worm, in your prayers. Continue, dear friend, Uiia
IdndnesB to me. To say that 1 need your prayers, is
saying nothing bat what yoa are already very senBU>l«
of. My wants in every instutce are equally as grert, if

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879

mtp-satef, Recording to my feeiingi, eniyday. tan M
wiCer DOT BtroSger thsR in years put long ago, but M l
nceire wiidnni And streagth daily. And at to pardon,
■U ia aUmal raia witiioat it ereiy moment. Nothing
ijoM on at real gospel-bo lineiB within or without, b«t
M it is every moneat and in every instance, carried M
by tbe holy inflnence of the Holy Spirit. I think I
InKnr in aome namli degree the amazing ditFeresce bft^
Iwcen the effects of his holy inllaences and all other
Eldiags and workings whateTer. In his light Christ ia
■y estimation is in some degree vhat he ought to be,—
meellent, Vttfexw/, — gloriotu, £^«fic;,— prvcios j, T<fi.x.
But without him, Christ and his salraclon seem to be
Mthing at all, but dreams and shadovB. I seem to be
■t SI ^e richly furnished ; hut what are the ricbeet
viands to me, who am full, sickly and squeamish : being
niter the flesh as to the temper and frame of my mind,
I mind not the things of the Spirit. Coutinoe to pray
for me, that I may in particular live daily in every
thing under the holy influence of God the Spirit. To
ke in God's work without his Spirit ia terrible, — nnpn^
Stable to us and diihonourable to God. O what a oom-
fart it is that when we set about praying, he meets db,
helps as, and gives us access to Ood; which all onr
•kill could not command without him through the aget
of etertity. Surely the covenant is well ordered in all
Ainga : for the Holy Spirit ia ordained ia it to help U
h all tkings."

Liberalitif to the poor. — The love of God,
" BaU, June 8, 1803. 1 was from home When
yonr very kind letter came, or I would have answered it

by return of post to acknowledge the receipt of

for the ise of our poor godly pec^le. I am gnUafied by
A 2

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tiM Goafideace yon have placed id nie,nd ahall be very
gUd to be yoar servuit in this good work. I hue tbe
happiness of being acignainted with many who lore tite
Lord JeSDB Christ in sineerity ; many of whom are very
paor, I have more than, once tslcen my great coat off
my back to cover theii naked limbs in the coldi of win-
ter, and gone to Mrs. C. for another. I sball meet with
no difficolties in laying ont yoar very liberal dooation
according to yoar wishes. And I believe yon may de-
pend on my faithfulness and disinterested a ess in tbe
work aocordiog to die best of my knowledge.

" It is not a small privilege to be employed in
•erviog those whom onr Lord loves, whether it be in
their temporal or spiritaal coaoerns. He hatb loved
them, redeemed them, and washed them in his own
blood ; and takes it kind of us that we love and serve
one another. Onr love is bnt as nothing at bist ; but
At* love has all inmensities, and every perfectMn in it.
The more we know, believe and contemplate it in all its
fulness, immensity and eternity, the more we shall love
bim and one another^ It is an all -conquering love. It
•vercotnes enemies and makes them friends forever. A
cold, stnbborn, hard, misgiving and Buspicions heart
cannot stand before it. Sometimes 1 wonder that it ia
possible for me to think of any thing else. And 1 d«
rejoice that the period is hastening when I shall be alto-
gether filled with its wonders, llie divine perfections
are vW wonderfnl and infinitely glorious. But if God
had not loved us, they would have been all against ns ;
and we deserved justly tbey should. But love has made
all ours, and set them all at work in all their infinite
greatness in onr behalf. The great point was to love :
bit divine love surm'onnted all difEculties, arising from

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our anworlbiness, deformity and gnilt, and embraced
u» in the midst of our vileneaB, aod withheld nothiog
necessary to qualify us for the fall and eternal euji^-
meot of himself.

" I do not troable myself about his love to me in
particDUr. I know he has lored sinners ; and I am one
oftbem. This consideration endears him to me; so
that I cannot help loving and praising bim, and cleaving
to him withont any great donbt or hesitation. Every
thing in Jesns seems to snit me. I know that all bii
blessings were intended for snch as I am. Who else
could make nse of them ? And why not for me ! H«
is altogether lovely — altogether such an one as I conid
wish him t« be; and I see every thing that I want in
him. Where else can I go, or should ,1 go ? 1 see ao
little holiness in me, that 1 can hardly persoade myselfi
that I am a saint. Bat I know that I am a sinner ; and
as snch I seldom fail of having a free access and a
faronrable audience. 1 wonder at liim, and wonder at
myself too. I wonder he admits mc into his presence ;
and I wonder how I can ventore, being so vile and nn-
wortby. Bnt when I look towards the throne, every
thing seems to fsvonr me — a throne of grace — a great
High-priest, touched with the feeling of onr infirmitiM
' — mercy and grace to be obtained and received ; tba
very things I want, and wliich done can help me.
What blessings ! All smiling on a poor worm, and
giving bim a cordial welcome— all the wonders of Ion
to a poor sinner !— — I thank you very sincerely, my
dear friend, for putting it in my power to relieve thos«
who love onr common Lord, and lare lov«d by him.
It is a gratification, 1 assnre yon. Their hearts, as well
as mine, will bless the Lord on your behalf, and pray
for your sonl's prosperity."

Aa 3

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CHAP. IT.
Fmu 1804 to Mk. C.*s death im 1814.

SECT. I.— From 1804 to 1807.

Al Mr. Charles was tVt principal, though not the oaly
imtrDment in or^oating the Bible Society, it is deemed
rigltt to detail briefly though minately, the part he
Mted in the baaineBS. — The exciting or moring cause of
IhU Boble iutitatioD was the n»ot of bibles, especially
in Nvith Wales. This worked on the aympatUy of Mr.
C- and lome of his friends. They exerted thesoselves ;
ud biled in tiielr first efforts. The urgent want which
prevailed allowed them no rest. Their invention was
called into exercise; they planned, contrived and
fervently prayed. The Ixird heard, and directed them
•Tcntnally in a coarse which led to sufficient meaas of
Delief. This want was created by the aaccess of the
gospel. Maity in different parts of the country had
been awahened into a sense of religion by the powerful
preaching of Mr. Rowland and his coadjutors, before
Mr. C. went into Wales. When the people were made
sensible of the value of eternal things, they wanted to
peruse for themselveB the words of eternal life. When
^uckeBed into life, they became hungry and felt the
need of spiritual food. This hnnger for the bsead of
Ve had bwn in a degree satis&ed in Sontii Wales and
{MtftiAlly in the Nortli, by the laudable efforts of the
Rev. Peter Williams, who pvblisbed abont the middle

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of the laat centary or a little later, an edition of the
bible, accompanied with notea after every chapter,.
This was printed at Carmarthen. Nearly at the same
time an edition of Cann's bible came ont in octavo j and
also a pocket edition of it, vith the marina) references
and a few notea at the bottom of the page. Sooth
W^g enjoyed also the benefit of the editions of tlie
bible procured tbroagb the influence of the Ker. G.
Jones, of Llanddowror, in the former part of the laat
century : and this excellent ctei^man was the origin
of all the good, afterwards carried on and enlarged by
Rowland and Charles : it was he that began that rerlval
of religion, which' has become so extensire and so bene-
ficial to the country. The adrantages of the foremen-
tioned editions of the bible reached North Wales but
very partially. Hence when Mr. C. went to that part
of the conntry, he found the inhabitants generally des-
Utnte of the word of life, " It is well known to DMny,"
says his Welsh biographer, " that Mr. C. very soon
after he joined the Ca Iv in istic Methodists in Wales, felt
moeh concerned, that so few of the people, especially
of the poor, could read, and that wfeio bibkt were to
be fonnd among them in general."

This state of things induced Mr. C. to establiih
circulating schools ; which after foor years were fol-
lowed by Sunday schools. When the capacity of reading
became more general, and a serious impression made on
the minds of the young people, bibles were wanted. And
we find that Mr. C. as early as the year 1 787, two years
after the commencement of the circnlating schools, was
correspendiag with the late Rev. T. Scott, then in
tondon, about procuring Welsh bibles for supplying
tba wnnta of his conntrynien. Mr. 8. tried all means

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id kii power but eventnally fuled. The Sunday ichooli
greatly iocreaied the waot. So urgeot and general it
became, that the Rev. T. Jones, of Creatoo, Nortfaain|H
tensbire, when 'on a visit to that country in the year
1791, obterved it with great concern and aoijow. It
made snch impreasiona on his mind, that he conid not
rest without tryibg all means to have it removed. Part
of his correspondence with Mr. C. from this time till
the establishment of the Bible Society may be seen in
Mr. Owen's admirable history of that institation. This
want of bibles was still farther increased by the extraor-
dinary revival which took place in I4orth Wales in the
years 1791, 1792 and 1793. Its greatness and urgency
may be judged of, by the incessant and strenuous efforts
made by Mr. Jones to relieve it, which were no doubt
instigated by the affecting representatioos and impor-
tunate solicitations of Mr. C.

The first attempt was made in the beginning of the
year 1792. An application was made by Mr. Jones
to the Society for promoting' Chriitian knowledge tO
print an edition ef 1 0,000 copies of Welsh bibles. The
Society was reluctant. To induce it, Mr. J. offered b
security to pay for 5000 as soon as printed. This offer
was in July 1792 accepted; but in April 1793 there
was a demur on the ground of an opinion entertained
by the Society that such an edition was not wanted.
Having failed in this way in his object, Mr. J. had re-
course to the kindnesa of his Diocesan, Dr. Niadan, the
bishop of Peterborough. The good bishop most readily
promised to exert his influence to forward what be had
in view. The bishop's influence succeeded, A resolu-
titon to print the nomber required passed the board in
1796 ; and the edition came out in 1799. But it was

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no sooner pablished than sold. Not a single copy wai
in u short time left ; " thont^h Dot one fourth part of the
country," according toMr. J.'saccount, "was supplied.'
' "The joy of those," says Mr. Owen, "who received the
bibles amonoted to exultation; and the grief of those
(and they were many) who tonld not obtain a copy, fell
little short of anguish." — The extent of the spiritual
dearth which prevailed may be conceived from this cir-
cumstance — 10,000 copies not sufficient to supply one-
fouTth-part of the country. How extensive mnst hav«
been the snccess of the gospel !

The qotck sale and the partial extent of this edi-
tion shewed the necessity of another. And no time wa»
lost before Mr. Jones again solicited the society to
Issae another edition. He asked as in the former
instance his benevolent diocesan to use his induence j
which he most readily did : but with no effect. Other
respectable characters were requested to intercede for
him; which they did, but with no success. In th»
year 1802, Jnne 20, he wrote thus to Mr. C. "1 ha»a
repeatedly tried the Society for promoting Christia*
Knowledge through the tuedium of my friends, men of
inflaence, and found that no further help can be ex-
pected from them now: they gave a decided aDswer
more than twice over." We shall add other parts of
this letter as they contain ideas, which may<be viewed
as the seeds from which the Bible Society sprang. " Let
not the business be given up : it may be accomplished
6d this plan : — Let there be three or four faithful men
.appointed in each county to collect tubtcribcrg name*
and receive their tubicription money and to deliver the
books when ready for six shillings a piece ; (only th*
two tettamente io 8to.) half to be paid at the time they

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iubscritMt; and the other half when they neeire tb«
books. Let then be ■ coUectktm made aefficieitt to
eRable as to let iia poorer lort kave a 6i6lt Jbr tirem
*hU{i%g», and thiiM who have mo monejf, graiU. — As
•ooa ai you gather all the subacriberf yoa can bod in
erery corner of the priucipality, then begin to eallact
fir Ihe /undveiksilv/aut. in England we may'bagin
ai aooD as the plan is finally fixed npou, in order that
we may fiod money to purchase paper with.— We mnat
Xty, not to accommodate anjf particular icct, bnt aU
men thaf toant bible*, had on the terms they can aSbrd."
This was the plan on which it was intended then to
proceed.

Id December of this year, 1802, Mr. C. went, a«
wually every year, to Loadon. And he intended to
lay the plan that has been mentioned before bis charit-
^0 friends in town. On the seventh of that mouth
tliere was to be a meeting (tf the Committee of the Tract
Society of which he was a member. The subject was
nwdi on bis mind ; and on a previons morning while
awake in bed, as lie told ma himself, tbe jdea of bar-
ing a society established in London similar to the Tract
Society occurred to his mind : and be vnis so pleased
with it, that be instantly arose', dressed himself, and
went ont to consult with some friends on tbe snlgect.
Tbe first he met with was his friend Mr. Tarn. They
discDsaed the point together for a considerable time.
This Kcoaat will receive a confirmation from a letter
vt Mr. Tarn which shall be presently introduced. At
the next meeting of the Committee of the I'tact Society,
Mr. C- opened bis plan to them, Mr. Tarn having in-
troduced the Bobject. A conversation of some length
CBSoed i in tbe covrse of which it was suggested by the

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Rer. J. Hughes, of B&tterscK, that it trovM be desirable
to extend the plan so as to facilitate a genenl circnb-
tton of the scripture. This aoggestion Wai hailed
with the approliation of all present. Mr. Hugltes wu
requested to draw op a circuliir letter, to invite snd
entreat Christians of every name to join together in *
aotnety to send the word of Ood with ont note or com-
meat all over the world. The success the nndCTlBkiotf .
met with is aniversHlIy known.

This is the brief acconnt, which it has been deemed
proper to give j of what Mr. C. bad to do with the origi-
nation of the Bible Society. If one individual vnamore
instrumental than any other in this glorious work, he
was that individnal. Being where the scarcity of bibles
existed, witnessing the distress it prodnced, he was the
priginal spring of the exertions that were made. Hit
affecting represeutatious, b conection with what b visit
to that country bad produced, atimnlated another, his
friend in England, Mr. Jones, who exerted himself to
procure relief, and tiirough whose liindable and patriotic
Aongh disappointed efforts it was rendered evident, that
•ome aete measures were necessary, and who prescribed
those measures which under certain modi fi cat ioni,
formed afterwards the very essence of the Bible Society.
What share Mr. C. had in giving rise to the suggestion
of those measures, in sopplying materials for the pro-
posed plan, cannot now be ascertained, as his letters to
Mr. J. are not extant. The idea of having a fiibla So-
cietr formed in London to supply the wants of Wdei,
was eridestly the £a^;estioa of Mr. C's. own mind.
Had Uf plan been adopted, there would have been a
fticiety for the dispersion of the scriptures in the prin-
cipality. The extention of the plan was the soggeatioB

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•f Mr. Hnghei. Hence it kppemra that the Bible So-
cietj owes its rise aod origio, under the gnidance and
direction of a gracioBs l^roTideDce, to three indiTdnals
— Mt. rhsrles, Mr. Jones and Mr. Hughes, three na-
tives of that country, which afforded the exciting causes
to those efforts which erentaally issued in a glorious
plan, t>ene6cial not only to its own inhabitants, but to
the iuhabitants of the whole world. — As all good pro-
ceeds exelu*'weiff from God, "all good couniels," as
well as all good bdcccbs which may attend them, there
is no rooin for pride or for boasting or for self-exalta-
tion, or for gel f-con grata! at ion, though an abundant
cause for gratitude and prp.ise. To God only must be
attributed the beginning, the progress and the success-
ful termination of the efforts made. What occasioned
them, came from God : it was he who owned and blessed
' the gospel to the poor iuhabitanta of Wales. And the
eiertiuna that were made must have been all abortive,
bad not the Almighty conducted them by bis invisible
hand into that glorious end in which they finally ter-
minated. To him therefore, and to him only belongs
all the praise. But consistently with this view, without
any derogation to the divine honour, but under certain
circumstances, to a greater manifestation of it, we may
justly point ont and notice those individuals whom he
.employs and honours as his instruments in bringing for-
ward any great and illustrious work. The greater the
work and the humbler and more insignificant the instru-
nenti^ the more apparent is the blessing and interpo-
ution of Providence. The three individuals that we
have mentioned occupied no high stations in the world,
and were more the objects of its scorn than of its
' regards, and one of them, if not all in a measure, had

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been reviled aod persecuted ; and yat the Almigbty was
pleased to employ them in a work, the doing of which
would have reflected honoor on crowns and mitres, and
which is now and no donbt ever will be, the admira-
tion of the world.*

Thou|;h Mr. C, as we have seen, had innch to do
with the originatioD of the Bible Society, yet there is
nothing to be met with in his letters at this time or at
any posterior time, wliich alludes at all to the part he
had acted. Modesty was one of the most remarkable
traits in his character. He published in Welsh a short
account of the Society, soon after it was established,
for the purpose of calling to it the attention of his
countrymen. It was necessary that be should givesome
account of its origin. This he did in a manner the
most modest that can be well conceived.f He mentions

* To i^Te some ides of what hns been slresdy done by thi>
-wvaderful inatitulion, ne add the foUowing account from the
cub report, 1827. Bible Societies, AoiiliarLea, &c., in Bri-
tain, 2006; in the Colonics, 88; in Irbland, 232; in Scot-
land, IfiO; inEuKDPBAN Continent, &c, 825; in Asm, 15;
in Africa, 4 ; in America, 578 :— ToUl, 3,9{i5 ! 1 ! Biblfi
and TestMoents issued by the Bri^sh Society, and those pur-
chased and issued by it in Foreign Parts :— Bibles, 2,095,24.') ;
Testaments, 3.144,383 :— 5,239,b28 1 1 ! —Expenditure from Sep.
It, 1805, to March 25, 1827, £1,424,985 4s. 7d. ! ■ ! ! THa
issues and expenditures of Foreign Societies we do not know.

f Another instance of great modesty is recorded by the
Rev. J. Campbell, a Scotch minister in a letter written by him
to the ReT. j, Scott, which has a|^arfd in a Tolome of his fa-
ther's " Letters and papers," jpage 113. Part of Mr. Camp-
bell's letter is thou ; — '• On a Tisit to London I was expressing
a great desire to see the late Mr. Charles of Bala, with whom I
bad corresponded for three years concerning a remarkable re-
viral which had Uken place nnder hia ministry. Mr. C. hap-
pening (o be in town at the same time, your father kindly look
me to Lady Ann Erskine's, where he resided. We apent there
two happy hours. Your father requesUd Mr. C. to favour ua
Bb

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what otben did. but sayi scarceljr any thing ot bim-
■elf. It ifu pnblish«l without bis name as the author,
and tbe part nhich refen to oar nt^ect is the fol-
lowing : —

" White tbe Rev. T. Cliarles was consnlting, in
Loudon, with some well-wishers to religion and piety,
liow a large and cheap edition of tbe bible could be hud
in Welsh, aud liow, if possible, a permaneut repository
of bibles could be procured, that there might be no more
a scarcity of tliein among the poor Welsh,— the Lord
put in the hearts of some of those pious meu with whom
he was coDrersiog, the kind and noble design to form
a society to distribute the bible, not only in our conn-
try, but also in foreign countries, whether Christian,
Mahoinedan or Pagan ; that there might be nu nation
nnder heareu, nor any individual iu the whole world,
without this precious treasure, if desirous to possesu
it. On the first view, the object, thongh desirable,
yet appeared so great and so difficult to be acctMBi

irith ■ brief oatline of the circumstances wbich led to the
remarkable reriral at Bala and its surroandin^ region, ita
BrO<!TfSB, &c. He did bo for upwards of on houT. On our lear-
iiig: bSm, yonr fitther laid, " Did tOu not obierre the (ronderfol
tmiuilltjr of Mr. C. in ths nairatiTC he gaie ? Never having
once meutbned himself, though he was the chief actor
and instrument in the wbnle matter." — The high opimon Mr.
Campbell enlertuined of Mr. C. may be seen by the following
part of bis letter to me ; — " I am glad yoa are endeavouring tS
erect a monument to tbe memory of a man, who in bis day was
so highly honoured of his God. I never was at Bala hot once,
which was not long after his removal to the regions of immor-
Iility ; and such was my veneration for bis character and labonrs,
tbiLt in approaching: it, 1 felt ii if I was aboat coming in sight of
Sinai or Jerusalem, or treading on classical ground, His let-
ters discover that bii heart was in tbe right place, and tbe event*
they record, I believe, are viewed with more interest by tbe
(lOrified than the batUes of Actinm or Wsierloo."

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plisfaed, tbat eten to think of it seemed Dgrieis. Bat the
hand of God being upon them, this glorious cause
pressed so mnch constantly on their minds, that they
felt themselves compelled to make an attempt to bring
it forward, uotwithitftodiog all disco nragements. Se-
veral of them met together to consider the sobject.
In the first meeting T. C. was present. And while
they were conversing on the magnitude and destreable-
neis of Biich an inatitntion, the views presented to their
minds BO deeply affected them, th&t they simultane-
ously shed tears of joy, at the very hupe of' success in
the work." — The meeting mentioned here was evi-
dently posterior to the meeting of the Committee of the
Tract Society.

On the very day on which the first public meeting
was held in Loudon, his intimate friend Mr. Tarn wrote
an account of it to Mr. C, now returned to Wales. Some
parts of which shall be given, translated from the Welsh
Memoir, the original lelter being not in my posses-
sion.

" London, March 7, 1804. It is withcordial plea-
sure that I take up my pen to inform yon of the nnme-
lone and respectable meeting, tbat was held to-day at
the London Tavern, to form a Bible Society: in which a
foundation, as 1 trnbt, was laid for circulating the
scriptures wider than ever has hitherto been doue. Tiit
meeting, I should suppose, consisted of about three
hundred of respectable individnals from different
denomiuationa of Christians : and there was nothing
bat harmony throughout; and all appeared de^ly im-
. pressed with the value and importance of the work,
uid with the character of its catholic design. — Gren-
fille Sharpe, Esq. was in the chatr. They bad been
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from tweire to two o'clock cooaidering the sobject and
deriiiiiig means to begio the work according to the plan
bcrore prepared. The resolutions will appear in seve-
ral of the iiewipapers to-morroir or the day after. A
■nbKriptioD was opened, and £700 were sabscribed
on the spot. And we may no doubt expect a great iu-
crense, when the object will be made generally kaoivo.

"The want of bibles in Wales was particularly
noticed, and pressed on the attention of the meeting.
And this, as I hope, will be oue of the first things at-
tended to by the committee. The Be». J. Owen did
the cause great service. He spoke, thongb not ex-
pected, after the other frieu<)s had goue throngh the
parts assigned to them. He advocated the cause In a
Tery powerful, argumentatiire and scriptural manner,
by shewing that the society was founded on the sure
word and promises of God.

" We cannot, my dear brother, but rejoice together
when we consider that this work had its beginning in
• conversation we had (ogelher one morning which will
never be furgotteii. Hence I was iuduced the next
meeting of the Committee of the Tract Society to men-
tion the scarcity of bibles in Wales, and then it was
that the flame was kindled, which now breaks outj and
which, I hope, will burn brighter and brighter till that
glorious day of oniversal knowledge come, when we
■hall DO more teach our brother, saying, " know the
i^ord," when all shall know him from the least to the
greatest. To the Lord be all the glory."

By this account it may be supposed that Mr. C.
was not present at the meeting of the Committee of the
Tract SocJety. In writing to Mr. C. who knew the
whole that passed, Mr. T. did not of conrse think It

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aeceasary to mention every particnbr. Tbe fact was,
Mr. T. iotrodnced the subject and Mr. C. explaioeil
itt So say I Mr. Owen in bis bislory : — "The autiject
haTingbeeo introduced by Mr. J. Tarn, — Mr. C. pre-
ferred his suit on bebalf of his countrrmen, describing;
the want of Welsh bibles, and the failure of all attempts
to obtain them in the nsnal channel, and nrging with
importanate earnestness tbe necessity of resorting in
this painfu) necessity to a aew and extraordinary means."
page, 16.

A work which Mr. C. had so much at heart, coald
not bat have been prosecuted by him with great activity.
He exerted all his influence to raise contributions
towards the snpport of the new Bible Society; and hit
success was far greater than could hate been anticipated,
and far greater no doubt than if it had been a society
only for Wales. The comprehensive and benevolent
design of the institation had a wonderful effect. This
will be seen by the following part of Mr. C.'b letter to
the society": — "There are none of onr poor people
wiTling to live and die withont contributing their mitei
towards forwarding to glorioug & design. Their zeal
and eagerness in the good cause surpass every thing I
bave ever before witnessed. On several occasions we
Uave been obliged to check their liberality, and take
half what they offered, and what we thought they ought
to ^ve. Great joy prevails nniversally at the thought
that poor heathens are likely soon to be in possession
of a bible ; and you will never hear a prayer put up
without a petition for the Bible Society and heathen

nations." Owen's Hist. 161. Tbe contributions the

first year amounted nearly to £1,900. "This sum,"

s&ys Mr. Oweta, "was the more remarkable from the

fi b 3

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conaideratioii «f ita baving been cootribnted lor tlw
mMt part by persons composiDg the plain and inferior
orders of the commnnity." Page 160. Tbe tratb vaa,
that true religion had but very partially indeed reached -
tbe more respectable part of society, Tbey were still
enveloped in the mist of spiritaal ignorance, staud-
ing aloof from every approach to the light that was
spreading, enlrenclied within the barrier raised by
rooted habits and prejudices, and confirmed by the ex-
unple and opposition of such as were no better than
blind leaders of the blind. Hence the cause of the gos-
pel and of tratb had no sopport bot from the lower
classes of society.

One of tbe first things done by the Bible Society
was to prepare an edition of Welsh bibles and testa-
ments. It was resolved, Sep. 3, 1804, to print them on
Stereotype plates or standing types ; they were the first
bibles, we believe, that were so printed. The number
ordered was 20,000 bibles in 12nio. sad 5,000 additional
testaments iu a larger type. The execution of this
order had been by various circumstances retarded : for
the edition did not come out till July, 1806, nearly
two years after tbe resolution had passed. One of the
reasons of this delay shall be mentioned. — Mr. C. had
been appointed to prepare a copy for tbe press. He
thought proper to make some alterations in the ortio-.
graphjf, mostly, we believe, in accordance with the
«y«tem of Dr. Poghe, confessedly tbe first Welsh sclio-
lar of the age. The alterations were by no means ma-
terial : for in the present day, they are adopted in
several of tbe Montbly Magazines, while others retiua
tbe orthography of tbe bible ; and in some of these pnb-
lications specimens of both may be seen. A different

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opiDion however wbs entertaioed by aome, and partico* '
larly by the Rev. J. Roberta, TremeircbioB, Fliotshire )
who remonstrated againit what he viewed a danKerons
inDOvatioD. Mr. R. wrote to Dr. Gaskio, the secretary
of the Society for promotiDK Christian Koowledf^e, on
the subject. Dr. 6. wrote to the bishop of txindoD,
who was a vice-president of the Bible Society, aod iu-
closed a part of Mr, R.'s letter. Tlie bishop sent a com-
munication to the president. Lord Teigmouth, who in-
stantly sent a letter to the comroittee. This occorred
Jan. 21, I8U5. A sob-conimittee was appointed to ex-
amine the Bobject. Mr. C. was without delay requested
to explain the oatare and extent of the corrections he
had made in the text of 1799. "This explanation,',
■ays Mr. Owen, " Mr. G. very readily furnished in a
Incid and satisfactory manner." The sob-committee
were satisfied, that Mr, C, did " not intend nor attempt
anj/ change in the trantlation.' Of the propriety of the
alterations they were not cotopetent, not knowing the
language, to decide. Therefore an arbitration was ap-
pointed, tbe Rev. Walter Daries, of Myrod, Montgo-
neryshire, who decided the qaestion in favour of Mr.
Roberts. The merits of Mr. D, as a Welsh scholar,
cannot be doubted ; bnt to refer the question to his sole
arbitration was like choosing a man of Oxford to decide
tt dispute between it and Cambridge. Mr. C. however
like a man of good sense, and of good spirit too (for a
badness of spirit ordinarily checks and impedes the
plain dictates of common sense) gave in, and went ot>
with his work with the same assiduity and lahoor as
before. Mr. Owen's retnarka on this part of his conduct
ctonot be withheld :—

" To Mr. C. whatever may be thought of tbe sys-

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ten of otthograpby which he wu dainmi M adopt,
DothiDg nsn be impoted, which will derogate in the
(lightest degree from his integrity and his laadable ze»I
for the parity and correctness of the Welsh bible. With
s frankness and alacrity which nothing could have itf
■pired but a confideDce in the sincerity of his intentions,
Knd what appeared to him, the jnstness of his theory,
ke met all the enquiries promoted by that court in
which the merits of his corrections were to be tried^
Nor does it redound little to his praise, that be mani-
fested no symtom whstever of chagrin or resentment at
the issue to which the investigation was brought ; but
voluntarily assisted in bringing forward that text by
wbi(^ it was determined, that his own should be super-
seded." P. 146, 147.— To this we shall add what
Mr. O. has put here in a note ; — " In what degree Mr.
C. afterwards contributed to improve the edition stereo-
typed at Oxford iu 1809, by the corrections with which
be supplied the conductors of that work, the author
will not undertake to say : so much, however he can
assert from an inspection of correspondence in the pos-
session of Mr. G.'s family, that corrections were repeat-
edly transmitted by that excellent man ; that many of
them were "(ft»iw*erf;" and that his finishing of them
was represented as conferring an obligation not only on
the conductore of the edition, but on " the principality
at large."

The new testament was completed in .Inly, 1800.
"It was gratifying," says Mr, Owen, ''to find, that-
this testament obtained a rapid sale;" and adds ins'
note: — ^"The following account of the manner in which
these testaments were received, is given by an "eye-
witness" j and then quotes what follows ttom the

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Chriatiao Observer for Jaty, 1810 : — " Wben the arrivnl
of ^ecartwai annoaDced, which carried the li rat sa-
cred load, the Welab peaaaata went o'nt in crowda to
meet it, welcomed it as the Israelitea did the ark of old
drew it into the town, and eagerly bore off every copy,
aa rapidly as they coutd be dispersed. The young peo-
ple were to be aeen consuiniag the whole night in read-
ing it. Laboarera carried it with them to the fields,
that they might enjoy it during the intervals of their
labour and lose no opportunity of becoming acquai Di-
ed with !ta sacred tmtha,"

We may meution here the way in which the com-
mittee acknowledged the aervices Mr. C. rendered the
society. The followiug letter, duted Marcli 8, 1809,
WHS sent to him, signed by the three aecretnries, Mr.
Owen, Mr. Hughes and Dr. SteinkopfF. The original
being not in my posaeasion, I am under the necessity
of tninslating the one that is published in the Welsh
Memoir. The substance will be the same, though worda
■nay differ. The letter is this ; — " It is with unfeigned
pteasnre we inform yon, that at a numerous meeting of
the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society
you were chosen Honorary Life Governor of the Insti-
tioR. This they did unanimously on the sixth of this
month at a apecial meeting previously a ummoned. —
Yoar various services to the society are so well known,
that there is no need of detailing or of praising them.
The Cotnmittee were ansious to testify their sense of
their value by some permanent meiaorlal of their appro-
bation. By putting yonr name where it will henceforth
stand, they are doing what is perfectly agreeable to
their own minds, and what will place the acknowledge-
ment of their thanks in the sane register in which is t«

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be tovoi an anDti&l report of the beaeroleBt deeds which
occasioned it." — Having; soir ststed all tbat may be
thought interesting in tbe life of Mr. C- in his conaec'
tioa with the Bible Societj-, we ahall proceed to other
matters.

Id the year 1903 he commenced a work which will
immortalise hit memory, und which occupied Blmost all
Ibe time allowed him by other maay ATocations, for
eight jeari. Notwithstanding his ministerial Uboara
not only in his own connection, hut also at Chester, and
not only at Chester, but also for three months every
year in Loudon,* be began tlie arduous undertaking of
compiling a Scriptural D'tct'tonarif in the Welsh lan-
guage. How be (wntrived to accomplish this work,
when his other eogagemeuts were so nurueroos, may
indeed seem wonderful to ns: it might be thought al-
most impossible. But there ia one word which will
solve the difficulty and that word is induitrg. Perhaps
no man husbanded his time better- He was tip every
morning between four and five o'olook, except wheM
prevented by illness: and no portion of time was al-
lowed to pass without its due share of employment.
His work was his delight ; and therefore its labonr was
not felt except in its gradjal effects on the constitutiwi.

* It aught to hare been previously mentioned tbat Mr.C. uniallf
weot to London every yesi" for three monlhs, to serTe Lady
Himtinitdo's i^hapeL If we may Judge from the date of hii first
letter from Spa Pields to bU wife, bis first visit was in 1793.
Some letters of Lady Ersklne bear gtrong tentimony to the luc-
ccis of his latKiurs there. There were three other clei^yraea froa
Walea who filled up the r«st of the year r— the Rev. D. Griffith,
Nereni, Pembrokeshire, the Rer. N. Rowland, and the Rer. D.
Jonea of LlangaD ; mea of various talenta, bat all eicsUmt
freaeherB.

■.Goo'^ic

Thfl Dictionary exteuds to 4 volumes, 8vo. of modaratb
thtclcnese. The constancy witb which it engaged bit
nind, may appear from a passage in the preface pre^
fixed to the foDfth volume : — " iVf y brethren in the niii-
utry," he sayi, " know, [that in the midst of great',
Dnmeruas and continual engagements, I wrote it at!.
Had not my mind been diligently occupied in studying
it, wherever I was and whatever I was doing, it would
Dever have been finished." — It is astoniehing what the
bnronn mind is capable of doing, n-hen its whole powers
»re called forth into exercise for any length of time.

This work shews no small extent of reading. It
proves that Mr. C.'s library was well stored not oitly
witii a great number of books, but with a great mauy
standard works, the best in the English language, and
viMx some of those which are most valuable in Latin.
The etymon of every Welsh word is given, and osnally
the corresponding word in Hebrew, in Greek and in
Latin : and occasionally the most significant and useful
of the Welsh proverbs are added. The different Welsh
Tenions are also fretjueutly stated. When the word ii
defined, its different acceptations in scripture are set
down ; and tho^e places in which it occurs, if obscure
or difficult, are explained: and references are made to
the opinions of the most approved critics. It is by no
means a mere cooipilation. Every article has evidently
been arranged and new-modelled t>y the author ; every
part of it seems mell connected. It is not one of its
least excellencies, that it has been written in a simple,
elegant and yet energetic language. It is quit a model
of good Welsh style.- it is pure Welsh without any in-
termixture of foreign words or of foreign idioms. Bat
what gives it its greatest Talue i* the character of its

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iUmitj. Oar praise here can scarcely exceed ita jnst

limits. Doctrines are stated clearly, judicionsl; nd
evangelically, and are brangbt to bear on our motivea,
feelings and condoct. Duties are nnfolded in their fnll
extent, sod enforced by sacb con side rations as scrip-
tore reuogaisei. It is truly evangeli<»l Jind yet wbally
practicaL Tbe religion it is cslcalated to prodace, is
that, which lias its foundatioD in a deep experience of
tbepowcrof divine truths, assimilates tbe character to
the divine image, and brings forth the fmits of rigbteovs*
BBSS to the glory of God and to tbe benefit of man.
This dictionary, in a word, is a magazine of uselul,
rich, scriptural knowledge } of itself a valuable library.
We hesitate not to say, that next to the bible, it is by
far the best booli in the Welsh langnage.

To refresh the reader's mind with something more
aavourj- aod richer than a detail of events and of tbe
merits of a good book, a few extracts from letters vrit-
ten during this period shall be preSFiited. We shall
■ee that his numerons avocations had no bad bnt good
effect on bis mind, bad not deteriorated bnt improved
its spirituality, bad not lessened but increased bis de-
votedness to God and his deep concern for the eternal
good of his fellow-creatnres. Tbe first and tbe third
extracts are from letters to Mr. and Mrs. A — of London
the second and fourth from letters to Mr. and Mrs. J —
•f Wrexham.

fieieii of hit own telf, labour*. — TTte political worlds
" Bala, April, 8, 1804. I have been long va per-
forming my promise. To say that I have been mach
harried is bnt a poor apology, though a true one.
Through mercy I have good health, and am able to work
«Md hate enough of it. My sun is past the meridian.

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and will be bood in the western horizoD. It ill twtximei
me to trifle away any part of my eTeaing, or spendja
moment idle. Whilst I feel a desire to be active for the
Lord, it becomes me to be BenBible that be does not
want me ; that I can do nothing tvithont him ; and that
it >viil be all in vain unless in the Lord. To be active,
to be dependant, and to be nothing, is very becoming
and very comely in those who are nothing without him.
To tee our nothingness and not to deipond, to feel the
Lord working in u* and by u», and not to boost, are
hard lessons for such a doll scholar as lam. It is well
the Lord can bear with me and forgive me mnch. ,1
want to be more sensible of my gnilt both in my des-
ponding and presumptuous frames of mind. I highly
dishoDonr God in both. When 1 consider mysel/ in
viewing all my frames, I see great reason to cry oot —
' Vile 1 unclean !' It is well that there is perfection in
Jesns, and that we are made acceptable in the beloved.
Since mj return from town I have been alter-
nately bnsy in preaching and writing. I have travelled
throogU .several parts of onr country : and I am happy
to inform yon that religion flourishes in many parts.
Onr schools thrive 1 believe more than ever. A great
blessing attends them in general, and great good is
done. — The political horizon still continues darlc and
clondy. Sorely it is a very singular time. The Lord
seems to threaten ns,-— to spare us, — and at the same
time, he does not lay the rod aside. He expects m to
consider, to tremble at his providential word, to be
more humble, and to flee to him for refuge with a more
single eye and with more confidence. He hears onr
prayers, and has given a very evident proof of it in re-
storing the health of our beloved sovereign. But still
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the rod is OOt laid aride. It is a time to faoooar him by
achnowledging our guilt, by calling od bim, Aod by
caatiog away all other confidences."

Man'» unworthinen and God"* gracioutneii.
"Spa Fields, Jan. 9, 1804. 1 was Tery glad to
receive yonr letter, and tbankfal that it conniDnicated
no tidings distressing to my feelings respiecting yov and
your family. It is of the Lord's goodness tiiat oar com-
mon mercies are coutinned to ns and to oar braUiea.
" It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not." Oor great ingrati-
tude for them, the little of the JiOrd we see in them,
and OUT carnal abuse of them, are great sins. I wonder
sometimes that the Lord does not destroy me and mine
in auger, root and braucfa. We are spared only, because
his compassions fail not. We deserve to be consumed,
but he spares us for hU own sake. I see myself so
guilty and so unworthy in alt ^ings.tbat 1 should most
certainly despair, were it not for the great propitiation.
The atoiuDg sacriice, " y iawn mawT,"BffordB adequate
and effectaal relief, which uotbing else either in heaven
or earth ever could. A believing view of it raises the
sool from the depths of hell to the bosom of God, to
fcnjoy his peace and the smiles of his countenance. In-
distinct and unfreqaent views of htm prove tojurions
in a high degree to our souls. Without seeing sin to
be sin, exceeding sinful, we see not our need of the
atonement ; and having no fellowship with Christ's snf-
feriugs, we have no access to God ; and our religion .
becomes formal. Thus we should go on to destruction,
did not the life-giving Spirit visit us with his qnicken-
ing inflaeuces, convince us of sin and take of the things
of Christ and shew them to us.

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" We ire great debtor* to gracs indeed ! and h(Lv«
great cause in oarselres to be sibiuoed before the Lord.
Vile, vile indeed ! None but God would or could aava
me, to vile a wretch. But when I look to him, I have
coofidsDce, joy and triomph. He it all I need, and all
I desire. He is my Urm rock in the wreck of worldji,
my covert from all storms, my balm that heals all
diseaees, — my ail. What a mytterioos wonder that
God and a poor siaoer should rejoice io ooe another !
The foundation of all this is laid in the greMX propia-
tion. The weight of all lies there, on the shonlders of
the great Mediator. A " God in Christ" is a pleating
Hod a saving tight to a poor, guilty sinner. Let Qi
ponder on that subject and consider it well, that when,
we s^ one another, if it be the Lord's wUl, we may
have some preeions thoughts to commanicate to each,
other's edification. " God in Ghritt"— what does it meanf
1 am very sure that more is implied in these words than
1 have ever teen. Let us pray that we may have more
light on them. Up does two things as God in Christ
which h^^oes not do in any other character i — 1. He
reconciles sioiiera to himself, — 2. Withoot imputing to
them t) eir sins."

Lady £rakme'i death, — All-tufficiency of God.

" Bala, Oct. 17, 1^804. I am maeh obliged to yon
for your kind letter, communicating to me the sorrow-
fol tidings of dear Lady Ann's departnre. 1 was
affw^ed, but not mncb surprised, as it was what was
to be expected from her Ladyship's age and growing
infirmities. I vkbs very happy to bear of the Lord's
fatthfolness to. her in her last days. She was a wiseand'
faithful servant of the Iiord, and hath 1^ a bright «[-
ample for faer successors to follow. I pray the Lord
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that a doable portion of faer spirit may rest on whom-
totver tbat ii appointed to 611 her important sitiiatioD>
When we look downwards, there is enough to diacoo-
rage our feeble minds ; bnt wien we look nptrarija, we
see or may see enongh in Jesua to cheer oar despondiog
thoughts. He ever lives, and because he lives, his poor
people and hU despised cause here on earth, shall live
and prosper abundantly. He wants no help to carry
on his work. He haa all fnlsess in himself: and it is
infinite condescensioD in him to employ and qnalify snch
poor sinners as we.

" Whatever iDstruments he condescends to employ,
ke most first form them For the work ; and when they
are formed, he must employ them i and in the employ-
ment, he most altogether support them ; and after all,
be mast prosper their ivork, or nothing will be done.
Did wa know more of him, we should lightly esteem all
other objects. He is all. All else is nothing. This
Mighty One is oar Helper; and how shall we thcQ
fail i Impossible. I was meditating yesterday on the
happiness of those who have God for their portion. How
vast ! how Tarions ! how infinite ! bow eternal ! I felt
tiiat I wanted capacity to enjoy enough of bim. I
wished 1 had ten thousand eonls more to be filled with
him ! Then 1 longed that all did know him. I saw
enongh in bim for the poor Welsh, and the poor Hot-
tentots, the perishing Indians, and for a world of sin-
ters, and for ten thousands more. In pursuing these
thoughts, I indeed, dear madam, almost longed to be
with him. The thongbt occurred t« me, that one
moment might remove me, when the Lord pleased, to
the full enjoyment of which 1 now only see through a
glass darkly."

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Coumeh to one under the Iom of her Jiwhand.
" Bala, Feb. 18, 1805. " The Lord gave, and
tbe Lord hath taVen away ; blessed be the name of tb«
Lord," — this, 1 trust, is in some degree the langnage
of your heart under tiie present trying dispensation.
You know I toTB yon, and most therefore feel for you,
and pray for yon : but still I cannot but feel comfortable
respecting you and your little onea. My dear friend,
your late husband is at rest. His troubles and sorrows
are at an end forever. Therefore we onght not to sorrow
fir him, though we may feel sorrow ajier him. We
have a hope respecting him, and therefore we rejoicf ■
As to yon and your little ones, you are surely well pro-
vided for, being ia the care of him, " who is th«
Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows, in
bis holy habitation." I trust that the Lord will,
through this heavy dispensation towards yon, bring
you to live more thoroughly dependant on hiin by faith.
I feel concerned for you in this respect. I much wish
yon may be effi:clually brought to a strong ground, to
live on the promises of God in Christ. In that case
you will not hare much to care for, but to follow daily
the path of duty by the leadings of God's providence,
wholly dependant on him wlio is onr strength, and has
promised to lead and instruct us in the way we should
go and guide us with his eye. Ps. xxxii. 8.

" He is enough for us in every situation, and all
helps are vain without him. Have much to do with
him daily. You cannot go to hira too often, or trust
him too much. Vou will need him every day, rind you
are welcome to him every day and every minute of the
day. He hath done great things for us ; and shall we
not believe, my dear friend, that be will do all things
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well towarda ss! " He thtt ipued not bis own Sdd,
bat delivered hiia np for us r11, bow sbaH he not with
km f*»elg give us all things I Anticipate no JklV9
tve*ti. These aoticipattoDs are geoerally the fmits ot
oar unbelief and world Ij-'mindedn ess, " Comtnit yow
my to tbe Lord ;" tmst also la him, and " be will brinif
it to pass." He will order and will do every thing for
' you. " There is none besides the Lord ; and tiiere ift
no roek like our God." Frieoda are nothing ; enemiW'
are notluDg ; — God is all.

" Be not OTer-anxious for yonr babes. In the
strength of the Lord do yonr duty towards them. Pray-
for them, and " tnun them op in the way they should
go." Take them to tbe Lord by faith, and there (emt-
tbem. Hath not the Lord commanded yon to do so f
" Leave thy fatherless children, and I will preseirtt
them alive j and let thy widows trust in me." Jer. lUix.
li. How kind is the Lord ! He speaks to our feelings-
and to our anxious cares for those whom we tenderly
fove. — Leave them with me. Good Lord, what conde-
sceDsioD !s here ! And wilt thou take tbem> Yes, ho
replies, and " prraerve them alive." my friend, lay
hold of this promise, take yonr gronnd on it, »nd let no
enemy drive you from it.

" All tbe promises like the bank of England notes,
are payable to the bearer, to bim who believes them,
and applies for the promised blessings. They are great,
and they are precious indeed ! Maj- you and I be en-
abled to hold communion with God daily through them*
They are all yea and amen (there is no nay) In CktUt,
and to ns in him. Live on these immntable thinga. and
yon are sure to have <'ro))f consolations. Heb. vi. 18-
God meant that we sbonW believe, live on, and enjoy

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tbc eamtoit of all his promises, or he woatd not bava
giveo. thent to gs. Aed it is a dishonoor ta him, stufoL
ID US, and very prejudicial to ns, uot to make use of
them to the eud for which they are given. 1 canuot say
that 1 am well skilled in this Kfe of faith od the pro-
mises ; I ItnotF that none but the Spirit of promise cau
brisg na Am to live. But through mercy I know
anoDgh.of it to loQg for more advances- ia this life, aod
to r0C«nme«ii it as superlatively good to all my frisuda.
To live b-y the bith of the Son of God is the next st«p.
to heaven : and there is no real permanent comfort od>
earth without it. Do not look on this life as unattain-
able, or aft cv ground very hr from you. No, the word
IB nigh i and the Spirit of promise can bring ns and thft
word together in an instant. — I commend you audyovrs
to tho Lord, and there I shall leave yott for the present
wkbont adding any more words."

In May,. 1806, Mr. C. preached in town on&of the
font seroiMis usually preached every year for the Lon-
don MissioQary Society. His concent for Missions
overcane his great modesty and many other impediments
arising from bis various en^igements. He felt a deep
interest in the Missionary as well as in the Bible So-
ciety and promoted its support in Wales by contribu-
tiona to its funds. His text on that occasion was Isa. x.
27. " The yoke shall be destroyed, because of the
aBointing." That it should contain any thing original
<a what some wonid call, great, could not have been
expected, as be never aimed at such things. His greM
ambition was to deliver the great truths of the gospel
in a plain, simple and pressing manner : and no small
unction generally accompanied his preaching. It was
his spirit that constituted the main excellency of his

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■ennoBi. Love, compuiioa for sinners, and sjinpathy
with the diBtressed Christian, impregnktcd almost everj
word he ottered.

SECT. II.— From 1807 « 1812.

There are two things of considerable importance to
be recorded of Mr. C. during this period, — his viait to
Ireland, — and his correspondence respecting the Gaelic
schools. These two things will principally take np this
Section ; though a few other matters ahall be introduced.

A request was made to Mr C. this year, 1807, by
the Committee of the Hibernian Society, to accompany
three other gentlemen to Ireland, for the pnrpose of
Bscertainiug the religious state of the country, the best
means of instructing the people, and whether tbrongh
the medium of the English or the Irish language. The
condition of the sister island had previously been an
object of anxiety to his mind ; and therefore his com-
pliance was easily gained. His three companions were
the Rev. D. Bogne, the Rev. J. Hnghes and S. Mills
Esq. These four Christian tourists commenced their
joorney .)uly 24, traversed the country mostly two and
two, for neaily a month, and returned Aug. 20th. Their
report was published j and much of the good that has
since beeit dotie in Ireland must no doubt be attributed
to it, " The observations then made by Mr. C." as ■«
find it remarked in the Evangelical Magazine for Nov.
1815, " led him more especially to desire that fciioo/i
might be establUhed in everg part of that country ; in
which, such as require it, should be taught in their
native language .- — and had he lived to this day, when
the Hibernian Society has more than 14,000 cbildreo

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nnder inst Faction, his generoQs beart wool d have exulted
witL joy." — And it may be added, had he lived to the
prettnt day, when not only many are in the coarse of
being taught, but many hare been apparently truly con-
Terted, how much greater would have been the joy of
hit heart. Those who suggest and give rise to plans of
vsefalness, are the greatest benefactors of mankind : at
the good which tbey originate may often extend to agei
aiid confer benefits on millions. Blessed are those whom
the Lord thus honours.

Mr. C. in this tonr kept a jonma), which I have
now in my possession. It is too long to be given whole,
and too interesting to be left ont entirely. It shall be
presented in a compressed form. Nothing shall be
omitted that refers to the religions state of the country.
— It may be right to state before we proceed, that the
Bible Society sant 1000 testaments to Dublin to be dis-
tributed by Mr. G. and his companions, while travel-
ling the country.

Mr. C. preached on Sunday, July 20, at Bethesda
Chapel, Dublin. "I1ie congregation not nametous —
there was attention — The religions people teem in a
great degree destitnte of vigonr and exertion in the cause
of religion, full of dispntations and dissentionsj and
therefore no wonder that little good is done. Dublin is
supposed to contain 200,000 Papists and 50,000 Protest-
ants i bnt few of these bear the gospel preached." *

" Cattle Comar. — We called on a pious evangelical
clergyman. Here Lady O lives, benevolent, devo-
tional, but not evangelical. The town and neighbour-
hood mostly Papists — bigoted and profligate — and a
profligate tippling priest Some pious persons, called
tmder J "s miDistry — congregation aboat 300.

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" KUiem*y.—Ca.\]ed on the ftev. P. Roe, uxl net
the Rer. G. C. of Ross, near VVkterford — both erangeli-
cal, zealous and BDccessfol ; bat compluoed licavily of
the iocreaae of popery id Kilkenny and all the adjacent,
country. The Papists have a great school here, and it
is the principal place of ordination. The Iritk is ge*er-
allg spoken, tUoogb English is by most nnderstood, and
taught in the schools. —Complaints erery-wbere of the
bigotry of the Methodists. — The carnal clergy oppose
those that are erangelical more than they do the Popish,
priest. — At Alhy when Mr. Kielly preached in the
conrt-yard, the Popbh priest stood at the end of the,
lane to prevent any of bis people to go and hear. Mr.
B. preached there to about two dozen people. — A few
good people, thongh very few, in all these places.

"Clommel, 24 miles from Eilkenoy.^All the
conntry spoke Iriih and wer^ principally Papists.--
Aflsizes joat ovei^— nineteen tried, mottly for murder.
—We spent the Sabbath here — went in the morning at
t«a to the Qoakers' meeting — all silent, — at twelve to
the Popish chapel and heard an Irish sermon — the con-
gregation very attentive and about 3000; — at one to
chnrch — congregation abont 200 — the sermon as usual.
— ten Papists to one Protestant. — They spoke Irtih in
the streets.

" ff^aterford, Aug. 3. — Arrived here abont ^one,
niter, a pleasant ride through a romantic conntry — all
speaking Irish and many Iriih o»ly — the religion
generally Catholic. — Mr. B. addressed in the evening
a $mall congregation of Indqieadeota. — nine Catholics
to one Protestant. — Religions people here, as every-
where else, in some degree infected with Handeamua*-
utu — Sacrament every Sunday — administered without

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a minister ; thejr spend their time in rain janglinfj^s to-
ftead of laying tliemselves out in endeavours to spread
the gospel and sstc sinners wliicfa are perishing all
atwind them.

" Fermog, Ang. 4. — A pretty town — the conntry
noimlninoas — Iriih generally spoken — very few pro-
testants in all the conntry — the poor mach neglected
and very ignorant.— Went into a school on the road —
English only taught. Very few can read Irish, though
universally spoken. The spirit of indnstry is not eu-
coaraged by tire landowners — land lets very high —
forms at £A. an acre — fields near towns £\2. and aS15.
an acre. Between C Ion mel aud Carackaure they have
long leases, and farmers they say, have the land on
Tery moderate rents.

" Cork, Aug. S. — In my way from Fermoy I con-
versed with several poor Irish, found them zealons Ca-
tholics, not able to read, and very ignorant. When I
toid them that I was a Welshman, they expressed great
kindness in their conntenances. I asked them, whether
they loved the Welsh more than the English ! One re-
plied — "Ten thoDsand times." I asked, why? "The
Orangemen swear," said he, " that they will light in
Irish blood to their knees, tlieir middle and to their
D«:i(8." " The poor Irish he added," would join the
French, were they to land : for they say, it cannot he
worse : and if we die Aghting, we shall go to a blessed
place.'— This town contains from bO.OOO to 90,000. —
The gospel is preached in the church — The danse very
law among the Independents and Baptists.

" Limeric, Aug. ?.— The conntry from Cork wilder
than what we bad before seen — Irish spoken throughoat
— all CathoHcB— the land seemed capable of great )m-

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movement — the soil good, for the croph weie every-
where good. — ^This is a large, fine bnilt, popalova tovD,
BitD&ted on the Shannon, the fioeat river in the British
Ein[>ire. — The goipel preached in the cfanrcfa by J. and
W. Hoare. — The people generally Catholics — profiigtts
in their iDBiiuera. — On Snnday we went at eight to tb«
Methodist chapel — heard an indifferent Bermen from ui
illiterate man from Ist John, ii. 1 — aeemed an honeat
mm — much ihnckled by the Wesleyan Gystem of perfeo
tion and falling from grace — congregation about 200 —
on the whole attentive. — Mr. B. preached at the old
Presbyterian meeting bouse — served by an old Socinian
minister and a young gay fellow — both cannot keep np
a congregation. \^'ere it not for the bonnty allowed to
Dissenters, the meeting must have been shnt np years
ago : and it would have been as well if it bad, as no
good is done. — M — and J — , two evangelical ministers,
met us at the Chancellor's in the evening. — J — is very
active in carrying on schools over the conntry — assisted
by W — , Esq. and others in England — trains up schoQl-
masters — anperintends the schools himself.

" Gort, August 9. — We came through Newport
from Limeric — the inhabitants spoke Irish in general.
There b a church and a Popish chapel in this pUce —
Protestants very few. — Popery and the Irish language
always go together j when the one is spoken, the other
prevails."

" litam. Ang. 10. — 32 mites from Gort — ^province
of Connanght — all speak Irish and are Catholics — only
a few Protestants scattered here and there, — more irre-
ligious, if possible, than the Papists — all enveloped in
darkness and sujierstitioo. — Schools every-where teach
English — none learn Irish. — The poor in their cabins

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very civil and comnianicative, bnt ignorant of the bible
to a man — tarned ioto a few of tLem in every place j
their ignorance of the bible, the only soorce of real and
permatient comfort, affected me much. They have been
sadly neglected indeed ! 1 hope the tinie' is drawing
nigh for the Lovd to shew them mercy. Tbe earth mu$t
be filled with tbe knowledge of tbe Lord : aud as Ireland
is a part of tbe earth, it nmst also be filled with this
knowledge. This is a cheering consideration indeed.—-
The clergy riot in wealth aud luxory, unmindfal of tbeir
duty. The priests make a prey of tbe people, whom
tbey keep in iguorauce for that purpose. Tbe Protest-
ants of all denominations mind earthly things; and
therefore tbe cause of God is neglected. Mercy or judg-
ment mnst produce a change aud that speedily, — Few
Protestants at Tuam — Methodists have preached here for
thirty years — hundreds of Catholics in different parts of
tke country, the preacher told us, have joined them. —
Nothing wanted but zeal and piety in the Protestants
and God's blessing, to cfTect tbeir conversion, jast tbe
same as other sinners.

" Ciuiiebar, Aug. 12. — The Methodist chapel was
asked for me, but refused — The Methodists are few, and
tbeir prejudices run high against Calvinists owing to
Walker's publications against them. — We saw a moan-
tain in onr way here, called Croaugb Patrick; from
whence, the tradition is, St. Patrick beat all the ser-
pents and venemoDS creatures from Irdand into tbe sea.
A hermit dwells on this mooatain, who is a half-witted
man ; and thousands flock here from all parts to perform
Italians, as tbey call them, — to repeat Are-Maria and
Pater-Nosters, walking bare-footed around a stone or
heap of stones, Tbe heimit directs them in tbeir de-
Dd

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TOtions, for whicli be Is paid. Rich people send bim
money and be perrorms Tor tbem. — ^There it a take in
Galaway to wliich tlioasands resort everv year lo per-
form religious ceremonies to obtain a bleGHJiig on their
cattle, &c. They offer butter to it by. throwing large
lumps into it. — Tlie Methodists are considered as iup-
plementary to Church clergy. Tbey partake of the sa-
oraments in the churth, and never have service in cblircb
tilne. We met a Mr. St — at I'uum, a Bensible, plain,
open, and to ap]jearaiice, a good insn. He complained
of tbe prejiidicct) of the Calvitiistic clergy against tbem,
but not with bitterness. Tbe devil is very bney and
works here in a variety of ways among religious people;
'and this is one, — he fills them with prejudices against
one another, and keeps among them a disputing spirit.
— Irish is spoken all over this country. — Cabins much
improved as we draw north ; and the poor not ao dirty.
— Catholic superstition rejgns univerBally, and prevails
in all tbe country we we have hitherto passed through.

" Near Castlebar is a well, consecrated to the Vir-
gin Mary, frequented certain days in the year by about
20,000 people from different parts, to perform ttatiotu.
We saw severd fourteen, miles off going there barefooted.
In their distress they tow pilgrimages to this well.
There is a priest to direct them in their superstitious
devotions, for which he is paid.

" Sligo, Aug. 14. — Last night we lay at Tyber
Cyrry, a small village — two of us lay on tbe floor and
slept very well — set off at five — arrived at Sligo by nine.
— The country hilly all the way from Castlebar — the
country still Popish — Irish every-w here generally spoken.
What a wildernetis for cultivation by the gospel ! Labourers
are indei?il wanted. May tlie Lord send them speedily.^

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The flum allowed the Dissenters here is ag 1 7,000
divided by Dr. Black — very worthless perioos generally
receive it ; it has encouraged many such to enter the
nbistry. — Dined to-day with a Mr. B. a member of the
Independent chapel. As a proof of the baneful effects
of Walker's Sandimauian seDtimsntB, he gave ns &
melancholy account of his son, once a serious, promising
young man, but now having imbibed those sentiments,
a cause of great grief to him. He never joins in family
prayer, nor in public worship, though he goes to hear.
He has re/used praying with the sick when sent for
They deem it a sin to join unbelievers in any act of
religious worship : and all are unbelievers who are not of
their way of thinking. They are in the snares of the
devil, thus canght at his will.

" There are twenty-four parishes in the county of
Kilkenny without one Protestant family.

" Bell-TtiTbah, (Cavan,) Aug. 17.— English is more
talked here than the country we have yet travelled
throDgh, and there are more Protestants. — Considerable
number of Swaddlers here (Methodists) and hold quar-
terly meetings. — CoUmet, Many Methodists and Catho-
lics here — no other parties except the Church of England.
The common people speak Irish j and the priests preach
in Irish. — Morrogka, The face of the country and the
appearance of the people are much improved in every
respect.

"Aug. 19. We set out for Dublin through Dunleer,
Dnndalk and Drogheda. The people in general through
the country speak Irish. There are a few Methodists
in all these places : hot the people are mostly Catholics,
especially at Drogheda. We came to Dnblio late in
the evening, and lodged at Jndge Kelly's, where we
were very kindlv received."

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Appended to Mr. ('.'s jonrnal are the following
ventiments, which explain the measureE he thought should
be parsned towards improving the religious state of
Ireland.

" I am of opinion that religion cannot be ditTused
in general among the Irish without 6ible» in their own
language, and acbooU to teach them to read Irish ; and
this in aid of go»pel preaching in the Irith language, —
We have not met with any one who could read Irish.
There are no elementary books in the language. Circu-
lating charity Bcbools might do wonders. — Many pavts
of Walei in G. Jones's lime were as dark as Ireland."

The three measures here mentioned liare been
since partly adopted. Bibles have been printed in the
Irish language, schools have been set up to teach it, and
readers are employed to read in Irish. But we are
not aware that SkOy preachers of any denomination are
employed. Let us pray that the Lord may raise up a
Whitfield or a Rowland in the sister island. Such
a man traversing the country, now in a degree improved
by the schools, having tlie power and the spirit of these
men, would by the blessing of heaven do wonders, would
soon produce such a change as would make Popery totter
to its very foundation. Would it not be a wise as well
as a Christian policy in the bishops to licence clergymen
of zeal and talents to preach generally throngh the
country } Such a measure would no doubt be attended
with the most happy results. The schools of themselves
without a powerful awakening ministry will produce
but small and very partial effects. It is by preaching
that God most generally converts sinners and enlarges
the borders of his spiritual kingdom. So it has been in
England and so in Wales : and the history of Chriiit-
ianity in general confirms the same truth. Preaching is

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the ordinance of God, and what he haB owned to every
age for the propagation of his gospel.

As soon as Mr. C. returned, work enongh no doabt
awaited him. To gire the reader some idea of his
extensive labours, we shall subjoin parts of two letters
sent to Mrs. A — . The first was written in 1800 and
the'other in 1807. Tliey are the only letters which we
can find during this period which speak at all of his
ministerial employments. What they detail is no more
than the general rontine of work in which he was regu-
larly engaged. His visit indeed to different parts in
England mentioned in the first was not often repeated ;
hot he was constantly engaged in the same course of
laborions ministrations while at home among his own
people, as the second letter will shew.

" I reached home two days ago, (this was in Jnne,
1806.) From London I went to Liverpool,* where I

* He accssionallj visit? d Liverpool ; and the following aiKc-

dol« is connected with his viaiu there ; — "MrX. had awoaderfol
escape in one of hia journeys to LiTerpool. His saddle-bag was
by. mistake put into a boat di^rent from that in wbich he in-
tended to B^. This made it necessary for him to change his
boat, even after he took his seat in it. The boat in which be
meant togu, vent to the bottom, and all in it were drowned. Thus
God in a wonderful way preserved bis servant. " Tbe servants
of God are immortal, while he has a work for ttiem on earth."
God had a great work for this hia servant, and be sapportcd and
preserved him, CiU it was completed. — Mr. C. some time after
thie intended going again to Liverpool, but his dear partner was
not willing, knowing the danger in which be had been before.
Tbe night prior to the day on wUcb he was to act off, one of tbe
children fell down from bed on the floor, and it was at tirat much
feared, that one of his arma was broken ; which happily did not
turn out Co be tbe case. But the event had a happy ^ect on her
mind. " God," said she, " can bring a judgment on us while
at home as vrell as when we are from home ; therefore," she
added. " I will trust yon in his hand, to do what liu pleases
with you, while you are doing his work either on sea or land."—
Welsh Memoir, p^e 22S.

D d3

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preached twice in English and twice in Welsh. Thencs
J went to Warrington, wUere 1 opened a new room for
preaching among the late Mr. Glazebrook's people. — 'I
with lomething wonld be done in that dark and nagodly
place. There seems to be a general disposition for hear*
ing if they had a godly, active man among them. From
Warrington 1 went to Manchester, where I preached in
Engliahand Welsh. 1 returned to Chester to my friend
Mr. James, where I preached three times. Mr. J. is
much beloved, and the cause prospers there through bis
ministry. At WreshamI preached once in English ont
of doors to about 1,000 people. — In Liverpool the con-
gregations were numerous. Thousands attended every
time. Among the Welsh there is a great increase. We
have now two chapels there. One is large enoi^h to
contain 3,000 ; and the other 2,000 : and both were
full at the same time. — In Liverpool, Manchester and
Chester, I catechised hundreds of children before the
congregations when fullest. The prospect was delight-
ful.

" Since my return home I find the work among the
children going on with increasing activity and vigour.
The very thonght of succeeding in making our young
people acquainted with the 6ook of God, transports me
with joy. Blessed be God ! Thousands of them are
very busy with great delight. What a gratifying plea-
sure would it be to see the whole kingdom of darkness
dissolved, and not leave a wreck behind. The whole
world might as well be in flames this moment and the
elements be melting with fervent heat, if the gospel
were not to prosper in it. All otlier designs are. triflesi
wholly unimportant. But the design of the gospel is
grand beyond all conception, and it is snre to succeed

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trinmphftntly. God gloTilied and liQiiera uved — how
importaiit — how glorious the design ! It cannot fail :
all is fixed and determined. All the wheels are in
motion; and be who gaides the whole is infinitely wise
and powerful. Whether we live, or whether we die, we
■hall see it with oor eyes nnd glory in its succesg."

" BbIb, 1807. It rejoices my heart much to hear
of the prosperity of your schools. Here with as, all
over the country, the schools prosper more than ever.
Every Sunday siijce 1 left London 1 have catechised
hondreds of children before thousands of people, once,
or twice, or three times, besides preaching. Young
people, yea grown up people, now generally learn ont
the principles of religion, and chapters in the bible,
and stand op with the children publicly to repeat them.
Laat Sunday I travelled eighteen miles j* preached three

* If Mr. C.'s trsTela were as extoDsive genernlly u those of
one of his fellow-UbourerB, and preilecesBor in tbis work of Iotc,
they must hRxe been Fery great. The Rev. W. Willisoia, of
Pnatcelyn, Carmartheotbire, when solicited on one oceasion by
Mr. C. to risit North Wales, wrote him a letter to excuse bimielf;
and it has in it this pasBage : — "Mydaynare drawing to their end ;
my course is nearlj run. I bare bad a long life, 1 am now
BCTenty-three years of age. My strength wonld yet be pretty
good, were it not for the affliction which my heavenly Father has
laid on me. 1 have been pceathing for the last forty-three years,
and have travelled on an average between forty and flft]' miles
every week during ihat t>eriod. 1 had four or ijve long jiiumeys
last spring throiigh the counties of South Wales. Each was
about a fortnight { and I travelled each time abont two hundred
miles. I intended going through North Wales : but these long
joumeyi hare, bother with my complaint, so weakened me,
that I have no hope of doing so," — There is something so affect-
ing in this simple tale of the aged pilgrim, that no one can read
it without being moved with feelings of love and renerstjon for
h:9 character. How apoBtolical had been bis life ! — Taking forty-
five for the number of miles he weekly travelled, be must then
have tTBTeHed 2,230 miles every year ; and during forty-three
yean, 95,g9D, neatly four times the circumference of the earth.
And all this for no other object but to save ainncra.

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tiiDei, gKvt the sBcrament aa oflen, nnd catecbiied
twice. I do not sny this b; way of boasting, but that
you may form gome idea of the prosperity of the work.
I never saw the fields so universBlly ripe for harvest
aad I shall be much disappointed if our harrest be not
very great. In some districts all in a mass are engaged
in learning the scriptures, and ^pear pnblicly to repeat
them ; and those public repetitions have a wonderful
effect on all that hear. It is no nncommon thing with
US for whole' families, master, mistress, children and
servants, to learn the catechisms and chapters and to
come and repeat them together. I never expected nor
conid hope in any degree that I should ever see what I
DOW see. Tlirongh mercy my health and strength con-
tinue firm in these incessant labours to which I am
i^ntinnally called. It is a delightful labour indeed !
Many of my brethren are most heartily engaged in the
same blessed work."

There Is nothing in this world unattended with
trials and difficnlties. We meet with them in our
fcimilies, in our friends, and in every religious connexion
which we may form. Trying circumstances will ever
occur during our present life, wherever we be, and
whatever may be our situation. There was one subject
which had for years been mooted by some members of
the connection, aod which had occasionally been pressed
on the attention of Mr. C. The MethodiittE had hitherto
been considered a part of the Established Church. None
but episcopally ordained ministers administered the
Lord's supper among them ; and their children were
baptiiied by the minister of the parish in which they
lived. But not a few among them were desirous of
introducing a different order of things, that is, of hav-

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ing some of the moat approveiJ of the lay-preicbers
ordained after the maDner of the DiBseoters or of the
English Methodists. Mr. C, and, we believe, all tbe
clergy connected with them, resisted this proposal for b
long time very strongly, and had it not been for some
unhappy circumstances, would probably bare wholly
prevented its final adoption. The most powerfnl plea
which the advocates of this opinion had to urge, was
the inadequacy of the small number of clergy among
them to supply the demands of the connection. The
policy pDTSued by the bishops tended to increase this
difficulty. There were many pious clergy, besides those
in actual connection with the Methodists, wbo occasion-
ally laboured among them and assisted them. And
those clergy were on the increase. Dut the bishops
became stricter, and insisted on uniform regularity.
This gave great advantage to those who were for intro-
ducing a new order of things ; and threw Mr. C. and
many others into great embarassments. Would it not
have been wiser in our spiritual rulers to pursue mea-
sures calcnlated to bring hack those wbo have a little
deviated from tbe road, than such as must of necessity
have driven them still further. Too raucb strictness in
some things produces often greater evils than too much
laxity. It is better to loosen a tight cord than to break
it by rendering it tighter. The effect however in the
present instance has been to separate from the church a
large and by far the roost religions part of the com-
munity. — Itwaein 1810 and ISll that tbe new system
was introduced. The account of its introduction shall
be given in the words of the Welsh biographer, who
himself was one of the new ordained ministers.

After having stated that the Methodists had greatly

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increased, and that the clergy in the coDDection were bo
few that they could not supply the places where they
were wanted to administer the sacrameat, lie proceeds
thus : — "There were also many members iu some places,
who wished that their cliildreii shonld be bsptiEed by
niinisterd, el er^^y men or others, belonging to their own
connection; sod some who objected to the adminiBtratioD
of baptism according to the Chnrch of England, on ac-
count of some words and ceremonies contained in it.
For these reasons, several of the preachers, elders and
other members, expressed their wish that some of the
preachers, not in holy orders, ahniild be set apart and
appointed to this ministerial work, who might be auxi-
liaries to the clergy. At first the design was not
approved of by Mr. C. and others. He continued to
oppose it for several years, but in a kind manner,
acknowledging at the same time, that it might possibly
be rendered necessary by the want becoming more
pressing. — At an association at Bala, 1810, he made a
publii: declaration, before the preachers and elders, of
his consent to tbeir reqaest and design j and to the
gratification of those present and of the members in
general, he promised to prepare rules, which, having
been previonsly agreed upon, shonld be used on the
proposed occasion. In consequence of this, by the next
meeting in 1811, eight preachers, approved by the
churches, had been appointed and called to the work,
and were then set apart in the most solemn manner,
according to the apostolic form as recorded in Acts, xtv.
23." — Mr. Charles' conduct in this respect was not
pleasing to his clerical frieuds in the church, they con-
sidering episcopal ordination, as the ancient and the
scriptural mode.

Dgl.iec.yGoO'^lc

Some kw years after Mr. C's misaion to Ireland)
a Dative of the higlilaods of Scotland, appoiDted t)f the
Hibernian Society to superintead tbeir Bchoots, was
advised by a friend to call on Mr. C. in his way there,
that he might have the beaelit of bis connsel and re-
marks. In conversing with this gentleman Mr. C. fouoH
that scarcely any thing n'at taught in the few highland
schools but English, thongh the iuhabitautg, amountiug
to aboat 300,000, could not even nnderstand a sermon
in that language. He instantly commenced n corres-
pondence with an active and vespectable gentleman
at Edinburgh : and the result ivas the formation of a
society for the support of Gaelic schools. This was
established in 1811. Its first report contains a cout-
mnnication from Mr. C. which we shall subjoin. A
part of its information has already l>een given : but the
whole shall be transcribed, it being so superlatively
excellent and judicious, displaying throughont a high
degree of practical good sense. He was not a man cf
speculation, but the pupil of experience. It is thus
announced in the appeudix ; — "An extract of a letter
from the Rev. T. Charles, of Bula, Merionethshire, North
Wales, to a member of the committee, dated January 4,
1811."

" The important intelligence which yonr letter
brought me, of the benevolent intention of charitable
persons in the North, of forming a society at Edinburgh,
for the design of encour^ing schools in the bigbland
and islands of Scotland, to teach the poor inhabitants
to read their native Gaelic tongue, appears to ine highly
laudable, and gives very gi'eat gratification. I pray the
Lord to prosper the benevolent design, and crown your
labours with abundant incceu! In compliance with

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your reqacBt I shall here attempt to give yoD a compre-
benBiTe and succinct acconnt of oimiUr institations with
m in the principality, their uuture and mcceas.

" The Rev. Grijfiik Jones, a clergyman of the Estab-
liabroent, alraut the year 1730, mada the first attempt
of any importaDce, on an extensive scale, to erect
schools for the instruction of our poor people to read
their native langnage. before that time the whole
country was in a most deplorable state with regard to
the acquisition of religious knowledge. After the decease
of thii Tery pious and tairarioos miuister, in 1761, the
schools were continued on the same plan by a pions
lady of fortune, an intimate friend of Mr. Jones, and
a constant attendant on his ministry; her name was
Mrs. Beran. In her will, that lady, who lived several
years after Mr. Jones, left £\OfiOO, the interest of
which was to be applied forever towards perpetuating
these schools. Her executrix, a niece of bers, disputed
the validity of the will, so far as it applied to this money.
It was thrown into Chancery, where it contiooed for
thirty years before a decree was obtained. About two
years ago, a decree was granted in favour of this charity.
And the interest of the iClO^OOO, with the accumulation
of it by interest all the years it was in Chancery, is to
L>e applied, under certain specific r^ulations and
restrictions, to the support of circulating charity schools
thronghoot the whole principalitj-. This was a consum-
mation devoutly to be wished indeed ! And the more
so, as we had all despaired of ever seeing the money
applied to the proper object. There are now forty
schools erected in different parts of the coontry, and
the number is continually increasing. — In the course of
a few years after the cessation of these, on the demise

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of Mn. Benn, the conntiy gnduftlly rererted into th«
same state of stupor and ignorance in wbieh Mr. Jooeg
fonnd it, when fae fint thonght of these institutions.
Bcsidei, thoogh Mr. J — 's schools iacrcased to tha
amazing nomber of 206 Wore he died, yet there were
many districts in the mountainoss conntry never visited
by bis schools, or bnt once, and that for a short time.
In one of these districts it pleased the will of Provi-
dence to place mc. Soon after I assemed the care of
tiie parish, 1 attempted to instruct the rising generation
by catechising them every Suuday afternoon : bat tbur
not being able to read, I found to be a great obstacle to
the progress of my work. This indoced me to eiujutre
into the state of the country in this point of view. I
soon foond the poor people to be in gcDeral in the eam«
state of ignorance. Two or three of the children of
the wealthiest were sent to the next town to leun
Eogtish, and this was all. They geaenlly were left
totally destitste of any instruction. As Mr. Jones's
schools bad ceased to circulate, no relief could be
obtainad from that qnarter. A thengfat occorred to my
ntsioM mind, for so It really was, that by the charit-
able assistance of some friands, I might be able to
obtain means of employing a teacher, and to remove
him from one place to another, to instruct the poor
ignorant people. When I had succeeded in obtaining
peonnitfy aid, the grest difficulty of procuring aproper
perion to leach occurred. This difficulty was removed
by inabmcting apoor man myself, and employing him at
first near me, that his acbool might be in a manner
under my constant inspection. — Tlie next difficulty was
to obtain proper tUmetUary book*. In this point Mr.
Jones's schools were very deficient, as those used in his
Ee

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scbools were little better than tlie Eoglish battledows,
and very ill calcnlated to forward tbe children in tbeir
leaming. This obstnictioii also was gradually removed.
I composed three elemeutary books, besides two cate<
chisms, which are now Dsed in all oar acbools, and
very Asentially assist the progress of tbe children. —
My teachers, as my funds increased, mnltiplied gra*
dually from one to twenty : bot of late the number ia
decreased, as the necessity of the week-day scbooU is
superseded by tbe increase of Sunday schools : and my
attention is drawn to the extension of them as wide as
passible. The circulating' dny gcheolg have been the
principal means of erecting Sunday schools ; for with-
out the former, tbe state of tke cooutry was such, that
we conld not obtain teachers to carry on the latter.
Besides, Sunday schools were set up in every place
where the day schools had been.

" My mode of conducting the schools has been as
follows: — My first greatest care has been in the ap-
pointment of proper teacher*. They are all poor per-
sons, as my wages are but small. Besides, a poor
person can assimilate himself to the habits and mode of
living among the poor, as it is his own way of living.
It is requisite he should be a person of moderate abili-
ties ; but above all that he be truly piout, moral, decetU,
kumble- and engaging in bis whole deportment ; not
captious, not disputatious, not conceited, no idle saun-
terer, no tattler, nor given to the indulgence of any
idle habits. My care has been abundantly repaid, for
my teachers in general are as anxious as myself for tbe
siiccess of the work and the eternal welfare of those
they are employed to instruct in their most important
concerns. — In introducing the school into a plaCe, I pay

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aprerious visit there, after coDveTBiog a little {on aoj
opportanity that might offer) with some of the principal
inhabitants on the Bobject. I convene the inhabitants
together, having sent a previons message to them inti-
mating my intention of visiting them, and spectfying
the time af my coming. Wliea convened bother, I
publicly addresB them on the vast imimrtanca of having
their children taught to read the word of God; and
afterwards I inform them of my intention of sending a
teacher, to assist in instmcting their children and also
grown-up people who cannot read, who will attend him
on Snndays, and as many nights in the week as they
please. I ^conclude in exhorting the parents to send
their children into the school, I converse familiarly
afterwards with the parents, and promise to assist them
with books, if they should be too poor to buy any. I
take kind notices of the children also : and thus in gene-
ral we are kind fiiends ever afier the first interview.
The teacher is to take no entrance-money, is charged
not to encroach on them, and not to intrude himself
upon them, unless particularly invited into their houses:
and then he is charged to hare family praytr* night and
morning wherever he goes to reside for a night, to in-
troduce conversations respecting his own work, and not
to indulge himself with them in idle talk; that in him
they might see how a Christian lives, and bow ti«^
ought to live. His time is entirely at my command,
and to be devoted wholly to the work. He is engaged
in the evm>^ as well as in the day and that everg day.
— Before the school is removed, I go there twice, if
possible, end examine the children publicly. These
public examinations and catechisings I have found
moat profitable to the parsnts and grown-up people.
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I have often leeii ttwm exceedingly affectad Uy the in-
telligiBt and proper reiponset of the childrea. Before
I leave them, I exhort them earnestly to anpport the
Sunday ichool that had been begnn among them, to
prevent the children from foisting what they had
learnt, to farther their progreia in learning, now they
have happily began: andthiathe; generally comply with.

" At first, the atrong prejudiee universally preva-
ient against teaching them to read Welsh _fir*i, and the
aaanmed idea they could not learn Englieh so welt
afterwards, proved a strong atambling-block to pareaits
to send their children to the Welsh schools, together
with another conceit, tiiat if they could read Gnglisfa,
they would soon learn to read Welsh of tbemselres : but
now these idle and groundless conceits are universally
scooted. 'I'his change has been produced, not so much
by disputing with them, as by the evident, salutary sf>
fects of the schools, by the great delight with which
the children attended then, and by the great progress
they made in the acquisition of knowledge.

" The school oonliittiet usually at one time in the
same place six or nine months. This depends on local
circumstances, the Dumber of children, and the progrees
which they make. In some districts they, learn with
much greater rapidity than ia others. The cause of
this is various, which I cannot enumerate here. — This
has been my mode of proceeding, subject to some local
variations, for hbovt twenty-three year»: and I have
had the only satisfaction I could wish, — that of seeing
the wQrki by the (iord's blessing, fvospering far beyond
my BioBt sanguine expectations. The beginning Was
small i but the little brook became an overflowiog river,
which has spread widely over th9 whole country in

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Sunday schoula, the wholesome efFecta of these pie-
vioQS institntions, fertilizing the barren soil wherever
it flows.

" As to the EXFEDiENCT of teaching TOung people in
the^rtl place to read the language they generally speak
and best understand, if imparting religions knowledge
is our primary object, as it most certainly ought to be,
in instructing itnmorlal beings, it needs no proof, for it
is self-evident. However I beg your attention for a
moment to the following particniars, making no apology
for the great length of the letter as yon desired me to be
particular : —

" 1. The time necessary to teach them to read the
bible in their vernacular language is to short, not exceed-
ing six months in general, that it is a great pity not to
give them the key immediately which nnlocks all
the doors, and lays open all the divine treasures before .
them. Teaching them English requires two or three
years' time, during which long period, they are concerned
only 'about dry terms, without receiving one idea for
their improvement.

" 2. Welsh words convey ideas to their infant minds
as soon as they can read them, which is not the case
when they are taught to read a language they do not
understand.

" 3. WhCTi they can read Welsh, tcriplural termx
become intelligible and familiar to them, so as to enable
them to understand the discourses delivered in that
language, used generally in preaching through the prin-
cipality ; which of course must prove more profitable
than if they could not read at all, or could only read
English.

" 4. Previous iuBtruction in their native language
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helpi them to leant English mMch tooner, imtead ot
proring in any degree an inconveniency. This I hxrm
had repeated proofs of, and can confidently vouch for the
truth of it. I took this method in ioitnicting my own
children, with a view of convincing the country of tha
fitlacy of the general notion which prevailed : and I havs
peranaded others to follow my plan, which withont one
exception has proved tiie troth of what I conceived to
be really the case.

" Having acquired »«» ideta by reading a langn^e
they nnderftand, txcitemeMt is natarally produced to
seek for knowledge. And as our ancient language n
very deficient in the means of instmction. there being
few Qsefnl books printed in it, a desire to learn Englishj
yea and other languages also, is excited, for the sake of
increasing their stock of ideas, snd adding to their fand
of knowlet^. I can vouch for the troth of it, tiat there
are tteenty to one wko can mow reud EnglUh, to That
could when the Welsh was n^lected. The knowlei^^
of English becomes necessary from the treasnres con-
tained in it. English books are now generally called
for. There are now a hundred books, I »m sure, for
every one that was in the country when I removed from
England, and first became resident of these parts-
English schools are every-where called for; and I have
been obliged to send young men to English schools, to
be trained up for English teachers, that I might be able
in some degree to answer the general demand for them.
In short, the whole country is in a manner emerging
from a state of great ignorance and ferocioaa barbarity
to civilization and piety, and that principally by the
means of Welsh schools. Bibles without end are mlled
for, are read diligently, learned out by heart, and

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searched into with nnweari«d usidnity and care. Instead
of TBJD amusements, daociog, card-plsying, interludeE,
qnarrelling, and barbarous and most croel fightings, iv«
haye now prayer meetings, our congregations are
<Ht>wded, and poblic catechising is become pleasant,
familiar and profitable. One great means of this blessed
change has been the Welsh schools.

" 6. ^y teaching Welsbfirst, we prove to ihim thai
we are priaoipall;/ concerned abmtt their louU, and
thereby impress their minds with the vast importance
of acquiring the knowledge of divine truths, in which
the way of salvation, onr dnty to God and man, is
revealed ; whereas that most important point is totally
out of sight by teadiing them English ; for the acqui-
sition of English is connected only with their temporal
concems, which they may never want, as they may, as
the majority do{ die in infancy. In my opinion, in the
education of children, it is of the utmost importance,Vn
the first place, to impress their minds with a sense that
they are candidates for another world, and that things
pertaining to their eternal felicity lAere,fat of infinitely
greater importance to them, than the little concerns .'
which belong to our short existence here. The neglect
of this is, I apprehend, a very great defect in the edu-
cation of children. — What 1 have put down, is, 1 appre,
hend, equally applicable to the Irish and the highlanders,
as to the Welsh. Praying for yoor saccess, I am yours
respectfully, Stc." — Extracts from other letters of Mr-
C. are given in the appendix of this report, which shall
he added.

"Bala, Jan. 23, 1811. I hasten to congratulate yon
and your friends on the success of your exertions in
forming a society for the encouragement and support of

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charity schools in the highlands, to teach the poor
neglected people there to read the word of God in their
native tongue. Though so great a work cannot be
accomplished in a dajr, in a year, or in twenty years ;
yet it is a canse of unspeakable joy, that they are no
longer neglected, and that matters are concerted and in
a train for their instruction. Perhaps the progress of
the work, throngh the Lord's coDCDrringaid and blessing,
may be more rapid than ve are aware of. If their
attention is excited, and the principal inhabitants feel
interested in the anceess of the work, more will be done
by their own exertions among themselves, than by tbe
teachers. — I lately visited a district, between onr moon-
tains, in which a good woman, a widow, and her two
children, a girl of twelve years of age, and a boy of
eighteen, have been the chief ingtroments of teaching
all the inhabitants to read well, and to understand the
first principles of Christianity ; and that only by Sonday
and night schools. Abont a week past ( visited her
(she lives on her small farm) when she convened all the
inhabitants together at her honse : and they repeated
several chapters to me with great propriety and intelli-
gence; and I catechised them as long as time permitted
and preached to tbem afterwards. She herself and her
children stood np at the head of all in repeating tlie
chapters and tbe catechism. My gratification, yoo may
suppose, was of no ordinary kind on tbo occasion." —
From the same report, page 16, the following statement
respecting the number of bibles and testaments dietri-
bnted in Wales, shall be transcribed ; —

" Had the ability to read been as widely diffnsed
in oor isles and highlands, as in the principality of
Wales, how mnch greater had been the circnlation («f

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the scriptares) ? Snch has been the demand there, that
it has been found necessary to priut three editions of
the bible, being more than 20,000, (being 20,000 of
each edition as we suppose) and seven editions of the
new testament, " amounting to 45,000 copies '. It is
remarluble, that all these bave been printed, and
nearly all disposed of, in the short space of four year*"
— By this account it appears, that 105,000 copies of
bibles and testameota had been nearly all distributed
in Wales in four years- The first edition of the bible,
we know from Mr. Owen's history, contained 20,000
copies. The number of the other two is not mentioned
by Mr. O, The only thing he says is, that " Lai^
editions of the Welsh scriptares were put to press.'
How vast mast have been the extension of knowledge
in the principality, promoted by prcBching and by the
schools 1

SECT. III.— /Wm 1812 to the death of Mr. C.1814.

We are now drawing to the close of the history of
this active, laborious and good man. The most lemark-
able and benevolent transactions of his life have been
mentioned. The effects of them are still to be seen,
and probably will continue to appear for ages to come.
What a memorial of his love and benevolence do the
almost inconceivable benefits of the Bible Society
present ? What testimony to his worth do the Sunday
•chools in Wales bear ! Are there not records of the
benehts of his counsel and recommendation among the
pWT natives of Ireland ? Are there not amosg the
higUanders of Scotland proofs of his solicitude for
tiieirweUue? Has there been any individual in mo-

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dern times, who has been so hoDoored by heaven, who
has been the inatrumeot <if originatinf; and of effecting
BO much good for the eternal interest of man? His-
tory records none.

We have not to record novr mnch of a public na-
ture. His ministerial labours, which were very great,
continned to engage his attention. The declining health
of his partner, which had been progresHive for some
time past, engrossed indeed much of his time and soli-
citude : nor was his own health uninterrupted. He had
been ill for a short time in the autumn of the year 1808,
being afflicted with a soreness in his leg; which prob-
ably was owing to over-exertion. But sometime in the
year 1812, he met with a serioas accident, which even-
tually, as it was supposed, proved to be the cause of
his death. While travelling by himself in some part of
Mon^meryshire, by too great an efTort to open a gate,
he felt a sudden pain in his inside ; which tamed out to
be the commencement of a rupture; at least he could
trace it afterwards to nothing else. This of course
must have produced a serious effect on the constitution.
He was not a^rwards able to go through so much

work. The following letter to Mrs. A in 1813

mentions the declining slate of hit Aea/M, together with
some pleasing account of thaprogreti of the schooh and
of the gospel,

"Bala Sep. 16, 1813.— 1 have been for these twa
months past and more, in a state of ^%at bodily debility,
supposed by the doctors to be the effect of over-exer-
tion of body and mind. I had freiiient pains and was
confined to the house ; and I was frequently on tiie bed.
I was not able for any thing that required exertions
either of body or mind, and was recommended to in-

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dulge myself im real and ceiaation from all work, as the
most likely way to restore my strength. Through mercy
I am now much better, free from pain, though atill lan-
gaid. I have found great support from the last words
of David — the everlasting covenant, " well ordered in
all things and sore," containing all my »alva(ion.
Though I Ti'is feeble, 1 found strong ground to stand
oa, and I rejoiced in it. When heart and flesh h.\\,
here is strength for my heart, and a portion — all my sal-
vation forever. I cannot now pen on this paper what I
saw in It : bat i saw enough and that forever. God re-
membered me and shewed me the best things he had —
a salvation in a covenant made by himself. This salva-
tion in a covenant is well arranged, well ordered ; every
thing is provided for — the glory of God, his law and
g;overnment; aud every thing which pertains to the
safety and eternal felicity of those in this covenant. It
is all snre; the covenant itself and all its privileges are
all sure. May Goc^the Holy Ghost keep our minds in
constant and clear views of this covenant ; and we shall
be enabled to rejoice in tribulation and in the bright
hope of the glory of God.

" I am very much obliged to you for the pleasing
detail, you have given in your letter, of the sncceas of
your Adult School. And I most heartily thank Mr.

A for his assiduous attention to it. The iiord will

reward him : and he cannot be employed in the service
of a better master. I beg also of you the favonr to pre-
sent my most grateful respects to the good ladies for
their anwearied ^nd unabated attention to the good
work. 1 am indeed very much obliged to them ; and I
hope they very often meet with the Lord, whilst em-
ployed in teaching others to know Jesus. Idle Christians

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(what ft lolecisDi !) Derer thrive. It is a Bin, it is «
■haraa to be idle, when bo much ia to be done, nnd when
BO much may be done by every one. I hope yon will
desire the preacher, whoever he u, to rouse your nn-
meroai congregation to work. I wish myself in Spa
Field's pulpit this moment, and I would speak on th«
Bobject while my Teeble itreugtb lasted. I am gratefnlly
sensible of the patient hearing they have given me on
former occasions, and of the readinesB with which many
of tbeu engaged in every good work pointed ont to
them. And 1 beg to be kindly remembered to the "Ma-
tron" and "Juvenile Society." I hope they go on cbeer-
fully, diligently and vigorously in the good work
pertuning to those useful inatitntions.

" I am happy to inform yon that the work proapera
in some parts of our country. The Sunday schools are
indeed every-where prosperous. One of oor teachers
here told me last Sunday, that our chapel, which holds
3000 people, would soon be too small to seat all the
adults and the children, which increasingly crowd the
school every Sunday. The sight wu delightful, and
such as I never expected to see O for ■ divine afflatns
to waft them all to heaven ! 1 have received a letter
giving a pleasing account of the progress of religion is
some parts of the county of Carnarvon. 1 will trans*
late here a part of it — " The Iiord bath done a wonderfdl
work in our county in less than one year. There have,
been added to the church in the two chapels of Clyn<^,
138 ; in Llanllyvni, 90 j in Penygraig and Tymawr.
above 100; and many in other societies in the connty
The Sunday schools abound with scholars, and the
teachers are diligent and faithfnl."— I^et us praise the
Lord."

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337

It appears cle&r from some parts of this letter tbat
Mr. C. wax the fonader of the Adnlt School in Sjia
Field's chapel. His language is that of a father anxious
for the proBperity and success of his ofrepring. It was
through his recommendation and infloence that the Sun-
day school tiiere was alsoestablished. Ad attempt too bad
been made by him, we know not with what success, to
set np among the members of that chapel what is called
by the Welsh Methodists, " Private Societies ;" which
none are allowed to attend but those who belong to the
connection. Those societies are viewed by them as
extremelv important. They are held generally every
week, sometimes with and sometimes without a mi-
nister : hut generally some minister is present, and
frequently there is a sermon, to which all are admitted,
but the private meeting which follows it, is for the mem-
bers only. Every chapel has a society of this kind. Its
design is varians. It is the door of entrance into the
church, a school of discipline, and a court of conscience.
No one is admitted as a member without being examined
and approred at this private meeting. If a member be
guilty of any thing wrong in his conduct ; he is here
called to an account, reproved, and if not penitent, cut
off from the connection. But most of the time is em-
ployed in a ptatn, familiar conversation, on subjects of
personal experience, between the minister or the elders
and different members of the society : and cautions,
' warnings, or encouragements are given according to
what the stateof the individaal may seem to be. Thab
meetings last perhaps aboot an hour, and are concluded
with prayer. The advantages derived from them are
said to be very considerable. They are the means of
preventing un^t persons to enter into the connection -,
Ff

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th«)- afford an opportnnity of reproving the fiinHy> of
encouraging the doubtful, and ofstreDgtheniogtheweak ;
tbey promote brotherly lovd, oaioii and sympathy ; and
tend f(reatly in TariouB ways to ailvance the ipiritnal
interest of the membera. When well conducted, tbey
are do doubt very useful, greatly promotive of mutual
edification. The long experience Mr. C. had of their
usefulness, induced him to make an attempt to introduce
them into Spa Field's chapel. He found them very
beneficial among the Welsh ; and he thought that they
might be so too among the E&f(lish. — What but some-
thing of this kind constitutes the " communion of
saints"

Before we proceed to speak of the departure of
this man of Hod, we shall subjoin a few extracts fn»a
letters written by him during the last twelve mouths or
rather thirteen months of his life. The first and seoond,
were sent to ajady, named M. H — , at Liverpool j the
.third to Mrs. A — , of London.
The succeti of the schooU. — Encouragementt to work.

" Bala, Sep. 27, 1SI3. Through mercy I am much
better. My frequent pains have left me: and my
strength is so far improved that 1 was enabled to preach
three times last Sunday and catechise three times. These
extra exertions I mean in future to avoid as mnch as
possible : for I have every reason to believe that they
have in a degree been the means of bringing on
my present complaint, the effects of which I still
feel. I very much approve of yoar labour with the
children of your school in improving them by catechetical
and more personally religions instruction. I doubt not
bnt that the Lord will bless these your labours of love.
This is our time of working ; and it is a great pity bod

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very sinfal not to embrace the opportDuity offered ns
of doing all we cao. I thank yon for the pleasing
account in yonr letter of the saccess of the Gaelic cir-
cnlating charity schools. I feel interested in their
prosperity in no common degree. Every account of the
intSBion in the east is to me very gratifying. The
harvest is great ; but it is only just begun. The Lord
will send labonrers and the work will continue to
prosper.

" I am happy to inform yon that the prospect in
onr poor country is in many parts encouraging. Above
three hundred have been in less than a twelve month
received into different societies' in Camarvonstiire,
principally/ front the Sunday »chooU; which increase
exceedingly both in number and in the progress they
make in learning. Advltt as well as children every-
where crowd into them : and their attention is great ;
and their appearance sober and pleasing ; and some
join onr churches contiunally. We have on the whole
great cause for thankfulness, and hope to see stilt greater
things. The mighty promises are all in our &voar, at
least, of the work in which we are engaged. That mnst
prosper while the frame of nature continues. It is well
to be working as well as praying in faith, nothing doubt-
ing. It is a strong encoaragement to work, when we
are snre that the work we are engaged in miut prosper,
however feeble the instruments, however strong and
inveterate the opposition to it. It is often very encoor-
aging to me to consider that it is the Lord* work, and
his principal work : therefore it must be honourable,
important, effealipo and triumphant, how greatly
have we been honoured to feel it in our own hearts and
' to be in any degree engaged ia promoting it !"
Ff2

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7%« Serampore JUiuUM. — yarittjf m iMtruetwn
deiirahie,
" Bala, (no date, sappoeed to be m the latter part
of 1813.) Your kind letter eidted contrary feelingB
in iny mind. 1 rqoiced to receive a friendly letter from
yon, vhile the tidiogs of tbe awful couflagration at
Serampore filled ne with grief; especially a* it has
retarded for a time tbe pnotiog of the traDslations in
the eastern Ungaages perfected by the laborione Mis-
Bionaries. Oor providences are like the clond ia the
wilderness, with a dark and light aide : bat both guide
ua safe to our destiocd home : and what seems often, to
retard tbe Lord's work in onr hands, proves effectual
means of forwarding it. So I hope it will prove in this
case, I feel desirous of assisting to make np Uie loss
sustained, by contributions, &c. f so often draw on the
liberality of our people, that 1 mnst wait a proper
opportunity to lay tbe case before them. Wben I per-
ceive tbe odvantageons season, 1 hope I shall succeed.
The snccessful exertions of the Baptist Missionaries in
the east, have often afforded me matter of joy and ^
thankfulness. The Lord is with them of a tmth; and
1 have no doubt but that the froit of their labours will
be glorious, and effectual means of advancing the great
Redeemer's kingdom in those vast regions of darkness
and superstition.

" It is a high favour to be in any degree employed
in forwarding so important and glorious a cause. I
■ rejoice to find tbat your heart is so warmly engaged in
it. I pray the Lord, that by fresh snppUes from the
fountain of all good, it may continue warm, vigorona
and active, till it ceases to beat. It is a very favourable
season to work : for the Lord in these happy days crowns

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the Uboars of ill, bowever weak, with some degree of
snocesi. I have great sxpectations from the ritiog
generetionB in onr country. They are trained op to
activity and erertifln. Tfaeold profesgors, many of them,
have accustomed themselves to an idle way of spending
thdr time. They cannot, without great difficulty, break
off old habits, and are not easily brought under the
yoke. But the young woik with skill, cheerfulness and
diligence.' 1b a relifpons and moral point of view, the
state of our peasantry is gradually and continually
improving. Fresh advances are made every year.
Hundreds of children and young people have this year
joined onr different societies. On Sep, 27,the children
and young people of a whole district were publicly
examined by me in our chapel. I never witnessed ao
affecting a scene. "Hiey could hardly make their
responses, being so overcome with weeping; and the
whole congregation was similarly affiected. All these
young people experienced religions impressions on their
minds within these nine months ; and a very striking
change has taken place in their moral conduct. May
God make the work on their minds deep and lasting. In
repeating scriptures descriptive of the misery of the
ungodly, who die in their sins, in the other world, they
wept bitterly.

" I highly commend your activity in the dispersion
of tracU. We also are not altogether idle in this
respect. Bot onr tracts are all of the catechetical kind,
composed in the way of questions and answers, for the
children and yonng people to learn. This mode cod-
tribntes much to keep them constantly employed, to
enlighten their minds, and tomake them familiar with
the divine oracles. 1 often give them a subject, either
F f 3

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S42

of doctriiM or of iaVf, or o£ some lin to bo aroidod, for
tbcn to iUosti^tc it tbemialvet, in the way of qiMstioas
and aoiwete. Some, bolh boyi ud girli^ bava poc-
formed tbeir work with great jvdgnwut^ uid I hare
Hvcnl bal^enny tracts GampaKd~by tbem, jkrioted for
the benefit of Otbera, aa well as far an example to tboto-

I bare translated a few into Cngliah; of a few dotana oC
which whea jH'inted, I shall beg yoar acceptance. Tkia
is the mode of going on at preient : bnt we often, ury
oar modea of instruction. The mode adopted, howevec,

II of little. conseqoence, if it tenda to promote thegtand
ot^t— the adrancemeutof reJigjona hnowle^e and. of
correspendeiit practice. It is a great point gjuned, if
we are able to stir np and beep their minds active and*
chearfal in the work : and in. order to obtain thi» end,
we are obliged toriry inonr proceedinga. ExcnsatUa
basty letter. My Idme is so fnlly taken np every moment,
that I can hardly spara any to pay proper attention to
Biy,kind distant frieDds."

^itodation at Bala.
" Bala, Jnne 24, 1814. I comfort myself much
\wth the thoB^t of Mr. A — 'acaxeand activity aboat
tttftjoTenile and adult schools. It is a very important
work, and its aacceu is connected with the welbxe of
immortal beings forever : therefore every exertiou. to
promote it is inqmrtant.. Care for them is interwoven
with all the feelings of my mind; and while my puke
hsats at all, I cannot ba indifferent about their ucceaa.
-~Wo had last week our peat annual meetinji hen^
(WHOciation^ Th&coi^regption, thongh alna]^ ^i^^
was more nnmerons. by umK thnuam^ than we bore
eser witnessed before. It lasted part of four day*.
There wcEt fonrteen dtscoonesi delivered: and fbeir

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printfl meetiiigt held. Grwt hitnuiRiy prennled id tbe
private n«etiDgi« *nd lote, which is tha " bond of
pcrfertneu.'* The public discoareei were edifying aad
powerful, aod commMidad the Bttenltea ol between
Ut^OOO and 20,000 people without iDtermisiioii. Th«
ordermd deconm, which preveiled emoni; each b ]ax§t.
OODCOone of peopta, Ww great and pleaiiog. No signt
of inteoipeniiice or ditorder, were perceived among!
them. Nothing bat the hand «f God eoold have pre.
aerred to mrich orda among lo jmnty corrapted signers
eoloi^ together. It wu tbe Lard's doing; and itie
auTToUow, anipaesing maiTcUoaH in onr eyei> When
1 was yoiu^, tlw Loid brov^it me into his hunse : and
gpodoetB and mercy have followed me all my dayej and
I have continaed, preserved by nndeserved, poWerfnl
ffwct lo ae4 these wonders' of his kimgdom. Great
additiOBS have been mMde in general to onr chnrcbas last
yur, about 2,000 in all. The Bible Societies, the
achoala and every good work set on foot, auccced among
OB : and we hope the kingdom of tbe little stone wiil
soon till oar land; May tiij kingdom come speedily, O
Loid.

" Throng meccy my strength is considuably im-
proved,, tfaoagk it ia not what it has fonnerly bees.
Ura, C> coBlinoes still feeble: and it ia donbtfol whether
she can bear a journey to the aea this year as heretofore.
Thna it pleases the good I^ird at present to order his
ProvideaccB towards bi.. To be thankful in all things
is onr duty and privilq^: and I hop* we are so in some
small degree. Thankfol! sorely it becomes thoteto be
sor who have hy free grkoe been saved bom hell — saved
aad saved, in sncb away, what aiwonder! N«e» but
God ooold shew soeh woAderM things^ Pray Cot oa,
my dew frieodf."

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TbetwofeUowinglrtten ue on « i^ect, on whieh
Mr. C. delighted to dwell, the etfcellmcji of tie h^U.
The &T>t u without a date, bnt snpposed tu have been
written about thil time. The date of the other is a
'littleearlierjitwaa written in 1612,and ihall be intro-
dnced here, becanae it is on the aame iiifaiect with the
formv. The latter wai sent to Mr. F-- ■ -, jnniw ; the

former to Miaa P , of M— th.

The hbh, the bett/nend.

" Haring a few extrarfine copies of Welah bibles, I
b^ your kind acceptance ot one of then. I wish yon a
continual blessing on the frequent perasal of it, and
that yon and the bible may be eternally united in Ion
and friendship. The bible was intended for ns sinners,,
and that for our salvation.

" The bible is a friend to all who lore him, and can
giro them consolations, strong, divine and eternal. Yon
never can change him for a better friend; he is a tried
one. Thoniands have found him faithful and sufficient
in all straits and difficulties:

"You can conrerse with him any hour of the day or
nif^t, silently and privately- And his advice is that of the
highest wisdom and goodness; and nay be safely relied
on and followed. You cannot do better than follow his
directions in all things. The information he gives yon
is of the greatest importance and divinely gracious. He
will also tell you the aame story over again and again, a
thousand times with the greatest patience, if you have
time and inclination to listen to his instroetive tale.

" On tbe bed of languishing there is no WuAi sym-
pathising and supporting friend to be foand fi»r love of
for money. And what singularly belongs to him, he
will accompany you throogb death as far as you need
him, and will point oat a bright world before yon as an

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34o

ererlasting inlieritaiics ; where yon will want him no
more, but shall etem^iDy enjoy all the rich promises
therein inade to you, and will find them all there to be
yea and amen to yonr ncTer-ending cooeolatioD.

" As I trust you already love him sincerely, you
will not be sorry to receive your beloved friend in the
best clothing that can be put on Iiim, such as worms
cannot alTect ; which well suits eterunl and uncbange-
able truth. I will detain you no longer from bis pleas-
ing company by my poor tale."

The bible, it* benefiu.

"As you are about choosing a companion for life,
permit me to present you with a small bible, which will
direct, help and comfort you both, if you will attend to
its injunctions, understand its doctrines, and believe
its promises. Without these things, no companions, no
friends, no possessions, no earthly circumstances cau
make us happy. To be without the bible, I mean, the
practical belief of !t, is to be without Christ, without
hope, and without God in the world.

" I doubt not bat that you have bibles enough, and
may bnfe more, if wanted ; but 1 feel a desire that yon
may possess one as a token of my regard for you, and a
proof of my solicitous concern for your felicity here and
hereafter, and also as a constant monitor ftom me con-
tinually reminding you of the excellency and safety of
- God's ways.

" It contains all the information, counsel and
direction which we can want in every case and under
all circa mstances. It directs you to God throogh
Christ, that you may be at peace with bim, and take
him for yonr everlasting portion and friend. It dJrecU
you how yon are to be made holy, that you may thereby

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34a

be rendered meet for the eDJoyment of your God, and
how yoD are to walk in alt things so as to please htm*
It points out to yon tlist there is a duty which yon owe
to yourself, to your friends, to your relations, to your
enemies, &c. j and directs you where to obtain streugtb
and wisdom to perform these duties, and bow to obtain
pardon in tlie midst of all yoor deficiences. It directs
those " that have wives, to be as if they had none ; and
they that weep, as though they wept not j and they
that r^oice, as thongh tbey rejoiced not j and they that
buy, as tboogh they possessed not ; and tbey that use
this world as not abusing it : for the fashion of this
world passeth away." Make the bible yonr friend and
constant companion. When you have a family, if ever*
feed yonr family with it ; ahd let them have daily the
nnrtnre and admonition of the Lord.

" The bible has every thing to recommend it : — I.
It is from God, and therefore partakes of divine excel-
lencies — being wise, holy, just and good ; — 2. It has
all fulness of knowledge j — 3. It is all unerring and
eternal truth ; — 4. It is a word that can save oar sonls
and administer comfort in every tribulation ; — 5. Believ-
ing it ennobles the mind ; and walking according to it
is our highest honour, ornament and comfort.
every thing we. want; the practical belief of it will
make us ultimately possessors of all that is contained
in its exceedingly great and precions promises,
fingers are too cold to write any more. Read the bible,
and study it daily ; and its beauties will unfold them-
selves wonderfully to you, by the influences of the Holy
Spirit, who leads his people to all the truths it contains.'*

We have to mention another proof of ^■- f- '••
concern for his countrymen. The possession \

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will I

ned

My I

bla, •<

847

nisbed above all thiDgs that they shoald enjoy was tbe
able. When the Bible Society bad resolved in 1813 to
print an edition in octavo, Mr. C. notwithstanding the
decline of hia health and hU varioos avocations, gratui-
tonsly andertook the labour of preparing a corrected
copy from tbe last edition at Oxford. " He had a strong
and ardent desire," says bis Welsh biographer, " to
procure a correct and iadefective edition of the bible for
his countrymen : therefore his toil and labour were very
great, though without any remuneration from man.
While engaged iu this work, he acknowledged that he
had a strong wish to live, uotil it was iwtnpleted : "and
then," said he, " 1 shall willingly lay down my head and
die." He lived to see it completed ; and he expressed
himself very thankful to the Lord for having graciously
spared him to witness the work finished : and the last
words ever written by him, as it is supposed, were
these, with reference to this work, — " It is now
finished." Page, 201. — He contemplated another work
for tbe benefit of his country, a Scriptural Concordance
in Welsh, on a new and extensive plan, according to
tbe account of the writer of his Welsh Memoir : but he
did not live to complete it. If the work has been carried
on to any extent, and if its plan is an improvement, it
is to be regreted that it has not been completed and
published by some of bis friends.

In tbe spring of tbe year 1814, Mr. C. exhibited
evident tokens of bodily weakness: and they iucraased
as the year advanced. Mrs. C. was also iu a state of
great debility. Writing in tbe month of May to his
friend, Mr, .Tones, bis biographer, he stud that they
geemed both to be going fast to another world, but that
Mrs. C. seemed to be going faster than himself. Bnt

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the event proved that hie departure wu the ncftrer,
though not by many days, not qnite twenty. " In tbe

next iDOnth~ (Jnne) saye Mr. J , " at the aSEocU-

tioii held that month, hia riTacity and cheerfalDees
indoced many of big brethren to hope that he was re-
C0Terin)(. Dut in the beginning of Angnat I net him
and his partner at Bronhaiil<%-Llanddervel, and both
seemed mnch worse. And I cannot forget the manifest
tokens of Epiritnal ripeness and beaveDliDese of mind,
displayed in the whole of bis condnct and conversation.
After this they went both to Barmotb to try what sea
air woald do for them iu their languor and weakness.
The heavenly strain of his preaching while there, and
his profitable conversation, are still remembered by
many who heard him : and it was there that he was
heard saying to his wife, — " Well, dear Sarah, the fif-
teen years are nearly completed." Hariog spent there
abont a fortnight, they went to see their relations and
friends at Machynlleth," page 214. — ^The remaining
accoant of his illness and death shall be given by intro-
ducing an interesting letter written by a young Indy,
now gone to her restj to a friend at Liverpool, a few
days after the decease of Mr. C. She was an eyewitness
and a hearer of the greatestpart of whatshe records : —
" Bala, Oct. 22, 1814. I should feel very happy,
if it was in my power to send yon a better account of
the last days of our late dear and much-lamented friend,
Mr. Charles. I will endeavour, as well as I can, to
convey to you some faint idea of the heavenly serenity of
mind he enjoyed at the close of his most valuable and
useful life. In looking on him in his dying moments, I
beheld tbe falhlment of the words of the prophet Isaiah
— ~" Thon wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind

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is stayed on thee; because be trnsteth in tbee." Add I
bope nij feelings at that moment shall never be forgotten,
DOT the impression made ou my mind be ever erased.

' " Mr. C.'e health had evidently for the last three
years been declining. His voice was become gradually
weaker : and he was not able to undergo but little bodily
exerti(Hi. — On Friday, Aug. 19, Mr. and Mrs. C. went to
Barimotb. Both remained at iJarimoth about a fort-
night, aud Mr. C. seemed to have been benefited by the
visit. From there they went to pass a few days with
Mrs. P — , of Machynlleth; where Mr. C. preached
twice on Sunday, Sep. 4 ; in die morniog, from Luke,
XV. 7 ; and ia the afternoon from 1 Cor. xvi. 22. In
the last sernon, his mind, I am informed, was macU
taken np with the subject, while he was treating of the
free and nnhonnded love of God to sinners, of his love
to the person of Christ, and of the awfal and infinite
danger of neglecting the great salvation offered in the
gospel : and the impression made on the hearers seemed
to be very great. — In the course of the week he felt
himself getting worse, and wished mnch to return home
to Bala. On Saturday evening, Sep. 10, he arrived
here; but it was with great difficolty. I assisted him
to get up stairs : and he expressed himself very thankful
that the Lord had enabled him to reach home again,
and added — " Now I have got nothing to do but to die."
He frequently repeated those words in 2d Kings, siil-
14, — " Now Elisba became sick of the illness, whereof
he died ;" and would then add — " I know not what the
Jjord intends coDceming me; but I am in bis bands;
and he may do with me what be pleases. I have given
myself to him a thousand times."

" His disorder was attended with the moat excru-
ciating pains at times ; yet no murmuring word espaped

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hra lips, nor were the lectst lignt of impatience mani-
festeii. When one of his nedical attendants advised a
Blight operation, after some little hesitation he assented,
and said — ^"It is but right for them to try their ntmost."
A day or two after we began to entertain Bome hopes of
his recovery. — He was told by his medical friends, tliat
when he should recover, he should undergo bat very
little enertioii. Referring to this adrice while speaking
to one of bis friends, he said — " The doctors say that I
must not exert myself much, when I get better: bat if
I shonld ever recover, I shall preacli more than ever I
have done yet." — A friend called on him on Sunday
afternoon, Sep. 11, after having been ia church,
(episcopal chapel). " Well," said he, " how did yoa
like Mr. M — ? Was there enough of gospel in the
sermon to save a sinner? If not, it was of little con-
sequence what was preached. I hope Bala people will
never take np with any thing short of that."

" About eight days before his death, a faithful
female domestic was taken ill; and her illneiis turned
out to be a severe tj^phns fever, which carried her off iu
three days. At the same time his eldest son was taken
ill j and his recovery became doubtful. These events
seemed to give him much concern, and were almost too
much for him in bis then weak state. " I know," said
he, that the Lord's hand is on the family : but the rod
is in the hand of a tender Father." To a friend who
visited him, he said — " We are here in the famace :
but after we have suffered a little, we shall come out
purified." He frequently said toafriend wlio sat np with
him — " Charles is only a poor sinner, a poor anworthy
sinner. I know I cannot be saved without forgiveness :
but there is forgiveness with God,"

" On being informed of the prospect of his eoivb

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racovery, on the Sunday previoni to his deatb, he
«xcltimed with peculiar emphasis — " The I^rd is very
good, for htB mercy endnreth for ever;" and r^wated
serenl times, — " fur his mercy endoreth forever." And
then he desired a friend to fetch his Hebrew Psalter
from Lis stndy and to torn to the passage in the 136tb
Psalm } and lie seemed to derive considerable comfort
from the word traii8late<t " mercy," observing that it
was a rich word. — During the whole of his illness, he
seemed to derive all his comfort from the consolation of
the Bcriptnres. Scarcely a sentence would drop from
him, without its being expressed in scripture langnage;
in which he had a peculiar gift.

" On Monday, (Oct. 3,) be felt himself so well
that he took a walk by himself into the garden, and
called to see his son. Our expectations of his recovery
were then considerably strengthened. At night, how-
ever, to our great sorrow he b^an to complain of the
return of his disorder : and passed the whole nigbt in
very great pain ; yet not one hasty expression was
uttered by him. He said several times during thenif^t
— " i have settled the few things I had of this world,
and have committed my soul to the Lord; and I know
whom 1 have believed, and am persuaded that he ie
able to keep that which I have committed to him against
that day."

"Abont six o'clock on Tueeday morning, after
awaking out of a short slnmber, bessjd — " I have been
thinking whereabouts heaven is, and how Ishonldlind the
way Uko* ; but I thongbt that the Lord perhaps would
send some kind angel to ahew me the way." Abont
soon he appeared 'very weak ; yet every sentence he
uttered seraned to breathe of heaven. Whilst walking
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across the room, among otlier tilings he said —"Though
luy heart and my flesh fail ; yet God is the strength of
my heart and my portion forever, — a portion which all
must have or be forever miserable." At another time,
with a sweet solemnily in his countenance, be said —
" Lord, now lettest tboo thy servant de^rt in peace
according to thy word ; for mine eyes bsTe seen tliy
salvation." To' one who wae assisting him to adjust a
pillow nnder his head, he said — " I thank you sincerely
for the troable yon hare had with me : and though I
shall not have it in my power to make yon amends for
all yonr kindness to me ; yet this I leave with yoo —
loasmnch as ye have done it to one of Uie least of these
my brethren, ye have done it to me." — To Mrs. C. he
said — " Well, my dear, if I should die and leave yon,
the Lord stilt lives to take care of yoo ; be cannot die."
— Between six and seven o'clock be retired to bed, and
expressed a desire, if it wns the Lord's will, to spend
the night without pain : which the Lord was gracionsly
pleased to grant bim ; though he had hot very little
sleep during the night.

" Next morning, Wednesday, abont half-past live,
he complained of being cold, and began to shiver, whidt
alarmed us mach : and I ran to call the medical at-
tendant, who immediately came: It was now evident
that the hoiir was at band, in which Wales was to be
deprived of its brightest ornament, and the chorch of
one of its most faithful and indefatigable ministers-
As soon as the shivering left him, which lasted abont
an hour, he remained easy and still, withoot uttering a
word. When a friend, approaching him, said — " Well,
Mr. C, the day of tribulation has arrived." To which
he instantly replied—" Tbert ii a refuge." Mr. R.

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then ordered me to give him soma more Madeira ; which
ke took, though with some difficalty, from BhortnefS of
braath. Mr. R. Mid, " Yon strive wonderfDlly, Mr. C;
I hope this mil be of service to yon." To which he
■Mwered. " Yes, if the Lord pleases," His breathing
BOW bec&me weaker and weaker : and about a quarter
past ten o'clock in the morning, Oct. 5, 1814, his im-
swrtal part was borne away by angels to the pmradiae
of Ood, in the fifty-ninth year of his age."— Thns died
the ffoed Mr. Charles, the faithful and laborions ser-
Tant of the Most High. Comparatively yonng, he was
yet fnlt of years, being ripe fbr glory.

Mrs. C. was so ill at the time, labouring nnder
tJte efEscts of a paralytic attack, that she did not appear
consdons of her loss. The impression on her mind WM
that her dear partner was gone on a journey. But she
did not long survive him. On the 19tb day after his,
departore, she was released from the clogs of an earthly
tabernacle, and obtabed the liberty of glorified saints.
Her dear partner, who had been gratified in his wish —
" to sail in the same vessel with her over the tempes-
tnou vrarss of this world," had also been gratified " in
bmng in heaven the first to welcome her in the land of
UisB." See page 84.

The funeral of Mr. G. as might have been expected,
was most nnmeronsly attended. Many tears were shed
on the occasion. Those who valued his ministry felt
deeply their loss -, and those who had hitherto resisted
his kind and benevolent efforts for their eternal good,
most clearly testified their serrow and regret. His
oniform solicitude for their best welfare left them no
room to dbnbt the benevolence of his designs. The
procession from Bala to Llanecil, tite parish church,
Gg3

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aboat ■ mile diaUnt, waa tery kffectlttg. The Tut
maltitnde lug Kppiopriate hymDs all the w«y : aad hi
large was the Dumber, thai the cfanrch was far too inuU t9
contaiD them. I'he ftppearance of «U eridentLy testi-
fied, that " a great man bad fallen in Israel.'

The foUowbig passage is takea from the £v«w
geUcal Magatiue for December, 1815: — "It has been
remarked of Mr. C. by tome wha knew him well, thMlT
if lAvater had wanted a face characteristic of beaemn
lence, he would have found it in him. He was a man sf
amiable tenqwr, of moch meekueea and forbear^K^
and ever ready to give up minor points, so that peace
mi^ be preserved and scriptnral knowledge extended.
He was of a social, cheerfni dispesition, tempered witk
pmdence and discretion, andalsoatciuieT, aSeedooate
hasband and parent ; and having the advantage of an ami-
able and pions partner, it was the^ delight to promote
each other's bappiness, and t^ comfort of those sroBsd
them. This they manifested by libesal contributioos,
both to tbe poor, and to snpport Ae caeee of religion
by the hospitality with which they were ever ready to
^tertain the household of faith ; and perticolarly at the
associations held annually by the Christian society to
which they were attached, when many thonsands asaem-
bled from different parts of Wales : on which occasions
a very considerable number were entertained nnder
their roof."

It may not be amiss to extend a little farther the

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ftttnn of his conBtemtnce. He wai by nature kisd,
uniable and affectionate. Tbese qualities corrected,
refined, pnrified and strengthened by grace, rendered
him enunently benevoleDt, ansceptible of the tendereat
sympathy, and ever solicitooB for thecomfort and hai>-
^■CM of hia fellow-creatnres. Hence it was that the
deplorable state of his coontr^men, when ignorant wd
vnacquMoted with the word of God, so deeply affected
his miBd> and allowed him no lett till Iw foniid out
some meaait of relief. A senae of doty will aometimes
de pfA things ; tnt exe^t it be associated with love,
it will seldom persevere in its laboars ; it will fail in
that constant sBsiduity which snnnounts all difficnlties.
Of all prinei[4es, the moat active, the most nnwearied
IB its efforts, and the most indannted by disappoint-
nents, is that of Icve, the «ery root and essence of
ChHstian benevoleBce. What l>ut love in Uie Divine
Being that removed all the impediments in the way of
Basing iqKwtate man 7 Sin, rebellion, enmity and all
the proTocatimiB offwed to die justice of heaven, were
not snfficient to stem its overflowing torrent. The nn-
ceasii^ activity and perseverence of Mr. C. can be
munly attribnted to nothing else bnt to the abonnding
measure of divine love which had been shed abroad in
bis heart by the H(dy Spirit. All the great things
which have been done hy eminent ministers In every
age, have been done through the influence and vigour of
this active principle. Knowledge, talents and great
endowments were subsidiary j bnt die animating prin-
cil^e waa lore : it was this that stirred them on, envi- -
gorated theii efforts, rendered them unwearied in their
labours, and made them willing to endure shame and
reproach and to face all difficnlties and dangers. No

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flame bnttbat of Christian lore will continae blinking,
wittiont being extingnuhad by present failorea and ad-
verse circnmstancca.

Considerable difficulties had oocasionally met Hr.
C. in his praiseworthy eDdeaTOnrs for the good of his
country. How many alwrtive efforts were made to pro-
cure for hii countrymen the word of God } Daunted
by none, tie still persefered, prompted no doutit by
loTO, the tme source of sympathy, and persevered,
until he succeeded. Though it be not mantiooed in the
preceding pages, yet it is well Icnowa, that he bad to
coDteod at first with no amall opposition in the estsl>-
lishment of the Sunday srhooli, and in iotrodudng
public catechising into the chapels on the Sundays. Not
a few of bis fellow-lsboni/rs and of the members of the
connection, disapproved ^f his plans. Many <tf the
members of his own chapel at Bala absented themselves
and went to other places of worship from a dislike to
this practice. The attendance for a time was thin.
This would have discouraged many; bnt be went on
with bis work of love, and succeeded in making it
finally very popular. He was convinced of its nsefnl-
neas; and the good of his fellow-creatures outweighed
every other conaideration. Hia love to man enabled
him to persevere ; and success eventually crowned his
labours. An enlightened mind and a heart imbued
with divine love, will render us firm, active and per*
severing, whatever may be the obBtroctiona in the way,
whatever oppositions we may meet with, from whatever
quarters they may arise, whether from foes or friends.

2. Rumilil^ was another prominent featnre in bis
character. All who knew bim could not bnt notice this
as one of his eminent qualities. It was wbolly uncon-

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nected with any thing like affectation. It iras not pat
on for appearanca; it was not a courtly fanmility,
assamed for gaiaing credit and applanse ; bnt the
genniue child-lilce dispasitioo of a true Christian,
arising from a correct view of bis own inaignif.cancy as
a man, and of bia onn nnworthiness as a siiiner. The
want of this humility proceeds from ignorance of God
and of onr ownselves. We compare oarselvea with onr-
selves, and thereby are not wise. God is over looked.
To see him is what brings us to our proper place. No
one who really knows God can be otherwise than hnm-
ble, especially when onr degradation and desert throogfa
sin are taken to the account. Compared with him, we
are nothing : and when we view onrselrea as sinnera, we
become still less, yea, if possible, less than nothing.
Such were the Tiews which produced Mr. C.'s humility :
this is sufficiently testiHed by many passages both in
his Diary and letters.

Hia .pfeaching afforded ample proof of his great
hnmility. it was bis unvaried endeavour to " couda-
scend to men of low estate," to render himself intelli-
gible to the meanest capacity. He never umed at
what might lead people to think him great, deep in his
knowledge, or profoand in bis researches. He might,
with more grace than many, have undertaken to speak
of the more mysteriona parts of truth in a way that
seemed learned. But this was nerer his practice : and
on this account perhaps in some measure it was that be
was never deemed generally a great preacher ; and he
did not indeed appear to have at all cultivated those
gifts which commonly attract the public admiration.
Not less but still more apparent, if possible, was his
humility in his condnct towards chUdren and young

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people. He beome a child to dtildren, and that iji >
d^ree seldom, if ever equalled. His condeBceodiDg
and kind manner with them wu indeed truly snrpris-
ing. Bnt no part of his condact iras nndiatingnished by
hnmilitT. Wherever he was, tvbatever he was doing, he
was ever sorroonded bj the Instre of this virtue. In bis
family, in the pnlpit, at the private meetings, or amoog
frienda abroad, he «a> every-where the humble roan.
When during his travda, be lodged at a friend's honie, not
on^ the different members of the family, bnt the ser-
vanta also had a portion of bis kind attention. He not
nnfreqnently at family prayera asked them qneationa
aboat the scriptures, and would hear them read, and
give them some nsefnl counsel and ioBtraction, and all
this in snch a kind and condescending manner as would
not render what he did in the least degree unpleasant
to them. Thus he went about doing good to all with-
out shewing any respect of person^

Many things in his life had a tendency to nnder-
mine his humility; such' were his great success and
subsequent popularity. But the reverse of what mi^t
have been anticipated, considering what human nature
is, had been the effect produced. Instead of rendering
him less, they made him more humble. He Tiewed hia
success as inseparably coaoected ' with the divine
blessing, and had an abiding impression of this truth on
his mind: and thus the very avenue through which
pride might enter, was completely closed. That th»
Almighty should own his labours, seems to have over-
whelmed his mbd with gratitude, and to have filled him
with deeper humility than «ver. That this was his
case, is sufficiently apparent from the strain of hi«
letters.

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3. He gaiued great popularity without pouesmg
popular taimtt hi a preacher. He was a remarlcibU
instance of this fact. It was not so mnch by his preacb*
ing, tb&t he became so eminently nseTnl, bnt by a
plodding anweaiied coaise of doiog good in a humble
manner, by doing rather the office of a Inborions cate-
chist than that of a minister. What a contrast there
was between him and Rowland, the great reviver of /^
religion in Sonth Wales ? Rowland did every thing by
preaching ; and seemed to posBess no talent for any
thing elaej and bis labours were wonderfully blessed.
Charles proceeded to work in another way, being fitted
fbr another employment j and his snccess was very
great. Rowland .ronsed an ignorant people and awakened
them to m sense of reUgion by the irresistible force of
his fiery eloquence. Charles, not endowed with his
talents, instructed the people by schools, and led them
gndnally to the knowledge of the trnth: and when
initmcted, he winned them by the affectionate and
simple strain of his preaching. Bnt they both had one
thing in common, a deep concern for the salvation of
Bonis, which is the main thing in a minister of the
gospel, with which suoceis at some time or another is
invariably connected.

God employs often different means nnder similar
circumstances to accompluh the same end. It is the
dnty of every minister to consider what his pecoliar
quali&cations are, and to apply himself to his work in
that way in which he is most likely to be useful. To
know how we may with most advantage lay out oorselves,
and to have a single eye to the glory of God in the
salvation of men, ara no small attainments. What
others do is no role for ns ; their mode of proceeding

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860

nay BDt anit oar Ulenta. Hid Charles tried to follow
the >tep> of Rowland, he would not probably have Bnc-
oeeded, being not endowed with his gifts. He wisely
laboured in another way, and nndertook the work for
which he wai pecnliarlyqaalified. Being infinenced by
the beat motives, he prosecoted bis labours with
diligence aiid became eiteasively nsefnt, thoogh in a
humbler way than that in which his fdlow-labonrer in
Sonth Wales proceeded.

4, Sptritaa/ify of mind distingnished also Mr. C.'s
religion. Noonecoaldbe longin his comiminy withoat
observing that his mind was deeply tinctnred with
heavenly things. His conversation was that of a man.
whose affiections were set on things that are above, who
maintained mnch intercootse with heaven. The atmos-
phere in which he breathed seemed to be purer, nearer
the i^ons of glory, than that in which most Christians
live. To this we most attribnte the serenity of his miod
on his death-bed. His habitnal converse with heaven,
prepared him for its enjoyments. The transition was
not great ; he had been living for a length of time near
its borders, inhaling in no small measure, its pare ur.' —
There was an onction accompanying almost every thing
he said. His conversation, as it has been declared by
an eminent minister still living, had something in it
that was peculiarly savoury ; which, he says, he never
foond to such a degree in any other. His sermons par-
took of the same pecnliarity. Though his preaching
talents were by no means great j thongh he had none of
those captivating and commanding qnalities which many
inferior men possess -, yet there was something so
heavenly in his preaching which could not bat engage
the attention of all that were troly serious. What

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u reported to luTe been aaid of unther minuter m&y
with troth be applied to him, " that he bore heBvaa in
bia cosntenance." When he preached tbe miasioDkry
fleimon in London, after he came down from the pvlpit,
a celebrated miaiiter nho heard him, said to hin,
" Why, Mr. Charles, you are ^ good sermon yoanelf," ''
meaning, that hSa rery appearance in the pulpit was
interesting and instrnctive. The very featnrea of kia
con ntenance seemed to derive their form and cast ftvm
the beavfflily state of his mind. — Not to lengthen onr
remarks, we shall barely mention other particulars on
wbicb it might be easy to enlarge, sach as his disinter*
estedness, devotedness to God, and dependance on
divine direction tmd strengtlij his deep concern for
sinnersjbis catholic spirit f his diligence and meekness ;
in all which be shone eminently.

lliese things have been pointed ont not to exalt
the man, but to set forth the manifold gifts of God. The
more eminent the creature is made, the more fully is
the glory of God manifested. The individual himself
woaid have abhorred the idea of attribnting any good
be rai^t have possessed to any other bat to the
Almighty. He was deeply and permanently sensible
that in him dwelt nothing that was really good, no fortber
than as it bad been freely and nndeoervedly bestowed
on him by the spontaneoos and sovereign^ mercv of
heaven. There was no tmth of which he had a deeper
impression than this. While therefore we admire the
eminent qnalities of this faithful servant of God, let ns
remember the source from which the)' all proceeded,
and not forget to praise and glorify him who is the
Author of every good and perfect gift.

And let it not b« supposed that the excellences that
Hh

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have been Bpecified, were nnaccoroputied with defects
and blemishea, or were attaiDed withont a long and
painful discipline, or were retained without a continual
■tnggle with the evil propensities of sinful nature. It
waa Mr. G.'a own testimony, not long before hia death,
" that no one knew, bow liard and difficult he ccmtinoed
to find at tines the spiritual contest," The Cbristian's
own death is to be the death of his enuDiBS. The
tabernacle of clay must be palled down, before its
leprosy can be fully cleansed. As long as we continue
in the body, the flesh will last against the spirit in some
way.or another, changing its opposition according to
the circumstances of our life. The only cmisolation n,
that a victory over it shall be finally obtained, through
him who died, that we might live.

Wbatever Mr. Charles may be in the estimation of
the world in general, and that sigoifies but little, what
is recorded of his active, laborious and beuBVolent lifis
can leave no donbt on the mind of every impartial
Christian, but that in the estimation of heaven, he wna
tigreat, good man, equalled by few, and excelled by stilt
fewer.

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A rcvr interesting pMsegea and instnictiTe sentenceB,
•elected from Mr, C.'a Diary &nd letters, shall be Bal>-
joiaed. They sIihII be put down in an alphabetical
order, . Some of the tbonghts are very fine and striking,
■ndi as occnr only to minds deeply engaged m dhhe

Atomemkht ofChr'M. — By Christ's perfect obe-
dience to the law, all possible and more than conceiv-
able hononr has been pat on it : and by his death on
the crois, be hath made sadi an atonement for sin and
such a satislaction to God's justice, as ten thonaand
times ten thoasand times of hells conld not equal. Were
we oppressed with the anited guilt of all the accorsed
rebels of earth and hell, the inconceiTable merits of this
infinite sacrifice wontd be sufficient alone to remove it
al). Clothed with the divine rigUteonsnesa of soch a
dignified Person, in the sight of all oor guilt, in tbe
prospect of death and of future judgment, we can joy<
fully say — " Who is he that coudemneth ? It is Chmst
that died."

Chhiit, the image of God. — Christ in his person
and office is the glags which represents the glory of God

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364

to vB. And vhen we tee liia glory in this glats, we are
tnutsfoimed into tbe same image. In this glass the
Mattered nyi of dirine goodness and love, are bronght,
M it were, into a focni : they ahine, they bum, they
inflame the heart held before it ; conviction overpowers
unbelief, goodness orercomes nnworthiness, and lore
snbdaes enmity."

ConroBTs of lie Gotpel. Gospel comforts rest
on an immoveable bans, and are derived from an ines'
hanstible fonntain ; and therefore will continue and
abound when all other comforts fail !

COHMnNiON with God.— It sweetens erery tiling,
makes onr comforts more corafortabli;, and renders
eva»y bitter thing sweet. Whenever we meet God, it
ia never in vain. If we meet him under tbe cross, or
in tribnlation, his presence is snre to malce it a beaven
to onr sonls.

We should endeavonr to enjoy God in every thing,
and to be particnlsrly careful that nothing shonld in-
terrupt our immediate iutercoorse with him. Let as
loffk to God and by faith see him in all things, ia osp
comfocts, and in our crosses and trials. What are onr
prayers bat vain repetitions except we deal with God
in them >

The life of faith implies that we have particBlar
dealings with God in every thing. For nothing can
satisfy faith bat God iu Christ. But this, 1 find, is not
to be obtained without diiScnlty, without contiooal
watchfulness and aide from heaven to keep me from
losiog sight of him.

His inward fellowship supplies the absence of all
ontward friends. To live on him as fat all in »tl, is
the heaven he proposes to us.

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CoMPLiiNTB of idle Ciritiiam. — ^There are Bone
wbo think, at leut, talk of notiiiDg, bat of their din-
order, and of the badness of their case. Fruitless com-
plaints, complaints of themselves and of their condition
form the snm and substance of their religion. If tbey
can coi^nre op doobts respecting themselves, and some
desponding complaints respecting their uncomfortable
condition, tbey fitncy they have done their duty. I
myself have known several who were spending a good
deal of their time in such spiritual gossipings, in going
up and down from one to another with their melancholy
complaints. But such a conduct is utterly contrary to
the life of bith. Had they spent half of this time in
poorioK ont their complaints before God, or employed
it in doing good to others, they wonld long ago have
been thriving daily in holiness, life and joy. 1 say not
this to discourage applying in spiritual difficulties to
such as know how to speak a word In season. But the
practice just mentioned is of no advantage, but of moch
real hurt to the soul. They can have no relief, while
they go on in this slothful way.

DbaTh. — 1 feel a little the force of one lesson,
which the sudden death yoD mention, loudly preaches to
me— that I should always sit loose to all worldly things,
and pursue with sobriety all sublunary schemes and con-
trivances, since one single moment may separate me
from them forever, and pnt.an end to all the pleasing
laboors of my teeming brains respecting my future pros-
pects of any thing worldly, however desirable. ^

When the world recedes and eternity advances to
view with its awful realities, the glory of Solomon, and
the wealth of Crcesns, appear then in their real insigni-
ficancy, mere trifles, lighter than air. Nothing then,
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bat Cbrist and his kil-suffieieiit nlntion cmi adminiiter
any comfort, can npport onr hope Armly at t^e siglit
of thin^ flo tremendum and so important.

I know of no sight bo distreHing in this vorld, aa
that of an ungodly liimer on the mnfints of eternity {
all bis worldly comforts leartng him, and hia goal left
naked, friendless, hopeless, and all his sins, like so
many harpies, following at hia beds. What a condition!

Dbsikbs o/tk» true ChritHa*. — All my desires im
the world is to live Aefi/y and live utejMily.

It is better to endnre the heariest affliction, than
to carry with us a guilty conscience. Every thing, and
not sin, is the language of the Christian's heart.

It is not onr own ease and comfort, but onr iuefvt-
neu, that we ihonld always hare in view, .

In his own time and in bis own way, let God
order erery thing respecting me. Let bim do his plea-
anre, and give me a sabmissive heart, and I am happy -
In bis bands 1 desire to be, and his will 1 desire t*
follow.

DiBAFFOiNTUENTB. — Grant, I may be disappointed
of all my pleasing hopes in this world. How pleasing,
bow comfortable the disappointment ! whehthe comforts
of another, of a better, of an eternal world sncceed in their
place. O blessed exchange ! The comforta of anolber
world ! who can enumerate, who can describe them !

The fairest prospect often ends in a gloom : and
the darkest frequently brightens daily more and more.

When God's determinations and my intentiooa
disagree, I can be at no loss to know who is in the
ri|^t. However it is one thing to know, and anOtlMr
to acqniesce. When I shall see " the end of the Lord;''
I donbt not bat that I shall be thankfnl. The waters

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that are now bitter will ftne ivr be tnroed into wine.
The review of all present perplexities will be humbling
uid pleaaiDg. There will be in every thing enough of
ray own sinfaloeBs to humble me, and of the Ixird's
goothiess to make me comfoKable and thnnkfol.

Faitb. — Faith is the root and spring of all other
graces. And according as it thrives or decays, BO do
they grow or wither.

Of all things tliis i> one of the most difficult, — to
depend with Dnshahen confidence on tlie grace of Christ,
when we feel nothing but sin and misery in ourselved.

Patient waiting is always the language of faith.

When onr faith in Christ is weak and warering,
omr efforts to lead a godly life, are also weak and inef-
fectual. Bnt when faith is strong, laying fast hold on
Christ ; we' have fife and power, and we are neitiier
barren nor anfrnitfal.

God's faithfulness is as much engaged to fulfil his
promises to the weakest as to the strongest in faith. It
is not said he that belieTeth itrongly, but he that
belUveth, shall be saved.

The weakest believer, if his faitb purifies the heart
and worketh by love, is as nearly related to Ood as tbe
strongflst; jnst ss the weakest and the most helpless
child in tbe fAmily, !s as much the father's chUdas the
strongest and the stoutest.

How little do the best of us believe and trust io
Ae Lord : We know not how to conteiit ourselves with
r B hare promise. Except we can see some probability
in the means used to accomplish his gracious designs,
and unless we know the particnlar way by which Ite
may likely bring bis purposes to pass, we hardly know
how to believe hint at all. Thus we trust in ourselves

UiL.:a..i.G00glc —

rather than in God. — We think ourseWes quite ruined,
when we have nothing but God and hig sure word of
promiie to depend on. We are not satisfied that God
ihoold know and choose for ns : hot like the prodigal,
we would have the portion in onr hands ; else oar com-
forts are gone, — Lord, keep all in thine own hands.

Faith b thankful that it sees the hand of the liord
lift^ up against sin in the eoal, and, whatever the
means employed may be, is ready to cry out—" Down
with it, down with it, even to the ground." — Every
thing is more tolerable to a living faith than stn : it
vows utter destraction to it, and looks to God's promises
for the accomplishment of its wisheE.

There is a whole troop of graces accompanying
this one grace of living by faith on God in Christ j snch
as Bclf-deuial, deadness to the world, resignation to the
will of God, &c. } and these altogether constitute ft
true Christian.

Futb is a grace no less pleasing and honourable to
God, than comfortable and beneficial to ns. We cannot
thrive ourselves, nor please God more than by keeping
it in constant exercise in the face of all difficolties, and
nnfavonrable appearances, against nil sense and reason.
Faith delights to face crosses and look at impossibilities.
It loves to bring God, in the matchless glory of his
wisdom and power, to the field of battle i and is never
better pleased than when they are gloriously displayed
in doing wonders. It is worth while to meet with dif-
ficulties, that we may see the glory of the Lord mani- -
fested. It is the only way to thrive in our sonls and
grow in holiness. Those who prefer their carnal ease
to this, give bnt a poor sign of any reality of grace in
their hearts.

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PsAHS. — Commit all to the Lord, and look not too
fkr forward, aod yonr melancholy apprehensiona will
aooD raniah. A single eye to Gott baoisUes at oace all
anxiona carea and feara.

FuTUBiTY. — 1 have no comfort with respect to my
prospecta, but aa I resign and commit all future events
to the direction of a kind and an allwiae Providence.

Let na act as present circnmstances seem to direct,
and let futurity alone.

A cloud went before the Israelites in the wilder-
ness ; and farther than the cloud they conld not see their
way. It led them in the right way, though it confined
their sight and observation to a narrow compass. They
knew not the direction they were to go, nor where to
rest; bat only^that they were making advances towards
Canaan. Our point is to know our present duty : every
tiing beyond that is caring for the morrow ; with which
we have no more to do, than with what is to bea thon-
sand years hence.

God, our guidt. — Implicitly to follow the connsel
of the best and wisest of men, is to depend on an arm
of flesh. They only are right and safe, who make God's
^ory their end, God's word rheir rule, God'a Spirit the
guide of their affections, and God's providence the guide
of their affairs. They may not be led the nearett, bat
always the beat road ; as it will certainly appear when
they come to their journey's end,

God out ttrength. — Be first strong in the Lord,
then resist the devil, and he will flee from thee.

We no longer stand than while we are supported
by infinite strength, nor are able to walk one step
forward, but as we are constantly drawn by infioit« power.

It is by the power of God that we are preserved

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erery momAit in the road to eteroal life : for we shall
erer be in tbiB world, goilty, weak and helpless
creatnrea.

God a strength, to keep as from erily— and a por^
tion, to fill us with real, tubitantial happiness.

He that pats the wheels of the sonl in motiim
beaven-ward, most also keep them in motion, else they
wilt atop, and we shall move on, if st all, very bearily.
may he keep ns.

When God appears in the m^esty of his glorioos
power to the eye of faith, enemies, difficolties, dangenj
and temptatioDR, all vanish at once : we become even
more than conqnerors before we encounter them.

Gon turnt ail to hUpeople't good. — God can make
poison nourishing and to be for oar benefit, and what
proves fatal to others healing to his people.

We have abnndant reason indeed in every thing to
give thanks, to bless the Lord for what be denies as
well as for what he gives. Onr gracious Father orders
the concerns of bis children, not in compliance with
their blind notions and perverse honours, but accordinf;
to his own infinite wisdom and goodness.

Gracb, acHve. — Grace is not an inert thing. There
is nothing in the whole universe of a more active natnre.
It is fire and life itself, even a divine flame and a spirit-
nal life. It cannot rest. It must be active according
to its degree and strength. Difficolties and discourage-
menta vanish before it. Troe godliness hath life and
power in it, and what our Saviour calls violence, which
tabes the kingdom of heaven by force. The devil fleea
before it. The world and the flesh are vanquished by it.
It lays hold on God himself, and wrestles for the bless-
ings of pardon, grace and peace, till in the end it prevails-

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It is a most noble spirit, th« adtninttion of angels and
the delight of heaven.

Grace is ererjr-where spoken of in scripture iaencl)
terms as convey to ub the idea of life and activity :
and the supplies by which it is preserved and nourished
convey the same idea. Grace is living water : its sup-
plies are streams of living water. The believer is a rieie
creature ; bis support is living bread. He is a traveller;
and the road he travels is a living- way ; in which he
getfi strength in an increasing degree as he travels on )
fBalkiftg without being weary, and running without being
faint. If compared to a stone, be is called a AViitf stone,
built on Christ the living stone.

Where grace is in any degree, there is life; and
where life is, there is activity in proportion to Its
strength. If its workings are weak and imperceptible,
it is a proof that it is greatly decayed, either through
vaut of proper spiritual food, or through some dreadful
disorder^ — a dangerous state to be in ! weak in ourselves,
and not strong in the Lord, at the same time surrounded
with enemies, unweariedly watchful, and plagued also
with internal foes, always present with us and ready to
betray us.

Two words spoken, seasoned with the salt of
grace, are of more real ose, than ten thousand words
without it.

Hapfinbbb. — The only happiness to be obtained
in this world, consists in doing good to the souls and
bodies of our miserable fellow- creatures.

I am just returned from Montgomeryshire where 1
have been for two days highly gratified with my dear
children every-where. They meet me with cheerful
oottotenaucesj greet me with chapter! without number.

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ftod itand up conrageoiuly befbre the whole nmntry te
anHwer soy tbiDg I may think (iroper to aik them. Tlus
is my heaven an earth.

Hbathn. — Blessed he God for the pleaiii^ prospect
of that happy time, when knowing and feeling will^
the Bajoe ! Here we know but little, and feel less j but
there we shall know as we are knonn, and every thing
we know shall have Us doe effect tm as. O happy
world I into which siu has no admittance. It will be
a heavea indeed 1 Angels will know bnt little of oar
joys, because nnaeqnainted with our sorrows. To emerge
from misery bo great, and to find oarselves in a bllas so
consammate — this will be transporting indeed! We
shall play on strings which angels never touched. Bnt
alas I where are we now, in what sin, in what tniiery 1
At wh«t distance shall I lay ) nay, may we not be near
the banks of that river which divides the two worlds }
Will the crossing of it bring ns to God ? Shall we thea
be ever with the Lord ! This is the important qoea-
tion ; tlie solution of which is of more cossequence
than ten thousand worlds. All I can say is, that I shall
be happy when delivered from sin, and not before

Keep heaven in your heart aod the world at yonr
fingers' end.

What makes heaven so desirable to the saints } It
is their rest, it is their home, and where they have a
Friend they love and who loves them. He is now pre-
paring for their reception, as. well as guiding them on
their way thither.

HoLiNiss. — Grace never seeks peace and comfort
but in the way of holiness, and never thinks it costs too
much if it can by any means be obtained. Comfort

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SDConoected with holineis and not inflntntial to pro-
mote it id tbe beart, i> a comfort which grace nerer
desires, and which never can proceed from the Spirit
of God, the Comforter.

He that walks holily, walks comfortably.

No comfortt come from God, bat snch as have am
immediate and direct tendency and inflnence to promote
holiness in the soul.

Whatever promotes vital holiness comee rrom God.
This is an infallible mark to distinguish what comes
from bim, from all illusions and false conceits.

There is nothing more certain than that trae grace
lores holiness, admires it, delights in and longs after
its increase. It cannot therefore bat approve of all the
means employed to promote itj and would rather have
the cross than to suffer any sin whatever to gain the
ascendency.

Do you aotlove holiness } yea in your worst frame
when most dull, even when yon hesitate whether sin or
grace has the dominion over you ? You stilt Io?e holi-
Dess, and abhor yourself because you are not more holy,
and there is no heaven you desire separate from it: why
then encourage donbts respecting your state}

There is no beanty or loveliness like holiness. It
is real, nndefiled, unfading and etenial. It is to t>e
like God, it is to be like Christ, it is the work of the
Holy Spirit. I cannot bear to think of true Christians
not being holy: for in that case, they mast he very
hateful, and that in the sight of God, We ought never
to deem any thing handsome which God does not con<
sider BO. A fine dress, a handsome house, a large
estate, Ht does not value them much : but a meek and
qoi^ spirit is in his sight of great price, though in

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ngs or on the dunghil. No one shall see him withoDt
holinesE. " Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall
tee God."

May God grant that we may be so much in love
with hoUnesB, that we may not be ahle to live without
it. To be " partaker? of his holinees," is an expres-
sion of the apostle, which has often delighted me. It
is well worth to bear chastisements to obtain it.

Hdmilitv. — Tlie most bumble are those who have
most of the image of (>od od them, and who experience
most of bis hand on them.

We are never nearer to God than when we are
lowest in onr own estimation ; and never more pleasing
to bim than when we abhor ourselves and repent in
dnst and ashes.

Pride enters into the verj' essence of every other
sin ; BO humility, into the very essence of every other
grace. There is no such thing as a proud believer, or a
proud lover of God. Till we are truly humbled, we
can never possess either faith, or love, or have asy
other grace in exercise.

Man must deny and forsake himself in every thing,
and come out of himself wholly ; or else God and he
cannot bat continue enemies to all eternity.

If God saves man at all, it must be in such a way
as to hide pride from him, to bring him to a proper
submission to him as a creatnre, and to a deep humilia-
tion and self-abborrence as a sinner. In no other way
can we be saved consistently with the divine nature.

A tme sense of onr nnwortbiness makes every
blessing great and precious.

LiGBT, spirilval. — If the inward man is not full of
light, if we see not the glory of God in the taee of

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Jesns Christ, all life and savour will be wholly wanting.
Whatever is a fruit of the Spirit has a relish and flavonr
in it, which nothing else, however similar, can ever
have. A little of this divine light in the heart will
shine brighter and glorify God more than all the mere
intellectual knowledge of men or of angels. An obscure
believer, in whom this light shines, may glorify God
more than any other, however endowed with natural
and acquired abilities.

Light of holiness. — The devil and our natural hearts
would pergnade us to hide our light, because it makes
us so singnlar in a world of darkness. But the Lord
has given light, that it may shine before men, all men,
good and bad. Lord, brighten it and cause us to own
it boldly and freely. ,Are we not arrayed in thy livery,
when we shine with light ? And shall we be ashamed
of what is thy glory ? Nay, Lord, sooner reduce ns to
nothing. Help us to shine to thy glory. Let this be
the summit of our wishes, the height of our ambition.

Canse our light to shine, though we be but stars,
and very small stars. — But O how wilt thou be glorified,
when sach dark clods of earth shall shine forever as the
sun in the firmament. One poor believer, thus shining,
will reflect thy glory more than all the visible lumina.
ries of heaven. O what eternal monuments of gra<:e will
each of them be. May nothing except this glory attract
our hearts any more.

Living by faith. — It is a great thing to act in the
spirit of the gospel on all occasions, (f we venture oq
God by faith, I am sure we shall never repent. When
we are once brought to live on God, alterations in our
outward circumstances, however great, will not affect
oar comfort ; for that is placed beyond the reach of
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■11 Bublonary chuigei uid revolatloai. Till then we
shill never be happy. To live on self uid the world
ii tliat hell into whkb we hare all fallen. But to live
on God, i* that heaven into which Christ exalts all
wbom be sares.

LiTiNo to Ood — The thought of living to God
here, when the eye ia aiugle, is a sort of heaven to ray
■oul. Id every other view, I am tired of the world,
which is so fall of vanity, sin and folly.

To live to aod with God, we niost live in contiiioal
warfare with sin, the world and the devil. We should
coDsider every thing we are and have as of no further
or other nse than that of devoting it, one way or
another, to God and his service.

There is nothing worth living for bat to advance
the Lord's work, I can sincerely say that 1 woold far
sooner die than live to serve myself.

1 feel inexpressibly more thankful at the thoaght of
living to God in the world, than if 1 bad the fairest
prospect of being the most eminent for wealth and
dignity in all the sphere of worldly greatness.

1 find that the more we are engaged in God's
service, the more onr comfort aboonds. In doing bis
commandments, and in doing, and not only afier doing,
his work, there is "great reward." His service is per-
fect freedom to all them who are brongtit to the glorious
liberty of the sons of God. Let it be onr aim here to
lire to God ; it will be time enough in heaven to liave
hononrs, preferments, ease and happiness.

The main point in religion is to live wholly upon
God for every thing : then only shall we be able to live
to him.

Love. — The labonr of love is never tiresome. Love

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hates to be idle. The more it does, the more happy is
the sonl under its tuflueDce.

That love which is cooiiiied to the body and its
welfare, and extends not to the soul and its interest is
not worth having.

There is something noble and divine, that exalts
the mind and cheers the heart, in the commands to love
our neighbour as oorselves, and to love God with all
our heart. There is nothing but hjve in the divine
law; and when we shall be perfected in )ove, we shall
be perfectly happy. It must descend from heaven to
our hearts, else it will never be kindled there. How
divioe, how free, how gracious, is that promise, —
" Jehovah thy God will circumcise thine heart to love
the Lord thy God with all thine heart." Hence the
glorious gospel comes to our relief in the most suitable
and effectual manner.

Lov£ of God. — Nothing but the free, undeserved,
and eternal love of God, without any motive exciting it
but what is in himself, can give us one gleam of hope,
or one ray of comfort in the midst of the horrid gloom
into which liu has brought us. But the belief of this
darts inefiable joy into the miserable soul, as if the sun
in midnight darkness were to bnrst forth upon us in all
its meridian splendour.

God's goodness to angels and holy beings is
infinite. But what shall we call that gooduess and that
love which is freely extended to sinners, to rebels, to
traitors, to the ungodly ! Is not this, were it possible,
more than infinite? A belief of God's love to us in all
its freeness, fulness', and immensity, works by love to
him with invincible strength and unwearied diligence in
his service. The effect is always in proportion to its
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cause. So the more clear onr comprehensioa of God's
love to Hi. and tbe firmer onr belief in it, the more
ardent will be onr love to him, and the more active will
onr diligence be In bia service.

I feel abundantly thankful for having been enabled
to commit all into his hands, who loves us infhiitely
more than we do onrselves, and who cannot fail to
accomplish in the 6eil manner hit graciona purposes
respecting as. We may trnst and repose ourselves
entirely on him. He never did or will injure us : for be
loves ns with an everlasting love, with a love as stn-
pendoasly great as himself. Here is solace and comfort ;
here is eternal safety in the midst of darkness, storms
and tempests. blessed day, in which we were made
acquainted with this God and with his love ! I^et us
study andbclieve his love. Nothing is more pleasing
to God, or more comfortable and advantageous to us.
It will make sweet things sweeter still, and take away
all bitterness from every thing onpleaaant that we may
meetwith. When we believe his love, every thing is
aa it ought to be, because ordered by him who loves
us with an everlasting love.

God's love is equal to himself, being as free as he
is iD&nite, as bountiful as he is rich, and as effectual as
he is powerful.

Let God be love, let God be true, let him be what
he is, and what he has revealed himself to be, though we
should be on the dunghil with Job. He gave Job into
tbe devil's hands : and be could not have been in a worse
place this side hell. 13ut God was with him, and
brought him finally out of the furnace like gold purified
in the fire. God is the same stilt.

When I reflect on mr own unworthiness, I know

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not bow to believe any tbing; but bis goodness and
love overcomes all.

Lov8 ofChrUt. — Christ's love knows no cause out
of itself. He loved os because be wonld love us, when
we were sinners, ungodly and abominable.

To bare bim is life eternal ^ to feel bis love shed'
abroad in the beart, is heaven. '

Does Christ love the Father? we cannot doubt it.
But he left the Father's bosom for our sakes. Astonish-
ing thought ! almost too wonderful to be believed.

Jjet US condemn ourselves aod repeat in dost and
ashes ; but let us always endeavour to entertain honour'
able, enlarged aod suitable thoughts of Christ and of
bis love.

We cannot be inactive, wheo we see the glory of
the Redeemer in his person and undertaking, and in
the immeasurable greatness of bis love. When we lose
sight of him, we lose our life, strength and vigour for
action. When be is in view by faith, we cannot live to
ourselves, bat to bim who died for us.

May the Lord teach us to know more clearly the
love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. It is our
life ; it is our etefnal life to know and enjoy i-i-

Means, the we of. — We must watch, pray, meditate
and offer violence to our sloth and corrnptions. We
must press boldly to the throne of gratie with prayers,
supplications and restless importunities, and then our
" light shall break forth as the morning." This is the
way to take the kingdom of heaven by violence. These
are the means appointed for the obtaining of peace, joy
and assurance. Without due attention to which, I am
fully convinced, that neither tbe one or the other can
ordinarily be attained. Those who obtain tbeir comforts

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at an euier rate, bave the ^eatest reason to suspect
theoi tobadelusire and fallacioua ; and those who fondly
imagine that they are going on in the narrow way with-
out these vigorous exertions, have not as yet, I fear,
trod one step in it.

Tell me hotr a man employs hie time, whether he
is slothful or indastrious, and I will tell you what
progress he makes in grace. For yon may as sooa
gather grapes from thorns, as enjoy those fruits of the
Spirit, joy, love and peace, whilst you live after the
flesh, in self-indnlgeQce, sloth and ease.

If cooEoIatioD is enjoyed without watehfolness
diligence and spiritual "violence" in the way of duty,
it is exceedingly dangerous. ,

The labour of the Christian does not purchase food
for him, but it is the way in which he must enjoy it.

Praveb. — To be enabled to ask, is the next thing
to receiving.

It is much easier and more natural for a carnali
mind to fear, fret, vex, dispute and conte^, t^n as a
poor unworthy sinner, to ask of God.

To deal with God in sincerity, is to deal with one
who can enrich us to eternity, and who will bless and
thank us for every favour we ask of bim.

PnofEsaiON. — A Christian who has not the savour
of godliness, and to whom the gospel is not daily the
savour of life unto life, is like salt which has lost its salt-
ness. He is good for nothing. He may be accurate and
extensive in his knowledge of divine things ; he may be
able to talk well on every point ; he may Lave the form
of godliness, and may give all his goods to feed the poor :
yet without the savour of godliness, without the salt
which oar Saviour exhorts na to have in ourselves, he is

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bat K eorput momam, a dead body witboot apiiitual
life.

We may have light, and thii light may alao shine ;
yet if it does Dot to shine u that our Father may be
glorified, it is not the true light, hot false light, which
glorifies onrselTei, and leads into oatward darkneas.

Rblioion. — A religion that costs as nothing (no
labour nor self-denial) is not worth having. It is the ~
certain rain of the sonl, detested by God, and is the
very derision of devils.

Riches. — Riches and honours — what trash ! I hope
I can truly say, that they make no part of my happi-
ness. I trust I do count them all bnt loss and dung for
the eKcellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus ray
Lord. Blessed be the Lord for shewing me better things
to enjoy, things more glorious, more substantial, more
durable.

Saltation. — The salvation effected by the God-
man is fall and complete. It answers all the demands
of God, and all the wants of sinners. It is all that even
despair can wish, that a sinner can covet, or a saint can

This salvation, discovered to the soul in all its
vaetness, and embraced by faith in all its infinite
fnlness, will quiet the soul effectually in the iace of
every thing that is disconraging, will stop the mouth of
unbelief and still the voice of conscience.

Tha righteonsuess and salvation, provided for sin-
ners, is every way equal to the infinity of God himself.

Self-denial. — Acting daily in opposition to self
in every thing, and living to God and his cause, are
the best meaoB in the world to make and keep the
"eye single."

There is at much difficulty in wuting for the

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383

accomplisfament of the promise, as id believbg it.
Neither of which can we do till we become dead to
oDrgelTes and give up all to God.

SicENBSB. — The sad remembrance of former siclc-
neates unimproved, and of the Tiews they had in them,
haunts the dyiog curtains of mstif, and speaks inch
home cODTictioDB as they are at that season ill able to
endure 1 Most of us live after recovery as if we had
made a covenant with death, and should never die, nor
be sick any more. Though we are reprieved, yet we
are not released. Death hath power over us and will
make use of it at the appointed time. Indispositioas
are sent to warn us of his coming.

God doth not willingly afflict any of his children.
They always stand in absolute need, at that very time,
of that very affliction he sends. It conld not be Itud
aside, nor delayed longer, nor altered for another,
without hurt to their sonls.

God's designs are varions in afflictions, —either to
bring Ds to repentance for some past sius, — or to pre-
vent us from falling into some great snare,— or to
exercise and strengthen some giace to prepare us for
some trying circumstances.

Sloth. — " The kingdom of heaven sofTers violence"
— Galling words to sloth. Good wishes and good
resolutions, I believe, ruin thouBands of souls. They wish
and resolve, and think the work is done and that they
are very good Christians. When conscience stings them
with uneasy reUorse, they wiah and resolve again : and
there the work always ends, and not the smallest pro-
gress is ever made.

Spiritual peace and sloth never did nor ever will
dwell together in the same soul. Light and darkness.

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383

heat and cold, are not more contrary the one to the
other.

Solitude.' — Solitary raomenta are the most happy
and most profitable moments of my life. — If I have them
not, which seldom happens, 1 seem to have been all the
day from home. I feel strange, nneaey and comfortless.

Spirit, iV# tcork. — I am happy to thiok that the
Spirit observes every avenue to my eoul, and can touch
every spring that gtveth it motion ; and therefore can
turn end influence it In the way, degree and time, he
pleases. This is one of the chief springs of my consola-
tion, both as to temporal and spiritual things. I'be
Spirit can in every thing inSnence my heart, guide my
thoughts, and direct my inclinations according to. his
own will ; «nd is in every thing wise and good. If his
will be BO, he can incline me to a place or a thing, and
effectnally open a way through the thickest darkness
and greatest difficulties for the accomplishment of his
gracious purposes.

Spikit, grieving the. — We know but little of the
condescension, love and grace of the Spirit, because we
are so ignorant of the various workings of inward cor-
ruptions by which his great work is opposed and con-
tinually obstructed. But when every secret thing is
laid open to full view, and we see with divine light, how
we have resisted his gracious dealings with us, bis love
will no less orerwhelm us with astonishment, than the
love of the Father and the Son. He has our comfort
and happiness, our complete holiness and glory so much
at heart, that any thing which is a single obstruction to
the progress of his work, is said to grieve him. We
are not grieved but for what befalls to one whom we
r^ard and love: and in proportion to our love will be

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384

our grief. Others nay proroka u to indifpiatioi : bat
tkere is no grief nnleig where there ii love. So it ii
with the Spirit of God, H« ii concenied for those to
whom he is engaged hj hia love as their oomfortor, and
is grieved with their bids, when he is not so with the sins
of others.

The Spirit expects and requires from ns returns of
lore and delight ia obedience : and when he is disap-
pointed, when we talce little or no notice of his kindnew
and lore, and atndy not to make suitable returns by a
holy walk and conversation, or when by careless oej^ect
we fall into those things and those courses which he
abhors, he cannot pass by unnoticed soch nnkindness
and ingratitnde. He is thus vexed and grieved by ns.
Let ns therefore beware, above all things, of a barren
nnfroitfol profrssioD, and of defding by secret iadol-
gences the habitation of the Holy Spirit.

How oaght the thought of defiling the Spirit's
temple, and of grieving the Comforter, to fill our hearts
with deep hamility and godly sorrow ! How unworthy
a conduct to grieve him who cotaes for the very purpose
of giving us consolation and joy ! He has condescended
in infinite love to become our Comforter. He bestows
his comfort willingly, freely and powerfully. Nor ia
there the least hope, pe^ce or joy, but what be works
and bestows ; do relief in tron^ile, no refreshment ia
perplexities, but what be gives. And shall we by our
n^igence, un and folly, grieve him! — grieve him,
without whom we cannot live, cannot think a good
thought, cannot breathe a good desire ! — grieve him
whose presence is heaven in tbe soul, and whose absence
is a hell of cormption, darkness and misery 1 is it
possible that we can make snch base retoms for such

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386

lore, and be such enemicB to onreelves ! O what a
creatnre man is ! In wfaat dust and ashes ought tha
brat of as to lie down !

TaiAts. — When an uaespected cloud gathers and
darkens the heavens above, let ds joyfully espect from
it a shower of rich blessings. Aad when the blessingB
aie come, the cloud will disperse, and the san will
•hine brighter than-ever.

The smallest trial is too great for me : but the
freatest is nothing, if the strength of God be perfected
in my weakness.

It ta better to be in the Lord's furnace than in the
deTil'a palace.

To be tossed by the waves of the world, without
the refreshing gales of the Spirit, is misery indeed.

An alternate interchange of sunshine and showers
and storms, makes the most fruitful summer. The one
trithoat the other will not do. Let us therefore be
thankful for clouds and storms sometimes as well as for
snnshine. They are not less nseful to the spiritual than
to the natural world.

1 would lather bear a cross from Christ than pros-
perous ease firom satan.

Ilioagh God may bring us into the wilderness ; yet
if he speak comfortably to us, the wilderness will be
tnmed into a paradise.

1 find a danger, through stoutness of heart, of
" despising the cliMteaing of the Lord," and thereby
lose all the benefit, and also add sin to sin. It is one
duBg for our ^)iTits to bear ns up under a cross, and '
wotber, to be supported by a living faith. Faith is not
satisfied merely that the soul is supported, and enabled
to bustle through crosses: but it looks farther; it
wo«id ban tbe blessing.

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If the road is rough, let ns not oompluii} for it
leftdg to a glorioot reat, which nothing shall digtorb.

WLy should we complain, if with all our fellow-
pilgrims, we are obliged to taste of the waters of Mara >
Tbey are wholesome, I am satisfied.

How amazingly differeot do things appear to a
spiritual, from what they do to a caroal mind. The
spiritual man can see light in the midst of darkness,
mercies in judgment, life id the narrow road he walks
in, the crown in the cross, aud eternal weight of glory
in light afflictions.

Nothing hot self in one way or another makes the
cross appear formidable to ns. Therefore onr Saviour says
first, that we most deny ourselves, before he tells ns,
that we must take np the cross.

Unbelief. — Were it not for our legal spirit and
unbelief, we should live as princes oq the earth, having
a free access to the nnboanded fulness of Cbrist, the
unsearchable riches of bis grace.

Unbelief hurts the eyesight or directs us to look
through a false medium.

Unbelief is a spiritless, deadening, disheartening
principle : it renders the soal weak, stupid and dead.

Walking icith God. — It is said of Enoch that Le
walked with God : and every believer is exhorted to
walk humbly with his God." There is something amaz-
ingly comfortable in the thought ! To walk with God
is to walk with infinite wisdom to direct, and infinite
power to support ns.

Wife's excellences. — I bless the Lord that I haveft
pray'mg wife. People are seeking this or that quality
in their wires. I say, — " Give me a praying wife."

Our ten years tt^ether are nearly completed. Dar-
ing that time the Lord bos made yon the means of mnch

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387

comfort to me. He gave me the only favour I desired
of an earthly kind, and has blessed oar coDDection.
Thou);hwe)iaTenot been without our trials; yet we have ■*
not had theiQ from each other. No person in the world
is happier in this respect than myself. I would not
change my situation for an imperial crown. The gold
of Peru is nothing compared to what I possess in you.
It comforts me to think that the Lord can make yoo as
comfortable as I can wish yoo to be, though it be not
within my power. To him I look up daily in your
behalf; and under the shadow of his wings I cannot but
■ see yoQ safe. His tender love can sooth your anxious
mind amidst all your cares. And my nbsence, when ha
is present, is no more than the absence of a farthing
candle when the sun shines. In patience possess your
■onl : and may his love prove a source of abundant con<
eolation to yon.

Dearest, kindest and best of wives; I pray and •*
bless the Lord every day for you. This is the only
return I can make for snch a blessing. I hope that this
as well as every other gift, will lead me to the Giver of
every good and perfect gift.

WiLMNONEBS of Ckr'ut 10 lave sinneri. We often
find within ns a doubting of Christ's wiltingaess ; when
there seems to be a persuasion of hig power and ability.
Bnt I am apt to think, that on a more strict attention
to the workings of oar hearts, we shall find, that we
donbt the former, because we do not sufficiently believe
the latter.

WoBLD. — How strong is the love of the present
world in our heart, when though we see nothing bnt sin
in it, we yet are so unwilling to leave it.

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INDEX.

Abkabim'i faith 176

AdnlU Alteiulmg the Simday ichocill 237,339

icbool for, St Spa Field clupel 335

itioB, letUreon .. ., ,. .. .. 6i

to be improTed ,. .. ., .. 173

America, emifrstion to >.. .. .. 172

Anger, and impatieim .. ■■ 63

holy .. .. ., 139

AModatioD, its diurusriont .. ,. .. ■■ 269

AMOciatioDs of the Kboola .. ., .. - .. 241

their happr effect! .. .. .. .. 344

Awakecinn eitraordinaiy ., ., .. •■ 249

inSoathWalei 259

Bala, uwdation at, 342

Bevan, Hra.inppoTterof theWeMechooli .. 230,324

Bible Soeie^, origin of, 222, 298

its report in 1S27 . . . . .. . . 289

BiUe, the best frieod .. .. .. 344

itabenefitt .. .. 345

Welsh HOT of, prepared by Mr. C. .. 294, 347

Bradford, RcT. J.'f aaying, .. ..95

Brethren, lore to, .. 43

Calvin, qnotatioD fhm, ., .. 115

Candidates tor orders, their eumination defectlTe .. 17

Catecbiting, iU eSecta on a certain town 247

CbaHes, his birth, &c. .. ., ,. 2,3

hii ordioation . , , , . , . . 18

ordained priest .. ., ..52

hia Tisit to Bala , ' .. .. 56

his remoTal to Wales and maniagc, .. 183

Mrres ShawboTjr .. .. .. 194

terres Uanymawddwr ..204

lofais the Methodists .. 211

Us serioni iUneas in 1799 .. 270

his accident in 1B12 , . . . . . 324

UsdealhlSU 348

bis character .. .. 35B

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INDSX.

Cbri It, loTiiu; Ml appearance,

■llfulnMiofgraceiD,

ihuQcd of being a»bamed of him, ..

ire can do □othing' without him,
ChristiaD , useful, character of, . • .. .. .,

Choice of a wife, thoughts on.
Church of EDgland, Mr. C.'s desire to continue in . . . .

its true friends
CleiTf, eerioue, attempt to anppress them.
Comfort from the freeness of God's love

procured by a riev of God's temporal merdea
Commands, God's, approred by true ChristiBus
ComfdaiatB , under tnalB blamed,

reproved
Concorduice, began by Mr. C.
Consciencej tenderj
Contest, epirltual, its hardahipt,
Convereation, vain, lamented, ., .. .

spirituBl, desired.
Counsels to One under the losa of her husband
Cross, ran attempta to shun it,

must be expected
Death, fear of, .. ..

of a mutaJ friend,
Dependance on man, vain.
Destitution, spiritual,

l>ietionary, scriptural, by C.

Disappointments, theirdeslgn.

Discontent, lamented.

Doctrines of the gospel.

Doubts, reasons against, ., .. ., .

Dream, seen by Air. C.

EnsKlNE, Lady, her death.

Eternity, thoughts on,

Erents, the beneSts of observing the smallest.

Experience, Mr. C.'s in his illness.

Eye, the single.

Faith, its life difficult

and assurance, letter on,

living by,

its excise, God's gift, ..

Family worship, set up by Mr. C. in his father's house
Peelings of others, regard to,

ForgireneRs, its freeness, . . , . . . ,

its abundance

WiMg^i^^ <i^S^&^^^^^?^

Friendihip, itiafficei,

Qod'b detig^is in tmla .. ,,

dealings suitable to our wsaU,

promise, A sufficieDl support,

cue for his people,

graciousnesn ,

till, sufficiency ,
Grace, groweth in
Ground, the goad,
Qmdance, diriue.
Heart's insensibilit J
Heaven, to be Uke Ood,
Bighlaads, Gaelic schools ip.
Holiness, tbe Christian's desire,
Hnmbling views of one's self,
Bamility, H rensOD Cor,

aninstuiceof, in Mr. C.
Hughes, Rev. Jos. of BatcTsea, ..

Husband and wife, how to live retigionsi]'
Hypocrisy, an instaace of,

of maa's heart, .. ..

Illness, C.'s rievs during.
Indolence, its erils.
Indulgence, popish
Iniquity, grief for,
Inatmction, variety in, desirable,
latercourse, social
Ireland. Mr. C.'s jonniBl while tber»

his proposed measures for,
JONES, Rev. D. of Langan,

Rev. Griffith, his schools

Rer. Thomas, of Crealon,
KnowLBDoe, general, insuBicient
I^MGEiTHo, resorted to by many

LlTerpool, Mr. C.'s prencbing there,

dangerous journey Co
Losses, worldly, a spiritual gain,
Lore, obligationa to God for,

active

produces submission

of God to sinneri

efercised by trial
Lncas, Rev. Mr. C.'s friend,

Mabvaob, W — coufp^gaied

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Mr. C'b tbonghti onhii own ..
McdiUtkm, it«D«emitr
MethodUts, their turn ordiastioii . .
Miniitera, their Umputioiu . .

their peculiar tri*U
MImIoii, Senunpore, lUodedto,
Mi»ion>r7 bboun, C. frit inlerated fat,
ModeatTi an iantBDce of io Mr. C.
Nkwton, Rer. John, C.'a viiit to, , ,

his opioioD of tha amkaiuiifi M Bal*
NorA Wika, clergy of
Obkdiencb, painTc, . .

OUrer, Ret. P. of Chealei
Ozfbrd, C.'b atate of mind when gtnag th*n

hii difficulties there removed

God's goodneM there renewed
?BACB, restored by way of holinesl,

false and Inie,
Prayer, for Mr. C.'b recorery
Preacher, what fonna one,
Prescbing, Mr. C.'i, owned,

Prtspnce, divine

Printing Press at Bala,

Progress, continusl,
Providence acknowledged
ProTidentiul preservation of Mr. C.
Rees, Hugh, a (rious old m~~

hii advice to Mr. C.
Revelation, saitable to sinners,
Review of past mercies.
Riches, dangerous
Riots in North Wajei,
Romaine, Rev. W.'s pre
Rowland, Rev. Daniel, his sermon at New Chl^

hia preaching at Llangeitho

compared with Whitfield

hia saying of Mr. C.

Sunday, 237,— their asi

their success,

■dulta attending them

old people attending the:
Self-denial, oontinnal
Self-dependence, its evil.
Sin, indwelliDg, described.

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Full text of "A brief history of the life and labours of the Rev. T. Charles .."

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