propitiation without me, but as a light within me: "for in him was life, and the life is the light of men." And not only by the report of what he hath done for them, without them, but by his immediate presence and saving help, are the souls of the desolate and distressed led, at seasons, to trust in him, who, for their sanctification,. "suffered without the gate."

28. As I was walking in the fields, it was immediately suggested, that the doctrine of the divine decrees and final perseverance, as set forth by John Calvin, and which are so strenuously supported by his partisans, have a strong tendency to promote a spirit of pride, self preference, and security in them who suppose themselves the favoured subjects. On the other hand, believers who hold the doctrine of universal redemption and remission, through the blood of Christ, are equally interested in the promises; especially reprehensible are such among them, who judge as heretical and inimical to the gospel, all who cannot coincide with their sentiments on those points.

SEVENTH MONTH, 1782.

15. An intended journey to 'Tooley-street had afforded me some prospect of satisfaction; but, alas! every pleasing vision vanisheth. Indeed what views of sublunary satisfaction can be reasonably entertained, when past the grand climacterick.

But even to the very latest hour of human life, how propense are mortals to the illusions of 2 world that perisheth; how obscure their views, and dull their movements, towards the "good land that is beyond Jordan; that goodly mountain and Lebanon."

28. In the meetings at Hartford, matter was impressed with a pointing to the people; but I was loth to stand up hastily; an exercise under religious openings being, at times, as profitable to those present as the expressing of them: " that one and the self-same spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." In the afternoon I had no clear ness to utter any thing, until the usual time of sitting was expired, and then thought it most expedient to omit delivering what was before me. The spirit of truth, and the ministry which in any degree proceeds therefrom, is not to be limited by a dial or hour-glass; yet "wisdom is profitable to direct," and "is justified of her children."

EIGHTH MONTH, 1782.

10. For some days past, I have been deeply affected with a sensibility of the poverty, emptiness, and dryness of human nature, when devoid of that faith, which is by the life of the Son of God, who came that we might have life; and that we might have it more abundantly. "His

foundation is in the holy mountains ;" "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God."

15. I went to the evening meeting in much poverty and emptiness, possessing nothing; but remembering, with a degree of freshness, that when the Lord Jesus went into the synagogue, the book of the prophet Isaiah being delivered unto him, he read that which is written; "the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, and to heal the broken hearted: and the eyes of the people were fastened on him. Some desires also attended, that the attention of those present might be fixed on Christ, who is "a high priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec ;" and who, not only for the short space he was on earth, but throughout all generations, was graciously appointed to "preach the gospel to the poor," and "to bind up the broken-hearted." A diffidence was prevalent, lest by speaking, the solemnity which seemed to attend, should be by any means diminished; and other friends were more ready to deliver what was before them. On the whole it seemed a favored season.

19. First day. Being low in mind, and indisposed in my health, I spent the forenoon in Tooleystreet; and in my retirement received a renewed conviction, that "what is to be known of God is manifest within," by the immediate revelation of Jesus Christ: for, although the invisible things of him, may be understood by the things that are

made, yet these exterior demonstrations of his eternal power and godhead, are rather adapted to the reasoning, than the feeling part, in man; and being objects of the understanding, rather than the heart, can never afford a soul-satisfactory evidence to deep, inward, exercised seekers. The Holy Scriptures, being written by the inspiration of God, are profitable for doctrine, correction and instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be furnished to all good works. Yet they are of themselves a dead letter, and unable to give life, only as they are opened by " the spirit that quickeneth;" and then they are precious, inestimably precious, beyond all words which have been written a single sentence of them so imparted, being much more profitable and edifying. to the inward man, than long and elaborate discourses, or the voluminous productions of men. When in a state of darkness, distress, and uncertainty, our attention ought therefore to be inwardly turned to Him, who "hath the key of David," who, in the days of his flesh, commisserated the poor and distressed among the people, inviting them on this wise; "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." The doctrine taught by some, that the Scriptures are the only rule of faith and practice, and may be sufficiently understood by the light of reason, is therefore equally erroneous and uncomfortable. At Gracechurch-street, in the afternoon, I was exercised under some lively

impressions of the foregoing truths, without any pointing to impart them to those present.

From 20th of EIGHTH MONTH to 13th of NINTH MONTH, 1782,

I was, by Dr. Hooper's direction, almost wholly confined in a reclined posture, by reason of a broken shin. No chastening is joyous; nevertheless, if thereby the peaceable fruits of righteousness are in any measure produced, there is abundant cause for thankfulness to the all-wise disposer of events. During this afflictive dispensation, my mind hath been covered with a deep and humbling sense of the manifold errors of my past life; and in some degree favored to seek after the spring of mercy and forgiveness, the Lord and giver of life, and his Son Christ Jesus, in whom is life, and "the life is the light of men." In a reading of the Holy Scriptures, some inward feeling of the truths in them contained, was at times experienced. From my youth upward, I have been frequently conversant in the Christian pattern by Thomas a Kempis; and particularly so in the elegant translation of it by my esteemed friend, John Payne. By a secret pointing in my own mind, I was excited again to peruse it: the striking descriptions of creaturely depravity and impotence, were consonant with my own experience and heartfelt sensations within; and the testimonies, not only to