Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

cation, I have many times of late been led to recollect the stripped, tried situation to which David was reduced, and this fearful exclamation: "I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul," a yet no doubt, I ought to consider it a favor, to feel and know, that in this state of danger and dismay, I can do nothing to save myself. May I then be led, more fully and unre servedly, to cast myself and my all upon Him, who still careth for his own, and who has all power both in heaven and on earth.

14th. Oh! the weakness-the treachery of the human heart!

18th. Notwithstanding many defilements of flesh and spirit, I was led in the morning meeting, to remember Him who was compared to a refiner's fire and fuller's soap. How invaluable are the sacred writings! How different from any thing this world can afford, are the feelings, at times vouchsafed, in a humble diligent perusal of them!

28th. Give not credit to report upon conjecture, neither report to the hurt of any. I have been strongly convinced this evening, of the im

a1 Sam. xxvii. 1.

propriety of even entertaining an evil surmise of the conduct of the absent. We should not condemn any one unheard; and how very cautious then, ought we to be of repeating our suppositions, or even allowing them to operate on the minds of others. O! for more caution in this, as well as in other respects!

3d Mo. 21st. On my way to Pilltown Mill this morning, in passing through a field of Wheat, the expressions occurred to my mind: "Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it; until he receives the early and the latter rain. Be ye also patient. Stablish your hearts" a How precious a single sentence of Scripture, when divinely opened on the mind! I was led into a very unexpected train of reflection, under which my mind became contrited; and I was made feelingly to see and to acknowledge my utter incapacity and helplessness, without divine aid, from time to time, freshly imparted from on high.

24th. In the morning Meeting I was favored with some solid sensations; and mental aspirations arose to the Fountain of good. "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me

a James v. 8.

bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits!"a

4th Mo. 24th. Arrived safely at home after attending the Quarterly Meeting at Clonmel. A season of favour, wherein doctrine flowed as a stream, and feelings of good immediately imparted, were, at times vouchsafed.

5th Mo. 4th. "If thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand! But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayst be feared." "With the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption." b

6th Mo. 1st. "Search me, O God! and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." c

2d. What deep humility! what abasedness of self! what feeling of the value and of the necessity of a Saviour, are pourtrayed in the Account of the poor sinner formerly who washed the Redeemers' feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head; and though the opportunity of any such outward or personal act

2 Ps. ciii. 1. b Ps. cxxx. 3 & 7. e Ps. cxxxix. 23 & 24.

a

is now denied us, yet how necessary it is for us to be brought to a similar state of mind.

21st. Our state here may be compared to that of a besieged City, closely invested at all points, by an active, powerful, and vigilant enemy, who, even though the Citadel, the heart, may be strongly garrisoned, and determined to withstand his efforts to the utmost, yet he is not thereby deterred or prevented, from the most attentive, persevering, and constantly renewed attempts on the sentinels and outposts; and if he find he cannot succeed by open and direct attacks, how indefatigable is he to take advantage of our dis-positions and propensities, generally trying the weakest part, yet sometimes taking us by surprise in the point which we thought well secured and were too confident of; how dangerous then is it for us at all to parley, or give him any footing! If we are sufficiently watchful, we shall be enabled to discover his first motions, and then is the time for us resolutely to withstand, "resisting unto blood; striving against sin." But if we find in ourselves any, the mallest inclination to close in with the tempter, to relax in our opposition, and to suffer his encroachment, let us be timely and earnest in

a Heb, xii. 4.

sending our secret messengers, our sincere heartfelt aspirations, to the Throne of Grace, that He would "send us help from the sanctuary, and strengthen us out of Zion." And if we find ourselves in danger of being overpowered, instead of weakly and tamely submitting to be led captive at his will and pleasure; let us flee for our lives, and throw ourselves where help is to be found.

9th Mo. 3d. A friend attended our Monthly Meeting this day, and was very acceptably engaged amongst us, in a tender broken manner;

a word fitly spoken," remains to be," like apples of gold in pictures of silver."-In the sitting for worship, some sensations were attendant of my own unworthiness, and of the unbounded mercy and loving kindness of the Great Shepherd. O may I be enabled, through the purifying operations of his power, though it be applied as a hammer to break in pieces my stony and rebellious heart, to enter in by the door into the Sheep fold!-that I may be of the blessed number who know his voice and follow him; " and when he putteth forth his own sheep he goeth before them."

[ocr errors]

4th. "How excellent is thy loving kindness, O

• Ps, xx. 2.

b Prov. xxv. 11

• John x. 4.

« ZurückWeiter »