ness; and what is still more so, that I was favoured to approach Him "who is the health of my countenance."

II.

A beautiful morning! I rose early, and methought my mind being perfectly calm, resembled the cloudless sky; but meeting with some cross events, was not enough on my guard, but suffered it to be ruffled, which brought me into humiliation; and I was desirous of repairing to the washing pool, that I might be cleansed from every defiling and hurtful thing.

12. Spent good part of the day in profitable reading, which tended to draw my mind heavenward. How much of my time have I squandered in the fore part of my life, in reading books of a pernicious tendency!

23. My mind too much outward, which surely bringeth with it its own punishment—a sensible deprivation of the presence of God. What greater punishment!

24. My mind, having suffered hunger, was led to pant after heavenly bread : which was graciously vouchsafed in my retirement to-day. Oh, this best of blessings! Nothing short of it can satisfy the quickened soul.

29. A time of labour in the morning: yet not deserted by the good Husbandman. Went to meeting in the afternoon in great weakness; when quite unexpectedly, the Lord was pleased to break in upon my soul with his life-giving presence, and by removing the spirit of heaviness, to array it with

the garment of praise: and I believe others were made partakers of the same inestimable blessing.

SIXTH MONTH, 1791.

1. No time for retirement to-day; yet in my solitary walk met with the beloved of souls, who sweetly attracted me, and melted me into tears under a sense of his goodness and my own nothingness: feeling at that time that all good proceeded from him, and that it is only as we receive ability from him, that we can do any thing aright.

5. A time of sweet encouragement at meeting, this morning. O, that such seasons may be rightly improved. Staid at home in the afternoon, from necessity.

7. No time for retirement to-day; though I strove hard for it, and was as often disappointed : yet the sweet quiet I felt in the evening induced me to believe that my desires were accepted by the Father of mexcies. How much better is it to spend one hour in thy courts than a thousand elsewhere, yea preferable to the most refined delights this world can yield!

10. A time of labour at meeting, being humbly desirous of being directed aright in a little service which I believe was required of me.

II. Wrote a letter to a young man, who I believed had been favoured with an extraordinary visitation, and who I was fearful was going back

ward. Found peace in discharging what I believed to be my duty, leaving the event.

12. A time of digging deep, yet laboured not in vain, being favoured to drink a little at the pure fountain of life. Afternoon, an uncommonly laborious meeting; and though my mind was deeply exercised for the arisings of life, I could scarcely feel any. Times and seasons are in the Lord's hand; and no doubt but these stripping, proving ones, are intended for a trial of our faith and patience.

13. The rest of this week confined by illness, under which I was preserved in a good degree of composure and resignation to the divine will; and was favoured at seasons, to feel the Physician of value near, whose heavenly presence can shed peace and comfort even on the bed of sickness. 19. Well enough to get to meeting, which I esteemed a favour, and which proved a precious heart-tendering season.

20. A short, but sweet refreshing season to-day, which I thought helped to support me, through an unpleasant conference with the young man to whom I had written. I fear he is in an unsafe spot.

21. My mind a little relieved (though by no means wholly) from the burthen thrown on it yesterday, and is deeply humbled, fearing I have done wrong in giving him my advice; yet thought I did it in much simplicity, and under an apprehension of duty. O, to be rightly directed, is the sincere prayer of my heart.

22.

Rather comforted under a belief that I did right in writing, though it had not the desired effect.

25. On a review of this day, think my mind has been too much outward, yet found time for a little retirement, in which it was drawn to aspire after a better state, even perfect holiness.

28. No suitable time for retirement. Caught myself entertaining vain and silly thoughts. Was desirous they might be taken from me, which was granted me; and, though in company, my mind was sweetly attracted upwards, feeling sensibly that all was lighter than vanity when compared with the joys of God's salvation.

3. Our quarterly meeting not large: I thought the forepart of the meeting heavy, yet not wholly deserted by the great and good Husbandman, who is still mindful of his little ones.

4. The meeting this morning I thought a favoured season; a fresh extension of heavenly regard to the backsliders in our Israel. My poor mind was earnestly turned to the Lord for help and strength, which was graciously given me to go through the service of the meeting as clerk.

6. A close trial this morning in parting with a beloved sister; and the prayer of my heart was to the Father of mercies, that he would be pleased to

that she goes,

and be unto

be with her in the way her as a wall of defence on the right hand and on the left.

14. Felt sweetly peaceful this morning, and something of the hovering wing of antient goodness, even while employed in the business of the day but, alas! for want of watchfulness missed my way; and though it is what many would esteem a small thing, yet I felt it to be wrong. O for more stability. How doth the soul, measurably redeemed from the pollutions of the world, feel even small crimes! I am thankful to feel it so, and earnestly desire that this swift witness against every appearance of evil, may be my constant companion through time.

15. A hard struggle with a spirit of indiffer ence and lukewarmness, which beset me at meeting to-day; but with thankfulness may acknowledge that, in degree, I obtained the victory, through the gracious assistance of Him who saw feeble endeavours and blessed them: to whom be the praise.

my

19. Felt comfortable to-day notwithstanding some unpleasant circumstances. Favoured with a little access to the throne of grace; where in deep prostration, my poor wearied soul begged a renewal of strength to hold on its way.

22. A favoured season at meeting this morning; which, methinks, should have proved a sufficient incitement to keep my heart with all diligence, &c. instead of which gave way in the