us.

verity judge their failings. Our own powers can do but little for us; and in the hours of distress, of either body or mind, we cry out for the merciful hand of Heaven to support Without this superior assistance, we should sink under many trials; but He whose providential care is over all his works, fails not to attend to the supplication of those who apply to him through faith, and will either relieve our sufferings, or enable us to bear them.

I may thankfully acknowledge, that in all conflicts, either of body or mind, I have not been deserted by the supporting arm of a heavenly Father; and under a full sense of the benefit I have received by discipline, I would endeavour to consider "the rod, and who hath appointed it."*

27th. To be oppressed with lowness is painful; but there is a kind of calm lowness, which sometimes overspreads the mind, both pleasing and profitable. In this state, meekness and love seem particularly prevalent; and though we sensibly feel the many tender ties to earth, yet this feeling is mixed with such a resignation of will to the wise Disposer of all events, that we find our minds * Micah, vi. 9.

covered with tranquillity, and we indeed, possess our souls in peace.

Here we seem built, as it were, on the sure foundation; we stand with fortitude against the floods, the wind and the rain, and for a while remain unshaken. But the weakness of human nature again prevails, temptations grow powerful, and we are overcome. Let us then, fervently pray for the assistance of that Power, who can alone enable us to stand secure amidst surrounding difficulties. I believe he sometimes permits us to fall even very low, that all human pride be laid in the dust, and that learning to distrust ourselves, we may depend solely on him.

may

27th, 3d Mo.-In my own experience, I can often trace judgment to a previous failure of duty in some respect. This, I have sometimes found to be profitable, and to have occasioned good resolutions of doing better in future, through the assistance of Divine Grace. But at the same time that I find it beneficial for myself, I think it highly injurious to form an opinion of the conduct of others, from any evil that may befal them. The sun shineth, and the rain descendeth on the evil and on the good. Prosperity and ad

versity, with regard to this world, happen alike to both; and the latter, though it may sometimes appear as a judgment for past offences, and be designed to rouse people to a sense of duty, yet at others, it may only be intended to prune the fruit-bearing branches, that they may bring forth more fruit, and to refine us in the furnace till every particle of dross and tin be utterly consumed, that we may come out as pure gold.

It is only He who searcheth the heart, and can penetrate into every secret motive of action, who can form a just estimate of our conduct. Our knowledge is very superficial; and those who may appear to stand with the fairest characters, may have many sins and impurities known only to God; whilst others, in whom we can behold many more faults, but who are, from their situations, either outwardly or inwardly subjected to more temptations, or have fewer helps, are less culpable in the sight of God, and like the publican formerly, are justified rather than the other.

17th, 5th Mo.-A review of some of my sentiments respecting education, has revived a remark that frequently occurs to my mind,

on the difference between theory and practice. We must become parents, before we can feel the difficulties attendant on that station. We can quietly look on, and judge this, or the other thing, to be very easy; but when it is our turn to be tried, we learn by experience, that the judgment we had formed was very superficial. The same inference may be drawn from observation on various other stations in life, many of which, our self-love may.flatter us that we should fill with more propriety than those who already occupy them. But let our experience in one particular, teach us so much wisdom as may prevent a wrong estimation of ourselves in others; and having been once deceived in forming an opinion of the ease of acting in a station which we have never tried, let us be warned to avoid future judgments of the kind, and rather compassionate the failings of others who may have mor、 temptations to encounter than we are aware of, than censure them with harsh severity.

6th, 8th Mo.-A few censorious remarks, the other evening, led me to consider how apt we are to get into the seat of judgment upon others, and censure every one that de

viates from our own line of conduct. But we can have no surer sign of being in a wrong spirit ourselves, than when we feel that such a disposition prevails; for true virtue not only leads to charity, humility, and distrust of ourselves, but likewise diffuses itself in love to all, in a concern for their welfare, and wishes for their perfection. There are seasons when we feel ourselves so far raised above every thing earthly, as to be free from envy or jealousy, and united in love to all mankind. And can we say that any seasons are equal to these? or so strongly unite us to the Deity, who is the fountain of love? Let us then rather endeavour to cultivate this overflowing love, than censure or condemn where there is no prospect of benefit by it. The mind that feels itself averse to the strait and narrow way, is sometimes pleased with the opportunity of seeing those stumble and fall who are endeavouring to pursue it. And some others, who see the necessity of striving to walk therein, feel so many difficulties attending it, that they are ready to think their own lot hard. Both these states may be disposed to censure others, not having yet attained to that sweetness, which can testify that all the

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