down the bed-curtains, and formed icicles at the bottom, and cakes of ice on the floor; neither of which completely thawed till after the admission of outward air in the morning: the following day it froze again.

12th, 4th Mo.-One can scarcely help sometimes making serious reflections on the awful state of public affairs at the present period. Every future prospect seems more than commonly precarious, and the calamities impending over us are frequently the subject of conversation.

How soon the ravages of war may be at our door, appears very uncertain; and the havoc it has already made of our fellowsubjects, must give rise to painful sensations in every feeling mind. Can we do any thing to avert the present, or ward off approaching evils? If not, the more still and quiet we keep ourselves during the present fermentation the better; endeavouring to rely solely on that power which can preserve us through all difficulties, and support the mind in calmness and resignation, though a reverse of fortune should be our lot.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee."* This, if

* Isaiah, xxvi. 3.

we turn over the leaves of our past lives, we shall acknowledge to have been in measure experienced; and the more our faith is increased, the more disposition we shall feel to be resigned to all terrestrial things; and having food and raiment, there with to be

content.

30th, 7th Mo.-" When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"* This was the language of the Psalmist; and when we behold the wonderful works of God in the creation, and consider how immense must be that power, which sustains and governs the universe, we are ready to conclude ourselves very insignificant in his sight. But, if his wisdom and goodness has seen meet to create us, we may rest in faith, that he will not think us beneath his care; and when we consider the union of the soul and body, and our alliance with the spiritual world, we are certainly not the least wonderful part of the visible creation. We are perhaps made but "a little lower than the angels," and, with regard to our dominion over all other creaPsalm viii. 3.

tures of this earth," crowned with glory and honour." There seems then, no room for despondency; but relying with faith on Him who formed us, we should endeavour to cultivate that spiritual union, which will exalt us to a better state. Thus filling up, as we ought, our appointed station in this life, to the praise of Him who created us, we may look forward with hope to a more glorious and durable habitation, when all things elementary shall vanish from our sight.

1796.

17th, 1st Mo.-My son, "get wisdom."* This was the advice of a wise man formerly, who well knew the value of true wisdom, and the insignificance of every thing else in the comparison. Something similar to this is the exhortation, Be religious, encourage in yourselves the love of God. Consider yourselves as under his omniscient eye, and let all your actions be regulated by that wisdom which comes from above.

This language often seems to breathe through my soul to the multitude, as well as to individuals. Through all the varieties of forms and shadows, and every thing external,

*Prov. iv. 5.

I feel as if I could unite myself in the bonds of love and union, with all those who seriously desire and endeavour to please God. To be religious, includes a great deal. It is not only to be morally good, but to be good from a principle of love to God, and the desire to do that which will be acceptable in his sight. To be religious, implies the performance of our duty both to God and man ; and though we may consider religion in the first instance, as subsisting between God and our own souls, yet all the various duties of life must flow from it, and are as necessarily produced by it, as good fruit is produced by a good tree. Therefore, under whatever appearance, or whatever external form or mode of worship, let real, vital religion operate in your hearts, and influence your lives and conduct. You will find it give additional pleasure to the innocent enjoyments of life, afford consolation in the hours of grief and anxiety, and give that hope of a better state, the sweetness of which is the only thing that can make this life desirable.

24th, 5th Mo.-Draw me, O Lord, and I will run after thee. This is frequently the language of my spirit, when humbled under a sense of my own weakness, and the inability

I feel either to think a good thought, or perform a good act without divine assistance. Still less do I feel power to draw near to the Father of Spirits, without some prevalence of that holy influence on the soul, which can enable us to cry, Abba, Father. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me, draw him."* This is the language of Scripture; and I believe many may acknowledge, that it is through this divine energy or influence that they have been brought to believe in Christ inwardly revealed in the heart, and witnessed his power as far as it was given way to, to preserve them from all evil, and become their sanctification and redemption. Historical evidence may tend to confirm our faith, and enable us to give a reason for the hope that is in us, with meekness and fear. But the history of the life, death, and resurrection of our Saviour, as recorded by the Evangelists, if it gain no other assent of the mind, than that which arises from the evidence of outward testimony, will, I believe, have but little influence in purifying the heart; and it is in the simplicity of little children, desiring to be instructed, that we shall behold Christ pointed out to us as our guide and director, * John, vi. 44.