than from his own family, or from those amongst whom he dwells. One perhaps, arises from the depravity of our nature, which is apt to behold with envy an equal raised above us, either by temporal or spiritual gifts; another more obvious reason is, that the failings and weaknesses of a person residing amongst us, are so frequently under our notice, that it prevents our holding him in such high estimation, as if we saw only his bright side. This latter remark could not be applicable to our Saviour, in whom no imperfection could be found; but I believe it frequently operates in our minds to the disparagement of his followers, who though called to preach the same truths that he taught, and desirous to follow his footsteps, yet are at times so under the dominion of a corrupt nature, that they seem far distant from that perfection to which pure religion must ultimately tend. A commonly adopted language is, I have no opinion of such a one's religion, if it does not teach him to keep his passions in subjection, to fill up every station of life with propriety, to be meek, humble, &c.' in short, if it does not teach him to be perfect. Religion will, no doubt, teach all this to those who are endeavouring to be subject to it; but it is often

6

by slow degrees that the old corrupt nature is put off, and the new nature brought to perfection; and whether this work is, or is not going forward in others, we can form but an inadequate judgment; neither if we observe in a person many faults, can we judge how they might be multiplied, if it were not for some influence from religion. The prophetic, or any other office in the Church, we cannot suppose should be filled by any but those who are in a good measure redeemed from evil, and if such are sometimes held in superior honour by strangers, it seems no cause for self-exaltation; and it may have a tendency to keep them in humility, to consider, that it may in part arise from their not meeting with so many occurrences to throw them off their guard, and that those failings and imperfections remain concealed, which are often obvious to those whom they are more generally with.

At Hastings, 17th, 9th Mo.-The constant pursuit of pleasure, however innocent, I believe has a tendency to dissipate the mind; and though rambling about a beautiful country, contemplating the charms of nature, and the grandeur of the boundless ocean, may sometimes lead our minds to the great Au

thor of all, to Him who made the sea roar and the fulness thereof, yet we too frequently admire his works, without considering the greatness of his power, and reverently worshipping him being led on from the things that are visible, to contemplate with an eye of faith, those more glorious scenes which shall be revealed hereafter. For, if so much power is displayed for the use of the material creation, which is but the subordinate part, how much more glorious will be the display of infinite power in the spiritual creation, when "this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality."

20th, 11th Mo.-" Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."+ If the righteous can only lay hold on this promise, who shall dare to say it belongeth unto me? But when this text has been revived in my mind, it has often been accompanied with a consolatory hope, that though we cannot claim, as our due, a deliverance from trouble, yet that the mercy of God is extended to those who put their trust in him, that he will in his own time pour healing balm into the wounded

*I Cor. xv. 54.

+ Psalm xxxiv. 19.

soul, and sometimes deliver us from affliction, even when hope seems ready to fail. And often has the dependant soul been led to acknowledge, that blessings have been dispensed to us in the form of afflictions; they have had a tendency to humble our minds and subdue self, and brought us into that state of resignation and trust in God, that, even respecting those things which appear most desirable, we can almost say, "Thy will be done."

1798.

25th, 3d Mo.- We get forward by little and little.' This sentiment was expressed by an esteemed friend, in answer to a remark of mine, and made such an impression on my mind, that it has been often since revived in my remembrance with the persuasion of its truth. Yet we are sometimes ready to despise this slow progress, as much as Naaman, the Assyrian, did dipping in Jordan. We want to do something of consequence, or something that seems manifestly to put us forward; thus we too often neglect the little good we might do in one thing, and the little matter we might set to rights in another, because they seem so trifling, as to be hardly

worth our attention; not sufficiently considering that every little will bring us forward, though by almost imperceptible degrees; and that if we neglect these small advancements, we shall be in danger of falling by little and little, in the same proportion that we might otherwise have got forward. Every conquest that we gain over ourselves, every effort of the mind to cleave to the good and avoid the evil, even though it be but in little things, is accompanied with some efficacy; and if we are habituated to constant discipline and watchfulness, we shall find an increase of strength beyond what we could expect.

25th, 5th Mo.-"Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of,"* was the gentle reproof to the disciples formerly; and may we, in our turn, who are disposed to censure, endeavour to weigh well what spirit we are of, and keep down a disposition to retaliate!

Evidence is continually arising, that weakness is ours; and if the decree is constantly going forth, cut off, cut off, till nothing but what is whole and sound remains, I believe the reduction will be to a small number indeed: and how often have we cause to lament, * Luke, ix. 55.