be a mockery, and a cruelty? Would he not lift his dying eyes, and say-Give me a hand, and lift me out of this state of danger; but as to giving me money, it is only to mock my misery.

"The danger of losing the soul is very extensive men place themselves in such situations as daily expose them to such a loss.'

"In the afternoon, Mr. C. preached at the New Church, on the conversion of Lydia; Acts xvi. 13-15. The following were some of his remarks on the passage :

"The transactions that are carried on between Heaven and Earth make no figure in History: what passes in the Cabinet draws universal attention, and makes no small noise in the world; but what GOD is doing is unnoticed and disregarded.

"The heart being opened, is spoken of as an extraordinary case. The heart of man is not always shut against sober advice-against moral doctrine -against outward decency—or against the fashions, customs, and pleasures of the world: but the Bible informs us, that it is shut against God and His Gospel. The god of this world hath blinded the eyes of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. The heart of the natural man is shut up in unbelief-blinded by prejudice-deadened by carelessness-and chained by pleasure; and the opening, softening, and enlightening of such a heart is the great promise made to us in the Scriptures. See Deut. xxx. 6, and Ezek. xi. 19. Lydia was a conscientious character before she was a converted one. She observed the Sabbath; she used the means of grace: she knew that she was responsible; and she determined to join herself to a few mean despised people by the river-side; declaring thereby however against the public custom it might be-she would serve the Lord: and

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from a conscientious character, she became a converted one: so true it is, that If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.

"Lydia was not only a converted hearer, but an exemplary professor. She not only received the Gospel of Christ, but she adorned it in all things. She ATTENDED to the things that were spoken of Paul. She found the subject grand, worthy all her attention: she laid up in her heart the truths he proclaimed:-and what those truths were, may be gathered from his Epistles. She felt their excellency, and remained fixed and penetrated with them: she set her public seal to them, by being baptized into the same faith; and was obedient thereto.

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Every man should take heed, and look within. He should hear what his conscience says, on the great matter of Religion; and follow it. No man trifles with his conscience, but, sooner or later, it will be revenged of him.

"We should learn to look upward to God, that opens the heart. He openeth, and no man shutteth. It is more easy to convince man of his wants than of his remedy. Many feel the miseries sin has brought upon them; but how few flee for refuge to the only hope set before them!

"The conversion of the soul to God is only one continued proof to us that He is still working by his Spirit now, as really as in the Apostle's days. And it further shews, that true Religion is the same to the end of the world; that Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; that He is risen from the dead; and that mighty things are done through His Name.

"Did Christians live more in the practice of looking to Jesus, they would see Satan falling as lightning from heaven. Jesus Christ has the keys of the House of David.

"If the Lord has opened our hearts, it is, that

we should shew forth His praise. See Luke viii. He whose name was Legion, after he had been healed, besought Jesus that he might be with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying-Return to thine house, and shew what great things the Lord hath done unto thee. Go, and be a monument of the grace of God; and live to the glory of God.

"We should look round for such witnesses; and also consider who is looking round upon us. It is not worth while to inquire what ignorant, malicious people may have to say of us, while we are serving the Lord: but to serious inquirers, we should be careful to shew our faith, our love, our obedience.'

"In the evening, we remained at home: the family assembled, and Mr. C. expounded the 25th chapter of St. Matthew."

"Friday, Oct. 3.-Spent the day at Sutton, at the Rev. Mr. Riland's. Much benefited and delighted by the heavenly conversation of the venerable Mr. Newton. He read and commented on a passage in the New Testament. He remarked, 'There are proper seasons, when, like David, we may say to those who fear God, Come, and I will tell you what He hath done for my soul: but we should be wise and prudent in these things.-When our Lord was in the Mount with the Disciples, he charged them, when they came down, to tell no man. It might have excited envy in the rest of the Disciples, and pride in them. The Apostle Paul had astonishing visions; but not a word did he speak, till fourteen years after, when the Corinthians undervalued him, and obliged him to speak of them. He says much to prove that he did it, even then, with reluctance. We should therefore be cautious, when we think that God has dealt with us in an extraordinary manner, how we speak. Elizabeth hid herself five months; i.e. retired; which was a token of humility: yet the favour she had received was sufficiently known, in proper time,

to the glory of God. Present impressions of divine love are certainly humbling. But the direct tendency of gracious consolations in themselves, is one thing: what evils they may afterward occasion in the heart, is another. The Apostle's exaltation to the third heaven could surely have no tendency to make him proud, but rather to make him walk in greater self-abasement. Yet he needed a thorn in the flesh. Pride is so subtle, that it can gather strength even from those gracious manifestations which seem directly calculated to mortify it.'

"Another remark made by Mr. Newton was:— Satan is fertile in expedients; and as often as our situations and circumstances change, so often will he change his stratagems and methods of assault. Thus the Christian has the art of war to learn over and over again; and he will meet with cases in which all his former experiences will leave him much at a loss.'

Saturday.-Among other subjects, Mr. C. spoke upon the obscurity of Heb. iv. He remarked

"The Apostle is labouring, throughout the whole Epistle to the Hebrews, to bring off the Jews from carnal, to spiritual views. He here speaks of three sorts of Rest;-one, which commenced on the finishing of the works of Creation, called the Sabbatical Rest, verses 3, 4;-another, which was proposed to Israel in the Wilderness, to be enjoyed in the Land of Canaan, ver. 5 ;—and a third, which, after both those Rests, was to be enjoyed, in the Gospel state, and heavenly world; verses 6 to 11. By comparing what the Scripture says of all these Rests, it appears, that the Rest which believers obtain here, through faith, is the earnest of a future, glorious, and eternal Rest in heaven.'

"On another occasion, Mr. C. said

"When the multitudes followed our Lord, although he wished for retirement, and had gone

purposely to seek it, yet, upon their desire for instruction, he gave up his purpose, and attended to them. Let us reflect on the sweetness and condescension of such a conduct, in opposition to a sour, monastic, morose professor. We are all too fond of our own will. We want to be doing what we fancy to be great things. But the matter is, to do small things in a right spirit. Let us see every thing, that passes, as coming from God.''

"Wednesday, Oct. 8.-Went to West Bromwich, to visit that aged Christian Minister, the Rev. Mr. Jesse.

"In the evening, he spoke upon Isa. xl. 31: 'But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.'

"Mr. Jesse remarked, 'It is this gracious influence, which renews, in my old age, much of that holy zeal and fervour which directed my steps when I first walked with God in the days of my youth. In this sense, I may say, He maketh me young and lusty, as eagles; who in old age cast their feathers, and become bald like young ones; and then new feathers grow, and cover them with plumage, as in their youth then they spread their wings, and mount up on high; and are so strong in their sight, that they can fix their eyes on the full splendour of the sun.

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"Thus sincere Christians, who once were bowed down with earthly desires and cares, oppressed with unbelief and doubts and fears, renew their strength and hope in God. In old age, their souls are vigorous, and their affections mount upward to things above: they fix their believing eye on Christ, and contemplate the glory of the Sun of Righteousness.""

"Sunday, Oct. 12.-Mr. C. preached at West Bromwich, from John vi. 68: Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.'"