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pain. The LORD that bringeth low can alone raise up and revive. He has healed me of my infirmity, and may body and soul be afresh devoted to his service!

August 27.

I have been very remiss in recounting the mercies with which I have been favoured; and yet the LORD is continually surrounding me with goodness! What can this be, but sovereign unmerited love and grace? For I cannot doubt his everlasting love to me, however at times, through the violent assaults of the enemy and the horrid suggestions of unbelief, my evidences get clouded, and I remain in the dark for the season allotted for the trial of my faith. I have been greatly exempted from that exercise of mind with which I used to be afflicted. Still I want more unfeignedly and unreservedly to love, serve, and obey him with body, soul, and spirit. I do know this, that I am his wil

lingly, and would be always more devoted to him, for surely "his ways are pleasant

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and great peace have they that

know his name to trust in it.

September 21.

The LORD has been very gracious to my soul. I trust I have had a profitable time in drawing near to him in his house of prayer. I have met with much needed reproof: Oh that I may, by his Blessed Spirit's assistance, be enabled to set in order those things that have been amiss in my outward walk and conversation! I am sure I have daily need to lament how lifeless I am in spiritual duties of all sorts; and yet he is a merciful God to me, notwithstanding all my non-improvement of opportunities, &c. But this will not satisfy me-I am not as I would be: I want to be holy, as I wish to be happy. Oh for a near union to the Blessed JESUS! that I felt my whole soul indifferent to the world,

breathing towards him, and desirous of being made conformable to his lovely image!

September 24.

I have been greatly exercised indeed within these few days. I was suddenly brought into trouble, and I behaved very unwisely. Surely, "I spake unadvisedly with my lips." If it were not so, yet I know the language of my heart was, that the LORD seemed to be cruel and unkind to me. It was indeed a great trial, and so it continues; though my mind is considerably composed to what it was. I know not what the LORD is about to do with me: sometimes I think that the time of my stay here is but short, and that he is about to take me to himself speedily. Oh, that he would dissipate my gloomy fears of death, before he calls me to the trial! I do dread that important moment-I cannot think of it with composure.

October 10.

I have had a fresh display of the LORD'S mercy. I was presently brought low by illness, and then nothing but his favourable interposition could do me any real service. He was very near at hand to help me; and I am now, praised be his name, restored to my usual health and strength. My desires are, that these afflictions may be truly sanctified; that when exercised in the like manner again, I may feel myself more entirely in the LORD's hands, and be resigned under a believing persuasion that I am altogether at his disposal; that I may be enabled to look steadily on death, without that discomposure which too generally attends me, when reminded that I am mortal. My way is still hedged up. O my soul, is it not a thorny path? Do I not too often wish for death, only to be relieved from these earthly encumbrances? Gracious GOD! make me more holy, more happy!

October 20.

The LORD's continued goodness has preserved me, and again given me opportunity of recording it to the glory of his great and holy name. What a wretched creature I am! When I thus consider myself as altogether

unworthy of his notice,

how should it excite

Oh, that he would

gratitude in my heart! quicken me according to his word! I want life and animation in his ways; fresh vigour and delight in spiritual duties; in short, I desire to be altogether more spiritual, to be a Christian in very deed and truth, to use all those means appointed by the LORD, without a dependence on any one of them. I shall never be as I wish to be, till I get to heaven:

"There I shall see his face,

"And never, never sin."

November 27.

Let none ever doubt of there being a GOD, and a faithful God too, if I am carried safe

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