" it. I can say without diffimulation, after "the blessed Pfalmist, that I hate every "false way. I dare no more commit fin " in secret, than if I were in the fight of " the whole world. The deformity of it

appears to my mind loathsome and abo"minable, and the remaining moral infir" mities of my soul, which no mortal but

myself can know, are my greatest trouble. " I can say, my heart is determined to the " love of God, and that I choose the light of " his countenance above all things; that I

"

love the worship of God as the establish'd " method of maintaining fellowship with

him; that it is habitually my aim to " serve the true ends of religious worship; " and tho' I often find reason to complain " of myself, yet I can say, I am never easy

or satisfied with that service, in which I " do not find my foul raised to a frame " some way suitable to it, and to some fer

«

vor of affection. And as charity is a "character of the true disciples of Christ " often spoken of in scripture, and largely " insisted on by our Saviour, I think, I "can truly say, that the image and like" ness of God wherever it is found, with" out regard to party, condition in the " world,

4

" world, or any other confideration, is the " object of my fincere affection; my heart " would be glad to do a good office to a

disciple in the name of a disciple, and to " do good, as I have opportunity, to all " mankind. What then upon the whole " shall I conclude? That, according to the

gofpel declarations, I am in a state of " favour with God? Yes, I will, and must "do it. Surely these are the genuine cha"racters of it, according to the scriptures "Therefore condemning myself for mani" fold past offences, and adoring the rich

mercy of God, I will say to my foul, " that I am the object of his approbation " and love." Concluding all with praises and thanksgiving in most affectionate strains, and with resolutions of conducting his life for the future so as to please and honour God: particularly with respect to his business as a minister, of the dignity and importance of which he expresses a high sense, and great pleasure in it, with earnest defires that he may, by the assistances of God's holy spirit, be enabled to answer the true ends of that honourable station.

Ir

Іт will, I am perfuaded, be agreeable to many readers, to have some farther account of this record of his life, and his progress in cultivating good affections, and correcting whatsoever appeared amiss. But the design of this preface does not admit of following him through the particulars of this kind, which would swell it to a very great bulk. All that can be expected, is, a general view of the designs which he pursued, and his great application to serve them; to which it will not be improper to fubjoin fome few passages which shall be faithfully tranfcribed, that the reader may be able to form a just idea of his fpirit. There are indeed very many which there is no occafion to infert here, for they contain his reasonings with himself upon religious subjects, and these are to be found in his fermons, where they are set in the best light.

THE discipline of the heart, is the great business which he appears in the whole of this diary to have pursued. His inquiries upon particular occafions into his own infirmities and defects, are very frequent. He relates the workings of his paffions, thofe

those especially, which he apprehended had the ascendant in his natural complexion and temper, and by which he was in the greatest danger of being betrayed into errors in conduct, with much exactness, and many useful reflections upon them; with great care applying himself to find out the deceitfulness of fin, and to discover that false colouring of principles and affections, which frequently imposes upon the unthinking and partial, and under the cover of which, bad dispositions and actions often shelter themselves, indeed are recommended as virtuous. And as he was at pains to fortify himself by all proper means, against whatsoever might endanger that exact integrity which was the fubject of his constant attention and care, so where he was confcious of having failed in any instance, he does particularly record it, and his exercise of repentance for it. And where he had acted his part happily, and approved himself to his own heart, this is likewise set down, with proper reflections for his encouragement and establishment in virtue. Never fure was there a scene where the various workings of the human heart, and the proper difcipline of

it, are more fully and affectingly display'd.

He

He likewife freqently compares the present state of his mind, with what it was in times paft, carefully observing, whether he made advances in religion and virtue, or was falling beneath former attainments; and, as he was for fome years labouring under frequent depreffion of spirit, tho' concealed from the world, his conflicts with imagination, while it distressed him, and his reasonings with himself for his support and encouragement, are all set forth very particularly.

But there is nothing he attended to with greater exactness, than the manner and temper in which he performed the public services of religion. The examining of these appears to have been part of his business every fabbath-evening; and in the reflections made upon fuch occafions, the fimplicity of his spirit in pursuing the true ends of religion and the ministry, and his ardent zeal, do most affectingly appear. He expresses great displeasure with himself, when vain or unreasonable thoughts had infinuated themselves so, as to lessen or interrupt his attention to divine things; or when he had not those feelings of devout affection, and of love