hand. O God, convert their souls by her example, that they may be my crown of rejoicing in the last day. Afternoon, service at St. Thomas. Evening-I, Stafford Brown, humbly on my knees begging God's gracious outpouring and assistance upon my vow, do hereby and henceforth dedicate myself unto God; desiring to lead a renewed life by faith in His Son, and no longer to be intemperate, or hasty, or anything else but such as becomes a deacon of His Church. And, although arguing from my past failings, I fear I shall be lamentably deficient at the keeping this covenant, yet I pray God to ratify it and fulfil in me all the good pleasure of His goodness. Visited "22nd.-Pray for strength to keep my vows. sick. Committee of District Society. Walked to Gatcombe to see Ralf (Ann's father); his Christian name, I find, is Israel, and as my text on Sunday contained that word, and I used it several times, Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel,' the people suspected that I intended to address him personally. I pray each may have so taken my address to himself. "25th.-National School Committee Meeting. Prayers, as it is the Conversion of St. Paul. Lord may the Collect be fulfilled to me. May I who was a 'persecutor and blasphemer' become by Thy grace what St. Paul was afterwards, and labour more abundantly than they all, yet not I but the grace of God in me. "26th.-Saw Mrs. Gale's father. His mind, I hope, is in a good state. He blesses God who sent me to him: what if I shall have been God's poor means to save his soul; and he be my first child in faith. O great God, give him to me, as my joy and crown of rejoicing in that day. "27th, Saturday.-Visited poor, among others Laney, who is worse. I thought him not so dark; he wished for Communion, and I promised that Mr. Worsley should administer it to him. Idled much in the evening. Lord, forgive me, and prepare me for to-morrow. "28th, Sunday.-Preached a charity sermon at Gatcombe for School Building Society, excellent congregation; from 2 Cor. viii. 5-7. Afternoon, at St. Thomas, from Matthew xxi. 19, on barren fig tree. Funeral. Lord, I thank Thee for these high privileges of addressing Thy people, and humbly pray Thee for Thy blessing on them. If so, not unto me, O Lord, not unto me! I feel very weak in faith, yet God's grace is sufficient for me. O God, I know not mine own self, but Thou knowest me, and that is sufficient. "29th.-I am brought to the beginning of another week. Lord, keep me through it. This morning I, an unworthy sinner, intend to renew my vows to God in the Lord's Supper, with Laney (Mrs. Gale's father). O mystically feed us all. "Received the Sacrament, and felt very happy during its reception. May it not be presumption. Laney was very devout, for which thanked God much, and pray God earnestly for his soul. Walked to Gatcombe. In evening inter alia, read extracts from Henry Martyn's journal, which shamed me much from my wonderful inferiority to that spiritual servant of Christ. He deplores wants, which wants I never felt, and experiences joys I have never had, to his extent at least. Yet, Lord, I believe and hope and do rejoice; yea, by Thy might yet will rejoice. "31st.-Walked to Cowes to hear Mr. Wolfe lecture. Wake Parker dined with me. Advised him to abstain from balls, and practice abstemiousness, which I have often been unable to do myself. Brought by God's blessing to the end of the month. Thousands of sins, and thousands of mercies, vows and their breaches, prayers and neglect of them. O God, save me, for I feel daily more and more that I cannot save myself. "February 1.-O God, protect me through this month, and grant that, in the fullest sense, at the end of it my salvation may be nearer than when I believed. As far as I may, with humility, I desire to devote myself to Thy ser. vice during it, and I beseech Thee to grant that I may daily become more pure. (Heard from H., and felt grateful, as he writes most affectionately, and, I hope, piously.) Visited many people. In the evening at St. John's. 4th.-Preached at Gatcombe, on Christian soldier, from Ephes. vi. 11; and in the afternoon at St. Thomas'. came to my rooms; got pettish with him for nothing, and that on God's day. O my wicked heart! and the more wicked it is, the less I feel its sins. Lord save me, for mine own arm hath no salvation for me. I can preach spiritually, but not think so. Satan seems to level more darts at my individual salvation than my efforts for others. 'O for a closer walk with God, A calm and heavenly frame; "6th.-Visited, and prayed extempore with much ease. It would be a great gift; so I humbly pray God to endow me with it." This desire of his heart was granted, and, although he generally used the prayers of the Church in his private ministrations, many are the cases in which extempore prayer enabled him to bring home conviction to the heart; and the occasional use tended, as he thought, to inspire confidence. с "7th.-Woke, as usual, dull; better after prayer, but I pray so little and so unworthily. In prayers in Church, I find great difficulty in joining in them, especially from using the same so often, which induces much formalism. Lord, save me from it." In reference to these last words I cannot forbear introducing a quotation from the later diary of 1847. This will prove how, through frequent and faithful use, that had become a dearly prized privilege, which, as the reader will see, was at this time little better than a weary exercise. "Feb. 7.-Enjoyed the rest much, and being enabled to go twice a day to the Cathedral; which was indeed a heaven upon earth to my soul." "10th.-Had a long conversation with a shoemaker about our baptismal service, which edified me, he being a spiritually-minded man, and seeming to have a great love for the Saviour. My religion is, indeed, (as Franke says,) like a coal which burns well when others are burning warmly near it. I dine and sleep at Gatcombe House. Lord, make my conversation good for the edification of the hearers. "22nd.-Feel dull, but most grateful for all God's blessings. Especially, that I am this evening to bear testimony for my Saviour, in St. John's. Preached on 2 Cor. xii. 4. Felt very dull in service, and until the middle of sermon, when warmed, and felt delightful love to souls purchased by my Saviour. Nice conversation with Parker afterwards. "26th, Monday.-Pray God to enable me always to have my eye set on Jesus, as the author and finisher of my faith to rely on Him, and obey Him for ever and ever. In the evening, at St. John's Sunday School meeting, much spiritual advice from Mr. Davies. "28th, Ash Wednesday.-Church Fast. Heard in the evening an excellent sermon in favour of fasting, which I now fully believe a wholesome practice, and intend, by God's grace, to continue, durante vitâ. "March 1.-Bless God for another month. If con sumptive, Thy will be done. I only hold life as a monthly tenant. "6th.-Walked to Ryde, resolved not to go to Clerical meeting, and then weakly consented. "11th, Sunday.-Lovely day. Walked to Gatcombe, preached on Judas, and described self in many things. Afternoon sermon at St. Thomas', from Jude 3, written yesterday. O make it go home to hearers, and may it build up mine own soul in faith." The failure of health obliged him, at this point of time, to resign the Curacy of St. Thomas'. "13th.-Went to Southampton, and felt much refreshed. O Lord, recover, according to Thy pleasure, the strength of my body, but let not my soul become weak before Thee. "16th.-Have felt weak in faith, weaker since I resigned Newport. Lord, sure it is not in Thine anger? Could I help it? Weak I am, and wicked too, but, Lord, Thou knowest I would wish to go on in my old services; though if I did, I should perform them most unsatisfactorily. Received to-day from Mr. Davies a very faithful hint to |