Page images
PDF
EPUB

on my hands; I will now divide my time between reading, which I will more methodically pursue, and works of piety and charity. I have often thought, that the Sunday-School teachers wanted a little help of some kind, such as the interrogatory and explanatory mode of instruction.--Some of them do not think of trying, whether the children understand what they read; and some who make attempts at thus instructing them, have not a way of suiting their ideas to the capacities of children. Now I have a plan in my mind, which I think I could undertake to draw up. I will at least make a trial, and if I succeed not, it will only prove I have over rated myself; I shall then more perfectly learn that lessonKnow thyself. May I know myself better, may I renounce and loath myself and cleave to God. November 4th. "To-day I have thought

"A small unkindness is a great offence,

The meek endurance of another's fault;

The taunting word suppress'd as soon as thought,

On these, heaven bids the sweets of life depend."—

[ocr errors]

Yes and not only 'the sweets of life,' but the shining track, by which the Christian's path, should be known. When my Saviour was reviled, he reviled not again.-May I adorn my profession.-May the pain I now feel, teach me to shun the offence of giving it.

Tuesday 5th. "Half the misery of which mankind complain, I am convinced, they bring on themselves, and from those little foibles to which our self-love blinds us. Even when by the light of God's Holy Spirit, we discover the peculiar sin of our disposition, there is something that makes us unwilling to own it. How unwilling to acknowledge our vanity-yet how often have I detected myself, as acting from that spring, so deeply rooted in the heart."

The vanity of many leads them astray, and they become involved in difficulties, which they have not the good sense and humility, to attribute to themselves. Miss P. was not insensible of her abilities, but there was no appearance of being vain of them.

( § IV.)

1834.

"That the trial of your faith-might be found unto praise and honour and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ."-ST. PETER,

January 1st. "I have this day, been confined for a month to my bed-room, having had a fresh attack on my chest.-My blooming hopes of returning health now nipped in the bud! Yet all is well! What a mercy! What an unspeak able mercy that I can say, my hope is blooming and full of immortality.-Who can express that vast transcendent love, which draws thee down to me, who am less than nothing. After all my backslidings in heart, all the negligence and ignorance of the past year, I am spared to see the dawn of another. Bless the Lord O my soul, he forgiveth all thine iniquities. I cast my soul

on Jesus and find repose in him. I feel his blood applied by faith, even that blood, which cleanseth from all sin. Whoso abideth in Christ sinneth not, for how can they sin, who abide in him: I see clearly the way to the blessing of sanc. tification, which I have so long stumbled at. We attain to it, by faith, in the same way, that we attain the sense of justification, so that we habitually call God our father, our reconciled father through Christ. The knowledge of salvation from sin, in like manner is by faith, in its repeated acts, which, if duly exercised, becomes habitual, so that by the witnessing spirit, we know that he abideth in us. It is a simple blessing, nothing complex or difficult in it; the enjoyment of this state being quite consistent with the infirmities, that flesh is heir to, as well as with the various peculiarities or different turns of different minds."

Miss Podmore was at this time, we may conceive, in a very happy frame of mind, but she was not as yet, as she remarks in a note

subsequently written, she was not entered into that state of grace, as she then was disposed to think. It was her privilege to continue thus happy, without giving way to those sensations of doubt and reasoning, which afterwards distressed her. As our dear friend was now become well versed in the Holy Scriptures, and had clear views of the plan of salvation; it seems rather surprising, that her exercise of simple faith did not surmount those variations, which arose principally from external causes. But there were seasons, when she sensibly felt, that her faith which was grounded on the rock, raised her above all fluctuations, arising from the state of her animal frame. She thus writes on the 27th January: "Mr. Morgan, called to-day to see me.-Grace, mercy and peace be on him: I have a calm and peaceful assurance, that the blood of Christ cleanses me from all sin. My will is sweetly lost in God, he is my portion, I will praise him: shout angels, and shout aloud, ye ransomed sons of men."

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »