"it. I can fay without diffimulation, after "the bleffed Pfalmift, that I hate Every 'falfe way. I dare no more commit fin "in fecret, than if I were in the fight of "the whole world. The deformity of it

appears to my mind loathfome and abo«minable, and the remaining moral infir"mities of my foul, which no mortal but

myself can know, are my greatest trouble. "I can fay, 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 reafon to complain " of myself, yet I can say, I am never easy

or fatisfied with that fervice, in which I "do not find my foul raised to a frame "fome way fuitable to it, and to fome fer

vor of affection. And as charity is a "character of the true difciples of Christ "often spoken of in fcripture, and largely infifted on by our Saviour, I think, I can truly fay, that the image and like"ness of God wherever it is found, with

world, or any other confideration, is the object of my fincere affection; my heart

" would be glad to do a good office to a

difciple in the name of a difciple, and to "do good, as I have opportunity, to all "mankind. What then What then upon the whole "fhall I conclude? That, according to the gofpel declarations, I am in a ftate of "favour with God? Yes, I will, and must "do it. Surely thefe are the genuine cha"racters of it, according to the fcriptures "Therefore condemning myself for mani"fold paft offences, and adoring the rich

mercy of God, I will fay 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 refolutions of conducting his life for the future so as to please and honour God particularly with refpect to his business as a minifter, of the dignity and importance of which he expreffes a high fense, and great pleasure in it, with earnest defires that he may, by the affistances of God's holy spirit, be enabled to answer the true ends of that honourable station.

IT

IT will, I am perfuaded, be agreeable to many readers, to have fome farther account of this record of his life, and his progrefs in cultivating good affections, and correcting whatsoever appeared amifs. But the defign of this preface does not admit of following him through the particulars of this kind, which would fwell it to a very great bulk. All that can be expected, is, a general view of the defigns which he purfued, and his great application to serve them; to which it will not be improper to fubjoin fome few paffages which shall be faithfully transcribed, that the reader may be able to form a juft idea of his fpirit. There are indeed very many which there is, no occafion to infert here, for they contain his reafonings with himself upon religious fubjects, and these are to be found in his fermons, where they are fet in the best light.

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

thofe

thofe especially, which he apprehended had the afcendant in his natural complexion and temper, and by which he was in the greateft 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 falfe colouring of principles and affections, which frequently imposes upon the unthinking and partial, and under the cover of which, bad difpofitions 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 conftant attention and care, so where he was confcious of having failed in any instance, he does particularly record it, and his exercife of repentance for it. And where he had acted his part happily, and approved himself to his own heart, this is likewife fet 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 difplay'd.

He

He likewife freqently compares the prefent ftate of his mind, with what it was in times paft, carefully obferving, 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 fpirit, tho' concealed from the world, his conflicts with imagination, while it diftreffed him, and his reafonings with himself for his fupport and encouragement, are all fet 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 fpirit in pursuing the true ends of religion and the ministry, and his ardent zeal, do moft affectingly appear. displeasure with himself,

reasonable thoughts had

He expreffes great when vain or un

infinuated them

felves fo, as to leffen or interrupt his attention to divine things; or when he had not thofe feelings of devout affection, and of

love