" November 1.-More abundant longings for the work of the ministry. O that Christ would but count me faithful, that a dispensation of the Gospel might be committed to me!" And then he adds, "Much peace. Peaceful, because believing."

December 2.-Hitherto he used to spend much of the Sabbath evening in extending his notes of Mr Bruce's sermons; but now, "Determined to be brief with these for the sake of a more practical, meditative, resting, sabbatical evening."

"Dec. 11.-Mind quite unfitted for devotion. Prayerless prayer."

"Dec. 31.-God has in this past year introduced me to the preparation of the ministry-I bless him for that. He has helped me to give up much of my shame to name his name, and be on his side, especially before particular friends -I bless him for that. He has taken conclusively away friends that might have been a snare-must have been a stumbling-block-I bless him for that. He has introduced me to one Christian friend, and sealed more and more iny amity with another-I bless him for that."

January 27. 1833.-On this day it had been the custom of his brother David to write a "Carmen Natale" on their father's birth-day. Robert took up the domestic song this year; and, in doing so, makes some beautiful and tender allusions.

"Ah! where is the harp that was strung to thy praise,
So oft and so sweetly in happier days?

When the tears that we shed were the tears of our joy,
And the pleasures of home were unmixed with alloy?
The harp is now mute-its last breathings are spoken-
And the cord, though 'twas threefold, is now, alas, broken!
Yet why should we murmur, short-sighted and vain,
Since death to that loved one was undying gain.
Ah, fools! shall we grieve that he left this poor scene,
To dwell in the realms that are ever serene?
Though he sparkled the gem in our circle of love,

He is even more prized in the circles above.

And though sweetly he sung of his father on earth,
When this day would inspire him with tenderest mirth,
Yet a holier tone to his harp is now given,

As he sings to his unborn Father in heaven."

February 3.-Writing to a medical friend of his brother William's, he says "I remember long ago a remark you once made to William, which has somehow or other stuck in my head, viz., that medical men ought to make a distinct

study of the Bible, purely for the sake of administering conviction and consolation to their patients. I think you also said that you had actually begun with that view. Such a determination, though formed in youth, is one which I trust riper years will not make you blush to own." "Feb. 11.-Somewhat overcome. Let me see there is a creeping defect here. Humble, purpose-like reading of the Word omitted. What plant can be unwatered, and not wither ?"

Feb. 16.-Walk to Corstorphine Hill. Exquisite clear view-blue water, and brown fields, and green firs. Many thoughts on the follies of my youth. How many, O Lord, may they be? Summed up in one-ungodliness!"

"Feb. 21.-Am I as willing as ever to preach to the lost heathen ?"

"March 8.-Biblical criticism. This must not supersede heart-work. How apt it is!"

"March 12.-0 for activity, activity, activity!"

God

"March 29.-To-day my second session (at the Divinity Hall) ends. I am now in the middle of my career. hold me on with a steady pace!"

"March 31.-The bull tosses in the net!

How should the Christian imitate the anxieties of the worldling ?"

April 17.-He heard of the death of one whom many friends had esteemed much and lamented deeply. This led him to touch the strings of his harp again, in a measure somewhat irregular, yet sad and sweet.

Both cold, and white and fair-
She, fairest of the fair,

She died to teach us all

The loveliest must fall.

A curse is written on the brow
Of beauty-and the lover's vow
Cannot retain the flitting breath,
Nor save from all-devouring death.

SHE LIVES

The spirit left the earth;

And He who gave her birth

Has called her to his dread abode,

To meet her Saviour and God.

She lives, to tell how blest

Is the everlasting rest

Of those who, in the Lamb's blood laved,
Are chosen, sanctified, and saved!

How fearful is their doom

Who drop into the tomb

Without a covert from the ire
Of him who is consuming fire.

SHE SHALL LIVE

The grave shall yield his prize,
When, from the rending skies,

Christ shall with shouting angels come
To wake the slumberers of the tomb.

And many more shall rise

Before our longing eyes.

Oh! may we all together meet,
Embracing the Redeemer's feet!

May 20.-General Assembly. Chapels of Ease lost, by 106 to 103. is heavier and stronger, till all shall "June 4.-Evening almost lost. though it make feminine the heart." 'June 22.-Omissions made

way

The motion regarding Every shock of the ram give way."

Music will not sanctify,

for commissions.

Could

I but take effective warning! A world's wealth would not make up for that saying, 'If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father.' But how shall we that are dead to sin

live any longer therein ?"

"June 30.-Self-examination. Why is a missionary life so often an object of my thoughts? Is it simply for the love I bear to souls? Then, why do I not show it more where I am? Souls are as precious here as in Burmah Does the romance of the business not weigh anything with me ?-the interest and esteem I would carry with me?-the nice journals and letters I should write and receive ? Why would I

so much rather go to the East than to the West Indies? Am I wholly deceiving my own heart? and have I not a spark true missionary zeal? Lord, give me to understand and imitate the spirit of those unearthly words of thy dear Son, 'It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord.' He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me.' Gloria in excelsis Deo." August 13.-Clear conviction of sin is the only true origin of dependence on another's righteousness, and, therefore, (strange to say!) of the Christian's peace of mind and cheerfulness."

66

"Sept. 8.-Reading Adam's Private Thoughts.' O for his heart-searching humility! Ah me! on what mountains of pride must I be wandering, when all I do is tinctured with the very sins this man so deplores; yet where are my wailings, where my tears, over my love of praise ?"

"November 14.-Composition-a pleasant kind of labour. I fear the love of applause, or effect, goes a great way. May God keep me from preaching myself, instead of Christ cru cified."

January 15. 1834.-Heard of the death of J. S., off the Cape of Good Hope. O God! how thou breakest into families! Must not the disease be dangerous, when a tenderhearted surgeon cuts deep into the flesh? How much more when God is the operator, who afflicteth not from his heart, [b], nor grieveth the children of men.' Lam. iii. 33."

February 23-Sabbath.-Rose early to seek God, and found him whom my soul loveth. Who would not rise early to meet such company? The rains are over and gone. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."

Feb. 22.-He writes a letter to one who, he feared, was only sentimental, and not really under a sense of sin. 'Is it possible, think you, for a person to be conceited of his miseries? May there not be a deep leaven of pride in telling how desolate and how unfeeling we are ?-in brooding over our unearthly pains ?-in our being excluded from the unsympathetic world?-in our being the invalids of Christ's hospital?" He had himself been taught by the Spirit that it is more humbling for us to take what grace offers, than to bewail our wants and worthlessness.

Two days after, he records, with thankful astonishment, that for the first time in his life he had been blest to awaken a soul. All who find Christ for themselves are impelled, by the holy necessity of constraining love, to seek the salvation

of others. Andrew findeth his brother Peter, and Philip

deth his friend Nathaniel. So was it in the case before us. He no sooner knew Christ's righteousness as his own covering, than he longed to see others clothed in the same spotless robe. And it is peculiarly interesting to read the feelings of one who was yet to be blest in plucking so many brands from the fire, when for the first time he saw the Lord graciously employing him in this more than angelic work. We have his own testimony:-" Feb. 25. After sermon. The precious tidings that a soul has been melted down by the grace of the Saviour. How blessed an answer to prayer, if it be really so! Can these dry bones live? Lord, thou knowest.' What a blessed thing it is to see the first grievings of the awakened spirit, when it cries, I cannot see myself a sinner; I cannot pray, for my vile heart wanders.' It has refreshed me more than a thousand sermons. I know not how to thank and admire God sufficiently for this incipient work. Lord, perfect that which thou hast begun!" A few days after-" Lord, I thank thee that thou hast shown me this marvellous working, though I was but an adoring spectator, rather than an instrument."

It is scarcely less interesting, in the case of one so gifted for the work of visiting the careless, and so singularly skilled in ministering the Word by the bedside of the dying, to find a record of the occasion when the Lord led him forth to take his first survey of this field of labour. There existed at that time, among some of the students attending the Divinity Hall, a society, the sole object of which was to stir up each other to set apart an hour or two every week for visiting the careless and needy in the most neglected portions of the town. Our rule was, not to subtract anything from our times of study, but to devote to this work an occasional hour in the intervals between different classes, or an hour that might otherwise have been given to recreation. All of us felt the work to be trying to the flesh at the outset ; but none ever repented of persevering in it. One Saturday forenoon, at the close of the usual prayer-meeting, which met in Dr Chalmers' vestry, we went up together to a district in the Castle Hill. It was Robert's first near view of the heathenism of his native city, and the effect was enduring.

"March 3.-Accompanied A. B. in one of his rounds through some of the most miserable habitations I ever beheld. Such scenes I never before dreamed of. Ah, why am I such a stranger to the door in my native town? I have passed