parted; and I must say, I hardly know any conversation, or any occurrence, that has brought my soul nearer to God, or has made me more fit for my everlasting rest.

This dear brother in Christ afterwards told me another story that the Moravians had excommunicated a person who was then seized with violent agony of mind and body, which was removed upon the removal of that sentence. That in another Society a person receiving the sacrament was seized with convulsions of the mouth, and cried out Spiritual pride!" upon which he died. Another being made at by an alligator, had an impression made upon his mind that he should go and lay his hand upon his head, which accordingly he did, and frighted the alligator so that he sunk down. He mentions some among them that have the gift of healing, and added some remarkable circumstances in his own story of the wonderful manner in which God had inclined his heart to undertake that work among the Americans, in which I verily believe God will make him as an apostle; and may the blessing of God go along with him.

September 10, 1737.

THE NINETIETH SACRAMENT. DEAR MISS BLISS DYING.

THE wise and gracious, though mysterious providence of God, has so ordered it in many instances, that some of the greatest trials of my life have preceded a sacrament day: the death of Mr. Saunders, Lady Russell, my dear Betsey, and the yet dearer Mr. Some; and now, behold, a fifth blow this day falls upon me. The flattering hope I had conceived of the recovery of my dear friend and companion, I may say, of my sister Miss Bliss, for no sister could be fonder of, or dearer to a brother, is taken away, and this sorrowful day, October 2, at the distance of a year, has shown me two of the saddest sights my eyes ever beheld—the burial of my dear child, and the life's blood

of my dear friend, in whose kind arms she departed. My heart has this day been almost torn in pieces with sorrow ; yet, blessed be God, not a hopeless, not a repining sorrow; but one so softened and so sweetened, that with all its distress, I number this among the best days of my life, if that be good which teaches us faith and love, and which cherishes the sentiments of benevolence and of piety. I desire very thankfully to acknowledge that days of the sharpest trial have often been, to me, days of singular comfort. This day, at the table of the Lord, I insisted a little on those words, "Can we drink of the cup, and refuse the cross?" putting it to my fellow Christians thus: You come to arm yourselves here; but boast not. Can you bear losses? can you bear to be separated from your friends? can you leave life, even though in a violent manner? We would not immediately say, Lord, we are able; but thy will be done. "We can do all things through Christ that strengthens us." Lead whither thou wilt, only let thine arm support us, and make our trials subservient to our eternal advantage.

I afterwards dropped some hints from those words: “ If any man," whoever he be, "loves me, he will keep my words." Lord, we desire to do so; speak, for thy servant hears. We come hither with a desire, not only to know, but to fulfil thy commands. "My Father will love him." Oh, to love God, and to be beloved by him, how desirable. "And we will come." Welcome, blessed Jesus! come into our very souls. "Come unto him," and make our stated and constant" abode with him;" not being as a wayfaring man that turns in for a night. Lord, if thou wilt dwell with us, it signifies little with whom we dwell; thy friendship, thy love, can make up the want of human friendship in its sweetest endearments.

In pouring out the cup, reflecting on what I had seen, I observed, That Christ died a bloody death to impress our hearts; because we are apt to be impressed with the sight

of a friend's blood if he be wounded. How did the remembrance of that sad scene which the morning presented cut me even to the heart. Why should not the blood of a Saviour impress me more? but such is the difference between sense and faith. I hope the remembrance of what I have seen and felt this day will long abide by me. My heart was, and is, full of divine consolation; and the supporting views of my dear, I fear dying, friend, with whom I have prayed three times this day, have comforted, rather than dejected me. May the glory be his from whom the grace comes; who has wrought these good things in her, and sealed both of us with his grace, as those that are to be companions in eternal glory. A thought which now has a relish which nothing can exceed, which nothing can equal.

October 2, 1737.

THE HUNDRED AND FOURTH SACRAMENT.

I SEE it with some surprise, that I have not written any of the memoirs of what passed at the Lord's table since this time twelvemonth. It is impossible in a little space to recount what singular scenes of providence I have passed through since that time: but God has caused me in all to sing of mercy rather than of judgment: and I record it with all thankfulness.

This day I had been preaching, and, I bless God, with great enlargement, from these words, "Although thy house be not so with God," &c. The subject of my meditations at the Table was, " Gather my saints together unto me," &c. I observed, that God's people were saints; they were those who made a covenant with him by sacrifice. It was our purpose in that covenant to devote ourselves to his service, to submit ourselves to his disposal; we are now gathered together to do it. There is another gathering together yet more important at the Great Day; and we hope yet another

in his Heavenly Presence. It is pleasant now to assemble, how much more will it be so then? It is disagreeable to part with a dear friend who has been a while in our house; and how comfortable to think that there we shall never part. In breaking the bread, I observed, This is bread from heaven. How should we have been touched, if, being lost in a desert, God had sent down bread from heaven of the coarsest sort; and here is angel's food! Who are the creatures for whom this is done? Is it for us? For such poor sinners as we are? I remember not particularly what passed in distributing the wine, only an exhortation to the spectators. Are you all strangers? Are you all enemies? In making the collection I said, How much better to live on alms than not to have a heart to give. God was with me this day by the most evident tokens of his presence.

October 1, 1738.

MEDITATIONS ON THE HUNDRED AND SIXTH

SACRAMENT.

I AM very sensible, that the want of regular retirement in the evening has been a great detriment to my soul in many respects, and particularly in this, that I have thereby lost opportunities of recording the experience of my sabbaths and sacrament days. The death of my dear and valuable friends Miss Bliss and Mrs. Wingate, since the sacrament in October, mentioned above, made a deep impression on my heart. God is in an awful manner contending with us. And the unhappy manner in which some of my pupils are coming out, and the opposition to the Gospel which is made among them, increase both my sorrows and my fears. I had, however, this day some comfortable intercourse with God at his table, after having discoursed on the protection of God, from Psalm xviii. 2. "The Lord is my strength and my fortress," &c. I opened the ordinance of the Lord's Supper with some meditations on the parable of the Pro

digal Son, especially his deep confession, " Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight." He saw his sin against his father, and against his God: was sensible of his demerit, that he might be shut out of his family, or taken into the lowest place of it. Do not the like sentiments become us? We are like this prodigal, received with love, and yet rambling again; yea, how many times. But what says the father? As one full of tenderness he speaks to his servants, "bring forth the best robe,” not only something to clothe him, but the best in the house; dress him up in an elegant manner; put on him a ring in token of honour, and shoes in token of liberty. O God ! all this, and more than this, dost thou say to thy returning children. Thou hast given up thy Son as a sacrifice; hast clothed us in his righteousness; hast cleansed us with the grace of his Spirit, hast brought us to this his table. Now, Lord, what shall we do? Shall we wander again? Oh, never! We yield ourselves to thee. Father, we would delight to do thy will.

I have forgotten the particular observations which attended the dispensation of the elements. I think with the cup they turned on the blessings coming along with it, and the conscious desert of a cup of trembling. Towards the close I urged thankfulness. What was it that transported the apostles? not their peculiar miraculous powers. In this they rejoiced not; but that their names were written in heaven, begotten again to a lively hope. Oh, that there might be among us the same triumphant temper and joyful sentiment of soul !

December 10, 1738.

A MEDITATION ON THE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH

SACRAMENT.

THERE have not been many public days of my life which have been more varied and mingled than this; I began it seriously; and, indeed, considering the extraordinary time