A DIARY

SOME RELIGIOUS EXERCISES AND EXPERIENCE

OF

SAMUEL SCOTT,

LATE OF Hartford, deceased.

Go set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth. ISAIAH XXI. 6.
Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. JOHN vi. 12.
And what thou seest write in a book. REV. I. 11.

Such is the testimony to the character of though for a trying time unfelt and unseen, the author of the following Diary, by many yet there is a hand, an Almighty hand, of his friends and neighbours, who appeared stretched out for the preservation of the chilbest qualified to delineate the same.

dren of the bride-chamber, which preserves Those who read the Diary will probably them in afflicting extremities, and manifests observe the difference, which apparently exists itself when necessary for salvation or rebetween the foregoing account, and the de- ward. This is a path wherein the regenerate scription he has given of himself. His friends have trodden, and wherein our friend, Samuel were chiefly guided in their judgment by his Scott, had his faith proved, purified and ingeneral conduct and actions; but his spiritual creased. But who are, even in this respect, eyes being opened to a more extensive view so blind as the Lord's servants, as the chilof his real situation, his judgment of himself dren of the Most High? Humbled to the dust appears to have been formed by a comparison under a sense of their own unworthiness, thereof, with that state of purity unto which pressed upon by an increased view of their all are called, and where all is beautiful, and frailty and entire inability for any good not a spot or wrinkle can be discerned. It thought, word, or work, towards promoting was for this state that his spirit panted, and short of which his soul refused to take lasting rest; for he saw the "one thing needful," and in degree tasted of that peace which prevails in Sion, the city of the saint's solemnity.

their soul's salvation, they are more prone to view dispensations of this kind as marks of divine displeasure, than for the trial of their faith; and therefore fear, lamentation and mourning, are their portion, until their hopes are revived by the sensible renewing of that grace, which gladdens the whole heritage of God. Then "the wilderness and solitary place shall be glad, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing."

For the attainment thereof, for obtaining the unsearchable riches which are found in Christ, and largely possessed when he becomes in man his only hope of glory, his solicitude appears to have been nearly unremitted; as not small was his anxiety, when the Beloved of souls withdrew his animating influence; The natural abilities of Samuel Scott were fearing that it was not for the trial of his above the common rank, and he was versed faith, that seasons of poverty and abstinence in literature. Yet these he counted but as were allotted to him, and deep baptisms and dung, that he might win Christ, have a felconflicts his frequent portion; but that it pro-lowship with his sufferings, be made conformceeded from just displeasure, and that the able to his death, and experience the power of Lord had therefore ceased to be gracious: his resurrection. whereby his soul was cast down and disquiet. ed, without ability to adopt the encouraging language, "Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Thus desolate and disconsolate, he expressed himself in the pathetic language of the prophet Jeremiah: "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow." But this is a path not unfrequented by the regenerate; who, having attained to the state of young men, are fed with strong meat; when, for weaning their affections from all sublunary objects, from every thing that has not endurance, but perishes with the using, and for enabling them to receive and retain, without mixture, the perfectly refined wine of the kingdom, the Bridegroom withdraws his presence, the sensible succour of the Spirit is not felt, and the earth with her bars is closed upon them. Thus is poor, frail man apparently left in his weakness, without a hand extended which is competent to succour, or able to save; that his dependance may be fully proved, and his faith rendered more pure than the fine gold of Ophir. But, VOL. IX.-No. 10.

The vast variety of dispositions which are found amongst mankind are, by some authors, supposed to be formed by the mixture and predominancy of one or other of the different temperaments, which the operations of grace do not destroy, but purify and direct: so that the lively in a state of nature will be found lively in a state of grace; and the zealous in nature will be found zealous in grace; but lively in a different pursuit, and zealous for the attainment of a different object. When the heavenly principle is in dominion, this variety, which in fallen nature tends to disorder, is reduced into harmony, and forms a body, or whole, inexpressibly beautiful. How wonderful are the ways of Providence! How gracious his design! But when any of these temperaments predominate, unseasoned by grace, they cast a shade upon, or place in an unjust view, the ways of Divine Wisdom; the paths of pleasantness and peace.

The melancholic temperament appears occasionally to have prevailed in the author of the following Diary; which, when seasoned and regulated by grace, has been deemed the most favourable to a religious life, being in its

46.

nature fixed, retentive, and circumspect, prone to search, and anxious to ascertain, yet cautious in receiving important truths, but when received, tenacious in retaining them; but which, in some instances, it is to be feared, produced sadness in Samuel Scott, where joy might well have prevailed. But it is encour aging and instructive to observe, how, through all the conflicts and baptisms to which such a disposition appears more peculiarly liable, there lived that, which many waters could not quench, or the grave retain; and this at times in Samuel Scott beautifully broke through the dark clouds, and showed that all beyond was harmony and light; of which there is no doubt his afflicted, anxious soul at length gained permanent possession, when the work was finished, and the tempestuous waves for ever ceased to rage. "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempests, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires, and I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones."

faith is lost in fruition, and uninterrupted rewards are possessed. Can they be viewed otherwise than with awfulness and gratitude, as well expressed by a deeply tried and experienced servant of the Most High, when on the eve of ceasing from his labours, and of receiving permanently glorious rewards: "Many and painful have been the probationary exercises of this life to me. Ah! were there probability of strength, how I could enlarge, for my heart seems melted within me in retrospective view; but all the former conflicts, however grievous in their time, are lighter now than vanity, except as they are clearly seen to have contributed largely to the sanctification of the soul; as they are remembered with awfulness and gratitude before him, who has not been wanting to preserve through them all; and as they seem likely to introduce, either very shortly, or before a very long time, to an exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' When afflictions are thus viewed; when, as to duration, they are com. pared with the permanence of those joys which they may be said to produce; and as to severity, with that exceeding weight of glory which they ensure; great will be the encouragement to seek for patience during their continuance, and not small the desire, that the design, in their prevalence, may be fulfilled.

Here, reader, pause, and wisely consider, that although "many are the afflictions of the righteous, the Lord delivereth out of them all." For "the Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants." By repeated trials and afflictions permitted or dispensed, they are induced to look at, and duly appreciate, the things Considerations of this kind are well adapt. that can only be discerned by the spiritual ed to a state of probation, of infancy, and eye of the regenerate, the things that are twilight; where seeing only as through a eternal; and are also prepared to receive glass, darkly, we know but in part; and truly and retain, the unsullied joys of heaven. As profitable, as they tend to prepare for an affliction and trials, well endured, produce the entrance into those realms, where they see peaceable fruits of righteousness, with quiet- face to face, and know, even as they are ness and assurance for ever, although griev-known; where that which is in part shall be ous when they prevail; how will they be done away, by that which is perfect being estimated when the work is finished? when come.

R. P.

DIARY OF SAMUEL SCOTT.

APPREHENDING that the keeping a Diary | stances which have occurred, and which may might have in sundry respects been useful, yet occur. The number of my days, or, and contributed to an increase in the spiritual perhaps, only hours, remaining, being certainly life, essays have at various times been at- few and evil, the present attempt seems untempted; the last in the summer, 1776, on | seasonable. Nevertheless, if it please the being relieved from a disorder which I esteem-| Lord to look upon it with approbation, ed dangerous: but after a short continuation, wine may be found in the cluster," and the "The bough was lopped with terror." Watcher and the Holy One may say, "destroy it not, for a blessing is in it."

On the first day of the sixth month, in the year 1780, and in the sixty-second of my age, I renew the recording of some circum

،، new

Fifth month 14th, 1780.-I went up to the yearly meeting at London, and attended

4th. In the forenoon meeting at Hartford,

divers of the meetings both for worship and to be the sole furniture of my solitary habidiscipline; the former were in the general tation. large and solemn; much peace presided in the latter; brotherly exhortations were in love I sat under a deep and almost agonizing imparted, and a concern expressed for the manifold deviations from our ancient Christian testimonies, respecting "speech, behaviour and apparel." Babylon is within; but from her very outlines were our ancestors called forth, and these testimonies were committed to them and their children, as increasing testimonies, until they have filled the earth; the customs of the people are vain; hat honour is the most unmeaning ceremony, the merest phantom that ever pride and folly obtruded on their deluded votaries.

20th. I returned from London to Hartford, impressed with some sense of the preservations of the preceding week; sought a tribute of praise to the Preserver of men; but, as on the mountains of Gilboa, "there was no rain, nor dew, nor fields of offering."

21st. I went to the forenoon meeting at Hartford in distress of mind; very unexpect. edly some qualification for a public ministry seemed to attend; the words presented were, "Work while it is day, for the night cometh, in which no man can work ;" an explanation of the nature of the work was attempted, accordingly as it is written, "This is the work of God, that ye believe in him whom God hath sent;" a degree of solemnity prevailed.

23rd and 24th.-The quarterly and yearly meetings at Hartford were not large, but measurably favoured.

25th and 26th.-In my solitary retreats this inquiry occurred, "When shall the fir-tree appear instead of the thorn, and the myrtle instead of the briar, that it may be to the Lord for a name, and for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

27th. I cautioned a neighbour against addressing me with a flattering title; the caution was received in a friendly manner, and the propriety of the remark allowed.

sense of my past iniquities, and frequent deviations from the paths of peace; not a penitential tear produced: but wherefore dost thou complain, O my soul! for the punishment of thy sins? The immaculate Lamb, who knew no sin, suffered much more abundantly; "thou art justly in this condemnation," "but he had done nothing amiss."

6th. With much reluctance, and under great distress, I accompanied Samuel Spavold and John Miller in visiting five families at and near Hoddesdon; the gospel was preached; in one of them particularly so. Some cause of thankfulness for the preservation and attendance of the day.

7th. I was particularly condemned for conversing unnecessarily respecting politics and religion. Peace is thy profession. Labour to live peaceably with all men.

8th. I went to Ware with Samuel Spavold, and visited five families;, I had in one of them a remarkable opening respecting my own state, on these words, "It is only the Lion of the tribe of Judah," that can cause the "lion and the lamb to lie down together;" my lips were sealed in silence.

9th.-This day was passed in serenity and composure; a miracle of grace.

10th.-Much mischief hath been done this week in and about the metropolis, on account of the protestant petition having been presented, but not immediately considered. O! the infatuation that the professors of a religion, whose characteristic is peace and love, should by any means become the instigators of bloodshed and devastation; or that they should at any time begrudge others the immunities which they themselves wish to enjoy! "Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon," lest the infidels triumph.

12th.—I am convinced from a daily heart28th. Mary Ridgeway and Jane Watson felt sensation, stronger than ten thousand from Ireland came to our house, and were at arguments, that until we cease to do evil, we our meeting on first-day; the meetings were cannot learn to do well. No acceptable worlarge, and their service in them was lively ship can be either internally or externally and acceptable. I sat with them in the gal-offered to the God of truth, while we are lery, but although somewhat elevated in respect acting contrary to the dictates of truth in our to local situation, deeply depressed in spirit; own consciences. "There is no peace to the esteeming myself not only unfit for the minis- wicked." "If we regard iniquity in our try, but even to be an attendant upon or hearts, the Lord will not hear us." entertainer of, the Lord's servants. him who nameth the name of Christ depart Sixth month 3rd. It is written, "The from iniquity." These testimonies were forvoice of rejoicing and salvation is in the merly borne by free-grace men, who lived by habitation of the righteous;" but for many grace; and they will forever baffle the efforts days past my soul hath been far from peace of antinomianism. The only ability to cease the roll written within and without, with to do evil is, in a divine and supernatural mourning, lamentation and woe, hath seemed principle,-the grace and truth which comes

"Let

against holding the faith of Christ with respect of persons, and against a spirit of emulation and personal dislike, as equally inconsistent with our Christian discipline.

by Jesus Christ; or, in other words, in the lence; passiveness appeared my proper proComforter, the agent and representative of the vince. Afterwards a caution was imparted Holy Head, by which he is present with his people always, to the end of the world; "Christ in them the hope of glory." Some days have been spent under a sense of his presence, who said to his servant formerly, "Walk before me, and be thou perfect;" be all the glory ascribed to him through Christ Jesus, our only Mediator. Amen.

4th. I read Henry Brooks on Redemption; an admirable poem.

9th. The meeting at Hunsdon was large. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to 18th. The effusions of anger and evil himself." The gracious interposition of the speaking have been of late rather suspended, Deity, intended by the apostle in the preceding but the hostility within has been at times too expression, seemed measurably attendant in sensibly felt. O may not only the branches a state of silence; and under the ministry of be lopped, but the root eradicated! When M. P. afterwards, there was a dry wind from the creation was formed in primæval recti-the wilderness. tude, the Divine Originator beheld it was 15th.-Divers vexatious incidents were atgood; but how is the gold become dim since tendant, and I was wanting in patience and the defection of the first Adam; "how hath resignation; capital virtues, which calm the the whole creation groaned and travailed in storms of life. I was too fretful on slight pain, even until now;" and they who have and immaterial events. received the first fruits of the Spirit groaned within themselves, for redemption from the bondage of corruption.

23rd." By nature I was in almost all evil." The seeds of corruption, which were sown in human nature by the fall of our first parent, produced many exuberant and bulky plants; some of which were measurably removed in the day of an early and awakening visitation; others have since seemed to perish, and their roots to die in the ground, viz: infidelity, injustice, and the love of money; those which have been the most deeply rooted, and most prevalent of later years, are peevishness and impetuosity. May the command go forth from the Watcher and Holy One, Hew down the tree, and cut off the branches, shake off the leaves, and scatter the fruit."

16th. After a long waiting in deep poverty in the forenoon meeting at Hartford, a degree of travail was begot both on behalf of myself and those present: a short testimony was also borne to that universal redemption which is in Jesus Christ, and the necessity of an inward application thereof, in ourselves, and for ourselves.

20th. I went to London. At times I was favoured to look towards the God of patience and consolation, but the want of due resig nation barred the influences which proceed from him; " for what doth let will let, until it be taken out of the way." During this dipensation I considered the propriety of the apostolic injunction, "Remember them who are in bonds, as bound with them, and them who suffer adversity, as being also in the body;" 25th. The forenoon meeting at Hartford" bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil was rather lively; a short testimony was borne to the Lord Jesus Christ, "the faithful and true witness." M. P. concluded the meeting very acceptably in supplication.

the law of Christ." A practical adherence to these precepts, next to the grace which is sufficient and soul saving, would be as the balm of human life; it would alleviate the diversified cup that is handed forth to mortals; but how deficient am I herein; how deficient also are others.

Seventh month 1st.-Bodily pain hath of late attended. The sufferings which are sustained in this respect, being unfelt by others, are much unnoticed and uncommise- 30th. Pretty early at the Park meeting, a rated by them; but they are known to Him, degree of solemnity clothed my mind, not who is touched with a feeling of the infirmi- without some presentations for a public minties both of the saints, and of the most vile istry, which, on proving, appeared immature. and abject of his creatures, who are alike the How suitably adapted are the following prework of his hand: "for all things were cepts, not only to me, but to all who at any created by him and for him." O! may my time appear in the ministry. "Be more afflictions in the flesh be sanctified by Him ready to hear, than to offer the sacrifice of "who suffered without the gate," whose head fools." "Be not rash with thy mouth to utter was crowned with thorns, whose hands and feet were pierced.

3rd. At the monthly meeting some difficulty attended respecting the acceptance of a paper produced; my lips were sealed in si

any thing before God." And when thou speakest, "let thy words be few." "Be slow to speak." All true and profitable ministry arises from the ability which the Spirit gives in a rightly exercised understanding; as it is