day's occasions insensibly wear off the heart from God, and bury it in self, which they who live in care and cumbers cannot be sensible of. I have seemed to see a need of every thing God gives me, and want nothing that he denies me. There is no dispensation, though afflictive, but either in it, or after it, I find that I could not be without it. Whether it be taken from or not given to me, sooner or later God quiets me in himself without it. I cast all my concerns on the Lord, and live securely on the care and wisdom of my heavenly Father. My ways, you know, are, in a sense, hedged up with thorns, and grow darker and darker daily; but yet I distrust not my good God in the least, and live more quietly in the absence of all by faith, than I should do, I am persuaded, if I possessed them. I think the Lord deals kindly with me, to make me believe for my mercies, before I have them; they will then be Isaacs, sons of laughter. The less reason hath to work on, [that is, the more entirely reason is perplexed and is at a loss what measures to adopt,] the more freely faith casts itself on the faithfulness of God. I find that, while faith is steady, nothing can disquiet me; and when faith totters, nothing can establish me. If I tumble out amongst means and creatures, I am presently lost, and can come to no end; but if I stay myself on God, and leave him to work in his own way and time, I am at rest, and can sit down and sleep in a promise, when a thousand rise up against me. Therefore, my way is not to cast beforehand, but to walk with God by the day. Sufficient unto the

day is the evil thereof. I find so much to do continually with my calling and my heart, that I have no time to puzzle myself with peradventures and futurities. As for the state of the times it is very gloomy and tempestuous. But why do the heathen rage? Faith lies at anchor in the midst of the waves, and believes the accomplishment of the promise through all these overturning confusions and seeming impossibilities.

"Upon this God do I live, who is our God for ever, and will guide us unto death. Methinks I lie becalmed in his bosom, as Luther in such a case, [viz. when beset with troubles.] I am not much concerned; let Christ see to it. I know prophecies are now dark, and the books are sealed, and men have all been deceived, and every cistern fails; yet God doth continue faithful, and faithful is he that hath promised, who will do it. I believe these dark times are the womb of a bright morning.

"Many things more I might add, but enough. O brother! keep close to God, and then a little of the creature will go a great way. Maintain secret communion with God, and you need fear nothing. Take time for duties in private; crowd not religion in a corner of the day. There is a Dutch proverb, "Nothing is got by thieving, nor lost by praying." Lay up all your good in God, so as to be able to overbalance the sweetness and bitterness of all creatures. Spend no time anxiously in forehand contrivances for this world. They never succeed. God will turn his dispensations another way. Self contrivances are the effects of unbelief. I can speak by experience.

Would men spend those hours they run out in plots and contrivances in communion with God, and leave all to him, by believing, they would have more peace and comfort. I leave you with your God and mine. The Lord Jesus be with your spirit."

"God of my life, whose gracious power,
"Thro' varied deaths my soul hath led,
"Or turn'd aside the fatal hour,
"Or lifted up my sinking head!

"In all thy ways thy hand I own,
"Thy ruling Providence I see ;
"Assist me still my course to run,

"And still direct my paths to thee.”

CHAPTER SIXTEENTH.

Of a Life of special signs and manifestations, as
compared with a Life of Faith.

THE Views, which have been taken of the life of faith, will aid us in forming a proper estimate of a tendency, which is often noticed among the followers of Christ, to seek for signs, tokens, and manifestations, as the basis, in part at least, of their full reconciliation with God, and of a holy life. We are aware, that this tendency arises, in some cases from ignorance; but there can be no doubt, that it has its origin chiefly in that dreadful malady of our nature, the sin of UNBELIEF. But considered in any point of view, and as originating in any cause whatever, we cannot regard it as otherwise than wrong in principle, and as exceedingly injurious in its consequences. In reading, not long since, the Memoirs of the pious and devoted Lady Maxwell, our attention was directed to a Consecration of herself to God, at an early period of her life, conceived in terms, which, as it seemed to us, a more matured judgment and a more advanced experience of God's faithfulness, such as she had in the later periods of her life, would not have entirely approved. The portion of this interesting act of

Consecration, to which reference is here particularly made, is as follows. "If thou, Lord, wilt manifest thy dear Son to me, clear up my evidence of my interest in him, shed abroad his love at all times in my heart, and let me feel him ever drawing me to himself with the cords of love, and in times of trial make his strength perfect in my weakness, and not desert me in duty nor in temptation; if thou, Lord, wilt do these great things for me, then, in thy strength, I give myself unto thee, soul, body, and spirit, in the bonds of an everlasting covenant never to be forgotten."-It seems to be a fair inference from these expressions, that this pious lady had an earnest desire, at the period of making this consecration, to devote herself entirely to God; but that she had not faith enough, or perhaps we might properly say, she was afraid to commit herself without reserve into the hands of her heavenly Father, which is the true idea of consecration; and without which no act of consecration can be of any value. In other words, she had not faith enough to make this important surrender or renunciation of self, (a renunciation which is so indispensable to a full realization of the inward life,) without some special testimony of his favor; some inward sign, some specific feeling, something, probably not very definitely represented even to her own conceptions, which should assure her, antecedently to the full surrender on her part, of the divine acceptance.

Many persons, who have seen and have corrected the error, and are now living the true life of