of men, especially His own children, but for our own profit, that we may be made ’partakers of His holiness.’  I am reading ‘Angel James on Christian Charity.’ with profit.—­I am again disappointed of meeting the Lord’s people.  Though I am better than I have been, it is not deemed prudent for me to go out.  This is taking up my cross, but whether in the right way, Thou knowest.  I want in every thing to do right.—­When I rose I found it was only five o’clock, but resolved to give myself to prayer.  After breakfast I went to see my daughter Mary, whose husband is very ill.  My soul was blessed in prayer with him.  He requested me to pray earnestly.  Lord, help me to pray in faith.  While endeavouring to do so I am blest in my own soul.—­This is a day of trouble and rebuke.  My daughter Eliza is very ill; Mr. Jackson is also worse;—­the medical man giving little or no hope respecting him.  In such cases, how vain is the help of man!  The feelings of my mind are indescribable.  O Lord, undertake Thou for us.  I feel Thee near to me, be near to my dear family; and, while thus Thou art chastening us, O sanctify the rod.—­Mr. Jackson has had a very restless night, and is much weaker, but quite recollected.  While I prayed, he responded.  I left him a little after eleven; and after calling upon Eliza, went to the School of Industry.  Between one and two a messenger came for me to go to Mr. Jackson’s immediately; but before I could arrive, the lamp of life was extinguished.  He had ’found the rest we toil to find.’—­A week of painful exercise is past away; but I see not the end.  Through mercy I can look to God, and find refuge there.  Yesterday when I awoke, it was sweetly suggested, ‘Because I live ye shall live also.’  This raised my drooping spirit; and now I take my pen to acknowledge the loving-kindness of God, manifested to us as a family; even under the most painful events, mercy is mixed in the cup.—­The last week—­before I reach my seventieth year.  Life has passed away as a dream!  The pleasing and the painful are both gone!  But from the earliest dawn of recollection, the Spirit of God has moved upon my mind.  Much love, and much patience, have been shown to me by my heavenly Father; and now, while the sun shines without, I feel the cheering beams of the Sun of righteousness upon my soul.”

      Time hastens me on;
      It soon will be gone,
      And the term of my stay
  Grows shorter and shorter, as life wears away.

      One thing I desire,
      To this I aspire,
      To live in His will,
  Whose mercy has spared me, and blesses me still.

      No merit I boast;
      In Him is my trust. 
      Who gives me a place,
  And a lot, with His own, through His infinite grace.