Last night I was troubled in my sleep, but it was sweetly suggested; ‘God is our refuge—­a very present help in trouble.’  Glory be to God for His promises; may I hang upon them more firmly than ever.  To-day my soul has been drawn after God; but when shall I be able to say with Mr. Wesley, ’Now I have lived a day.’—­Find patience a grace.  I especially need, both with respect to myself, my children, my domestics, and the world.  Had not the sacred Scriptures declared ’ye have need of patience,’ I should be more ready to reason with the enemy than I am.  But the word of God is a strong tower against the assaults of the devil; here the righteous find a refuge and a hiding-place.—­What a poor unprofitable creature I am!  Lord, I cast myself upon Thee.  Save a helpless soul, that feels no merit but in Jesu’s atoning blood.”

“1821.  Am ashamed to acknowledge I have felt a little impatience, because my hands through stiffness, occasioned by cramp, have refused to perform their ordinary duty.  Forgive me, O my God; nor ever let me repine at any of Thy dispensations to a worm, loaded with benefits as I am.  I seem a poor piece of useless lumber, but Thou bearest with me.  Let me ever live to Thee.—­Although I usually sleep well, last night I lay awake for some time, but my meditations were sweet; they turned upon Peter’s advice to those who had received like precious faith, viz.; ’Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance PATIENCE,’ &c.  I have felt its influence to-day.  Praise the Lord for so divine an admonition; my soul needs it.—­The debt of gratitude I owe to Thee, ’O Thou Preserver of men,’ I feel glad to acknowledge, though I am unable to pay.  Glory be unto Thee for Thy renewed mercy to a worm.  Help me to repeat my vows to Thee, who hast graciously protracted my life, and through another seeming death delivered me.  Let the babe, thy love has given me, be unreservedly dedicated to Thyself.  But oh! how shall I tell of Thy unbounded love to a worthless creature!  My soul longs to be wholly Thine.  Help my feebleness; let me turn neither to the right hand nor the left, but teach me all Thy will.—­I am blessed with health, surrounded by friends, and encompassed by mercies.  How infinitely poor is my gratitude to the Lord, when all these are considered!  How is it, Lord, that my affection for Thee is so cold, and my faith in Thy infallibility so weak?  Quicken me, animate my drooping powers, and let me every moment live in Thee.—­I have the witness within me, but daily feel my own weakness.  All my good comes from heaven, and requires constant renewal.  I have faith in God, but thirst for more.  I want to be deluged with the love of God.—­A trivial circumstance has been a source of mental exercise; but thank God, have had power to keep my tongue.  Let the issues of my heart be kept by Thee.”

  ON THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE, MAY 5TH, 1821.