sometimes.’—­During the last week family duties have been privileges.  While hearing the word read, and addressing my heavenly Father in prayer, the streams flowing from the Rock Christ, have refreshed my spirit.—­Prevented from meeting with the dear people, I betook myself to prayer.  Here I felt humbled, and melted down while pleading for them, myself, and mine.  Thus to be shut in with God is sweet; but what must it be to enjoy the unclouded glories of His presence?—­being ’changed from glory to glory.’—­O my God, give me a fuller discovery of Thyself; and though outwardly dull of hearing, let me hear Thy inward voice continually whisper in my heart, ‘I am Thy God, Thy shield, and Thy exceeding great reward.’  I have twice to-day joined with His worshipping people, but in neither case experienced what I have felt to-night, while pouring out my soul before the Lord.  Stripped of every plea, I hang upon Jesus.  Through Him alone my succour comes.—­Though weak in body, the morning damp, and the roads dirty, I got to chapel, where I was amply repaid by a discovery of my obligations to the Lord, for having been taken to the house of God from the earliest period of my life; the privilege being continued, with, a few intervals of necessary correction, until now.  I felt myself more indebted to God, and more culpable than any present for the little improvement I have made of my privileges; but my heart was melted down in gratitude and love.—­On the verge of the old, and the threshold of the new year.  Solemn thought! perhaps I now stand on the verge of eternity!  How stands my case in the sight of God?  On what do I build my hope, and what is my confidence?  After close examination I can say, I rest on nothing but the atoning merits of Jesus.  I feel His mercy now.”

  “1833.  Again from sickness raised, to Thee
    Afresh my vows I plight;
  While God in everything I see,
    Sickness or health is right.

  Thou canst not err; ‘Thy will be done,’
    Be full submission mine;
  Subjected to Thy will alone,
    My will be lost in Thine.

  These kind corrections from Thy hand,
    Shall blessed ordeals prove;
  To bow me to Thy mild command,
    And melt me into love.

  My soul shall bless Thee for the past,
    And rest upon Thee now;
  The future—­on Thy promise cast,
    And wait Thy will to know.”

“I have been kept at home to-day through indisposition; but have endeavoured to improve my time to the Lord by prayer, the exercise of my memory, writing,—­reading the Word, and also ’Bickersteth’s Student’s Guide:’  but imperfection is stamped upon all I do.—­The last night was very tempestuous, and awoke me from sleep.  I got upon my knees and found my security in Him, who holds the, winds in His fists.—­I have received letters from my three sons.  How pleasant are such communications!  How my heart would embrace them all! and would not God embrace us all?  Yea, how much more?