10th Mo. 19th.  The world was fearfully my snare yesterday,—­I mean worldly objects, innocent, in themselves.  These things only show the depth of unrenewed nature within.  Though it slumbered, it could not be dead.  My “wilderness wanderings,” oh, I fear they must be exceedingly protracted ere the hosts that have come out of Egypt with me fall; ere I can find in myself that blessed possession of the promised inheritance, which, I believe, in this life is the portion of the thorough Christian:  “they that believe do enter into rest.”  Why, then, do not I?  Oh, it is for want of believing; for want of faith; I fear to trust the Lord to give me my inheritance and conquer my foes, and will not “go up and possess the land.”  Then, again, in self-confidence, I will go up, whether the Lord be with me or not; and so I fall.  But surely, surely it need be so no longer.  I might devote myself to Christ, and He would lead me safely through all.  The shining of the fire and the shading of the cloud are yet in the ordering of the Captain of Salvation.

  20th.  Exceeding poor; and yet I rejoice in what
  I trust is somewhat of the poverty of spirit which is
  blessed.

    “Nothing in my hand I bring;
    Simply to Thy cross I cling;
    To the cleansing fount I fly: 
    Wash me, Saviour, or I die.”

  21st.  I feel myself in much danger of falling,—­manifold
  temptations all round to love the world, and
  how little stay within!

22d. Yet the Lord was kind, most kind, to me in the evening, constraining me to say within my heart, “Surely I am united to Christ my Saviour.”  Oh, the joy of feeling that we are in any measure His! May I by no means withdraw myself from His hands, that He may do for me all that His mercy designs, and which I am well assured is but begun. This morning a crumb of bread was given me, in the shape of a sense that Christ is yet mine, but that He will be waited on in simplicity of heart to do His own work. Oh, the comfort of having a fountain to flee to set open for sin! hourly have I need of it.

11th Mo. 2d.  I have felt deeply the necessity of the thorough subjugation of the will to the Divine will:  if it were effected, all must work for good to me.  Little cross-occurrences, instead of exciting ill tempers, would serve as occasions for strengthening my faith in God.  When He giveth quietness, what should make trouble?  ’Tis wonderful to think what long-suffering kindness the Lord has shown me!  I can compare myself only to the prodigal son saying, “Give me my portion of goods”—­goods spiritual; as if I thought once furnished, never again to have recourse to a father’s compassion.  Oh, often have I wasted this substance in a very short time; but the Lord has reckoned better than