in earnest in it.  The Lord answers prayer; may it be a great blessing to our souls and to our flocks.”  Another time:  “Meeting in St. David’s vestry.  The subject of fasting was spoken upon.  Felt exceedingly in my own spirit how little we feel real grief on account of sin before God, or we would often lose our appetite for food.  When parents lose a child, they often do not taste a bit from morning to night, out of pure grief.  Should we not mourn as for an only child?  How little of the spirit of grace and supplication we have then!” On Dec. 30:  “Pleasant meeting of ministers.  Many delightful texts on ’Arguments to be used with God in prayer.’  How little I have used these!  Should we not study prayer more?”

Full as he was of affection and Christian kindness to all believers, he was specially so to the faithful brethren in the gospel of Christ.  Perhaps there never was one who more carefully watched against the danger of undervaluing precious men, and detracting from a brother’s character.  Although naturally ambitious, grace so wrought in him, that he never sought to bring himself into view; and most cheerfully would he observe and take notice of the graces and gifts of others.  Who is there of us that should ever feel otherwise?  “For the body is not one member, but many.”  And “the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee; nor, again, the head to the feet, I have no need of you.”

All with whom he was intimate still remember with gratitude how faithfully and anxiously he used to warn his friends of whatever he apprehended they were in danger from.  To Mr. W.C.  Burns he wrote, Dec. 31, 1839:  “Now, the Lord be your strength, teacher, and guide.  I charge you, be clothed with humility, or you will yet be a wandering star, for which is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.  Let Christ increase; let man decrease.  This is my constant prayer for myself and you.  If you lead sinners to yourself and not to Christ, Immanuel will cast the star out of his right hand into utter darkness.  Remember what I said of preaching out of the Scriptures:  honor the word both in the matter and manner.  Do not cease to pray for me.”  At another time (November 3, 1841), he thus wrote to the same friend:  “Now remember Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone.  Looking at our own shining face is the bane of the spiritual life and of the ministry.  Oh for closest communion with God, till soul and body—­head, face, and heart—­shine with divine brilliancy! but oh for a holy ignorance of our shining!  Pray for this; for you need it as well as I.”