and I do not ask direction.  Often I go out to visit a sick person in a hurry, without asking his blessing, which alone can make the visit of any use.  I am persuaded that I ought never to do anything without prayer, and, if possible, special, secret prayer.

“In reading the history of the Church of Scotland, I see how much her troubles and trials have been connected with the salvation of souls and the glory of Christ.  I ought to pray far more for our church, for our leading ministers by name, and for my own clear guidance in the right way, that I may not be led aside, or driven aside, from following Christ.  Many difficult questions may be forced on us for which I am not fully prepared, such as the lawfulness of covenants.  I should pray much more in peaceful days, that I may be guided rightly when days of trial come.

“I ought to spend the best hours of the day in communion with God.  It is my noblest and most fruitful employment, and is not to be thrust into any corner.  The morning hours, from six to eight, are the most uninterrupted, and should be thus employed, if I can prevent drowsiness.  A little time after breakfast might be given to intercession.  After tea is my best hour, and that should be solemnly dedicated to God, if possible.

“I ought not to give up the good old habit of prayer before going to bed; but guard must be kept against sleep:  planning what things I am to ask is the best remedy.  When I awake in the night, I ought to rise and pray, as David and as John Welsh did.

   “I ought to read three chapters of the Bible in secret every
   day, at least.

“I ought on Sabbath morning to look over all the chapters read through the week, and especially the verses marked.  I ought to read in three different places; I ought also to read according to subjects, lives,” etc.

He has evidently left this unfinished, and now he knows even as he is known.

Toward the end of his ministry, he became peculiarly jealous of becoming an idol to his people; for he was loved and revered by many who gave no evidence of love to Christ.  This often pained him much.  It is indeed right in a people to regard their pastor with no common love (II Cor. 9:14), but there is ever a danger ready to arise.  He used to say, “Ministers are but the pole; it is to the brazen serpent you are to look.”

The state of his health would not permit him to be laborious in going from house to house, whereas preaching and evangelistic work in general was less exhausting; but of course, while he was thus engaged, many concerns of the parish would be unattended to; accordingly his Session offered him a stated assistant to help him in his parochial duty.  With this proposal he at once concurred.  Mr. Gatherer, then at Caraldstone, was chosen, and continued to labor faithfully with him during the remaining days of his ministry.