useful in his generation, and perhaps more extensively blessed than any of them. The Biographer may be mistaken; but he firmly believes that there is scarcely any memoir extant which exhibits such a variety of useful matter on the great subject of spiritual experience, and such instructive and practical thoughts on scriptural truths in general, as this now presented to the public. The Christian will find here opened to his view the deep depravity of the human heart (not indeed in its luxuriance) the various, subtle and deceitful actings of sin, together with the insidious attempts of the great enemy of souls. He will also see here unfolded the means by which he is to encounter, resist and overcome his enemies; and besides, the resources of his strength, blessings and consolations. He will perceive the different and wise measures, though often for a time very mysterious, which infinite wisdom adopts for training up, disciplining and preparing his children for usefulness here and for glory hereafter. And the impressions which the perusal of the whole, it is conceived, is calculated to make, are these:--that sin is a great evil, the cause of all our sorrows, sufferings, fears, doubts and miseries, that there is no way to deal with it but to mortify it by the Spirit, that this is a work which re quires continual watchfulness and prayer, and that God is a God of inconceivable love, the only source of true happiness, infinitely gracious through his beloved Son, infinitely wise, merciful and longsuffering in all his dealings with his people,—and that his great object in all his dispensations towards them is to make them holy as he is holy, and render them wholly dependant on himself, that they may ultimately shine forth in the regions of light as illustrious monuments of his unfathomable grace. If these impressions shall be produced or deepened in any by what is here written, the labour that has been taken will not have been in vain. Those parts of the Diary and letters which describe in a strong language the corruptions of the heart, the temptations of sin, or the insinuations of satan will probably be objected to by some, while others perhaps will by no means approve of the glowing terms in which the transports of a soul favoured with lively and realizing views of eternal things, are delineated. But the probability of such objections has not prevented the introduction of such passages. The object was not merely to unfold the character of him who is the subject of the Memoir; but also to convey to others what may be useful, instructive and profitable. Similar trials and difficulties may be felt in their full extent by some still. To see and know that others have found the same depths of wickedness in their hearts and the same hardships in the spiritual conflict, will tend in no small degree to comfort and support us. What is more likely to convince us of the reality of those consolations which faith in eternal truths is capable of imparting, than to find that some of our brethren have already experienced them? This will excite us to labour for the same realizing faith. While one may derive no benefit from these things, another may. Let not him that does not, condemn that which may be of advantage to another. We are too apt to reckon as useless what does not exactly suit our own taste. What is this but to set up ourselves as the only proper judges of what is beneficial to mankind; which is the same degree of folly as it would be for a man to consider his own taste as the only true test of what is a proper and palatable provision for the table. Our standard is the scripture. If there be any thing in the following Memoir inconsistent with the word of God, let it be condemned: but if this connot be proved, human judgment is worth nothing. -The disparaging views of one's self, the strong representations of the desperate character of sin, and the vivid though un adorned description of divine things, which are to be met with in this volume, had they been clothed in fine and elegant expressions, would probably give no offence. There is a refined mode of phraseology too prevalent in the present day. Many truths are thereby rendered palatable, which otherwise would not be so. Like the Grecians of old, we are pleased with what appears in a fine garb, but dislike it when set forth in a simple, plain manner. This is to love the truth for its dress, and not for its own self; to be pleased and delighted with a finecoloured shell, and to have no taste for the precious kernel which it incloses. I have to acknowledge, that I have been materially assisted in this work by an intimate friend. |