binding me down; but if I be bound to Christ in heart, I shall not dread any bands that can draw me close to him." Evening. -"Much peace. Look back, my soul, and view the mind that belonged to thee but twelve months ago-my soul, thy place is in

the dust!"

"May 19.-Thought with more comfort than usual of being a witness for Jesus in a foreign land."

"June 4.-Walking with A. Somerville by Craigleith. Conversing on missions. If I am to go to the heathen to speak of the unsearchable riches of Christ, this one thing must be given me, to be out of the reach of the baneful influence of esteem or contempt. If worldly motives go with me, I shall never convert a soul, and shall lose my own in the labor."

June 22.-Variety of studies. Septuagint translation of Exodus and Vulgate. Bought Edwards' works. Drawing-Truly there was nothing in me that should have induced him to choose me. I was but as the other brands upon whom the fire is already kindled, which shall burn for evermore! And as soon could the billet leap from the hearth and become a green tree, as my soul could have sprung to newness of life."

June 25. In reference to the office of the holy ministry: "How apt are we to lose our hours in the vainest babblings, as do the world! How can this be with those chosen for the mighty office? fellow-workers with God? heralds of his son? evangelists? men set apart to the work, chosen out of the chosen, as it were, the very pick of the flocks, who are to shine as the stars for ever and ever? Alas! alas! my soul, where shalt thou appear? O Lord God, I am a little child! But thou wilt send an angel with a live-coal from off the altar, and touch my unclean lips, and put a tongue within my dry mouth, so that I shall say with Isaiah, Here am I, send me.' Then, after reading a little of Edwards' works, "O that heart and understanding may grow together, like brother and sister, leaning on one another."

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June 27.-Life of David Brainerd. Most wonderful man! What conflicts, what depressions, desertions, strength, advancement, victories within thy torn bosom! I cannot express what I think when I think of thee. To-night, more set upon missionary enterprize than ever."

"June 28.-O for Brainerd's humility and sin-loathing dispositions!"

"June 30.-Much carelessness, sin, and sorrow. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of sin and death? Enter thou, my soul, into the rock, and hide thee in the dust for fear of the Lord and the glory of his majesty." And then he writes a few verses, of which the following are some stanzas :—

I will arise and seek my God,
And, bowed down beneath my load,

Lay all my sins before him;

Then he will wash my soul from sin,
And put a new heart me within,

And teach me to adore him.

O ye that fain would find the joy—
The only one that wants alloy-
Which never is deceiving;
Come to the well of life with me,
And drink, as it is proffered, free,
The gospel draught receiving.

I come to Christ, because I know
The very worst are called to go;

And when in faith I find him,
I'll walk in him and lean on him,
Because I cannot move a limb

Until he says, "Unbind him."

"July 3.-This last bitter root of worldliness that has so often betrayed me has this night so grossly, that I cannot but regard it as God's chosen way to make me loathe and forsake it for ever. I would vow; but it is much more like a weakly worm to pray. Sit in the dust, O my soul !" I believe he was enabled to keep his resolution. Once only, in the end of this year, was he again led back to gaiety; but it was the last time.

"July 7.-Saturday. After finishing my usual studies, tried to fast a little, with much prayer and earnest seeking of God's face, remembering what occurred this night last year." (Alluding to his brother's death.)

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July 22.-Had this evening a more complete understanding of that self-emptying and abasement with which it is necessary to come to Christ-a denying of self, trampling it under foot-a recognizing of the complete righteousness and justice of God, that could do nothing else with us but condemn us utterly, and thrust us down to lowest hell,-a feeling that, even in hell, we should rejoice in his sovereignty, and say that all was rightly done." "August 15.-Little done, and as little suffered. Awfully important question-Am I redeeming the time?"

"August 18.-Heard of the death of James Somerville* by fever, induced by cholera. O God, thy ways and thoughts are not as ours! He had preached his first sermon.. I saw him last on Friday, 27th of July, at the College gate; shook hands; and little thought I was to see him no more on earth.

"September 2.-Sabbath evening.-Reading. Too much engrossed, and too little devotional. Preparation for a fall. Warning. We may be too engrossed with the shell even of heavenly things."

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Sept. 9.-Oh for true, unfeigned humility! I know I have cause to be humble; and yet I do not know one half of that cause. I know I am proud; and yet I do not know the half of that pride."

* Son of the minister of Drumelzier-very promising and very amiable.

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Sept. 30.-Somewhat straitened by loose Sabbath observance. Best way is to be explicit and manly."

"November 1.-More abundant longings for the work of the ministry. O that Christ would but count me faithful, that a dispensation of the Gospel might be committed to me !" And then he adds, "Much peace. Peaceful, because believing."

December 2.-Hitherto he used to spend much of the Sabbath evening in extending his notes of Mr. Bruce's sermons; but now, "Determined to be brief with these for the sake of a more practical, meditative, resting, sabbatical evening."

"Dec. 11.-Mind quite unfitted for devotion. prayer."

Prayerless

"Dec. 31.-God has in this past year introduced me to the preparation of the ministry-I bless him for that. He has helped me to give up much of my shame to name his name, and be on his side, especially before particular friends-I bless him for that. He has taken conclusively away friends that might have been a snare-must have been a stumbling-block-I bless him for that. He has introduced me to one Christian friend, and sealed more and more my amity with another-I bless him for that."

January 27, 1833.-On this day it had been the custom of his brother David to write a "Carmen Natale" on their father's birthday. Robert took up the domestic song this year; and, in doing so, makes some beautiful and tender allusions.

"Ah! where is the harp that was strung to thy praise,
So oft and so sweetly in happier days?

When the tears that we shed were the tears of our joy,
And the pleasures of home were unmixed with alloy ?
The harp is now mute-its last breathings are spoken-
And the cord, though 'twas threefold, is now, alas, broken!
Yet why should we murmur, short-sighted and vain,
Since death to that loved one was undying gain.
Ah, fools! shall we grieve that he left this poor scene,
To dwell in the realms that are ever serene?

Though he sparkled the gem in our circle of love,.

He is even more prized in the circles above.

And though sweetly he sung of his father on earth,
When this day, would inspire him with tenderest mirth,
Yet a holier tone to his harp is now given,

As he sings to his unborn Father in heaven."

February 3.-Writing to a medical friend of his brother William's, he says "I remember long ago a remark you once made to William, which has somehow or other stuck in my head, viz., that medical men ought to make a distinct study of the Bible, purely for the sake of administering conviction and consolation to their patients. I think you also said that you had actually begun with that view. Such a determination, though formed in youth, is one which I trust riper years will not make you blush to

own.

"Feb. 11.-Somewhat overcome. Let me see: there is a creep

ing defect here. Humble, purpose-like reading of the Word omitted. What plant can be unwatered, and not wither?"

"Feb. 16.-Walk to Corstorphine Hill. Exquisite clear view -blue water, and brown fields, and green firs. Many thoughts on the follies of my youth. How many, O Lord, may they be? Summed up in one-ungodliness!"

"Feb. 21.-Am I as willing as ever to preach to the lost heathen?"

"March 8.-Biblical criticism. This must not supersede heartwork. How apt it is!"

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March 12.-O for activity, activity, activity!"

"March 29.-To-day my second session (at the Divinity Hall) ends. I am now in the middle of my career. God hold me on with a steady pace!"

"March 31.-The bull tosses in the net! Christian imitate the anxieties of the worldling?"

How should the

April 17.-He heard of the death of one whom many friends had esteemed much and lamented deeply. This led him to touch the strings of his harp again, in a measure somewhat irregular, yet sad and sweet.

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She lives, to tell how blest

Is the everlasting rest

Of those who, in the Lamb's blood laved,
Are chosen, sanctified and saved!

How fearful is their doom

Who drop into the tomb

Without a covert from the ire
Of him who is consuming fire.

SHE SHALL LIVE

The grave shall yield his prize,
When, from the rending skies,

Christ shall with shouting angels come
To wake the slumberers of the tomb.
And many more shall rise

Before our longing eyes.

Oh! may we all together meet,
Embracing the Redeemer's feet!

May 20.-General assembly. The motion regarding Chapels of Ease lost, by 106 to 103. Every shock of the ram is heavier and stronger, till all shall give way."

"June 4.-Evening almost lost. though it makes feminine the heart."

Music will not sanctify,

"June 22.-Omissions made way for commissions. Could I but take effective warning! A world's wealth would not make up for that saying, 'If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father.' But how shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein ?"

June 30.-Self-examination. Why is a missionary life so often an object of my thoughts? Is it simply for the love I bear to souls? Then, why do I not show it more where I am? Souls are as precious here as in Burmah. Does the romance of the business not weigh anything with me?-the interest and esteem I would carry with me?-the nice journals and letters I should write and receive? Why would I so much rather go to the East than the West Indies? Am I wholly deceiving my own heart? and have I not a spark of true missionary zeal? Lord, give me to understand and imitate the spirit of those unearthly words of thy dear Son,' It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord.' He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me.' Gloria in excelsis Deo."

“August 13.-Clear conviction of sin is the only true origin of dependence on another's righteousness, and, therefore, (strange to say!) of the Christian's peace of mind and cheerfulness."

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"Sept. 8.-Reading Adam's Private Thoughts.' O for his heart-searching humility! Ah me! on what mountains of pride must I be wandering, when all I do is tinctured with the very sins this man so deplores; yet where are my wailings, where my tears, over my love of praise?"

"November 14.-Composition-a pleasant kind of labor. I fear