GOD, when he hath nothing but his word to trust in. And when God hides his face from his people; stands at a distance from their prayers; seemingly thwarts all their desires gives no answer by Urim and Thummim; then, to hold fast by GoD, and to lie passive before him; this is what the Prophet felt, and what none but those who are taught of God the HOLY GHOST can say with him; Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines, the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the GoD of my salvation.'

I had entered with so much earnestness of participation into every man's case, as they related their several experiences one after another, that I was unconscious of the lapse of time, and felt not a little distressed, when I heard one of the company say, 'Our hour is come, it is past eight o'clock.'-The following hymn was then given out and súng; which appeared to be a very suitable conclusion to the solemn service:

No more, my God, I boast no more
Of all the duties I have done ;

I quit the hopes I held before,
To trust the merits of thy Son.

Now for the love I bear his name,
What was my gain I count my
My former pride I call my shame,
And nail my glory to his cross.

loss

Yes, and I must, and will esteem
All things but loss for Jesus' sake:
O may my soul be found in Him,
And of his righteousness partake !

The best obedience of my hands
Dares not appear before thy throne 3
But faith can answer thy demands ;
By pleading what my Lord hath done.

But, if I felt myself pleased with the hymn, my mind was more abundantly refreshed and delighted with the concluding prayer, which followed it; in which the person who prayed, did not confine himself to general expressions; but, more or less, included therein the wants. and desires of all the Lord's tried family; and in particular, the several cases which had been spokeu of during the evening. Neither as a stranger and visitor in this little society, did the leader in prayer forget to mention me, at the mercy-seat; that the Lord would supply all my wants, whatever they might be, out of

the abundant riches of his grace, which are in Christ Jesus.

After withdrawing from the room, and taking leave of the friend who had conducted me thither, I retired to my closet to meditate upon what I had seen and heard. And the conclusion I formed upon the whole was this-I had discovered in the scriptures of truth, that in all ages of the Church, the Lord has had a seed which served him. I no less discovered also, that this seed were distinguished from the rest of mankind by certain marks and characters. I observed very clearly in the little circle to which I had now been introduced, that its members were widely distinguished from the unawakened world, in all their pursuits, complaints, and desires. I remarked yet further, that although their complaints and desires differed in their degree of earnestness; yet, like a family-feature, there was a sufficient similarity in all, to manifest their relationship to each other. But what became my highest gratifi-. cation, was the discovery, that, however unconscious of it before, their situation was my own. And I felt that union of soul, which the mind feels in a state of nature on the discovery of affinity, so as to be drawn towards them in the warmth of a lasting love and affection. I resolv

ed therefore to cast in my lot among them, and to have the same portion. The sweet language of Ruth to Naomi, exactly speaks the feelings of my heart: Intreat me not to leave thee: or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy GOD, my GOD. Where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.'

-My mind had been much exercised through the night, in reflections upon what I had seen and heard at the Prayer-meeting. And the morning had but just opened upon the earth, when I arose to prayer and meditation. There is somewhat peculiarly solemn in the first dawn of day, before the noisy world is risen. It very powerfully calls the soul to devotion.

Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet With charms of earliest birds.'

MILTON.

I felt the influence, and having 'bowed the knee before the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,' I entered upon the meditation of the subject, which had engaged my attention so

G

much the preceding evening. The more I considered it, the more I stood convinced, that there is a seed in the earth, which the Lord hath distinguished from the world. And I felt no less conviction also, that it is divine grace alone which makes all the difference between him that serveth the Lord, and him that serveth him not.' But that I should be the object of his grace, when I sought it not, nor was even conscious of the want of it: here appeared the greatest mystery!

I found my eyes overflowing in the contemplation of such unmerited goodness of my GoD towards me; and was lost in the thought, when a call at the door roused me from my meditation. It was the Traveller, whom I have before mentioned, who had kindly introduced me to the Prayer-meeting, and who was come to inquire what were my sentiments concerning it: and to offer me that assistance which I had requested of him at our first interview.

I very frankly opened my whole heart to him upon the subject, and hesitated not to tell him, how much I felt interested in what I had heard; and particularly in the case of one who had spoken, from the similarity of his experience to my own. 'How, or when, (I said,) or by what means the LORD hath begun the work of