duty, and I trust I may be enabled to continue it in a constant state of watchfulness for the Divine command, if it ever please the Lord of the harvest to make me a labourer.

There is no man who may not, in the retrospect of almost any day of his existence, call to mind instances of resolutions rashly made and weakly broken; of inconveniences which prudent foresight might have prevented; of giving way to inclination or passion, against which watchfulness might have strengthened him to prevail; of duties entirely neglected or else delayed beyond the time in which they ought to have been performed, from which he may deduce principles for the improved regulation of his future conduct. Or perhaps he may recollect the result of some successful experiment in the management of himself; or a fortunate casualty may have brought to light some method by which his labours would be lessened and his usefulness or his happiness increased, which, if not remembered shortly after their occurrence, may pass into oblivion, when their being made. the foundation of practical principles might have been of infinite advantage to him. There could not be a day which would not present innumerable mercies to prove the care which our Divine Creator takes of His rational creatures; or in which schemes, undertaken with all the intellect and attention we can bestow or conceive them to require, would not terminate in a way contrary to our expectation, and only to be accounted for by supposing it to be the will of the Deity. By a due contemplation of these particulars, our faith and love will be invigorated and warmed, and we shall then retire to our rest as into the arms of an affectionate parent, and

turning our attention away from this world and its cares, we shall feel that holy confidence and security, as though God in His omnipotence was saying over us, 'Touch not Mine anointed.'

1st month, 13th, 1833.-The leading error of my life is a very common one. I put off doing that which I know must be done till I am obliged to do it, when I might (as perhaps always happens) have done it before with greater advantage.

This is principally occasioned by my not sufficiently discriminating between engagements of duty and engagements of choice, the latter of which often occupy that portion of my time which should be devoted to the first. Hence arise other evils besides the neglect or postponement of duty; it renders me undecided in my habits of acting, and what is of still greater importance, my want of self-command in other particulars becomes greater by indulgence in this, and I then become vexed and dissatisfied with myself, a state of mind which to me is the most dangerous of any. This temptation is the more effective, because the giving way to it at the time often appears venial. If I am not enabled to overcome this wretched weakness, I shall be all my life the same victim of vacillation and indolence which I have hitherto been.

3rd month, 3rd.—In learning a language, the most effectual way of proceeding is to endeavour to find out the cast of thought of the inhabitants of the country in which it was spoken, which is to be done only by making ourselves acquainted with their manners, customs and peculiarities. We are then in some degree enabled to place ourselves in the situation of natives, and the acquisition of the language will

STUDY OF CHRISTIANITY.

31

be facilitated in more ways than can readily be conceived of.

It is impossible to appreciate the chief beauties of a language, such in particular as its aptitude to express by direct and appropriate expressions the conceptions of the mind, without a tolerably complete knowledge of it.

It is the same in regard to any set of opinions, moral or religious, of which we would know the truth. Every one who inquires thoroughly must enter into the whole subject with the inquisitive tractability of a pupil as well as the dignified impartiality of a judge: he must endeavour to divest the tenets of teachers of what is merely peculiar phraseology, and studiously seek out what the original founder intended that his disciples should understand.

Comparatively few men, even of those who are of serious and decided character, ever do this in two distinct sets of opinions. The time and pains required for it, and the shame consequent to a change of opinion, as well as a natural prejudice in favour of first conclusions, generally fortify the mind in the notions it may have first conceived.

What infidel ever inquired after the truth of Christianity by a candid and patient examination of the Bible? What inquirer ever commenced his investigations by so doing and ended by becoming an infidel?

The study of Christianity, as it rests on its own merits, is more needful than the study of any other set of opinions can possibly be. The strongest proof of the divine origin of the Bible is, that it is the only book in the world which explains certain moral phenomena

of our minds, and all its dictates are especially adapted to them in a way which cannot be expressed, and can only be conceived of by those who study it with patient and honest attention.

4th month, 21st.-If there be one word which is capable of expressing the whole of our duty in its relation to the motive from which it must be discharged, that word is gratitude. The want of duly considering, or cordially assenting to the importance of cultivating a grateful habit of thought, is the cause of an incalculable amount of unhappiness in the world; and in regard to those who for the most part endeavour to act rightly, I am disposed to think there is no other mental deficiency which gives them so much anxiety, and deprives them of so much useful and praiseworthy happiness, as the habitual oversight of this truth. Paul places the gratitude to God of him who receives, amongst the blessed fruits of almsgiving: 2 Cor. ix. 12.

5th month, 19th.- Very much engaged, almost to a maximum. I had not time for my usual walks, of which I feel the effects on my health. A little of Cicero' De Nat.,' well studied, a little algebra, Johnson's Rasselas.' My advancement has been of a solid and certain character. I have not been so much as usual influenced by the silly fallacy of reading a great deal, instead of learning something.

CHAPTER III.

1834-1835.

MECHANICS' INSTITUTE-TOUR-SOCIETY OF FRIENDS. 3rd month, 30th, 1834.—I spent two evenings with I. S. Buckingham. He is entertaining without wit, and instructive without depth. His forte is description,' and in that he has a singularly happy, simple, graphic power.

4th month, 6th.-During the past week I have been much engaged, so as to produce a somewhat distracting effect on my mind. I have attended Buckingham's lectures, and have spent some time in company with Elizabeth Fry, a woman whose character is instructive, because she enjoys everything which ought to be enjoyed, and yet effects a great deal. She has an inimitable dignity and simplicity of manner, which måkes every one love and respect her.

4th month, 13th.-Wrote and delivered to the Phrenological Society a paper on temperaments, which was very kindly received. It contained a few original and not useless thoughts, mixed with many crudities, put together very hastily.

6th month, 1st.-This is about the time which I had long ago fixed upon for two important acts, and

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