“At Skillington, this morning, I felt an earnest desire, had it been God’s will, that I were able to preach extempore. I had so strong a desire to communicate to the people what I felt of God’s goodness, that it seemed a restraint to confine myself to my paper. But, Lord, thou knowest what a proud creature I am. Thou seest how I covet the praise of man, and in mercy to my soul hast made me ‘slow of speech.’ O make me of quick understanding in the ways of godliness! At Stoke, I felt something of the same spirit remaining, some longings after God in prayer, and some breathings for his blessing on the people during the sermon; but at Buckminster, how changed! Wandering thoughts and imaginations. How manifold are the mercies, how infinite the patience of God! O when will it be that my heart shall be immoveably fixed on God: when shall my soul become as a weaned child? Blessed Saviour! thou art my Friend, my Advocate, my Head of influence: visit me with thy salvation: smile upon my poor, imperfect, defiled labours, and glorify thy name in my weakness!” April 10th, being his 28th birth-day, is thus noticed: “Yesterday, I was twenty-eight years of age: but, my heart ever prone to forget the Lord’s mercies, I forgot to make any reflections on the Divine goodness in bringing me thus far. Lord, I would remember, to the glory of thy rich and free grace, that thou forgivest my transgressions, and coverest all mine iniquities. I have to praise thee that thou hidest me from the strife of tongues: thou makest my way very pleasant: thou strewest my path with flowers: thou hast also given me some tokens that I have not run unsent, by blessing my poor attempts to the consciences of my people, and awakening some of them, I trust, from the sleep of sin, making them to hear thy sweet voice speaking peace to their souls. If a worm may be permitted to plead with his Maker, O let my cry enter into thy ears, and awaken many sinners amongst us to come to Christ that they perish not! Yea, Lord, give me to see Jerusalem in prosperity: nor would I cease to plead with thee till thou hast answered my prayer. I would praise thy holy name for a growing determination to glory in nothing save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. I would bless thee for a disposition to count reproach for his sake as my highest glory. I plainly perceive that ‘all who will live godly must suffer persecution.’ I cannot hope to enter into heaven but ‘through much tribulation,’ even as thy choicest servants have done. O enable me to keep my eye ever fixed on Jesus, that I may not be weary, or faint in my mind! When I look back, the brightness of thy favour makes my unprofitableness dark indeed; and I should have just cause