incompetency. I believe that such circumstances quicken the mind, and make it apt to learn..

February 10th, 1821. I feel a strange indifference and coldness in the service of God. But why do I call them strange? I surely am not a stranger to them. I use the word strange to signify wonderful; for it is really wonderful that I should be indifferent and cold in a cause so important and blessed as is the service of God. Wilt thou not revive me again, O Lord, that thy people under my ministry may rejoice in thee? Amen.

24th. In the evening, with more than ordinary zeal, I delivered a sermon from Romans i. 16. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." I felt the verification of the truth of an assertion made by Mr. Henry, "A man may preach an old sermon with new feelings."

March 2d. In the evening received a visit from several young people of the Congregational denomination, persons of no religion; with whom however, I could not refrain from praying before we parted.

17th. I find myself in a stupid frame of mind. And how inconsistent this is even in a private Christian, and how much more so in an under shepherd of the flock of God-how unlike the state of mind which Jesus invariably possessed. He always has been awake to the interests of his people, even while in the flesh, and devising means to promote their welfare and increase their happiness. "May the same mind be❞ in me" which was also in Christ Jesus."

27th. I am too neglectful of Christian duties, and too unguarded in my common conversation. I am sen

sible that if I be kept from falling out by the way that I shall be "kept by the mighty power of God," and if saved, it will be purely "by grace and not by works."

April 3d. While sitting and conversing with several friends at brother R's. a singular occurrence took place. A Mr. S. addressed himself to me thus: "Mr. Davis, I have seen you several times before; but thought you had much spirituality and I don't know as you had then. I now think I had rather too light an opinion of you; and with your permission will fellowship you a little." With that he took me by the hand, and gave me an affectionate expression of his fellowship.

6th. O God I pray that I may feel the enlivening influences of divine grace, so that my conversation may be as becometh the Gospel of Christ, and be profitable to the families that I visit in this town and vicinity.

May 16th. Mrs. G., a woman residing in my house who had been sick and unwilling to have me converse with her on divine subjects, became convinced of her wretched situation and sent for me to pray with her. I found her in deep distress. Said she "my heart is so bad and I have so abused my privileges, my unbelief is so great, there is no mercy for me." "I cast off convictions in time of a revival, and now I shall not live long enough to have religion." She appeared also to be distressed with fear that her distress arose from nothing more than dread of death. I prayed with her twice in the course of the day, but when I left her in the afternoon to go to M., she had found no relief.

17th. Returned home, and found the woman referred to in the journal of Wednesday, rejoicing in hope. She observed that she felt to give herself up into the hands of Christ and then her burden left her. "O" said

she “I love Jesus, and wish to go and be with him to behold him face to face, and to praise God with the holy angels." This she often repeated adding "I can never praise him enough for what he has done for my poor soul. He has snatched me as a brand from the burning." I think it was on this day she said to her mother who had observed that her face was swollen, "O mother, is my face swollen, then I shall soon be with Jesus, shall I not?" I can truly say I felt in some measure to bless God for his mercy.

26th. In view of God's mercies to me I am astonished and ashamed; astonished at his condescension, ashamed of the manner in which I have requited him. "O foolish and unwise." Let me take confusion to myself, and "ascribe righteousness to my Maker."

I have often thought of late while contemplating the gracious visit God has made at my house, in the wonderful conversion of Mrs. Gray, of what the humble centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof." But he has come and blessed be his name. And when the hand that now writes these lines is cold in death, let those who read them rejoice in that mercy that can and sometimes does change the heart of a sinner when on the brink of eternity and the verge of everlasting ruin.

In a letter to Mr. S. Chapman, dated June 21st, Mr. D. writes, "There is nothing peculiarly interesting in this quarter. Too much stupidity prevails among Christians. And this, my brother, is criminal in us. The cause which we have espoused is a good cause; and our happiness is intimately connected with our ardour and activity in the promotion of it. We have striking examples of zeal in promoting it in the patriarchs, pro

phets and apostles, "whose faith follow considering the end of their conversation, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day and forever.”

"A heavenly race demands our zeal

And an immortal crown."

How surprising, when we know that the willing and obedient eat the good of the land, and acknowledge that the disobedient dwell in a dry land, that we should be cold and indifferent. I hope that with you it is different, and that you are on the mount of salvation and joy."

August 2d. Is that dear disciple, Mrs. Gray, fled from my sight forever? Shall I see her face no more in time? Shall I no more hear her joyous expressions of calmness, resignation, patience and peace?

A solemn gloom is spread over every thing around me. But when I reflect that she has gone to be with Christ, which is far better than to be here, I cannot wish her to return to this world of sin.

Dear saint, sleep on in thy desired grave until the trump of God shall awake thy dust and fashion it into "the likeness of Christ's most glorious body."

September 18th. Now I am about to leave for the Association, Jesus, my Master, I beseech thee to be my companion and assistant. O afford me much of thy Spirit that the session may be profitable to my soul. Amen.

December 31st. Another year is gone, numbered with the years before the flood.

I am alive this day, a monument of divine mercy ; and for what I am still spared God only knows. In re

view of the past year I find much in God to admire ; in myself to bewail. O that the time past may suffice in that I have sinned against a God of boundless love.

Instead of having the privilege of taking my pen and recording his goodness to me, I deserve to sink into hell for my iniquities. O Lord, have mercy, have mercy, have mercy on me, a vile transgressor of thy laws, but a constant recipient of thy providential kindness.

During the winter of 1821-22, 1 studied Greek with Mr. Delano, a very respectable and intelligent young man, who taught the Centre school in South Reading.

The effect which my studies had upon my mind, and my views in reference to them at that time, are thus expressed in my journal of February 21, 1822. I shall really be pleased if I live to see the day when my course of study in reference to the languages will be brought to a close. It fetters my soul, deprives me of religious enjoyment, renders my mind barren of subjects for the pulpit, and keeps me too much from my people. I do conceive, however, that it will be of future service to me as a minister; I will, therefore, submit to the inconveniences to which it subjects me, and go plodding my way through in hope of utility hereafter to be reaped.

February 26th. Visited a lady at Reading, in the last stages of consumption, and in a peculiary tried state of mind. She observed in substance, that she was conscious of being near her end-was sensible that she had no interest in Christ, without which she must perish— but that she was filled with so much unbelief, that she had no desire to get to him, &c. She appeared, however, to be very anxious, and to be fully convinced that if she did perish, God would be just.