their actual sins, and the fear of death and judgment. When this is done, then point out to them the Saviour of sinners. In adverting to the circumstance of Lady Glenorchy keeping a Diary, we formerly noticed the very great benefit accruing to the individual Christian by such a habit, particularly as, by recalling the manner of the Lord's dealing with his soul, he is often improved and strengthened, and made to observe the loving kindness of the Lord, whilst he traces the operations of his hand. This advantage Lady Glenorchy herself experienced; and in the following extract, which is the only remaining entry in her Diary for this year, she thus mentions the advantage she derived from the practice : October 11, 1769.-This day, upon perusing some past experiences, I find that the Lord has been pleased to show me by his Spirit more of the hope of my calling than I saw at this time last year. I understood to-day some things that appeared dark and disagreeable to me then. From this I infer that I have more light, though I feel my darkness more sensibly, and long more to be delivered from it. I desire to bless God for having enabled me this day to contribute both to the spiritual and temporal relief of a poor person. This I consider as an answer to a prayer put into my heart this morning, that I might be made useful. I have observed, that prayer when fervent is generally speedily answered. The Lord by his Spirit first gives the prayer for the blessings he means to bestow, and then grants them. This he does, that all may be of grace. Blessed be his name for ever and ever! Lady Glenorchy spent this winter in Edinburgh, and remained there till she went to Taymouth in the middle of summer. Like every other Christian, especially in the higher walk of life, Lady Glenorchy found herself exposed to many trials and difficulties arising from her connexion with the world. She derived great comfort and assistance, however, under these circumstances, from the counsel and kindness of her pious friend Lady Maxwell, who never failed to give her the full benefit of her experience in the school of Christ. Of this state of her mind, and the benefit she received from Lady Maxwell, she thus wrote in her Diary : Saturday, January 27, 1770.-Many hours, days, weeks, and months, have passed away unobserved, in which I have received distinguishing blessings, with a cold, dead, ungrateful heart. O how can I sufficiently extol that mercy that has permitted me to live, and has not cut me off in wrath long ere now! My mind has of late been distracted with various opinions insensibly imbibed from others, which have drawn me away from the simplicity of the gospel, which have led me to depreciate ordinances, and to seek a useless speculative life. Blessed be God, who has in Lady Maxwell raised up for me a friend in this time of need, who has been the instrument in his hand of bringing back my soul into a plain path. She is indeed one among a thousand. Of all I have ever known, she is the most upright Christian. Bless the Lord, O my soul, for this excellent gift of Heaven! A faithful friend, a counsellor in the ways of God. Ever since my first interview with her, the Lord has been pleased to show me gradually from whence I have fallen, and has led me back to that singleness of heart, with which he enabled me to set out some years ago. I have of late sought God more frequently by prayer. My heart grows more dead to the world. For some days past I have been enabled to pray with some degree of fervency, and have wrestled with God for a blessing. Most part of yesterday I spent in reading and prayer; and this morning I felt peace in my soul, although not much liberty in prayer. I was led to plead with God that he would enable me to follow Christ whithersoever he would, through good report and evil report, and even to suffer for his sake if he saw meet. I wept before the Lord, and felt a comfortable hope that he was indeed willing to save me. I was also overwhelmed with shame and confusion, when I considered my unworthiness in his sight. This evening I heard an excellent sermon on the second petition of the Lord's Prayer. I can say with my whole heart, I desire that the kingdom of God may come, in every sense. I thought the preacher had been told my case, so applicable were his prayers and sermon to the state of my soul. O merciful and blessed Jesus! let thy kingdom come now into my heart. Reign thou there for ever! Subdue all thine enemies in me, and perfect thy will in and by me, in whatever way seemeth best unto thee. Amen. Sunday, January 28, 1770.-This morning I awoke in a dead insensible frame;-after much wrestling I got some freedom in prayer for near an hour. But O how imperfect are my best prayers! Lord pardon the sins of my holy things! I went out to church in a dull frame, found little comfort, and with difficulty attended to what I heard. I found some consolation in singing the 43d psalm from the 3d verse :— I O send thy light forth and thy truth; And bring me to thine holy hill, Even where thy dwellings be, &c. &c. I then went to see a friend in distress: I was enabled to deal faithfully with her. I went again to church, and heard an excellent sermon from Mr Plenderleath, to which my mind assented, but my heart was not affected; and since I came home, I have been wholly dead to spiritual things. The word I have heard today seems as water spilt upon the ground; no traces of it remain. O let it not rise up against me to my condemnation! O when wilt thou come, Lord, and take full possession of my soul, and subdue thy enemies! My soul longeth for thee: O come quickly! This evening I have had a trial of patience. The Lord was pleased to give the spirit of meekness, and thus to soften the heart of him who reproached me. Love and mercy follow me continually, yet still I am an insensible slothful creature. O Lord, forsake me not, but continue to draw me, and compel me to come to thee; deliver me from indwelling sin, and a careless spirit. Let me love thee, and serve thee with a childlike spirit. Monday, January 29, 1770.-This morning I was very lifeless in prayer and reading. Wandering thoughts are a torment to me. This day I allotted for returning the visits of my ordinary acquaintances. After prayer to God, that he would enable me to be faithful, to keep me from conforming to their vain conversation, I set out. But, alas! how little have I observed this. At the first place I went to, I was enabled to speak freely against the prevailing dissipations: at the second, I could only get in one moral reflection. In my next two visits, I had no opportunity of saying any one thing profitable. Upon the whole, I find much visiting hurtful to the spiritual life, and I wish to give it up. Lord, thou knowest how my heart longs to be separated from vanity, and to live wholly to thee: O grant that I may live every moment of my life to thy glory! Wednesday, January 31, 1770.-Last night I was enabled to wrestle with the Lord in prayer for about half an hour, with many cries and tears, and to plead with him for a blessing. Yet I am still in darkness; my prayers this morning have been formal and dead; and I find no comfort in the scriptures I read. Lord, what shall I do to be saved? O have pity upon me, and cause thy face to shine upon my benighted soul! turn away thine anger; blot out my transgressions; and wash me in the fountain opened for sin. Sanctify me by thy Spirit, and lead me in the right way to thy everlasting kingdom. I have spent this afternoon in talking with Miss B on religious subjects, endeavouring to lead her to devote herself wholly to God; but whilst I spoke to her, I myself was cold and dead. In the evening I spent two pleasant hours with Lady Maxwell, and was strengthened in the ways of holiness. The deep hold which religion had upon Lady Glenorchy's mind, made her zealous to promote it, and to devise plans for that purpose. In union with her friend Lady Maxwell, and probably at her suggestion, she formed the design of opening a place of worship, in which ministers of the gospel of every denomination |