Read and approved in our Quarterly meeting held the 23d of third month, 1789, at Hartford, and signed in and on behalf thereof, by

WM. LUCAS, Clerk.

SUCH is the testimony to the character of the Author of the following Diary by many of his friends and neighbours, who appeared best qualified to delineate the same.

Those who read the Diary, will probably observe the difference which apparently exists between the foregoing account, and the description he has given of himself. His friends were chiefly guided in their judgment by his general conduct and actions; but his spiritual eyes being opened to a more extensive view of his real situation, his judgment of himself appears to have been formed by a comparison thereof, with that state of purity unto which all are called, and where all is beauti

ful, and not a spot or wrinkle can be discerned, It was for this state that his spirit panted, and short of which his soul refused to take lasting rest; for he saw the "one thing needful," and in degree tasted of that peace which prevails in Sion, the city of the saint's solemnity.

For the attainment thereof, for obtaining the unsearchable riches which are found in Christ," and largely possessed when he becomes, in man, his only hope of glory, his solicitude appears to have been nearly unremitted; as not small was his anxiety, when the beloved of souls withdrew his animating influence; fearing that it was not for the trial of his faith, that seasons of poverty and abstinence were allotted to him, and deep baptisms and conflict his frequent portion; but that it proceeded from just displeasure, and that the Lord had therefore ceased to be gracious: whereby his soul was cast down and disquieted, without ability to adopt the encouraging language, "Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." * Thus desolate and disconsolate, he expressed himself in the pathetic language of the prophet Jeremiah: "Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold and see, if there be any sorrow like

See Psalm xlii. 11.

unto my sorrow."+ But this is a path not unfrequented by the regenerate; who, having attained to the state of young men, are fed with strong\ meat; when, for weaning their affections from all sublunary objects, from every thing that has not endurance, but perishes with the using, and for enabling them to receive and retain, without mixture, the perfectly refined wine of the kingdom, the bridegroom withdraws his presence, the sensible succour of the spirit is not felt, and the earth with her bars is closed upon them. Thus is poor frail man apparently left in his weakness, without a hand extended which is competent to succour, or able to save; that his dependance may be fully proved, and his faith rendered more pure than the fine gold of Ophir. But, though for a trying time unfelt and unseen, yet there is a hand, an Almighty hand, stretched out for the preservation of the children of the bridechamber, which preserves them in afflicting extremities, and manifests itself when necessary for salvation, or reward. This is a path wherein the regererate have trodden, and wherein our friend, SAMUEL SCOTT, had his faith proved, purified and increased. But who are, even in this respect, so blind as the Lord's servants, as the children of the Most High? Humbled to the

† Lamentations i. 12.

dust under a sense of their own unworthiness, pressed upon by an increased view of their frailty and entire inability for any good thought, word or work, towards promoting their soul's salvation, they are more prone to view dispensations of this kind, as marks of divine displeasure, than for the trial of their faith; and therefore fear, lamentation and mourning is their portion, until their hopes are revived by the sensible renewing of that grace, which gladdens the whole heritage of God. Then "the wilderness and solitary place shall be glad, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice, even with joy and singing.”

*

The natural abilities of SAMUEL SCOTT were above the common rank, and he was versed in literature. Yet these he counted but as dung, that he might win Christ, have a fellowship with his sufferings, be made conformable to his death, and experience the power of his resurrection.

The vast variety of dispositions which are found amongst mankind, are, by some authors, supposed to be formed by the mixture and predominancy of one or other of the different temperaments which the operations of grace do not destroy, but purify and direct: so that the lively in a state of nature,

Isaiah xxxv. 1. 2.

will be found lively in a state of grace; and the zealous in nature will be found zealous in grace; but lively in a different pursuit, and zealous for the attainment of a different object. When the heavenly principle is in dominion, this variety, which in fallen nature tends to disorder, is reduced into harmony, and forms a body, or whole, inexpressibly beautiful. How wonderful are the ways of Providence! How gracious his design! But when any of these temperaments predominate, unseasoned by grace, they cast a shade upon, or place in an unjust view, the ways of Divine Wisdom; the paths of pleasantness and peace.

The melancholic temperament appears occasionally to have prevailed in the author of the following Diary; which, when seasoned and regulated by grace, has been deemed the most favorable to a religious life, being in its nature fixt, retentive, and circumspect, prone to search, and anxious to ascertain, yet cautious in receiving important truths, but when received, tenacious in retaining them; but which, in some instances, it is to be feared, produced in S. S. sadness, where joy might well have prevailed. But it is encouraging and instructive to observe, how, through all the conflicts and baptisms to which such a disposition appears more peculiarly liable, there lived that,