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this is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

The New Testament! O, who can tell the blessings and benefits contained in this testament, this dying legacy of our dear Emmanuel, purchased and sealed with his blood! What is the amount of it? What the sum of blessings contained in it? Behold, God is become our salvation. This is the amount. God himself, God in Christ, reconciling us unto himself: by his mighty power; subduing the enmity that is in us ; melting our flinty hearts; drawing us with the cords of love; creating us anew after his own image, which we had totally lost; uniting us to himself, even us, who were enmity itself, but now are become one with God, who is love. This is the work we have this day been celebrating. A given, a born, a living, a suffering, dying, risen, ascended, glorified, reigning, Saviour! The Lord of Hosts, the King of kings, the Almighty God, dwelling with men, dwelling in men, and feeding them with his own body and blood. Behold God is become our salvation, we will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is our strength and our song, he also is become our salvation, therefore with joy will we draw water out of the wells of salvation. His attributes are the never failing source; his ordinances the wells of salvation. God himself is, is ours, all that he is, is ours, to bless and to make us happy. Ten thousand springs issue from this blessed source, specified and particularised in his Bible, experienced and celebrated by his Saints. Let us drink and be refreshed, rejoice and praise for O who can tell the amount of our riches, in having God for our portion! All things are ours, we are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

May 3, 1801. Sing unto the Lord for he hath done excellent things, this is known in all the earth.

Nearly six weeks have elapsed, since my children. launched into God's ocean*. The Sabbath after, I requested the prayers of the churches for them according to their own desire. The Lord is a prayer hearing God, he has answered, and will answer.

The weather has been uncommonly tempestuous; I read of many disasters in consequence. How it has fared, or does fare, with my children, He who loves them knows. Their Saviour and their God sitteth on the clouds, and directeth the storm: they are his servants, shall accomplish his purposes, which all terminate in salvation to his people. My children are his; the blessings of the everlasting Gospel shall preserve their souls in peace. Their God shall conduct them to their destined port, but that port may be heaven: and if it should, my soul, wilt thou grieve? darest thou grieve? No, my God; if Grace be in exercise when the news reaches me, I will say, as in former times, all is well, He hath done all things well. I renew my blank, noted in my exercise of January 1, 1796.

July 14, 1801.

I HAVE received letters from my children. What shall I render to the Lord for all his mercies, mercies temporal, mercies spiritual, mercies eternal, multiplied mercy! God himself is become my salvation; how unspeakable the blessing! though chastisement and affliction were the means of my correction, and sanctifica

* Mr. and Mrs. Bethune and one of their children sailed for Liverpool in March, 1801.

tion, or the very vengeance taken on my inventions: for my character and name is the same with treacherous Judah, and backsliding Israel. His name changeth not.

The Lord God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. O how has he magnified this name to me a backslider in heart and life; how has he multiplied pardons, healed my backslidings, restored my soul, and filled me with joy and peace in believing! Not only so, but in this vale of tears; this land of drought, this waste howling wilderness where man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward. My cup runs over with temporal blessings and enjoyments, all his creatures minister to my comfort, his daily providence adds.

It is fifteen weeks since my children launched into God's ocean: many anxious hours of suspense have agitated my breast. The Lord knows I did try to wait the manifestation of his will, with patience and resignation, and to his praise I record it, even in the view of parting, I was not without comfort.

Surely, surely, God is enough for me, and while he is my portion, and the portion of my children, I cannot be comfortless; goodness and mercy shall follow us; whatever aspect providences may wear, the end shall be goodness and mercy.

July 28, 1801.

My dear Pastor, Mr. M. sailed for Britain. I thank thee, good and kind shepherd of Israel, for all those providences, which seemed small things at the time, that hedged me into that congregation; for all the benefits and comforts I enjoyed under the ministry of thy aged servant, now before thy throne, and that thou

preparedst thy young servant to fill his place, when the time of his departure came.

I thank thee for all the endowments of our young pastor, of nature and of grace. I thank thee, that thou hast kept him faithful to Him who has called him, and for the precious treasure thou hast put in that earthen vessel.

Now, Lord, that thou hast called him to leave his family, and his flock, to travel to a foreign land, in the service which thou requirest; go with him, prosper him, overrule all his concerns, for thy glory, the good of his soul, of the church in general, and his own little flock in particular. Amen. Glorify thy name.

November 22, 1801.

Isabella S is very ill, she appears to be in a stupor. Two physicians are attending, but my eyes are to the Lord. She is his own, dedicated to him in baptism, in which we took hold of his covenant, a God in Christ for her, in particular, for ourselves and our children.

I desire not to draw back, but the Lord strengthening me, to give up at his call. If it be his will to spare her, she is still his own to be done by, with, and for, as his infinite wisdom may see fit, for his own glory, and her eternal interest. If he is about to remove her out of the world, she is his own; out of the mouth of this babe will he perfect praise; with that company of little children of whom is the kingdom of heaven, she shall join in the song of Moses and the Lamb, "to him that redeemed us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, to him be glory, honour, dominion, and power."

O Lord, one petition I prefer-if it be thy will to take her out of the world, take her in thine arms, and carry her through the dark valley; grant to her a gentle and easy passage, and an abundant entrance into thy kingdom, and tune our hearts to sing " The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." Amen.

November 23, 1801.

This day, the dear Isabella joined the church triumphant, took her place among that company of little children which Christ has pronounced blessed, and "of the kingdom of Heaven." I yesterday asked of the Lord, that he would take her in his arms, and carry her through the dark valley, that he would give her a gentle and an easy passage, and an abundant entrance into his kingdom. O, he heard my prayer; it was indeed soft and gentle; not a struggle, not a groan -and the affliction which brought down the frame was moderate throughout. I was enabled to resign the Lord's own into his own hand, in the faith that he did receive, and would keep that which I committed to him.

My soul is satisfied; more than satisfied: I rejoice, and congratulate the lovely babe on her early escape from a world of sin and sorrow, to the arms of her dear Redeemer, and to perfect blessedness with him.

November 24, 1801.

The beautiful clay of our Isabella is now consigned to the tomb. Never but once did I behold such a lovely object. It seemed to say, "weep not for Bella, she is happy." Weep we did, though grieve we did not.

Q

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