for he is faithful that promised. Again, the Lord sware, and will not repent; thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament; because he continueth ever, and hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore, he is able to save to the uttermost those that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Christ glorified not himself to be made an High Priest ; but He that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee, saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Again, chap. vii. 28. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath which was since the law, maketh the Son who is consecrated for ever more. Acts x. 36. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.

Rockaway, September 10, 1811.

I HAVE been here four Sabbaths. The first I spent at home, the weather not permitting our going abroad; the second, I spent at a Prayer Meeting with the Methodists: the third, we rode to Hemstead, where I heard two plain Gospel sermons, from Mr. C—, Presbyterian minister; and the last, I attended at the Episcopal Church, same place; heard a good plain Gospel

sermon from Mr. H-, and witnessed the dispensation of the Lord's Supper.

upon

To sing the praises of our redeeming God, and to lift up my heart in prayer with my fellow sinners, in the comfortable hope, that there are other living souls praising and praying with me, refreshes me to hear the word of God read, and to be led to meditate it, however simple and common the exposition, also refreshes me. I am generally led to pray much, for minister and people, to consider myself as one with them in Christ, especially if the minister be regularly bred, and ordained by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery. However weak his natural powers; however few or small his talents, if I have reason to think that he is taught of God, that which flesh and blood cannot teach, I desire to esteem him highly for his work's sake. I thank God for the meanest and weakest of such: I believe they never do labour in vain. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, in talents as well as in years, God will perfect praise.

In this new world, thickly settled in many places with natural men, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, while the flood of wrath is hastening to overwhelm them, and none to warn them of their danger, nor point out the ark of safety; shall such men be reckoned of none account, and their labours of no value? No, the wealth of both Indies cannot balance their work. No, nor all the talents ever possessed by fallen man, with all the orthodoxy which mere talents are capable of acquiring, without that divine teaching which many of those, thus contemned, possess. That same small discourse, those few plain points, these same things repeated in the same way,

contain truths by which sinners may be saved, I believe by which sinners shall be saved.

Suppose, (for it is but a supposition,) that these men have made a mistake. They are the Lord's, and in their place by his providence. He will be forth-coming for them, and without miracle. From him shall their fruit be found, and his power be manifested by their weakness. Exert your energies, ye gifted Doctors of Divinity; and may the Lord prosper the means used to produce a ministry which shall render attendance upon their ministrations the interest of both the understanding and the heart. Persuade men who are adding field to field, house to house, thousand to thousand, to provide a competent maintenance for them. If these last remain obstinate, and it be idle to hope that youths of talents without fortune, whatever be their piety, will serve the church of God at the expense of devoting themselves to infallible penury, and all the wretchedness which belongs to it-is it wise to weaken the hands and discourage the hearts of those ministers, already settled pastors, or to furnish their people with arguments in their own vindication, for leaving them in want and penury?

SACRAMENT SABBATH, May 17, 1812.

WAS much melted under a sense of indwelling sin, and the deceitfulness of the human heart, and of my own heart in particular. I have been, I think, much in the exercise of contrition, for the sins of my past life, and exercised in watching over my words, thoughts, and actions; now that the Lord has delivered me from all necessity to care, having every thing

provided for me, necessary to life and godliness: pleasant food and clothing also to my mind; my dear room, retirement, fire, candle, attendance; my precious Bible, and precious, lively, spiritual sanctuary ordinances; a faithful and beloved pastor, who feeds me with truth: I taste it, and I am fed. I am, as the Lord God merciful and gracious has awarded, under the constant influence of shame and confusion for my highly aggravated transgressions; but I also enjoy the full sense of pardon; being justified by faith, I have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; and knowing that I have a great High Priest that is passed into the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, I am enabled to hold fast my profession, comforted by this, that I have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of my infirmities, but was in all points, tempted as we are, yet without sin. I dare come, (not very boldly,) for I am under much depression, to the throne of Grace, that I may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Every time is a time of need with me, for sin still dwelleth in me. I have peace with God, through my dear Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, but am at constant war with myself. I plead thy promise, that thou wilt subdue my iniquities. That sin shall not have dominion over me. And now, Captain of salvation, I renew the fight, but it is depending upon thee to fight for me, with me, and in me. I will set myself to watch, but I shall watch in vain, if thou keep not the avenues of my heart, and the door of my lips. O clothe me with thy meek and lowly Spirit!

Sabbath, July 26, 1812.

TIRED of the bustle of Rockaway, and having

subordinate motives for returning home for a time, I embraced this season in particular; having, in the compass of one week, Sabbath, Wednesday my birth day, and the day set apart both by the General Assembly of our Church, and the Governor of our State, for fasting, prayer, and humiliation, besides lecture on the same evening. I returned, therefore, on Friday, the 24th.

This day, Dr. R-n preached from the 1st verse of the 27th Psalm, The Lord is my light and my sal vation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? He spoke of the nature and causes of fear, of the perfections of God, and the security of believers in those perfections. He spoke of the faith which unites to Christ, and secures the safety and true interest of believers, in every possible case. His chief design seemed to be to strengthen the weak, and confirm the fearful and the doubting, who had nevertheless, both from former and present experience, a good right to the consolations of the text.

O God! my my merciful and gracious God!! what can I say of thy amazing, distinguishing mercy to me? Delivered from all these fears, and able to adopt the text fully, I know of none who have more or greater cause of fear as sinners. My transgressions have been of crimson and scarlet hue. O my God, thou knowest them, words cannot paint them. My Saviour, thou knowest them, for thou baredst them! every jot and tittle was put to thy account, and thou didst cancel all! O that garden! that cry on the cross! the effects were seen on thy sacred body, but who can conceive the mysterious horror which agonized thy sacred soul! But thou saidst, It is finished, and finished it is. Lamb