in the success of missions, and a still more profitable one, to those who have consecrated, or are about to devote, their lives to this service. The principal means by which we can become acquainted with such men, are their diaries. What should we have known of that devout and heavenly man Mr. Brainerd, had it not been for his journals? And we should have known nearly as little of Mr. Chamberlain, had it not been from the same source of information.

It appears that he entered on his preparatory studies at Olney, about the 7th Oct. 1798, and continued there somewhat less than a year. During the whole of this time, he paid the most scrupulous attention to the state of his heart, and rigidly examined the motives by which he was influenced. He was fully convinced, that personal religion was indispensable to his happiness: hence every scene, every circumstance, every book, every sermon, and every friend, that produced an effect on the state of his mind, was carefully noticed by him in the account of his daily experience, the substance of which we shall now transcribe. After he had been at Olney a short time, he thus commenced his first diary.

"Oct. 17th, 1798.-I have been at dear Mr. Sutcliff's ten days. Have been very dull, very cold, and much discouraged; have felt something of my weakness, but not enough to lead me earnestly to God for strength. Yesterday I hope I felt something more than ever I have done since I have been here; felt comfortable in the afternoon in prayer to God— was enabled to pray for divine assistance, for the divine presence to be with the dear brethren assembled at Kettering,* with those in India and in the South Seas, and with those that are about to embark, also with brother Brunsdon and myself.

* The meeting here referred to was held to take into consideration the propriety of complying with the earnest request of the brethren then in India, who had solicited that more missionaries might be sent them. Mr. Brunsdon, whose name is mentioned in the above section, was a fellow student with Mr. Chamberlain, and a close intimacy existed between them: they generally prayed together three times a day, and constantly conversed together on religious and missionary subjects, so that piety was the foundation of their friendship. Nec sine virtute amicitia esse ullo pacto potest, &c.—Cic.

This was the first refreshing opportunity I have had these ten days. O Lord, let me not be so cold and so dull; appear for me; enlighten my mind, and enable me to be more eminent in holiness, more like Jesus.

"19th.-Have been reading an account of the Moravians in North America, of the troubles they endured, and the afflictions they went through, and the success that attended the labours of the missionaries. What love to souls! What zeal for God! What patience! What meekness! What humility, and what disinterested benevolence appear in all their proceedings!-Worthy to be imitated indeed! How was the power of God manifested in bringing those poor Indians out of darkness into his marvellous light! What joy to those dear men to see their labours blessed of God! But Oh, how soon the scene changes; fightings without, and fears within! What grief must it have caused in their breasts to see and hear of the distresses and calamities that took place, to be driven from one place to the another, and to be in the midst of so many dangers amongst the enraged savages; but most of all to hear the heart-rending tidings, while they were prisoners, of the murder of their beloved congregation; Oh how must this have wounded their hearts!-But God was their strength. When I think of these things, I don't feel so much affected as I could wish, yet I think I do experience some degree of pleasure in the prospect of the spread of the Gospel. Blessed be God for putting it into the hearts of some to think of the poor heathen, and for raising up societies and men for such a work.

"22nd.-Yesterday felt something of the power of religion. Had some precious opportunities in attending to divine ordinances, was very happy at the table of the Lord.

the name of Jesus was precious to me, I could sing,

I trust

In the evening had some sweet conversation with a Chris

tian friend.

in

"Nov. 1st. This is the first day of the month; whether I shall live to see the end of it, I cannot tell; a kind of shivering restlessness has seized me to-day: I feel more composed my mind than I have done for some time past, and trust, if I die, I shall be infinitely happy with Christ, and shall have done with all the sorrows of this world. Have been reading a pamphlet concerning ministers, the motives that influence them in entering on the work, and the manner and matter of it; I am very much tried on this subject; I feel myself condemned, and fear nothing but selfish motives have induced me to propose as a missionary-the thought of being a great man, such as John Chamberlain, Missionary in India; but cursed be the motive, or such motives as these, if such are in my heart. If such things move me to engage in this work, O Lord, overturn them-turn them to foolishness!

2nd. My complaint is a little abated. Have been able to read some of the lives of holy men of old. What a view of true religion appears therein! But ah, how little do I feel of such a spirit! What zeal, what love to God, what love to precious souls are here displayed! They took joyfully the spoiling of their goods,' and endured hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Oh what men were Elliot, Baxter, Bunyan, and the Mayhews! O Lord! grant me much of their spirit.

"5th.-Saw dear Mr. Haddon, heard from my friends at Naseby, was glad to hear they were well, and carried on the school with their usual vigour: may their efforts be blessed for good. Am sorry to hear they have no more hopes of the work of conversion than they have; but it is the Lord's work; He will appear in his time. O that they may never want a heart to pray.

66 6

As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth the countenance of a man his friend.'-I was revived by seeing Mr. Haddon; it brought to mind some of the precious opportunities I formerly enjoyed of waiting upon God, and some particular characters whom I much respected. Oh, that they may be not only religious, but eminently so.

10th.-I have been reading a sermon that was preached before the synod at Philadelphia, by David Bostwick, entitled Self disclaimed and Christ exalted, 2 Cor. iv. 5. I feel some

thing quickened by it. It is a great thing to be brought off from one's self to seek the honour of Christ alone! What matter for examination! O my soul, should self be the main end thou hast in view, think what a dangerous, what a cursed principle it is. Search me, O God! and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts;' and see if there be in me this base principle, or any other wicked way, and lead me in the way everlasting.

" 11th.—I feel a great deal of sin about me to-day; múch stupidity, much unbelief and pride. When shall these be done away, when shall I have a realizing sense of God always with me, when shall I prize time as I ought, and improve the various privileges and opportunities that I enjoy to the best advantage? O that Lord's days were more precious to me, that I might have a lively hope of enjoying that eternal Sabbath of rest which remaineth for the people of God. I have been a little revived this morning by hearing what are the evidences that we profit by hearing the word-may numbers profit by it, I be one of them!

and may

“13th.—I was very much enlivened last night at the experience meeting; I thought my desire was, that the power of true vital godliness might be felt in a greater degree than it is, and that poor souls might be constrained to turn from their evil ways. I feel a desire to be at work in the Lord's vineyard. O Lord! bring poor souls by thy power, make them willing to serve thee, and make me more concerned to serve thee.

"14th.-Have been reading a book on self-knowledge, its importance, and wherein it consists; I find I know but little of myself or God. It has, I trust, been of use to me. 17th. The question put to Elijah appears very applicable to me, · What doest thou here? Ah! what indeed. I have been very vain and very assuming; I have thought I was something, and alas! I am nothing. I have deceived some with pretences; I fear, my proud and wicked heart has pretended to love souls, and to desire to be a missionary from no other ground than this, that there was no prospect of my being a minister here. Is it so, O Lord? search me, and try me. If it be so, a wretched missionary indeed shall I be.

What ground have I to believe that I am sincere? Alas! very little and granted that I am, what are my abilities? Are they competent for such a work? Surely they are not; then of what use will be my going? Indeed very little. Are there no others of greater abilities that will go? Verily there are; then what doest thou here? I am here to be fitted for such a work, or rather to be proved. But is it possible to work miracles?-then I might be qualified for such an undertaking. I fear my being here is vain. I am aiming at things too high for me, at things beyond my capacity, and for which I was never intended. He that exalteth himself shall be abased.' Well, be it so. God be praised; let the glory be his, the shame mine. May the Lord humble me, and lead me in the right way. ◇ thou that bringest the blind by a way they know not, and leadest them in paths that they have not known, let thy providence and grace interpose on my behalf.

"25th.-I have enjoyed but little to-day in the service of God, being exceedingly filled with anxious fears and foreboding thoughts. Have been thinking that I will, as far as I am able, examine myself on the grounds and motives of my present design, and that I will pursue the inquiry, by way of dialogue between Self, Conscience, and Truth.* May the Lord enable me to do it with profit and advantage to myself. Have experienced some little comfort in reading Bellamy's Essays. Truly religion consists in love to God, and not to ourselves; in a concern for his glory, and not for our safety. O that my eyes were enlightened to see the transcendent excellence and glory of His character-the beauty and loveliness that appear therein, so as to have my affections raised, and fixed upon their proper object.

"29th.-Have felt some composure of mind since yesterday, in writing what I proposed on the 25th; the Lord enabled me to continue impartially to examine myself. I have felt a little relieved from my burden, since I have begun to consider and write down my motives; but I fear lest I should

He wrote two dialogues on this subject, which display deep research into the secrets of his own heart. We should have inserted them in the Appendix, but that the latter is left in an unfinished state, and the former is incomplete without it,