Wednesday.—Read Ambrose Christopher Vess, and other good writers. Preached in the evening on the Saviour washing the disciples’ feet. Alas! our daily errors and infirmities need washing away in the blood of the Lamb, by the word of God, and the influence of the Spirit.
Thursday.—A particular solemn day. Viewed with sacred delight, the thirty-three years of our Lord’s obedience to the law, for the justification of his Church, and now I behold him hastening to the awful entrance upon his direful sufferings and death, to put away sin. Preached in the evening on “They shall shew you a large upper room, furnished, there make ready.” Gave the sacrament between eight and nine o’clock, to about 300 persons; all was solemn and impressive; I was sweetly supported and a little melted. Oh, that it had been more so.
For canst thou, ungrateful man, his sorrows see,
Nor drop one tear for him who shed his blood for thee.
Good Friday.—Preached in the morning on Ephesians, i. I felt the power of the subject, and nearly at times overwhelmed, but kept up under the description of the Saviour’s sorrows; blessed also with a lively hope; he died for me. Preached in the evening upon his burial, and predicted resurrection, 41st Psalm. A solemn and blessed day.
Saturday.—Led to some precious portions of God’s word, though rather dead in mind and tired in body. Same day buried a dear friend, conversed and prayed with the family in the evening.
Easter Sunday morning.—Blessed with spirituality, though a little indisposed in body. Preached on the Seven Resurrections, but enlarged on our resurrection state in Christ, from Romans vi.
Afternoon.—Preached on Habakuk, iii. 2. “Wilt thou not revive us again.” In the evening, a funeral sermon for a beloved friend, whose life was spiritual, and whose death was blessed; the text John xi. “I am the resurrection,” &c. But alas! how flat and insipid I felt, yet God blessed the word.
I look back with gratitude on what the Lord has done for me, and rejoice that amidst the many changes I experience in body, soul and circumstances, in the Church and in the world, he is the same yesterday, to day and for ever; in his love, in his purposes, in his covenant, in his word, and in his faithfulness. Oh, could I know and love him more.
“For Lord I would be thine alone,
And wholly live in thee;
Take all that I possess below,
And give thyself to me.”
I only send you this as a short specimen of a few memorandums I wish you to make and keep by you; you will often find the benefit of reviewing them.—Hence the order, “Set thee up way-marks, make thee high heaps.” These memorandums are as Gilead, an heap of witnesses, and ye are my witnesses saith the Lord.