Tuesday 15. I was in a very cold indifferent frame all the day. In the evening while my uncle catechised us, such a spirit of laughter came upon us, that we could hardly speak. Lord deliver us from a light, trifling spirit, as also from an unloving, disputing spirit.
“Mutual love the token be,
Lord, that we belong to thee.”
In the evening my uncle preached on Hosea xiv. 1, 2. My soul was blest especially in singing the last hymn, in which are these sweet words.
“He’ll never quench the smoking flax,
But raise it to a flame:
The bruised reed he never breaks,
Nor scorns the meanest name.”
Wednesday 16. I arose this morning with some degree of recollection and stayedness upon my spirit. It partly continued all the day; but in the evening, yielding to levity, I lost it. Lord, give me power over a trifling spirit! Give me a continual sense of thy presence! Then I shall not easily yield to this or any other temptation. I retired and read the 3d chapter of Matthew. Went to prayer, and found enlargement in it.
Thursday 17. All this day I was in a very disagreeable frame, which I cannot well describe. I retired, read the psalms, and the 4th of Matthew. O may I like our blessed Lord when tempted, answer the tempter with the word of God. The text this evening was Isaiah liv. 22. Look unto me and be ye saved. My thoughts were very wandering all the time. O when will my mind be constantly fixed on, and looking to that glorious object of our faith and love!