Friday 12. In the evening at preaching, I found my soul in a small degree quickened. Lord, continue even this spark, and blow it into a flame!
Monday 15. I met our class to renew the tickets; but I missed Mr. M——r’s lively manner of examining and exhorting each one, according to their various states.
Sunday 21. I went to the sacrament at St. John’s church, but all the time I was there, I was so beset with a particular temptation, that I had hard work to keep from yielding to it. In the evening Mr. J——n preached and met the society; but I sadly missed Mr. M——’s close and sweet applications and exhortations, which under God were exceeding profitable to me. This week my poor unstable mind has been much tossed with vain and wandring thoughts. O when shall my heart and treasure be laid up in heaven! Then, and not till then, will my mind also be fixed, stedfastly fixed in that thrice happy place. I have also been dry and dead in every means, which indeed is no wonder, when foolish thoughts are given way to; they necessarily damp the work of God in the soul. Lord, make me more watchful.
Sunday 28. I spent the day comfortably, and found a degree of sweetness in prayer. O for a thankful heart!
Thursday, October 10. This day being the quarterly meeting, we had a number of strange preachers in town; and in the evening one Mr. S——t preached. He is not a very connected preacher, but one of the most lively and powerful, that I ever heard. I was more stirred up and quickened under this sermon, than I have been for months before. There seemed to be an awful solemnity, resting upon the whole congregation.
Monday 26. In the evening it rained much; but I ventured out, and was well paid for so doing, by Mr. M——’s discourse upon 1 Corinthians vi. 11. But ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Sunday, November 2. I went to the sacrament at Trinity church, but found no particular blessing in that ordinance, or indeed any other; my mind being much exercised, as it had been great part of the last week, in which nothing seemed sweet or profitable to me, but private prayer.
Sunday 9. All this week my mind has been much diverted from God, by a circumstance which befel me, not very pleasing to flesh and blood. Lord, give me wisdom, grace, and prudence to guide me through the trials I am liable to meet with here: and O at last receive my poor soul to the peaceful haven of everlasting rest; where all the storms of this tumultuous life are over, and all is quietness and assurance for ever!
*Monday 17. Mr. J——n dined with us this day; I think he is one of the most agreeable men I know. On Thursday evening my uncle preached upon Matthew xx. 32. What will ye that I shall do unto you? My soul was more blest under this discourse, than under any since Mr. S——t preached. In the application, he desired each to ask their own soul, what is my most prevailing desire? Riches, honour, or pleasure? But my heart rejected all these, and replied,
“None but Christ to me be given,