and was led to pray against; also for preventing me from murmuring, when he took away the worthy master of my school by a sudden stroke, and giving me faith that this also was to work for good, although I knew not how; and, soon after, he unexpectedly provided me with another. I have much cause to record to the praise of free grace, that the Lord has lately given me much composure of spirit concerning the calling of another minister for the chapel in Edinburgh; enabling me to trust in him, that one shall be appointed according to his own heart; making me satisfied, that his will in all things shall take place, even although it should be in demolishing of the whole work, or in my not being permitted to see its prosperity; this I feel to be a new temper of mind, wrought in me by repeated trials, afflictions, and disappointments. Glory be to his name. What shall I now render to the Lord for all his benefits. It is of thine own only, O Lord, that I have to offer. I am thine, in every sense of the word; thine by creation, redemption, repeated selfdedication. I can now only renew this day what I have often done; and I now afresh solemnly do, as in thy presence, devote my whole soul, body, and spirit, to thy service, beseeching thee to rule over and reign in me. Dispose of me in whatever way is most for thy glory; guide me by thy counsel whilst I am here; leave me not one moment to myself. Let me live under an abiding sense of thy presence, and of thy love in Christ Jesus; and when I can no longer serve thee here, receive me into the heavenly kingdom, to dwell with thee for evermore: and thine shall be the praise and glory, through Christ. Amen! W. G.

At the usual season Lady Glenorchy returned from Taymouth, and without spending any time at Barn

ton, as she used to do, came directly to Edinburgh, anxious to accomplish without delay the settlement of a minister in her chapel. Mr Hodgson not having as yet given an answer to the offer made him in July, she invited him to a conference in Edinburgh. He complied with this, and had repeated conversations both with her and the managers of her chapel. They agreed in all points excepting in the manner of admitting persons to church privileges, on which Mr Hodgson held some peculiar opinions, from which he could not deviate, and to which neither Lady Glenorchy nor her friends could accede. With mutual regret they were therefore obliged to terminate the negociation. Lady Glenorchy was thus again placed in a state of anxiety and perplexity how to proceed.

The usual sacramental fast-day of the city was at hand, and she and the congregation agreed to keep it, and in doing so to have particularly at heart their present circumstances, and to implore the great Head of the church to provide them with a pastor that might repair the loss they had experienced. As no eligible person appeared in Scotland, she turned her eyes towards England. She had heard of Mr Clayton, who had lately been settled in a Presbyterian meeting in London, whose character and talents were highly respectable. She thought it probable that he might be induced to come to Edinburgh, and sent therefore Mr Dickie, one of the managers of the chapel, to hear him, and, if he thought he would answer the situation, to invite him to visit Edinburgh with a view to his settlement there. These things appear from the following extracts.

Wednesday, October 28.-In the afternoon there was a meeting of the managers for solemn prayer, to

request direction in the choice of a minister. They were unanimously of opinion that they must give up Mr Hodgson. I was led to commit the matter wholly to the Lord, and enabled in some measure to believe he would provide.

Friday evening, October 30.-Another meeting for prayer, and a proposal agreed to of using next Thursday as a congregational fast with respect to the circumstances of the chapel, as it was the fast-day before the celebration of the Lord's supper in the city.

November 5.-This day being set apart for fasting and prayer in the chapel, Mr Martin of Monymeal and Mr Bonar preached; the former on Psalm li. 3. "For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me;" the latter on Revelations i. 17. "And when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead; and he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last." The interval betwixt the worship in the forenoon and the afternoon was spent by the managers in prayer. My own soul has been very dead all day,-no liberty in prayer,— my sins are as a heavy burden,—I am weighed down and have no power to raise myself up, or to lay hold by faith on the remedy. I feel my heart full of vain wandering thoughts, sensible of the state I am in, yet not enough distressed on that account. I have no power to plead in prayer for a minister, nor for myself, although I see the need of both. O that the Lord would have compassion upon me, and melt this frozen heart with a sense of his love. This I know would effectually remove the darkness and ignorance of mind which I now groan under. O that he would enable me to look upon him whom I have pierced by my sins, and

mourn as one mourneth for her first-born. My heart is hard as the nether mill-stone.

This night Mr Dickie has written to London to inquire about a minister for the chapel:-may the Lord overrule and direct in this matter! To thee I commit it, O thou great Head of the church! Send whom thou wilt send,-let thy will be done, thy glory advanced, our souls quickened and built up in the faith, for thy great name's sake. Amen.

Saturday, November 7.-I have been this day endeavouring to examine myself, and I plainly perceive that I have suffered much from not giving more diligence in redeeming time, and in suppressing vain unprofitable thoughts. I have no strength to perform any duty, yet I dare not for this reason absent myself from the Lord's table to-morrow, because the more weak and the more sickly my soul is, the more need I have of spiritual medicine and nourishment. Viewing the ordinance in this light, I will venture forward, as the poorest and most needy of all the flock. Perhaps the Chief Shepherd may cast an eye of pity upon me, and lead me into his green pastures, beside the still waters of comfort. Perhaps it may be a day of revival to my soul.

Sunday, November 8.-This morning my temptations were strong, and my faith weak. I went out in much darkness of mind. When I entered the church they were singing the two last verses of the 43d Psalm:

Why art thou then cast down, my soul?

What should discourage thee?

And why with vexing thoughts art thou
Disquieted in me?

Still trust in God; for him to praise

Good cause I yet shall have :

He of my count'nance is the health,
My God that doth me save.

very

This gave me some comfort, and Mr Plenderleath's first prayer seemed suitable to the state of my mind, and his sermon was refreshing. I found that I desired to see Jesus, and, blessed be God, when I went to the table I got some degree of light and liberty, and was made to see my own vileness and unworthiness, and something of the love of Christ in dying for such a sinner. I was enabled to give up myself wholly to him, for time and eternity, and to put all my concerns into his hands. I found a readiness to do or to suffer whatever he saw meet for me. I also got a sight of the vanity of the creature, and felt a desire to have my all in God. My burden was taken off, so that the rest of the day I have felt comfort in joining in songs of praise to him who has turned my night into day, and delivered me out of the hands of my cruel foes. I felt joy and triumph in singing a part of the 23d Psalm.

Sunday, November 29.--This morning I was led to expect some comfort from the word preached, having asked it in prayer; and accordingly I did find more comfort than usual in hearing. Mr Bonar preached, and seemed directed to speak to my particular case; and while I heard I was refreshed by it. But this evening I cannot recollect it. I only think it has left an indistinct impression on my mind, by which I have been led to pray more earnestly to God, that performeth all things for me, with firmer faith than is common to me, of being heard. I have put myself, and the affairs of the chapel, into the Lord's hands, and besought deliverance in any way he thinks fit,