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September 30th.-Preached as usual, and found the people particularly attentive in the forenoon. Let me give my strength to the grand business of being useful in my profession.

"October 2d.-Had a most agreeable note from Dr. Charters, accompanied with a present of books, and expressing his entire satisfaction with my review of his sermons.

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"October 6th.—I had been employing myself in drawing a ludicrous exposition of the conduct of the St. Andrew's Presbytery (in Principal Playfair's case), when in comes Mr. Melvil, who had been dining with a party of clergymen, and reported their general determination to support Playfair. This produced a delirium of joy, which threw me off my guard, and I gave way to the fullness of my emotions. I should not have spoken so virulently of -; at the same time, it will be of the utmost importance to get him down from his influence in the church. And I pray God that He would give me grace to employ all my endeavors toward the interest of his religion and the aggrandizement of His name. October 12th.-Upon a general review of the last five or six days, I collect a few points which it may be useful to register. Let me pay a great deal more attention to the details of church business. Let me respect my elders; but seeing, as I do, upon what trifling grounds a measure may be suggested and generally concurred in, let me maintain all the obstinacy of principle, and by a manner removed from every thing like impetuosity, or conceit, or contemptuousness, let me try to gain effectual influence over the hearts of my brethren. I have less of the vanity of display, but I have still a strong remainder of the worldly principle. I behooved to have spoken at the Synod, because a speech was delivered adverse to my cause, and the nod and imploring eye of Dr. Playfair were of themselves sufficient to decide me. But let me never comment upon one's appearance afterward, let me never fish for compliments, or try in a disguised manner to turn the conversation to the subject. Previous to my ap

pearance I was engrossed with anxiety. This is not heavenly it is vain even upon worldly principles. It takes so much time from happiness, and it is not justified by the event, which in all cases is greatly less formidable than the anticipation. But the most serious part of it is, that it argues an occupation of the mind with what may be called trifles when compared with the great subjects of human interest and anxiety; the favor of God, the moral discipline of the heart, the faith of the gospel, the promises of immortality. In this interval of time I have not been regular in my devotions, and not guarded in my conversation. O God, may I repair with delight to Thy service, and may I employ this short interval of retirement from the world in giving new vigor to my principles and more effect to the lessons of Thy word.

Oh, thou Father of mercies, to whom no humble and sincere worshiper addresses himself in vain, uphold me by Thy good Spirit; make me heavenly-minded. May I walk by faith, and not by sight; and in the contemplations of eternity may I bury the vanity and the delusions of time.

"October 26th.-Crossed to Leith, walked to Edinburgh, and dined in Mr. Cowan's.

"October 28th.-Heard sermon in the forenoon at New Greyfriars, and was much pleased with the manly and vigorous orthodoxy of Mr. Andrew Thomson.

“October 29th.-Took the Carlisle diligence for Hawick, and landed at Wilton in the evening, where I repose in the bosom of a pious and cultivated family.

"October 30th.-Called at Mr. Arkle's, Thomas Kedie's, and the dear and interesting Ushers of Courthill.

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November 1st.—Was spoken to by Dr. Charters about my publication on National Resources not having taken, and of his certainty that my review would not be admitted into the Edinburgh. May I feel the salutary lesson of indifference to the praise of man, and may all my anxiety be directed to the praise of God and the interests of eternity. I disguised some things relative to the fate of my publication ;

conscience was

May I wrap myself in

and the only way in which I could pacify my
by again bringing them forward.
the armor of principle.

"November 6th.-Left Wilton this morning in the Hawick stage, and got to Valleyfield (Pennycook) about six in the evening.

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November 7th.-Walked with Mrs. J. and her daughter to Sir George Clerk's. The former is Unitarian in her principles; the latter is under doubt and anxiety. Let me maintain the high tone of principle, if consulted upon this subject. I was consulted, and said, that we perhaps might read the Bible with honesty, and not be convinced of the absolute divinity of our Saviour. I stood up, however, for His high pre-eminence, for unqualified submission to the authority of Scripture, and for the clear, undeniable revelation of an atoning sacrifice.

“November 23d.-Rode from St. Andrew's to Cupar, and in the Union coach to Kilmany, when I entered my new manse for the first time. This may be considered as an epoch in the history of my life; and I pray Heaven that from this epoch I may date new vigor to my principles, greater consistency in my conduct, more effort and more determination in my purposes of obedience.

Sunday, December 9th.-This the day of my sacrament. Mr. Blair and others from Naughton heard me. I felt the restraint of their criticising tendencies; but let me maintain charity. In my pulpit exhibitions 1 am, perhaps, too anxious to communicate a full impression of what I say, and give an ardor and a rapidity to my utterance which defeats the purpose. I should confide a little more in the pathy and intelligence of my hearers; and by a more distinct and, at the same time, less fatiguing manner of enunciation, I both save myself, and probably come nearer to the object of my anxiety. O God, may every approach to Thee leave improvement and growth in grace behind it.

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"December 12th.-Confined to the house all day by snow

and sleet.

Spent the whole of it in subduing my confused

books into arrangement.

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December 18th.-Walked this forenoon from Cupar to Anster. Refused Mr. Pearson's kind offer of a horse; and am happy to think that the expense of maintaining him was my chief reason. Let me make sacrifices to the grand object of economy, and feel how respectable an object it is, as it will be the means of releasing me from embarrassment, and preparing me for the freer exercise of justice and humanity. Reached Anster by four in the afternoon, and found Lucy fast hastening to her grave.

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chaise.

December 22d.-Left Anstruther this morning in a Took what, in all probability, will be my final adieu of Lucy on this side of time. She was in great agony, and speechless. My aunt was holding her head; and the expression of her countenance, which spoke the strong conflict within her, has haunted me all day, and at this moment overpowers me with tenderness.* O God, may I feel the importance of religion, and may I cherish and keep alive the salutary impressions of this affecting scene. O God, may I prize Thy religion as the only sure defense against the griefs and the dangers of this earthly pilgrimage.

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December 23d.-Went up to Logie and preached at the kirking of Mr. and Mrs. Melvil. At the first prayer Patrick made his appearance, from which I inferred Lucy's death. "December 24th.-Went off in a chaise this morning, and reached Anster after four. Have begun to read Wil

berforce, and hope to be much the better of it.

"December 25th.-Spent this day in my room, and with my relations. I am making head against the soreness of my

* "Lucy died yesterday morning at five o'clock. It has long been looked for, and the family are bearing it with as much composure as can be expected. My father is almost blind. This decay in his sight cane on pretty gradually at first, and has now arrived to such a degree that he can neither write, read, nor recognize any of the family.” -Letter from Mr. Chalmers, of date 24th December, 1810.

temperament to what is irksome, though still far and very far from perfection. O God, may I feel the authority of Thy law. I am delighted with Wilberforce.

"December 31st.-Walked to Pittenweem with Misses Hall and Nairne. Returned and dined with Mr. Henderson..... I pray God that I may contract no taint from my intercourse with the world. As years roll away may I gather wisdom, and learn that it is not on this side of time that my home and my inheritance lie."

That effort after a pure and heavenly morality which Mr. Chalmers had so long and so unfalteringly sustained, was now on the eve of a change, which was not only to alter, but to reverse in their relative positions its starting-post and its goal. All the natural elements at work throughout this struggle were elements of signal power. A vigorous and enlightened intelligence, a conscience strong but very tender, most delicately susceptible, yet devoid of all narrowness and weakness, a will of almost inflexible determination, become now a yielding servant to the high sense of duty, these all exerting themselves under the profound impression, that God's eye was ever on them as they toiled, and that everlasting interests hung suspended on the issue, present to us such a full and attractive exhibition of mere natural character as might have invited analysis, or fixed for a season the eye of our admiration. But all lesser interest connected with this period loses itself in the light and meaning thrown upon it by its close. As the year expired, and for his evening readings at Anstruther, while he remained there after his sister's death, Mr. Chalmers took up Wilberforce's "Practical View," a work specially intended to expose the inadequate conceptions regarding the leading and peculiar doctrines of Christianity which characterized the religious system prevailing among professed Christians. "We are loudly called on," said Mr. Wilberforce, to examine well our foundations. If any thing be there unsound and hollow, the superstructure could

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