been, in praying that the trustees of this Seminary may be guided by divine wisdom, and preserved from all worldly ambition and carnal policy; that they may be harmonious, humble, prayerful, spiritual, and holy.

"I desire to be humble, that I have prayed so little for our respected Professors. I view it to be of incalculable importance, that they be eminently wise, humble, and holy men. But how little have I

Had all the mem

prayed that they may be so. bers of the Seminary prayed as they ought for them, who can tell, how much clearer views they might have had of divine truth, how much more spiritual and edifying their prayers, and preaching, and conversation might have been, how much more they might have encouraged us in doing good, and assisted us in preparing to be ministers of Jesus Christ! The way to obtain blessings from them, is to pray down blessings upon them. But if the blessings which I obtain are only in proportion to the purity and fervor of my prayers, how few they will be. O may their souls be filled with the comforts of religion, and may they have so much sense of divine things, and such clear views of duty, as will enable them to say, and do, the best things in the best manner. The Lord bless them, and never let them be cold in devotion, insensible to the worth of souls, or engaged in building up a great temporal cause in the world, forgetful of the true spiritual cause of Jesus.

"I have not prayed as I ought for my brethren. I have feared that they would become cold, speculative, formal, uninteresting, and indisposed to those active exertions which make ministers useful. I have feared that they would be influenced too much by love of ease, honor, literary fame, or fashionable living. But how little, and how poorly have I prayed, that they might be led by the divine Spirit to renounce the world, to act according to

the purity and simplicity of the religion of Jesus, and to lead lives of holy self-denial and active devotedness to the cause of the Redeemer. I might have prayed often for each of my brethren particularly; and whenever I have directed my eye, or turned my thoughts to one of them, I might have raised a petition to heaven for his spiritual good. Would God, that I loved this duty more, that my heart would rise spontaneously on all occasions, and every hour in the day, to call down blessings on myself and others.

"I have prayed too little that my brethren may enjoy the comforts, understand the doctrines, and discharge the duties of religion; do good by their prayers, their letters, and visits while here, by their exertions in vacations, and by their example and preaching as long as they live.

"I have prayed much less than I ought for others connected with this Institution-the instructers and members of the Academy-the families that worship with us the people around us-those who pray for our peace-and those who have imbibed ungrounded prejudices either for, or against us.

"I have prayed too little for those who have, in former years, occupied these places. They are scattered over the earth, filling important stations; we ought to pray for them. In answer to our prayers a blessing might attend their labors, and souls be converted.

"I have prayed too little for the future peace and purity of this Seminary. I would not make it the burden of my prayer that wealth may flow into it. Riches are dangerous, not to individuals only, but to communities, and to all public institutions. I would not pray, therefore, for any more wealth than may be consecrated 'Christo at Ecclesiæ.** But I ought to have prayed frequently and fervently that God would take all the concerns of the Seminary

To Christ and the Church.

into his care; that he would in kindness send prosperity or adversity;-increase, or diminish our number, our wealth, and our reputation, just as shall most conduce to the promotion of holiness, humility, and those habits and principles which make the most holy, godly, and successful ministers. Who can tell how much the character of the future trustees, professors, and students of this Seminary may depend on the prayers of its present members! And yet, if none offer more effectual prayers than I do, how little can be expected from this source.

"I have not been faithful in praying for myself, that I might have a heart to pray for others, and to discharge my duty towards them; that I might be enabled to exhibit a pious example before all around me; that all my visits, conversation, and letters, may be useful; that I may have divine teaching in all my studies, and divine direction in all my duties; and that my whole heart and soul may be transformed into the image of my Saviour. O that I might have a heart to pray more.

"March 26. Some of my brethren have proposed to make the spiritual welfare of this Institution and the Academy an object of special prayer to-day. I gladly join them in this service. May the good Spirit grant us his aid; for I am fully convinced that, without it, our prayers, our fasts, and our conversation about our stupidity and obligations, will avail nothing. On thinking of our state, I cannot but be affected with a sense of the dangerous tendency of the example I have set before those around me.

"There has not been in my deportment suitable Christian sobriety. I have often said things thoughtlessly, which tended to provoke unprofitable laughter. I have done this, even when serious subjects were the theme of our discourse. I have been particularly faulty in this respect at table, and when in company with a small number of my brethren. I have rarely done it when in a large company, ar

with only one. In large circles I am on my guard; with only one there is no temptation. O that my conversation were always such as becometh the Gospel! And after so many years spent in attending to religion, and inculcating it on others, am I still given to folly? And must I then despair? Ah! if I could despair of doing any thing in my own strength, and learn to depend on the aid of the divine Spirit, I might hope. To him I would now resort. But my cold heart remains unaffected. If a wish, a promise, a prayer, a pang of grief, would answer, I should have been exemplary in my conversation long ago. But all these have failed of producing the desired effect. So hard is it for those, who are disposed by nature and accustomed by habit to do evil, to learn to do well. I cannot but hope I shall live to see the day when, by divine grace, I shall have overcome the levity which is my besetting sin. Omnipotent grace can help me overcome it. I look forward with trembling joy to the time when all my conversation shall be discreet and sober.

“August 1, 1817. This day is the semi-annual fast of this Seminary. Morning-Exceedingly dull and destitute of all profitable contemplations, I can scarcely find in myself any disposition to pray, read, meditate, resolve against sin, or engage in any exercise suitable for the day. I can scarcely mourn, that I have so little feeling.

"Noon-Have just returned from hearing Mr. W. pronounce a eulogy on our brother Day. Eulogies appear to me generally to be too highly colored. Not so this. I knew the deceased. He walked with God. He was a friend-a saint. O how soberly and prayerfully he lived!

"May the great purpose, may the glow divine
That warmed his bosom, now inspirit mine.
To imitate my God, to bless mankind,
The sweet and sovereign passion of my mind.
Be such his praise, be such my glorious aim,
Till my soul, kindl'd at so fair á flame,

And wing'd for bliss and heaven, like his shall rise,
To join her kindred angels in the sletes.'

"Long may the recollection of what my brother was, be a powerful stimulus to me to become like him. O for that spirit of humility, of self-denial, of prayer, of Christian sobriety, which he possessed.

"Troubled still with the same unfruitful state of mind as in the morning. What shall I do? What method shall I take to become heavenly-minded? Sometimes I derive advantage from visiting my brethren, from reading, from secret prayer, from selfexamination. But alas! I have no heart for any of these exercises. A faint wish to do something, or have something done for me, sometimes begins to arise in my heart, and then it is overcome by stupidity. Sometimes a retired walk for meditation, the recollection of past experience, or writing a religious letter does me good; but I have now no heart for either. If another felt as I feel, I should exhort him to repent, to give himself up to God, to fly to Christ, to mourn and weep over his wretched state. I see no way for me, but to do as I should

exhort others.

"Evening-Heard this afternoon an excellent sermon from Mr. F. on Peter's recovery from backsliding. 'When he thought thereon he wept.' If I could think of my sins and weep, it would be well. When the flint shall melt, my heart may. But the Holy Spirit can subdue and purify it-can make me what a Christian should be. Sinful as I am, hard as my heart is, and unyielding as my sinful habits are, still I will venture to pray, and hope, that God will give me grace to do the following things, viz:

"1. To guard against levity in manners, looks, words, and conduct; and to be grave, solemn, discreet, and devotional.

"2. To be more constant, serious, and spiritual in the duties of the closet-reading, praying, meditation, and self-examination.