revelation, but even the very existence of Deity; and to make every crime, even the most atrocious, not only innocent, but meritorious; if it only contributes to accomplish the ends they have in view. This is what they term, illuminizing the whole world, by restoring man to original perfection: a perfection which requires no governments of any kind, nor any property, nor any subordination. How lamentable to think that these dreadful principles have taken root in almost every part of the known world, by the unabating vigilance of their abettors, who have recourse to every stratagem that the devil can suggest, or the wicked heart of fallen man devise, in order to promote their universal spread among every class of human beings; from the king on the throne, to the meanest subject. O blessed God, counteract the hellish poison, by an equal dissemination of the pure truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thou art above all in power and goodness. O let not our island fall a prey to these devourers of mankind. We deserve it, but in mercy spare. Multitudes of them are among us in disguise.

In reading this shocking account, O how sweetly nigh did the adorable Saviour draw to me! how clearly did he shine on my soul! It is impossible to express what I felt in him. I saw a glorious antidote against all evil; the Healer of mankind; the comfort of his people; and their portion through all eternity. We would rejoice that all this is promised, and that vigorous attempts are now making for the accomplishment of it.

August 23. For these eight days past, my spiritual enjoyments have not been so great. While in the body, our frames will and must vary, even from natural causes. He that made us knows this. But still I have cause to praise my God, for many mercies since my last date. His will is very precious. I feel much satisfaction in cominitting my ways to him; in asking direction from him; and he gives me to feel it is not in vain to trust in him. Of this I have had a fresh proof within these few days. Yesterday he made all present delightfully sensible of his special presence, while engaged in prayer, praise, &c. But I want to get nearer Jehovah, who is the centre of my soul, I hope I may say, my God and my all, in a low degree: at least, I am kept keenly sensible of my shortcomings, and strongly desirous of being all that grace can make me. Have been much detained from the means of grace by bodily weakness and other causes, which grieved me. A gracious God is carrying on his work remarkably in different places. Lord, increase it greatly, and O be more powerfully with and among us. Still, holy Father, thou art doing wonderful things as to public matters. O the height and depth of thy goodness; it is indeed past finding out. But still I tremble, lest by our ingratitude we force thee to punish us in one way or another. My heart powerfully feels thy astonishing mercy to our guilty island, and I as deeply feel our returns are

not what they ought to be. Help, Lord, for the glory of thy name; and pour out thy Spirit upon us, that a visible change may take place upon us as a people.

September 27. Since last date, my intercourse with the Son of God and the Saviour of my soul has been peculiarly near and sweet; and I trust I may freely say profitable to myself, and I would hope to others. On Lord's day morning, early in secret at a throne of grace, my Jesus said, "Whatsoever ye ask in my name, it shall be done unto you." I felt sweetly surprised with his great condescension, and wished much to improve the gracious promise for others, as well as myself. Numbers of individuals crowded in upon my mind, as if pleading to be remembered, which I felt most willing to do, and had great liberty in attempting it; yea, my heart felt so enlarged in the duty, that I wished, had it been possible, to have brought the whole world, and laid them down at the Redeemer's feet; and to have spent days and nights in pleading for them, had the necessities of the mortal frame permitted. Soon after, when ruminating on the wonderful interview with which I had been favoured, Jesus again spoke and said, "Ask what you will and it shall be given." Here astonishment and love filled my whole soul, while I cried mightily for the prosperity of Zion. In the house of God, soon after, my heart was lifted up to the Hearer of prayer, in behalf of all he brought before me. Monday and Tuesday, had sweet renewals of the promise; yea, the simple recalling of the gracious words brought instant comfort and much sweetness, with strong desires to pray without ceasing. But quickly the combined powers of darkness attacked me, which surprised me greatly, supposing I had only to ask and receive. I cried to the Lord all Wednesday and Thursday morning, that he would answer for himself, if it were he that had spoken; (for the adversary slily, yea, strongly insinuated that it was not ;) and Jesus again greatly comforted me, and confirmed my soul in the sweet belief it was indeed himself, and that he would do as he had spoken; but the time when he left with himself, and to me it is given to pray and wait. On Thursday, as usual, we were visited with the divine presence remarkably. Blessed Lord, come quickly, and grant me all I have asked for myself and for others; and let mine eyes see the prosperity of thy Zion.

December 20. These last eight days, as the former, have been marked with fresh proofs of the loving kindness of Him who is rich in mercy to his people, by most sweet and sensible visits from on high, in public and in private; in the house of prayer, and in my own habitation. These are exhilarating to the human mind, and raise it above all sublunary things. They open a new world, realized by faith, wherein dwelleth righteousness: a world of angels, and of the spirits of just men made perfect; but above all, the Lord our righteousness abideth there; God the Father,

Son, and Holy Ghost; and the Christian is enabled to feel. through mercy, the power of this world to come. But O, to get nearer to my God, to my adorable Saviour, while here below. O to get fully possessed of all that I see is purchased by the Friend of sinners: how far from this: speak, Lord, and it shall be done. One word, one touch, yea, one look from thee, will accomplish it. O give these bold acts of faith that lay full hold of thy mighty power, by which thou destroyest the works of Satan. Fill my heart with thy pure love, and make it the continual abode of thy Spirit: say, "I will-be it so." Amen, Lord, so let it be.

TO MISS RITCHIE.

February, 1799.

Dear Miss Ritchie's letter would not have remained so long unanswered, but that I did not feel liberty to give up to the inspection of any one letters in which my worthy friend had laid open her inmost soul without any reserve. In a recent perusal I have found them so profitable as has, after much prayer, determined me to send them. I beg they may be kept by Miss Ritchie till I determine the mode of their return. I have none of an older date than 1789; and in several of them only the day of the month is mentioned; which leads me to conclude they will not answer the end intended by Miss Ritchie, or the friends that request them. They are indeed valuable, but too particular to be made public; and so overrate my poor epistles, that I feel hurt with the idea of any but myself looking into them I have made a few, but very few, erasures. If the end intended can be answered by Miss Ritchie's perusal alone, it would be well.

I feel my loss; such a praying friend, and deeply experienced Christian, is rarely to be met with. But thanks, eternal thanks, to the Father of mercies, and God of all consolation, who has taught, and does permit me, to come to the fountain. Of late, he has brought me near to himself. I hope I may venture to say my prospects widen, my experience deepens: I seem to sink deeper into Deity, and more than ever to lose my own will. I find the will of my God so precious, I hardly know how to form a petition but "Thy will be done;" and he is so indulgent, so tender to me, as no language can express better than the 2d and 3d verses of the 27th chapter of Isaiah. For a considerable time past my fellowship with the Father and Son has been sensibly increasing; and, through mercy, I can also say so has poverty of spirit. My soul lies humble in the dust before Jehovah as a mere nothing. Yet he gives me clearly to perceive the dignity to which he has raised me, by such holy nearness to, and divine communion with, the sacred Three. Of late I have been favoured with a more clear, satisfactory, and impressive view of the personality of the Holy Spirit than for some time past:

such a powerful notice on my mind of his dignity, divinity, and equality with the Father and the Son, as I cannot express; of his good will to man; and of the great and important part he takes in the salvation of sinners, by all his diversified operations : preparing their mind to receive, and actually applying, every new-covenant blessing, so dearly purchased by the Lord Jesus; but freely bestowed upon penitent sinners. These are precious manifestations; but I am aware it is not merely enjoyment, however exquisite, that ascertains their value, but their transforming influence. May my God give me to prove this to its greatest

extent.

I hope Mrs. Johnson's manuscripts will appear to advantage. I trust they are left in hands able, under the divine influence, to make a judicious selection. Miss Ritchie will accept of my thanks for her letter, though the notification was painful. This I send by post; the packet will be despatched this week as directed. I hope unity prevails, and that the work of God prospers in Bristol. I am Miss Ritchie's well wisher in the Lord. D. MAXWELL.

TO MISS RITCHIE.

December 3, 1799.

I feel for dear Miss Ritchie's severe trials, but believe it is her privilege to rise above the painful dispensation; and with heartfelt resignation to say, "It is the doing of my God, whose will is so precious to me I cannot choose ;” yet, at the same time, I tenderly feel her loss. Apathy is no friend to religion: but it is in the nature of divine love to rise superior to whatever would press it down; it must be above, it is a noble, generous principle. May this pure love flow in copious streams through our souls, and daily increase. Speaking after the manner of men, it is indeed a severe stroke to the society; but I see it is such an easy matter for the Lord, who loves his people, fully and quickly to supply the vacancy, that I am not permitted to dwell upon it. God is love what an endearing character! I seem to see and feel that all things may be obtained by prayer, which are for the glory of God and the real good of those that belong to him, whether as individuals or as a collective body. Some weeks ago Jesus said to me, when at a throne of grace, "Whatsoever you ask in my name, it shall be done unto you.' seemed to set fire to my soul: multitudes were set before me for whom to pray; and I would have grasped the whole world of sinners, and brought them to the dear Redeemer. Soon after this, when meditating upon the wonderful condescension of my Lord, in speaking thus graciously and familiarly to his dust and ashes, he again drew nigh, and said, "Yea, ask what you will, and it shall be given." I felt lost and swallowed up in wonder, love, and praise. No language can express my feelings; but

These words

from the holy nearness to Deity with which Miss Ritchie is favoured, she can suppose what they were. I endeavoured to improve the great latitude given me, and have often wished that the feeble body would have permitted my spending nights and days at a throne of grace. It has proved a strong stimulus to prayer; and my condescending Lord has given many powerful renewals of the delightful manifestation, which adds fuel to the fire he has kindled. May every end designed by the Friend of sinners be answered by it.

For many months I have been getting nearer to Jehovah. O what in my intercourse with him possess I not! What holy, reverential awe! what depths of love! what glories open to my view! Eternity alone can unfold the wonders of his love to me. Assist by your prayers, that I may be found faithful, fruitful, and more useful.

The Edinburgh society is in a more promising state than usual. The class that meets in my house is become quite a Penuel. Deity is so present that all within each heart confesses a present God. Had time permitted, I would have given you a detail of my spiritual enjoyments, under the word preached last Lord's day by Mr. Henshaw: suffice it to say, it was not only the house of God, but the gate of heaven. Three of those with whom I meet in band are struggling to step into the liberty of God's people. Help them forward. I shall be pleased to hear that your grief is lost in love and praise and your brother's place well filled up. Please give my Christian remembrance to Mr. and Mrs. Botts. In haste, I remain, with Christian regard, dear Miss Ritchie's friend in Jesus, D. MAXWELL.

CHAPTER XXXV.-1800.

Diary and correspondence continued.

Jan. 3. My wishes, expectations, and prayers, for a remarkable visitation from my God, have not been so fully granted as I hoped for; I mean, on the last day of the former, and the first day of this year. But upon every slight survey of the Lord's dealings with me, in the course of the preceding year, I may venture to say the scale of mercy has almost continually preponderated; and I would hope, I may also add, I trust I have not lost ground, though I have much cause to blush that I have not gained more. When I consider the unwearied goodness of my God; the astonishingly rich and numberless manifestations of divine love with which I have been favoured; the blessed times of nearness to Deity I have enjoyed; the holy familiarity Jehovah has allowed me with himself; the sweet and sensible union I have enjoyed with the Lord Jesus Christ; the clear and