than gifts, and yet remember that both are from thee.

March 16. A thick fog this morning. Is this the only fog? On looking over my diary, I see much to lament. What a map of frailty? Oh! my Redeemer! how shall I estimate the infinite value of that blood of thine, which was shed for sin. What are my time, reading, learning, memory, situation, influence, authority, money, and various other abilities, of mind and body, but so many talents lent me by God, of which I must speedily render an account? Have I any talents for the ministry? Do I use them as not abusing them? Are they with a single eye and heart consecrated to the honour of God?

'March 17. I plainly perceive that the Lord has permitted me to suffer a derilection, as a just punishment for too much carelessness; but oh! my Lord Jesus, let me see the light of thy countenance. Fix my roving wishes, and nail them to thy cross; and ob! let me remember that no flower can blow in Paradise, which is not transplanted from Gethsemane; no one can taste of the fruit of the tree of life, who has not first tasted of the fruits of the tree of Calvary.

'March 18. A day of rest. Rest thou, O my soul, from vanity and the world. Fix thyself beneath the cross, and there muse and contemplate, till thou art filled with the theme.

'March 24. I purpose to preach five evening lectures next week, on the progress, nature, and extent of Christ's sufferings. May the subject animate my soul, and through grace give life to my weak faith.

'Lord

How

dead! and thus end all hopes of preferment (as it is called) from that quarter. absurd to build on man! Wherever the Lord designs me to do good, he will keep or place me; and in him all is right and as it should be.

E

'March 26. How many unforeseen events crowd upon my attention; what a strange busy scene is this, and how it strives to steal the heart from God!

'March 27. I feel much dissatisfied with myself. Lord, what am I, that thou shouldst so regard me? A worm, a vile worm of the dust. I am to preach to-night a lecture on Christ's sufferings. What do I

suffer for him?

‘March 30. Good-Friday. I bless God that my first act has been weeping for thy sorrows, O my Saviour!'

It is impossible to peruse the foregoing extracts without a deep conviction of the sincerity and earnestness of the writer. The heart seems to be unfolded before us, stripped of the illusions of selflove, which are so apt to mingle in the estimate that we form of ourselves; and conscience is armed with all the authority of a judge, and pronounces its impartial verdict. We see in his internal conflicts the struggles between the two opposing principles, "the flesh and the spirit;" the strivings of inward corruption, and the aspirations of the soul towards God. The feelings of every renewed heart will harmonize with this description; though the accurate observer will not fail to remark, that the full triumphs of faith and hope were yet wanting, and that stability which time and experience are necesrary to bestow: for though the principle which renews the heart is marked throughout by circumstances which ascertain its reality, its effects and influences are always progressive. The reader who is less familiar with these things, may here learn a most instructive lesson. He may not comprehend the doctrine of conversion, he may know nothing of the conflicts of the soul,-nothing of the two principles within, alternately striving for the mastery,—nothing of that jealousy over the heart, and that deep con

viction of its depravity, expressed in the diary of Mr. Richmond. Let him then examine the fact here presented to his notice: he sees a man undergoing a visible and remarkable change in his views and conduct, and his principles and affections becoming directed to high and holy objects,—the reality of the principle attested by the reality of its effects, and inward grace illustrated by outward holiness. And let him remember, that the conversion so strikingly exhibited in the case of Mr. Richmond, is no less needed by himself;-that it is indispensable to his admission into the abodes of peace and glory; and that if heaven be a prepared place for a prepared people, and a fitness for its enjoyments be essential to their possession; there must be a knowledge of this principle, an inward experience of its power, and an outward evidence of its existence in the life, before he can have a well-grounded assurance of a happy immortality; for the spirit of heavenly inspiration has recorded, in characters never to be obliterated, except ye be converted, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven."

52

MEMOIRS OF THE

CHAPTER IV.

Relation of circumstances occurring during the period of the foregoing chapter.

THE plan of the preceding chapter having restricted us to the illustration of a particular principle and its effects, we now proceed to notice what occurred within the period which has just been traversed. We have already alluded to the sermon preached by Mr. Richmond at Bath, On cruelty to the brute creation,' and to the publication of that discourse, at the request of the congregation. The following extract will not be deemed altogether without interest.

This dominion over the creatures was given to Adam whilst the likeness of God shone forth in him; consequently it was a merciful dominion. It was a sovereignty designed to be exercised with every possible kindness of treatment, which the grateful and benevolent temper of man, in his state of primitive righteousness, could suggest. Hence we are enabled to deduce the right of the inferior creatures to kindness of treatment, from a most satisfactory and unerring source of argument, no less than an explicit revelation of God's will, coeval with the foundation of the world itself. The merciful design. of God in making man the lord of the creation, is mercifully manifest; for such was the holiness of man's heart, and such the purity of his affections, be

fore the fall, that every creature subjected to his rule was assured of being happy. The intention of God, whose loving-kindness is over all his works, was fully accomplished by appointing man, such as he was whilst in Paradise, to be the intermediate instrument of his goodness towards them. Made in the express image of an holy and merciful God, Adam, like his Maker, was holy and merciful too."

We might here have noticed another sermon, published by him two or three years prior to this period, entitled 'Reflections suggested by the close of the year;' which passed into a fourth edition. It abounds with impressive remarks and strong appeals to the young and to the old, on the shortness and uncertainty of human life; but his religious views not having then attained the maturity and correctness by which they were afterwards characterized, we forbear making any extracts from it.

The religion of Mr. Richmond, though it engaged his most earnest and anxious thoughts, had no tinge of gloom or austerity. He was at all times cheerful; and the following letter, addressed to his aunt about this period, enclosing his profile, is an instance of that playfulness of humour in which he was often accustomed to indulge.

'My dearest Aunt,

Brading, Feb. 10, 1803.

'Being unwilling to trust mere pen and paper to make excuse for my long silence, I have sent a representative to do it for me; humbly conceiving that a shadow of an apology would be best made by a shadow of a man. Now, my dear aunt, unsubstantial as a shadow is, it may nevertheless be the means of creating a very solid idea of the thing signified. At all events, it is better than nothing; more especially as this shadow possesses (what other shadows do not) a stationary faculty; and I do apprehend,