Action of every Day, as far as I can, unto the Honour of God. In the Morning I would lift up my Heart, unto Him, who knowes my Thoughts afar off, saying this Day shall be spent in the Acknowledgments of God. And, as far as I can, to each new Improvement of myself, natural, civil, and religious, I would putt such a Preface as that, Thy Glory is in this aimed at, O God! In all which, I would have a special Respect unto the Magnifying of that Mediator, whose redeeming Works, will come to bee considered, in my Obedience.

2. Besides the welcome Entertainment which I would give, all the Day long, unto Methods that may occur for my Serving of God, I would for the most part, every Week, sett apart a Time, to consider, what is there that I may do for God. First, in my own Heart and Life, and then in every Relation instanced by mee! And reserve many written Memorials, of my Conclusions and Contrivances.

3. I must look to it, that I love Creatures, under whatsoever endearing Circumstances they court my Affections, with a Love, not only less than my Love to God, but also, on the Score, and for the Sake of my Love to God; whose Beauty or Image resting thereon, with an Advantage thereby putt into my Hands for the glorifying of Him, shall bee the Reason, of my Love thereunto. Since, Non amat te, qui quid amat te, præter te, quod non amat propter te. And one manifestation hereof, shall be my Jacob-like, paying to the divine Majesty, such a Rent of my possessions, as the Tithes of all my Income, whether in Salary, or in Donation.

4. I am to resign all my Concerns unto Him, without whom not a little Bird falls unto the Ground. And I would so own His Hand ordering and managing all that betides mee, as that I would rest contented therewithal, in a Confidence that it is a Dispensation of Him, who is both a wise Friend and my best Friend; and whose Cravings for mee, are infinitely better than any Cravings of my own. This is to issue in my having no will opposed unto His.

5. My highest Acquisition, I will reckon to bee, a Likeness unto God. To love that which God loves, and hate that which God hates; to bee holy as God is holy, and like Him, a great Forgiver; and bee His Child, as much as may bee like the just at the Resurrection from the Dead. This will I seek, as the noblest Crown, that ever I can wear; and that which the Thorns placed upon the Temples of the greatest earthly Monarchs, were never worthy to bee compared with. O That I may bee conformable unto the communicable Attributes of God, and agreeable unto his Incommunicable.

6. Every Day, and at such Minutes, as I have not Liberty to make my more sett Visits unto the God of Heaven, I would then ty my Desires unto the Arrowes of ejaculatory Prayers, and so shoot them over the Heads of all Interruptions.

Every Opportunitie, to speak well of Him that redeems mee from all Adversitie I would have, not pass mee, without a Lord, I thank thee. When I read or hear, anything of Importance, I would add a pertinent Salley of Soul to Heaven upon it. I would never answer a weighty Quæstion, without such a silent Petition to God, for Direction in it. Yea, As I walk in the Street, or sitt in the House, tho' I will not bee so Pharisaical as to show it, yett I will use frequently to lift up a cry unto God, for some suitable Blessing, to bee vouchsafed unto the Persons that I have before mee, not knowing, but that Thousands of Men, Women, and Children may fare the better for mee; however I shall myself have the Comfort of exercising this Christlike Disposition, of an universal Charitie to Mankind, and my Prayers will return into my own Bosom. Oh! Blessed the man that hath his Quiver filled with such Arrowes.

7. The World, is filled with loud and plain Preachers, whose Instructions, it shall bee no lesse a Pleasure, than a Profit for mee, to yeeld Attention unto. And especially,

the little Parcels, Fragments, and Intervals of Time, wherein the Generalitie of People, do suffer their minds to ly like the Field of the Sluggard, overgrown with Weeds, I would have to bee so well-husbanded by mee, as that at all Places of Diversion, I would be at my spiritual Alchymie. The candid Lessons, thus received, shall not bee dismissed without a gainful Ejaculation, unto the God of all Grace.

8. It was the Resolution of the Psalmist, whose Tongue was his Glory, to take heed that hee sinned not with His Tongue. And it shall bee my Study to do this, which the Apostle pronounces the Prærogative of, a perfect Man. What Solomon ascribes to the Tongue of the Righteous, is to bee endeavoured by my Tongue; which, by uttering my Conceptions cautiously, moderately, deliberately, and by making all that come into my Company, the Partakers of some useful Notion, shall discover mee, to bee under the Awe of that Admonition, of every idle Word shall an Account bee given.

9. The former honest Purposes, are amiable, are necessary. But the Things are too great for mee, and I cannot do them myself alone. Wherefore my Dependence must bee upon the Lord Jesus Christ, for the Pardon of my Defects, and for a Supply of Grace that shall bee sufficient for mee. Unto Him will I, in the most explicit and importunate manner betake myself; and that still, forever; unto Him, as my Prophet, Priest, and King; with the Profession, In the Lord have I Righteousness and Strength.

14

Surely, Hee that doeth these Things, shall never bee moved. d. 3 m. PURPOSES. I shall bee serviceable to God, in being serviceable to Man; especially with Soul-Service. And how shall I better bee so; than by fervent Prayers? Wherefore I design,

1. To take the Bills,' that are putt for Prayer or Praise,

1 A few of the original slips or bills sent to Mather have been preserved. "Benjamin Elton Bound to Sea Desires prayers for him, that God would Bless and

in our Congregation, and afterwards present the particular Cases, there exhibited, before the Lord, in my Study, where I may more particularly implore the Grace of God, for each of them, than I did in the public.

2. To ask myself, before my evening Prayers in secret, Who has in the foregoing Day show'd mee any Kindness? and particularly supplicate the God of Heaven, that Hee would bestow spiritual and eternal Favours, on each of them that have so obliged mee.

14 d. 3 m. I am extremely defective in recording particular Providences, that appear in the conduct of my Life. But indeed I am so shallow, that I cannot easily avoid the Fault of being, either negligent on one side, or superstitious on other.

However, I will now mention one little Thing of the same Kind, that I have seen many, in the Course of my Life; and it may bee, t'will do some Friend or other some good, that I should mention it.

I was owner of a Watch, whereof I was very fond, for the Varietie of Motions in it. My Father was desirous of this Watch, and I, in a manner, gave it him, with such Thoughts, I owe him a great deal more than this; and the Observation of the fifth Commandment, never wants a Recompense. Quickly after this, there came to mee a Gentlewoman, from whom I had no Reason to expect so much as a Visit, but in her Visit, shee to my surprise, pray'd mee to accept, as a present from her, a Watch; which, was indeed preferrible unto that which I had before parted with.1 I prosper him and in Safety Returne him." "Anne Williams would Return thanks to God for Hire safe deliverance in child bead, and desires your prayers for Hir Absent Husband Abroad at see." "Thomas Diamond Returned from see Desirs to Returne thanks to God for his mercies to him." Sewall records in his Diary, I. 68, "I put up a Note to pray for the Indians that Light might be communicated to them by the Candlestick, but my Note was with the latest, and so not professedly prayed for at all."

1 In February, 1893, the Society received as a gift from Mrs. Elizabeth Anna Byles Ellis, a watch which had long been in the Mather family. It was made

resolved hereupon, to stirr up, Dutifulness unto Parents, in my Neighbours, more than ever; and redeem the Time, which I was helped thus to Measure.

31 d. 3 m. A PURPOSE. I have many Enjoyments. One way of improving them all, for the glory of God, will bee, by making them the Subjects of my occasional Reflections. They shall then afford mee Multitudes, hundreds, thousands of Lessons about the Kingdome of God.

3 d. 4 m. [June.] Lord's-Day. Intending to record no more of my sacramental Methods, I will distinctly at this Time recite the Workings of my Heart at the Table of the Lord.

While the Bread was breaking, I considered, that the Lord Jesus Christ had given Himself.

To whom? For whom?

The Answer is made, mee; for the Sign and Seal thereof, is brought unto mee.

But for what End? Even, that I may become very holy.

Then I sett myself, to entertain such Considerations drawn from the Death of the Lord Jesus Christ, as might induce mee unto Holiness. And I look'd up unto Him, for the Communication of so great Salvation.

While the Wine was filling, I considered, That the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified.

On whose Behalf?

On mine. For so I hear the voice here uttered, Shed for you.

I then resolved, that I would crucify all the Lusts of the Flesh; inasmuch as either they had killed the Lord Jesus Christ, or else they would kill mee.

This Work I now began, by doing unto my Lusts, as the Jewes did unto the Lord Jesus Christ. They enquired, by D. Quare, London, and bears the number 807. On the case of the works has been scratched the year 1712, probably the date of a repair. With it are two silver seals.