It may not be amiss for me to cultivate this Disposition in me. 1. [November 25.] G. D. I have distinguished my large Flock, into many Tribes. There are many Sorts of People whereof it is composed. The Condition of the Souls in each, ought to be pertinently, and pathetically considered with me. I would not only suit it in my Sermons, but also in the public Prayers, wherefore, when I am going forth to Minister before the Lord, I would often sett myself to think, what part of my Flock shall I now single out, and employ one considerable Part of the public Prayers on the Condition of it? By this Method, that Part of the Flock may be singularly awakened unto the Consideration of their own Condition. They may be instructed how to pray for themselves. They may be quickened themselves to ask for the Blessings which we desire on their behalf! Yea, who can tell, how far the Holy Spirit of God may fall upon them? 2. G. D. There has been a surprising Display of Providence, and Answer of Prayer, in the neat Garments, wherewith my Cresy is clothed and armed for the Winter. I will have the Child apprised of it, and made sensible what an efficacious Thing tis to trust in the Lord, and do good; and I would improve it as a most1 Encouragement unto him, to apply himself unto the Service of his only Saviour. 3. G. D. I have another Kinsman at the Colledge, to whom I purpose to dispense Books, of Piety, as may be useful to him. with such Admonitions I would particularly press upon Reading of two Lives in our Church-History; The Youngest Shepards, and my Brother's. 4. G. D. The Minister of Newhaven, having preached a Sermon in our Assembly, about the False Hopes, wherewith many deceive themselves, and some of our Hearers 1 A word omitted. 2 Stephen Williams. being willing to publish the Sermon, I encourage that Matter; and more than so; because I take the Subject to be of great Consequence for the Interests of Piety, and the Souls of Men. I will write a Præfatory Discourse upon it.1 5. G. D. My Religious Fisherman, is now published." I will now have my Agents in several parts of the Countrey, to lodge the Book where it is intended; and I will also address diverse Merchants who carry on much of the Trade of the Fishery, that when they have made good Voyages, they will apply a few Pieces of Eight, unto the further dispersing of this Book among those for whom it is designed. 29 d. 9 m. 1711. Thursday. The Mixtures of Mercy remembred in the Midst of Wrath, to this poor People in the year Past, have obliged us unto a public Thanksgiving; which was this Day attended. The Lord favoured me with precious Assistences, both in the private and the public Duties of the Day. Especially in this thing; I sett myself to consider, that an Improvement in the Love of God, is the Use, that I should make of all His favourable Dealings with me and others. And, I hope, I found the Flame of that Holy Love enkindled in my Soul, with all the Dispositions of it. My Heart also expanded in one Article of praising the Lord in the Congregation; this was, when with a Soul purified from Envy, I gave Thanks unto the blessed God, for His Blessings granted unto other men. I was glad of their Prosperity, and gave Thanks to a good, and a wise God for it, as for my own. 6. G. D. I have a Neighbour, my next Neighbour, who is a very froward, frappish, peevish Creature; and who in his ungoverned Passion committs many Offences; He is an Aged Professor of Religion. I must therefore, as lovingly, as winningly, as prudently and faithfully as I can, take him into my Hands, and labour to recover him out of 1 Printed by T. Green, 1712. Rev. James Pierpont was the minister. a Distemper, which renders him so uneasy unto himself, and unto all about him. 7. G. D. As it is a great Point of Religion with me to keep out of Debt, so when I pay any Thing that I owe, be the Summ larger or smaller, I would have this Thought still raised in my Mind; O my dear Saviour, Thou hast paid my Debt unto the Justice of Heaven. Oh! help me to love thee, and praise thee, and serve thee for thy Goodness. 1. [December 2.] G. D. I have newly written a brief Manual for Self-Examination. I incline to publish it, and furnish myself, with what Numbers of Copies I can, to be lodg'd in the Hands of all our Comunicants. It may prove a considerable Service to the Interests of Piety among them. 2. G. D. I would putt each of my Children (capable to do it) on Pondering and Answering, that Question; What Course do I take, and must I take, that I may have the Fatherly Providence of the Great God, and my Saviour, concerned for me? that I may not be abandoned of God unto the Miseries that some Orphans are left unto? Yea, lett them write their Answer to it. 3. G. D. There is a Family related unto me, in which Family I am treated with exceeding Affection and Civility. I have done something, but never done enough, in the Service of that Family, and for the Welfare of it. I would visit them, and entreat them to think for me, and show me what I shall do for them. I will myself also think; and in all their Exercises and Difficulties, I would study all possible Wayes to comfort them. 4. G. D. The Time is drawing on, for the Sailing of our Mast-fleet into Europe. I have many and great Correspondencies to cultivate, with my Letters hither; which I am quickly beginning to write. I will impose it, as a Law on myself, that still, when I am going to write any of these Letters, I will sett myself to think, what Service may I do for the Kingdome of my admirable Saviour in what I now address to my Friend? And, what Service is there that I may putt my Friend upon? I shall not have Time to record the Services which I shall thus think upon; and it may be, t'wil be of no Importance to do it. It is enough, that they will all be known unto the glorious Lord. 5. G. D. There is a small Society of younger Persons, who are Communicants in our Church, and hold a Meeting in the Friday Evening præparatory to the Communion. I will send some very agreeable and profitable Things unto them, to be read at their Meeting. 6. G. D. I hear of a very poor, but a very pious, Woman, at the South End of the Town; to whom I would therefore not only dispense my own Charities, but also procure those of other Peoples. 7 d. 10 m. [December.] Friday. I am this week pretty much confined, and very much afflicted, with grievous Pains on the right Side of my Head and in my Jawes. I improve these Pains as Admonitions unto me, to humble myself before the Lord, for the Barrenness of my Head, which has had no more good Thoughts in it, and so few Designs to do Good. And adore the Love of my dear Saviour, who has delivered me from everlasting Pains. My Miseries the last Night were almost insupportable; But I found so much Releef by an epispastick, that I was able to sett apart this Day for Prayer with Fasting in my Study, as I use to do. However I went thro' the Duties after a feeble Manner. And what I fell short in the Prayers, I made up in Dispensations of Instruments of Piety, which I sent this Day, with short Letters, to many Quarters. I much cried unto the Lord this Day, that I may have such Tidings coming over the Water to me; as may encourage me in my poor Endeavours to serve Him. 7. G. D. I thought, it might contribute unto the Intentions of Piety, not only in my own Soul, but also in my Family, if I should have a short Hymn, relating to the Lord's-day, to be sung (besides the many others which I so employ,) with my Family, every Lord's-day Morning. That which I prepare for this purpose, is this. The Sons of God shouting for Joy at the Arrival My Saviour's risen from the Dead, And lives enthron'd Above. Hath me victorious Blest. Lord, bring thou me Holiness, 9 d. 10 m. Lord's-Day. The Prevailing of my Pains upon me, has this Day chased me from the Services and Enjoyments of the Sanctuary; and particularly those of the Holy Table, at which I should have ministred before the Lord. I desire to improve this Humiliation, as a great Incentive to Repentance for my many Miscarriages, by which I have rendred myself unworthy of the Blessings in the Sanctuary. Especially my Unthankfulness for such Mercies, and my Unfruitfulness under them, and my unsuitable Attendence on them; as also the many Impurities of my Life, which make me deserve to be shut out, from the Sanctuary, as one too unclean to be admitted there. On these Accounts, my Flight unto the great Sacrifice, is quickened this Day. 1. [December 9.] G. D. But I would endeavour that my Flock, as well as myself, may reap some Good out of my Affliction. I would make up what I have left of an Opportunity to serve them this day, by arriving more serviceable to them, when I come abroad again. My next Sermon may very seasonably and serviceably be on the Communion which the great God maintains with His People, in His Institutions; the Calamity of a Banishment |