ing to Excess. Their Intoxications begin to be observed; there is Danger lest they hasten upon themselves Rebukes and Censures from the Church of God; and their Souls are in the mean time horribly wounded. I would consult with some Discreet and pious Neighbours, the best way to admonish them, so as to recover them.

7. G. D. Tho' my Life be filled (after my poor Manner) with continual Services, yett I have now litt upon a noble Way, very much to increase the Number of them. When I behold any Services to the Kingdome of the glorious One, done by any one whomsoever, I will rejoice in them, and I will give Thanks to Him for them, and I will be pleas'd with, and glad of, the Use He makes of other Men. As a Complacency, will involve men in a Fellowship with the Sins of other men; their unfruitful Works of Darkness; thus a Complacency will interest men in the Services done by other Men; in the Consolations thereof; perhaps in the Recompences.

1. [June 10.] G. D. Worldly-mindedness, the Præcipuum crimen humani Generis; there is nothing my Flock is more in danger of. I must preach upon it, yett more searchingly, more livelily; and show them the Snares of Death, which they are in danger of.

2. G. D. My dear Katy being fallen into an ill State of Health, I must not only apply myself to the best Methods for the Recovery of the Health she has lost, but also improve the Occasion, for her Quickening to the greatest Points of Christianity.

And for all my Family, at my Parting with them, when I go to my Rest, (and sing my Song of the Night with them,) I would not only still enquire, how they have spent their Time in the Day; but also contrive to utter some Sentence, which I may leave with them, as worthy to be remembred and applied, in the Conduct of their Lives.

3. G. D. As I would bestow a new Suit of Cloathes

on a little Nephew, who is an Orphan; so I have a Neece, in whose Conduct, there are some Vanities and Fooleries, whereof she needs to be admonished; and I would endeavour for her the most engaging and effectual Admonitions.

4. G. D. From the Disposition of Things in the Ottoman Empire, I have a confirmed Hope, that things may have a Tendency towards a great Revolution. I have much at heart the Condition of the poor Greek Churches, and the Millions of Christians languishing under the Oppressions of that Empire. I would not only cry much to God for their Deliverance, but also excite and bespeak Prayers in all the Churches throughout this Countrey for them.

5. G. D. Tis a Time of more than ordinary Resort of Strangers to this Town. It requires a more than ordinary Study, to preserve the Morals of our people, from Corruption at such a Time. I would move, both among the Ministers, and in the Societies, what may be done.

6. G. D. There is a woman in my Neighbourhood, full of Afflictions and of Difficulties, in regard of her Husband, entangled with another Woman, with whom he has debauched himself in another Countrey. I will do what I can to support her, and advise her; but I would particularly write unto her Husband, such Things as may have a Tendency to bring him home, and unto Repentance.

7. G. D. Whenever I encounter with any Thing that is not as I would have it, (any crooked Thing,) I would look on it as a Call from Heaven, to entertain a Thought of this Importance; My Will is cross'd; but what particular Instance of my Contradiction and Disobedience to the Will of God, should this Affliction lead me to consider of? Both Repentance and Patience may be produced by this Consideration.

1. [June 17.] G. D. God renews His Calls unto me, to do some special Service for Him, in catechising the Children of the Flock. I would hasten into the Service;

but I would contrive a sweet Variety of obliging and engaging Circumstances to attend it; which call for some further Consideration. My God, I look up unto thee for thy Conduct!

2. G. D. I must not only know that my Children maintain the Religion of the Closet, but also know what they pray for there. I would therefore not only oblige them to write the Desires of their Prayers in general, but also assign them the several Subjects on which they are to employ their Prayers, and successively have them to write down their Petitions on each of those Articles.1

One to whom I am a little related, has a great Interest in him that is now the greatest Man in Britain. I will write unto him earnestly to improve his Interest in that great Man, and putt him on doing of great and good Things for Mankind.

About this Time, that I might serve the Cause of God and of Truth, both at home and abroad, I took the Testimony to the Doctrines of Grace, formerly published, and a Chapter in the Supplies from the Tower of David relating thereto, and contrived them into a single Sheet, (adding an advantageous Circumstance, of a Quotation from Dr. Edwards, and a Dedication to him.) and I printed it, especially to be dispersed in the Southern Colonies, where the Christians cry for Help against the Pelagian Encroachments. It is entituled, THE OLD PATHES RESTORED. brief Demonstration, that the Doctrines of Grace, hitherto preserved in the Churches of the Non-conformists, are not only asserted in the Sacred Scriptures, but also in the Articles and Homilies of the Church of England; And that the General Departure from those Doctrines, especially in those who have subscribed them, is a most unaccountable Apostasy."

A

4. G. D. There seems one Thing much wanting, to

1 Six lines were here struck out in the MS.

2 Printed by T. Green, 1711. A London edition appeared in 1713.

the Devotions of Christianity, among the Professors of it; that is, the Gospel of the Rainbow. That Meteor is a Spectacle and a Sacrament, which the Holy Lord has afforded and appointed, for the Encouragement of our Faith, in many glorious Articles. And the Minds of Men may be awakened from it unto excellent Points of Piety. I will take the Subject under my Consideration, and endeavour with the Help of Heaven, to cultivate it, and prosecute it, for general Edification.1

5. G. D. My Treatise of Manly Christianity, which I have just now received from London, (where it was lately printed,) I would procure to be read in many of the private Meetings; as containing Things which are of great Importance to be inculcated on our Christians.

And my Old Pathes, I would endeavour to gett into the Hands of the Students at the Colledge, that so the Doctrines of Grace may be preserved there.

About this Time I have another Treatise, in the Press. The Discourse, I delivered on the Occasion of the Child, who was crush'd to Death, two Months ago, has been desired of me. I have accordingly fitted it for the Press; in Hopes to do Good among all Sorts, but especially our younger People. It is entituled, PERSWASIONS FROM THE TERROR OF THE LORD. A Sermon concerning the Day of Judgment; preached on a Solemn Occasion.2

6. G. D. There is a poor Widow in my Neighbourhood, whom I would invite and oblige, to be at least one Day in a Week at my Table; besides what I have every Lord'sDay.

22 d. 4 m. Friday. This Day I sett apart for Prayers and Alms with Fasting before the Lord. My Occasions for such Duties grow upon me, in the critical Time, come upon the Countrey, by a vast Undertaking to subdue the Col

1 Sewall also has an entry on the rainbow, June 30. Diary, II. 318.

2 Printed by T. Green, 1711. See p. 64, supra.

onies of our Northern Enemies; and in the sickly State of my eldest Daughter.

It proved unto me a Day of no great Enjoyments.

7. G. D. The Disposition with which I enquire after Newes, needs a little more of Regulation, and of Sublimation. I desire, that when I make that enquiry; What occurs remarkable? it may be with a Disposition and a Resolution to form, if it may be, some Lesson of Piety upon the Answer; and putt this Lesson, into a Wish presently and silently sent up to Heaven. And if it be proper, to mention unto the Company, that Reflection which I would have to be made upon it.

23/24 d. 4 m. I attended something of a Vigil this Night before the Lord. The main Thing, I begg'd, prostrate in the Dust, was, that I may first know the Glory of my dear JESUS, and then be alwayes acknowledging His Glory; and then be the happy Instrument of bringing many others into the Acknowledgments thereof. Hereupon, I was assured, that I loved Him, and I grew into a joyful Assurance, that He loves me, who am yett the Chief of Sinners, and will do wondrous Things for me. Next, I cried unto Him, for shelter against my Enemies. I cried unto Him also, for wonderful Effusions of His Grace, on my Flock, and on my own poor Children. Lastly, I begg'd of Him for Illumination and Satisfaction, in the true Evidencing of the late strange Extasies and Prophecies, which first South France, and then both Parts of Great Britain, have been alarumed withal, and entertained with so much Derision: That I may comply with the Will of God in such Things; but be preserved from Delusions.

I. [June 24.] G. D. I would proceed, not only in considering the several Callings of the People in my Flock, but also, the different Ages, Estates, and Sexes, and suit them, with my public Discourses.

1 See Sewall, Diary, II. 316.