*Sunday 26. In the afternoon we went to Mrs. _C――――s_ to see the corpse of her daughter. I was not at all shocked at the sight, but it brought many serious reflections to my mind. How is she who not many months ago was in all the bloom and vigour of youth, cut down like a flower! So, just so, thought I, must I shortly be: I must die, be stretched in a coffin, and laid in the silent grave, and shortly it will be forgot even by my nearest and dearest friends, that there was ever such a person. O may this awful thought never be absent from my mind! How will it lessen my esteem for all these perishing enjoyments! How will it make me spend every precious moment, in preparation for a never-ending eternity! May the Lord grant that when death comes, he may not appear as a king of terrors, but like a welcome messenger sent to carry me to my Father’s house.
Sunday June 2. In the evening my uncle preached his farwell sermon on _Acts xx. 27_. _I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God._ He repeated briefly the doctrine which he had taught them, and exhorted them to take heed, least the word should rise up in judgement against them in the last day. O may it not against me! For alas as yet I have been a barren fig-tree. Well may I say,
“Long have I sat beneath the sound Of thy salvation Lord, But still how weak my faith is found, And knowledge of thy word.”
Lord let it be no longer so with me, but may I now bear fruit to thy glory.
Tuesday 4. We were called up at half an hour after one, and at a quarter past two, set out on our journey to _Chester_. When we came near _Lancaster_, our coachman had like twice to have overturned us. At seven we breakfasted there, at one dined at _Preston_, and at nine in the evening reached Mr. _A――――s_ house in _Warrington_. We soon got to bed truly fatigued, and I slept till six in the morning without ever waking, or moving out of the posture I lay myself in when I went to bed. About eight on Wednesday morning, we set out again, and had a delightful journey the rest of the way to _Chester_, where we arrived about noon. In the afternoon we took a walk round the walls. You have here an extensive prospect of a fine open country, far unlike the barren _Kendal_ mountains. We then walked to the dock, and from thence to the preaching-house. Mr. _G――――d_ preached on _Matthew ix. 22_. _Daughter be of good comfort_, &c. I found my soul humbled under a sense of my own vileness, and fixed a resolution to set out a fresh in the narrow way of holiness, if the Lord will give me strength; for without he does, all my resolutions will be in vain.
Sunday 9. Mr. _G――――d_ preached, met the society and spoke to the children. I found my soul blest. O may it be a lasting blessing, and not like a guest which tarrieth but a day.
Monday 10. In the afternoon we went to see the infirmary. Everything is neat and clean about it. I found a thankfulness to God, that he had kept me from all these disorders that others have. O may my life be singularly good, as he has been so singularly merciful to me. I experience mercies that very few others have; which it would be almost impossible to enumerate. How few have such parents, who from my earliest days have instructed me how to fear and love God! How many are tortured with broken limbs, and deprived of their sight, whilst I am preserved from all these, and kept in health, strength, and the full exercise of my reason. Many more mercies I am indebted for to my gracious Benefactor; how truly may I say,
“Not more than others I deserve, Yet God hath given me more, For I have food whilst others starve, Or beg from door to door.”
Thursday 13. In the afternoon I set out with my uncle, aunt, Mrs. _L――――_, and some other friends, to go to a little village called _Crislington_, about two miles out of the town, where my uncle was to preach. We had a very pleasant walk, and went to see the delightfullest, though oddest contrived garden that I ever saw. The owner of it is the Rector of that place, but one would think by the manner of his laying it out, that he had very little else to think of. Some part of it represents a field of battle, a general’s tent, with cannons all round it, a mount, a tower, a draw-bridge, and every thing to resemble a camp of soldiers. The other parts of the garden are laid out in the same peculiar taste.
Tuesday 18. At private prayers in the morning, I had power to pray particularly against my besetting sins, and blessed be God, I do in some measure overcome them. Indeed he is a God, both hearing and answering prayer. In the afternoon we had a deal of company, and they being good singers, past away the time very agreeably. Mr. _B――――t_ persuaded my aunt, Mrs. _L――――_, Miss _H――――_ and myself to go to his class, which we did upon his promising not to speak to us. I like his manner much, and I think I was profited by it.