Saturday, August 2. I have been for several days much disordered in body. In my illness I had hardly power to pray, or to do any thing. O may I prize health more, and make full use of it, when the Lord sends it. Glory be to God, I had no fear of death, and no anxious care for my children. I only wanted more power to praise God. And will he not give that and all things? _O cleanse me from my secret faults!_ And let no sin ever more prevail over me!
*Wednesday 6. Blessed be thy name, I do not find any thing within to close with temptations. Yesterday anger presented as quick as thought; but it found no entrance. Yet shame covered me, for fear any that were present might discern the appearance of it. And I begged the Lord to shew me, if there was any evil root left? As far as I know myself, I do not find there is: I do firmly believe, he hath purified me from all sin. But I am big with the desire of living nearer God: O how dear was he to me this night? Thou art altogether lovely: thou art fairer than the sons of men.
Thursday 14. Glory be to God, there has been a cry in my dear mother’s soul all this day. Lord, increase it! Thou hast set her sins in array before her. May she never rest till she rests in thee!
Friday 22. I went three or four miles this evening to the preaching: My mind was solemnly stayed on God; but I was not very lively: my husband being talking most of the way about worldly affairs. O Lord, direct him in all his ways, and let nothing hurt his precious soul.
Saturday 30. I have been much disordered in body all this day; but, glory be to God, have enjoyed calmness of spirit. Yet I have been grieved to see some of my family, so busy about the world, and so little concerned for their poor souls, but trifling away their precious moments. Lord, let me redeem the time! Let me never rest in any thing I have attained: but still press on, till I know all that love of God that passeth knowledge!
Thursday September 4. Blessed be God for the comfort I had in hearing dear Mr. _W._ at _Penryn_. I was tempted to impatience, both in the morning, when my husband stayed long before he set out: and at noon, when I was disappointed of being in Mr. _W._’s company. But I looked up, and felt nothing but calmness and quietness of spirit.
Tuesday 9. I waked between four and five, with praises in my mouth. Glory be to God, I find an inlarged heart, to run the ways of the Lord with great delight. His love is sweeter than honey to my taste, and my will is swallowed up in his.
Sunday 14. A cold almost disabled me from speaking, which gave me to see the great blessing of speech. Lord, help me to use it more to thy glory! This afternoon, blessed be God, we had the happiness of having dear Mr. _W._’s company. Lord imprint his exhortations deep on my heart! And may all the words he delivered be watered with the dew of thy heavenly grace!
Tuesday 16. Glory be to God, he has kept me in the hour of strong temptation. The enemy bears me a tyrannous hatred, and stirs up my bosom friends against me. Lord, thou knowest they lay to my charge things I know not. But thou art to me a place of broad rivers. And _these light afflictions will work out for_ me _an eternal weight of glory_.
Wednesday, October 1. Blessed be God, he keeps me in trials from those who are nearest and dearest to me. What a powerful energy has love? It keeps my soul in perfect peace, while all around me is storm and tempest.
Saturday 25. I have the greatest reason to bless God of any creature: for he gives me great hope, that my dear husband will not proceed on his intended voyage. He seems at length to see the strength of the objections against it. I wept over him last night, and reasoned with him in much love, till one o’clock in the morning. And, glory be to God, whatever it was to _him_, it was a blessed means of grace to _me_.
Monday, November 3. At night I was much frighted between sleeping and waking, I believe, by the enemy. I was afraid I had offended my Lord, by not going to church yesterday in the afternoon. I besought the Lord to pardon me for the omission; and he soon spoke the answer to my heart.
Wednesday 5. Glory be to God for the blessings of this day, and for giving me more patience and more watchfulness. Indeed I was tempted to anger against my husband, and afterwards to lightness. But help was at hand. O that I may be more thankful! Lord, may thy pure love always fill my soul: and do thou water me every moment!