Samuelston Mains, December 20th, 1777.-On the former part of this day I employed myself in confessions and supplications to God, acknowledging my guilt, original and actual, in my infancy, childhood, youth, and riper years; before and after I began the study of divinity; suitably to this exercise, I sung and read a portion of the holy Scriptures. Having done this, I next endeavoured with my whole heart to make a dedication of myself unto the Lord-first as a Christian, to be saved by him with an everlasting salvation; then, as a weak, helpless, insignificant creature, who would be willing to serve him with my spirit in the - gospel of his Son Jesus Christ; this done, I read and sung suitably thereto; then concluded with prayer and singing again, particularly for direction and assistance in the work before me. I purpose now to give the Lord thanks for his kindness to me, known in so many various ways.

Standard, by Dunbar, his father's house, May 26th, 1778. Sins grievous and innumerable cleave unto me, and too often prevail against me, of which I have, in some measure, the sad experience; would wish to lament and exclaim, "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of sin !" Notwithstanding, I conclude the Lord Jesus hath effectually called me by his grace, upon the following principles: 1st, I see myself lost as a descendant of Adam, and unable to recover myself, therefore must eternally perish, unless, 2d, Christ and his salvation were my choice, which, if my heart deceive me not, I think they are. On this ground I stand, on this foundation I build, on this plank I swim into eternity. 3d, I feel the sins of my heart and of my life grievous to

me, being odious to God, dishonouring to my Redeemer, and detrimental to my own comfort and happiness. 4th, The Lord Jesus Christ is precious to me in his person, righteousness, fulness, and grace. 5th, My heart flows out in love to and desires after communion with him; so that I would wish nothing more in this life than to live by faith upon him, and in fellowship with him. Finally, because I wish to be eternally with him, employed in the delightful exercise of praising him, particularly when I taste of his special goodness in the ordinances of prayer, praise, &c. or when wrestling with and groaning under a body of sin and death; then say I, O to be there, where Satan cannot tempt, and sin cannot enter! Shocking thought, to be here and sinning against Christ; let me depart then when God pleaseth, and be with Christ Jesus, which is far, far, infinitely better. But hath God work for me on earth? his will be done. Being now licensed a preacher of the gospel, March 3d, 1778, from that time to the above date, I have been thus employed. Honourable work, a co-worker with God. But have I his call to it, or have I run unsent? The following things are helpful, and persuade me the latter supposition is not the case. 1st, From my earliest infancy I have been attached unto it, and have been regularly carried on this length in the prosecution of it. 2d, I have some evidences of a call to it; such as some, although small knowledge, of the doctrines of the gospel; an aptness to communicate this unto others; a will manifesting myself something ready to take on me the preaching of the gospel, excepting objections which arise from a persuasion of my inability for the difficult work; and the call and license of the presbytery to engage in it, however weak and unworthy. Conscious of apparent

ly insurmountable obstacles, yet overlooking these, and also my own weakness, I go on in the faith of the promise that God sendeth none a warfare upon their own charges, but that he giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Hence I have been hitherto helped. 3d, God's glory, the Redeemer's honour, and the welfare of his church, I wish to be my leading motives and highest end in what I do, in this way suppressing thoughts which would draw me a contrary way. 4th, I have been helped to earnestness in prayer with God on this head, either that in providence he would keep me back from, or forward and assist me in this work. Lastly, I wish to spend my time and lay out the talents God hath given me in his service, and that of his church. I purpose, therefore, through grace, to go on in the way on which I have now set out, preaching the glorious fame of Christ, and the excellent privileges of his people, with whatever pertains to the ministerial function, with boldness and zeal on all suitable and proper occasions. While writing the above lines, I was struck with a persuasion of my own weakness, and constrained to devolve myself upon the arm of Omnipotence, begging divine assistance in the accomplishment of the promise, Isa. xli. 10, “ Fear not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God," &c. Now, O Lord, the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, for these important purposes I devote myself with my whole heart to thee, soul and body, and take hold of thy covenant as all my salvation, and all my desire, (still adhering to my former acceptings; I take Christ as my Prophet, Priest, and King. My Lord, my God, my all, let me be anathema maranatha, if I willingly retract what I have now done. God grant me grace to

persevere, and each day to perform my vows. let thy grace be sufficient for me, let the promises of strength and assistance be granted unto me. I can do nothing of myself, and have powerful corruptions within to lead me aside from my God and my duty. Let the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, the grace of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with me; to the name of a three-one God be eternal praises, to which I willingly set my amen, and subscribe my name, ROBERT SHERRIFF.

January 5th, 1779.-On that day I was solemnly set apart to the ministry, and to labour in this place, from that time I have preached here; and, wishing still to continue in this work, I resolve, by the assistance of God, to persevere in the honourable although exceedingly difficult office. My encouragement to form this resolution arises from a conviction of the blessed Jesus having called me to the ministerial work; from the small faith I have in his strengthening promises, often I am tempted to think the Lord will desert me on account of my great wickedness, and leave me to fall into some open and scandalous sin. But O I deprecate it, and pray that I may be kept by the almighty power of God, through faith unto salvation. Ah! the wickedness which lurks within causes grief and anguish of soul. I have the appearance of religion; but, alas! who knows my heart, and the latent corruptions there! Notwithstanding, I, as a sinner, take encouragement from the gracious declarations of a Saviour, "the Son of Man is come to seek and save that which is lost." Again, " He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." O this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came to save sinners,

even the chief. O how reviving the thought! Such my blessed Lord Jesus came to save. On these grounds I am content. O happy to be an eternal debtor to free grace! I think I am pleased with the method of salvation through Christ, as the best, the most excellent, yea the only way-I wish, I expect salvation no way else. Redemption through Christ! O transporting thought! redemption for me, a lost, guilty, and hell-deserving wretch. O Lord, let me never, never look for it any where but in him; as interested in it, let me go on in the strength of God the Lord. In discharge of my office, sometimes I am led to think that I shall have to quit it as above my talents; but, O Lord prevent it! thou who hast delivered, do thou yet deliver. O let thy grace be sufficient for me, and as my days are, so let my strength be. O how delightful to be preaching the glorious excellencies of Christ, and the peculiar privileges of his people ;—let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, let my right hand forget her cunning, if I sinfully cease to publish the renowned fame of Jesus, and the happiness of his people; utterly abhorred be every other thought of my heart; therefore, in strength of God the Lord, I purpose to go on. While writing this, my very heart and flesh crieth out, that God would grant me all necessary gifts and graces for his work, and would remarkably qualify me for the faithful discharge of it. I have preached, so far as I know, acceptably to the public; for which I desire to be thankful, and give glory to God. My final determination is, to go on in strength of the Lord, hoping that he will continue his loving kindness, and perfect that which concerneth me. Amen and amen,

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