l
hand of faith on his dear head, confess my sin, and rely upon his
sacrifice for pardon and acceptance, through the atonement made by
himself, God's anointed Priest."

"SABBATH, April, 1812.

"Dr. Romeyn. 'Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.' 2 Timothy 3:12. Gone as usual; but it came
home to my heart. I have not suffered persecution; and why? because my
life has not testified sufficiently against a sinful world. Alas,
alas! the world loves its own, and I have been so accommodating, to
say the least, as not to disturb it. 'The carnal mind is enmity
against God; is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be;'
but the world saw little in me of that image which they hate, and
enough of assimilation to balance that little. O my God, my
long-suffering, sin-pardoning God, thou knowest my vile cowardice;
with professors a professor of thy name, with worldlings a seeming
worldling. And now the season is past, the opportunity lost; the time
of life is arrived when the world itself expects to be abandoned. No
line of conduct in me will now reprove them; they account it wise to
look out for a better portion, when the world can no longer be
enjoyed; and through the deceitfulness of their own hearts, and the
suggestions of the ever-vigilant enemy of souls, may be hardened in
sin, by hoping to become religious in old age. O, let thy grace
prevent it.

"The sinfulness, and O, the ingratitude of my past life rise in
magnitude every review I take of it. And what can I say? Father,
forgive. Yes, I dare say, Father, forgive. I dare say more, Thou hast
forgiven. This grief of heart proves that thou hast not sealed me up
in impenitence. Thou rememberest thy covenant with me in the days of
my youth, when thou didst draw me with the cords of love and the bands
of a man; and though no language can express my baseness and my
ingratitude, through all my backsliding life, thy covenant stands
fast.

"'I remember, and am confounded, and will never open my mouth any
more because of my shame, now that thou art pacified towards me for
all that I have done. And I know that thou art the Lord.

Contrition dwell within this breast,
That God within this heart may rest:
Shame and confusion flush this face,
And magnify this glorious grace.
Grace be my theme while