ermine not to go.

January 5. I considered with brother Craik about going to Bagdad. We see
nothing clearly. If the Lord will have me to go, here I am. January 7. I
spent again some time in prayer, respecting our going to Bagdad, and
examined more fully into it. January 8. I had from half-past five till
eight this morning to myself in prayer and reading the Word. I prayed
then, and repeatedly besides this day, respecting our going to Bagdad. I
wrote also a letter to some believers at and near Barnstaple, to ask their
prayers concerning this matter. I do not see more clearly than I did
before. January 9. I again asked the Lord concerning Bagdad, but see
nothing clearly respecting it. I told the Lord I should stay at my post,
unless He Himself should most evidently take me away, and I did not feel
afterwards my remaining here to be against His will. January 14. I feel
more and more satisfied that it is not of the Lord that I should go to
Bagdad. January 19. For some days past I have been reading brother Groves'
journal of his residence at Bagdad, both for the sake of information
respecting his position there, and also, if it please the Lord, that He
may use this as a means to show me clearly wether I should go or stay.
Blessed be His name that I have no desire of my own in this matter!
[Forty-seven years have since passed away, and I think I may say this
day still, according to the best of my knowledge, I had no desire of my
own in this matter; but I never saw it to be the Lord's will to leave the
work which He Himself had so evidently given me.]

February 9. I read a part of Franke's life. The Lord graciously help me
to follow him, as far as he followed Christ. The greater part of the
Lord's people whom we know in Bristol are poor, and if the Lord were to
give us grace to live more as this dear man of God did, we might draw much
more than we have as yet done out of our Heavenly Father's bank, for our
poor brethren and sisters.

May 27. Today the two churches, assembling at Gideon and Bethesda, met
together at tea.--These meetings we have often repeated, and found them
profitable on several accounts. 1. They give a testimony to the world of
the love of the brethren, by rich and poor meeting thus together to
partake of a meal. 2. Such meetings may be instrumental in uniting the
saints more and more together. 3. They give us a sweet foretaste of our
meeting together at the marriage supper of the Lamb.--At these meetings we