preaching services. Bless God for
these means of grace. My little book is full and I do trust I am a
better man than when I began to write my diary. _29th._--My dear wife is
very ill, but the Lord does all things well. I know that He can, and
believe that He will, raise her up again and that the affliction of her
body will turn to the salvation of her soul. _30th._--I am now laid
under fresh obligations to God. He has given me another son. May he be a
goodly child, like Moses, and grow up to be a man after God's own heart.
_July 3rd._--This day the Victoria docks have been opened. It has been a
day of trial and conflict, for I ran the Packet into a Schooner and did
L10 damage. It was a trial of my faith, and through the assistance of
God I overcame. _August 20th._--Sunday.--How thankful I am that God has
set one day in seven when we can get away from the wear and tear of life
and worship Him under our own vine and fig tree none daring to make us
afraid. It is all of God's wisdom, and mercy, and goodness. _September
11th._--To-night I put my wife's name in the class book; may she be a
very good member, such a one as Thou wilt own when Thou numbers up Thy
jewels. _October 11th._--I did wrong last night, being quite in a
passion at my wife, which grieved her. Lord help me and make me never
differ with her again. _12th._--I feel much better in my soul this
morning and will, from this day promise in the strength of grace, never
to allow myself to be thrown into a passion again: it grieves my soul,
it hurts my mind. 1851. _January 7th._--Five years this day I entered my
present situation under the Hull Dock Company. Then I was a drunken man,
and a great swearer; but I thank God he has changed my heart.
_18th._--This has been a very troublesome day to my soul. I have been
busy with the sunken packet all day and hav'nt had time to get to
prayer. My soul feels hungry. _29th._--This has been a day of prayerful
anxiety about my son; he has passed his third examination, God having
heard my prayer on his behalf. _Feb. 24th._--I have been to the teetotal
meeting and have taken the pledge, and I intend, through the grace of
God, to keep as long as I live. _March 1st._--The Rev. W. Clowes is
still alive. May the Lord grant that he may not have much pain. While
brother Newton and I were in the room with him we felt it good; O the
beauty of seeing a good man in a dying state. May I live the life of the
righteous and may my last end be like