unawares upon me and my fellow-labourers; for we had been
taught to look off from all creature expectations to the living God.
It was on this account that, many times in our prayer meetings during
November and the beginning of December, we were led to ask the Lord,
not to allow us to expect an influx of means because, for the benefit
of the Church, our circumstances would be made known at the public
meetings. And how kind was it of the Lord to give us prayer about
this, and thus to prepare us beforehand; for had we leaned upon
natural expectations, we should have been surely disappointed, as
only six days after the meetings we were as poor as ever. By the
grace of God we are so acquainted with the heart of our Father, that
we speak not about these things to excite the compassion of our
fellow saints, for we have learned to lean upon God only; but we make
known His dealings with us, that others may be led "to taste and see
that the Lord is good," and to put their trust in Him.

The sister who left the 3l. for the Orphans, as just alluded to, also
left 3l. for the funds of the other objects, 20l. to be divided
between brother Craik and me, and 3l. for the poor saints.

Dec. 22. A solemn day. I received today the information from my
father that my brother died on October 7th. When I saw him in April
this year, he was living in open sin, and in disunion with my father.
I cannot learn that his end was different from his life, so that I
have no comfort in his death.--Of all the trials that can befall a
believer, the death of an unconverted near relative seems to me one
of the greatest. "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?"
must be the stay of the believer at such a time, and, by grace, it is
my stay now. I know that the Lord is glorified in my brother,
whatever his end has been: whether in his last hours, like the thief,
on the cross, he was saved, or whether he died in sin and unbelief;
yet I do, as to myself, desire from my heart to adore that grace
which plucked me as a brand out of the burning, many years ago.--May
the Lord make this event a lasting blessing to me, especially in
leading me to earnestness in prayer for my father!

Dec. 26. From the 21st to this day several small donations had come
in for the Orphans, so that we were supplied as we needed. Today
there was ten-pence left, after the day's expenses had been met. One
hour after the Lord kindly appeared again. 5l. was sent by Q. Q. This
money came,